Today in the Second World War

Welcome to today’s edition of the Hidden History Newsletter! On May 2nd, we remember a number of significant events that took place during the war. In 1945, General Helmuth Weidling accepted the terms of unconditional surrender from General Vasily Chuikov, effectively ending the Battle of Berlin and securing a decisive Allied victory. This surrender marked a turning point in the war and would ultimately lead to the end of Nazi Germany. Additionally, on this day in 1943, Viktor Lutze, head of the SA, died in a car accident that some believe was actually a targeted assassination by anti-Nazi partisans. As we remember the bravery and sacrifice of those who fought in the war, we also acknowledge the complex and sometimes shadowy nature of the conflict.

“History is not kind to nations that go to sleep. Pearl Harbor woke us up and we managed to win, although we are already forgetting the dark days when victory was uncertain, when it looked as though the scales might be tipped the other way.” - General George C. Kenney

Head of the SA is Lost

Viktor Lutze was born in Bevergern, Germany in December 1890. He served as a soldier during World War I and was awarded the Iron Cross for bravery. After the war, he joined the Freikorps, a paramilitary organization that fought against left-wing political groups in Germany.

In 1922, Lutze joined the Nazi Party and became a member of the SA, which was then led by Ernst Röhm. The SA was a paramilitary organization that was instrumental in helping the Nazi Party gain power in Germany. Lutze rose through the ranks of the SA and eventually became its leader in 1934, following the "Night of the Long Knives," during which Röhm was executed on Hitler's orders.

As head of the SA, Lutze was responsible for organizing and training Nazi paramilitary forces, which played a key role in the early stages of the Nazi regime's rise to power. However, by the late 1930s, the SA's power had been largely eclipsed by other branches of the Nazi Party, such as the SS and the Gestapo.

On 1 May 1943 he was driving a car near Potsdam with his entire family. Driving too fast on a curve caused an accident that badly injured Lutze, killed his older daughter Inge and badly injured his younger daughter.

Lutze died during an operation in a hospital in Potsdam the next evening. News reports stated that the accident involved another vehicle and kept the news of reckless driving from the public. Hitler ordered Joseph Goebbels to convey his condolences to Viktor's wife, Paula, and son, Viktor. Goebbels, in his diaries, had described Lutze as a man of "unlimited stupidity" but upon his death decided that he was a decent fellow. At the time of the accident, Lutze was 52 years old.

Hitler ordered a lavish state funeral on 7 May 1943 to take place in the Reich Chancellery. Hitler attended in person, which he rarely did at that stage in the war, and posthumously awarded Lutze the highest award of the Nazi Party, the German Order, 1st Class. Thereafter, Hitler appointed Wilhelm Schepmann to succeed Lutze as Stabschef SA, but the organization had by then been thoroughly marginalized

While the official cause of Lutze's death was a car accident, there have been persistent rumors that he may have been assassinated by political rivals within the Nazi Party who saw him as a threat to their own power. However, there is no conclusive evidence to support this theory.

German Forces in Southern Europe Surrender

Harold Alexander was a distinguished military leader who served in both World War I and World War II. Born on December 10, 1891, in Dublin, Ireland, he was educated at Sandhurst and commissioned into the British Army in 1911. He saw action in the First World War, serving with distinction in France, Egypt, and Palestine.

During World War II, Alexander was appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Armies in Italy in 1943. Under his leadership, Allied forces launched a series of successful campaigns in Italy, including the liberation of Rome and the capture of Naples.

One of the most significant battles of the Italian Campaign was the Battle of Monte Cassino, which took place between January and May 1944. Alexander oversaw the planning and execution of the battle, which involved four separate assaults on the fortified hilltop abbey of Monte Cassino. The battle was a critical turning point in the campaign and paved the way for the liberation of Rome in June 1944.

Following the success of the Italian Campaign, Alexander was appointed as the Supreme Allied Commander of the Mediterranean Theater. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing Allied operations in Southern Europe, including Italy, Greece, and Yugoslavia.

As the war in Europe drew to a close, Alexander played a crucial role in accepting the surrender of Axis forces in Italy and Austria. On May 2nd, 1945, he accepted the unconditional surrender of all German forces in Italy, which led to the release of over one million Allied prisoners of war. A few days later, on May 8th, he accepted the surrender of German forces in Austria, which marked the end of the war in Europe.

After the war, Alexander was made a Field Marshal and appointed as the Governor-General of Canada. He served in this role from 1946 to 1952, overseeing the transition of Canada from a wartime to a peacetime economy. In 1952, he was appointed as the Minister of Defence in the British government, a role he held until 1954.

Harold Alexander was widely respected as a military leader and strategist, and his contributions to the Allied victory in Italy and the subsequent surrender of Axis forces in Southern Europe were significant. He is remembered as one of the key figures of World War II and a symbol of the Allied forces' determination to achieve victory over the Axis powers.

A Hero RAF Pilot is Lost

Wing Commander James Brindley Nicolson was born on February 16th, 1916, in Melbourne, Australia. He moved to England in the 1930s and joined the Royal Air Force in 1936. Nicolson trained as a fighter pilot and was posted to No. 249 Squadron during the Battle of Britain in 1940.

During the battle, Nicolson flew a Hawker Hurricane and demonstrated exceptional bravery and skill. On August 16th, 1940, he engaged a group of enemy aircraft alone and shot down one of them before he was hit by return fire, causing severe burns to his hands, face, and eyes. Despite his injuries, he managed to land his damaged plane safely. Nicolson was hospitalized for several months and underwent numerous surgeries to recover from his injuries. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions that day, becoming the only fighter pilot to receive this honor during the Battle of Britain.

After recovering from his injuries, Nicolson returned to active duty and was promoted to Wing Commander. In 1943, he was posted to India and served as the commanding officer of No. 27 Squadron, flying the Hawker Hurricane and later the Supermarine Spitfire. He was later appointed as the station commander of Kumbhirgram Airfield, near Silchar, in Assam.

On May 2nd, 1945, Nicolson was flying as an observer in a Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber that was en route from Silchar to Calcutta. The plane developed an engine fire and crashed into the sea off the coast of Calcutta, killing all on board, including Nicolson.

Wing Commander James Nicolson was a highly skilled and respected pilot who demonstrated exceptional courage and bravery during his service in the Royal Air Force. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service in India. Today, he is remembered as one of the heroes of the Battle of Britain and a symbol of the sacrifices made by Allied forces during World War II.

The Fall of Berlin

The Battle of Berlin was one of the final and most brutal battles of World War II in Europe. It began on April 16, 1945, when Soviet forces launched a massive assault on the German defenders in and around the city. The battle quickly turned into a bitter and bloody struggle, as the German defenders fought fiercely to hold their ground against the Soviet onslaught.

The German defenders were under the command of General Helmuth Weidling, who had been appointed as the commander of the Berlin Defense Area just a few days before the battle began. Weidling was a veteran of World War I and had previously commanded German forces on the Eastern Front. However, he realized that the situation in Berlin was hopeless, as the city was surrounded by Soviet forces and cut off from the rest of Germany.

Despite the desperate situation, the German defenders fought on, inflicting heavy losses on the Soviet forces and causing significant damage to the city. However, by early May, the situation had become untenable, and Weidling realized that he had no choice but to surrender.

On May 1st, Weidling contacted Soviet General Vasily Chuikov, who was in command of the Soviet forces in Berlin, to discuss the terms of surrender. Chuikov demanded unconditional surrender, which Weidling eventually accepted on May 2nd.

The surrender of the Berlin garrison was a significant event in the war and marked the end of the fighting in Europe. However, it did not bring an immediate end to the war, as fighting continued in other parts of the world, notably in the Pacific, where the war would continue for several more months.

The Battle of Berlin was a devastating and costly battle, with estimates of the number of casualties varying widely. Some sources suggest that up to 100,000 German soldiers were killed, wounded, or captured during the battle, while Soviet losses are estimated to be as high as 300,000. The battle also caused significant damage to the city of Berlin, which would take many years to repair and rebuild in the post-war era.

Overall, the surrender of the Berlin garrison was a crucial turning point in the war and a symbol of the ultimate defeat of Nazi Germany. It marked the end of the war in Europe and paved the way for the long process of rebuilding and recovery that would follow in the post-war era.

Photo of the Day

A Soviet soldier hoists the Hammer & Sickle on top of the Reichstag on May 2, 1945.

That's all for today's edition of the Hidden History newsletter. We hope you found the information insightful and informative. Join us again tomorrow for more news and events from this pivotal period in history. As we continue to reflect on the sacrifices and triumphs of those who fought in the war, let us remember the importance of learning from the past and working towards a better future for all. Thank you for reading.

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