Today in the Second World War

Welcome back to your daily dive into World War II history. As we explore the past on this day, August 4, let us remember the battles fought, the lives lost, and the victories earned. Join us as we journey back in time, uncovering the poignant moments that shaped our world during these turbulent years. Let's illuminate history together.

"In my opinion the limit of endurance has been reached by the troops under my command...our position here is hopeless" - Major General Freyberg VC - (Shortly before the evacuation of Crete) - May 1941

Close Call

Adolf Hitler visited Fedor von Bock's Army Group Center headquarters in the Soviet Union. The anti-Nazi officer plotted to arrest Adolf Hitler upon arrival, but failed to do so as he had under-estimated Hitler's personal guards.

Death Sentence

At the Department of Justice Building in Washington DC, United States, a special military commission sentenced the 8 German saboteurs captured during the failed Operation Pastorius to death by electric chair, including George Dasch, the defector who contributed to the capture of the 7 others.

Tragic Day

The arrest of the Frank family, as well as the others hiding with them, marked a tragic end to their two-year efforts to remain undetected during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands.

Their hiding place, known as the "Secret Annex," was a concealed area in the rear of Otto Frank's office at 263 Prinsengracht in Amsterdam. Access to the Annex was hidden behind a moveable bookcase. This location became their home from July 6, 1942, until their discovery on August 4, 1944.

The exact details of the betrayal and subsequent arrest remain unclear, primarily because the identity of the informant has never been definitively established. The Annex was raided by SS officer Karl Josef Silberbauer and members of the Dutch Nazi Police. The raid was not a routine sweep; it was clearly based on a specific tip. The eight residents of the Annex, as well as two of their non-Jewish helpers, Johannes Kleiman and Victor Kugler, were arrested.

After their arrest, the Franks were initially taken to a local detention facility in Amsterdam. From there, they were transported to the Westerbork transit camp. On September 3, 1944, they were put on the last transport from Westerbork to Auschwitz, where they arrived after a horrific three-day journey.

Upon arrival, the men and women were separated. Otto Frank was separated from his family and sent to the men's camp. Edith, Anne, and Margot were sent to the women's camp. A short while later, Anne and Margot were transferred from Auschwitz to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany, where they both died from typhus in early 1945. Their mother, Edith, died of starvation in Auschwitz in January 1945.

Otto Frank was the sole survivor of the family. After Auschwitz was liberated by Soviet troops, he returned to Amsterdam, where he discovered his daughter Anne's diary. With the help of his secretary, Miep Gies, who had helped hide the family and saved the diary after their arrest, he had it published in 1947. The Diary of Anne Frank has since been translated into numerous languages and has become one of the most powerful memoirs of the Holocaust.

Hiding in Plain Sight

German prisoner of war Kurt Rossmeisl escaped from imprisonment in North Carolina, United States and evaded the immediate search. He would later board a train for Chicago, Illinois, United States, established a false identity as "Frank Ellis", and remained at large until 1959.

Photo of the Day

Soviet infantry advancing behind T-34 tanks during the Battle of Orel, Russia, early August 1943.

As we close the chapter on August 4th in our daily Hidden History Newsletter, we hope you've found today's exploration insightful and engaging. Remember, history is not just in the past; it is the cornerstone of our present and the compass for our future. Let the lessons and narratives of this significant era live on, nourishing our collective memory and guiding our path forward. Until tomorrow, when we unravel another page from the annals of WWII, carry these stories with you, and together, let's continue to illuminate history.

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Have a great weekend :)

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