Today in the Second World War

Welcome to your daily dispatch from the annals of the past, the June 17th edition of the Hidden History Newsletter. On this day, in a time long gone yet not forgotten, crucial chapters of human history were being written amidst the turbulence of the Second World War. Today, we'll delve into the events that unfolded on this date across the war years, unwrapping the stories of strategy, bravery, loss, and victory that shaped our world. Thank you for joining us in honoring these echoes of the past.

“I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma: but perhaps there is a key. That key is Russian national interest.” - Winston Churchill

I'm excited to announce that I have just published a captivating WW1 picture book on Amazon! Titled “From War to Peace: Illustrated Remembrances of the Great War”, this visually stunning collection of images captures the essence and historical significance of World War I. From the trenches to the battlefields, the book offers a poignant visual journey through one of the most defining periods in human history. You can get your copy today and embark on a fascinating adventure through time here. Thank you and enjoy :)

Stalin Moving

Soviet troops entered Latvia and Lithuania without little resistance. In Estonia, although a Signal Battalion would resist in Tallinn until 21 Jun, the government, along with the Army and the Estonian Defence League militia organization, surrendered to Soviet occupation. NKO Commissar Semyon Timoshenko ordered the disbanding of the military organizations of the Baltic States, leaving the task of border protection to NKVD troops. In North America, the United States refused to recognize the Soviet occupation of the two Baltic countries.

Peace on Horizon?

Prime Minister Philippe Pétain ordered the French Army to stop fighting and sued for an honorable peace as the Germans crossed the Loire River near Orleans, France. Taking advantage of the initial demoralizing effect and confusion this caused, the German 7th Panzer Division under Erwin Rommel advanced 125 miles toward Cherbourg; to the east, tanks under Heinz Guderian reached the Swiss border at Pontalier, encircling 17 French divisions on the Maginot Line. Meanwhile, the Allied evacuation operation, Operation Ariel, continued in Cherbourg, Saint-Malo, Brest, and Saint-Nazaire. At Saint-Malo, private vessels of the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club of Jersey arrived to assist with the evacuations. In the Loire estuary near Saint-Nazaire, British passenger liner Lancastria, with 4,000 to 9,000 British civilians and military personnel on board, was sunk by three bombs by Ju 88 aircraft, causing about 3,000 deaths; it was the worst maritime loss in British history.

Thorn in Stalin’s Side

Finland began to secretly mobilize its military for Operation Silver Fox, the Finnish invasion of the Soviet Union in concert with the German Operation Barbarossa.

All Good?

The 2,727-ton British motor merchant Cathrine carrying 3,920 tons of iron ore had become a straggler from Convoy SL-76 on her way from Freetown, Sierra Leone to Barrow, England, United Kingdom. When approximately 600 miles west of Cape Clear, Ireland she was seen and attacked by German submarine U-43, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Wolfgang Lüth. Two torpedoes were launched and both hit the Cathrine, breaking her in half immediately. Her crew had no time to launch lifeboats and had to cling to wreckage and an overturned lifeboat. The submarine passed the men in the water and were asked if they were all right, none answered as they felt that the question was ridiculous. Four of the fourteen men clinging to the lifeboat died during the day before the boat was righted and baled out. Ultimately, only three of the remaining ten would survive until they were finally spotted and rescued a month later.

Photo of the Day

Lance Sergeant A Haywood, Private C Norman and Private H Maw of 1st Battalion, The British Duke of Wellington's Regiment advancing past a burning fuel store on Pantelleria, 17 June 1943.

And with that, we conclude today's chapter of the Hidden History Newsletter, the June 17th edition. We hope that the stories, facts, and insights shared today have deepened your understanding of this defining period in history, and sparked renewed curiosity about the complex tapestry of events and human experiences that it encompassed.

Thank you for accompanying us on this journey through the echoes of time. Your passion for learning, remembering, and honoring the past is what makes this endeavor worthwhile.

Remember to look out for tomorrow's edition, where we'll explore another day in the gripping saga of World War II. Until then, stay curious, stay reflective, and never forget the lessons that history has to offer.

If you ever have any recommendations feel free to reach out to us at [email protected]

Have a great weekend :)

Recommended Books:

Today’s email was brought to you by Hidden History.