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- Today in the Second World War
Welcome to your June 18th edition of the Hidden History Newsletter, where we tirelessly strive to illuminate the past to understand our present. Today, we delve into the narratives that unfolded on this day during one of the most impactful periods in our global history. From the roar of conflict on the Eastern Front to the brave maneuvers of the Allied forces, we aim to bring you closer to the reality of those times. Thank you for joining us on this historical journey.
“I Am a Soldier, I Fight Where I Am Told and I Win Where I Fight.”- General George S. Patton
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Their Finest Hour
IBritish Prime Minister Winston Churchill made the "the Battle of France is over... I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin" speech before the House of Commons. "Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, 'This was their finest hour'." On the same day, Churchill wrote to the Commander-in-Chief Home Forces asking for ideas for the creation of "Storm Troops" to be "ready to spring at the throat of any small landing or descent"; secretly he intended to use such a force as the basis for Commando raids on the continent.
Winston Churchill
The Blitz Begins
After dark, seventy-one Luftwaffe aircraft crossed the English Channel in the first major air raid on Great Britain. Some were attempting to destroy the oil storage tanks at Thameshaven while others were targeting the airfields at Mildenhall and Honington.
Heinkel He 111 bombers in formation.
High Ranking Loss
Lieutenant General Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr., the commander of the U.S. 10th Army, was indeed killed in action on Okinawa. On June 18, 1945, while visiting a forward observation post as his forces were closing in on the remaining Japanese positions, Buckner was killed by shrapnel from a Japanese artillery shell that exploded nearby. His death occurred just days before the end of the Battle of Okinawa, one of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific War.
Buckner was the highest-ranking U.S. military officer killed by enemy fire during World War II. After his death, command of the 10th Army passed to General Joseph Stilwell. Buckner was posthumously promoted to the rank of four-star general by the U.S. Congress. His death underscores the significant risks faced by military commanders, even those who are not on the immediate front lines of combat.
The last picture of US Army Lt. Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr. (right), taken on 18 June 1945. Later in the day, he was killed by Japanese artillery fire.
Photo of the Day
Wrecked German Tiger I heavy tank near Rome, Italy, 18 June 1944.
As we conclude today's journey through the annals of World War II, we express our gratitude for your continued readership and shared reverence for history. Today's chronicles, laden with lessons of resilience and unity, underscore the significance of our collective past. Join us again tomorrow for more insight into this momentous era. Until then, let's carry forward the echoes of courage and endurance that resonate from these pages into our daily lives.
If you ever have any recommendations feel free to reach out to us at [email protected]
Have a great weekend :)
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