Today in the Second World War

The 28th of April

Author

Hidden History
April 28, 2024

Today, we commemorate a host of pivotal events and critical decisions that unfolded during World War II on April 28th. As we explore these moments, we bring to light the strategic moves, heroic acts, and profound sacrifices that defined the era. This issue offers a deep dive into the historical significance of these events, featuring expert analyses, archival content, and narratives that resonate with the courage and complexity of wartime. Join us as we honor the past and draw lessons that continue to influence our future.

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“Without ships, we cannot live.” – on the importance of winning the War in the Atlantic - British Prime Minister Winston Churchill

War Looming?

1939: In a two-hour speech to the German Reichstag which was widely broadcast around the world, Adolf Hitler repudiated the Anglo-German Naval Agreement and expressed the wish to annex Danzig. In regards to the recent British-Polish treaty, Hitler claimed that it broke the terms of the 1934 German-Polish non-aggression treaty, thus the 1934 agreement was now void; he was, however, willing to negotiate a new one with Poland. Finally, addressing US President Franklin Roosevelt's letter of 14 Apr 1939, in which Roosevelt requested Germany to guarantee the borders of 31 nations, Hitler noted the result of the subsequent survey that revealed most of the nations (Poland excluded) responded they were not at all threatened by Germany.

Hitler giving a speech in the Reichstag

Hunt

1941: German armed merchant cruiser Pinguin attacked British ship Clan Buchanan in the Arabian Sea 1,200 miles east of Mogadishu, British Somaliland. Before the crew of 110 surrendered and the ship scuttled, a distress signal was sent out, and British warships were dispatched to the area to hunt for Pinguin.

Pinguin in the Indian Ocean 1941.

Massive Loss

1943: American submarine USS Gudgeon spotted the 17,526-ton Japanese troop carrier Kamakura Maru sailing unescorted in the Sulu Sea 15 miles southwest of Naso Point, panay Island, Philippine Islands. Gudgeon fired a spread of four torpedoes at the Japanese vessel at 3,200 yards range. After two minutes there were two explosions. The Kamakura Maru was hit twice on her starboard side at the No. 4 hold where fuel and vehicles immediately catch fire which rapidly spread. Twelve minutes after the strike there was an explosion and the ship upended and sank by the stern. The US submarine passed through the area where the ship sank and reported a dozen lifeboats and floating debris and a large amount of people in the water. The Japanese crew failed to send out a distress signal before the ship sank, thus no one suspected its loss until 3 May 1945. The Kamakura Maru was the largest Japanese troopship sunk in the war; over 2,000 lives were lost with this sinking.

Kamakura Maru arriving at Yokohama with the ashes of the four submariners killed in the attack on Sydney Harbour

Trade

1944: Oberleutnant Wilhelm Johnen, Staffelkapitän of German night fighter Squadron 5./NJG 5, whilst chasing an RAF bomber strayed into Swiss airspace where he was hit by flak and forced to land at Dübendorf where his Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4B./R3, which was equipped with the latest Lichtenstein SN-2b radar, was interned by the Swiss authorities. Fearful that the top-secret radar (which was the Luftwaffe's answer to the Allies "Window" anti-radar system) might fall into the hands of the Allies, the Germans eventually traded twelve new Bf 109G fighters in exchange for a Swiss guarantee that the interned aircraft with its new radar would be completely destroyed.

FuG 220 and FuG 202 (centre) "Lichtenstein" SN-2 VHF band, and B/C UHF band night fighter radar antennas on the nose of a Bf 110 G-4 being serviced by Luftwaffe ground crew on Grove airfield, Denmark postwar in August 1945, before the aircraft was sent to the UK for research.

Photo of the Day

Sunderland flying boats in Kalamata Harbor waiting to pick up British troops for evacuation, Kalamata, Greece, Apr 28, 1941.

Bonus Photo

Franklin anchored in New York Harbor, New York, United States, 28 Apr 1945

As we close this edition, we hope that the stories and insights from April 28th during World War II have deepened your understanding and appreciation of this complex period. Thank you for joining us on this historical journey. We look forward to bringing you more enlightening content in our next issue. Until then, continue to explore the past and the profound impact it has on our present.

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

Have a great week :)

Recommended Books:

The Ghost That Died at Sunda Strait by W. G. Winslow

Recounting the last stand of the heavy cruiser Houston, this tale of survival brings to life the 1942 battle at Sunda Strait.

Lost at Guadalcanal: The Final Battles of the Astoria and Chicago as Described by Survivors and in Official Reports by John J. Domagalski

The dramatic account of two American warships in the South Pacific, this book follows the USS Astoria (CA–34) and USS Chicago (CA–29) during the late summer of 1942, when both participated in the early days of the critical battle for Guadalcanal. Drawing on a variety of firsthand accounts, some previously unpublished, the book tells the story from the perspective of the men aboard each ship, transporting readers inside the gun turrets, behind the lookout binoculars, and below deck as the battle rages. Individual stories of heroism, sacrifice and survival unfold as both vessels meet their fates in the South Pacific.

The Sinking of the Bismarck: The History of the Battle that Destroyed Nazi Germany’s Most Famous Battleship by Charles River Editors 

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