Today in the Second World War

The 17th of September

Author

Hidden History
September 17, 2024

Welcome to the September 17 edition of our WWII newsletter. Today, we highlight critical events that marked significant shifts in the war's progress, from major military operations to crucial strategic decisions that reverberated across the globe. On this day, forces on multiple fronts made daring moves that would alter the course of the conflict. As we delve into these defining moments, we remember the bravery and determination that shaped this tumultuous period. Let’s take a closer look at the key events of September 17 and their profound impact on the trajectory of World War II.

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“The fruits of victory are tumbling into our mouths too quickly.” – 29th April 1942 (Speaking on his birthday) - Emperor Hirohito

New Allies

1939: In Poland, German troops captured Kutno west of Warsaw. East of Warsaw, Heinz Guderian's XIX Panzerkorps of Army Group North made contact with XXII Panzerkorps of Army Group South, just to the south of Brest-Litovsk; virtually the whole Polish Army (or what remained of it) was now trapped within a gigantic double pincer. In Russia, Joseph Stalin declared that the government of Poland no longer existed, thus all treaties between the two states were no longer valid; Soviet troops poured across the border to join Germany in the invasion, ostensibly to protect Ukrainian and Byelorussian interests from potential German aggression.

Soviet forces crossing the Polish border, 17 Sep 1939

No Survivors

1940: British Swordfish torpedo bombers from carrier HMS Illustrious attacked the port of Benghazi, Libya, bombing shipping and laying mines. Italian destroyer Borea was sunk by torpedoes and destroyer Aquilone was damaged by a mine. Italian merchant ships Gloria Stella and Maria Eugenia were also sunk.

Borea at high speed

Sealion

1940: Hitler postponed Operation Sealion via order Nr. 00 761/40 g. Kdos., ordering that no new barges would arrive, but those that were already there (1700 barges and 200 ships, capable of carrying 500,000 men) would remain. British intelligence would continue to think that a German invasion was still probable; as a result, Churchill announced to the Parliament on this date that the next few weeks would be "grave and anxious".

Initial German plan

Loose Lips

1941: At a conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, German physicist Werner Heisenberg warned his mentor Niels Bohr that Germany had embarked on atomic weapon research and gave him a drawing of a reactor as proof.

Werner Heisenberg

Leashed

1941: At Adolf Hitler's Wolfsschanze headquarters in East Prussia, Germany, Erich Raeder once again asked Hitler for permission to attack American shipping; Hitler again rejected him.

Erich Raeder

To the Death

1942: In Stalingrad, Russia, German and Soviet troops engaged in heavy fighting at the Mamayev Kurgan hill, the Central Station, the grain elevator, and the apartment building soon to be named Pavlov's House. Also in the city, German troops advanced along the Tsaritsa River toward the banks of the Volga River where Soviet reinforcements were arriving from the other side.

Mamayev Kurgan hill

Photo of the Day

Koryu Type D submarines in an assembly shed at the Mitsubishi shipyard, Nagasaki, Japan, 17 Sep 1945

Bonus Photo

A Loyd carrier of the anti-tank platoon of 3rd Battalion, Irish Guards exploded during British XXX Corps' advance toward Eindhoven, Noord-Brabant, the Netherlands, 17 Sep 1944

As we close today’s edition, the events of September 17 stand as powerful reminders of the strategic decisions and acts of bravery that altered the course of World War II. Each day brings us closer to understanding the immense sacrifices made during this global conflict. Thank you for joining us as we reflect on these significant moments in history. Be sure to return tomorrow for more insights into the war that shaped our modern world. Until then, let the stories of the past continue to inspire and inform us.

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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