Today in the Second World War

Welcome to today's edition of the Hidden History newsletter. As we reflect on this day in history, we remember the events that shaped the course of the war. On May 19, we highlight significant moments that took place across the globe during the war, including pivotal battles, daring operations, and critical decisions made by world leaders. We also remember the persecution of Jews and other groups by the Nazi regime, a dark chapter in human history that serves as a reminder of the importance of standing up against hate and oppression. Join us as we take a closer look at these events and explore the stories behind them.

"Even without the Allied offensive, I should have had to capitulate by June 1st at the latest as I had no more food to eat." - German General Oberst von Armin: May 1943, following the Axis surrender to the Allies in Tunisia

Chinese Air Force

Two B-10 (pilots Xu Huansheng and Tong Yanbo) and one He 111A (pilot Chen Yifan) bombers of Chinese Air Force took off from Hankou, Hubei Province, China for a leaflet mission over Kumamoto, Fukuoka, and other southern Japanese cities. The leaflets detailed atrocities committed by Japanese troops in China. This was Chinese Air Force's first mission over foreign territory. All three aircraft evaded Japanese air defenses and returned to Hankou safely.

Retreat

German General Guderian resumed his attack, capturing territories between Saint-Quentin and Péronne. His troops were now within 50 miles of the English Channel and had cut off the Allied troops in Belgium. British Expeditionary Force commander General Lord Gort issued the order to withdraw toward port cities, including Dunkirk, while Colonel de Gaulle's French 4th Armored Division made a failed attempt to attack Guderian's flank at Montcornet.

Goebbel’s Lies

The Nazi regime, under the leadership of Adolf Hitler, carried out a systematic extermination of Jewish people during World War II, a period of history known as the Holocaust. The regime's persecution of Jews began with discriminatory laws in the 1930s that deprived them of their civil rights and economic freedoms, and escalated to the point of mass murder in concentration and extermination camps across Europe.

In 1942, the Nazi leadership decided to implement the "Final Solution," which was a plan to systematically exterminate all Jews in German-occupied Europe. This plan involved rounding up Jews and transporting them to concentration and extermination camps, where they were either worked to death, starved, or murdered in gas chambers.

Joseph Goebbels, who was the Reich Minister of Propaganda in Nazi Germany, did declare Berlin Judenfrei, meaning "Free of Jews," on May 19, 1943. The declaration of Berlin as Judenfrei in 1943 was part of the Nazi propaganda campaign to portray the regime as successful and powerful. This propaganda was designed to maintain morale among the German population and to hide the atrocities that were being committed against Jews and others. The declaration also served to create the impression that the Nazi regime was successful in its quest to rid Germany of Jews.

Despite the propaganda, however, the reality was that there were still Jews living in hiding in Berlin, as well as thousands of other Germans of mixed Jewish heritage. These individuals lived in constant fear of being discovered and faced grave danger if caught by the authorities. Many of them relied on the help of non-Jewish Germans, who risked their own lives to protect them.

The Holocaust resulted in the systematic murder of six million Jews and millions of others who were considered "undesirable" by the Nazi regime. It was one of the darkest periods of human history and serves as a reminder of the dangers of hate, prejudice, and totalitarianism.

Blood for Goods

The "Blood for Goods" proposal, put forth by Joel Brand and Bandi Grosz in Istanbul on May 19, 1944, was part of a larger effort by the Nazi regime to negotiate with the Allies as the war was entering its final stages. At this point in the war, Germany was facing defeat on multiple fronts and was seeking any means possible to prolong the conflict and avoid complete surrender.

The offer was made in the context of the ongoing deportation and murder of Hungarian Jews by the Nazis and their collaborators. Hungary, an ally of Germany, had initially resisted the deportation of its Jewish population, but in 1944 the Hungarian government was replaced by a pro-Nazi regime that was willing to cooperate with the Nazis' genocidal campaign.

Joel Brand, a Hungarian Jew who had previously been involved in attempts to rescue Jews from Nazi-occupied Europe, was approached by Adolf Eichmann, a senior SS officer responsible for implementing the Final Solution. Eichmann proposed the "Blood for Goods" deal as a way to create a bargaining chip that could be used to negotiate with the Allies.

Brand was skeptical of the proposal, but he agreed to carry the message to the Allies in Istanbul. The proposal was relayed to the British authorities, who were deeply suspicious of the offer and believed that it was a ruse designed to sow distrust from the Soviet Union.

The British authorities arrested Brand and held him in custody for several months, during which time he was interrogated by British intelligence. While in custody, Brand claimed that he had been working with the Jewish Agency, a Zionist organization, and that he had hoped to use the "Blood for Goods" offer to secure the release of Jewish prisoners from concentration camps.

Despite his protestations, the British authorities were convinced that Brand was part of a Nazi plot, and he was eventually released only after the end of the war. Brand emigrated to Israel in 1948, where he became a controversial figure and was accused by some of having collaborated with the Nazis.

The "Blood for Goods" proposal is now seen as a particularly cynical and inhumane attempt by the Nazi regime to use the lives of Jewish people as bargaining chips for material goods. It highlights the extent to which the Nazi regime was willing to go in its genocidal campaign against Jewish people and other groups that were deemed undesirable by the regime.

Photo of the Day

German cruiser Admiral Hipper in dry dock at Kiel, Germany after being captured by the Allies, 19 May 1945. Note German attempts at camouflage and damage from Allied bombing.

As we conclude today's edition of the Hidden History newsletter, we hope that our coverage of the significant events that took place on May 19 has given you a deeper understanding of this pivotal period in history. We cannot forget the horrific persecution of Jews and other groups during this time, and we must continue to strive for a world where hate and discrimination have no place. Join us again tomorrow as we bring you more stories from this critical period in human history.

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Have a great weekend :)

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