Today in the Second World War

Welcome to today's edition of the Hidden History newsletter. On this day in 1945, American troops reached Shuri Castle on the island of Okinawa, Japan. This was a significant achievement for the Allied forces, as Shuri Castle was a key defensive position for the Japanese defenders and its capture marked a turning point in the battle for Okinawa. Additionally, on this day in 1942, Japanese troops completed the conquest of Burma, a critical victory for the Japanese in their efforts to expand their territory in Southeast Asia. The fall of Burma had important consequences for the Allied war effort in the region, forcing them to regroup and launch a counteroffensive to retake the territory. Join us as we explore these events and more in today's newsletter.

"I saw my enemies in Munich, and they are worms." - Adolf Hitler

Crete

German invasion of Crete, Greece began with an airborne assault at 0800 hours, capturing Maleme airfield on the northern coast. At 1615 hours and 1730 hours, the second airborne assault was conducted at Rethimnon and Heraklion, respectively; 1,856 German airborne troopers were killed during the second attack wave. At Suda Bay, Crete, German bombers sank British minesweeper HMS Widnes. After sundown, destroyers HMS Jervis, HMAS Nizam, and HMS Ilex bombarded the German-controlled airfield on the Greek island of Karpathos.

Operation Rheinübung Unravelling

During the early stages of World War II, the German navy was a formidable force, and the British navy was struggling to keep up. The Bismarck was one of the most powerful battleships in the German fleet, and its mission was to disrupt Allied shipping in the Atlantic. The ship was a major threat to Allied naval operations and had already sunk the British battleship HMS Hood.

After sinking the HMS Hood, the Bismarck was spotted by a British aircraft, and a massive naval hunt began. However, despite the British efforts, the Bismarck managed to evade the British navy and disappear into the North Atlantic. The British were determined to locate the ship and stop it from causing further damage to Allied shipping.

The sighting by the Swedish seaplane-cruiser Gotland on May 20 was a critical break in the search for the Bismarck. The Gotland was on a routine patrol in the Kattegat when it spotted the Bismarck and the Prinz Eugen sailing towards the North Sea. The Swedish navy promptly passed on this information to the British naval attaché in Stockholm, Henry Denham.

Denham realized the significance of the information and immediately relayed it to the British Admiralty. The British navy then dispatched a task force to the North Atlantic to intercept the Bismarck. After a few days of intense naval battles, the Bismarck was eventually sunk by British ships on May 27, 1941.

The sinking of the Bismarck was a significant victory for the Allies during World War II. The loss of the Bismarck dealt a severe blow to the German navy's morale and marked the end of their naval supremacy. The event also highlighted the importance of intelligence-sharing among allies during times of war.

In conclusion, the Swedish seaplane-cruiser Gotland's sighting of the Bismarck was a crucial event that played a significant role in the Allies' victory during the Battle of Atlantic. The intelligence provided by the Swedish navy allowed the British to locate and sink the Bismarck, which was a turning point in the war.

The Fall of Burma

The conquest of Burma by Japanese forces in 1942 was a significant military achievement for the Japanese in their efforts to expand their territory in Southeast Asia. Burma was a British colony at the time, and it was strategically important due to its location between India and China. The Japanese invasion of Burma was part of their broader campaign in Southeast Asia, which aimed to secure resources such as oil, rubber, and minerals for their war effort.

The Japanese launched their invasion of Burma on January 22, 1942, with a force of approximately 100,000 troops. They quickly overran the Allied defenses and captured Rangoon, the capital city, on March 8. The Allied forces, which included British, Indian, and Chinese troops, were forced to retreat northward and regroup.

The Japanese continued to advance northward into Burma, encountering fierce resistance from the Allied forces. However, the Japanese were able to outmaneuver and outflank the Allied troops, and by May 20, 1942, they had conquered all of Burma. The fall of Burma was a significant setback for the Allies, as it cut off a vital supply line between India and China.

The Japanese occupation of Burma was characterized by brutality and suffering for the Burmese people. The Japanese implemented a policy of forced labor and conscription, which resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Burmese civilians. They also used the country as a base for their operations in Southeast Asia, launching attacks on India and other Allied territories from Burma.

The conquest of Burma in 1942 had important consequences for the Allied war effort in the region. The Allies were forced to regroup and launch a counteroffensive to retake Burma, which they were eventually able to accomplish in 1945. The conquest of Burma also demonstrated the Japanese military's effectiveness in jungle warfare and gave them control of a vital transportation route in Southeast Asia.

Midway Confirmed

The Japanese, having intercepted the fake message regarding Midway Atoll's water distiller breaking down, reported to the invasion fleet the news and advised the fleet to take on additional supplies of fresh water. This message was intercepted by the US Navy radio intelligence team at Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii, and it allowed the US to confirm that the target of the next Japanese offensive was indeed Midway Atoll. In response, US Navy and Marine Corps dispatched reinforcements to Midway Atoll and the Aleutian Islands in expectation of an assault. On the same day, US Navy intelligence also intercepted a Japanese message containing the order of battle for the Midway Atoll and Aleutian Islands assaults; this message would be decrypted over the next several days.

Wunderwaffe

Members of the Polish underground captured a top secret V2 rocket intact. Since the Germans set up a test site at Bliza, Poland, the underground had operated a chain of small units responsible for bearing the Germans to the sites of crashed test rockets and salvaging whatever they could before the soldiers arrived. One V2 landed in a marsh close to the banks of the River Bug 80 miles east of Warsaw. The resistance got there first and found it sticking out of the mud. They pushed it deeper into the water to hide it and later dismantled the missile and flew vital parts to England, United Kingdom via an RAF Dakota aircraft.

Shuri Castle

On May 20, 1945, American troops reached Shuri Castle on the island of Okinawa, Japan. The Battle of Okinawa was one of the bloodiest battles of World War II, and it was a critical campaign in the Pacific theater. The capture of Shuri Castle was a significant achievement for the American forces, as it was a key defensive position for the Japanese defenders.

Shuri Castle was located on a hill overlooking the city of Naha, and it was the headquarters for the Japanese 32nd Army. The Japanese defenders had heavily fortified the area, with underground tunnels, bunkers, and pillboxes. The American forces, which included soldiers from the US Army and Marines, faced fierce resistance from the Japanese defenders.

The battle for Shuri Castle was part of a broader campaign to secure the island of Okinawa, which was a critical location for the Allies as they prepared for a potential invasion of the Japanese mainland. The battle lasted for nearly three months, with heavy casualties on both sides. The American forces were eventually able to secure the castle and the surrounding area, which marked a turning point in the battle.

The capture of Shuri Castle was a significant achievement for the American forces, as it allowed them to establish a foothold on the island and continue their advance towards the north. However, the battle for Okinawa was far from over, as the Japanese defenders continued to resist fiercely until the end of the campaign in June 1945. The Battle of Okinawa was a critical campaign in the Pacific theater and had important consequences for the eventual Allied victory in World War II.

Photo of the Day

US Marines surveying a suspected Japanese position, Shuri, Okinawa, Japan, May 1945.

That's all for today's edition of the Hidden History newsletter. We hope you found our coverage of the events of May 20 informative and insightful. The events of this day in 1942 and 1945 had important consequences for the Allied and Axis powers in the war, and their impact is still felt today. Join us again tomorrow as we continue to explore the history and legacy of World War II.

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Have a great weekend :)

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