Today in the Second World War

Welcome to today’s edition of the Hidden History Newsletter! On this day, May 5, we remember some of the significant events that took place during World War II. From the European Theater to the Pacific Theater, this day witnessed some pivotal moments that shaped the course of the war. In this edition, we'll explore some of these events, including Adolf Hitler's visit to the German naval yard at Gdynia to inspect battleships Bismarck and Tirpitz, and Oberleutnant Heinz Schäffer's decision to head for Argentina instead of returning home per President Karl Dönitz's orders. Join us as we delve into the details of these historical events and reflect on their significance in shaping the outcome of World War II.

"Whenever I think of this attack, my stomach turns over." - Heinz Guderian prior to the assault on Kursk

The Führer’s Ship

Adolf Hitler visited the German naval yard at Gdynia (then known as Gotenhafen) in Poland on May 5, 1941. During his visit, he inspected several ships, including the battleships Bismarck and Tirpitz.

Hitler's visit to the naval yard at Gdynia was part of a larger tour of German military facilities in occupied Poland. During his inspection of the Bismarck and Tirpitz, Hitler was reportedly impressed by the size and firepower of the two battleships. The visit was intended to boost morale among German troops and to demonstrate the strength of the German military to the Polish people.

The Bismarck and Tirpitz were both powerful warships of the German Navy during World War II. The Bismarck famously sank the British battleship HMS Hood on May 24, 1941, before being pursued and ultimately sunk by British forces a few days later. The Tirpitz, meanwhile, was the largest battleship in the German Navy and served as a significant threat to Allied shipping in the North Atlantic.

Hitler's inspection of the Bismarck and Tirpitz was meant to demonstrate his support for the German Navy and to showcase the strength of Germany's naval forces. However, the loss of the Bismarck just a few weeks after his visit was a major blow to the German Navy and a significant victory for the Allies. The Tirpitz continued to serve in the war until it was finally sunk by British bombers in November 1944.

Battle in the Skies

The USAAF 44th Bomber Group dispatched 21 B-24 Liberator bombers from their base at Shipham, Norfolk on England's east coast to join a raid on the submarine building yards of Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft in Kiel, Germany. They joined a force of 125 B-17 Flying Fortress bombers from other units, making them the only B-24 Liberator bombers participating. The group earned their first Unit Citation in what would be a memorable action. German anti-aircraft fire was terrific and German fighters engaged the aircraft on both the fight to and from the target. The group claimed 32 aircraft destroyed, five probables and many damaged. The 67th Squadron lost all three of their aircraft flying as the tail end Charlies, the 68th and 506th both had an aircraft shot down whilst the Liberator piloted by Lieutenant Reed of the 66th Squadron was so severely damaged by fighters and anti-aircraft fire that he ordered the crew to bail out whilst he headed out to sea and jumped. The control tower at the Shipham base, not wanting the runways blocked, diverted one of the homeward 506th aircraft to another base due to noticing how much damage they had suffered plus the tyres being shot flat. The aircraft made it all the way to Belfast in Ireland where the pilot made a landing without any incident. The 44th was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for its conduct on this operation; this was the first such honour granted to a combat unit of the 8th Air Force. In 1991 Lieutenant Colonel Tom Holmes, then a Captain in the 68th Squadron wrote a piece about the action including a brush with an enemy fighter: "One fighter came in so close and so straight at us I couldn't see how we could avoid running into him. Occasionally the fighter pilots would be shot and come in out of control, taking one or two bombers with them. But this fighter was coming directly at us from just slightly above and a little to our left. At the very last moment it looked as if there was no way to avoid a head-on collision and I ducked my head to get set for the collision which, miraculously, never took place.

U-Boat’s Daring Escape to Argentina

During World War II, Oberleutnant Heinz Schäffer was the commander of the German submarine U-977, which was a Type VII C submarine. In April 1945, Schäffer received orders to surrender his submarine to the British at the naval base in Loch Eriboll, Scotland. However, after Germany had already surrendered to the Allies, Schäffer decided to disobey these orders and head for Argentina instead on May 5, 1945.

The decision to head for Argentina was not an easy one. Schäffer and his crew had to navigate treacherous waters and avoid detection by Allied ships and aircraft. They also had to endure severe food and water shortages, as well as other hardships.

According to Schäffer's account, he feared mistreatment or execution if he surrendered to the Allies, whom he regarded as his enemies. He believed that he and his crew would be safer in Argentina, which was a neutral country during the war. Schäffer also claimed that he had received secret orders from President Karl Dönitz to take the submarine to Argentina, but these orders have never been confirmed.

After a voyage of several months, U-977 arrived in Mar del Plata, Argentina, on August 17, 1945. The crew surrendered the submarine to Argentine authorities and were interned for several years before being granted asylum.

Schäffer's decision to head for Argentina has been the subject of controversy and debate among historians. Some have suggested that he may have been trying to cover up his involvement in war crimes or other illegal activities, or that he may have been acting on his own initiative rather than following orders. Others have argued that he and his crew were simply trying to save their own lives in the face of an uncertain future.

After the war, Schäffer and some of his crew members wrote books about their experiences, which have added to the controversy surrounding the U-977's voyage. Some historians have criticized these accounts as being unreliable or self-serving, while others have defended them as important sources of information about the experiences of German submariners during the war.

Balloon Bombs

Japanese balloon bombs floated across the Pacific Ocean, landing and detonating in Oregon in the United States, killing 6. A minister from Bly, Oregon, United States, his pregnant wife, and five children from their Sunday School class ages 11 to 14 traveled to Gearhart Mountain a short distance east of Bly for an outing. As the minister was parking his car, his wife called to him that the children had found something. Almost instantly, a bomb exploded killing all six onlookers. Analysis revealed they were killed by a Japanese 15kg anti-personnel bomb from a Fu-Go balloon. These six fatalities were the only Americans killed by enemy action in the continental US during World War II. This incident also led to the lifting of the press blackout concerning the balloon bombs and prompted a well-publicized educational effort to warn people about the hazards of handling Japanese balloons or their components.

Mutiny on the High Seas

Minesweeper M612 as commissioned into service very late in the war, on 1 Apr 1945, and was assigned to 12th Minesweeper Flotilla. On 4 May 1945, the ship was ordered to set sail for the German Baltic coast line to evacuate German troops surrounded by the Soviets. On the next day, some of the crew mutinied, locking the officers in a cabin. Suspecting that the end of the war was imminent, they set sail for Flensburg, Germany, the temporary capital of Nazi Germany after the death of Adolf Hitler, so that the crew would not needlessly lose their lives when the end was near. They were stopped by a German torpedo boat off the coast of southeastern Denmark, and the crew members responsible for the mutiny were arrested. A quick military trial was held, with 11 crew members found guilty, and all 11 were executed aboard M612 in the evening. Their bodies were dumped into the sea; 7 bodies would drift ashore later and were given a proper burial. After the war, M612 remained in service, clearing mines under the German Mine Sweeping Administration, an organization under the control of the Allied occupation administration. She was broken up for scrapping in the United Kingdom in 1948.

Photo of the Day

Rings left by Buchenwald concentration camp victims, 5 May 1945.

That concludes today's edition of the Hidden History Newsletter. We hope you found our coverage of the significant events that took place on May 5 informative and insightful. As we reflect on the events of the past, we honor the sacrifices made by those who fought and served during World War II. Join us tomorrow for another edition of the Hidden History Newsletter, as we continue to explore the history and legacy of the Second World War. Thank you for reading.

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