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Welcome back to the Hidden History Newsletter, your source for history, heroes, and hard truths from the darkest days of the twentieth century. Our mission is to dive deep into these historical narratives, shining a light on the unseen corners of this epoch-defining conflict, bringing you the untold tales of bravery, technological leaps, strategic maneuvers, and the indomitable spirit that have echoed through the years. Thank you for joining us in honoring these moments of our shared past - may they continue to shape our present and guide our future.
"Like so many of our people, we have now had a personal experience of German barbarity which only strengthens the resolution of all of us to fight through to final victory." - King George VI - September 1940
Smolensk Falls
Smolensk, Russia fell under German control with the surrender of Soviet Sixteenth and Twentieth Armies; 300,000 Soviet troops became prisoners of war.
German and Soviet movements near Smolensk, 10 July – 4 August.
World Traveler
Japanese submarine I-30 arrived at Lorient, France, disembarking 3,300 pounds of mica, 1,452 pounds of shellac, and blueprints of the Type 91 aerial torpedo.
I-30 enters a U-Boat pen : Lorient, France 1942.
Reality of War
The neutral Turkish ship, Mefküre, sailing from Romania to Istanbul, Turkey with 325 passengers, mainly Jews fleeing from Romania, Poland, and Hungary, was torpedoed, shelled and sunk by an unidentified submarine, believed to be the Soviet submarine SC-215. The survivors were machine gunned in the water and only 11 escaped. The dead included 37 children.
Monument to the vessels Struma and Mefküre in Ashdod, Israel.
Liberation
Polish resistance fighters of Battalion Zoska, under the command of Waclaw Micuta) captured Warsaw Concentration Camp in the ghetto of Warsaw, Poland. Though small in size, this camp was the first camp with live prisoners to be captured by a military unit fighting for the Allied war effort. Some of the liberated Jewish prisoners immediately took up arms and joined the resistance.
Barracks and watchtowers of KL Warschau during capture of the concentration camp by Battalion Zośka, 5 August 1944.
Treasure
The missing items from the Holy Roman Empire Imperial Regalia collection were found hidden under a school in Nürnberg, Germany.
Checking the Imperial Regalia at delivery in 1946 in Austria's central bank Oesterreichische Nationalbank in Vienna, National Archives Washington, DC.
Photo of the Day
Search and rescue dog Rip atop a pile of rubble after an air raid on Poplar, London, England, United Kingdom, 5 August 1941.
As we draw today's edition of the Hidden History Newsletter to a close, we thank you for journeying with us through the poignant narratives and lessons of August 5 during the global conflict that reshaped our world. Your engagement and thirst for knowledge not only keep the past alive but foster a deeper understanding of our collective history, showcasing human resilience and courage during times of adversity. We invite you to join us again tomorrow as we turn another page in our exploration of World War II, deepening our understanding and commemoration of the moments that have left an indelible mark on humanity.
If you ever have any recommendations feel free to reach out to us at [email protected]
Have a great weekend :)
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