Today in the Second World War

Welcome to today’s edition of the Hidden History Newsletter! In this edition, we will take a look at some of the key events that occurred during World War II on this day in history. From military operations and battles to significant political developments, we will bring you a concise summary of the most important events that shaped the course of the war. Join us as we delve into the past and explore the fascinating history of the Second World War!

“In war, whichever side may call itself the victor, there are no winners, but all are losers.” - Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain

A Grim Discovery

On this day in 1943, the Germans announced the discovery of over 4,000 bodies of Polish officers, reportedly deported by the Soviets in 1940, in a mass grave near Smolensk, Russia. The bodies were those of Polish officers who had been captured by the Soviet Union in 1939 after the invasion of Poland, and were later executed on the orders of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. The mass grave became known as the Katyn Massacre.

The Katyn Massacre was a mass execution of nearly 22,000 Polish military officers, policemen, and other officials by Soviet secret police (NKVD) in 1940. The officers had been captured by the Soviet Union after their invasion of Poland in 1939, and were imprisoned in various camps in western Russia and Ukraine.

In early 1940, the Soviet authorities decided to execute the Polish officers, claiming they were "enemies of the people" and that they posed a threat to Soviet security. The majority of the killings took place at three different sites, with the largest group being executed in the Katyn Forest near Smolensk.

The massacre was initially blamed on the Nazis, who had discovered the mass graves after invading the Soviet Union in 1941. However, evidence later emerged that the Soviet secret police had been responsible for the killings. The Soviet Union denied responsibility for the massacre for decades, blaming it on the Nazis.

It was not until 1990, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, that the Russian government finally acknowledged Soviet responsibility for the massacre. In 2010, the Russian parliament officially recognized the Katyn Massacre as a war crime and apologized to the Polish people.

The Katyn Massacre remains a controversial and sensitive issue in Poland and Russia, and has been the subject of ongoing debate and discussion. It is considered one of the most significant war crimes of World War II and serves as a reminder of the brutality and inhumanity of war that occurred on both sides during the conflict.

Hitler Shuffles his Minions

Adolf Hitler named Martin Bormann as his personal secretary on this day in 1943, and Bormann remained in that role until the end of the war. As Hitler's secretary, Bormann had significant influence over the day-to-day operations of the Nazi regime.

Bormann had been a member of the Nazi Party since the early 1920s and had risen through the ranks to become one of Hitler's most trusted advisors. In his role as secretary, Bormann controlled access to Hitler and was responsible for managing the flow of information to and from the Führer.

Bormann was known for his ruthless and efficient management style and was instrumental in the implementation of the Nazi policy of "total war." He oversaw the mobilization of the German economy for war production and was responsible for the forced labor program that utilized millions of prisoners of war and concentration camp inmates as slave laborers.

Bormann's influence over Hitler was significant, and he played a key role in shaping Nazi policy during the war. He was particularly influential in the area of propaganda and was responsible for the dissemination of Nazi ideology through the media and other channels.

After the war, Bormann was tried in absentia and sentenced to death for war crimes and crimes against humanity. However, his fate remained a mystery for many years, as his whereabouts were unknown. It was not until 1972 that his remains were positively identified, buried in Berlin under what had been a parking lot.

Japan’s Desperation Grows

Operation Kikusui No. 2 was a major air campaign launched by the Japanese military during the Battle of Okinawa in World War II. The operation was designed to inflict heavy damage on Allied naval forces operating in the waters off the coast of Okinawa, and involved the use of a large number of special attack or "kamikaze" aircraft.

On April 12, 1945, during the second phase of Operation Kikusui, the Japanese launched a massive aerial assault on Allied ships off the coast of Okinawa. About 125 Japanese Navy and 60 Japanese Army special attack and escorting aircraft participated in the attack.

During the assault, the destroyer USS Mannert L. Abele was hit by a Japanese Ohka piloted bomb, becoming the first ship to be struck by an Ohka and the only one to be sunk by one. The Ohka was a manned flying bomb that was launched from a carrier plane and was designed to strike enemy ships at high speed.

The attack on the Abele resulted in the deaths of 84 crew members, including the ship's commanding officer. The ship sank quickly, with only a few survivors able to escape before she went down.

The sinking of the Abele was a significant blow to the Allied forces, as it demonstrated the effectiveness of the Japanese kamikaze tactics and highlighted the dangers faced by Allied ships operating off the coast of Okinawa. The loss of the Abele was one of many suffered by the Allies during the Battle of Okinawa, which was one of the bloodiest and most intense battles of the Pacific War.

The Death of an American Icon

Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States, passed away on April 12, 1945, of a cerebral hemorrhage. He had complained of a severe headache while sitting for a portrait painting session with artist Elizabeth Shoumatoff at the Little White House in Warm Springs, Georgia.

FDR had been in declining health for some time and had suffered from a number of health problems, including high blood pressure and heart disease. However, his sudden death still came as a shock to the American people and had significant political implications, as he was in the midst of his fourth term as President and the country was still fighting in World War II.

Roosevelt's death led to the swearing-in of Vice President Harry S. Truman as President, who would go on to make important decisions regarding the end of the war and the post-war world order. FDR's legacy as a transformative figure in American politics and a key figure in the Allied victory in World War II remains significant to this day.

The death of Franklin D. Roosevelt on April 12, 1945, had a significant impact on the Second World War. At the time of his death, Roosevelt was serving his fourth term as President of the United States, and he had played a crucial role in guiding the country through the war. His death gave some much needed belief to the Nazi cause during a critical time period.

One of the most immediate impacts of FDR's death was the sudden elevation of Harry S. Truman to the presidency. Truman was relatively unknown at the time and had only been Vice President for a few months. He had not been closely involved in the wartime decision-making process and had not been privy to the same level of information and intelligence as Roosevelt.

Truman faced a steep learning curve in his new role, and his inexperience was a cause for concern for many in the military and diplomatic establishments. However, Truman quickly proved himself to be a capable leader, and he went on to make some of the most consequential decisions of the war, including the decision to drop atomic bombs on Japan.

Another impact of FDR's death was the loss of his leadership and vision for the post-war world order. Roosevelt had played a key role in shaping the United Nations and other international organizations that would be established after the war, and his death left a significant leadership vacuum in this area.

Finally, FDR's death had a profound emotional impact on the American people and the Allied forces. Roosevelt had been a beloved and charismatic leader, and his death was a shock to many who had looked to him for guidance and inspiration throughout the war. His legacy as a transformative figure in American politics and a key figure in the Allied victory in World War II remains significant to this day.

Photo of the Day

High school girls from Chiran, Kagoshima, Japan waving cherry blossom branches to bid farewell to Lt Toshio Anazawa of Japanese Army 20th Shinbu Special Attack Unit in Ki-43 Hayabusa, 12 Apr 1945.

That concludes today's edition of our daily WW2 newsletter for April 12th. April 12th saw more political implications than any previous day that we have gone over. Martin Bormann would become one of the central controlling figures of Hitler’s inner circle, and the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt had significant implications. FDR was the key figure guiding America through its war effort and his death put uncertainty into the air during the critical closing stages of the war. The desperation of Japan using more and more extreme weapons only highlights what a critical and changing period these months were in 1945. We hope you found today's summary informative and engaging. Thank you for reading and see you tomorrow!

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Have a great week :)

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