Today in the Second World War

On October 14th, within the storm of the 1940s' World War II, distinct narratives of courage, pivotal decisions, and unexpected outcomes converged to shape the war's trajectory. Today, we journey back to this very date, unearthing the stories and strategic moves that stand as pillars in the global conflict's expansive timeline. Join us in our exploration of October 14th, a day rich with the nuances of history and human endeavor.

"The fruits of victory are tumbling into our mouths too quickly." - Emperor Hirohito (On his Birthday) - 29th April 1942

Daring Attack

1939: Date: In the early hours of 14 October 1939.

Location: Scapa Flow, located in the Orkney Islands off the northeastern coast of Scotland, was the primary naval base for the British Home Fleet during both World Wars.

German Submarine U-47: Commanded by Kapitänleutnant Günther Prien. The U-47 was able to slip past the blockships and barriers that were meant to protect the anchorage.

The Attack: After maneuvering around Scapa Flow, Prien identified his target, the HMS Royal Oak, a Revenge-class battleship. He launched a series of torpedoes. The first salvo missed its target, but the second hit the Royal Oak, causing catastrophic damage. The battleship quickly listed to the side, eventually turning upside down and sinking.

Aftermath: As you mentioned, 833 of the 1,257 crew members aboard were killed, marking one of the first significant British naval losses of the war.

Escape: After the attack, U-47 successfully navigated out of Scapa Flow and returned to Germany, where Prien and his crew were hailed as heroes.

Significance: The attack was a significant propaganda victory for Nazi Germany. It also highlighted vulnerabilities in British defenses, prompting significant upgrades to the protective measures around Scapa Flow and other key naval bases.

Günther Prien was given the nickname "Der Stier von Scapa Flow" (The Bull of Scapa Flow) after the mission, and he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for his role in the attack. However, his success was short-lived, as he and his crew were later lost in action aboard U-47 in March 1941.

Heavy Loss

1941: The Soviet troops in the Bryansk pocket in Russia were eliminated (50,000 captured), while the Vyazma pocket was within days of the same fate. In Berlin, Germany, Adolf Hitler ordered that the Soviet capital of Moscow was to be enveloped, not attacked directly. Meanwhile, in Moscow, Joseph Stalin briefed 23 senior Soviet military and civilian officials between 1530 and 1815 hours on a plan to evacuate the city in an orderly fashion; he ordered four theater groups (Lenin State Theater, Maxim Gorkiy Artistic Academic Theater, Little Academic Theater, and Vakhtangov Theater) to be evacuated first.

Ingenious Escape

1942: British Lieutenant Commander William Stephens and three pals escaped the notorious Colditz Castle in Saxony, Germany, prompted by signals from an orchestra conducted by legless RAF ace Douglas Bader, and with fake identifications fled Germany by trains and on foot.

Grand Score

1943: Oberleutnant Walter Nowotny, Commanding officer of the I/JG54 group, became the first pilot in the world to achieve 250 kills, for which feat he would receive Germany's second highest award, Diamonds to his Knight's Cross medal, awarded to him by Adolf Hitler.

Brave Rebellion

1944: Prisoners at Sobibór concentration camp in occupied Poland, led by Byelorussian Jew Alexander Pechersky, killed 11 SS officers and seized the armory. 158 prisoners were killed during this action. Of those who succeeded in escaping, 53 were killed outside the camp, and 107 were captured and executed. Only 58 avoided capture; many of them would join partisan units.

The Desert Fox No More

1944: German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel committed suicide with a cyanide capsule given by General Wilhelm Burgdorf.

Rising Tensions

1945: Angered by Japanese troops' refusal to surrender their weapons to the local Indonesian nationalist youth organization, Indonesians massacred several hundred Japanese civilians in Semarang, Java, Indonesia. Japanese troops soon began to retaliate against Indonesian fighters.

Photo of the Day

Lexington leaving San Diego, California, 14 Oct 1941, with F2A-1 fighters parked forward, SBD scout-bombers amidships, and TBD-1 torpedo bombers aft.

As the curtain falls on our exploration of October 14th's events during World War II, we are left with a profound appreciation for the intricacies and indomitable spirit that characterize this era. The tales we've recounted today are not just stories of the past, but lessons for our present and beacons for the future. Thank you for sharing in this journey of remembrance with us. Tomorrow, another day awaits with its own unique chronicles from the vast expanse of the war. Until then, let history's wisdom guide and inspire.

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Have a great weekend :)

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