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As we move deeper into the month of April, we continue to explore significant events and personal stories from World War II that occurred on this day. This issue is packed with analyses of pivotal battles, key decisions, and the courageous actions of individuals who shaped history. From strategic victories to the resilience of the human spirit, join us as we delve into the details and uncover the lasting impacts of these events on today’s world.
Today’s Video: https://youtu.be/K1F_pKgSjTk
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“In War: Resolution. In Defeat: Defiance. In Victory: Magnanimity. In Peace: Good Will.” - British Prime Minister Winston Churchill
Evacuation
1941: German paratroopers attacked the Corinth Canal bridge in Greece early in the morning; the bridge was blown up as the German approached; by the end of the day, however, German engineers would erect temporary crossings at this point of the canal. Overnight, 8,300 Allied troops were evacuated from beaches south of Athens while 12,950 were evacuated from beaches on the Peloponnese Peninsula. German aircraft sank Greek torpedo boat Kydonia and 3 other ships on this date. To the north in Yugoslavia, British destroyer HMS Defender evacuated the crown jewels of Yugoslavia.
The Royal Navy destroyer HMS Defender (H07) underway in the 1930s.
Total Power
1942: A law passed by the German Reichstag granted Hitler the right to change laws by decree without discussion by the Reichstag. The German dictator had now been given complete despotic power and Germany has ceased to be a state whose structure was based on the rule of law.
Hitler in the Reichstag
Luftwaffe and the End
1945: Hanna Reitsch attempted to convince Magda Goebbels at the Führerbunker in Berlin, Germany to let her take the Goebbels children to safety, but Goebbels refused to yield. In the evening, Adolf Hitler gave Reitsch a vial of poison before sending her on a mission out of Berlin, in case of her capture by the Soviets.
German pilot Eduard Schallmoser's Me 262 jet fighter was shot down by an American fighter. Amazingly, he parachuted into his mother's garden, who told him to clean up while she cooked him dinner. Schallmoser would return to base on the next day.
Adolf Hitler awards Hanna Reitsch the Iron Cross 2nd Class in March 1941
Photo of the Day
Kluge, Himmler, Dönitz, and Keitel at the funeral service of Colonel General Hans Hube, 26 Apr 1944
Bonus Photo
British Army convoy of Canadian Chevrolet CMP 3-ton trucks crossing a temporary bridge in Burma on their way to Rangoon (now Yangon), 26 Apr 1945.
We hope you found this edition enlightening and engaging as we revisited the significant events of April 26th during World War II. Thank you for your passion for history and for joining us in honoring the legacy of those who lived through these defining times. We look forward to sharing more insights and stories in our upcoming issues. Until then, keep the spirit of discovery alive and continue to reflect on the lessons history teaches us.
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Have a great week :)
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