Today in the Second World War

Welcome to the November 13th briefing of the Hidden History Newsletter. As the autumn leaves continue their descent, we take a moment on this day to look back at the world in a time of great upheaval. Today's edition peels back the calendar pages to reveal the strategic maneuvers, the quiet acts of defiance, and the relentless march toward resolution that marked this day during the Second World War. Step with us into the past as we illuminate the events that, though decades old, still echo through our present world.

"Permit me, in the name of the Front Command, to present you with the keys to the Crimea." - Marshall Biryuzov - Commander of the 4th Ukrainian Front to Marshall Vasilevski - May 1944

Four Powers

1940: Hitler, Ribbentrop, and Molotov continued their meeting in Berlin, Germany. Hitler attempted to divert Soviet aggression out of the Balkan Peninsula and Finland, and instead focus, together with Germany, to defeat the United Kingdom, with the ultimate prize being the partition of the British Empire among Germany, the Soviet Union, Italy, and Japan. Molotov, who was not moved, asked Hitler whether Germany would feel comfortable with a Soviet guarantee of Bulgarian borders much like how Germany had recently guaranteed Romanian borders; unable to answer that question, Hitler again broke off the discussion on the excuse of potential British bombings as the hours were getting late. Indeed, having known that Molotov was visiting Berlin, the British RAF launched bombers to attack Berlin as a show of force to convince Molotov that Britain was still in the fight. Ribbentrop and Molotov continued the meeting in a underground bunker amidst the bombing where Ribbentrop failed to entice Molotov with a four-power (Germany, Italy, Japan, and Soviet Union) military alliance proposal.

Little Progress

1940: By the end of the day, Greek troops had pushed most Italian troops in northern Greece back to the Albanian border.

Big Blow

1941: German submarine U-81 sank British aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal in the Mediterranean Sea 150 miles east of Gibraltar at 0437 hours; 1 was killed, 1,487 survived. Destroyer escorts counterattacked with 130 depth charges, but U-81 would escape. HMS Ark Royal was taken in tow.

A First

1942: Damaged in the naval battle before dawn, Hiei struggled to return to base. After persistent attacks by aircraft attacks, it was decided that she was to be scuttled. After all men were taken off, she was scuttled by torpedoes north of Savo Island in the Solomon Islands. She became the first Japanese battleship to be lost in combat.

Submarine Success

1942: USS Juneau, while sailing for Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides for repairs sustained during the previous night, was intercepted by I-26, which fired two Type 95 torpedoes. One struck on the port side, sinking the light cruiser very quickly. 687 lives would eventually be lost; only 10 survived.

Down But Not Out

1942: Portland was struck with a torpedo in her starboard quarter during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal (Third Battle of Savo Island). The torpedo explosion took off Portland's two inboard propellers, jammed the rudder at five degrees to starboard, and froze the No 3 main turret. Portland could only steam in circles but still managed to fire her forward main batteries effectively, starting fires on the Japanese battleship Hiei and sinking the abandoned destroyer Yudachi.

Photo of the Day

B-17F Flying Fortress bombers bombing Bremen, Germany through clouds with the aid of radar, 13 November 1943.

As today’s coverage of November 13th's historical wartime tapestry concludes, we hope the narratives have left you with a deeper understanding of the complexities and the humanity behind the World War II saga. As the ink dries on this edition, let us carry forward the memory of sacrifices made and lessons learned, using them as a compass for the future. Thank you for joining us in today's act of remembrance and reflection. Tomorrow promises more insights as we continue to explore and honor our shared history.

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Have a great week :)

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