Today in the Second World War

Welcome to today’s edition of the Hidden History Newsletter! We hope you had a great Easter Weekend! In this newsletter, we aim to provide you with insightful information about the significant events that took place during World War II on this day in history. From major battles to technological advancements, we will explore the highs and lows of this tumultuous period of global history. Whether you are a history buff or simply interested in learning more about the events that shaped the world as we know it today, we have something for everyone. Now let's step back in time and explore the stories and events that occurred during World War II on the 10th of April!

"Old soldiers never die, they just fade away." - General Douglas MacArthur

German Plans Unravelling in Norway

The German cruiser Königsberg was part of the German Navy's invasion force during the invasion of Norway in April 1940. The ship was at anchor in Bergen harbor when it was attacked by British aircraft on the evening of April 9, 1940. The attack was carried out by nine Fleet Air Arm Skua dive bombers from the aircraft carrier HMS Furious, which had been sent to Bergen to intercept the German invasion force.

The Skua dive bombers were armed with bombs and torpedoes, and they attacked the Königsberg with a combination of both. The following morning on April 10th, the British launched another air raid on the ship. The first wave of Skuas dropped bombs on the ship, damaging its engines and forcing it to come to a halt. The second wave of Skuas then attacked with torpedoes, which hit the Königsberg and caused it to list heavily to one side. The ship was then hit by a third wave of Skuas, which dropped more bombs on the ship.

The attack on the Königsberg was a significant achievement for the Fleet Air Arm, as it was the first major warship to be sunk by dive bombing in the war. The attack demonstrated the effectiveness of the Skua dive bomber in attacking heavily armored ships, and it also showed the vulnerability of ships that were at anchor in harbor. The sinking of the Königsberg was a blow to the German Navy's invasion force, as it deprived them of a major warship that could have provided artillery support during the invasion of Norway.

The First Battle of Narvik

The First Battle of Narvik was a naval battle fought during the early stages of World War II, on April 9 and 10, 1940. The battle took place in the Norwegian port of Narvik, which was of strategic importance to both the Germans and the Allies, as it was a major iron ore shipping port.

The battle began when a British naval force, consisting of nine destroyers, arrived in Narvik harbor and engaged five German destroyers that were already there. The British destroyers were able to surprise the German ships, which were caught off guard and not fully prepared for battle. In the ensuing battle, the British destroyers were able to sink all five German ships.

However, the British victory was short-lived, as a larger German naval force arrived in Narvik the next day, on April 10. This force consisted of ten destroyers, two cruisers, and a supply ship. The German ships launched a surprise attack on the British destroyers, sinking or disabling several of them.

The battle continued throughout the day, with both sides suffering heavy losses. The Germans were ultimately able to gain control of the harbor, and the surviving British ships were forced to withdraw.

The First Battle of Narvik was a significant engagement, as it was the first major naval battle of the war, and it demonstrated the importance of surprise and preparedness in naval warfare. The battle also highlighted the strategic importance of Narvik, and the Allies later launched a major campaign to retake the port, known as the Battle of Narvik.

At the First Battle of Narvik, 10 German destroyers were attacked in the Ofot fjord by 5 British destroyers. 2 German destroyers, 11 merchant ships, and 1 supply ship were sunk. 2 British destroyers were lost. Both commanding officers, British Captain Bernard Warburton-Lee and German Commodore Friedrich Bonte, were killed in the action. Warburton-Lee was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross and Bonte the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

The Capture of Zagreb

The German invasion of Yugoslavia began on April 6, 1941, and by April 10, German forces had advanced to the outskirts of Zagreb. The city was defended by Croatian troops, who put up a fierce resistance, but they were ultimately unable to hold back the German advance.

The German forces were led by General Alexander Löhr, who had been tasked with capturing Zagreb as part of the wider invasion of Yugoslavia. Löhr's forces were able to quickly overcome the Croatian defenses and capture the city, securing an important strategic objective in the Balkans. Further South, German 9th Panzer Division and Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler Regiment moved through the Monastir Gap, moved across the Greek border, and captured the town of Florina. British troops fell back from the Aliakmon Line southwest of Salonika, Greece.

The capture of Zagreb was a significant victory for the Axis powers, as it gave them control of the Croatian capital and enabled them to establish a puppet government in the country. Croatian Fascist chief Ante Pavelic returned from exile to proclaim the Independent state of Croatia. The Independent State of Croatia remained a loyal ally of the Axis powers throughout the war. However, the German capture of Zagreb also triggered widespread resistance in Croatia, with many Croats joining the anti-fascist partisan movement and fighting against the Axis powers for the remainder of the war.

Photo of the Day

German vehicles in Yugoslavia or Greece, 10 Apr 1941; sIG 33 self-propelled gun at left, DKW NZ350 motorcycle at right, SdKfz 10 in background.

That's all for today's edition. This has been the lightest day that we have seen so far, but being a world war some important things did still happen. The Allies finally started to show some real resistance to the Germans in the North, even though the German were successful in the end. If you haven’t seen Narvik on Netflix I would recommend watching that!

Thanks for reading today’s edition of the newsletter! If you ever have any recommendations feel free to reach out to us at [email protected]. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow!

Have a great week :)

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