Today in the Second World War

The 20th of August

Hidden History
August 20, 2023

Welcome to the August 20th edition of the Hidden History Newsletter. On this day in history, pivotal moments and courageous tales from the Second World War unfolded. Join us as we journey back, shedding light on the narratives that defined this day during those turbulent times.

"Soldiers of the Reich! This day you are to take part in an offensive of such importance that the whole future of the war may depend on its outcome." - Adolf Hitler - 5th July 1943

Unlucky

1937: While moored in the Huangpu River in Shanghai, China in the evening, the crew of USS Augusta gathered on the well deck for movies. A Chinese anti-aircraft shell intended for a Japanese reconnaissance aircraft flying nearby landed on the American cruiser, killing Seaman 1st Class Freddie J. Falgout and wounding 18 others.

USS Augusta (CA-31), steaming off Portland, Maine, on 9 May 1945.

Inspiration

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill made the "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few" speech in the House of Commons in London, England, United Kingdom.

Winston Churchill

Closing In

770 Japanese troops under Colonel Kiyonao Ichiki reached within a few miles of Henderson Field at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands by 0430 hours. During the day, Henderson Field received 31 US Marine fighter aircraft (19 Wildcat fighters and 12 Dauntless dive bombers) from USS Long Island, allowing air supply and evacuation of wounded to begin between Espiritu Santo and Guadalcanal; the small air fleet at Henderson Field was dubbed "Cactus Air Force". In the evening, Ichiki gave the order to move foward, running into the US Marines defensive perimeter at Tenaru River by surprise around midnight

Colonel Kiyonao Ichiki

Finale

The final naval engagement of WW2 took place along the Chinese coast between Wenzhou and Shanghai between a Japanese-manned junk equipped with a howitzer and two smaller Sino-American junks each equipped with a bazooka (five rounds each) and various small arms. The Allies were of the US Navy Sino-American Special Technical Cooperative Organization (SACO) organization. The Japanese junk surrendered after 44 of its 83-men crew were killed; 35 were wounded. 4 Chinese were killed on the Allied side; 4 Chinese and 1 American were wounded. This was also the last US Navy engagement in a vessel powered by sail.

A Chinese junk and an World War I-era U.S. Navy armored cruiser in Chinese waters.

Photo of the Day

16 inch shells being wheeled away after being brought on board of Nelson-class battleship HMS Rodney

As we wrap up our August 20th journey through WWII history, we're reminded of the indomitable spirit and pivotal decisions of that era. Thank you for joining us today. May the lessons of the past guide our present and future. Until tomorrow, keep the memories alive.

If you ever have any recommendations feel free to reach out to us at [email protected]

Have a great weekend :)

Recommended Books:

D-Day Tank Hunter: The World War II memoirs of a frontline officer from North Africa to the bloody soil of Normandy: Hoeller, Hans, Hartinger, Andreas

One of the last German veterans of World War II recounts his wartime experiences - with the harrowing directness of someone who stood amid the firestorm.

The Combat Diaries: True Stories from the Frontlines of World War II: Guardia, Mike

At the height of World War II, the US military drew some 16 million men into its ranks. They came from every walk of life – farmers, teachers, lawyers, and even Hollywood celebrities. But whether they came from the wheat fields of Kansas, the streets of New York, or the backlots of Tinseltown, these everyday heroes answered the call when their country needed them. They were ordinary men who accomplished extraordinary things. Today, we call them the "Greatest Generation."

Devil Dogs: King Company, Third Battalion, 5th Marines: From Guadalcanal to the Shores of Japan: David, Saul

The “Devil Dogs” of King Company, Third Battalion, 5th Marines—part of the legendary 1st Marine Division—were among the first American soldiers to take the offensive in World World II—and also the last.

Prisoners of the Castle: An Epic Story of Survival and Escape from Colditz, the Nazis' Fortress Prison: Macintyre, Ben

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The “entertaining [and] often-moving account” (The Wall Street Journal) of the remarkable POWs whose relentlessly creative attempts to escape a notorious Nazi prison embodied the spirit of resistance against fascism, from the author of The Spy and the Traitor

The Nazi Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill: Meltzer, Brad, Mensch, Josh

In 1943, as the war against Nazi Germany raged abroad, President Franklin Roosevelt had a critical goal: a face-to-face sit-down with his allies Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill. This first-ever meeting of the Big Three in Tehran, Iran, would decide some of the most crucial strategic details of the war. Yet when the Nazis found out about the meeting, their own secret plan took shape―an assassination plot that would’ve changed history.

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