Today in the Second World War

The 15th of November

Hidden History
November 15, 2023

As we cross the mid-November mark, the 15th day stands before us, a sentinel in the chronicles of World War II, bearing witness to the unwavering human spirit amidst the throes of global upheaval. Today, we are poised to uncover the events and decisions that shaped this date, exploring the intricate web of military strategy, personal sacrifice, and the relentless pursuit of peace. Let us embark on this historical journey with the intent to understand and honor the complex tapestry of stories that November 15th has woven into the fabric of our past.

"We want to get the hell over there. The quicker we clean up this Goddamned mess, the quicker we can take a little jaunt against the purple pissing Japs and clean out their nest, too. Before the Goddamned Marines get all of the credit." - General George S. Patton - (addressing to his troops before Operation Overlord) - 5th June 1944

Locked In

1940: The Warsaw ghetto in Poland was sealed from the rest of the city, enclosing 400,000 Jews inside.

Warsaw Ghetto wall

Stopped

1941: German Panzergruppen 1, 2, and 3, with 2, 4, and 9.Armeen, resumed the attack on Moscow, Russia. Soviet 30th Army was pushed back from the Volga Reservoir and Moscow Sea Reservoir areas 75 miles north of Moscow. Across the Eastern Front, the temperature fell to -20 degrees Celsius, freezing both men and machines; the German offensive was generally slowed to a yard-by-yard advance from this date on.

Russian civilians digging trenches in Moscow, Russia, 15 November 1941

Photo of the Day

An American aircraft carrier deck crewman resting between aircraft landings, off Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, circa November 1943.

As the day draws to a close, we take a moment to honor the depth and breadth of history we've traversed in today's edition. November 15th during World War II was a day like many others, filled with tales of courage, strategy, and the relentless march towards an uncertain future. Your engagement with these accounts keeps the memory of those turbulent times alive, ensuring that the lessons they hold are not lost to the ages. Tomorrow, we will unfold yet another page of history, continuing our solemn commitment to remember and learn.

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

Have a great week :)

Recommended Books:

At Dawn We Slept by Gordon W. Prange

Revisit the definitive book on Pearl Harbor in advance of the 78th anniversary (December 7, 2019) of the "date which will live in infamy".

Judgement at Tokyo by Gary J. Bass

A landmark, magisterial history of the trial of Japan’s leaders as war criminals—the largely overlooked Asian counterpart to Nuremberg.

The Things Our Fathers Saw by Matthew A. Rozell

How soon we forget. Or perhaps, we were never told. That is understandable, given what they saw. But, it happened.

Operation: Snare Drum: A WWII Submarine Adventure Novel by Scott W. Cook

December 7, 1941 - America is attacked by the Japanese and dragged into a worldwide struggle for power unlike anything ever seen on Earth.

Pacific Sniper: A World War II Thriller by David Healey

In December 1941, the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor plunges the United States into war. Fresh from the hardscrabble mountains of Appalachia, Deacon Cole joins the fight against Imperial Japan.

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