Today in the Second World War

The 21st of September

Hidden History
September 21, 2023

As we step into another day, the echoes of the past remind us of the intricate tapestry of events that shaped the world during the 1940s. On this day, September 21st, the world witnessed pivotal moments that left indelible marks on the canvas of World War II. Through the fog of war and the annals of time, we bring you stories, both monumental and personal, from this exact date. Dive in with us, as today's edition uncovers tales of courage, strategy, and the enduring human spirit from September 21st in World War II.

"Fuhrer, we are on the march! Victorious Italian troops crossed the Greco-Albanian frontier at dawn today!" - Benito Mussolini - (to Adolf Hitler) 28th October 1940

Abandoned

1938: Poland demanded Czechoslovakia to hold a plebiscite for the Zaolzie region, claiming the region, with its Polish majority, wished to join Poland. The French responded to the question from Czechoslovakian President Edvard Beneš from the previous day, noting that they would only only honor the terms of the alliance if Beneš agreed to cede Sudetenland to Germany, thus avoiding war. Seeing no help from the French, Beneš turned to the Soviet Union, which would only honor the mutual defense treaty if the French honored theirs. Receiving no support from the nations who were supposedly his allies, Beneš gave up and accepted the German demands for Sudetenland in the late afternoon.

Edvard Beneš

Destruction of the Jewish People

1939: Reinhard Heydrich authorized the formation of Jewish ghettos in Poland, each governed by a Judenrat (Jewish Council); the ghettos were to be formed in large Polish cities with access to major railroads. He also authorized the formation of Einsatzgruppen.

Romanian Prime Minister Armand Calinescu was assassinated by fascists for his sympathetic treatment of Poles.

Heydrich in 1940.

No Room For Morality

1941: German submarine U-201 sank British ships Runa, Lissa, and Rhineland of Allied convoy OG-74 500 miles west of Brest, France at 2320 hours. While British rescue ship Walmer Castle came to aid the survivors, a German Fw 200 aircraft attacked her, killing 16 previously-rescued survivors onboard the ship; Walmer Castle sustained heavy damage in the attack and was scuttled by British corvette HMS Marigold and sloop HMS Deptford.

Joseph Stalin sent a message to Georgy Zhukov, Andrei Zhdanov, Nikolai Kuznetsov, and Vsevolod Merkulov, noting that if the Germans used Russian civilians as messengers to request Soviet troops at Leningrad, Russia to surrender, those civilians must be all killed for that they were "more dangerous than the fascists".

German Stuka dive bombers sank Soviet battleship Marat in shallow water at Kronstadt near Leningrad, Russia with two 1,000-kilogram bombs.

Near Leningrad, Russia, Soviet dreadnought Oktyabrskaya Revolyutsiya was badly damaged by three bombs which knock out two of her turrets. She would be under repairs until Nov 1942, when she resumed fire support missions in defence of Leningrad.

Soviet battleship Marat.

Photo of the Day

Soviet troops in action, 21 September 1941.

As we conclude our September 21st edition of the Hidden History Newsletter, let us remember the brave souls whose stories punctuated this day in history. Their courage and sacrifices not only shaped the course of the war but also serve as timeless reminders of our shared human resilience. Join us again tomorrow as we delve deeper into another chapter of the wartime narrative. Until then, cherish the legacy and lessons of the past.

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

Have a great week :)

Recommended Books:

The Rifle: Combat Stories from America's Last WWII Veterans, Told Through an M1 Garand (World War II Collection): Biggio, Andrew

Tales of American combat and comradery in World War II all connected to the iconic rifle of the era, the M1 Garand. An award-winning author puts one such rifle into the hands of a series of vets, records their stories, and gathers their signatures on the rifle, in a pilgrimage and homage to heroism.

The Rifle 2: Back to the Battlefield by Andrew Biggio

In this highly anticipated follow-up to The Rifle, Andrew Biggio brings to light more untold stories from the quickly vanishing ranks of the veterans of World War II.

Over The Top: Veterans of the First World War by David Polk

With the stroke of a pen, the signing of the Armistice on November 11, 1918 promised a World of peace and cooperation. Popularly called "the war to end all wars," the Great War was intended to prevent incidents like the one at Sarajevo in 1914. In general, peace and harmony did continue, at least until Hitler invaded Poland in 1939.This book is written as a tribute to the legacy of the veterans of the Great War. Within these pages are contained eye-witness accounts of these fearless fighters.

Into Enemy Waters: A World War II Story of the Demolition Divers Who Became the Navy SEALS by Andrew Dubbins

With echoes of Unbroken; the derring-do and bravado of The Right Stuff; and the battle-forged camaraderie of Band of Brothers, this is the World War II story of 95-year-old veteran George Morgan and the Underwater Demolition Teams. Forerunners of the Navy SEALs, the elite unit was given nearly impossible pre-invasion missions from D-Day to the most crucial landings in the Pacific Theater.

The War of Words: How America's GI Journalists Battled Censorship and Propaganda to Help Win World War II by Molly Guptill Manning

From New York Times bestselling author Molly Guptill Manning comes The War of Words, the captivating story of how American troops in World War II wielded pens to tell their own stories as they made history.

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