Today in the Second World War

Welcome to our World War II Daily for February 3! Today, we journey back to the pivotal moments of this date during the war years, unraveling the complex tapestry of history. From strategic military maneuvers to the indomitable spirit of those on the home front, our newsletter offers a concise yet deep dive into the events that shaped our world. Join us as we commemorate bravery, understand struggles, and remember the lessons learned from one of history's most defining periods.

“Americans love to fight. All real Americans love the sting of battle.” -General George S. Patton, Jr.

Life & Death

1940: The Norwegian steam ship Tempo was on a voyage from Methil, Scotland, United Kingdom to Hull, England, United Kingdom with a cargo of paper. Being a neutral the ship was marked as such. She was attacked by three German aircraft as the ship passed close to the Longstone Lighthouse, seven miles off the coast. The first attack was with machine guns after which the aircraft attacked with bombs, one of which hit the stern of the Tempo. The captain immediately ordered the ship to be abandoned as the Tempo was sinking rapidly. A third pass over the ship was made in which four bombs were dropped near missing the freighter, the survivors reported that the aircraft then fired at the lifeboats only missing them by a metre. The bombers continued to circle the area for twenty minutes as the lifeboats headed for the shore however the boat under command of the first mate capsized in the heavy surf and five of the men were drowned, the sole survivor luckily being washed onto the beach. The other boat under command of the captain were picked up by a rescue vessel. An inquiry was held in Oslo, Norway where the attack was noted and the German authorities notified of the event.

Captured

1942: Lieutenant Tadaichi Noda led a group of Japanese troops to the Tol plantation on the southern coast of the Gazelle Peninsula of New Britain and captured 180 Australian troops hiding there; the Australians were given hot meals, the first they had for several days; the prisoners, however, did not realize that most of them would only have days to live. Hours later, after sundown, Australian Catalina aircraft flew over Rabaul, New Britain and were engaged by Japanese A5M4 fighters; all aircraft on both sides survived this first dogfight over Rabaul since Japanese conquest.

Admittance

1943: During the day, the German OKW issued an announcement to inform the German public of the defeat at Stalingrad, Russia. The message, read over the radio, was preceded by a solemn drum roll and was followed by the 2nd movement of Ludwig van Beethoven's 5th symphony.

Photo of the Day

American wounded at the beach of Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, 1-3 Feb 1944

As we conclude today's edition of World War II Daily, we hope that the stories and insights shared have deepened your understanding of this significant period in history. Remember, each event we explore is more than just a date in history; it's a mosaic of human experiences and decisions that have shaped our present. We thank you for joining us on this journey of remembrance and reflection. Until tomorrow, keep the spirit of history alive and continue to explore the past to understand the future.

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Have a great weekend :)

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