Author Archives: secondbysecond

This week in the War, 6–12 March 1944: Pope appeals for Rome to be spared from destruction

Posted on March 12, 2016 by secondbysecond

This week in the war, on 12 March 1944, Pope Pius XII appealed to all warring parties that Rome be spared from destruction. It had become obvious that the Allies would eventually penetrate the Gustav line at Cassino and that … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 28 Feb–5 March 1944: Ukraine, partisans, and Soviet generals Vatutin & Zhukov

Posted on March 4, 2016 by secondbysecond

This week in the war, the German military on the Eastern Front were anticipating the spring thaw. They hoped that the muddy conditions would cause a slowdown in the Soviet attacks. However, Stalin was determined to remain on the offensive and, … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 21–27 February 1944: Heavy bombing raids on Germany

Posted on February 22, 2016 by secondbysecond

This week in the war saw several heavy bombing raids on Germany. The RAF had previously bombed Leipzig on 19/20 February (and suffered heavy losses in bombers), and the USAAF had already sent, on 20 February, over 1,000 bombers against … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 14–20 February 1944: Destruction of the abbey at Monte Cassino

Posted on February 17, 2016 by secondbysecond

This week in the war, in an effort to break through the Gustav Line, Allied planes bombarded Monte Cassino. The world renowned Benedictine abbey was completely destroyed and the bishop and a number of monks were killed. General Bernard Freyberg, … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 7–13 February 1944: Death of Italian opera singer Lina Cavalieri

Posted on February 7, 2016 by secondbysecond

This week in the war, Italian opera singer Lina Cavalieri was killed on the night of 7/8 February 1944 during an Allied bombing raid on Florence. She and her husband were running from her house to the air raid shelter in … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 31 Jan–6 Feb 1944: Helsinki bombed by the Soviets

Posted on February 2, 2016 by secondbysecond

This week in the war, on the night of 6 February 1944, the Soviet air force bombed Helsinki in an attempt to bring the Finns to the negotiating table and remove yet another of Germany’s allies. (Stalin had obtained British … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 24–30 January 1944: Railway line to Leningrad is opened; the siege is over

Posted on January 28, 2016 by secondbysecond

The siege of Leningrad effectively ended, this week in the war. On 27 January 1944, the Soviets announced the recapturing of the railway line between Tosno and Lyuban. Leningrad was now connected by rail to the rest of Russia, including … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 17–23 January 1944: Death of artist Edvard Munch

Posted on January 22, 2016 by secondbysecond

This week in the war, on 23 January 1944, the Norwegian artist Edvard Munch died in Oslo. As he evolved as an artist, his work became more violent, emotional, and filled with symbolism. The public was sometimes shocked. His 1892 … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 17–23 January 1944: Landing at Anzio

Posted on January 20, 2016 by secondbysecond

This week in the war, on 22 January 1944, US and British troops landed at Anzio and Nettuno, which were behind the German Gustav Line and well on the way to Rome. The force was under the command of US … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 10–16 January 1944: Advance towards Monte Cassino

Posted on January 15, 2016 by secondbysecond

This week in the war, on 14 January 1944, the Americans bombarded German forces defending the Gustav Line—the last obstacle before the Italian town of Cassino and the famous Monte Cassino abbey. The following day, the US II Corps mounted an attack … Continue reading →

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