Author Archives: secondbysecond

This week in the War, 23–29 August 1943: The First Quebec Conference

Posted on August 24, 2015 by secondbysecond

This week in the war, on 24 August 1943, the eight-day conference in Quebec City drew to a close. Churchill, Roosevelt and the Canadian Prime Minister were in attendance. Decisions made included giving priority to the British and US air … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 16–22 August 1943: The Peenemunde raid

Posted on August 18, 2015 by secondbysecond

This week in the war, on the night of 17/18 August 1943, planes from RAF Bomber Command attacked the German Army Research Centre at Peenemünde on Germany’s Baltic coast. The aim of the attack, which involved almost 600 planes, was … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 9–15 August 1943: US air power

Posted on August 10, 2015 by secondbysecond

US air power was expanding on every front. On 13 August 1943 alone: B-24 bombers of the US 380th Heavy Bomber Group flew from Australia to raid the Japanese-held oilfields in Borneo; US bombers staged the first air raid of … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 2–8 August 1943: Italy at the crossroads

Posted on August 5, 2015 by secondbysecond

This week in the war saw Italy poised on the brink of changing sides. On 6 August 1943, at the request of the Germans, representatives of Germany and Italy met at the Italian-Austrian border. The foreign ministers from both Germany … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 26 July–1 August 1943: Ba Maw assumes the leadership of Burma and declares war on Britain and the USA

Posted on August 1, 2015 by secondbysecond

This week in the war, on 1 August 1943, the French-educated Burmese political leader, Ba Maw, was appointed Head of State and Prime Minister of the newly formed State of Burma (effectively a puppet state, supported by the Japanese authorities). … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 19–25 July 1943: Mussolini is fired by the King

Posted on July 23, 2015 by secondbysecond

This week in the war saw Rome bombed for the first time by the Allies (on 19 July 1943). The week also saw the Italian Grand Council of Fascism vote against Mussolini’s continued rule. (Mussolini’s son-in-law, Count Ciano, was one … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 12–18 July 1943: Hitler calls an end to the Battle of Kursk

Posted on July 17, 2015 by secondbysecond

This week in the war, on 12 July 1943, Hitler summoned two of his generals, Günther von Kluge and Erich von Manstein, to his headquarters in East Prussia (the Wolf’s Lair) and ordered them to end the massive tank battle raging near the Soviet … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 5 July–11 July 1943: The invasion of Sicily—Operation Husky

Posted on July 6, 2015 by secondbysecond

This week in the war, on the night of 9/10 July 1943, the Allies launched Operation Husky, an amphibious and airborne invasion of Sicily that foreshadowed the similar but much larger invasion of Normandy (D-Day). The aim of the Sicily/Italian campaign … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 28 June–4 July 1943: The United States Women’s Army Corps

Posted on July 1, 2015 by secondbysecond

In the USA this week in the war, on 1 July 1943, the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps was renamed the Women’s Army Corps and the organization was granted full status. Possibilities for employment within the WAC included telephone operator, baker, seamstress, and … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 21–27 June 1943: Baldur von Schirach falls from grace

Posted on June 25, 2015 by secondbysecond

This week in the war, on 24 June 1943, the one-time Hitler Youth Leader (Reichsjugendführer) Baldur von Schirach quarreled with Hitler over the need to make peace with the Allies. Although Hitler did not dismiss him from his post of … Continue reading →

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