Author Archives: secondbysecond

This week in the War, 9–15 July 1945: Preparing to invade Japan

Posted on July 14, 2017 by secondbysecond

This week in the war, on 15 July 1945, the first contingent of American troops that had been serving in Europe boarded their ship in Naples, Italy, and set sail for Japan. The invasion of the Japanese homeland had been set for … Continue reading →

Posted in World War II | Tagged , | Comments Off on This week in the War, 9–15 July 1945: Preparing to invade Japan

This week in the War, 2–8 July 1945: Ivan Lyon and Z Force

Posted on July 7, 2017 by secondbysecond

This week in the war saw the final and sad end of Lieutenant Colonel Ivan Lyon’s Z Force. Since the fall of Singapore, Lyon had served with special forces (British, Australian and Free French) that were fighting behind the Japanese … Continue reading →

Posted in World War II | Tagged , , | Comments Off on This week in the War, 2–8 July 1945: Ivan Lyon and Z Force

This week in the War, 25 June–1 July 1945: The San Francisco Conference

Posted on June 30, 2017 by secondbysecond

A photograph of future Canadian prime minister, Lester B. Pearson, addressing delegates at the San Francisco Conference is fitting for Canada Day, 1 July. The United Nations Conference on International Organization, which had opened on 26 April 1945, ended two … Continue reading →

Posted in World War II | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on This week in the War, 25 June–1 July 1945: The San Francisco Conference

This week in the War, 18–24 June 1945: The marshal and the stallion

Posted on June 22, 2017 by secondbysecond

June was the month for victory parades in places as far apart as Moscow and Rangoon. This week in the war, on 24 June 1945, Marshal Georgy Zhukov rode his white stallion, Idol, in a gigantic march-past in Moscow’s Red … Continue reading →

Posted in World War II | Tagged , , | Comments Off on This week in the War, 18–24 June 1945: The marshal and the stallion

This week in the War, 11–17 June 1945: Victory parade in Rangoon

Posted on June 16, 2017 by secondbysecond

By June 1945, the Japanese army had pulled out of Rangoon. This week in the war, on 15 June 1945, Lord Louis Mountbatten held a victory parade in the city. Rangoon—where Aung San Suu Kyi, the current head of state for … Continue reading →

Posted in World War II | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on This week in the War, 11–17 June 1945: Victory parade in Rangoon

This week in the War, 4–10 June 1945: Hirohito holds a meeting

Posted on June 8, 2017 by secondbysecond

This week in the war, on 8 June 1945, Emperor Hirohito presided over a meeting of the Japanese cabinet. They decided that Japan would continue fighting until the very end. Japanese kamikaze pilots were still effective and, in his book … Continue reading →

Posted in World War II | Tagged , | Comments Off on This week in the War, 4–10 June 1945: Hirohito holds a meeting

This week in the War, 28 May–3 June 1945: Shuri Castle

Posted on June 3, 2017 by secondbysecond

This week in the war, in early June 1945, after a three-day bombardment by the battleship USS Mississippi, American troops occupied the site of Shuri Castle, which had served as Japanese headquarters in Okinawa. In one form or another, the castle … Continue reading →

Posted in World War II | Tagged , | Comments Off on This week in the War, 28 May–3 June 1945: Shuri Castle

In the news: Memorial Day 2017

Posted on May 29, 2017 by secondbysecond

We honour our troops and veterans on Memorial Day, Monday 29 May 2017. The photograph on the left shows Specialist Pamela Gibson and her military working dog, Sergeant Astra. The US K-9 Corps was created on 13 March 1942 although … Continue reading →

Posted in In the news | Tagged , , | Comments Off on In the news: Memorial Day 2017

This week in the War, 21–27 May 1945: British troops arrest Grand Admiral Doenitz

Posted on May 27, 2017 by secondbysecond

This week in the war, on 23 May 1945, British troops arrested Grand Admiral Doenitz, who had been leader of Germany since the death of Hitler on 30 April. Doenitz and cabinet members of his government—known as the Flensburg government—were … Continue reading →

Posted in World War II | Tagged , | Comments Off on This week in the War, 21–27 May 1945: British troops arrest Grand Admiral Doenitz

This week in the War, 14–20 May 1945: Aung San helps the British

Posted on May 17, 2017 by secondbysecond

This week in the war, on 15 May 1945, Burmese revolutionary leader Aung San—who had previously sided with the Japanese—offered to help the British. The British welcomed him. Originally a communist, he changed to being a social democrat and later became Premier of the … Continue reading →

Posted in World War II | Tagged , , | Comments Off on This week in the War, 14–20 May 1945: Aung San helps the British