Monthly Archives: October 2013

This week in the War, 27 Oct–2 Nov 1941: The sinking of the Reuben James

Posted on October 30, 2013 by secondbysecond

The week in the war, on 31 October 1941, the American destroyer USS Reuben James (DD-245) was sunk by a German U-boat. The Reuben James was the first American ship to be sunk during World War II as a result … Continue reading →

Posted in World War II | Tagged , | Comments Off on This week in the War, 27 Oct–2 Nov 1941: The sinking of the Reuben James

This week in the War, 20–26 October 1941: Assassination in Nantes

Posted on October 23, 2013 by secondbysecond

This week in the war, around 7.30am on 20 October 1941, the Feldkommandant (German military governor) of Nantes, Lieutenant Colonel Karl Hotz, was assassinated by the French Resistance. The assassination took place at the rue du Roi Albert, close to … Continue reading →

Posted in World War II | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on This week in the War, 20–26 October 1941: Assassination in Nantes

This week in the War, 13–19 October 1941: Falling stars in Tokyo and Vichy

Posted on October 17, 2013 by secondbysecond

This week in the war, on 16 October 1941, Vichy head of state Maréchal Philippe Pétain pronounced prison sentences upon those he saw as responsible for the fall of France. He condemned former prime ministers, Léon Blum and Édouard Daladier, and … Continue reading →

Posted in World War II | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on This week in the War, 13–19 October 1941: Falling stars in Tokyo and Vichy

This week in the War, 6–12 October 1941: Assault on Moscow

Posted on October 10, 2013 by secondbysecond

This week in the war on 6 October 1941, the German army launched a two-pronged offensive against Moscow as part of Operation Taifun (Typhoon). Hitler had announced that the Soviet Union ‘has already been broken and would never rise again.’ … Continue reading →

Posted in World War II | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on This week in the War, 6–12 October 1941: Assault on Moscow

This week in the War, 29 Sept–5 Oct 1941: The Maltese Falcon

Posted on October 3, 2013 by secondbysecond

The Maltese Falcon was one of Dashiell Hammett’s most successful novels. According to the London Times Literary Supplement: “This is not only probably the best detective story we have ever read, it is an exceedingly well written novel.” How true. … Continue reading →

Posted in World War II | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on This week in the War, 29 Sept–5 Oct 1941: The Maltese Falcon