Monthly Archives: October 2016

This week in the War, 23–29 October 1944: The Battle of Leyte Gulf

Posted on October 26, 2016 by secondbysecond

One of the major naval battles of the Second World War, the Battle of Leyte Gulf, took place near the Philippines this week in the war, between 23 and 26 October 1944. American troops had landed on the Philippine island … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 16–22 October 1944: The Volkssturm—Germany’s national militia

Posted on October 21, 2016 by secondbysecond

After so many setbacks on the Eastern Front, the Germans had realized that the quick Blitzkrieg victories of the past would not be repeated and that henceforth an all-out effort would be required. Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels introduced the concept of … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 9–15 October 1944: Death of Erwin Rommel

Posted on October 12, 2016 by secondbysecond

This week in the war, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel died by suicide. The Gestapo believed that Rommel was complicit in the July Bomb Plot to assassinate Hitler. Postwar investigations suggest that this was likely true, although the evidence is not completely conclusive. … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 2–8 October 1944: Dam-buster style raid against the seawall at Walcheren in Holland

Posted on October 4, 2016 by secondbysecond

This week in the war, on 3 October 1944, the RAF successfully attacked the seawall on the Dutch island of Walcheren. Aircraft dropped the same kind of ‘Barnes Wallis’ bombs that had been used by the Dam Buster squadron to breach German … Continue reading →

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