The Second World War.

[Ennath]

August 25, 1925
Germany The French begin evacuating the Ruhr.

August 25, 1937
China The Japanese navy clamps a blockade on Chinese ports. Hong Kong and Macau, however, are not covered.

August 25, 1939
Germany, Politics Hitler orders the German attack on Poland to begin the next day but cancels it at the last minute on hearing that Britain and Poland have signed a formal alliance and that Mussolini refuses to join a war at this stage. Britain and France are trying independently to talk to Hitler through Mussolini. They only succeed in exposing their disunity since France is notably more intransigent than Britain. The British are still looking for a compromise over Danzig.
German newspapers and radio, orchestrated by Propaganda Minister Goebbels, spread false rumors about the persecution of Germans in Poland and actually invent complete massacres; according to these sources 24 Germans have been murdered in Lodz and 15 at Bielte in the south.
The training ship Schleswig-Holstein, a pre-dreadnought battleship, drops anchor in the port of Danzig, to the great acclaim of the pro-German population.
Yugoslavia Limited autonomy is granted to the Croatians. This is not enough for the nationalists.

August 25, 1940
Battle of Britain The main German attack is against the airfield at Warmwell. The attack is heavily escorted and, despite powerful British fighter forces being sent, loses only one bomber; each side loses 11 fighters. In total the Germans lose 20 aircraft and the British 16. This ratio favors the Germans in the long run. During the night the Germans attack Birmingham and other targets.
Europe, Air Operations In response to the events of the previous night, the RAF bombs Berlin. Although damage is light, the raid is a shock to the German leaders who have claimed extravagantly that this is impossible.

August 25, 1941
Iran British and Soviet forces move into Iran. They have been worried by reports of German “tourists” being in the country and have decided to demand that Iran accept their “protection” of its oil supplies. British forces are led by General Quinan and Admiral Arbuthnot. They move to seize oil installations at Abadan and from the Baghdad area to seize similar sites around Kermanshah. The Soviets advance in three columns led by General Novikov. One column moves on Tabriz, while the other two advance on either side of the Caspian Sea. 120,000 Soviet troops are involved. The British employ only 19,000. There is little effective opposition to either the British or Soviet forces.
There are British landings at Bandar Shapur, Abadan, and Khorramshahr on the Persian Gulf. Two small Iranian warships are sunk and several Axis merchant ships are seized. The British forces moving on Kermanshah under General Slim are delayed at Paitak Pass, but all three Soviet columns make good progress. The Soviets bomb Tabriz with heavy loss of life.
Shah Reza Pahlavi protests the Allies’ aggression. Among other things, this action by the Allies has the effect of reinforcing Turkish determination to remain strictly neutral.

August 25, 1942
Eastern Front There is heavy fighting along the Terek River in the Caucasus, particularly around Mozdok, where a Soviet counterattack is repulsed. The Germans are now heading in the direction of Grozny. In the north, a Soviet attack is launched toward Leningrad.
Solomons Despite the setback of the 24th, the Japanese transports have continued toward Guadalcanal. They now turn back but are attacked by American aircraft. A destroyer is sunk and two transports damaged. The Japanese now recognize the difficulty of daylight operations because of Henderson Field’s aircraft and for the moment revert to using fast destroyers to bring in supplies at night.
Britain, Home Front HRH the Duke of Kent, a younger brother of King George VI, a serving officer in the RAF, is killed in a plane crash in Scotland.

August 25-26, 1942
New Guinea Japanese troops land in Milne Bay and meet determined Australian resistance. Air attacks sink several transports. On the Kokoda Trail, the Japanese do gain some ground near Isurava.

August 25, 1943
Battle of the Atlantic German Hs293 glider bombs are used for the first time, unsuccessfully, against an escort vessel hunting U-Boats in the Bay of Biscay. The attack is repeated on the 28th with better results.
Eastern Front The Soviets take Zenkov, west of Kharkov.
New Georgia The battle for New Georgia is over. The last Japanese resistance at Bairoko is wiped out. However, many of the Japanese have succeeded in getting away to Arundel and Kolombangara.

August 25, 1944
Western Front The French and Americans enter Paris. General von Choltitz disobeys the orders to raze the city and surrenders. British XXX Corps takes Vernon and seizes nearby crossings over the Seine. British XII Corps is preparing to cross at Louviers and the Canadians take Elbeuf. In Brittany, the Americans begin serious attacks on Brest but resistance remains stubborn. To supply the advance the US Army inaugurates an enormous truck convoy system known as the “Red Ball Express”. The SS murder some 120 in the town of Maille.
Southern France US forces take Avignon and the bulk of 19th Army is withdrawing rapidly up the Rhone valley. In Marseilles and Toulon, however, the fighting remains fierce.
France, Politics Women receive the vote.
Italy 8th Army opens its assault on the Gothic Line, attacking across the Metauro. The Germans are caught by surprise and good progress is made. British V Corps, Polish II Corps, and Canadian I Corps are the attacking forces.
Diplomatic Relations Rumania declares war on Germany. This is done under Soviet pressure as part of the price of peace with the USSR. Surviving Rumanian units begin coming under Soviet command.
Eastern Front Soviet forces in Estonia take Tartu, an important position in the German defense lines. The Narva position is now threatened. German forces make a minor attack on Bucharest.
Greece The German forces in Greece and the Aegean are reorganized as Army Group E (General Loehr), but operationally they are under Army Group F in Belgrade (General von Weichs). Following the defection of Rumania and the likely fall of Bulgaria the Aegean islands have lost much of their value as a guarantee against Turkish hostility. Hitler, for once yielding to pressure from the military, agrees to their evacuation.
New Guinea General Krueger announces officially that operations in the Aitape beachhead area are over. In the course of the bitter fighting the Allies have lost 3000 casualties; the Japanese have had 8800 dead and 98 captured. The Japanese remnants in the interior are no longer a serious threat.

August 25, 1945
Sakhalin The Soviets complete their occupation of the island, four days behind schedule.
Germany The British Army of the Rhine is formed as the occupation force of the British zone.
Manchuria On his way with a party of Chinese, Americans, and Koreans to release Allied personnel from a Japanese prison camp, missionary John Birch is stopped and killed by Chinese Communists. He becomes a martyr to the anti-Communist right.
The Hutou fortress is finally secured, ending the last battle of World War II. Over 2000 Japanese have died here after the announcement of peace. This last campaign of World War II has cost the Japanese over 80,000 dead. The Soviets have lost 8200 killed and 22,000 wounded. Over 500,000 Japanese are moved to prison camps in Siberia.

[Ennath]

August 26-30, 1939
Diplomatic Relations There is intense diplomatic activity in the major European capitals. The Swede Dahlerus is used as an emissary by the Germans and shuttles to and fro from London with various proposals. Hitler offers to negotiate if the Poles immediately send a representative with full powers to Berlin. The Poles are prepared to negotiate but realize only too well the pressure that will be put on any diplomat negotiating in Berlin.

August 26, 1940
Battle of Britain The German attacks continue. They send three major raids against RAF airfields and one against Portsmouth. One of the airfield raids gets through almost undamaged but all the others are heavily engaged. The days’ losses are 31 for the British and 45 for the Germans. According to the original timetable Hitler ought to decide now whether the invasion should go forward.
Ireland Dublin protests over German bombs accidentally dropped on County Wexford, which killed three girls. Germany apologizes.

August 26, 1941
Eastern Front There is a brief, unsuccessful Soviet counterattack around Velikiye Luki. The Soviets blow up the great Dniepr Dam, the largest in the world.
Sweden The German legation in Göteborg begins attempts to recruit Swedes for the German forces.
Italian Forces During Mussolini's visit to Ukraine to review his troops, General Messe informs Mussolini that his soldiers lack proper arms and possess few vehicles with even less fuel. He also notes that the Germans are reluctant to share supplies, yet are quick to criticize Italian failures due to supply problems. His troops will begin suffering from the Russian cold weather and need warmer uniforms. Mussolini shrugs him off and tells him to make do with what he has.
Iran The British secure complete control of the Abadan area. The Iranians abandon Paitak Pass and the British move toward Kermanshah. The Soviets enter Tabriz and bomb Teheran. Most Iranian troops have now deserted or abandoned their posts.
Japan, Politics War Minister Tojo visits the Tokyo headquarters of the Black Dragon Society, an ultra-nationalist secret society. The group has infiltrated many parts of the Japanese government. Rumor has it that it is here that Tojo decides on war with the United States.

August 26, 1942
The Pacific The Japanese occupy Nauru. About 1200 Nauruans will be deported to work at Japanese bases; 463 will die.
Soviet Command Zhukov is appointed Deputy Supreme Commander, only one step below Stalin.

August 26, 1943
Diplomatic Relations The United States, Britain, and Canada give limited recognition to de Gaulle’s Committee of National Liberation. Next day, the Soviet Union and China follow suit.

August 26, 1944
Western Front Most of the Allied armies have units over the Seine and are advancing to the northeast. The Canadians are moving toward the Channel ports. Fighting around Brest continues to bring little success to the Americans.
German Air Operations Parisians are brought back to reality shortly before midnight by a German air raid that destroys a substantial portion of Paris’ working class neighborhoods.
France, Politics General de Gaulle returns to Paris and joins a ceremonial parade despite the danger from a few remaining German snipers. He needs, however, to establish his position in the capital before the Communists can do so.
Southern France German resistance in Toulon and Marseilles is visibly weakening.
Italy 8th Army has a solid bridgehead over the Metauro. German troops are pushed back.
Bulgaria The Bulgarian government announces that it has withdrawn from the war and that German troops will be disarmed. They proclaim neutrality.
Atomic Research Bohr speaks with Roosevelt on post-war atomic cooperation. He stresses the power of the new weapon, but his apocalyptic viewpoint is not understood.

August 26 – October 3, 1944
China The Japanese capture Shaoyang in Hunan province.

[Ennath]

August 27, 1928
Diplomatic Relations The Kellogg-Briand Pact is signed. By its terms, all signatories, including the USA, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan, agree to renounce aggressive war. It marks the height of interwar optimism. There is, however, no provision for enforcement.

August 27, 1936
Diplomatic Relations Britain agrees to withdraw its troops from Egypt, save only the Suez Canal zone and the naval base at Alexandria. They retain the right to augment these forces in an emergency.

August 27, 1939
War at Sea German merchant ships are instructed to return home or make for the nearest neutral port. The Canadian merchant marine is placed under naval control.
Mongolia Significant Japanese forces are surrounded in the Khalkin Gol fighting. Break-out attempts fail. The failure is blamed by Japanese analysts on “lack of fighting spirit” rather than firepower.

August 27, 1940
Battle of the Atlantic RAF Coastal Command establishes an airbase on Iceland to help in convoy protection. At this stage there only outdated Fairey Battle light bombers located here, but the base will soon be expanded.
West Africa Cameroon declares for the Free French.
Japan, Home Front The Japanese secret police begin arresting foreign nationals on various charges vaguely associated with alleged spying.

August 27, 1941
Eastern Front The Germans begin full-scale attacks on Tallinn.
Iran In the advance on Kermanshah, the British take Shahabad and in the south, they are preparing to attack Ahwaz. The Soviet offensive from central Asia begins. The Iranian government resigns.
Battle of the Atlantic While on an operation south of Iceland, U-570 surfaces immediately below a Coastal Command Hudson bomber and surrenders. It will eventually enter British service as HMS Graph.
France, Politics Laval and a prominent German newspaper editor are shot and wounded near Versailles by a young resistance member. This incident is used as an excuse by the Vichy regime to round up many of its opponents, describing them as Communists.
Diplomatic Relations The Japanese government protests to Washington against repeated violation of Japanese territorial waters by American ships carrying supplies to Vladivostok.

August 27, 1942
Eastern Front Around Stalingrad the Soviet perimeter is gradually drawing in. In the far south, the Germans have crossed the Terek and captured Prochladrii. Leningrad Front attacks near Schusselburg and Volkhov. Little progress is made, but in the next few days a salient is clawed into German lines well south of the city.
Solomons The carrier Saratoga is damaged by the submarine I-26 and is out of action till the end of October. The Wasp is now the only operational US carrier left in the Pacific.
Guadalcanal A battalion of marines lands west of Kokumbura while another unit moves inland to cut off enemy forces. The maneuver is frustrated by Japanese resistance near Kokumbura.

August 27, 1943
Solomons US forces land on Arundel. Troops of 43rd Division occupy the Nauro Peninsula in the southeast of the island without a fight.
Eastern Front In the continuing Soviet offensives, Kotleva and Sevsk are taken by the Soviets.
Italy, Politics Mussolini is moved again, this time to the Gran Sasso d’Italia in Abruzzi.

August 27, 1944
Western Europe The Allied advance continues. Most are not yet far beyond the Seine, but 3rd US Army takes Chateau Thierry on the Marne. In Brittany Brest has been completely encircled.
Southern France The Germans evacuate Bordeaux, but a garrison remains around Royan at the mouth of the Gironde. Tarascon and Avignon are liberated by French troops.
Eastern Front Focsani and Galati in Rumania fall to the Soviets, who are pushing toward Bucharest and Ploesti.
Europe, Air Operations Bomber Command raids the oil plant at Hamburg-Meerbeck in its first daylight attack with heavy bombers since the early days of the war.
Burma British 36th Division captures Pinbaw on the Mogaung-Mandalay road.

August 27, 1945
Japan Allied fleets anchor in Tokyo Bay.
Solomon Islands Although Japanese forces are surrendering in many places, some isolated garrisons here are reported to be ignorant of the cease-fire. Some isolated Japanese soldiers will remain in the jungles throughout the Pacific until the early 1970’s.

[Ennath]

August 28-29, 1939
Diplomatic Relations The British ambassador in Berlin assures Hitler that Britain intends to stand by her guarantees to Poland. He urges a truce and negotiations to defuse the crisis. Hitler is uncompromising.

August 28, 1940
Battle of Britain After a lull on the 27th, the Germans renew their attacks. They lose 30 aircraft and the British 20. One attack is made by fighters alone and the British commanders are tricked into engaging it on the assumption that it is a mixed formation. During the night there is the first of a series of four raids on Liverpool. Around 160 aircraft are sent each night.
Battle of the Atlantic The British armed merchant cruiser Dunvegan Castle is sunk by a U-Boat.
West Africa Free French supporters in Brazzaville, Congo imprison the Vichy governor and declare the colony’s adherence to the Allies. A similar move in Gabon is thwarted by the pro-Vichy naval commander.
Central Africa Ubangi-Shari declares for Free France. Pro-Vichy officers threaten a coup but are placated by an offer of repatriation to Dakar.
Diplomatic Relations Britain concludes an oil agreement with Iran.

August 28, 1941
Iran A new government takes office and gives orders for a cease fire. Negotiations with the Allies are under way.
Eastern Front The Soviets announce that the great dam on the Dniepr at Zaporozhye has been destroyed. A Rumanian attack at Odessa penetrates the second defense line but Soviet counterattacks halt advance from here. German mopping-up operations in Estonia are completed.
Russia, Home Front Stalin orders the deportation en masse of the Volga Germans, who have been living in Russia since the time of Catherine the Great. They are moved the remote areas in Kazakhstan and Siberia. The Volga German Autonomous SSR is abolished.

August 28-29, 1941
Eastern Front The Soviets evacuate their garrison (10th Rifle Corps) from Tallinn by sea. Several convoys attempt to get through to Kronstadt but losses to mines and air attacks are very severe on both days. Almost all the transports are sunk along with many escorting vessels from the Baltic Fleet.

August 28, 1942
Eastern Front The Germans begin the assault on Novorossisk on the Black Sea. Over a week of bitter fighting ensues.
New Guinea The Australians at Milne Bay are standing firm against violent Japanese attacks. Japanese reinforcements arrive on the 29th. Meanwhile fighting continues on the Kokoda Trail.

August 28, 1943
Denmark The Danish government refuses to accept a German ultimatum and resign. The German commander, Hennecken, takes over.
Bulgaria King Boris III dies in mysterious circumstances, officially of heart failure. He is buried at Rila Monastery, but the Communists later exhume the body and records of the new burial place are subsequently lost.. His 6-year old son Simeon III succeeds. The Regency Council continues his policy of distancing Bulgaria from the Germans.
Eastern Front After regrouping, the Soviet offensive toward Smolensk is resumed. The initial target is Yelnya. The Soviets break through on a 15-mile front.

August 28, 1944
Western Europe US 1st Army crosses the Marne at Meaux. 3rd Army is moving in the direction of Reims. The advances west of Paris also continue. Supply problems are beginning.
France, Politics De Gaulle orders the disbandment of the resistance forces. Some, notably the Communists, are reluctant to give up their arms.
Southern France The last German forces in Toulon and Marseilles surrender and French forces begin advancing up the west bank of the Rhone. In the Rhone valley some German units, particularly 11th Panzer Division, have been cut off south of Montelimar, but they mostly succeed in breaking out northward, though with heavy losses.
Italy Indian troops capture Tigliano.
Eastern Front Some Soviet forces in Rumania swing west and move through Oituz Pass toward Transylvania. On the Danube, the Russians take Braila.
Hungary, Politics A new government, led by General Lakatos, takes office and announces its willingness to negotiate with the Soviets.

August 28, 1945
China American-sponsored negotiations begin between Chiang and Mao. After two months, the talks break down when the Nationalists discover that a large Communist force has been quietly moving into southwest Manchuria, under Soviet protection. Meanwhile, Nationalist troops are being transported by the Americans to reoccupy central and northern China. The corruption of the reoccupation does much to raise support for the Communists.
Burma Japanese forces in the country surrender.

[DTravel]

Originally Posted by Ennath

August 27, 1928
Diplomatic Relations The Kellogg-Briand Pact is signed. By its terms, all signatories, including the USA, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan, agree to renounce aggressive war. It marks the height of interwar optimism. There is, however, no provision for enforcement.

Am I the only one wondering how you are supposed to enforce a "No Aggressive War" treaty without fighting a war against the defaulter?

[squigg58]

Originally Posted by DTravel

Am I the only one wondering how you are supposed to enforce a "No Aggressive War" treaty without fighting a war against the defaulter?

I imagine the theory was that if one member defaulted and started a war, all the others would take action against them. However, it never actually works that way!

[Ennath]

August 29-September 27, 1923
Greece The Corfu Incident. After the assassination of Italian members of an international border commission on the Greek-Albanian frontier, Italy sends warships and troops to occupy the Greek island of Corfu. Greece appeals to the League of Nations and , after pressure from Britain and other powers, the Italians withdraw.

August 29, 1937
Diplomatic Relations The Soviet Union signs a friendship treaty with China. The Soviets are playing a double game here, backing Chiang against the Japanese and Mao against Chiang. His first concern is to keep the Japanese occupied.

August 29, 1940
Battle of Britain There are more German fighter sweeps but no major efforts by the day bomber force. Losses are 17 German and 9 British aircraft.

August 29, 1941
Iran The fighting comes to an end. On the 31st, British and Soviet forces link up at Kazvin.
Eastern Front Finnish forces take Viipuri. The Finns are preparing to halt their advance when they reach their former frontier and only a few of their units enter Russian territory further north. This decision to halt will contribute much to the Soviet ability to defend Leningrad.
Yugoslavia General Milan Nedic is appointed to head a puppet Serbian government backed by Germany.

August 29, 1943
Denmark The new German authorities declare martial law and there is some fighting in various parts of the country. The Germans manage to capture a handful of the small Danish navy’s ships, but the rest are scuttled or escape to Sweden. The Danish government has been very successful until now in mitigating the effects of German occupation while rigorously avoiding collaboration. The Germans take direct control of the country. Scavenius submits his resignation, but this is not accepted by the King, so the cabinet continues to exist de jure.
Eastern Front The Soviets take Lyubotin, west of Kharkov. The Yelnya drive has created a salient 9 miles deep.
Solomons The Americans extend their beachheads on Vella Lavella and Arundel. During the night the Japanese evacuate about 3400 men from Santa Isabel and transfer them to Bougainville or New Britain.

August 29, 1944
Western Front US VII Corps takes Soissons and crosses the Aisne. 3rd Army takes Reims and Chalons-sur-Marne. The battle for Brest continues.
Italy 8th Army reaches Foglia. The Gothic Line itself is being approached.
Eastern Front The Russians take Constanta and Buzau.
The British and Americans recognize the AK as a responsible belligerent faction and declare that it should be treated as such. The Germans officially reject this declaration. Fighting in Warsaw continues to be very fierce and brutal.
Czechoslovakia Elements of the Slovak Army revolt against the Germans and the Tiso regime.
War Crimes The Soviets and Polish Communists announce that they have discovered evidence that the Germans have murdered around 1,500,000 people in the former Majdenek extermination camp This is first of such dreadful revelations, but many in the West do not yet believe them.
Diplomatic Relations The USSR announces that it cannot accept or recognize Bulgarian neutrality.
Yugoslavia King Peter II dismisses Mihailovic as commander of the Yugoslav army in the homeland. On September 12, he appoints Tito to the post.
China Regrouped after the capture of Hengyang, the Japanese 11th Division advances toward Kweilin and Liuchow, sites of major US airfields.

August 29-30, 1944
Europe, Air Operations An RAF raid on Königsberg causes a firestorm; 20,000 are killed. 15 bombers are lost.

[pariser80]

Memories after 70 years...yesterday after controlled demoliton of a bomb from second world in munich some demages. Nobody was injured but some roofs burned.
Spectacular pictures:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idF3Nq11BcM

I'm glad that war is over. Hope wars will be over in the rest of the world.

[knobby109]

Originally Posted by pariser80

Memories after 70 years...yesterday after controlled demoliton of a bomb from second world in munich some demages. Nobody was injured but some roofs burned.
Spectacular pictures:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idF3Nq11BcM

I'm glad that war is over. Hope wars will be over in the rest of the world.

And that was only a relatively small bomb if the caption (250 Kg) is correct.

[Ennath]

Read somewhere that when unexploded ordnance is discovered in Germany, the federal government pays for its removal if it's of German origins, but if it’s Allied stuff, the bill falls to the state government.