The Second World War.

[screwthief]

Squid was a three barrel mortar system which could fire 300 lb depth charges up to 250 yds from the ship. Research post war showed it be 9 times more effective than conventional systems.

[DTravel]

Originally Posted by screwthief

Squid was a three barrel mortar system which could fire 300 lb depth charges up to 250 yds from the ship. Research post war showed it be 9 times more effective than conventional systems.

One of the reasons was because it could be fired in an arc in front of the ship. Active sonar installations (pinging instead of passively listening) usually worked in a forward arc and could not "aim" below a certain angle. So as the ASW ship would pass over the target submarine to drop depth charges off the stern onto the sub they would lose sonar contact with the target. This would give the sub a chance to maneuver to avoid the attack. Squid, hedgehog and similar ASW weapons systems could be aimed at where the sub was, not where the ship guessed it would be in a little while.

[Ennath]

August 1932
Russia, Home Front The Ukrainian famine begins. In an effort to break Ukrainian separatism and opposition to collectivization, the Communists set very high grain and livestock quotas, leaving nothing to the peasants. Troops and OGPU units are sent in to enforce the confiscations. By the end of 1933, some 4 to 5 million have died. A tight information blackout keeps the world from learning the truth for years. Walter Duranty of the New York Times wins a Pulitzer Prize for telling the world that there is no famine.

August 1934
Germany, Politics The SS acquires the Wewelsburg, turning it into their main occult center. Although Hitler has little use for mysticism, many Nazi leaders, notably Himmler and Hess, are firm believers in the occult. Dark rites will be preformed here in coming years.
Atomic Research Norsk Hyrdo, in Vemork, Norway, ships its first order of heavy water to London.

August 1935
Atomic Research Edward Teller seeks refuge in the United States.

August-December 1937
China The Japanese advance west and south across north China against relatively ineffective resistance to conquer Chahar and part of Suiyuan, reaching the upper bend of the Yellow River. Their main efforts are southward along the rail lines toward Nanking, Hankow, and Sian. Chinese resistance grows more effective as the year comes to a close and the problems of long-distance logistics and of policing heavily populated conquered areas all slow the advance. Nevertheless, Tsinan falls on December 27, giving the Japanese control of most of the area north of the Yellow River.

August 1938
Germany, Home Front German authorities decree that, as of January 1, 1939, Jewish men and women bearing “non-Jewish” names must add “Israel” or “Sarah” to their given names. All Jews over 15 will be obliged to carry identity cards indicating their heritage and Jewish passports are stamped with an identifying letter J.

August 1939
Burma Aung San founds the Peoples’ Revolutionary Party by merging several Communist and nationalist groups. After a warrant for his arrest, Aung San escapes to China, intending to make contact with the CCP, but the Japanese intercept him and offer their support.

August 1940
Battle of the Atlantic Changes are introduced in the British naval codes which, for a time, set back the work of B Dienst, the German cryptanalysis service, which has previously been able to glean a considerable quantity of up-to-date and useful intelligence from British radio transmissions. The British work on the German Enigma machine is not yet giving the marvelous results that will be achieved later.
The German potential for Atlantic operations is strengthened by the entry into maritime service of long-range FW200 Condor aircraft from bases near Bordeaux. On the 17th Hitler declares a total blockade of the British Isles in which neutral ships may be sunk on sight.
In the month’s operations the U-Boats sink 56 ships of 267,600 tons out of a total Allied and neutral loss of 397,000 tons. One minor consolation for the British is the first sinking of a U-Boat by a depth charge dropped by air (U-51 on August 16). These modified weapons will not come into widespread use until the spring of 1941 until which time the less effective antisubmarine bombs will continue to be used.
Britain, Home Front Civilian casualties this month are 1075 killed.
Allied Intelligence The Americans break the Japanese “Purple” diplomatic code.

August 1941
Battle of the Atlantic One development this month is the first appearance of the Catapult Aircraft Merchantmen (CAM), carrying an expendable Hurricane fighter for limited protection against air attack. This is another month of moderate success for the U-Boat fleet. They sink only 23 ships of 80,300 tons for the loss of three of their number. The U-Boat effort in the North Atlantic is now concentrated rather closer to the UK than has been the recent practice because of the longer patrols this allows the smaller boats. The total Allied shipping loss is 41 ships of 130,700 tons.
Europe, Air Operations Bomber Command raids many German targets including Hanover, Frankfurt, Mannheim, Hamburg, Berlin, and Karsruhe. There are also sweeps by fighters and fighter-bombers over northern France and the Low Countries. Rotterdam is a major target for these operations.
It has recently become apparent that the results of the British bombing offensive have been very poor. The Butt Report is prepared from studying photographs taken at the moment of bomb release during the June and July operations. The report is presented during August. It shows that on moonlit nights, of the planes which claim to have hit their targets, only 40% have dropped their bombs within 5 miles. On dark nights less than 7% have achieved this “accuracy”. As there are no navigational aids available to overcome the problem yet, the whole policy of precision attacks is seriously questioned.
The Blitz Minor German raids result in 169 dead and 136 injured.
Mediterranean There are regular air raids on Malta, which is beginning to take a significant toll of Axis shipping between Italy and North Africa.
War Crimes Jews in Rumania are forced into Trans-Dniestria. By December, some 70,000 have perished.

[Ennath]

August 1942
Battle of the Atlantic Total Allied shipping loss in all theaters is 123 ships of 661,100 tons, of which submarines sink 108 ships of 544,400 tons. There are now 108 operational boats. The U-Boats are now operating again on the main North Atlantic convoy routes. Other concentrations are off Brazil and Venezuela, with some still in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. A further group operates off Sierra Leone. The narrow channels in Caribbean waters mean that there are many targets there, but that making attacks is difficult. The protection of traffic off Brazil is made easier by Brazil’s entry into the war following many German provocations. Bases can be provided in Brazil for Allied forces. Meanwhile, German prospects are improved by the fitting of Metox radar search receivers in some of their boats. These are effective against radar on the 1.5-meter wavelength.
Europe, Air Operations Bomber Command continues its campaign with attacks on Duisburg, Mainz, and Frankfurt. The first independent raids by US heavy bombers are made on targets in France. US forces also take a small part in the offensive fighter sweeps and attacks on communications in northern France.
During August, a Pathfinder force is established for Bomber Command, to mark targets for the whole raid. Harris has been opposed to the idea as unnecessary and bad for morale. He is certainly wrong in this view and the use of Pathfinders will improve the accuracy of raids. In the short term, there is a setback for bombing accuracy as the Germans have now begun effective jamming of the Gee navigational aid. It is still useful for guiding aircraft back to their bases.
Luxembourg The use of Letzburgisch is banned and conscription into the German army is begun. A general strike is called in protest but is broken when 21 people are shot and hundreds sent to concentration camps.
Mediterranean This month the air attacks on Malta are somewhat less intense.
German Manpower German replacement battalions are split into two elements. One continues to handle recruiting and replacements and retains the replacement battalion designation. The other elements are designated as training battalions for occupied areas, freeing regular units for the fronts. These will soon be organized as reserve divisions.
German Intelligence Hitler attempts to end the Abwehr-SD rivalry. The SD is to have its own intelligence group, restricted to internal matters, while the Abwehr has sole responsibility for foreign intelligence.
United States Production This month the carrier Independence and battleship Iowa are launched – an indication of how American ship production will soon swamp the Japanese. Between now and the end of the year, four more carriers and another battleship are also launched.
The Pacific The new SJ submarine search radar is being tested. Positive results are reported.
Timor The Japanese begin destroying villages suspected of aiding the Australian commandos. A major offensive begins and secures the central town of Maubisse and the southern port of Beco. The situation is complicated by a native rising against the Portuguese colonial authorities, who have been surreptitiously aiding the Australians. Timorese civilians report on Allied movements to the Japanese.
China With US aircraft increasingly dominating the skies over China, a battle develops for “Hump” supplies between Chennault, who believes that air power alone can win the campaign, and Stilwell, who insists that any victory will have to be achieved by the Chinese Army.
The Japanese launch an anti-partisan offensive in Shantung, capitalizing on friction between Communist and Nationalist groups.

August 1943
Battle of the Atlantic A further 25 U-Boats are sunk this month although U-Boat activity is at a lower level. Among the casualties in July and August are 10 milch cow submarine tankers which are important to the distant operations which now form the main effort of the German submarine forces.One development is a German attempt to fight back against Allied forces in the Bay of Biscay. Long-range fighters will be sent from Britain to try to counter this. Dönitz orders U-Boats to discontinue the use of radar detectors. Allied shipping losses for the month are not much over 100,000 tons.
Europe, Air Operations The heavy bomber forces concentrate on German targets. The RAF attacks on Hamburg continue intermittently; between now and November there are 30 major raids. This month Bomber Command drops 19,000 tons of bombs and 8th Air Force 3600 tons. Among the targets are Nuremberg, Berlin, Bochum, Milan, Turin, and Genoa. Lighter aircraft of both Allies attack communications and airfields in Occupied Territory.
The success of the RAF’s radar jamming the previous month leads to an abandonment of the Kammhuber Line in favor a new “Wilde Sau” system. Fighters now roam freely over a city under attack. AA fire is restricted to a certain height and fighters operate above that.
Italian communications are the main targets in many fairly small raids in the Mediterranean. Major raids are made on Rome.
Greece The German forces sent to Greece due to Allied deception campaigns are used in counter-guerilla operations. The Germans take over much responsibility from the weary Italians and “Free Greece” is overrun. The guerillas return to the hills.
Sweden Norwegian and Danish exile troops are allowed to begin forming and training.
The Pacific Tests prove faults in the contact exploders for American torpedoes. Dockyards are ordered to produce efficient ones.
France, Politics American equipment for the Free French forces is arriving by the boatload, but the price is an agreement by the Free French to bury the hatchet with the ex-Vichy forces now comprising a sizable part of the French army. This is not easy as many Gaullist officers and men retain a deep bitterness toward the Armee d’Afrique, which for 2 ½ years refused to fight anyone but Gaullists and British. There is a reluctance to accept Generals Juin and de Lattre, despite their clear ability. This tension will persist through the rest of the war.

August 1944
Europe, Air Operations The Allied bombing effort this month can be divided into four categories. First general area bombing carried out by the heavy bombers of the RAF. Targets include Kiel, Bremen, and Brunswick. Second, the attacks on particular target systems, including oil, rail transport, and aircraft manufacturing. Oil targets are attacked by both British and Americans and include Zeitz, Bohlen, Freital, Kolin, Politz, and Hamburg-Meerbeck. Rail centers include Saarbrucken, Mulhouse, and Strasbourg. Aircraft works bombed include those in Anklam, Neustadt, and Ramkel. The third type of operation is in direct support of the ground forces. The final category of attacks is the efforts against the V-Weapon sites. Most of these are carried out by British forces.
Developments during the month include shuttle raids by 8th Air Force between Britain, Russia, and Italy. Also large forces from Bomber Command are sent over Germany during daylight for the first time since the early months of the war. In all the US 8th and 15th Air Forces drop 75,000 tons of bombs and Bomber Command 65,000. The German V-Weapons offensive also continues, causing 4000 casualties in Britain this month.
The US Air Corps tries a new method of attacking V-Weapons sites by loading old B-17’s withdrawn from service with explosives and guiding them by remote control to crash on their targets. The remote control systems, however, are still too primitive for this to work well and damage is minimal. Thirteen attempts are made before the project is cancelled in January 1945.
Far East, Air Operations There are B-29 raids on Nagasaki and Yawata. There are in addition the by now usual range of attacks on targets in New Guinea and the Marianas. Mindanao is also hit.
The Pacific American submarines sink another 140,000 tons of Japanese shipping.
Battle of the Atlantic The U-Boats abandon the Biscay ports as US forces close in.
Arctic In August and September, U-Boats operate against Siberian shipping routes, with minor success.
Burma Several Burmese leaders, disillusioned with the Japanese, secretly found the Anti-Fascist Peoples’ Freedom League and begin clandestine contacts with the British.
Australia, Home Front Military manpower needs have created a labor shortage in war industries. The government announces that 45,000 men are to be discharged in the coming ten months to make up for this.
Atomic Research The Germans dismantle the heavy water concentration cells at Vemork for transport to Germany.
Germany, Home Front The popular song Lili Marlene is banned; Goebbels has long disliked its sentimentality. By now, Allied troops are listening to versions sung by Marlene Dietrich, Vera Lynn and Edith Piaf.
The BBC estimates that up to 15 million Germans are now listening to its broadcasts daily, despite the criminal penalties for doing so.
German Manpower By this time the Waffen SS, formerly a volunteer force for “pure Aryans”, is increasingly relying on conscripts and transfers from the Air Force and Navy, as well as ethnic Germans from Eastern Europe.

August 1945
Far East, Air Operations Aside from the two nuclear raids, there are conventional attacks against many Japanese cities. Among the targets are Tokokawa, Yawata, Hikari, Nagoya, and Toyama. The last strategic raid is on the night of the 14th when Kumagaya and other targets northwest of Tokyo are bombed.
Europe Political assassinations of suspected collaborators begin to tail off.
France The Socialists reject Communist Party demands for a merger. The Communists are quite powerful and aggressive.

August 1946
Cyprus The British begin interning Jews caught running the blockade into Palestine in camps on Cyprus.

August 1948
Burma The Karens revolt against the central government in an attempt to achieve an autonomous state. At first successful, the Karens, in somewhat uneasy cooperation with the Communists, gain control of much of south-central Burma. They declare independence at Toungoo on June 14.

August 1949
China Chinese Communist troops attack the East Turkestan Republic. The Soviets no longer have any desire to back this state and it falls quickly although low-scale resistance continues until 1954.

[Ennath]

August 1, 1927
ChinaFollowing the Nationalist purge, Communist elements in the army mutiny at Nanchang, hoping to spark a nationwide Communist revolution. The revolt is suppressed and its leader Chu Teh escapes to the mountains. This is considered the beginning of the Chinese Civil War, which will last until 1949.

August 1-16, 1936
World Affairs The Olympic Games in Berlin are a propaganda triumph for Hitler and the Nazis.

August 1, 1940
Germany, Planning Hitler issues Directive 17 on the invasion of Britain. The army plans have now been revised to take some note of naval problems and on account of these it is laid down that preparations are to be complete by September 15 for operations to take place between the 19th and 26th. The order is to be given about 14 days after the main Luftwaffe offensive to gain air superiority has begun. The navy begins gathering transport, largely consisting of flat-bottomed river barges unsuitable for any seas above dead calm, an extreme rarity in the Channel.
Japan, Politics A public policy declaration is made concerning Japan’s support for a “New Order” in East Asia. The declaration contains the first public use of the phrase “Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.”
Britain, Home Front According to Wiccan tradition, the New Forest Coven, this Lammas night, raises a Cone of Power to dissuade Hitler from invading.

August 1-10, 1940
Battle of Britain On each day there are German attacks on shipping in the Channel. The air fighting is heaviest on August 8, when the Germans lose 31 planes and the RAF 20. Overall the losses are less favorable for the Luftwaffe with 62 planes lost to 27 for the British.

August 1, 1941
Diplomatic Relations President Roosevelt forbids the export of oil and aviation fuel from the United States except to Britain, the British Empire, and the countries of the Western Hemisphere. This decision hits very hard against Japan because that nation has no oil of her own and is left with only limited reserve stocks. The position is such that Japan must either change her foreign policy very radically or decide very quickly to go to war and try to gain control of the oil of the East Indies. Roosevelt’s decision confirms the steps taken recently when Japanese assets were frozen.
Eastern Front Fighting is especially heavy near Vitebsk and Orsha. The Soviets attack along the northern edge of the Pripet Marshes from west of Gomel with the aim of striking into the German rear. In most sectors, the Germans withstand the attacks.

August 1, 1942
Eastern Front The forces of Army Group A continue to advance, capturing Salsk and reaching the Kuban River near Kropotkin. There is more fierce fighting in the Don bend near Kalach and Kletskaya.
Burma The Japanese establish a puppet government under Ba Maw.
United States, Home Front In order to conserve oil for the war effort, Roosevelt asks Americans to use coal whenever possible.

August 1, 1943
Europe, Air Operations A force of 177 American B-24’s is sent to attack the oilfields at Ploesti, Rumania. 54 fail to return. The attack temporarily puts 40% of the refining plant out of action.
Sicily There is heavy fighting around Troina, Regalbuto, and Centuripe. The terrain in the northeast of the island is very rugged, which greatly aids the defense.
Crete The Germans disarm Italian troops.
France, Politics The Free French reorganize their leadership. Giraud will now preside in the National Liberation Committee only when purely military matters are discussed. De Gaulle is to be president of the committee at all other times.
Burma Japan announces that Burma is now independent and has declared war on the Allies. The head of the puppet government, Ba Maw, signs a treaty with the Japanese. The Burma Independence Army is reorganized as the Burma National Army under Aung San.
Japanese Production At this time the Japanese Empire controls about 95% of the world’s production of rubber, 70% of the rice and tin, and almost all the quinine. The Allies have found several substitutes for quinine and have increased – as have the Germans – their production of synthetic rubber.

August 1, 1944
Western Front Patton’s 3rd US Army becomes operational and takes position on the Allied right. The US forces are now organized as 12th Army Group, under Bradley, containing 1st Army (Hodges) and 3rd Army (Patton). Montgomery assumes command of 21st Army Group, containing British 2nd Army (Dempsey) and Canadian 1st Army (Crerar). Montgomery also retains overall command of the ground forces.
Patton’s main task initially is to overrun Brittany but some of his troops head for Le Mans. 1st Army advances on Mortain. The British and Canadians continue to attack between Caumont and Caen. In this sector British XXX Corps is advancing on Villers Bocage.
Finland, Politics President Ryti resigns. Marshal Mannerheim is chosen to replace him.
Estonia An Estonian government-in-exile is established.
Eastern Front Soviet troops take Kaunas. Some troops reach the Gulf of Riga. They cannot take Riga itself.
In Warsaw, the Polish Home Army (AK) begins an open revolt. This movement is aligned politically with the exile government in London and is generally anti-communist. The rising is timed so that when the Russians arrive in Warsaw, as they seem certain to do very shortly, they will find an established Polish government with the prestige of having liberated the national capital. However, the Soviet advance comes to an almost immediate halt in the sector. This has caused controversy ever since. Russian accounts claim that because of the long advances made during July, they are unable, for the moment, to move further. The western position is that the Soviets have stopped so that the Germans can do the job of wiping out anti-communist forces in Poland. The most telling point on the western side is the reluctance of the Soviets to lend any help to British and American plans and, after much negotiation, attempts to drop supplies to the Poles.
Marianas On Tinian the last organized Japanese resistance comes to an end. As usual the Japanese garrison has fought to the end. There are over 6000 Japanese dead and 250 prisoners, mostly wounded and Korean laborers. The Americans have had 390 killed and 1800 wounded.
New Guinea Small scale mopping up goes on on Biak and the Sansapor area. In the Aitape sector the Americans advance as far as the Niumen Stream, stabilizing their advanced lines.
China The Japanese siege of Hengyang continues; attempts by the Chinese to open a supply line to the city fail.
Thailand The pro-Japanese dictator Luang Phibunsongkhram resigns. The new civilian government is heavily infiltrated by Free Thai groups.

August 1, 1945
China Air-dropped mines bring Japanese shipping on the Yangtze to a halt. 36 ships (35,000 tons) have been lost to mines.

[palo5]

Originally Posted by Ennath

July 31, 1940
Soviet War Production A 7-day work week is introduced.

This is later reduced to a 0-day work week by Mr Jeltsin - what a contrast to our war-work

[tygrkhat40]

Originally Posted by Ennath

The US Air Corps tries a new method of attacking V-Weapons sites by loading old B-17’s withdrawn from service with explosives and guiding them by remote control to crash on their targets. The remote control systems, however, are still too primitive for this to work well and damage is minimal. Thirteen attempts are made before the project is cancelled in January 1945.

One of the casualties of Operation: Aphrodite was Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., eldest son of the famed Kennedy clan. His death altered history in many ways. He was the one being groomed for a life in politics by his father, not John. John took up his brother's ambitions after the war.

Joe, Jr. had been a pilot of PB4Y Liberators in anti-submarine details and had completed 25 missions and was eligible to return home, but he volunteered for Operation: Aphrodite.

[scoundrel]

Originally Posted by Ennath

August 1932
Russia, Home Front The Ukrainian famine begins. In an effort to break Ukrainian separatism and opposition to collectivization, the Communists set very high grain and livestock quotas, leaving nothing to the peasants. Troops and OGPU units are sent in to enforce the confiscations. By the end of 1933, some 4 to 5 million have died. A tight information blackout keeps the world from learning the truth for years. Walter Duranty of the New York Times wins a Pulitzer Prize for telling the world that there is no famine.

I trust that Walter Duranty shares a fire in Hell with Joseph E Davies. With any luck, the fire will be hot enough to melt sand into glass.

[scoundrel]

Originally Posted by palo5

This is later reduced to a 0-day work week by Mr Jeltsin - what a contrast to our war-work

So in the workers' paradise, there was no longer a single day of rest? Or was this organised on a shift pattern so that workers could still have days off?

What also intrigues me is to wonder what was being manufactured at such volumes? In fairness, the Soviet armies were quite modern in some respects. Even in 1941, Russia had by far the best tanks on the Allied side: the T34 was just coming on stream and the KV1 was much superior to the German Panzer Mark 3. Russia was still operating hundreds of woefully outclassed Polikarpov I15 biplanes; they were manoevrable but slow and lightly armed and stood little chance against the Bf109F which the Germans were using in June 1941. Possibly the Soviet air forces were retooling with modern monoplanes such as the LaGG-3, a promising design which was let down by its underpowered engine: many pilots who had previously flown Polikarpov I16s regretted the change. However, when a better engine became available, the LaGG-3 became the basis design for the Lavochkin La-5, a really excellent aeroplane which ate Bf109s like smarties.

In 1940, the Ribbentrop-Molotov pact was in place. Would the Russian factory workers on their seven day week have been manufacturing equipment for German use?

[palo5]

Originally Posted by scoundrel

So in the workers' paradise, there was no longer a single day of rest? Or was this organised on a shift pattern so that workers could still have days off?

They worked 12hr shifts from what I've been told. But it must have varied

In 1940, the Ribbentrop-Molotov pact was in place. Would the Russian factory workers on their seven day week have been manufacturing equipment for German use?

Afaik, raw materials were produced for them. It's possible they got some finished products, but I don't know of any