The Second World War.

[Ennath]

August 7-September 1927
ChinaCommunist leader Mao Tse-tung leads the “Autumn Harvest Uprising” in Hunan. When it fails, he flees to the mountains and is soon joined by Chu Teh.

August 7, 1940
United States, Politics Roosevelt bans the shipment without license of strategic materials and aircraft parts to Japan.

August 7, 1941
Eastern Front Stalin becomes Commander-in-Chief of the Soviet armed forces.
Italy Bruno Mussolini, the dictator’s son, dies during a training flight near Genoa. Mussolini never fully recovers from the loss of his son.

August 7-8, 1941
Europe, Air Operations During the night a small Soviet force raids Berlin. The city is hit by Soviet aircraft six more times this month.

August 7, 1942
North Africa General Gott is killed when the flight back to Cairo crashes and General Bernard Montgomery is chosen to replace him as 8th Army commander.
Palestine The British announce the creation of a Palestine Regiment. This unit will be made up of three Jewish and one Arab battalions. (Original plans called for an equal number but Arab enlistments were too low for more than one battalion.) The training provided for service in these units will provide valuable experience for the postwar operations of both sides.
Aleutians Japanese-held Kiska is bombarded by an American naval task force.
Solomons American landings begin. 1st Marine Division lands on Guadalcanal, with little opposition. Smaller detachments land elsewhere around the sound. A large detachment lands on Tulagi and makes good progress while a smaller detachment secures positions on Florida Island. Small marine forces attack the islets of Gavutu and Tanambogo in the center of the area. Gavutu falls after fierce resistance, but the Tanambogo forces are pinned to their beachheads.

August 7, 1943
Sicily The British capture Adrana and advance toward Bronte.
Eastern Front The Soviets open an offensive toward Smolensk. They have a slight edge in manpower but a 3-1 advantage in tanks, 3-2 in planes, and over 2-1 in guns. Smolensk is protected by several strong German defensive lines. The initial attacks are stopped cold and a reserve army is committed. The forces in the Yartsevo area advance 10-15 miles by the 11th. Attacks go better in the area of Spas-Demensk.

August 7, 1944
Western Front The Germans begin an important counterattack just east of Mortain aiming to cut off Allied forces to the south from their supplies in Normandy. It falls between VII and XIV Corps and is comprised of units from 2nd and 116th Panzer Divisions. They retake Mortain but Allied air attacks help prevent any more serious loss and Arromanches is held. In Brittany VIII Corps reaches Brest but it is too late in the day to attack. The fight for St. Malo continues and US troops also attack Lorient.
During the night there are attacks southwest of Caen by Canadian forces after the RAF drops over 3000 tons of bombs on the German positions.
The harbor at Cherbourg is finally cleared and reactivated.
Eastern Front The Soviets advance in the Carpathian foothills to take Sambor. In most places the summer offensive is over and the Germans are containing most attacks. The Soviets pause to reorganize their overstretched supply lines.
Marianas There is fierce fighting all along the front on Guam. The difficult jungle terrain aids the Japanese to concede only a little ground. Yigo falls but the attack on Monte Santa Rosa meets heavy opposition. A Japanese counterattack that night fails.
New Guinea US troops advance along the north coast of Biak to Korim Bay, eliminating pockets of resistance.
Japan The old cruiser Nagara is torpedoed by the Croaker off Kyushu.

August 7, 1945
Yugoslavia Tito bans the return of King Peter II to the country.
Allied Technology The existence of radar is made public.
Atomic Research Stalin places Beria in charge of Soviet atomic research. This is an indication of the importance of the espionage effort to the bomb program.

August 7, 1948
Soviet Union A session of the Agricultural Academy adopts the positions of Trofim Lysenko, arguing that acquired characteristics can be inherited. This is an important basis for creating the Socialist “New Man”

[rotobott]

Originally Posted by DTravel

Probably both sides were producing newsreels for foreign consumption. There were, after all, some strategically positioned neutrals that both sides wanted to influence. Not to mention affecting the enemy population's morale. Radio was just the well known tool but neither side relied solely on that.

It shouldn't be that hard to use a bit of google-fu to find out but I just don't have the time right now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwNDhglbT7Q

[deepsepia]

Originally Posted by DTravel

Probably both sides were producing newsreels for foreign consumption. There were, after all, some strategically positioned neutrals that both sides wanted to influence. Not to mention affecting the enemy population's morale. Radio was just the well known tool but neither side relied solely on that.

It shouldn't be that hard to use a bit of google-fu to find out but I just don't have the time right now.

Is not easy to find, I've looked a bit. The were a number of neutrals: Sweden, Switzerland, Portugal. Mail actually passed from Gemany to Allies, through a variety of arrangements. I came across this one

Originally Posted by Montreal Gazette, 1939

“Ottawa, November 24 – CP[?] – Justice Minister Lapointe, in his capacity as Acting Secretary of State, and Postmaster General Power announced tonight that Thomas Cook and Son, Limited, Toronto, have been appointed licensed intermediary for the forwarding of harmless social messages to persons in enemy or enemy-occupied territory.
Private letters to enemy or enemy-occupied territory sent through a neutral country are now allowed to be forwarded at the sender’s risk as to the delivery in the country of destination, subject to the usual conditions of censorship when sent through the intermediary of Thomas Cook and Son.
Letters cannot, however, be forwarded direct to enemy or enemy-occupied territory.
British subjects and others in Canada wishing to communicate with relatives or friends in enemy or enemy occupied countries should forward such letters to Thomas Cook and Son, accompanied by a remittance of 50 cents to cover the expense of transmitting the letter to a neutral country, the transmission from there to the enemy territory, and the transmission of the reply to the sender in Canada.
Letters intended for transmission to enemy or enemy-occupied countries should be as brief as possible, and should in all cases have the inner cover
left open in accordance with the enemy censorship regulations, and should be confined entirely to private and family notes, without any reference whatever to military or naval movements, or to political or economic conditions.”

[Ennath]

August 8, 1929
German Technology The airship Graf Zeppelin leaves on a round-the-world flight.

August 8-26, 1937
China The Chahar campaign. After back and forth attacks, the Chinese are forced from their remaining positions near the Great Wall.

August 8-23, 1937
China The 2nd Battle of Shanghai begins. The Japanese slowly reinforce, but Chinese resistance is as tenacious as it was in 1932. More Japanese reinforcements are rushed in to avoid defeat. Despite savage air bombardment and effective naval gunfire support, the Japanese are pinned to their beachheads for several weeks.

August 8, 1938
Germany, Home Front The first concentration camp is opened on Austrian soil, at Mathausen.

August 8, 1939
United States, Politics A War Resources Board is established, under Edward Stettinius. Of necessity, it contains many figures from business. Many New Dealers are alarmed at the conservative makeup of the Board. Although the Board will urge more preparation for mobilization, Roosevelt, in November, will dismiss the Board and suppress the report, to the rejoicing of the New Dealers.

August 8, 1940
Rumania, Politics Rumania introduces anti-Jewish measures restricting education and employment and soon begins “Romanianization” of Jewish businesses.
India, Politics In an effort to spur Indian contributions to the war effort, Britain promises a new postwar constitution.

August 8, 1941
Eastern Front The Uman pocket is liquidated. The Soviets lose another 200,000 men. Rumanian forces begin the Siege of Odessa. Finnish troops capture the village of Hiitola, severing the last land connection to Soviet troops defending the northwest coast of Lake Ladoga. Counterattacks to reopen the route in the next two days are unsuccessful.
Timoshenko issues a proclamation to all Soviet citizens in occupied areas urging them to join partisan forces, carry out Stalin’s scorched earth policy and “wreak merciless vengeance on the enemy … for the death of your children.”
China The Japanese begin a week of heavy air raids on Chungking. A total of 40 raids is recorded by the 14th.

August 8, 1942
Solomons The remaining American forces land on Guadalcanal. The forces advancing inland easily overrun the Japanese airstrip which is renamed Henderson Field. Tulagi and Tanambogo are secured, the latter after heavy fighting. A large area of Florida is controlled and operations here are completed. Because of intense air and submarine activity, Admiral Fletcher decides to withdraw his carriers covering the landings, but the cruisers and transports near Guadalcanal remain. The Japanese attacks of the day sink a transport and damage one more. The destroyer Jarvis is damaged and sinks the next day.
India The Indian National Congress calls for independence from Britain.
Allied Command General Eisenhower is chosen to head Operation Torch.
France Vichy authorities decree the death penalty for anyone caught with explosives.
Eastern Front Army Group A continues to drive south as well as consolidate its gains near the Kuban River. Army Group B captures Surovniko.

August 8, 1943
Sicily In an amphibious operation, the Americans land a small force east of Sant Agata. The Germans pull back and the town falls to the main US forces, as does Cesaro inland. In the British sector Bronte and Acireale are taken.
Europe, Air Operations A week of hell begins for the big cities of north Italy. Milan is bombed four times, destroying over 11,000 buildings. There are three violent raids on Turin, causing tremendous damage, and Genoa is badly hurt.
Italy, Politics Mussolini is transferred to Maddalena Island. A state of siege is proclaimed.
Germany, Home Front Berlin radio announces that over 1,000,000 women, children, elderly, and infirm persons are being evacuated from Berlin.
New Georgia Although Munda has been captured fighting on the island continues. The Americans are trying to prevent more Japanese escaping to Kolombangara.

August 8, 1944
Western Front The battles around Mortain continue with the Germans still trying to press the attack home to Arromanches. Despite this threat, 3rd Army goes on with its attacks. 79th Division enters Le Mans and XX Corps advances on Nantes and Angers. The fighting around the Brittany ports goes on. The commander of the German garrison in Brest rejects a surrender demand. The Canadians are delayed by strong German resistance in their attacks toward Falaise.
Eastern Front The AK forces have now managed to seize control of most of Warsaw and have expanded their strength with much captured German equipment. SS General Bach-Zelewski is appointed to lead the German forces charged with crushing the Poles. The Germans units are mostly SS, police, and punishment battalions, all alike in their preference for cruel and violent methods. After complaints from Guderian and others the worst offenders will be taken out of the fight and some of their leaders executed. The Poles ask the Soviets for at least air support but are ignored.
Marianas The remaining Japanese forces are compelled to retire toward the northern end of Guam when US troops overrun Monte Santa Rosa.
China The Japanese take Hengyang. They now intend to exploit this by overrunning American airfields.

August 8, 1945
Diplomatic Relations The Soviet Union declares war on Japan, citing as a reason Japan’s failure to respond to the Potsdam Declaration.
United States, Politics Truman signs the UN Charter, making the United States the first nation to ratify its original signature.

[palo5]

Originally Posted by deepsepia

Stalin and Beria -- what a pair

I don't know how long Beria would have survived, if Stalin had lived longer. Probably not long, imho. Secret Service chiefs almost never lasted long in the USSR. Except for Andropov, of course

Beria was a comparative 'nobody' until quite late in his life. He came from the same region as Stalin, and thought he could cut others out of conversations by speaking Mingrelian with him. But Stalin often told him to speak Russian or shuttup

Scoundrel says that Beria's in-tray was full, which is true. But he also found time for coerced sex-activity with actresses, dancers, colleagues' wives and even under-age girls. His bodyguards said this took a lot of his 'valuable time'

[scoundrel]

Originally Posted by palo5

I don't know how long Beria would have survived, if Stalin had lived longer. Probably not long, imho. Secret Service chiefs almost never lasted long in the USSR. Except for Andropov, of course

Beria was a comparative 'nobody' until quite late in his life. He came from the same region as Stalin, and thought he could cut others out of conversations by speaking Mingrelian with him. But Stalin often told him to speak Russian or shuttup

Scoundrel says that Beria's in-tray was full, which is true. But he also found time for coerced sex-activity with actresses, dancers, colleagues' wives and even under-age girls. His bodyguards said this took a lot of his 'valuable time'

Beria was around for more than 20 years in the top ranks of the Soviet regime, which was a feat matched by few others in that paranoid and back-stabbing world. He was a more shadowy figure than, say, Molotov; less visible.

His sexual predation was well known at the time. Stalin even warned his own daughter about Beria, though I doubt if Beria would have dared; Stalin would have turned him into fertiliser to improve next year's wheat harvest. I suspect its being a bit mean to Andropov to name him in the same context as Beria, but I don't know enough about Andropov to say this catagorically. But Stalin was fairly consistent in his personel decisions. If Beria carried on being useful, Beria would still be "in", and as soon as Beria became either past it or unreliable or a threat, he'd be "out" in the worst possible way. Stalin could have executed Beria a dozen times over for his hobby as a serial rapist, who used his official power to force women to do what he wanted of them. There are some clues that Stalin did find Beria's "hobby" distasteful or perhaps even disgusting; Stalin seems to have been relatively strait-laced, his only real private vice of which I am aware is excessive drinking, and his drinking was not all that excessive either for a man in his time and place. But Stalin tolerated Beria's behaviour, while not necessarily approving it, because Beria was a useful tool to Stalin's ends.

[palo5]

Originally Posted by scoundrel

Beria was around for more than 20 years in the top ranks of the Soviet regime

Why do you say that?

[scoundrel]

Originally Posted by palo5

Why do you say that?

1. First Secretary of the Georgian Communist Party 1931-32
2. Second tenure as First Secretary of the Georgian Communist Party 1934-38.
3. First Secretary of the Communist Party for the whole trans-Caucasian region 1932 to 1938.
4. Appointed to the Central Committee 1934.
5. Deputy head of the NKVD under Nikolai Yezhov 1938.
6. Head of the NKVD 1938 (he arrested Yezhov and later had him shot); Lavrenti was an ambitious guy.
7. Deputy Chairman of the Council of Peoples' Commissars 1941.
8. Member of the State Defence Committee (Stalin's war cabinet) 1941.
9. Marshal of the Soviet Union 1945.
10. After Stalin's death, Beria was briefly a member of a ruling troika along with his ally, Malenkov and his rival, Khrushchev: 1953.

I make that 21 years at the top.

As early as 1926, Beria was in charge of security at Stalin's holiday villa on the Black Sea and was already an important man.

[Ennath]

August 9, 1939
Germany, Politics Luftwaffe chief Göring makes his famous boast, “If a single enemy bomber reaches the Ruhr…you can call me Meier.”

August 9, 1940
France, Politics General de Gaulle announces that he has the support of the French New Hebrides colony in the Pacific.
China The British government announces that it is abandoning the British presence in Shanghai and Tiensin province. The forces concerned move out later in the month.

August 9, 1941
Eastern Front Army Group South with forces from 11th and 17th Armies begins attacks along the line of the Bug. But although they are everywhere in retreat, the Soviets are by no means finished.
The German generals ask Hitler for bigger tanks and anti-tank guns more powerful than the 37mm and 50mm guns they have now. There are still only a few 75mm guns. This need is highlighted by the difficulties posed by the heavy Russian tank designs.

August 9-12, 1941
Diplomatic Relations Churchill and Roosevelt meet aboard HMS Prince of Wales at Placentia Bay in Newfoundland. Both are accompanied by their military staffs. The discussions cover the situation in Europe and the Far East. It is agreed to send strong warnings to the Japanese and it is understood that America will almost certainly enter the war if Japan attacks British or Dutch possessions in the East Indies or Malaya. A message is also sent to Stalin proposing a meeting in Moscow to make formal arrangements for the provision of supplies to Russia.
The conference is best known for the statement of principles later known as the Atlantic Charter. This states the policy of the two nations that countries should have the right to hold free elections and be free from foreign pressure. Although its noble intentions will have relatively little influence on the course of the war, it is important in setting out the reasons the United States might go to war and as a description of the aims of such a war.
The conference is also important for the opportunity it gives the British and American staffs to get to know each other and work together.

August 9, 1942
Solomons Just after midnight, a Japanese squadron of seven cruisers and a destroyer led by Admiral Mikawa enters Sealark Channel (later renamed Ironbottom Sound for all the sunken ships) south of Savo Island. The defending Allied force of eight cruisers and eight destroyers, led by Admiral Crutchley, is not nearly so well trained or equipped for night fighting and is decisively beaten, losing four cruisers (Astoria, Quincy, Vincennes, and the Australian Canberra). Another cruiser and two destroyers are damaged. The Japanese suffer only light damage to three cruisers. The Japanese have failed, however, in their aim of attacking the transports unloading off Lunga Point. The transports are withdrawn because of the Japanese threat. The marines are thus left short of heavy equipment and with only about half their supplies.
New Guinea Australian General Rowell takes command of New Guinea Force.
India Gandhi and all members of the INC Working Committee are arrested.
Eastern Front 1st Panzer Army captures Maikop and 17th Army Krasnodar. The oil installations at Maikop, however, have been demolished.

August 9, 1943
Denmark Scavenius, the Danish Prime Minister, refuses to accept the German demand that saboteurs be tried in German courts.
Sicily The British are moving through the difficult Etna country.

August 9, 1944
Western Front Canadian II Corps continues to attack along the Caen-Falaise road, moving slowly southward. The German attacks around Mortain are gradually being worn down. US XV Corps turns north from Le Mans heading for Argentan and eventually a junction with the Canadians. Allied fighter bombers are very active. The attack on Brest gets under way but is not sufficiently strong to make much progress. The Germans in St. Malo are now largely confined to the citadel.
Eastern Front The Germans in Warsaw capture the Royal Castle.
New Guinea All Japanese activity in the Aitape area ceases.
Marianas The Americans are mopping up the last major centers of Japanese resistance on Guam. As usual the defenders fight to the death rather than surrender.
China The Japanese at Sung Shan raid Chinese artillery positions.
China, Politics Following the defeat at Hengyang, Marshal Li Chi-shen, President of the Military Consultative Committee, tells an American consul that the eastern Chinese “war lords” are about to proclaim a new provisional government of national unity to drive out the Japanese; the new government will also demand the resignation of Chiang Kai-shek. The American reaction to this is anxiously awaited. To their disappointment, US support will not be forthcoming.

August 9, 1945
Manchuria Soviet forces begin a powerful offensive against the Japanese Kwantung Army. The Soviets have assembled 1,200,000 men, backed by 26,000 guns and mortars, 5500 tanks and assault guns, and 3900 aircraft. Three Fronts operate under the direction of Marshal Vasilievsky. Malinovsky’s Trans-Baikal Front attacks from the west, while Meretskov’s 1st Far East Front attacks from the Maritime Province. Purkaev’s 2nd Far East Front makes supporting attacks from the north. The 1,000,000 men of General Yamada’s Kwantung Army have no answer to the mechanized Soviet forces and are almost equally powerless in the air. Almost 300,000 of these troops belong to the puppet Manchukuan Army and are fit only for garrison duty. Most of the best Japanese units have long since been deployed to other fronts, leaving poorer troops to face a Soviet force comprising at least one third veterans. Soviet equipment, especially in heavy weapons, outclasses anything the Japanese possess. The Japanese compound their problems by poor deployment, with part of the Soviet attack coming through the supposedly impassible Greater Khingan Range from Mongolia as well as along the rail lines that the Japanese are protecting. The Japanese defense lines are almost immediately smashed. Airborne units are used to seize airfields and city centers in advance of the main land forces to fly in supplies and fuel for those units that have outrun their supply lines. Soviet airstrikes on Japanese naval bases in Korea virtually sever communications to the home islands. Trans-Baikal Front advances 93 miles against negligible opposition.
Japan The second – and last, so far – atomic bomb used in war is dropped on Nagasaki. This is a plutonium weapon of the type tested at Alamogordo and is the basis for all future fission weapons.
The attack is less devastating than the Hiroshima bomb even though the bomb is of a technologically more advanced type. The surrounding hills contain much of the force of the blast. About 40,000 are killed with more radiation deaths to follow later.
Truman broadcasts threatening Japan with destruction by atomic bombs unless a surrender is made. He is bluffing. There is only one more bomb in stock and no more can be made until November.
The Japanese Supreme War Council agrees that night that they should accept the Potsdam Declaration if the monarchy is allowed to continue. Some objections from the military are overruled by the Emperor himself.

August 9-15, 1945
Japan The US and British carriers return to the attack after a replenishment period. Airfields and shipping are attacked with great effect. Attacks are underway on the 15th when the order ending hostilities arrives and not all planes hear the recall. The last raid meets with unexpectedly heavy air resistance. There are some Kamikaze attacks. Admiral Ugaki, the leader and inspiration of the Kamikaze effort leads the last just before surrender is announced.

[Ennath]

August 10, 1932
Spain Military royalists at Seville revolt but are suppressed. Regional interests begin a tussle for dominance.

August 10, 1939
British Defenses The largest air exercise since World War I takes place, involving 1300 aircraft. There is a trial blackout.

August 10, 1940
Britain, Planning The decision is taken to send a large part of the country’s stock of tanks to the Middle East, although the threat of German invasion at home exists. Churchill takes much of the credit for this brave decision which, although not his idea, is necessarily carried out on his instructions.

August 10, 1941
South America Nazi plots are uncovered in Argentina, Chile, and Cuba. There have been signs in several Latin American countries in recent weeks of pro-Nazi agitation.
Diplomatic Relations Both Britain and the USSR pledge to aid Turkey if it is attacked by Axis forces.

August 10, 1942
Solomons The Japanese cruiser Kako is sunk by a US submarine while returning to Rabaul from the Savo Island battle.
India There are riots in Bombay and Delhi; police fire on the crowds.

August 10, 1943
Eastern Front Khotinets, east of Orel, falls to the Soviets. Their offensives farther south continue to make good progress despite skillful German defense.
Sicily There is a second slapping incident concerning Patton. This time, he also draws his revolver and threatens to shoot the troubled soldier.
New Georgia As mopping up continues the Americans deploy two battalions to intercept Japanese trying to reach the north coast and the crossing to Kolombangara.

August 10-11, 1943
Sicily There is another American amphibious landing on the north coast, east of Cape Orlando at Brolo, but again the Germans escape, falling back quickly.

August 10-15, 1943
Yugoslavia German troops surround a large area west of Bosanski Novi but only minor skirmishes occur as the partisans slip away.

August 10, 1944
Western Front British troops with Canadian 1st Army take Vimont south of Caen. US troops have cleared most of St. Malo and Dinard. XX Corps takes Nantes and reaches the Loire. XV Corps continues advancing on Alencon from Le Mans. Around Mortain the Germans pull back slightly, partly due to American pressure and in part because of the growing threat to their rear.
Southern France Allied air attacks begin in preparation for the coming invasion.
Germany, Politics German industrialists meet in Strasbourg and determine, on the urging of Bormann, to transfer as much capital as possible out of Germany to dummy firms in neutral countries.
Italy Polish II Corps reaches the Cesano River.
Eastern Front Attacks from the Tannenberg Line are broken off.
Marianas The Americans wipe out the last serious opposition in the north of Guam. There are various small groups of Japanese remaining in jungle hideouts. (One survivor stays in the jungle until 1972!) The Americans have taken 7000 casualties including 1300 dead. There are less than 100 Japanese prisoners out of a total garrison of over 10,000.
The Marianas campaign has not only seen a major defeat for the Japanese navy but brings the home islands within range of American B-29’s. Some thoughtful Japanese are beginning to understand that the war cannot be won. They are still very much in the minority, however. Most Japanese, both in the government and in the general public maintain a belief that bushido spirit will inevitably bring victory.
New Guinea On Noemfoor, US troops again make contact with the Japanese south of Inasi and try to surround them.

August 10, 1945
Diplomatic Relations Mongolia declares war on Japan. Mongolian troops join the Soviet attacks.
Japanese radio announces that a message has been sent accepting the terms of the Potsdam Declaration provided that this “does not compromise any demand that prejudices the prerogatives of the Emperor as sovereign ruler.”
Manchuria The Soviets capture the Sungari Fortified District and the Tuntsiang Defense Center. The Hutou fortifications are surrounded and the Soviets begin attacking the powerful defensive positions.
American Policy Truman orders no further A-Bomb attacks without his explicit authority. Initial jubilation over the weapons’ effect is beginning to be tainted with moral qualms over their use.