OCTOBER 13 - DAILY CHRONICLES OF HISTORY

OCTOBER 13

.1939

German submarine U-40 struck a mine and sank in the English Channel.   On October 13, 1939, the German submarine U-40 was sunk by a British mine at coordinates 50°41′6″N 00°15′1″E.   The U-boat commander Barten, made a fateful decision on that day to take a shortcut through the English Channel, heading towards the southwest of Ireland. But the English Channel was laid with many naval mines. Barten chose to proceed along the voyage about three and a half hours after high tide, when the mines were not at their lowest point.  The submarine struck one of them and sank to the sea floor. A few crew members were able to escape by the aft hatch and reach the surface. Of the crew, nine died in the attempt to save themselves and five more died from exposure.  Ten hours after the U-boat sank, the remaining survivors were rescued and taken prisoners aboard the British destroyer, the HMS Boreas.

1943

Italy Declared War on Germany:    On October 13, 1943, Italy declared war on its former Axis partner, Nazi Germany and joined the Allies in the battle to defeat the Germans.  The fascist government collapsed in July, with Mussolini toppled from power.  He was replaced by General Pietro Badoglio, Mussolini's former chief of staff.  Badoglio, responding to the request of King Victorio Emanuele, began to negotiate with US General Eisenhower for a conditional surrender of Italy to the Allies.  The Allies had already invaded Sicily in July, driving out the Nazi Germans, and opened up the Mediterranean sea lanes for the first time since 1941.  By September 8, the Allies landed in Salerno, on the mainland, in an operation code-named Operation Avalanche.  The American plan was to launch a surprise attack without previous bombardments, but the German troops were aware of their approach.  As the first allied contingent approached the shoreline, a loudspeaker announced, in English, " Come on in and give up. We have you covered."  Nevertheless, the Americans attacked, despite very heavy German fire power and artillery.  Landing was extremely difficult but the Americans succeeded in capturing the beach heads.

1944

Allied aircraft bombers targeted the city of Aachen,  which was perched on Germany's main defensive network (incorporated into the Siegried Line).  The Allied mission was to capture Aachen quickly so as to advance into the industrialized Ruhr region. The initial attack was launched by the 26th Infantry, which provided insight to the nature of the ongoing battle.  German troops were ambushing the Americans, from hiding places in sewers and cellars.  American troops had to cautiously clear each opening before attempting to advance on any street.  The Sherman tanks could not maneuver adequately amidst  enemy fire.  It was one of the largest battles fought by US forces in WW2,  and the first German city captured by the Allies.  Casualties were heavy on both sides; 5,000 Allied soldiers and about 5,000 Germans, with another 5,600 taken prisoner.

OCTOBER 12 - DAILY CHRONICLES OF HISTORY

OCTOBER 12

1939

In the British House of Commons, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain formally replied to Hitler's so-called peace offer by saying that a settlement "must be a real and settled peace, not an uneasy truce interrupted by constant alarms and repeated threats." Chamberlain further explained, "Herr Hitler rejected all suggestions for peace until he had overwhelmed Poland, as he had previously overthrown Czechoslovakia. Peace conditions cannot be acceptable which begin by condoning aggression. The proposals in the German Chancellor's speech are vague and uncertain and contain no suggestion for righting the wrongs done to Czechoslovakia and to Poland. Even if Herr Hitler's proposals were more closely defined and contained suggestions to right these wrongs, it would still be necessary to ask by what practical means the German Government intend to convince the world that aggression will cease and that pledges will be kept. Past experience has shown that no reliance can be placed upon the promises of the present German Government."

1941

Stanisławów Ghetto Bloody Sunday Massacre:  On October 12, 1941  thousands of Jewish prisoners were forced to gather at the Ringplatz market square for a "selection", upon the orders of Hans Krueger.  Nazi forces, supplemented by the Orpo Reserve Police Battalion 133 from Lemberg, and the Ukrainian police, forcibly marched the prisoners to the Jewish cemetery  where large open pits had already been dug. Along the way, the Ukrainian and German guards brutally beat and tortured the prisoners.  The Jews were forced to surrender their valuables, and were ordered to strip naked and proceed to the edge of the grave sites.  The killing squad opened fire, joined by units of the Nurnberg Order Police and the Bahschutz railroad police.  The victims either fell into the graves or were ordered to jump in before being killed. Between 10,000 and 12,000 Jewish men, women and children were murdered. The killing began at 12 noon and continued for many hours without ceasing.

1943

The Battle of Lenino was a tactical World War II engagement that took place between October 12 and October 13, 1943, north of the village of Lenino in the Mogilev region of Byelorussia. The battle was a segment of a much larger Soviet operation, whose objective was to clear the eastern bank of the Dnieper river of German forces, and thus break through the Panther-Wotan line of defences. Polish and Soviet forces succeeded in breaking through German defences but failed to maintain their advance due to lack of artillery support. They were ordered to hold their ground but relief never arrived. After two days  the Polish 1st Tadeusz Kościuszko Infantry Division had to withdraw its forces, having suffered 25% casualties. The Battle of Lenino is prominent in Polish military history, because it was one of the first major military operation of Polish Armed Forces in the East.

OCTOBER 11 - DAILY CHRONICLES OF HISTORY

OCTOBER 11

1779

Casimir Pulaski died on October 11, 1779. At the Battle of Savannah, while leading a daring charge against British forces, he was gravely wounded, and died shortly after. Pulaski's memory is honored around the world. He was a hero who fought for independence and freedom in both Poland and the United States. Numerous places and events are named in his honor, and he is commemorated by many works of art. Pulaski is one of only eight people to be awarded honorary United States citizenship. (see also March 6, 1745)  Benjamin Franklin was very impressed by Pulaski, and wrote of him: "Count Pulaski of Poland, an officer famous throughout Europe for his bravery and conduct in defence of the liberties of his country against the three great invading powers of Russia, Austria and Prussia ... may be highly useful to our service." Franklin recommended to General George Washington that Pulaski be accepted as a volunteer in the Continental Army cavalry.  He was impressed with Pulaski and noted that he "was renowned throughout Europe for the courage and bravery...displayed in defense of his country's freedom." Pulaski departed France from Nantes in June 1777 and about a month later arrived in Marblehead, Massachusetts, near Boston. Upon his arrival, Pulaski wrote a letter to Washington stating, "....I came here, where freedom is being defended, to serve it, and to live or die for it......"  In 2009 the United States Congress passed a joint resolution conferring honorary U.S. citizenship on Pulaski. It was sent to then- President Barack Obama for approval, which he duly signed on November 6, 2009.  This makes Casimir Pulaski the seventh person to receive such a honour.

1939

Alexander Sachs, a close friend of President Franklin Roosevelt, met with him to discuss a letter written by Albert Einstein, warning FDR of the dangers of nuclear bombs.  In the letter, written in August of that year,  Einstein informed Roosevelt of research on uranium and chain reaction of fission, which would make possible the construction of "extremely powerful bombs".  After some delay,  Roosevelt finally wrote back to Einstein on October 19, 1939, informing him that the US would set up a committee of civilian and military officials to study the matter.  Roosevelt did not want to risk the possibility that Hitler would be the sole nuclear power.  This was the first step by the US that led towards the founding of the Manhattan Project.

1969

General Kazimierz Sosnkowski died on October 11, 1969.   He was a Polish general, an outstanding commander, diplomat, and held a key place in Polish history.  When World War One broke out, Piłsudski formed the 1st Brigade of the Polish Legions, and appointed Sosnkowski as his Chief of Staff and second-in-command.  When Piłsudski instructed the Polish Legion to refuse to swear an oath of allegiance to Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, Sosnkowski obeyed, and was subsequently arrested along with his commander and imprisoned in Magdeburg.  At the outbreak of World War Two, Sosnkowski was appointed commander of the Polish group of southern armies, and conducted several victorious battles. But the September 17 invasion by the Soviets made it impossible for Polish troops to continue the fight two enemies along all fronts.  Sosnkowski evacuated Poland, along with many of the Polish armed forces, and the Polish government.  Wearing a disguise, he was able to cross through Soviet occupied Polish territory and enter Hungary. From there he made his way to France.  Polish President-in-exile Władysław Raczkiewicz selected him as his successor, despite the wishes of General Władysław Sikorski.  Genral Sosnkowski was also appointed the Commander of the Union of Armed Struggle (ZWZ).  After the death of General Sikorski in July 1943, Sosnkowski was appointed Commander in Chief.  After Sosnkowski's death, he was buried in France, but in 1992 his ashes were returned to Poland and interred inside St. John'’s Cathedral in Warsaw.