Not quite all the way back to 1776, and with a handful of clones (curse you NFA and general governmental unwillingness to sell me surplus machine guns), but suitably star spangled for the day brought to you by heavily armed Americans!
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On this day in history, 27 April 1945, the Lapland War officially came to a close. Most folks who are only casually aware of WW2 history probably don't have Finland pop into mind as an Axis co-belligerent. Fewer likely know the reason for this alignment, which was driven primarily by Finland's belligerent, communist, and land-grabby neighbor -- the Soviet Union. Fewer still (including myself until quite recently) are aware that the Finns eventually turned on their former German allies in the last year of the war in a bid to retain Finnish independence from a resurgent Red Army.
Click below to read more! When it comes to the Battle of the Bulge, most people (including myself) seem to concentrate on a small number of iconic stories. Whether it is the succinct snarkiness of the famous "NUTS!" response to a surrender demand (and the subsequent rescue of the 101st by Patton's Third Army), the heroic front-line defense by units such as 28th Infantry, or German commandos wearing US uniforms, all of these stories capture the popular imagination and dominate the history books.
Somewhat lost in these great stories is that, as the new year dawned, the US was ready to punch back and take the initiative from the Germans. On this day, 03 January 1945, the 3rd Armored Division (SPEARHEAD) launched a counter offensive designed to drive southeast, link up with Patton's army, and trap the overextended Germans behind a wall of steel. From the 3rd through the 9th, Spearhead ground eastward, pushing against stout resistance from German rearguard elements determined to slow the American advance. After a brief respite Spearhead resumed the lead on 13 January, battling village-to-village until they were relieved on the 21st for rest and rehabilitation. Click below to read more!
On this day in history, 19 October 1842, elements of the United States Navy and Marines heroically seized a fort in Monterey, CA (then a Mexican possession) from the Mexican defenders. There was only one blemish to this story... we weren't at war with Mexico and taking of the fort occurred as part of a misunderstanding!
On 08 October 1918, Corporal Alvin York of the 82nd Division performed arguably the greatest American feat of individual bravery during the First World War (another notable contender, and much less known, is Henry Johnson, AKA "Black Death" of the Harlem Hellfighters -- I'll write about that badass when I get the right relics).
On this day (April 30th), in 1945, the Third Reich began its final disintegration with two significant events. First, at around 3:30pm, Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun committed suicide (if you want to hate them even more they killed his dog to test the cyanide first). Only a few hours later, under the cover of darkness, Lieutenant Rakhimzhan Qoshqarbaev of the 674th Infantry Regiment was the first Soldier to hoist a Soviet flag over the Reichstag. While the fate of Germany had been sealed for quite some time (at least since the Battle of the Bulge), these events served as significant symbolic stakes through the heart of the Nazi regime. The Hitler suicide (which the Germans tried to spin as ole’ Adolf dying as a hero defending Berlin) touched off a leadership shakeup and a rash of imitation suicides by high-ranking Nazis fearful of falling into Allied hands. The raising of a flag over the capitol of a defeated enemy is a timeless symbol of conquest, and surely buoyed the spirits of those still engaged in brutal city fighting. While the flag didn’t last long (it was destroyed by Germans in the continuing back-and-forth fight) it would be re-staged and re-shot like many significant events throughout the war.
On 13 April 1943 the Katyn Massacre was revealed to the world via German radio. While Nazi forces are guilty of some truly horrendous events before and during WWII, in this case they were actually the ones bringing an enormous atrocity against a protected group to light.
That group was Polish prisoners of war, primarily officers and NCOs, who were systematically murdered and disposed of by Soviet Security Forces in April of 1940. Declassified Soviet records put the total number of dead at 21,857, although the number could be higher. On this day in 1911 the American military received a significant boost in sidearm firepower! As the year may telegraph, it was on 29 March 1911 that the “Model of 1911” was formally adopted by the Army. It beat a field of 5 other pistols, with its closest competitor being the Savage 1907, also chambered in 45 ACP
December 13th, 1941 was a day filled in equal measures by heroism and despicable treachery on the little island of Ni’ihau in the Hawaiian Islands chain. It all started with the attack on Pearl Harbor, and a Japanese aviator who crash landed on the island.
The pilot was knocked unconscious during the landing, and was relieved of both his pistol and sensitive military documents by an island resident by the name of Hawila Kaleohano. Kaleohana didn’t know of the attack on Pearl Harbor (the island didn’t have electricity or many radios), but he thought the actions prudent because he knew tensions were high between the U.S. and Japan. |
Jon K.Weapons collector, history buff, Army officer, Pug enthusiast. Archives
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