This day in the war in Europe 65 years ago

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UK: Southampton: Private Nora Caveney becomes the first ATS casualty of the war when she is killed operating a range-finder on an anti-aircraft battery site.

GERMANY: Konigstein: General Henri Giraud, the French commander
captured in 1940, escapes from a German PoW camp.

Dortmund: The Gestapo reports an increase in anti-Nazi graffiti in
this city and other industrial areas of the Rhineland.

Augsburg, Germany: Sqn-Ldr. John Dering Nettleton (1917-43) led six
Lancasters on a daylight raid under heavy attack. Only his plane returned.

The RAF has followed up its devastating fire raid on mediaeval Lybeck with a daring raid from 500 feet on the M.A.N. diesel engine factory at Augsburg. The object was to "blood" new Lancaster bombers and crews on an
industrial target easily identified by vivid landmarks. Seven out of 12
Lancasters, from 44 and 97 Squadrons, were shot down and five damaged. Only eight reached the target and of 17 bombs on target, just 12 exploded. Only four factory workshops were damaged, but the raid has caught the public imagination because it was in daylight at low-level.

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RUSSIA: German General Von Leeb is removed from Command of Army
Group South in Russia.

U.S.: The USN orders a blackout of waterfront lights along the
eastern seaboard, where German U-boats have been using the illumination to
silhouette their targets.

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ATLANTIC: Armed U.S. freighter Steel Maker is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-136 west of Bermuda. "I am sorry to have to sink you and do this to you," one German officer says apologetically after the enemy has questioned the survivors about the ship, its cargo, and destination, "but this is war." He promises to send Steel Maker's position to enable the Americans to be rescued. The last survivor is picked up on 18 May.

CARIBBEAN: German submarine U-130 uses its deck gun to bombard Royal Dutch Shell refineries at Ballen Bay on Curacao in the Netherlands West Indies.

U.S.: Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau asks Americans to spend 10 percent of their income on war savings bonds.
Lt. Ronald Reagan, a reserve Cavalry officer, is called to active duty.

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MALTA: The USS Wasp, HMS Renown along with 2 cruisers and 6
destroyers ferry 47 Spitfires to Malta. They deliver 46 to the island;
however, 30 are immediately destroyed.
Amplifying the above:
This was Operation CALENDAR. The aircraft carrier USS Wasp (CV-7),
escorted by the battle cruiser HMS Renown and screened by two US and
four RN destroyers, launched 47 RAF Spitfires which landed on Malta.
Within four days, all but six of the Spitfires are destroyed by Luftwaffe
bombings.

ATLANTIC: Unarmed U.S. freighter SS West Imboden, her presence
advertised by an accidental fire in her stack, is torpedoed by
German submarine U-752 about 200 miles off Nantucket lightship and abandoned
as she is being shelled by the U-boat. U-752 nears one of the lifeboats
and asks about casualties. "That's good," one German officer
responds when told that the American merchant sailors have come through
unharmed.

FRANCE: Rennes: Resistants attempt to assassinate the leading French
fascist Jacques Doriot.

Vichy: The new head of the Vichy France government, Pierre Laval,
today fawned on Hitler and attacked Britain that but sought friendship
with the United States. Speaking on the very day that the Nazis shot 30
hostages in Rouen in reprisal for an attack on a German troop train,
Laval called Hitler "a conqueror who did not abuse his victory". The
gigantic battle that Germany was waging against "Bolshevism". he said, had
given a new meaning to the war. But Laval took care not to attack the
United States, which he hopes to influence.

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ATLANTIC: Two U.S. ships are sunk by German submarines:
- U-576 sinks an armed freighter en route from Trinidad,
B.W.I., to Boston, Massachusetts, approximately 455 miles
SSE of Atlantic City, New Jersey. All 45 men aboard the
ship take to the lifeboats. The submarine crew provisions one of the sunken freighter's four lifeboats after questioning some of the survivors.
- U-201 sinks an unarmed freighter, en route to San Juan,
Puerto Rico, approximately 475 miles SE of Wilmington, North Carolina. Five sailors and 9 passengers are killed; 74 crewmen and 95 passengers survive.

FRANCE: Louise Leahy, wife of Admiral William D. Leahy, USN (Retired), Ambassador to France, dies of an embolism in Vichy. Her death, on the eve of their departure from Vichy, is a "crushing emotional shock" to the admiral, "beyond the understanding of anyone who has not had
an identical experience."
General Giraud reaches Switzerland after escaping from German captivity. he will return to unoccupied France.
The Germans shoot 20 French hostages "for complicity" during the raid on St. Nazaire last month.

GERMANY: The Germans request the assistance of the Italian Navy to deal with the ramshackle Soviet flotilla on Lake Ladoga (estimated at 6 gunboats, 2 large and 5 small torpedo boats, 32 armed minesweepers, 9 armed transport ships,17 armed tugboats and 1 submarine, plus another 25 other boats).
The Italian Navy promptly agreed and sent the four torpedo
boats (MAS 526 to 529) of 12th MAS Flotilla, commanded by Capitano di Corvetta (Lt-Comm) Bianchini, with four officers, 19 NCO's, and 63 other ranks.

ITALY: Malta is nearly defenseless and Italian dictator Benito Mussolini urges an assault led by German parachute units. Hitler is hesitant, recalling the heavy losses his paratroopers suffered in 1941 when they drove the British from Crete.

U.S.: The federal government decides to build the "Big Inch" oil pipeline from Texas to New York so Allied tankers won't have to run the German submarine gauntlet along the East Coast.
Washington: President Roosevelt orders all patents owned
or controlled by enemy nations to be seized in order to forestall German interference in US industry.

USSR: The three-month battle to relieve 100,000 Germans trapped in the Demyansk pocket northwest of Moscow ends with the surrounded Germans breaking through the Russian lines. The German troops had been supplied by airlifts only for ten weeks.

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FRANCE: The British win a small victory with a commando raid on Boulogne, a port on the English Channel. The commandos suffer few casualties during a two-hour action.

U.S.: The Office of Price Administration (OPA) announces that motorists in 17 eastern states will be allowed to purchase no more than 21.4 US gallons (17.8 Imperial gallons or 81 liters) of gasoline per week beginning 15 May.
Police and Federal agents raid Hitler birthday parties in Union City, Hoboken and 50 other New Jersey gatherings.

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GERMANY: Berlin: A decree issued by Fritz Sauckel, the Reich Plenipotentiary
for Labour orders schoolboys aged 14-16 and schoolgirls aged 16-17 to
perform agricultural service.

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April 23, 1942

ENGLAND: The first of the Hitler ordered "Baedecker Raids", the renewed bombing of England was carried out against Exeter by a force of 45 Do 217s of KG 2 and JU 88s of KG 106 guided by a small force of He 111s of I./KG 100. They caused little damage and the raid was mostly a failure.

GERMANY: The RAF made the first of a series of four raids on the Baltic port town of Rostock. These raids had many of the characteristics of the successful raid on nearby Lubeck one month earlier -a concentrated, incendiary area bombing attack of a town with only light defenses. An added feature on each night, however, was the inclusion of a small force of bombers, from RAF 5 Group on the first three nights, to attempt a precision attack on the Heinkel aircraft factory on the southern outskirts of Rostock. On this first night, 143 aircraft were sent to bomb the town and 18 to the Heinkel factory. Bombing conditions were good but the results of the raid were disappointing. The Heinkel factory was not hit and most of the main bombing intended for the Altstadt fell between 2 and 6 miles away. Four bombers - two Wellingtons, 1 Manchester and 1 Whitley - were lost with 1 Wellington claimed by Hptm. Schutze of 4./NJG 2.

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UNITED KINGDOM: Exeter is bombed by the Luftwaffe. This becomes the
first of the so-called Baedeker Raids. They are a German response to
an RAF raid on Lübeck in late March.
Woodley, Reading, Berkshire: The Miles Martinet target-tug prototype
(LR 241) makes its maiden flight. (22)

GERMANY: Berlin: For as long as many of them can remember, German
women have been told that their true vocation is motherhood. No
longer is that the case, it seems. Under a new decree by Gauleiter
Fritz Sauckel, the plenipotentiary-general for employment, they are
obliged to work in industry. This means that many mothers will be
working in factories for the first time - and earning some 20% less
than men for doing the same jobs. The women are not happy about
that - nor about the extra problems of shopping and bringing up
their children.

Jews are barred from using all forms of public transport.

FINLAND: Kenraalimajuri (Major General) K. I. Viljanen, the
commander of the 4th Infantry Division, is killed when inspecting
the front line near Seesjürvi. Gen. Viljanen and the small party of
officers accompanying him get lost and wander into a Finnish
minefield. A major steps into a tripwire and is killed instantly,
while Gen. Viljanen and two other officers are mortally wounded.
Only one officer escapes with lighter wounds.

ARCTIC OCEAN: Soviet submarine "Sch-401" of the Polar fleet and
White Sea Flotilla, is accidentally sunk, by torpedoes and depth
charges of torpedo-cutters "TKA N13" and "TKA N14", close to Cape
Kumagnes Submarine "Sch-411" (uncompleted hull) - sunk by artillery
fire at Leningrad (later raised)

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April 25, 1942

EASTERN FRONT: Over Leningrad Obstlt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob of JG 54 bounced a Russian MiG-3 and destroyed the fighter bringing his score to forty victories.

ENGLAND: The ancient city of Bath was the target of the "Baedecker Raids" during the night with all bomber units of Luftflotte 3 being called upon. including for the first time the training crews from the fourth Gruppen of which IV./KG 2, IV./KG 3, IV./KG 4, IV./KG 30, IV./KG 55 and IV./KG 77 were available, flying an assortment of obsolete Do-17s, He-111s and Ju-88s. Once the aircraft arrived over the city, they would be allowed to fly around at will, making extensive use of shallow dive-bombing and machine-gunning the streets, as the city possessed no AA or Balloon Barage protection.
....The Luftwaffe flew a total of 151 bomber sorties to Bath, with most aircraft making 2 flights, the crews claiming to have dropped 206 tonnes of HE and 3564 IBs on the city in the biggest effort against Britain since July 1941. The pathfinders from Erg.u.Lehr Kdo 100 were operating with Y-Verfahren, successfully leading in the other participating units from II and III./KG 2, II./KG 40, KuFlGr 106 and KuFlGr 506, in addition to the assorted aircraft from the IV Gruppen.
....The "Red Alert" went out in Bath at 22:29 hrs and shortly after that, the sky, which had been clear with a bright half-moon, was filled with the light from chandelier flares, which were quickly followed by IBs, the first fires developing in the west of the city in the Upper and Lower Bristol Road areas. Then came the HEs, one of the first of which destroyed Number 3 Gasholder at the Gasworks, while others caused serious damage to the Kingsmead area, at the Abbey Church House and Circus Tavern. A serious fire developed at the Midland Railway Goods Yard. Some of the bombers, however, misidentified the target completely and bombs also fell on the Brislington area of Bristol, where 18 were killed and 41 injured. This, the first phase of the attack, ended with the sounding of the "ALL Clear" at 00:11 hrs.
....The German aircraft then returned to their French bases to refuel and re-arm before taking off again for their second sorties of the night. The first of the bombers crossed the English Coast at 04:20 hrs and in Bath the "Red Alert" was issued at 04:35 hrs. On this occasion the bombing, whilst heavy, was rarely concentrated, although both the Kingsmead and Oldfield park areas again received a fair amount of attention. Other isolated bombings also took place at Southdown and North Bath, while railway traffic was also affected, the main line between Bristol and London being closed by a damaged bridge at Oldfield park, before the "All Clear" sounded at 06:02 hrs. A total of 4 German aircraft failed to return, resulting in the deaths of 14 cewmen and a further 2 being taken prisoner. One Do-17 of IV./KG 2 crashed into the sea on the return flight, IV./KG 3 lost a Ju-88 at Builth Wells, II./KG 40 lost a Do-217 over Dorset and KuFlGr 506 lost a Junkers crashing into the sea.

GERMANY: The RAF returned to Rostock during the night with 128 aircraft of six types, 110 to the town and 18 to the Heinkel factory. No aircraft were lost although crews reported that Rostock's flak defenses had been strengthened. Heavy bombing of the town and many fires were achieved. Some aircraft also hit the Heinkel factory for the first time, the crews achieving this were flying Manchesters of RAF No. 156 Sqdn, which was commanded by Wing Commander Guy Gibson.
....Although Oblt. Rudolf Schoenert of 4./NJG 2 was credited with a Wellington during this raid, it may have been a Stirling from another, smaller British raid. Six Stirlings carried out a long-range attack on the Skoda armaments factory at Pilsen in Czechoslovakia. Cloud covered the target on arrival but at least five Stirlings bombed. One Stirling was lost from the raid.

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GERMANY: Berlin: For as long as many of them can remember, German
women have been told that their true vocation is motherhood. No longer
is that the case, it seems. Under a new decree by Gauleiter Fritz Sauckel, the plenipotentiary-general for employment, they are obliged to work in industry. This means that many mothers will be working in factories for the first time - and earning some 20% less than men for doing the same jobs. The women are not happy about that - nor about the extra problems of shopping and bringing up their children.

Jews are forbidden to use public transport in Germany.

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GERMANY: Hitler tells of "Great Victories" to come this summer while
addressing the Reichstag. He calls for a "Supreme Effort" to
accomplish this. They confirm his absolute power.

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USSR: Baltic Fleet, Ladoga and Onega Flotillas: Shipping loss. Training Ship TS "Svir" is sunk by aviation, at Leningrad.

GERMANY: The RAF bombs Rostock for the fourth night in a row. 70% of the city has now been destroyed and 100,000 are homeless.

UK: The first operational sortie is made by the de Havilland Mosquito night-fighter. Armed with four 20mm guns it can reach 407 mph.

Czechoslovakia: Theresienstadt: 1,000 Jews are deported to their deaths at Belzec and Sobibor.

MANCHURIA: In the worst mining disaster in history, 1,527 miners have died at the Honkeiko colliery.

USA: Washington: Roosevelt places the US economy on a full war
footing.

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ATLANTIC: The US Navy's Task Force 99, consisting of the battleship USS Washington, heavy cruisers USS Tuscaloosa and USS Wichita and four destroyers, sails from the Royal Navy base at Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands. This is Force "Distaff," a joint RN-USN task force that will be positioned northeast of Iceland to protect convoy PQ-15 sailing for Murmansk in the Soviet Union. The RN force consists of
the battleship HMS King George V, the aircraft carrier HMS Victorious, the light cruiser HMS Kenya and five destroyers.

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April 29, 1942

ENGLAND: The Luftwaffe returned for more of the "Baedecker Raids", this time against the city of Norwich, causing more damage and fires. A Bf-109F-3 of 3(F)/123 succeeded in taking post-raid photographs of Bath, as well as photographing Avonmouth and the Nailsea Munitions store, its long-range drop tank falling at Pill around midday.

GERMANY: The RAF attacked Kiel for the evening mission. 88 aircraft - 62 Wellingtons, 15 Stirlings, 2 Hampdens and 1 Halifax - were dispatched but only 54 aircraft claimed good bombing results in bright moonlight against strong flak and fighter defenses. Kiel records show that damage was caused at all three shipyards, to the hospital of the Naval Hospital and to the university libraryas well as to private homes. 15 people were killed and 74 injured. 5 Wellingtons and 1 Hampden were lost. Only two bombers were credited to nightfighters with claims going to Ofw. Heinz Struning of Erg./NJG2 and Oblt. Gunter Koberich of Stab II./NJG 3.

WESTERN FRONT: Hptm. Joachim Muncheberg of Stab II./JG 26 shot down a Spitfire near Le Tourquet for his 74th victory. His victim was probably the great Polish ace Major Marian Pisarek, commander of the I Polish Fighter Wing.