4 August 1939

August 4th, 1939 (FRIDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: Bank Holiday weekend begins.
The Commons rise for the summer recess.
The 25th anniversary of Germany's invasion of Belgium and the declaration of war by Britain against Germany.

Queen Elizabeth [née Honourable Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon from 1952 through 2002 the Dowager Queen of the United Kingdom (1900 - 2002)] celebrates her 39th birthday on holiday at Balmoral Castle. (Marc James Small)

Warsaw: POLAND warns Danzig's Senate that it will arm its customs officers.

ITALY: Count Galeazzo Ciano, Count of Cortellazzo, Foreign Minister and Mussolini's son-in-law, writes in his diary 'The situation seems obscure to me... The moment has come when we must really know how matters stand [between
Italy and Germany].'

U.S.A.: The USN aircraft carriers USS Yorktown (CV-5) and USS Enterprise (CV-6) make successful launchings of SBC-3 Helldiver and O3U-3 Corsair aircraft from flight deck and hangar deck catapults in the first practical demonstration of launching aircraft from aircraft carriers by means of a hydraulic flush-deck catapult and in the first demonstration of catapulting aircraft from the hangar deck.

4 August 1940

August 4th, 1940 (SUNDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: RAF Bomber Command: 4 Group (Whitley). Bombing - oil plant at Sterkrade.
58 Sqn. Five aircraft. All bombed primary. One fighter seen, but no attack.

RAF">RAF Fighter Command: Weather, mainly fine. Little enemy activity reported. No aircraft lost.

Luftwaffe night raids on Mildenhall, Ely, Newark and near Debden, bombs fall for the first time on Cwmbran in Wales.

FRANCE: The Paris Soir newspaper reports that General Charles de Gaulle had been condemned to death in absentia for treason by a Vichy military court.

U.S.A.: The 30-minute radio show "Crime Doctor" debuts on CBS on Sunday at 2030 hours Eastern time. The plot has a unique twist. The hero, Dr. Benjamin Ordway, was a criminal who lost his memory when hit on the head but he built a new life studying medicine and went into psychiatry and after regaining his memory, he specializes in criminal psychology. The show remained on the air until October 1947 and Ordway was later played by John McIntire, Hugh Marlowe, Brian Donlevy and Everett Sloane.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: At 0922, the Newfoundland-registered Anglo-Newfoundland Steamship Co., merchantman Geraldine Mary (7,244 GRT) in Convoy HX-60 was torpedoed and sunk by U-52 about 270 miles WNW of Bloody Foreland. The master and 27 survivors were picked up by a British escort vessel and landed at
Methil on 8 August. Six survivors were rescued and landed at Liverpool and 14 others landed at Uig, Isle of Lewis. Among the survivors were four passengers. One passenger and two crewmembers were lost. GERALDINE MARY was part of the 60-ship Halifax to Liverpool Convoy HX-60 and was loaded with 6,112 tons of newsprint.

At 0335 and 0338, U-52 fired torpedoes at Convoy HX-60 about 300 miles WNW of Bloody Foreland and sank the King Alfred and Gogovale. All men from Gogovale were picked up by HMS Vanoc and landed at Liverpool.
The King Alfred broke in two, the bow sank and Vanoc, which also picked up the master and 33 crewmembers and landed them at Liverpool, sank the stern. Seven crewmembers were lost.

At 2120, the Pindos, a straggler from Convoy SL-40, was hit by two torpedoes from U-58 and capsized to port before sinking. The U-boat misidentified her as the British-flagged Limerick.

Trawler HMS Marsona mined and sunk off Cromarty.

Trawler HMS Drummer lost to unknown causes.

4 August 1941

August 4th, 1941 (MONDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: Minesweeper HMS Sidmouth commissioned.

VICHY FRANCE: The government indicates that it will refuse military facilities to the Axis in North Africa.

GERMANY: Guderian meets with Hitler and tells him that he believes the Soviet Army is scraping the bottom of its manpower barrel. (Peter Kilduff)(140)

U-523 laid down.

CANADA: Minesweeper HMCS Malpeque commissioned. Corvette HMCS Battleford arrived Halifax from builder Montreal, Province of Quebec.

U.S.A.: Washington: The US makes a formal commitment to send military supplies to the USSR. The Soviet Ambassador, Mr Oumansky, has welcomed the acceleration of US supplies as "an expression of confidence" that US aid would correspond to Soviet needs.
The US decision reveals a shift in policy by President Roosevelt. In the first days after the Nazi invasion of Russia on 22 June, he was reluctant to commit supplies to Russia, as he was advised that the Red Army would only hold out for a few weeks.

The US presidential yacht USS Potomac (AG-25), bearing President Franklin D Roosevelt, and the tender USS Calypso (AG-35) sail from Point Judith, Rhode Island to South Dartmouth, Massachusetts where Crown Princess Martha of Norway and her party board. After a day of fishing, the guests are put ashore and the two ships sail to Menemsha Bight, Vineyard Sound, Massachusetts where they join the heavy cruisers USS Augusta (CA-31) and USS Tuscaloosa (CA-37) and 5 destroyers.

Amphibious manoeuvres involving the US 1st Marine Division and the Army's 1st Division begin at New River, North Carolina. Also involved is the aircraft escort vessel USS Long Island (AVG-1); the aircraft from the ship provide close air support for the "invaders."

The first Ryan NR-1 trainer is delivered to NAS Jacksonville, Florida for primary flight training of the USN.

Light cruiser USS Houston laid down.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: At 2055, the Robert Max was stopped by two shots across her bow by U-126 near the Azores and was sunk two hours later by 17 rounds from the deck gun and gunfire after the crew was allowed to leave their ship
in a lifeboat. They were questioned by the Germans, who offered cigarettes, gave them the course to San Miguel and wished good luck before leaving the area. The survivors reached the Azores after three days and were repatriated from Oporto to Grand Bank by the British sailing vessel James and Stanley.

4 August 1942

August 4th, 1942 (TUESDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: Westminster: American servicemen in Britain will not be subject to British law, the House of Commons decided today. MPs passed the USA (Visiting Forces) Bill through all its stages in a single day after government reassurances about the way American courts martial will work. Sir Donald Somervill, the attorney-general, said that British witnesses summoned before such hearings would have the same rights and immunities as they would in a British court. But British courts would enforce the orders of American judges for their appearance.

The government charges that Mohandras Gandhi and his All-Indian Congress Party favoured "appeasement" with Japan.

BELGIUM: The first trainload of Jews is deported to Auschwitz.

U.S.S.R.: (Sergey Anisimov)(69)Baltic Fleet, Ladoga and Onega Flotillas: Shipping loss. MS "TSch-205 "Gafel"" - grounded by storm (floated Aug.14)

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: The German submarine U-372 is sunk in the Mediterranean southwest of Haifa, Palestine, in position 32.28N, 34.37E, by depth charges from the RN destroyers HMS Sikh and HMS Zulu and the escort destroyers HMS Croome and HMS Tetcott and by depth charges from an RAF Wellington Mk VIII of No 221 Squadron based at Shandur, Egypt. All 48 men aboard the U-boat survive.

EGYPT: Cairo: Winston Churchill has decided to shake up the command of the British forces in North Africa. The prime minister, who arrived in Cairo yesterday to see for himself, wants a new commander-in-chief. Churchill acknowledges General Auchinleck's success in stopping Rommel at El Alamein last month, but is impatient to take the offensive against the Germans, who are still only 60 miles from Alexandria. Auchinleck wants to build up his reinforcements first. The Eighth Army is likely to have a new commander, too.

AUSTRALIA: Major General George C. Kenney assumes command of the Allied Air Forces, Southwest Pacific Area at Brisbane. The US aircraft under his command consist on paper of 62 heavy bombers, 70 medium bombers, 53 light bombers, 235 fighters and 36 transports.

He also has a larger number of serviceable RAAF aircraft. Among the 235 USAAF fighters almost all are unfit for action. The 36 transport aircraft are of 19 different types and only about half are flyable. A month later he will have 41 transport aircraft, 15 of which are "totally unserviceable". (Jack McKillop and Michael Alexander)

PACIFIC OCEAN: A US submarine sinks a Japanese freighter off northern Honshu, Japan.

Destroyer USS Tucker mined and sunk in the Segond Channel, New Hebrides. Six killed .

TERRITORY OF ALASKA: ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: The USAAF 11th Air Force dispatches an LB-30 Liberator to fly a photo mission and 2 B-17 Flying Fortresses and 3 B-24 Liberators, covered by 8 P-38 Lightnings, to escort USN tenders to Nazan Bay, Atka Island; two Kawanishi H6K Navy Type 97 Flying Boats, Allied Code Name "Mavis," and a possible third are downed near Atka Island by 2 of the P-38's, in their first aerial combat in any theatre; weather cancels bombing mission to Kiska Island. A radar-equipped USN PBY Catalina carries out a predawn bombing attack of the submarine base and Main Camp on Kiska dropping 92 empty beer bottles on the targets.

CANADA: Patrol vessel HMCS Departue Bay commissioned. Seized Japanese fishing vessel.

U.S.A.: The motion picture "Holiday Inn" premieres at the Paramount Theatre in New York City. Directed by Mark Sandrich, this musical comedy stars Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire and Walter Abel. Crosby sings Irving Berlin's legendary song "White Christmas" but the song is not an immediate hit with the public. It's popularity increases when American servicemen start requesting that it be played over the Armed Forces Radio Network. Bing sang "White Christmas" on the first broadcast of Armed Forces Radio's "Mail Call" on 11 August 1942 and that could be where the GIs caught on to it. Bing performed a lot on AFR programs, and sang "White Christmas" just after VJ day on AFR's "GI Journal" show.
One reason why "White Christmas" might not have been an immediate hit, aside from the fact that the song was first heard during the dog days of August, was the now-forgotten recording ban imposed by James C. Petrillo, president of the American Federation of Musicians. He insisted that the major record companies--Columbia, Victor and Decca--pay a1/4 to 3/4 cent royalty on each recorded disc to a union "employment fund." Presumably, musicians would share in this, but it wasn't all that clear. The union's 138,000 members could no longer make records as of July 31, 1942. Record companies could still reissue discs, with some bizarre results. When movie audiences became enthralled by "As Time Goes By" in the movie "Casablanca," they could only get versions recorded in 1931 by Rudy Valee or Jacques Bernard. Harry James's record of "All or Nothing at All," recorded in 1939, became a smash when reissued in 1943 with Frank Sinatra. Not being able to record with orchestras, Sinatra, Bing Crosby and other vocalists started cutting records a cappella with other singers. The result was such hits as Crosby's "Sunday, Monday or Always" and Sinatra's "Close to You." But Petrillo could only go so far in wartime; instrumentalists could still record "V-Disks," distributed by Armed Forces Radio, which is probably why "White Christmas" became a serviceman's favourite before it became an all-time hit among the general public.
As a further historical note, Decca caved in to Petrillo's demands in August, 1943. At this point, a bunch of start-up recording companies, such as Capitol and Signature, had come on the scene. Fearing such new competition, Columbia and Victor finally gave in in November, 1944. The ban spelled the beginning of the end for the big swing bands, that had depended so much on income from records. And popular taste moved on to small-band bebop, folk singers and, then, rock 'n roll. (Matt Clark and Jack McKillop)

Destroyer escort USS Keith laid down.

Destroyer USS Doran commissioned.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: While escorting an eastbound convoy, HMCS Sackville engages three U-boats in a 36 hour period. In the foggy weather, Lieut. Alan Easton and his crew seriously damaged one submarine, hitting another with 4-inch gunfire, and shook up the third with depth charges in an action that will win the DSC for Lieut. Easton and commendations for the crew. (Gene Hanson)

US Army Middle East Air Force (USAMEAF) B-24s strike a convoy during the night of 4/5 August, claiming hits on 2 merchant ships.

At 1615, the Empire Arnold, dispersed from Convoy E-6, was torpedoed and sunk by U-155 about 500 miles NE of Trinidad. Eight crewmembers and one gunner were lost. The master was taken prisoner by
the U-boat, landed at Lorient on 15 September and taken to the POW camp Milag Nord. 42 crewmembers, seven gunners and two passengers were picked up after eight days by the Norwegian merchantman Dalvanger and landed at Georgetown, British Guinea on 14 August.
At 0159, the unescorted Havsten was hit by one torpedo from U-160 (Lassen) and at 0205, missed by a second torpedo. The U-boat then surfaced and shelled the tanker with 20 rounds, setting her on fire and
the crew abandoned ship. The second engineer and another crewmember had been killed on watch below. The U-boat took prisoners the master Captain Gjert Olsen and the British radio officer. They were taken to the POW camps Marlag und Milag Nord, but the master eventually came back to Norway. On 14 August, the lifeboats reached land. At 1031 on 6 Aug 1942, Italian submarine Enrico Tazzoli sank the drifting wreck of the Havsten by two torpedoes in 11°18N/54°45W.

At 1558, the unescorted Richmond Castle was torpedoed and sunk by U-176 SE of Cape Farewell. 14 crewmembers were lost. The master, 44 crewmembers and five gunners were rescued: The master and 14 survivors by the Irish Pine and landed at Kilrush. The chief officer and 16 survivors were picked up after 12 days by HMS Sunflower and landed at Londonderry. The remaining 18 survivors were picked up by the British merchantman Hororater and landed at Liverpool.
At 0401, U-553 attacked the convoy ON-115 and damaged the Belgian Soldier. The ship then fell out of the convoy and was sunk by a coup de grâce from U-607 at 0229 on 4 August. 21 men were lost from 53
crewmembers (24 Belgians) and seven gunners.

4 August 1943

August 4th, 1943 (WEDNESDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: In England, the USAAF's Eighth Air Force's VIII Air Support Command flies Mission 14. 33 B-26B Marauders bomb shipyards at Le Trait, France at 1926 hours local without loss.

Frigates HMS Riou, Rutherford laid down.

Frigate HMS Duckworth commissioned.
Destroyer HMS Rocket commissioned.
Escort carrier HMS Trumpeter commissioned.

Frigate HMS Meon launched Glasgow, Scotland.

GERMANY: U-291, U-430, U-676 commissioned.

U.S.S.R.: South of Kursk, Konev and Vatutin begin to attack toward Belgorod at the junction of the 4th Panzer Army and the German 8th Army.

ITALY: US aircraft attack Naples in what Rome calls "the most barbarous and merciless" raid so far: 150 people are killed.

British forces are fighting for Catania and cross the Salso River with two divisions. Other British forces continue towards Misterbianco.

Other American forces are halted by fierce opposition at the Furiano River and Troina.

In the air, Ninth Air Force P-40s attack shipping at Messina and support ground forces at the north end of Mount Etna. Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) medium and light bombers, and fighters attack communications targets, gun positions, and storage areas in the Milazzo-Adrano-Biancavilla and Bronte-Riposto-Fiumefreddo areas. A number of NATAF aircraft hit rail sidings on the toe of Italy and attack shipping off Messina, Sicily.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: The Canadian-built, British-registered cargo ship Fort La Montee (7,130 GRT) sank after a fire and explosion while in Algiers. Fort La Montee was loaded with a cargo of phosphorous. As soon as the fire was discovered, the ship was moved out of the harbour due to her hazardous cargo. The Acasta-class fleet destroyer HMS Arrow was standing by to render assistance when an enormous explosion destroyed the forward end of Fort La Montee. Over 100 lives were lost in Fort La Montee and Arrow. A British submarine was eventually able to sink the after end of the freighter with gunfire. Arrow was declared a Constructive Total Loss. Fort La Montee was a North Sands-class freighter built by North Van Ship Repairs Ltd., at North Vancouver BC. She was completed in Aug 42. Fort La Montee was one of 90 North Sands-class freighters built in Canada for American order under the Hyde Park Declaration and subsequently provided to Great Britain under the Lend-Lease Agreement. C. and J. Harrison Ltd. of London managed the ship for the British government. Twenty-two of these ships were sunk and another seven were damaged.

INDIAN OCEAN: At 0030, the unescorted Dalfram was torpedoed and sunk by U-181 east of Madagascar. Three crewmembers were lost. The master, 34 crewmembers and five gunners landed after eight days on the island of
Ile Ste Marie, east of Madagascar.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: On New Georgia Island, USAAF Thirteenth Air Force B-25s, and USMC dive bombers, bomb the Gurasai-Kindu Village area; some of the B-25s also strafe areas emitting intense small arms fire, silencing it.

P-40 pilots claim 8 A6M "Zekes" downed in a series of running battles over the central Solomons while USMC F4U Corsair pilots claim 3 others..

TERRITORY OF ALASKA: ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: Between 0855 and 1846 hours, the USAAF Eleventh Air Force flies 134 sorties dropping 153 tons of bombs on Kiska Island, a new one-day record; 6 armoured weather, photo and reconnaissance missions, flown by 3 B-24s, 2 P-40s, and 2 F-5A Lightnings bomb through clouds, take photos and observe fires in Main Camp and on Little Kiska Island; later 48 B-25 Mitchells, 22 B-24s, 16 A-24 Dauntlesses, 8 P-40s, and 40 P-38's fly 17 bombing and strafing attacks to Kiska Island; targets hit include buildings near the radio station, and the gun battery area on North Head. Little Kiska Island and Segula Island are also strafed.

CANADA: Frigate HMS Meon launched Glasgow, Scotland.

U.S.A.: Destroyer escorts USS Gaynier, Ingraham, Janssen, Wilhoite laid down.

Destroyer escort USS Elden commissioned.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: The German submarine U-489 is sunk southeast of ICELAND at position 61.11N, 14.38W by an RCAF Sunderland Mk III, s/n DD859, of No 423 Squadron based at Castle Archdale, Northern Ireland. 53 of the 54 crewman on the U-boat survive. This supply U-boat had set out on its first patrol on 22 July, barely a fortnight before its sinking, and did not, consequently provide replenishment to any other U-boat. (Alex Gordon)

4 August 1944

August 4th, 1944 (FRIDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: Aviation history was made today when Flying Officer Dean in a 616 Squadron RAF Gloster Meteor jet fighter, serial number EE216, engaged a V1, but his guns jammed. He flew in formation with the missile at 385 mph, tipped it over by inserting his wing tip under its wing, and sent it out of control earthwards. This was the first time a jet had been in combat with another jet propelled machine.
Another Meteor this day shoots down another V1 with its guns.

The USAAF's Eighth Air Force in England flies 3 missions:

- Mission 514: 1,307 bombers and 746 fighters, in 4 forces, are dispatched to strategic targets in Germany; 15 bombers are lost.

(1) Of 358 B-17s, 181 hit Hamburg oil refineries, 50 hit Bremen oil refineries, 23 hit Nordhof Airfield, 22 hit Ostend, Belgium coastal defences, 14 hit Einswarden and 7 hit targets of opportunity; 8 B-17s are lost. Escort is provided by 234 P-47 Thunderbolts and P-51 Mustangs; 2 P-47s and 3 P-51s are lost.

(2) Of 425 B-17s, 221 hit Peenemunde, 110 hit Anklam Airfield and 70 hit Anklam aircraft factories; 3 B-17s are lost. Escort is provided by 223 P-51s; 9 P-51s are lost. The Peenemunde raid included an aircraft flown by Dick Johnson here is his description: On August 4th, 1944 I went on a bombing mission to Peenemunde trying to mess up the German rocket program. The Flak was pretty bad but I made it there and back with minor battle damage.
I was in position 9 near the middle of the group and carried bombs with long delay fuses. The armaments officer told me that my first bomb would explode three hours after impact and the last one would wait for three days before exploding. We never carried these kinds of bombs into occupied countries but only into German Industrial centres.
The armaments officer said that the fuse contained celluloid discs of various thickness and when the bomb impacted it broke a vial of acetone that slowly dissolved the disc thus releasing the firing pin. No moving parts or ticking! (from his book 25 Milk Runs)

That day I was taking a new crew on their first mission to bomb Peenemunde. On the way back to base we shot down an ME 110 that was approaching from the rear. We started firing at him from two miles and at about one mile he went into a vertical dive and crashed. My crew saw no parachutes and I was surprised last month to learn that one man got out. Of course being in the driver's seat I didn't see the action, but heard plenty. For a split second I felt a little sad that we had killed two men, but soon realized that it was a kill or be killed situation.

Bf 110G-4 serial number 140317 crashed near Maribo 4/8 1944.

The aircraft belonged to 7./ NJG 1 and was coded G9+SR T/o Grove. Op: Interception of American bombers.

The BF 110 was on a day mission against American bombers when it was hit by return fire from a bomber and started burning and crashed to the ground.

Air gunner Unteroffizier Heinz Aleit managed to get out of the aircraft and saved his life by parachute and landed near a German post.

Pilot Oberleutnant Walter Prues and Wop Feldwebel Josef Peters was still in the aircraft when it crashed in boggy grounds near Bursø lake about 2 kilometres southeast of Maribo at approx.15:00 hrs.

The aircraft disappeared in the boggy ground and only the remains of Feldwebel Josef Peters was retrieved. Peters was laid to rest in København Vestre cemetery on 10/8 1944 at 15:00 hrs. The ceremony took place by the graveside.

The grounds were drained over the years and a golf course was eventually located on the site.

On 26/27 august 2002 the site was excavated by a team headed by Jes Touvdal and Jørn Junker and the remains of the aircraft and Pilot Oberleutnant Walter Prues was found.

The remains of Prues was handed over to the German authorities. He was finally laid to rest in København Vestre cemetery on 17/11 2002.

(3) Of 446 B-24s, 148 hit Rostock aviation factories, 89 hit Kiel, 88 hit Schwerin aviation factories, 71 hit Wismar aviation factories, 12 hit Schlutup, 11 hit Warien and 1 hits a target of opportunity; 4 B-24s are lost. Escort is provided by 209 P-38s and P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost.

(4) Of 78 B-24s, 39 hit Husum Airfield and 29 hit Hemmingstedt/Heide oil refinery without loss.

- Mission 515: The first APHRODITE mission is flown using 4 radio-controlled war weary B-17s as flying bombs; targets are Mimoyecques, Siracourt, Watten, and Wizernes V-weapon sites but none are hit; 1 drone B-17 crashes killing 1 crew. Escort is provided by 16 P-47s and 16 P-51s.

- Mission 516: In France, 154 B-17s and B-24s, in 2 forces, with 36 fighters are dispatched to hit V-weapon sites in the Pas de Calais and coastal defences at Middelkerke and Gravelines.

(1) Of 95 B-24s, 24 hit the Pas de Calais, 12 hit Achiet Airfield, 11 hit Gravelines, 11 hit Middelkerke, 6 hit Lens marshalling yard and 6 hit Montigne marshalling yard at Villy.

(2) Of 59 B-17s, 13 hit targets of opportunity, 12 hit Vendeville Airfield at Lille and 11 hit a bridge at Gravelines.

- 67 P-47s fly a fighter-bomber mission against Plantlunne Airfield; 1 P-47 is lost.

Destroyer HMS Lagos launched.

FRANCE: The German XXV Corps, in Brittany, withdraws to the major ports of St. Malo, Brest, Lorient and St. Nazaire. Commanded by General Farmbacher, Lorient and St. Nazaire will hold until May of 1945.
British troops liberate Evrecy and Villers Bocage, France.

In France, the USAAF's Ninth Air Force dispatches 62 A-20 Havocs and B-26s to bomb rail bridges at Oissel, Epernon, and Saint-Remy-sur-Avre and an ammunition dump and bivouac area in Foret de Sille; fighters furnish cover over the battle area and for an armoured column, fly sweeps, dive-bomb enemy positions and also fuel dumps at Angers, attack an ammunition dump at Tours, and fly armed reconnaissance in the Quimper-Nantes, Amines, and Saint-Quentin areas.

Sqn-Ldr Ian Willoughby Bazalgette (b.1918), RAFVR, hit his target despite losing two engines to fighter fire. He and two crewmen died when the plane blew up on landing. (Victoria Cross)

Minesweeping trawler HMS Gairsay sunk by a German explosive boat off Normandy.

NETHERLANDS: Amsterdam: The Gestapo, acting on tip from a Dutch informer, captures 15-year-old Jewish diarist Anne Frank and her family in a sealed-off area of an Amsterdam warehouse at Prinsengracht 263; two of the Christians who had helped shelter them are also arrested. The Franks had taken shelter there in 1942 out of fear of deportation to a concentration camp. They occupied the small space with another Jewish family and a single Jewish man, and were aided by former Christian employees of Otto Frank and other Dutch friends who brought them food and supplies. Anne spent much of her time in the "secret annex" working on her diary which survived the war, overlooked by the Gestapo that discovered the hiding place. They are sent to a concentration camp in Holland, and in September Anne and most of the others are shipped to Auschwitz in Poland. In the fall of 1944, Anne and her sister Margot are moved to Bergen-Belsen in Germany; both sisters catch typhus and die in early March 1945, two months before the camp was liberated by British forces. Anne's father Otto Frank is the only one of the 10 to survive. After the war, he returns to Amsterdam via the Soviet Union, and is reunited with Miep Gies, one of his former employees who had helped shelter him. She handed him Anne's diary and in 1947, the diary is published by Otto in its original Dutch as "Diary of a Young Girl."

GERMANY: Berlin: As 22 officers, alleged to have had dealings with the 20 July plotters are given dishonourable discharges. Hitler tells Judge Roland Freisler, the president of the "People's Court" that he wants the conspirators "strung up like butchered cattle."

U-1304 launched.

U-889 commissioned.

POLAND: Warsaw: The Polish Home Army asks for Allied aid.

FINLAND: Helsinki: Marshal Carl Mannerheim becomes president of Finland, after the resignation of Rysto Ryti.
Mikko Härmeinen adds: Marshal of Finland Baron Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim (note there's *no* 'von' prefix!) is elected by the Parliament as the new President of the Republic of Finland. This election is doubly exceptional. Normally the President is elected by a chamber of electors elected by popular vote, but this procedure has already been dispensed with in 1940 and 1943 because of the exceptional times. Second, constitutionally professional soldiers can't take part in politics; they can vote but can't run as candidates or be members of political parties.

Among the political leadership it has long been agreed that the 77-year old Marshal is the only person who can lead the Finnish people unified to the harsh peace that is to be expected.

U.S.S.R.: German units counterattack between Riga and Jelgava reopening communications with Lithuania.

ITALY: South African units of the British XII Corps enter Florence and areas south of the Arno River. Plans for future operations are revised by General Leese for the British 8th Army near the east coast of Italy to make the next major move.
In an attempt to comply with the first direct Soviet request for USAAF air strikes, 70+ P-38s and P-51s of the Fifteenth Air Force leave Italy, attack the airfield and town of Focsani, Romania and land at Operation FRANTIC bases in the USSR.

BURMA: The British 2nd Division liberates Tamu.

PACIFIC OCEAN: USN submarines sink an IJA cargo ship in the Celebes Sea and two IJN guardboats in the Bonin Islands.

BONIN ISLANDS: USN carrier-based aircraft of Task Groups 58.1 and 58.3 attack Chichi Jima and Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands. The aircraft also attack a Japanese convoy consisting of 5 freighters, 2 large landing ships, a destroyer and 2 destroyer escorts and sink all but the destroyer escorts which are later sunk by USN cruisers.

TERRITORY OF ALASKA: ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: The USAAF Eleventh Air Force sends 4 P-38s, accompanied by 1 B-25, to fly top cover for the USN's Task Force 94 near Massacre Bay on Attu Island; 4 B-25s fly an uneventful shipping sweep.

US President Franklin D Roosevelt departs Adak Island for Kodiak in the heavy cruiser USS Baltimore (CA-68). He takes in some fishing. (Jack McKillop and Drew Philip Halevy) More...

U.S.A.: Destroyer minelayer USS Robert H Smith commissioned.

4 August 1945

August 4th, 1945 (SATURDAY)

SINGAPORE: Japanese guards execute seven captured American airmen.

JAPAN: USAAF Far East Air Force B-25s based on Okinawa hit an industrial area near Takanabe, Kyushu bombing warehouses, factories, a railroad bridge, and marshalling yard.

US aircraft drop leaflets warning of air attacks on 12 more cities.

BONIN ISLANDS: Iwo Jima: At night Japanese aircraft attempt to bomb the USAAF airfields on the island.

COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: Manila: General Douglas MacArthur is to lead the invasion force being assembled for the final conquest of Japan. He is to add 500,000 Allied troops in the Ryuku Islands, which include Okinawa, to the 250,000 already under his command in the Philippines. In a statement today he said that from these resources "a mighty invasion force is being forged." The US plans to have 650,000 troops ready to invade Japan's southern island, Kyushu, by 1 November. A further million, including Australian, British and Canadian troops, would land on Japan's main island, Honshu, next March.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES: Java: US bombers raid Japanese positions on Surabaya.

CANADA: Armed yachts HMCS Elk and Vison paid off Halifax, Nova Scotia.

U.S.A.: Destroyer USS James E Kyes launched.
Destroyer USS Henderson launched Seattle, Washington.

German PoW, Kurt Rossmeisl, escapes from Camp Butner, North Carolina. He surrenders in 1959.

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