 German troops moving to the front at Stalingrad are reminded how far from home they really are |
Project 60: A Day-by-Day Diary of WWII
Remembering the First Fight Against Fascism |
 British anti-tank gunners in action on the Alam Halfa Ridge at El Alamein |
August 25,
1942 The Battle of Eastern Solomon's
continues with a Japanese destroyer being sunk off Santa Isabel. The Japanese
succeed in landing troops on Guadalcanal in the night from the survivors of the
destroyer group. Japanese forces
occupy Nauru, Gilbert Is. and Goodenough, off the SE coast of New Guinea. They
also land 1200 Japanese Special Naval Landing Force troops at Milne Bay, Papua,
but the landing force was badly disrupted due to the intervention of American
fighter-bombers. August 26, 1942 On the Stalingrad Front, elements
of the Soviet 63rd Army continue to attack German positions along the
Don River north of Stalingrad. The Germans moved supporting forces against the
attacks and Soviets were bloodily repulsed. Meanwhile, 62nd Army
launched attacks against the German spearheads probing the northern part of the
city, stopping those movements. The fighting near Rzhev, started two
weeks ago, continues to rage. German forces have grudgingly retreated 15-20
miles in the area. Heavy losses have been inflicted on both sides. August 27 1942 The offensive in Leningrad expands to
an attack by the Leningrad Front in the city and the Volkov Front outside the
siege. Both fronts were aimed at the German positions at Schluessleburg on Lake
Lagoda. Vichy French authorities begin
cooperating with German authorities to "deport" Jews to Auschwitz. The
round-ups were done in full view of the French population and lead many Catholic
priests to shelter Jews from the sweeps. August 28, 1942 RAF Bomber command hits Nuremberg in a
massive raid kill 4000 civilians and destroying 10,000 houses. A Japanese seaplane, launched from
submarine I-25, drops incendiary bombs on forests in Oregon. German authorities order the arrest of
Catholic priests shelter Jews. One thousand Jews, including 150 children, were
deported from Paris alone to the death camp at Auschwitz today. Using intercepted radio messages,
British forces intercept and sink the tanker Diepli, denying 2200 tons of
vital aviation fuel to Rommel's Deutche Army Afrika (DAK) as they prepare to
renew attacks at El Alamein. August 29, 1942 At Stalingrad, 4th Panzer Army, after completing it's regrouping outside the city, launches a vicious attack against the 126 Rifle Division (64th Army). The initial attacks by the 24th Panzer Divion succeeded in rupturing the front and by the end of the day, the right wing of the 64th Army and all of the 62nd Army was threatened with being cut off from the Volga. The Germans had intended on turning east and taking out a wing of the 64th Army but the unexpected opportunity to the north made them pause to consider that option. August 30, 1942 At Stalingrad, with
the unexpected collapse of the center of the 64th Army, German
commanders contemplated and finally ordered the attack to wheel left (north) and
combine with a drive south by 6th Army. However, the pressure
Yeremenko's attacks on the against Paulus' forces was so great that the
Germans in the north were unable to move quickly. In the meantime, Yeremeonko,
anticipating the move by the Germans withdrew from the trap and placed the units
in strong positions within the city. At El Alamein, Rommel launches
his second attempt to take El Alamein. Diversionary attacks were launched by
Italian forces against entrenched lines of the
9th Australian, 1st South African and 5th
Indian Divisions. Meanwhile, Rommel's tanks and motorized troops hit the
southern end of the line north of the Qattara Depresion. Working off intercepted messages, the
British sink the San Andrea and her cargo of tank fuel. This is the
fourth major transport ship sunk bby the British off North Africa in the last
two days. August 31, 1942 El Alamein: Rommel's
forces advancing at El Alamein hit the lines of the 7th Motorized and
4th Light Armored Brigades. Defending strong positions behind thick
minefields, the weak British screening force was able to hold the German tankers
at bay long enough for other formations to start reacting. Rommel's initial
plan of a wide sweep around the British positions was abandoned in favor of an
attack toward the Alam Halfa Ridge, the key terrain feature behind the British
lines. The advance was made in a blinding sandstorm. The movements in the soft
sand were so hard on fuel supplies that the attack was called off in the
afternoon. After a conference with Hitler at
Vinnitsa, General Halder noted in his diary that the Fuehrer had ordered that
once the city was secured, every single male in the city would be
exterminated and the females were to be "shipped off". 1,200 Japanese reinforcements landed on Guadalcanal by 'Tokyo Express'. Meanwhile, Australian forces hit the Japanese positions at Milne Bay and inflict heavy losses on their opponent. El Alamein: With the promised fuel for his tanks lying at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea, Rommel is forced to suspend the bulk of his attack but did move 15th Panzer Division against the British at the Alam Halfa Ridge. The Germans succeeded in reaching postions just south of the ridge before being stopped for lack of fuel. After being pummeled from the air by
RAF bombers, Rommel decides to abandon the attack completely and return to his
defensive lines. At Stalingrad, von Paulus,
finally feeling his northern flank in the city was secure, launches his armor
south to meet 4th Panzer Army. However, the trap closes on empty
space as the Soviets have withdrawn into the city. Meanwhile, Luftwaffe
bombardment of the city intensified as the Germans turn their attention to the
ferries operating over the Volga, the lifeline to the defenders of Stalingrad. At El Alamein, New Zealand troops, in
pursuit of the retreating DAK, engage in heavy fighting. Stalin orders Zhukov to make immediate
counter attacks against the Germans as they now have established positions in
Rynok, just north of Stalingrad on the Volga River. Thirty-two British and Australian
bombers flew from England toward their new base in Russia where they were to
assist in protecting convoys. Nine of the planes were forced down due to lack of
fuel of combat damage. A Russian fighter shot down one bomber and the survivors
were strafed while they struggled in the water. Japanese forces recapture Lachi from
the Chinese. Zhukov launches his first counter-attack against the German forces along the Volga. The attack fails. Meanwhile, German forces enter Novorossiysk, forcing the Soviet Black Sea Fleet to abandon its last decent base on the Black Sea. Also, in a move to improve morale, Soviet bombers launch pinprick raids against Budapest, Vienna and Breslau. German forces capture Novorossiysk. Japanese resistance at Milne Bay ends.
However, attacks in the Owen Stanley Range pick up again as the Japanese aim for
capturing Port Morsby. German forces launch massed attacks
against the southern portion of Stalingrad.
1941 Archive: 1942 Archive: Special Editions: Editor's Corner Archive: The Past Through Tomorrow "It is quite frightening to realize just how similar our nation's actions have been and appear to be heading when compared this way..." Afghanistan and Vietnam: When the "war against terrorism" began, many knowledgeable people warned that our operations in Afghanistan would turn into another Vietnam. Want to Win - Think Before You Lash Out - "If we are serious about taking the war to the enemy, it is time to look ..." The First Fight Against Fascism - We must remember the Spanish Civil War also. Arguing Victory - "... Each nation who fought against fascist tyranny in WWII brought with it part of whole needed to defeat that evil..." War, Glory, Honor and Remembrance - "War is a brutal and savage insult on human society..." The
First Casualty... in time of war, those in power are even more inclined to hide the truth,
since that truth is often manifest in the most gruesome and terrible
acts. Those wishing to contribute items. stories or comments should contact D.A. Friedrichs |