Real time Discusion thread

[lordroel]

September 20th 1945

Soviet/Allied occupied Germany

The Allied Control Council in Germany passed Control Council Law No. 1 - Repealing of Nazi Laws.

Soviet Union

Joseph Stalin expressed disapproval of Georgy Zhukov's 9 Sep 1945 order in which Zhukov ordered his troops to stop committing crimes against the German people; Stalin noted that such orders failed to improve discipline.

United States

German rocket engineers who have been captured at the end of the war and been brought to the US start work on the American rocket program.

United Kingdom

At the conclusion of the discussions of Middle East problems, the British Foreign Office releases a communique stating that the government is "impressed with the desirability of strengthening the relations with the countries of the Middle East on the basis of mutual cooperation and the promotion of their social and economic well-being" and that "the mutual understanding which has been built up in the Middle East by the various wartime organisations offers a favourable prospect of fruitful cooperation in the future in these fields."

Details of the Vampire jet fighter are made public. Reports state that it is the fastest plane in the world, comparable to the American Shooting Star jet fighter, with a top speed over 500 miles per hour, an operational height of 45,000-50,000 feet and an armament of 4 20mm cannon in the nose.

China

British and American warships arrive at Shanghai.

India

Mohandas Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru demanded British troops to leave India.

Thailand

Racial tensions between Thai and Chinese residents in Bangkok, Thailand led to a number of gun fights in the Chinese district. Chinese merchants, who dominated the Thai economy, commenced a general strike a few days later. Things would de-escalate after a month after concessions by both sides. 27 Chinese and 9 Thai were killed in the month of violence.

[lordroel]

September 21st 1945

United States

President Truman holds a cabinet meeting to discuss the question of sharing atomic secrets with the British and particularly the Soviet governments. He chose the topic because it was Secretary of War Stimson's last day in government service; Stimson was retiring that afternoon. In the words of Undersecretary of State Acheson, "the discussion was unworthy of the subject." Stimson desired only a diplomatic approach, not an openhanded passing of information American scientists sought. The presumption was that the Soviets would offer a quid pro quo for the cost of the nuclear project. Instead, some cabinet members misconstrued the debate to be whether to give away the secrets. They were totally unprepared to handle this complicated subject and hardly knew the difference between an at secret and common scientific knowledge. They responded by offering their opinions in airy detail. After the discussion, and reception of papers prepared thereafter (with the exception of Stimson's, which was prepared well in advance), the president released an ambiguous public statement.

Brazil

Brazil ratified the United Nations Charter.

India

The Congress Party demands that southeast Asia be freed from "Imperialist domination."

Soviet Union

Aleksandr Vadis reported to Soviet SMERSH officer Isai Babich that, between 9 Aug and 18 Sep 1945, 2,249 were arrested in northeastern China (666 Japanese military intelligence officers and agents, 569 Japanese policemen, and 552 Soviet citizens).

Chinese Civil War

The Battle of Rugao was fought was fought between the nationalists and the communists for the control of the town of Rugao, in Jiangsu Province and resulted in a communist victory with the entire nationalists force of 3,000, being completely annihilated. Everyone, including the commander Kong Ruiwu and the deputy commander was either killed or captured alive. The communists also capture two mortars, 22 machine guns, and more than 2,600 other firearms.

Mongolia

Mongolian separatist troops entered Rehe (now Chengde), Jehol Province, China, capturing 2,000 surrendered Japanese troops and their weapons. These Japanese troops would be brought against international agreement (which had it that these troops should be under the custody of the Chinese) and kept them as forced laborers until Oct 1947. These prisoners would participate in the building of the Government Building, Sukhbaatar Square, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Building, the National University of Mongolia, and others in Ulaanbaatar.

Netherlands East Indies (Indonesia)

Australian troops arrived in Makassar, Indonesia, accompanied by several Dutch Civil Affairs officials.

French Indochina (Cambodia)

Talks between Cambodian Premier Son Ngoc Thanh and representatives from the Southern Provisional Administrative Committee of Saigon broke down despite both groups sharing stern anti-French sentiments, with the reason being Cambodia demanding provinces of Tra Vinh and Soc Trang from Cochinchina; the two provinces had been Cochinchina territory for some time, but both were heavily populated with those of Khmer ethnicity.

[lordroel]

September 22nd 1945

Allied occupied Germany

General George S. Patton complained in an interview that he had "never seen the necessity of the denazification program" and compared "this Nazi thing" to a "Democratic and Republican election fight."

Netherlands East Indies (Indonesia)

Australian troops arrived on Ambon island, Maluku Islands, Indonesia.

French Indochina (Vietnam)

General Lu Han, commanding officer of the Chinese occupation force in northern French Indochina, assured Ho Chi Minh that he had no intention of declaring martial law (as the British had in Saigon on 19 Sep 1945) as long as order was maintained in the northern region.

Chinese Civil War

The Huaiyin–Huai'an Campaign ended in communist victory.

[lordroel]

September 23rd 1945

Egypt

The Egyptian government demands that British forces withdraw from the Sudan, prior to its incorporation with Egypt.

French Indochina (Laos)

Chinese forces entered Luang Prabang, Laos and disarmed French troops in the name of maintaining peace between the Lao and French peoples.

French Indochina (Vietnam)

The Viet Minh sponsored Resistance Committee of the Saigon-Cholon Region is set up in response to the return of French authorities. It issues an order calling for non-collaboration with the colonialists and calls on the townspeople of Saigon to unite in resistance. Barricades are erected.

In southern French Indochina, British Major General Douglas Gracey armed French prisoners of war in Cochinchina, French Indochina as recommended by French commissioner Jean Cédile; in the evening, these French troops, bent on revenge, stormed and captured the Saigon City Hall and other administrative buildings from the Viet Minh, killing many innocent civilians and burning down homes during the process, critically damaging public trust in the European administration which had already been waning. Meanwhile, in northern and central French Indochina, several leaders in civilian spheres sent a joint message to the Vatican, asking Pope Pius XII to support for Vietnamese independence.

Philippines

The leftist political party Democratic Alliance staged a large rally in Manila, Philippines, demanding reforms, release of Huk leader Luis Trauc, and justice against war time collaborators.

Burma

Japanese troops of the 52nd Division hand over their weapons to the 1/10th Gurkha Rifles (17th Indian Division) after surrendering at a railway bridge over the Sittang River in Burma, September 23, 1945

[stevep]

  From today's Korean war thread.

Just after noon the Argylls heard the sound of approaching aircraft. Three United States Air Force P-51 Mustangs of the 18th Fighter Bomber Wing circled Hill 282 where the British displayed their white recognition panels. The North Koreans on Hill 388 also displayed white panels. To his dismay, British Army, Captain Radcliff of the tactical air control party had a defective radio which prevented him from establishing contact with the F-51s and it was later revealed that several British forward air controllers had yet to notify the pilots of proper air recognition panels. At 12:15, the Mustangs, confused by the panels and no radio contact with friendly ground forces, dropped napalm bombs onto the Argylls' position and also strafed it with 50 calibre machine-gun fire.

   Bloody trigger happy cretins. They should have been court martial at least, if not shot for treason. If in doubt don't fire you stupid vermin.

[lordroel]

Sept 23, 2024 9:29:18 GMT stevep said:

  From today's Korean war thread.

Just after noon the Argylls heard the sound of approaching aircraft. Three United States Air Force P-51 Mustangs of the 18th Fighter Bomber Wing circled Hill 282 where the British displayed their white recognition panels. The North Koreans on Hill 388 also displayed white panels. To his dismay, British Army, Captain Radcliff of the tactical air control party had a defective radio which prevented him from establishing contact with the F-51s and it was later revealed that several British forward air controllers had yet to notify the pilots of proper air recognition panels. At 12:15, the Mustangs, confused by the panels and no radio contact with friendly ground forces, dropped napalm bombs onto the Argylls' position and also strafed it with 50 calibre machine-gun fire.

   Bloody trigger happy cretins. They should have been court martial at least, if not shot for treason. If in doubt don't fire you stupid vermin.

Not the first time Americans conduct friendly fire on the British, I think a couple of weeks ago it was B-29s who fired on Royal Navy fighters.

[stevep]

Sept 23, 2024 11:16:52 GMT lordroel said:

Sept 23, 2024 9:29:18 GMT stevep said:

  From today's Korean war thread.

   Bloody trigger happy cretins. They should have been court martial at least, if not shot for treason. If in doubt don't fire you stupid vermin.

Not the first time Americans conduct friendly fire on the British, I think a couple of weeks ago it was B-29s who fired on Royal Navy fighters.

  The problem is too often it seems a case of ill-discipline and lack of actual thought.  There was a notorious case with a couple of trigger happy idiots in Iraq during the invasion a couple of decades back. 

[lordroel]

Sept 23, 2024 15:34:32 GMT stevep said:

Sept 23, 2024 11:16:52 GMT lordroel said:

Not the first time Americans conduct friendly fire on the British, I think a couple of weeks ago it was B-29s who fired on Royal Navy fighters.

  The problem is too often it seems a case of ill-discipline and lack of actual thought.  There was a notorious case with a couple of trigger happy idiots in Iraq during the invasion a couple of decades back. 

Seems there is a entire Wikipdidia article dedicated of friendly fire between the Americans and British: List of U.S. friendly-fire incidents since 1945 with British victims

Seems the "Battle of Hill 282" is the only one that happen during the Korean War, except the B-29 incident mention before but not listed as nobody was killed in it.

[lordroel]

September 24th 1945

Czechoslovakia

Postwar anti-Jewish violence in Slovakia: Topoľčany pogrom in Czechoslovakia.

Allied occupied Japan

Japanese Emperor Hirohito said that he did not want war and blamed Hideki Tojo for the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Photo: The U.S. Navy attack cargo ship USS Selinur (AKA-41) mooring for unloading in drydock No.3, Sasebo Naval Base, Japan, 24 September 1945



French Indochina (Vietnam)

After dark, an unidentified group of Vietnamese men attacked the Cité Héraud district in Saigon, Cochinchina, French Indochina, killing, torturing, and raping somewhere between 100 and 300 of Europeans. Japanese troops assigned to this district failed to stop the attackers; Gurkha troops were called in to control the situation.

Burma

Photo: Japanese soldiers of the 53rd Infantry Division, who surrendered on 24 September 1945 at the village of Mokpalin to the 1/10th Gurkha Rifles of the 17th Indian Division, are seen aboard a landing craft in which they crossed the Sittang River on their way to captivity

[lordroel]

September 25th 1945

Soviet/Allied occupied Germany

The Allied Control Commission issued a proclamation announcing additional requirements of Germany. Field Marshal Montgomery, General Eisenhower, Marshal Zhukov and General Koenig sign the 3000 word document. Among the points of the declaration is that the NSDAP and all German armed forces are declared illegal. Meanwhile, secret German OKW documents dated August 17, 1940 which deal with the plan to invade Britain (code named Operation Sealion) are discovered by the Allies.

United Kingdom

The Ministry of War Transport announces that in order to avoid the use of the Panama Canal, dues for which have to be paid in dollars, instructions have been given for the rerouting of British ships from Australia and New Zealand.

Norway

The last of the Soviet Army forces departed Norway.

Burma

Aung San rejected the British offer for him to become the Deputy Inspector-General of the Burmese Army.

Singapore

Photo: Surrendered Heavy cruiser Myōkō moored at Seletar alongside submarines I-501 and I-502, 25 September 1945



Photo: Captain Power visits the damaged Japanese cruiser, Singapore. In May 1944, five ships of the Twenty-Sixth Destroyer Flotilla attached to the British East Indies fleet, led by HMS Saumarez, with Captain M L Power, CBE, OBE, DSO AND BAR, as Captain (D), sank the Japanese cruiser Haguro in one hours action at the entrance to the Malacca Strait. When Saumarez entered Singapore Naval Base, Captain Power with his staff officers, paid a visit to Myoko, sister ship of Haguro, now lying there with her stern blown off after the Battle of the Philippines. Crossing to the deck of the Myoko via the conning tower of a German U-boat, Captain Power and his party were met by Japanese officers who took them on a comprehensive tour of the ship, 25 September 1945



Photo: Two British naval officers examine what is left of the Myoko's stern, 25 September 1945



Photo: Japanese sailors line up on the deck of a U-boat as Captain Power leaves the Myoko, 25 September 1945



Philippines

The Philippine People's Court was established by President Sergio Osmeña to try war time collaborators. 

Thailand

Members of the Free Thai movement staged a victory parade in Bangkok, Thailand. British personnel in Thailand boycotted the event, while the Americans observed the parade without taking an active part in it. The Western lack of enthusiasm was largely due to the diplomatic situation and recent ethnic tensions in Thailand.

[lordroel]

September 26th 1945

United States

The U.S. State Department publicized a letter written by Franklin D. Roosevelt on March 10 saying that Spain could expect no help from the United States as long as Francisco Franco remained in power.

President Truman announces that, under a decision at the recent Potsdam Conference, the surviving German naval vessels will be divided equally between the United States, Great Britain and the Soviet Union. He notes also that no decision has been made on the disposal of the Imperial Japanese Fleet.

Brigadier General John Magruder and Assistant Secretary of War John McCloy, defying US President Harry Truman's orders to disband the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), kept a number of OSS operatives active in a new organization called the Strategic Services Unit.

United Kingdom

The freedom of Aldershot is conferred on the Canadian Army. This is the first time that any British community has presented its freedom to a complete visiting army.

El Salvador

El Salvador ratified the United Nations Charter.

Allied occupied Japan

Photo: The Japanese aircraft carrier Junyō anchored at Sasebo, Japan, on 26 September 1945



Photo: View of the starboard side of the Japanese aircraft carrier Junyō at Sasebo, Japan. Two HA-201 class submarines are alongside, on 26 September 1945



China

After weeks of preparations by advanced units, the main body of US troops, in the form of US Marines, arrived in China via Tianjin. A huge crowd gathered to welcome them.

Burma

"The Humble Memorial of the Karens of Burma to His Britannic Majesty's Secretary of State for Burma" was published, outlining a request to create a separate state for ethnic Karens in eastern Burma and crossing a bit into northern Thailand. The name was proposed to be the United Frontier Karen State. The proposal invited Britain to rule with a governor, and requested it to be a commonwealth nation. The proposal was generally opposed to by the British.

French Indochina (Vietnam)

British Major General Douglas Gracey, after facing several challenges from US OSS chief A. Peter Dewey, ordered Dewey to be dispelled from French Indochina. En route to the airport, Dewey, probably mistaken as a French official, was killed by the Viet Minh. Ho Chi Minh immediately wrote US President Harry Truman that the Viet Minh leadership disapproved this killing and the Viet Minh valued friendship with the Americans.

Portuguese Timor

The Portuguese held a restoration ceremony in East Timor.

[lordroel]

September 27th 1945

United Kingdom

An agreement is signed setting up the European Central Inland Transport Organisation. The signatories represent UK, USA, USSR, France, Belgium, Holland, Norway, Luxemburg, Czechoslovakia, Greece and Yugoslavia. A Polish representative is present for the discussions (begun on August 24th) but lacks credentials. Poland is expected to sign. The organization is to be responsible for the allocation or distribution of all forms of transport, equipment and material as may be made available by the Allied commanders in chief.

A university for the Canadian Army in Europe, known as the "Khaki University of Canada," is opened by Field Marshal Montgomery at Leavesden. The school will provide professional and other courses for Canadian servicemen pending their demobilization and return to civilian life. When opened, enrolment consists of 565 students taking six month courses in various subjects.

Allied occupied Japan

Emperor Showa made a formal visit to the US Embassy to meet General Douglas MacArthur. This was one of ten such visits the Japanese head of state would make.

Photo: Emperor Hirohito and General MacArthur, at their first meeting, at the U.S. Embassy, Tokyo, 27 September, 1945



Portuguese Timor

Two Portuguese relief ships, Bartolomeu Dias and Zarco, arrived at East Timor, bringing in 2,223 troops (including 3 engineering companies) and a large quantity of food.

Photo: Portuguese relief ships, Bartolomeu Dias and Zarco at anchor

[lordroel]

September 28th 1945

Allied occupied Germany

George Patton was summoned to Frankfurt, Germany by Dwight Eisenhower, who scolded him for repeatedly stirring up controversies and transferred him to the US 15th Army in the rear, which was tasked with compiling a history of the European War.

Belgium

The Belgian parliament approves approves a series of decree-laws for the improving the living conditions of workers, including the establishment of a "Household Re-equipment Fund" which will provide coupons to qualified persons for which they can obtain textile goods, footwear and household utensils. It is estimated that is will take 2-3 years to manufacture sufficient quantities of the materials covered for all persons qualifying.

Norway

The Norwegian government announces that all Soviet forces stationed in northern Norway have been withdrawn, and all remaining British and American forces are expected to withdraw by the end of October.

Ceylon

In Kandy, Ceylon, Louis Mountbatten ordered British troops en route to Indonesia to be limited to key areas, thus avoiding the Indonesian-Dutch political tensions.

French Indochina (Vietnam)

Chinese General Lu Han accepted the surrender of Japanese 38th Army at Hanoi, French Indochina. The French delegation boycotted the ceremony due to the Chinese-Vietnamese joint attempt to place the French delegation far from the main ceremonies during the planning process.

Netherlands East Indies (Indonesia)

Rioting took place in Indonesia against the Dutch. 

[lordroel]

September 29th 1945

Italy

Field Marshal Sir Harold Alexander officially resigns his position as Supreme Allied Commander in the Mediterranean at Caserta and is succeeded by US Army General Joseph McNarney, with British Lt. Gen. W. D. Morgan, former Chief of Staff, as Deputy Supreme Commander and American Maj. Gen. Lyman L. Lemnitzer as the new Chief of Staff.

Argentina

Demonstrators, numbering an estimated 500,000, call of the resignation of Peron in Buenos Aires.

Chinese Civil War

The Weixian–Guangling–Nuanquan Campaign began in China.

China

Du Yuming established a field headquarters north of Kunming, Yunnan Province, China for the upcoming campaign against General Long Yun.

Influential Chongqing-based Chinese newspaper Ta Kung Pao published an editorial demanding Thailand to surrender as an Axis member, and demanding Thai leaders to be arrested as war criminals.

Netherlands East Indies (Indonesia)

British General Philip Christison, commanding officer of British troops in Indonesia, announced that his mission was to accept Japanese surrender and to repatriate prisoners of war; he was hinting that his troops would not interfere with the conflict between Indonesian nationalists and the Dutch colonial administration.

[lordroel]

September 30th 1945

United Kingdom

The Bourne End (Hemel Hempstead) rail disaster kills 44 and injures 88. An LMS passenger express train from Perth to Euston derails at Bourne End at 9am. The train left the tracks and plunged down a 20 foot embankment, the engine and 4 leading coaches overturning and many people are trapped under the wreckage. Rescue work went on day and night, aided by British and American servicemen. This is the worst railway accident in Britain since 1915 when 224 people were killed on a troop train at Gretna.

Syria

The Syrian premier, Fayez el-Khoury, resigns after failing to secure the confidence of the Syrian Chamber for his proposed government. Saadullah Jabry, premier in 1943, is asked to form a new government.

Ceylon

In Kandy, Ceylon, French representative Pierre Clarac demanded Prince Wiwatthanachai of Thailand to transfer the Emerald Buddha to Cambodia. The treasure was captured by Thai troops in 1432 in Angkor Wat during the fall of the Khmer Empire, and Cambodian nationalists had sought for its return.

Netherlands East Indies (Indonesia)

British troops entered Jakarta, Java, Dutch East Indies. They were mostly consisted of men of Gurkha and Indian ethnicity, and were tasked to maintain peace, largely against pro-Indonesia rioters.

French Indochina (Vietnam)

A Vietnamese delegation from the anti-communist Revolutionary League met with Chinese General Xiao Wen; although sympathetic, Xiao could not act due to restrictions applied by his superior.

Hong Kong

In an attempt to curb the violent clashes between Nationalist and communist factions, the British Military Administration in Hong Kong had been working with both sides. On this date, the communists agreed to pull out of Hong Kong, thus fighting would continue only beyond the British colonial border. Propaganda efforts and the promotion of extreme left wing elements, however, would continue for decades to come.