Today in World War II History—January 27, 1940 & 1945
80 Years Ago—January 27, 1940: US freighter City of Flint returns to Baltimore; Capt. Joseph Gainard (merchant marine) receives the first Navy Cross of the war. The neutral freighter had been captured by the Germans, creating an international incident: See October 9, 1939; October 23, 1939; November 3, 1939; and November 6, 1939.
75 Years Ago—Jan. 27, 1945: Soviets liberate Nazi concentration camps of Auschwitz and Birkenau; about 7000 prisoners remain.
US Twentieth Bomber Command (B-29s) evacuates from Chengtu, China to Kharagpur, India as Japanese advance in China.