Today in World War II History—April 27, 1940 & 1945

Anti-aircraft tracers in the night sky above Yontan Airfield, Okinawa, 28 Apr 1945; US Marine Corps F4U Corsair fighters in foreground (US National Archives: 127-G-118775)
80 Years Ago—April 27, 1940: Inter-American Neutrality Committee meets in Rio de Janeiro to discuss prevention of further incidents in the Pan-American Security Zone.
75 Years Ago—Apr. 27, 1945: Anti-Nazis rise up in Munich and encourage German surrender.
US and Britain reject Heinrich Himmler’s secret armistice proposal.
Second Republic of Austria is established under acting Chancellor Karl Renner, and the Anschluss (union with Germany) is declared null and void.
Japanese begin heavy two-day air assault on shipping off Okinawa.