Get new blog posts sent directly to your email inbox!

Today in World War II History

Read Today's Article

Today in World War II History—Aug. 15, 1940 & 1945

The famous kiss at Times Square, New York City, 14 Aug 1945 (Photographer: Victor Jorgensen; US National Archives: 80-G-413998)

The famous kiss at Times Square, New York City, 14 Aug 1945 (Photographer: Victor Jorgensen; US National Archives: 80-G-413998)

80 Years Ago—Aug. 15, 1940: Luftwaffe sends 520 bombers & 1270 fighters against Britain, the highest number of the Battle of Britain, for the first time sending bombers from bases in Norway.

Luftwaffe’s “Black Thursday”: Germany loses 76 aircraft, while the RAF loses 34, plus 75 destroyed on the ground.

Off Greece, Italian sub Delfino sinks WWI-era Greek cruiser Helli to try to provoke Greece into the war.

First edition of Belgian underground resistance newspaper La Libre Belgique, a bimonthly paper with a circulation of 70,000, which runs through September 1944.

Victory celebration, Waikiki, Oahu, US Territory of Hawaii, 15 Aug 1945

Victory celebration, Waikiki, Oahu, US Territory of Hawaii, 15 Aug 1945

75 Years Ago—Aug. 15, 1945: V-J Day (Victory over Japan) in US and Britain, V-P Day (Victory in the Pacific) in Australia.

US accepts Japanese surrender, and hostilities cease.

Emperor Hirohito announces the surrender to the Japanese people, the first time they have heard his voice.

US Navy Task Force 38 aircraft strike Tokyo airfields before the surrender is announced—US Navy pilots have downed 6800 Japanese aircraft since Pearl Harbor.

Comments are closed.

Embers in the London Sky cover
“Another masterful installment in Sundin’s roster of WWII novels.”
—Booklist starred review for Embers in the London Sky
NOW AVAILABLE!

A Free Gift for You

Make It Do - The US Home Front in World War II

When you subscribe to my monthly enewsletter, you’ll also receive “Make It Do – The US Home Front in World War II,” a collection of my popular blog posts. As a subscriber, you’ll also be the first to learn about my upcoming novels.