Today in World War II History—January 30, 1940 & 1945

British poster, WWII (National Archives, UK)
80 Years Ago—January 30, 1940: Britain begins national campaign to collect scrap iron, paper, and food.

Former Cabanatuan POWs celebrate after successful raid on prison camp, 30 January 1945 (US Army photo)
75 Years Ago—Jan. 30, 1945: Soviet submarine S-13 sinks German liner Wilhelm Gustloff, killing 9000 German refugees from East Prussia in the worst maritime disaster in history.
US 6th Ranger Battalion rescues 512 Allied POWs at Cabanatuan on Luzon in the Philippines in a daring raid with aid from Filipino forces.
Soviets cross German border into Brandenburg province.