Today in World War II History—July 8, 1940 & 1945
Tuesday, July 8, 2025 by Sarah Sundin
Grounded Dutch submarine O-19, 8 July 1945 (US Navy photo)
85 Years Ago—July 8, 1940: Britain begins tea rationing (two ounces per person per week), which lasts until 1952, and also begins rationing margarine and cooking fats. Read more: “Food Rationing in Britain in World War II”)
80 Years Ago—July 8, 1945: Only international sub-to-sub rescue in history: USS Cod rescues crew of stranded Dutch submarine O-19 in the South China Sea.
US guard Clarence Bertucci machine-guns a tent of sleeping German POWs in Salina, Utah; 8 are killed; Bertucci is admitted to a mental institution.
