Today in World War II History—May 25, 1940 & 1945
British Cruiser Mk IV tank crew repairing tank track, Blangy-sur-Ternoise, France, 26-29 May 1940 (Imperial War Museum: 2012-11-26)
80 Years Ago—May 25, 1940: Germans take Boulogne, France.
British troops are ordered to retreat to Dunkirk.
First clinical use of penicillin: Howard Florey successfully treats mice.
The Golden Gate International Exposition opens on Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay, will run through September 29.
Aerial view of Tokyo following bombing by B-29 Superfortress bombers, night of 26 May 1945 (Library of Congress: LC-USZ62-111427)
75 Years Ago—May 25, 1945: Last major US B-29 fire raid on Tokyo; in the campaign, 50% of city has been burned. Imperial Palace is hit in the B-29 raid, just missing Emperor Hirohito and his family.
Heavy kamikaze attack off of Okinawa sinks two US ships and damages eight ships.
Movie premiere of The Clock, starring Judy Garland & Robert Walker.
Thank you for the information about tin cans during World War II. I am writing my autobiography and recalled crushing tin cans for what I recalled was Japan. I was probably 3 or 4 years old. Apparently I misunderstood my mother. I thought we were helping Japan. Now that I’m 80 years old, it didn’t make sense that we would help someone who had bombed us, so I was very happy to find your information. Thank you.
That is an absolutely darling story! I love it.