75 years ago today… October 28, 1939 Intensive German patrolling on the western front signals the intention of an upcoming offensive. Himmler sets off a controversy when he issues an extraordinary order for the entire SS and police to father as many children as possible, even outside of marriage, to compensate for the German blood lost in the war. Himmler pledges to provide generous support for all such children, regardless of their parents’ marital status. Starting with the town of Piotrkow, German authorities begin confining the Jews of Poland to a particular area (ghetto) of each city or town in which they live. Sometimes this area is the already prominently Jewish quarter, but often it is a poor or neglected part of the town, away from the center. Jews from the rest of the town are then forced to leave their homes, and to move into this, often much smaller area, in which even the basic amenities are unavailable. In each of these ghetto areas, food and medical supplies are restricted. Intense overcrowding, hunger and disease lead to widespread suffering and death. The Reich forbids any Czech celebration of their national day. Leaders of patriotic groups in Prague urge all to secretly mourn independence. Franco orders Republican soldiers to court by November 1 or face arrest. Vatican police take extreme steps to keep the contents of the Pope’s encyclical secret. Pope Pius XII calls upon rulers to follow Christian ideals in governing. He decries totalitarianism. German armored ship Admiral Graf Spee makes rendezvous with tanker Altmark near Tristan de Cunha. The warship refuels from the auxiliary, and transfers prisoners from British freighter Trevanions crew to her. U.S. freighter City of Flint, again under German control, sails from Murmansk for Norwegian waters. At no time during City of Flints enforced stay in the Soviet Union at Murmansk has the City of Flints American master, Captain Joseph A. Gainard (an inactive USNR officer) been allowed to communicate with the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. The 250 ton British fishing steam trawler Lynx II was stopped by gunfire and after the crew abandoned ship was sunk by the U-59, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Harald Jürst, north of Scotland. The crew was rescued by the British steam trawler Lady Hogarth. The 565 ton British fishing steam trawler St. Nidan was stopped by gunfire and after the crew abandoned ship was sunk by the U-59 north of Scotland. The crew was rescued by the British steam trawler Lady Hogarth. U.S. freighter Black Tern, detained at Weymouth, England, by British authorities since 11 October, is released. President Roosevelt assails the question of a “Red list,” calling it a sordid procedure. Congressman Martin Dies defends his Red list as fair. Responding to President Roosevelt, he calls it his duty to name U.S. employees favoring aliens The Kingfisher-class Patrol vessel HMS Guillemont (K 89) is commissioned. Her first commander is Lt.Cdr. Henry Maxwell Darell-Brown. The armed merchant cruiser HMS Queen of Bermuda (F 73) is commissioned. Her first commander is Captain Miles B. Birkett. Photographs: 1. HMS Guillemont (K 89). Royal Navy official photographer. Imperial War Museum, MoD Foxhill Collection of Ship Photographs, Photograph # FL 22298. 2. HMS Queen of Bermuda (F 73). Royal Navy official photographer. Imperial War Museum, MoD Foxhill Collection of Ship Photographs, Photograph # FL 17829.
Posted on: Tue, 28 Oct 2014 13:39:58 +0000
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