History Content for the Future

WW2 Day by Day

On 12 February 1946, the German submarine U-3514 is scuttled off the coast of Northern Ireland, marking the final sinking in Operation Deadlight, the Allied initiative to dispose of captured German U-boats following the end of World War II.

Operation Deadlight was devised in the aftermath of Germany`s surrender in May 1945 as a way to eliminate the Kriegsmarine’s once-feared U-boat fleet.

Under the terms of surrender, U-boat crews were ordered to surface and surrender their vessels, leading to the capture of 156 U-boats. While a select few have been retained for evaluation and technological research, as well as war trophies, the vast majority were deemed surplus and marked for destruction. The operation, executed primarily by the Royal Navy, has involved towing the U-boats to designated areas in the North Atlantic, approximately 160 km (100 mi) northwest of Ireland, where they have either been sunk by direct gunfire, torpedoed, or scuttled by flooding their ballast tanks.

Today, of the 116 U-boats scheduled for scuttling, only U-3514 remains.

A Type XXI Elektroboot, she represents the final technological leap of the Kriegsmarine`s U-boat fleet. Introduced late in the war, the Type XXI`s were faster underwater than on the surface and capable of remaining submerged for extended periods due to their revolutionary battery system. However, their deployment came too late to have any meaningful impact on the war, with only a few Type XXI boats seeing active service. U-3514 was commissioned on 14 March 1945 but never completed an operational patrol. As Germany collapsed, the U-boat was surrendered in May 1945 and subsequently transferred to Lough Foyle, Northern Ireland, where it remained among other surrendered submarines awaiting disposal.

This morning, U-3514 is towed into the North Atlantic and scuttled by gunfire, officially concluding Operation Deadlight and providing a somewhat fitting end to one of the most formidable naval threats of World War II.

Picture: A mass of 52 surrendered German U-boats at their mooring at Lisahally, Northern Ireland.
Source: IWM A 29241
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On 11 February 1946, the United Nations General Assembly adopts a resolution addressing the extradition of war criminals.

The resolution emphasizes that the prosecution of war criminals is essential to upholding the principles of justice and maintaining international peace and security. It reaffirms that states have an obligation to deliver suspected war criminals to the countries where their crimes were committed, ensuring that those nations most affected by the atrocities could carry out legal proceedings against them. The text explicitly urges member states "to take all necessary measures to facilitate the prompt surrender of war criminals to the governments that seek their extradition for the purpose of prosecution and punishment."

One of the critical elements of the resolution is its insistence on international cooperation in identifying, arresting, and transferring individuals accused of war crimes. It calls for the creation of a coordinated mechanism among member states, including the exchange of intelligence and legal documentation to support extradition requests. Additionally, it seeks to prevent countries from providing safe haven to war criminals, asserting that no individual should evade justice through political or territorial maneuvering.

The Soviet Union, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States have played significant roles in drafting the resolution, as they are already deeply involved in war crimes trials, particularly those at Nuremberg and the more localozed trials in Belarus, Ukraine, and the Baltics. Their support for the resolution reflects a broader commitment to ensuring that war criminals were prosecuted beyond just the high-profile figures already on trial.

Although the resolution does not create a legally binding mechanism for extradition, it serves as a moral and political statement reinforcing the necessity of holding war criminals accountable. It lays the groundwork for future agreements on international extradition and prosecution, shaping the legal landscape for post-war justice.

Picture: British Prime Minister Clement Attlee addresses the first session of the UN General Assembly, 10 Jan 1946
Source: Getty Images
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On 10 February 1946, Hubertus van Mook, the acting Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies, presents a Dutch proposal for an Indonesian settlement.

Van Mook has been engaging in discussions with Indonesian leaders, particularly Prime Minister Sutan Sjahrir, since November 1945, but these talks had been hampered by Dutch reluctance to acknowledge the Republic`s legitimacy. The Hague has remained firm in its colonial stance, envisioning a transitional period of 25 years before Indonesia would be granted independence within a Dutch commonwealth.

Today`s proposal seeks to create a federal structure for Indonesia, ensuring Dutch influence over the future state. It recognizes Indonesia’s right to self-determination but notably fails to mention the Republic of Indonesia itself. Instead, Van Mook proposes a “United States of Indonesia,” which would consist of various federated states, with Java and Sumatra being just two of many autonomous regions. This structure aims to dilute the power of the Republic by elevating the role of regions that had been less involved in the independence movement.

The Netherlands further proposes that the new federation remain part of a "Netherlands-Indonesian Union," tied to the Dutch Crown and maintaining close economic, political, and military ties with the Netherlands. In Van Mook’s vision, this arrangement will guarantee “good governance” and stability, ensuring that Indonesia`s future government would remain aligned with Dutch interests. The proposal also suggests a gradual decolonization process, with full independence only being considered after an extensive transitional period.

For the Indonesian leadership, the proposal is unacceptable as a continuation of colonial rule under a different guise. The Republic had already declared independence on 17 August 1945 and any negotiation that did not explicitly recognize this sovereignty is seen as an insult. Furthermore, the Dutch refusal to acknowledge the Republic’s legitimacy leaves Sjahrir with no room to maneuver diplomatically.

Picture: Stopover in Cairo on the way to Jakarta with members of the parliamentary committee led by Max van Poll. February 1946
Source: Getty Images
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On 9 February 1946, speaking to a pre-election meeting of voters of the Stalin Electoral District in Moscow, Joseph Stalin gives a riling speech, summarizing Soviet achievements during the war while blaming the "capitalist development of the world economy" for starting it.

Stalin says in his speech:
˝It would be wrong to think that the Second World War broke out accidentally, or as a result of blunders committed by certain statesmen, although blunders were certainly committed. As a matter of fact, the war broke out as the inevitable result of the development of world economic and political forces on the basis of present-day monopolistic capitalism. Marxists have more than once stated that the capitalist system of world economy contains the elements of a general crisis and military conflicts, that, in view of that, the development of world capitalism in our times does not proceed smoothly and evenly, but through crises and catastrophic wars.

Thus, as a result of the first crisis of the capitalist system of world economy, the First World War broke out; and as a result of the second crisis, the Second World War broke out.

But the war was not only a curse. It was also a great school which examined and tested all the forces of the people. The war laid bare all facts and events in the rear and at the front, it ruthlessly tore down all the veils and coverings that concealed the actual features of slates, governments and parties, and brought them onto the stage without masks and without make-up, with all their defects and merits.

This is one of the positive sides of the war.

Our victory signifies, first of all, that our Soviet social system was victorious, that the Soviet social system successfully passed the test of fire in the war and proved that it is fully viable.

Thirdly... The war proved that the Red Army is not "a colossus with feet of clay˝ " but a first-class modern army, equipped with the most up-to-date armaments, led by most experienced commanders and possessing high morale and fighting qualities.˝

Picture: Stalin addressing the 8th Congress of Soviets on the draft of the new soviet constitution, Nov 25, 1936.
Source: Getty Images
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On 8 February 1946, the Soviet Civil Administration in Korea establishes the Provisional People`s Committee of North Korea in Pyongyang, and Kim Il-Sung is elected as its chairman.

Under Stalin`s instructions to find a communist leader for the administration in the northern part of Korea, NKVD head Lavrentiy Beria and his agents found and began educating and training Kim Il-Sung.

Born in 1912 in Japanese-ruled Korea, Kim had fled to Manchuria with his family, where he became involved in Communist and anti-colonial movements. During the 1930s, he rose to prominence as a guerrilla leader fighting against the Japanese, aligning himself with Soviet-backed Chinese Communist forces. In 1940, as Japanese pressure in Manchuria increased, he retreated to the Soviet Union, where he received military training in the Red Army.

Following his return from a 26-year exile last September, Kim was introduced by the Soviets as a potential leader for the new administration. Under Soviet guidance, the North Korean Bureau of the Korean Communist Party was established in October 1945, and Kim quickly emerged as its most visible figure. Over the last few months, he has worked closely with Soviet authorities to consolidate Communist rule, forming the North Korean Branch Bureau of the Korean Communist Party in December.

The Provisional People`s Committee of North Korea established today is to function as the de facto government of the Soviet-occupied zone. It is modeled after Soviet-style administrative structures and tasked with implementing socialist reforms.

Kim Il-Sung’s appointment as chairman formalizes his leadership, and under his authority, the committee is set to launch sweeping changes, including land redistribution, nationalization of industries, and suppression of political opposition. These policies aim to solidify Communist control and eliminate remnants of Japanese colonial influence.

Picture: Soviet military advisers attending North Korean mass event. From left : Soviet Major Mikhail Kang, Kim Il Sung. Right most : Major General Nikolai Georgievich Lebedev, member of the Military Council of the 25th Army which occupied North Korea.
Source: Getty Images
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On 7 February 1946, Charles Vyner Brooke, the third and final "White Rajah" of Sarawak, formally cedes the sovereignty of the state to the United Kingdom as a Crown Colony.

The Raj of Sarawak was established in 1841 when James Brooke, an English adventurer, was granted control of the territory by the Sultan of Brunei in recognition of his assistance in suppressing a rebellion. Over time, Brooke and his descendants expanded their domain, establishing a unique dynasty of "White Rajahs" who ruled Sarawak as a personal possession under British protection. The Brooke family maintained a paternalistic rule, preserving local customs while gradually modernizing the state’s administration and economy.

During the war, Sarawak was occupied by Japanese forces from December 1941 until its liberation by Australian troops in September 1945. Japanese rule brought hardship and devastation to the local population, severely damaging the economy and administrative structures. Charles Vyner Brooke, who had taken over from his father in 1917, had already begun to shift toward a constitutional monarchy before the war. However, upon returning from exile in Australia in 1945, he found Sarawak in ruins and recognized that his family lacked the resources to rebuild it.

Under increasing British pressure, Brooke decides today to cede Sarawak to the British Crown. His justification is that direct British rule would facilitate reconstruction, economic development, and eventual self-governance. However, the decision faces both resistance and a question of legality.

Brooke’s nephew and heir, Anthony Brooke, as well as Sarawakian nationalists, who view the cession as a betrayal of the state’s sovereignty, oppose the cessation. On the other hand, the UK`s acquisition of another Crown Colony directly contravenes the right to self-determination agreed upon as part of the Atlantic Charter of 1941.

The age of colonialism is certainly in its last throes, but it is not over yet.

Picture: Dr. Lascelles, former district manager, and J.B. Archer, Sarawak Civil Service, hoisting the Sarawak flag in the civilian compound of the Kuching POW and internment camp. 12 December 1945
Source: AWM 118393
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On 6 February 1946, Japanese citizens from all the main prefectures and districts of Japan Proper submit a petition to General Douglas MacArthur against Soviet troops joining the Allied occupation forces in Japan.

The Soviet Union`s recent formal annexation of the Kuril Islands, which we covered in our 2 February post, has possibly heightened the concerns over an increased Soviet presence in Japan. Today`s petition reads:
˝We, the defeated nation of Japan, earnestly appeal to the Supreme American Commander who had so sagaciously managed the affairs of the country to protest to his government against the occupation by Russian troops of our country. The Russians should be satisfied with the occupation of the outlying islands surrounding the Japanese mainland. Their presence in these islands is already a sufficient menace to the democratic development of the country.

The Japanese people have always been afraid of Communism but inspite of our vigilance Communism flourished in a small degree in the country. At that time it presented no major menace for the whole nation was in the grips of ruthless militarism. Communism wherever discovered was ruthlessly suppressed and its leaders thrown into concentration camps.

But with the victory of the Allied nations, these leaders have been released and they have become active throughout the country.

Conditions in the country provide a fertile ground for the propagation of Communist propaganda. The nation is disillusioned and beaten.

The nation finds itself helpless by its former despotic leaders and they are looking around for new leaders and Communists have made their appearance in the field first.˝

The popular press reporting on the petition confirms the sentiments: ˝This is the real feeling that is existing in the country against the Communists. The Japanese feel that Communist leadership in the country will mean a repetition of the Tojo or Suzuki dictatorship. The Japanese people do not want to go back to the old order of things that has brought misery to millions in this country.˝

Picture: Japanese citizens wait in line to buy ten yen treasury notes that are really lottery tickets.
Source: Getty Images
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On 5 February 1946, the U.S. Supreme Court rejects a plea for clemency for General Tomoyuki Yamashita, affirming the validity of his conviction and death sentence by the U.S. Military Commission in Manila.

Following the decision by the U.S. Military Commission in Manila to sentence Yamashita to death, which we covered in our 9 December post from last year, Yamashita’s defense attorneys, led by Colonel Harry E. Clarke, submitted a plea for clemency, arguing that the trial was unfair and that Yamashita had been wrongfully convicted based on a novel legal standard.

Clarke`s opening statement summed up the entire basis of the argument: ˝The Accused is not charged with having done something or having failed to do something, but solely with having been something. American jurisprudence recognizes no such principle so far as its own military personnel are concerned. No one would even suggest that the Commanding General of an American occupational force becomes a criminal every time an American soldier violates the law. One man is not held to answer for the crime of another.˝

In the petition to the Supreme Court, the defense sought a writ of habeas corpus, challenging the legality of the trial and its verdict.

The case, In re Yamashita, reached the Supreme Court in January.

Today, in a 7-2 decision, the Court rules against Yamashita, upholding his conviction and rejecting the defense`s plea for clemency.

The ruling affirms that a military tribunal, established under the authority of the U.S. Army, has the legal right to try and sentence Yamashita. The Court also determines that the principles of due process in civilian trials do not necessarily apply to military tribunals.

Justice W.B. Rutledge in his dissent, views the issue more widely:
"More is at stake than General Yamashita`s fate. There could be no possible sympathy for him if he is guilty of the atrocities for which his death is sought. But there can be and should be justice administered according to the law."

Yamashita`s execution is scheduled for later this month.

Picture: Yamashita, guarded by military police. 1 January 1946.
Source: Getty Images
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On 4 February 1946, the General Headquarters-Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (GHQ-SCAP) formally begins drafting a new Japanese Constitution.

The Japanese government has been working on constitutional reforms since late last year under the guidance of Prime Minister Kijūrō Shidehara and, subsequently, Prime Minister Kijūrō Ashida. Their proposals largely sought to amend the existing Meiji Constitution of 1889, preserving much of its imperial-centric structure.

GHQ and MacArthur immediately rejected the initial draft submitted by the Japanese Cabinet yesterday as insufficiently democratic. The draft retained the Emperor`s supreme authority, a limited role for the Diet (parliament), and vague guarantees of fundamental human rights.

MacArthur thus decided that GHQ would take over the drafting process based on the three fundamental principles he communicated yesterday: 1. The Emperor would remain a constitutional monarch, deriving his authority from the people rather than being sovereign; 2. Japan would renounce war as a sovereign right and armed forces would not be maintained; 3. The Japanese people would be guaranteed fundamental human rights, including gender equality.

These principles were communicated to the Japanese government yesterday, alongside the rejection of their draft.

Today, MacArthur assigns GHQ’s Government Section the task of drafting a new constitution.

Colonel Charles Kades, deputy chief of the Government Section, is to play a leading role in the drafting process. Kades assembles a team of Allied personnel, including legal experts and constitutional scholars, to work on the draft.

Picture: A huge crowd gathers to watch General Douglas MacArthur arrive at the Dai Ichi Building, Tokyo, November 4th 1946.
Source: Getty Images
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On 3 February 1946, Soviet authorities publicly execute Friedrich Jeckeln, former Higher SS and Police Leader (Höherer SS- und Polizeiführer, HSSPF) in Nazi-occupied parts of the Soviet Union, in Riga, Latvia, alongside six other German war criminals.

Jeckeln’s crimes during the war were staggering in scope and brutality. By the start of Operation Barbarossa, Friedrich Jeckeln, Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler ordered Jeckeln to be transferred from his officer position in the 3rd SS Panzer Division `Totenkopf` to the position of HSSPF in command of all Einsatzgruppen units in his sector, primarily Ukraine and the Baltic states.

Most infamously, the units under Jeckeln`s command perpetrated the Kamianets-Podilskyi massacre, murdering almost 24,000 Hungarian and Ukrainian Jews, and the Babi Yar massacre near Kyiv in September 1941, where over 33,000 Jews were murdered in just two days. Later, in Latvia, Jeckeln orchestrated the Rumbula massacre in late 1941, where approximately 25,000 Jews from the Riga Ghetto were systematically executed.

Jeckeln developed a method of mass execution to increase efficiency. Victims would be picked up from ghettos, marched in columns of 500-1000 to a nearby forest or field, and forced to undress and approach pre-dug pits in the ground. They would then be shot, and subsequent groups would be forced to lie down atop those already killed before also being shot.

Soviet troops captured Jeckeln near Halbe on 28 April last year. Over the course of the last month, put on trial in Riga before a Soviet military tribunal alongside seven other Wehrmacht and SA officers. All have been convicted of crimes against humanity, including mass murders, deportations, and the exploitation of forced labor.

Jeckeln admitted all the killings and took full responsibility for the crimes committed.

Today, Soviet authorities hang Jeckeln and six of the other convicted in front of a crowd of over 4,000 spectators.

One of the convicted, Wolfgang von Ditfurth, is deemed too ill for trial and execution, albeit he will die of heart failure in less than two months.

Picture: Jeckeln (standing, at left), on trial in 1946 in Riga.
Source: USHMM WS #79152
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On 2 February 1946, the Soviet Union formally annexes the Kuril Islands.

A chain of volcanic islands stretching from Japan`s northernmost island of Hokkaido to Russia`s Kamchatka Peninsula, the Kuril Islands have been a point of contention between Japan and Russia since the early 19th century.

The 1855 Treaty of Shimoda established the first official boundary, granting the four southernmost islands to Japan and leaving the remainder under Russian control. This arrangement was modified by the 1875 Treaty of Saint Petersburg, in which Russia ceded all of the Kurils to Japan in exchange for Japan renouncing its claims to Sakhalin Island. By the early 20th century, the islands became firmly integrated into Japan’s Hokkaido Prefecture.

The geopolitical situation shifted dramatically after Russia`s defeat in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905, culminating in the Treaty of Portsmouth, which granted southern Sakhalin to Japan but left the Kurils untouched. During World War II, the Kuril Islands became strategically significant as Japanese forces fortified them, establishing airfields, radar stations, and garrisons to defend against a potential Soviet or Allied invasion from the north.

The Soviet Union, for much of the war, adhered to the Soviet–Japanese Neutrality Pact of 1941. However, during the Yalta Conference in February last year, Stalin secured Allied agreement to Soviet territorial claims in the Kurils and southern Sakhalin in exchange for the USSR joining the war against Japan.

Under the command of General A. R. Gnechko, Soviet naval infantry and rifle units assaulted Shumshu, Onekotan, and Paramushir islands, which we covered in our 18 August post last year. After taking surprisingly heavy losses and the Japanese surrendering according to directions from Tokyo, the Soviets took complete control of the Kurils by September.

Today, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet announces the full annexation of the Kurils as part of Sakhalin Oblast. The annexation is framed as fulfilling the agreements reached at Yalta and as an assertion of Soviet territorial claims.

Picture: Japanese soldiers surrendering to the Red Army
Source: Yevgeny Khaldei, RIA Novosti
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On 1 February 1946, the Soviet Union and Syria secretly sign a treaty providing for mutual diplomatic and military assistance.

Historically, relations between Russia and Syria were limited during the czarist period, with occasional Russian support for Orthodox Christian communities in the Levant. However, by the 1940s, the Soviet Union began to view the Middle East as a critical theater for extending its influence.

Since the end of the war, the Soviets have become increasingly assertive in seeking strategic footholds in regions where colonial powers like Britain and France are waning.

By 1944, diplomatic relations between the Soviet Union and Syria were formally established, signaling a mutual interest in cooperation. Syria, having declared independence in 1941 and later emerging from under the French Mandate in 1944, sought to assert its sovereignty on the international stage. The Soviet Union, for its part, sees an opportunity to counterbalance Western dominance in the Middle East by supporting emerging nations.

The treaty signed today is the product of these converging interests. While the full terms are unknown, the provisions likely include mutual diplomatic and military support. What is known is that Daniel Semyonovich Solod, Soviet envoy to Syria and Lebanon, has offered technical and material assistance to Syria to strengthen its military capabilities, positioning Damascus as a potential military ally in the region. Syria, in turn, will likely facilitate Soviet access to the Mediterranean and provide guarantees for political alignment in the United Nations and other international forums.

The signing of this treaty seems to be the next step in Soviet efforts to put down a challenge to the U.S., Britain, and France and underscores the region`s growing importance. For Syria, the agreement signals a shift toward a more assertive and independent foreign policy, albeit one that risks entanglement in the ideological struggles of the global superpowers.

Picture: Daniel Solod, photographed in 1944 in Syria
Source: SyrianHistory,com
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On 31 January 1946, the new Constitution of the Federal People`s Republic of Yugoslavia (FPRY) is promulgated, formally establishing the legal framework for the country as a socialist federal state.

This moment marks a decisive break from the centralist and monarchical system of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, replacing it with a structure heavily influenced by the Soviet model of governance.

The 1946 Constitution declares Yugoslavia a a union of six federated states, in the following constitutional order: the People`s Republic of Serbia, the People`s Republic of Croatia, the People`s Republic of Slovenia, the People`s Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the People`s Republic of Macedonia, and the People`s Republic of Montenegro. It also establishes two autonomous units within Serbia: Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, and the Autonomous Region of Kosovo and Metohija.

Each republic is granted equal status and theoretical autonomy to manage its own internal affairs, particularly regarding cultural, educational, and linguistic matters. This is a significant departure from the centralized system under the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, where political power was heavily concentrated in Belgrade, often alienating non-Serbian communities.

Each republic will be allowed to draft its own Constitution and establish its own legislative and executive bodies, though these remain subordinate to the federal authorities.

A key feature of the Constitution is the emphasis on the equality of all nationalities within Yugoslavia. However, not a single nationality or ethnicity is mentioned even once in the text of the Constitution. The Constitution enshrines the right of self-determination, although, in practice, this right is likely to be limited by the centralized control of the Communist Party.

The Constitution also abolishes private property and establishes nationalization of key sectors, laying the groundwork for a socialist economy, with land redistribution programs aimed at empowering the peasantry, which constitutes a significant majority of the population.

Picture: Tito leaning out of a window to greet a large crowd, 25 March 1946.
Source: Getty Images
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On 30 January 1946, Soviet authorities execute fourteen German war criminals convicted during the Minsk Trials.

These trials began on 15 January 1946 as part of a series of tribunals organized by the Soviet Union to address atrocities committed by Axis forces in specific areas, with this one primarily concerned with anti-partisan operations in Belarus.

Unlike the international proceedings going on at Nuremberg, the Minsk Trials are entirely under Soviet jurisdiction.

The 18 defendants include Wehrmacht Lieutenant General Johann-Georg Richert, who commanded the 286th Security Division and 35th Infantry Division, Gottfried von Edmannsdorff, a Major General who commanded the Ordnungspolizei in the Minsk region, Eberhard von Herf, SS-Brigadeführer for the Police, all the way down to three Wehrmacht Privates.

The charges brought against them included the mass extermination of civilians, the destruction of villages, and the deportation of thousands of residents to forced labor camps. Among the evidence presented were testimonies of survivors, documentation of atrocities, and confessions obtained during pretrial interrogations. While the Soviet prosecution aimed to demonstrate the systemic nature of these crimes, the judicial process has been marked by the absence of robust defense mechanisms, and verdicts seem to have been predetermined.

The proceedings concluded swiftly, with sentences announced two days ago, on 28 January. Fourteen of the eighteen defendants were sentenced to death by hanging, while four received 15-20 years of hard labor despite their own admission of having murdered civilians during anti-partisan operations.

Today, the fourteen convicted officers are brought to a horse racing venue in Misk. They are hanged publicly in front of a crowd of over 100,000 civilian spectators.

Picture: Nazi war criminals are readied for their public executions
Source: Central State Archive of Documentary Film and Photography
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On 29 January 1946, General Douglas MacArthur gives an interview to reporters outlining his views on the pressing issues facing Japan in its post-war reconstruction under the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP).

MacArthur begins by addressing the ongoing democratization of Japan, expressing confidence in the Japanese people`s ability to transition to democratic governance despite their long history of feudal and autocratic traditions. He underscores the reforms being implemented under SCAP’s guidance, including the redistribution of land to empower small farmers, the breakup of zaibatsu conglomerates to encourage economic competition, and the introduction of labor unions to protect workers’ rights.

Turning to economic issues, MacArthur acknowledges the devastation Japan faced after the war, including widespread destruction of infrastructure and severe food shortages. He emphasizes the importance of reviving Japan’s economy, not only to address immediate needs but also to create a sustainable foundation for long-term stability.

On the matter of the occupation itself, MacArthur states that the duration of Allied oversight should be limited to avoid fostering resentment among the Japanese population and fatigue among occupying forces. He estimates that the occupation should last between three and five years, long enough to implement meaningful reforms but not so long as to strain relations between occupiers and the occupied.

Regarding constitutional reform, MacArthur remarks that while SCAP had provided suggestions for Japan’s new constitution, the Japanese people ultimately needed to take ownership of the process. He believes that a democratic constitution reflecting Japanese values and aspirations would have a better chance of lasting success than one imposed unilaterally by the Allies.

Picture: Headshot of American military leader General Douglas MacArthur
Source: Getty Images
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On 28 January 1946, U.S. Secretary of State James F. Byrnes gives a scathing statement calling the Soviet Union a `political baby` and communism a `poison`, upon returning from a session of the UN General Assembly.

Byrnes says to reporters today:
˝Although we have laid the foundations for fostering peace among all nations we have yet to traverse a long way before I can truthfully say that we have succeeded as a start. Britain and the U.S. have strained every nerve and fibre to attain initial success but have always been baulked by certain international developments...

As far as Russia is concerned she has become a `political baby` for all other nations. Her recent actions in Persia, Turkey, and China have given rise to worldwide misgivings about her future actions...

Only Russia has the answer to the question: `Must Communism be imposed on an entire new nation against its wishes?`... Communist propaganda is filtering into countries and already has started to work its poisons...

At this point I want to remind Americans of the greatness of our concept of liberty. Sweeping the country today is the strike fever. The working man has demanded `better living wages`. What would have happened in Russia if a member of the `worker`s state downed tools to make his demands on the Kremlin.` I leave the consequences to be best imagined by the American.

Another question is rankling in the minds of the citizens of the U.S. today; `Does Russia possess the secret of the atomic bomb?`

I will neither say yes nor no to that question. The atomic secret cannot be kept secret of one nation or a group of nations... But until we have discovered suitable safeguards against the use of this destructive weapon, Britain and the United States will keep the secret of the atom bomb for as long as possible.˝

A reported asks Byrnes: ˝How far will Russia go?˝, to which Byrnes replies: ˝As far as we the United Nations allow her to go...˝

It appears as if the tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union are beginning to bubble up to the surface at an increasing rate.

Picture: Byrnes delivers a speech at the United Nations first General Assembly on 10 January 1946
Source: Getty Images
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On 27 January 1946, the `National Herald` publishes a special `Independence Day` message from Jawaharlal Nehru, urging the people of India to remain resolute in their struggle for freedom and to seize the opportunity that lay within reach.

Jawaharlal Nehru, a key figure in India`s fight for independence and close ally of Mahatma Gandhi, had been a prominent leader in the Indian National Congress (INC) since the 1920s. He has been imprisoned multiple times for his participation in the civil disobedience and Quit India movements.

Widespread discontent, protests, and strikes across India have marked the previous few weeks and months. The Indian National Congress has renewed its demand for complete independence, and the British government, faced with a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape, is under pressure to negotiate India`s future. Meanwhile, tensions between Hindus and Muslims are escalating as the Muslim League, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, intensifies its push for the creation of a separate state of Pakistan. Against this backdrop, Independence Day celebrations yesterday were a moment of both reflection and renewed resolve.

In his message, Nehru reflects on the sacrifices and setbacks endured, he says, "Long ago we dreamt of Indian freedom. We pledged ourselves to freedom`s cause, and the bright vision drew us on irresistibly." Acknowledging the struggles faced along the way, he remarks, "We entangled ourselves in petty debate and argument and became small men and women again. But the vision was there still, and the pledge, and we picked ourselves up again and marched another stage on that journey."

Nehru urges the people to rise above the obstacles, saying, "Soon we have marched with many a stumble and many a heartache, and now we seem to be on the threshold of that Free India of which we have dreamt so often." He calls for unity and action, declaring, "Freedom is near to us. Let us seize it with courage and daring, ever keeping in view the high ideals which have moved us in the past. Let us be worthy of it."

Picture: Mahatma Gandhi (right) talks to Nehru, 1946.
Source: Getty Images
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On 26 January 1946, the SS Argentina departs Southampton as the first `dependent transport`, carrying the foreign spouses and children of U.S. servicemembers to their new homes under the rules of the War Brides Act.

Over the last two weeks, dozens of thousands of foreign women and men who had married U.S. troops and Women`s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) members hurried to get their tickets for transport to the USA after the announcement that they would be allowed to reunite with their spouses without being restricted by the stringent immigration quotas under the War Brides Act, the introduction of which we covered in our 28 December post.

But transporting thousands of civilians when much of the shipping traffic is already taken up by getting demobilized troops back home has turned out to a significant undertaking. Some 45,000 war brides, including 40,000 dependents, from the United Kingdom alone require transport to the States.

Operation Diaper, or Diaper Run as the press have dubbed it, is the unofficial name of the massive effort the U.S. Army has put into organizing suitable ships to sail from Southampton to New York for at least the next several months.

The SS Argentina is one of these ships. Originally built as a luxury liner in 1929, she had been repurposed during the war as a troop transport vessel. After the war, she was reconfigured again to accommodate the needs of Operation Diaper, offering berths for dependents.

For today`s voyage, Argentina carries 452 war brides, 173 small children, and one "war bridegroom" married to a WAAC.

Departing from the bustling port of Southampton, the ship is equipped with amenities to support the families during their transatlantic journey. The atmosphere onboard is a mix of excitement and apprehension, as many of the women are leaving their homes for the first time to start new lives in America.

Picture: British wives and babies of American servicemen take their places on line for steamer registration at the Perham Down camp where they are being cared for until sailing time.
Source: Getty Images
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On 25 January 1946, General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander Allied Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP), formally submits his opinion that Emperor Hirohito should not be tried for war crimes in a telegram to U.S. Army Chief of Staff, General Dwight Eisenhower.

Just two months ago, on 29 November, the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff ordered MacArthur to gather information regarding whether the Emperor had committed any war crimes. Yet, three days prior to that, as we covered in our 26 November post, MacArthur had already announced that Hirohito would not be tried as a war criminal. Today`s telegram is his final and official opinion on the matter directed at U.S. military and political leaders:
˝...I have gained the definite impression from as complete a research as was possible to me that his connection with affairs of state up to the time of the end of the war was largely ministerial and automatically responsive to the advice of his counsellors...

His indictment will unquestionably cause a tremendous convulsion among the Japanese people, the repercussions of which cannot be overestimated. He is a symbol which unites all Japanese. Destroy him and the nation will disintegrate...

They will regard allied action [to the contrary as the greatest] … betrayal in their history... A vendetta for revenge will thereby be initiated whose cycle may well not be complete for centuries if ever.

The whole of Japan can be expected, in my opinion, to resist the action either by passive or semi-active means... I believe all hope of introducing modern democratic methods would disappear and that when military control finally ceased some form of intense regimentation probably along communistic line would arise from the mutilated masses...

This would represent an entirely different problem of occupation from those now prevalent. It would be absolutely essential to greatly increase the occupational forces. It is quite possible that a minimum of a million troops would be required which would have to be maintained for an indefinite number of years...˝

Picture: Emperor Hirohito and Empress Nagako visit with a crowd of well wishers. 1 January 1946
Source: Getty Images
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On 24 January 1946, the UN General Assembly adopts its first-ever resolution, establishing the United Nations Atomic Energy Commission (UNAEC).

Proposals for a body such as the UNAEC trace back to the Allied Powers’ awareness of the devastating potential of nuclear weapons following the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The 1945 Potsdam Declaration, as well as early discussions among Allied leaders, emphasized the necessity of ensuring atomic energy would not become a tool for future conflict.

The resolution adopted by the General Assembly today lays out the composition, responsibilities, and scope of the UNAEC. It establishes that the commission will consist of representatives from all states on the Security Council, as well as Canada when it is not a Security Council member. The UNAEC is to report to the Security Council and, where appropriate, to other UN bodies, including the General Assembly.

The resolution defines the UNAEC`s primary objectives as exploring the scientific, technical, and political dimensions of atomic energy and making recommendations accordingly. Specific mandates include extending the exchange of scientific information for peaceful purposes, ensuring the control of atomic energy to prevent its use in warfare, eliminating atomic weapons and other weapons of mass destruction from national arsenals, and establishing robust safeguards, including inspection mechanisms, to deter and address violations. These objectives reflect a balance between scientific advancement and international security.

The UNAEC’s work is envisioned to proceed in carefully defined stages, with each stage building confidence among nations before advancing to the next. This incremental approach is intended to foster trust and cooperation, ensuring that states can collaboratively address the complex challenges posed by atomic energy.

Picture: United Nations General Assembly in session in Central Hall, London. 15 January 1946
Source: Getty Images
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On the afternoon of 23 January 1946, the U.S. Navy freighter USS Brevard rescues almost 4300 Japanese civilians after their repatriation ship, Enoshima Maru, sinks after striking a mine near Shanghai.

This morning, the 5000-ton Alamosa-class cargo ship Brevard left Shanghai and soon caught up to the Enomasu Maru on her way to repatriate some 4300 men, women, and children back to Japan.

Around 1500 hours, some 100 km (60 mi) off the mouth of the Yangtze River, the 6000-ton Enomasu Maru strikes a naval mine. The explosion instantly kills about a dozen of the crew and passengers.

Lieutenant John L. Elliott, captain of the Brevard, orders his ship emergency speed ahead alongside the sinking Japanese ship. Starting at 1520 hours, the Brevard`s crew, aided by the surprising calm and cooperation of the shipwrecked civilians, rescues 4296 in less than 30 minutes.

By 1550 hours, all the Japanese civilians and remaining crew from the Enomasu Maru are safely aboard the Brevard in what must be a record-breaking naval rescue effort.

Picture: USS Brevard (AK-164) landing Japanese repatriates when their ship, Enoshima Maru, sank after hitting a mine off the Yangtze River. Taken at Jukong wharf, Shanghai, 23 January 1946. Note uniformed Japanese corpsmen and nurses and armed Chinese soldiers in the left distance.
Source: U.S. National Archives # 80-G-362009
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On 22 January 1946, President Truman formally establishes the Central Intelligence Group (CIG).

The Office of Strategic Services (OSS), led by Major General William J. Donovan, established during the war, was the first non-departmental intelligence organization in the U.S.

From the outset, however, it faced opposition from entrenched institutions such as the FBI and military intelligence divisions. When the war ended, President Truman disbanded the OSS in September 1945, dispersing its functions to the State and War Departments, owing to concerns about creating an overly powerful intelligence agency akin to a “Gestapo” and by pressures for rapid demobilization.

This left a gap in strategic intelligence coordination. Recognizing this, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) proposed the formation of a new organization to centralize intelligence efforts. This proposal was supported by key figures, including Assistant Secretary of War John J. McCloy and Donald Stone of the Bureau of the Budget, who advocated for preserving the OSS’s critical functions.

JCS Directive 1181/5 proposed creating a centralized intelligence body under the oversight of a newly formed National Intelligence Authority (NIA). The NIA, composed of the Secretaries of State, War, and Navy, as well as the President’s chief military adviser, Admiral William D. Leahy, would oversee the CIG’s activities.

The CIG itself, which comes to life with the directive Truman issues today, will be tasked with coordinating intelligence efforts, collating information from various departments, and conducting clandestine operations abroad. It has no independent budget or statutory mandate and will thus rely instead on contributions from existing agencies.

Admiral Sidney Souers, a former naval intelligence officer, is appointed as the first Director of Central Intelligence (DCI).

Truman`s directive allows the CIG to perform “services of common concern,” a phrase that discreetly encompasses clandestine activities and foreign intelligence gathering.

Picture: President Truman walks with secret servicemen near the Washington Monument in 1946
Source: U.S. National Archives
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On 21 January 1946, Albert Einstein explains his testimony for the Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry and why he is against a separate Jewish state in Palestine.

Back in 1938, Einstein stated in a speech: ˝I should much rather see reasonable agreement with the Arabs on the basis of living together in peace than the creation of a Jewish state. My awareness of the essential nature of Judaism resists the idea of a Jewish state with borders, an army, and a measure of temporal power, no matter how modest.˝

He has thus so far primarily been in favor of solutions which preserve Palestine as a land of both Arabs and Jews, but he has, since the discovery of Nazi crimes against Jews in Europe, begun to favor more of the unlimited immigration of Jews into Palestine.

The Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry, the formation of which we covered in our 13 November post last year, has been tasked with investigating possible solutions to the issues arising from these potential division of Jewish Displaced Persons in Europe and the tensions rising between Jewish immigrants and the Arab population in Mandatory Palestine. Following the Committee`s first meeting, Einstein, as a renowned scientist and thinker of Jeswish faith, was called up to provide testimony.

In a letter today, he explains his views on these issues:
˝I have served as witness before the Anglo-American Inquiry Committee on Palestine for the sole purpose to act in favor of our just cause. But it is, of course, impossible to prevent distortion by the press. I am in favor of Palestine being developed as a Jewish Homeland but not as a separate State. It seems to me a matter for simple common sense that we cannot ask to be given the political rule over Palestine where two-thirds of the population are not Jewish. What we can and should ask is a secured bi-national status in Palestine with free immigration. If we ask more we are damaging own cause and it is difficult for me to grasp that our Zionists are taking such an intransigent position which can only impair our cause.˝

Picture: Einstein is shown here Jan. 11th as he testified before the Anglo-American Commission
Source: Getty Images
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On 20 January 1946, Charles de Gaulle formally resigns from his post following months of increasing political tensions and disagreements within the coalition government.

Since the elections of 21 October 1945, the coalition known as the `Three-Parties Alliance,` comprising the French Communist Party (PCF), the Socialist Party (SFIO), and the Popular Republican Movement (MRP), had dominated the Constituent Assembly.

De Gaulle, though unanimously elected head of the government in November, found himself at odds with the Assembly`s priorities. His advocacy for a strong executive branch was opposed by the Assembly`s preference for a parliamentary-centric system. The Communists, the largest party in the Assembly with 159 seats, supported granting full and indefinite constitutional powers to the Assembly, while de Gaulle had pushed for a more restrained and time-limited mandate.

Tensions escalated as de Gaulle resisted granting key cabinet posts to Communist ministers, citing concerns over their alignment with Soviet interests. He even submitted his resignation, which the Constituent Assembly rejected, as we covered in our 19 November post last year.

By the end of last year, divisions within the coalition deepened over military spending, constitutional priorities, and governance. De Gaulle`s frustrations were evident, with him declaring his inability to lead a government constantly undermined by internal attacks.

At a cabinet meeting today, de Gaulle announces his resignation in a brief and dramatic address. After delivering his statement, de Gaulle leaves the meeting abruptly, perhaps hoping that his status as a war hero and leader might mean the establishment and people will bring him back and give him more executive authority.

Reports suggest that the decision is not entirely unexpected among political observers. There had been growing indications that the coalition, including de Gaulle`s erstwhile allies in the MRP, was preparing for a transition to new leadership.

The current government is unlikely to want or need him back, but will de Gaulle return anyway?

Picture: Epinal, General Charles De Gaulle Speaking, January 1946
Source: Getty Images
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On 19 January 1946, the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (IMTFE) is formally established by a proclamation issued by General Douglas MacArthur, the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP).

The origins of the IMTFE trace back to the Moscow Declaration from 1943 and the Potsdam Declaration of last year, which affirmed that individuals responsible for war crimes would face justice. The Instrument of Surrender signed by Japan on 2 September 1945 also included provisions for prosecuting war criminals.

The IMTFE, headquartered in Tokyo, is to be governed by the charter issued today. The charter, similar to the one issued by the IMT at Nuremberg, outlines the tribunal`s structure, jurisdiction, and procedures. Crimes under its jurisdiction include Crimes Against Peace (planning, initiating, or waging wars of aggression), Conventional War Crimes (violations of wartime laws and customs), and Crimes Against Humanity (inhumane acts committed against civilian populations).

The tribunal is to be composed of judges from 11 Allied nations: the United States, the Soviet Union, China, Britain, Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, India, and the Philippines. Each nation will nominate a judge, and MacArthur will act as the tribunal president. A Chief Prosecutor has also been designated by SCAP, with Associate Prosecutors representing each of the participating nations.

The tribunal`s rules of procedure provide defendants the right to counsel, to cross-examine witnesses, and to present evidence. Notably, the tribunal`s decisions will not be bound by technical rules of evidence, allowing for a broader range of material to be considered. The proceedings will be conducted primarily in English and the defendants` languages, with translations provided.

One of the key differences between the IMTFE and the IMT at Nuremberg is the composition of defendants. While the trial currently ongoing in Nuremberg targets the highest Nazi officials, the Tokyo tribunal will include a far broader array of Japanese leaders, political and military.

Picture: Judges at the Japanese war crimes court.
Source: Getty Images
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On 18 January 1946, British Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin announces during an address to the United Nations General Assembly that Britain will move toward placing three of its African mandated territories, Tanganyika, the Cameroons, and Togoland, under the trusteeship system.

Addressing the UNGA, Bevin states the following:
˝We have to consider the position in connection with mandates for which we are responsible, and I take this opportunity of informing the Assembly of our intentions... to enter forthwith into negotiations for placing Tanganyika, the Cameroons, and Togoland under the trusteeship system.
Preliminary negotiations have already started.

I make it clear that our willingness to place these territories under the trusteeship system naturally depends on our being able to negotiate terms which are, in our view, generally satisfactory and which achieve the objectives of the Charter and are in the interests of the inhabitants of the territories themselves.

These territories have been administered by us for over twenty-five years. We have fulfilled our obligations under the Covenant of the League of Nations and, to the best of our ability, administered and developed them in the interests of the inhabitants.

We intend to continue this under the trusteeship system...

Now, if that is to be achieved, it is most important that the people of the territories themselves and the world at large should be left in no doubt that continuity of the administration will be maintained until the ultimate objective of the trusteeship system - self-government or independence as the case may be - is attained.˝

Bevin comments on the situation on another British mandate, Palestine, by saying: ˝We think it necessary to await the Anglo-American mission`s report before putting forward any problems relating to the future of Palestine.˝

Finally, Bevin implores the Security Council to ˝become the real answer to all the devilish devices of war...˝

Picture: Phillip Jessup, Dean Acheson, Ernest Bevin, and John Foster Dulles are shown in conference here at the Assembly Hall at the United Nations.
Source: Getty Images
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On 17 January 1946, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) convenes for its first session.

Meeting in Church House, Westminster, London, the UNSC brings together representatives from the five permanent members—China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.—as well as the six newly elected non-permanent members: Australia, Brazil, Egypt, Mexico, the Netherlands, and Poland, whose elections by the UN General Assembly you can read about in our 12 January post​​.

The SC begins with a provisional chair, Norman Makin of Australia, who has been chosen in accordance with the Council’s rotational presidency system. Makin expresses his country`s pride in presiding over the Council’s inaugural session and emphasizes the UNSC’s vital role in upholding the UN Charter.

The agenda for the first meeting focuses on organizational matters critical to the UNSC`s operations. Among these, the Council adopts its provisional rules of procedure and discusses establishing a Military Staff Committee, as mandated by Article 47 of the UN Charter.

This committee is envisioned to advise and assist the Council on military requirements for maintaining international peace. It is agreed that the committee, composed of military representatives from the five permanent members, will convene soon.

Additionally, members debate the practicalities of future special agreements under Article 43 of the Charter, which will define the availability and deployment of armed forces for peacekeeping operations.

Although discussions are preliminary, the session sets the stage for the UNSC to assume its critical function as a guardian of global security​.

Soviet representative Andrei Gromyko describes the moment as historic, while U.S. representative Edward Stettinius emphasizes the grave responsibility the Council bears in maintaining peace. Representatives from smaller nations, including Mexico and Egypt, highlight the symbolic importance of inclusivity in this new global organization​​.

Picture: Members of the UN around the table at the first session of the United Nations Organisation (UNO) Security Council, 17 January 1946
Source: Getty Images
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On 16 January 1946, the President of the Republic of Indonesia speaks out against violent extremism among the ranks of Indonesian nationalists.

In the simmering conflict between Indonesian nationalists and British and Dutch forces, there has been a rise of particularly violent incidents that have only served to fan the flames. Recently, British Indian forces were sent into the town of Bekasi in a brutal reprisal after Indonesian militias murdered 23 captured British and Indian soldiers. You can read more about this incident in our 14 December post.

Sukarno, who has not made a public address in some time owing to the dramatic situation in Indonesia, speaks today in an attempt to deter those resisting Dutch re-colonization from engaging in extreme violence:
˝Our fight cannot be won, and our cause cannot be achieved if elements without a sense of responsibility continue to perpetrate acts entirely against the accepted codes of humanity and justice. These elements who style themselves as nationalists are nothing better than jackals on the prowl, striking and killing in the most abhorrent manner women and children against whom they have no tangible grievance.

Civilization has only one word for them - cold-blooded murderers - and we Indonesians who still retain our sense of justice and fair play call them destroyers of human happiness and the real enemies of Indonesian independence.

Let them be warned now that the Indonesian people will not countenance their heinous deeds, and we will track them down and mete out the same justice as is meted out to all murderers. At this critical period of our national history, the speedy disposal of all such elements will only accelerate the realization of our own aims.

Any Indonesian posing as a Nationalist but, in reality, an extremist shall be shot without trial.˝

There are rumors of negotiations between British and Dutch representatives and Sukarno`s Nationalists starting soon, so it is likely that with today`s statement, Sukarno wants to discourage any particularly inflammatory incidents.

Picture: President Sukarno makes a speech. Circa 1946.
Source: LIFE
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On 15 January 1946, investigators working under Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP) uncover the full extent of the Japanese Fu-Go balloon bomb campaign.

Designed to strike at the continental U.S., the campaign involved the release of thousands of high-altitude hydrogen balloons armed with incendiary and explosive devices.

The project was initiated by the Japanese Army as an unconventional weapon to retaliate against U.S. bombing raids on Japan. The balloons, constructed from lightweight paper made from mulberry bark, were ingeniously designed to utilize the jet stream to travel across the Pacific Ocean. Each balloon carried a payload of approximately 15 kg (33 pounds), which included incendiary bombs and high-explosive devices.

Between November 1944 and April 1945, the Japanese built approximately 9,300 Fu-Go balloons. Many of the balloons suffered punctures, deflations, or premature explosions, while others were simply carried far off course and crashed into the Pacific Ocean. So despite the ambitious scale of the operation, only about 300 are confirmed to have reached North America, with most landing in remote areas of the western U.S. and Canada. The balloons were primarily intended to start forest fires, disrupt infrastructure, and sow panic among the civilian population. However, their actual impact was limited.

One tragic incident did occur on 5 May last year near Bly, Oregon, when six civilians—five children and a pregnant woman—were killed when a balloon bomb they discovered exploded. This is the only known fatal attack on the U.S. mainland during World War II. Other incidents included minor damage to infrastructure and occasional balloons snagged in power lines, but none achieved the widespread devastation Japan had hoped for.

The campaign ultimately ended in April 1945 as Japan`s situation worsened and materials became increasingly scarce. The U.S. Government had also suppressed public reporting on the balloon bombs, essentially removing any chance of a panic spreading while denying Japan any intelligence on the program`s effectiveness.

Picture: U.S. military personnel carrying the remains of a bomb load
Source: U.S. National Archives
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On 14 January 1946, Allied nations formally sign the Agreement on Reparations from Germany in Paris.

The agreement builds upon earlier decisions made at the Yalta and Potsdam Conferences and divides reparations into two categories. Category A encompasses a wide range of German assets, including financial holdings and industrial equipment, while Category B is more narrowly focused on industrial and capital equipment removed from Germany, as well as merchant ships and inland water transport.

Each signatory nation is assigned specific percentage shares for both categories, reflecting their respective contributions and losses during the war. The U.S. and the United Kingdom each will receive a significant share of 28% in Category A, France will receive 16%, Yugoslavia 6.6%, and others less than 5% each. The Soviet Union’s allocations will be determined separately in bilateral agreements.

Germany’s merchant fleet is to be distributed proportionally to the wartime losses of the signatory nations. The value of the ships was calculated using 1938 German prices with adjustments for depreciation. Similarly, German-owned assets in neutral countries will be liquidated and distributed to the Allies.

The agreement also creates the Inter-Allied Reparation Agency, headquartered in Brussels, to oversee the implementation of the reparations program.

Another significant component of the agreement is its provision for non-repatriable victims of Nazi persecution. A fund is established, comprising monetary gold found in Germany and an additional $25 million sourced from liquidated German assets in neutral countries. This fund is intended to aid displaced persons who had suffered under Nazi rule but lacked a home nation to represent them.

The restitution of monetary gold looted by Germany is another priority. A pooled fund will be created to return gold to countries that have suffered losses.

Picture: German worker stencils a Russian address onto a crate filled with equipment from the FAG Kugelfischer factory in Schweinfurt which is being dismantled and shipped to the Soviet Union as part of reparations, September 20th 1946.
Source: Getty Images
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