On This Day

On This Day - 1941 - In response to domestic discontent, Adolf Hitler orders a stop to his policy of exterminating the mentally ill. Since the beginning of the war, more than 70,000 such people have died at the hands of the Nazis. The policy will be continued in a decentralized manner, with another 100,000 dying by May 1945. Thousands also will be killed in Nazi German-occupied areas.

On This Day

On This Day - 1941 - Nazi troops reached the outskirts of Leningrad during World War II.

On This Day

On This Day - 1942 - Guadalcanal. Japanese Colonel Ichiki believes only a few Americans defend Henderson Aitfield along the Tenaru River. At 1h30 he sends 100 troops across the Tenaru River, supported by machine guns and mortars, but 2500 Marines mow them down with machine gun- and anti tanks.

On This Day

On This Day - 1942 - German forces were getting ready to attack Stalingrad. The Russians, already devastated by the power of the Blitzkrieg during Operation Barbarossa, had to make a stand especially as the city was named after the Russian leader, Joseph Stalin.

On This Day

On This Day - 1942 - US Army Air Force planes see action for the first time in North Africa, bombing German military positions from their base in Egypt.

On This Day

On This Day - 1940 - The Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, has spent the last few days in a top-secret meetings with the American President, Franklin D. Roosevelt.

On This Day

On This Day - 1940 - 13th The Luftwaffe launched "Adler Tag" or "Eagle Day", the start of intended mass attacks which would knock out the RAF.