Poland: In the Russo-Polish War, the defeated Soviet 4th Army, broken by the Poles at Grodno-Wolkowsysk, flees in disorder.
1936 — , August 27
Spain: Day 42 of 985 of the Spanish Civil War.
1937 — , August 27
Spain: Day 407 of 985 of the Spanish Civil War.
CBI - China: Day 52 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
Day 15 of 106 of the 2nd Battle of Shanghai.
1938 — , August 27
Spain: Day 772 of 985 of the Spanish Civil War.
CBI - China: Day 417 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
Day 78 of 139 of the Battle of Wuhan.
1939 — , August 27
Poland: Britain and France try to persuade Poland to negotiate with Germany, but she refuses. In preparation for war, Poland disperses their military planes to small camouflaged airfields around Warsaw.
Germany: Germany publicly cancels the annual Nazi Party rally in Nürnberg and the upcoming Tannenberg memorial event.
Germany: Rationing of food, footwear, textiles and coal are announced.
27 Aug 39: Germany begins rationing food, footwear, textiles and coal
03 Mar 40: Italy protests UK-proposed ban on Italy importing German coal
07 Mar 40: British capture 9 Italian ships carrying German coal
09 Mar 40: Italian-Anglo agreement on importation of German coal is signed
18 Mar 41: Hitler centralizes all coal mining and coal distribution in Germany
01 Jul 41: Coal deliveries throughout Britain rationed to one ton per month
26 Aug 41: Commandos land in Norway to deny coal mines to Germans
06 Jun 42: British coal miners in Durham dissuaded from going on strike
02 Dec 43: Shortage of British coal miners forces conscription of "Bevin Boys"
23 Jun 58: Britain finally end the rationing of coal, which began 01 Jul 41
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Germany: Hitler responds to yesterday's message from the French Prime Minister in regard to Poland, saying he has no intentions of invading France, but if France were to attack Germany due to the German-Poland situation, then France will have initiated it, not Germany.
Germany: Hitler responds to Mussolini's message from yesterday, saying he accepts Italy's inability to participate in direct fighting should a German-Polish war break out, but he would very much appreciate political and economic support.
CBI - China: Day 782 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
CBI - Mongolia: Day 109 of 129 of the Battle of Khalkhin Gol, a border dispute between the Soviet Union and Japan. Japanese troops are defeated at Khalkhin Gol.
1940 — , August 27
USA: President Roosevelt signs the joint resolution authorizing him to call Army Reserve components and National Guard into federal service for one year.
Atlantic: German sub U-28 sinks the Norwegian ship EVA 200 miles northwest of Ireland. U-46 damages the British armed merchant cruiser DUNVEGAN CASTLE 75 miles northwest of Ireland, which will sink on the following day. U-37 sinks the Greek ship THEODOROS T 300 miles west of Ireland.
ETO - UK: Day 49 of 114 of the Battle of Britain.The Luftwaffe bombs London, Midlands, southwest England and Wales.
East Africa: Day 79 of 537 of Italy's East African campaign in the lands south of Egypt. The German armed merchant cruiser PINGUIN stops the British tanker BRITISH COMMANDER off Madagascar and after capturing the crew, sinks her.
CBI - China: Day 1,148 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
Day 287 of 381 of the Battle of South Guangxi.
Day 8 of 42 of the Hundred Regiments Offensive.
1941 — , August 27
UK: The British government takes over the railways for the duration of the war, paying £43,000,000 per annum in compensation to private owners and operators.
Atlantic: German sub U-570 is spotted by a British Hudson light bomber and depth charged into surrendering. However, while waiting for a ship to come get them, the crew dumps all their cipher machine and confidential papers overboard.
Atlantic: German sub U-557 attacks an Allied convoy 300 miles west of Ireland and sinks four ships. Farther west off Iceland, U-202 sinks the British trawler LADYLOV.
Russian Front - Finland: Day 60 of 142 of Operation SILVER FOX, a joint German-Finnish campaign to capture the Russian port of Murmansk in the Arctic.
Russian Front - Finland: Day 58 of 140 of Operation ARCTIC FOX, a joint German-Finnish campaign against Soviet Northern Front defenses at Salla, Finland.
Russian Front - Finland: Day 67 of 164 of the Battle of Hanko.
Russian Front: Day 67 of 167 of Germany's Operation BARBAROSSA, the invasion of the USSR.
Russian Front - North: German Army Group North continues encircling Leningrad.
Russian Front - North: German Army Group North captures Tallinn, the capital of Estonia.
Russian Front - North: The Blue Division, Spanish volunteers fighting for Germany, begin marching on foot from the Polish-Lithuanian border toward Smolensk, Russia.
Russian Front - Center: Day 11 of 23 of the Battle of Dukhovshina, Russia.
Russian Front - Center: Day 35 of 38 of the Battle of Gomel, Belarus.
Russian Front - South: Day 5 of 35 of the 1st Battle of Kiev, Ukraine. Panzer units of both German Army Groups (Centre and South) continue encircling Kiev.
Russian Front - South: German units from Army Groups South continue building up their forces around Stalingrad.
Russian Front - South: Day 20 of 70 of the Siege of Odessa, Ukraine.
MTO - Libya: Day 140 of 256 of the Siege of Tobruk.
Middle East: Day 3 of 24 of the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran. The Shah of Iran appoints Mohammad Ali Furughi as Prime Minister, who immediately begins negotiating with the Soviets and British to end hostilities.
East Africa: Day 444 of 537 of Italy's East African campaign in the lands south of Egypt.
CBI - China: Day 1,513 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
1942 — , August 27
ETO - France: A tractor factory in France, previously owned by French Jew Robert Rothschild, is turned over to the German firm Friedrich Krupp AG.
ETO - Netherlands: US 8th Air Force B-17s bomb at Rotterdam.
Russian Front - North: Day 354 of 872 of the Siege of Leningrad. The Soviets launch several counter-attacks in an attempt to break the lines.
Russian Front - North: Day 115 of 658 of the Siege of the Kholm Pocket.
Russian Front - Center: Day 29 of 64 of the 1st Battle of Rzhev-Sychevka, Russia.
Russian Front - Center: The Soviet launch an offensive on the Moscow front.
Russian Front - South: Day 5 of 165 of the Battle of Stalingrad, the bloodiest battle in human history.
Russian Front - South: Day 61 of 150 of Germany's CASE BLUE.
MTO: US B-24s bomb an Axis convoy, sinking a merchant ship.
East Africa: The TATSUTA MARU arrives at Lourenco Marques, Portuguese East Africa. The Japanese exchange 1,000 Allied POWs for some Japanese diplomats and supplies, including the 48,818 Red Cross parcels which were supposed to go to other Allied POWs in Japanese custody.
East Africa: Day 115 of 186 of the Battle of Madagascar.
CBI - China: Day 1,878 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
Day 105 of 124 of Japan's Zhejiang-Jiangxi Campaign, launched to punish anyone suspected of aiding the Doolittle raiders in China. Roughly 250,000 Chinese will be killed.
PTO - Alaska: Day 82 of 435 of the Battle of Kiska, Aleutian Islands. The Japanese begin transferring the Attu Island garrison to Kiska Island.
PTO - Malaya: Day 190 of 357 of the Battle of Timor Island.
PTO - New Guinea: Day 38 of 119 of the Battle of the Kokoda Track. US 5th and 13th Air Forces provide air support.
PTO - New Guinea: Day 3 of 14 of the Battle of Milne Bay.
PTO - Solomon Islands: Day 21 of 187 of the Battle of Guadalcanal. US 5th Army Air Force provides air support.
1943 — , August 27
ETO - UK: The British Minister of Information says that Rudolf Hess, who flew Scotland on 10 May 41 and was quickly arrested, "came to find British Quislings to overthrow Churchill" and describes him as being "a Nazi of very low mentality" who "babbled like an excited schoolboy."
[+] show related dates
Rudolf Hess related dates...
10 May 41: Hess flies to Scotland to "broker peace" and is arrested
27 Aug 43: Minister of Information says Hess came to overthrow Churchill
08 Oct 45: Hess is flown to Nuremberg to stand trial for war crimes
30 Nov 45: Hess slips in and out of amnesia at Nuremberg trials
01 Oct 46: Hess sentence to life for crimes against peace, conspiracy
ETO - France: US 8th Air Force B-17s bomb a V-1 rocket site under construction at Watten, while B-26s hit the Poix Nord Airfield.
Russian Front - North: Day 719 of 872 of the Siege of Leningrad.
Russian Front - North: Day 480 of 658 of the Siege of the Kholm Pocket.
Russian Front - Center: Day 11 of 48 of the Battle of Bryansk, Russia.
Russian Front - Center: Day 21 of 57 of the 2nd Battle of Smolensk, Russia. Hitler makes his last visit to the Russian Front.
Russian Front - South: Day 4 of 122 of the Battle of the Lower Dnieper River in Russia.
Russian Front - South: Day 46 of 48 of the USSR's Lvov-Sandomierz Offensive.
MTO - Italy: The Allied Air Forces attack targets in southern Italy.
CBI - China: Day 2,243 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
US 14th Air Force attacks a number of places throughout China.
PTO - Japan: The USS POLLACK sinks the passenger-cargo ship TAIFUKU MARU off Kyushu.
PTO - New Guinea: Day 128 of 148 of the 2nd Battle of Lae-Salamaua. US 5th and 13th Air Forces provide air support.
PTO - Solomon Islands: US troops cross the Hathorn Sound from New Georgia to Arundel Island and capture Japanese artillery positions which had been shelling US positions at Munda Point on New Georgia.
PTO - Solomon Islands: Day 13 of 56 of the Battle of Vella Lavella. US 5th and 13th Air Forces provide air support.
1944 — , August 27
ETO - UK: Day 76 of 86 of the V-1 "Buzz Bomb" offensive on Britain.
ETO - France: The Canadians cross the Seine around Rouen while US troops cross the Marne and take Meaux, 30 miles east of Paris.
ETO - France: Day 27 of 284 of the Battle of Brittany.
ETO - France: Day 13 of 32 of Operation DRAGOON, the Allied invasion of southern France. Allied troops continue racing up the Rhone Valley. The remaining German troops at Toulon and Marseilles surrender to the French.
ETO - Germany: The RAF makes its first large-scale daylight bombing mission over Germany, hitting the oil refineries in the Ruhr.
ETO - Germany: US 8th Air Force bombs strategic targets in northern and central Germany.
Russian Front - North: Day 18 of 28 of the Battle of Tartu in southeastern Estonia.
Russian Front - Center: Day 31 of 32 of the Battle of Kaunas, Lithuania.
Russian Front: Day 12 of 12 of the German Operation DOPPELKOPF in Lithuania. The connection between German Army Groups North and Centre has been reestablished. However, this will become a short-lived victory.
Russian Front - Center: Soviet troops keep pouring into Poland.
Russian Front - South: Day 8 of 10 of the Battle of Romania, 2nd Jassy Offensive. The Soviets capture Galati in eastern Romania.
MTO: US 15th Air Force bombs targets in Germany and Italy.
MTO - Italy: Allied troops continue pressing the German line holding the Po Valley. Allied Air Forces provide air support. The British 8th Army renews its offensive on northern Italy's eastern coast, attacking toward the Gothic Line at Pesaro, just north of the Foglia River.
MTO - France: US Air Forces bomb targets in southern France.
CBI - Burma: Day 149 of 302 of the Chinese Salween Offensive. US 10th and 14th Air Forces provide air support. The last Chindits operating behind Japanese lines in Burma are evacuated.
CBI - China: Day 2,609 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
Day 133 of 259 of Japan's Operation ICHI-GO.
PTO: The USS GUITARRO sinks the NANSHIN MARU.
PTO - Alaska: US 11th Air Force bombs Kashiwabara on Parmushiru Island and shipping near the Kurile Islands.
PTO - Caroline Islands: The USS POLLACK bombards a Japanese phosphate plant at Fais Island.
PTO - Dutch New Guinea: Day 57 of 61 of the Battle of Noemfoor. Although the island has been declared secured, bitter fighting from Japanese continues.
PTO - Mariana Islands: US planes attack targets on the Aguijan Islands.
PTO - New Guinea: Day 257 of 597 of the Battle of New Britain. US 13th Air Force provides air support.
PTO - New Guinea: Day 128 of 481 of the Battle of Western New Guinea. 5th Air Force provides air support.
PTO - New Guinea: Day 75 of 80 of the Battle of Lone Tree Hill.
1945 — , August 27
USA: Life Magazine publishes the iconic Times Square Kiss photo taken 14 Aug 45 in New York City when news of Japan's surrender was first announced.
Spotlight...
THE MEN OF WAR KISS FROM COAST TO COAST
Pages 26 & 27 of Life Magazine, August 27, 1945, with the magazine's most famous and most reproduced photo on page 27. This photo becomes one of WWII's most iconic photos for America, second only to the Iwo Jima flag raising photo.
Related dates...
10 Aug 45: Japan announces willingness to surrender if Emperor remains
14 Aug 45: News of Japan's surrender spreads unbridled celebrations throughout all Allied nations, including Times Square where the famous "kiss" photo is taken
15 Aug 45: Hirohito tells Japan they must now endure the unendurable
27 Aug 45: Famous photo taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt is published
02 Sep 45: Japan formally surrenders on board the USS MISSOURI
Related WWII Store items...
The Kissing Sailor: The Mystery Behind the Photo That Ended World War II
German photographer and photojournalist Alfred Eisenstaedt, who took the iconic photo, has a very interesting story of his own...
Photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt
Alfred Eisenstaedt served in the German Army's artillery during World War I, and was wounded in 1918. In 1928 he began working as a freelance photographer for Pacific and Atlantic Photos' Berlin office, which was taken over by the Associated Press in 1931. In 1929 Eisenstaedt's position became a full time job and in 1934 he photographed a meeting in Italy between Hitler and Mussolini.
But Eisenstaedt was Jewish and saw the writing on the wall. In 1935, before oppression in Hitler's Nazi Germany got too severe, he wisely emigrated to the United States. He worked as a staff photographer for Life Magazine from 1936 to 1972. His photos appeared on ninety Life covers.
Two years before his death in 1995, Eisenstaedt photographed President Bill Clinton with wife, Hillary, and daughter, Chelsea. The photo appeared in People Magazine on Sept 13, 1993.
Spotlight...
