Real time Discusion thread

September 21st 1945

United States

President Truman holds a cabinet meeting to discuss the question of sharing atomic secrets with the British and particularly the Soviet governments. He chose the topic because it was Secretary of War Stimson's last day in government service; Stimson was retiring that afternoon. In the words of Undersecretary of State Acheson, "the discussion was unworthy of the subject." Stimson desired only a diplomatic approach, not an openhanded passing of information American scientists sought. The presumption was that the Soviets would offer a quid pro quo for the cost of the nuclear project. Instead, some cabinet members misconstrued the debate to be whether to give away the secrets. They were totally unprepared to handle this complicated subject and hardly knew the difference between an at secret and common scientific knowledge. They responded by offering their opinions in airy detail. After the discussion, and reception of papers prepared thereafter (with the exception of Stimson's, which was prepared well in advance), the president released an ambiguous public statement.

Brazil

Brazil ratified the United Nations Charter.

India

The Congress Party demands that southeast Asia be freed from "Imperialist domination."

Soviet Union

Aleksandr Vadis reported to Soviet SMERSH officer Isai Babich that, between 9 Aug and 18 Sep 1945, 2,249 were arrested in northeastern China (666 Japanese military intelligence officers and agents, 569 Japanese policemen, and 552 Soviet citizens).

Chinese Civil War

The Battle of Rugao was fought was fought between the nationalists and the communists for the control of the town of Rugao, in Jiangsu Province and resulted in a communist victory with the entire nationalists force of 3,000, being completely annihilated. Everyone, including the commander Kong Ruiwu and the deputy commander was either killed or captured alive. The communists also capture two mortars, 22 machine guns, and more than 2,600 other firearms.

Mongolia

Mongolian separatist troops entered Rehe (now Chengde), Jehol Province, China, capturing 2,000 surrendered Japanese troops and their weapons. These Japanese troops would be brought against international agreement (which had it that these troops should be under the custody of the Chinese) and kept them as forced laborers until Oct 1947. These prisoners would participate in the building of the Government Building, Sukhbaatar Square, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Building, the National University of Mongolia, and others in Ulaanbaatar.

Netherlands East Indies (Indonesia)

Australian troops arrived in Makassar, Indonesia, accompanied by several Dutch Civil Affairs officials.

French Indochina (Cambodia)

Talks between Cambodian Premier Son Ngoc Thanh and representatives from the Southern Provisional Administrative Committee of Saigon broke down despite both groups sharing stern anti-French sentiments, with the reason being Cambodia demanding provinces of Tra Vinh and Soc Trang from Cochinchina; the two provinces had been Cochinchina territory for some time, but both were heavily populated with those of Khmer ethnicity.

September 23rd 1945

Egypt

The Egyptian government demands that British forces withdraw from the Sudan, prior to its incorporation with Egypt.

French Indochina (Laos)

Chinese forces entered Luang Prabang, Laos and disarmed French troops in the name of maintaining peace between the Lao and French peoples.

French Indochina (Vietnam)

The Viet Minh sponsored Resistance Committee of the Saigon-Cholon Region is set up in response to the return of French authorities. It issues an order calling for non-collaboration with the colonialists and calls on the townspeople of Saigon to unite in resistance. Barricades are erected.

In southern French Indochina, British Major General Douglas Gracey armed French prisoners of war in Cochinchina, French Indochina as recommended by French commissioner Jean Cédile; in the evening, these French troops, bent on revenge, stormed and captured the Saigon City Hall and other administrative buildings from the Viet Minh, killing many innocent civilians and burning down homes during the process, critically damaging public trust in the European administration which had already been waning. Meanwhile, in northern and central French Indochina, several leaders in civilian spheres sent a joint message to the Vatican, asking Pope Pius XII to support for Vietnamese independence.

Philippines

The leftist political party Democratic Alliance staged a large rally in Manila, Philippines, demanding reforms, release of Huk leader Luis Trauc, and justice against war time collaborators.

Burma

Japanese troops of the 52nd Division hand over their weapons to the 1/10th Gurkha Rifles (17th Indian Division) after surrendering at a railway bridge over the Sittang River in Burma, September 23, 1945

Not the first time Americans conduct friendly fire on the British, I think a couple of weeks ago it was B-29s who fired on Royal Navy fighters.

Seems there is a entire Wikipdidia article dedicated of friendly fire between the Americans and British: List of U.S. friendly-fire incidents since 1945 with British victims

Seems the "Battle of Hill 282" is the only one that happen during the Korean War, except the B-29 incident mention before but not listed as nobody was killed in it.

September 25th 1945

Soviet/Allied occupied Germany

The Allied Control Commission issued a proclamation announcing additional requirements of Germany. Field Marshal Montgomery, General Eisenhower, Marshal Zhukov and General Koenig sign the 3000 word document. Among the points of the declaration is that the NSDAP and all German armed forces are declared illegal. Meanwhile, secret German OKW documents dated August 17, 1940 which deal with the plan to invade Britain (code named Operation Sealion) are discovered by the Allies.

United Kingdom

The Ministry of War Transport announces that in order to avoid the use of the Panama Canal, dues for which have to be paid in dollars, instructions have been given for the rerouting of British ships from Australia and New Zealand.

Norway

The last of the Soviet Army forces departed Norway.

Burma

Aung San rejected the British offer for him to become the Deputy Inspector-General of the Burmese Army.

Singapore

Photo: Surrendered Heavy cruiser Myōkō moored at Seletar alongside submarines I-501 and I-502, 25 September 1945



Photo: Captain Power visits the damaged Japanese cruiser, Singapore. In May 1944, five ships of the Twenty-Sixth Destroyer Flotilla attached to the British East Indies fleet, led by HMS Saumarez, with Captain M L Power, CBE, OBE, DSO AND BAR, as Captain (D), sank the Japanese cruiser Haguro in one hours action at the entrance to the Malacca Strait. When Saumarez entered Singapore Naval Base, Captain Power with his staff officers, paid a visit to Myoko, sister ship of Haguro, now lying there with her stern blown off after the Battle of the Philippines. Crossing to the deck of the Myoko via the conning tower of a German U-boat, Captain Power and his party were met by Japanese officers who took them on a comprehensive tour of the ship, 25 September 1945



Photo: Two British naval officers examine what is left of the Myoko's stern, 25 September 1945



Photo: Japanese sailors line up on the deck of a U-boat as Captain Power leaves the Myoko, 25 September 1945



Philippines

The Philippine People's Court was established by President Sergio Osmeña to try war time collaborators. 

Thailand

Members of the Free Thai movement staged a victory parade in Bangkok, Thailand. British personnel in Thailand boycotted the event, while the Americans observed the parade without taking an active part in it. The Western lack of enthusiasm was largely due to the diplomatic situation and recent ethnic tensions in Thailand.

September 27th 1945

United Kingdom

An agreement is signed setting up the European Central Inland Transport Organisation. The signatories represent UK, USA, USSR, France, Belgium, Holland, Norway, Luxemburg, Czechoslovakia, Greece and Yugoslavia. A Polish representative is present for the discussions (begun on August 24th) but lacks credentials. Poland is expected to sign. The organization is to be responsible for the allocation or distribution of all forms of transport, equipment and material as may be made available by the Allied commanders in chief.

A university for the Canadian Army in Europe, known as the "Khaki University of Canada," is opened by Field Marshal Montgomery at Leavesden. The school will provide professional and other courses for Canadian servicemen pending their demobilization and return to civilian life. When opened, enrolment consists of 565 students taking six month courses in various subjects.

Allied occupied Japan

Emperor Showa made a formal visit to the US Embassy to meet General Douglas MacArthur. This was one of ten such visits the Japanese head of state would make.

Photo: Emperor Hirohito and General MacArthur, at their first meeting, at the U.S. Embassy, Tokyo, 27 September, 1945



Portuguese Timor

Two Portuguese relief ships, Bartolomeu Dias and Zarco, arrived at East Timor, bringing in 2,223 troops (including 3 engineering companies) and a large quantity of food.

Photo: Portuguese relief ships, Bartolomeu Dias and Zarco at anchor

September 29th 1945

Italy

Field Marshal Sir Harold Alexander officially resigns his position as Supreme Allied Commander in the Mediterranean at Caserta and is succeeded by US Army General Joseph McNarney, with British Lt. Gen. W. D. Morgan, former Chief of Staff, as Deputy Supreme Commander and American Maj. Gen. Lyman L. Lemnitzer as the new Chief of Staff.

Argentina

Demonstrators, numbering an estimated 500,000, call of the resignation of Peron in Buenos Aires.

Chinese Civil War

The Weixian–Guangling–Nuanquan Campaign began in China.

China

Du Yuming established a field headquarters north of Kunming, Yunnan Province, China for the upcoming campaign against General Long Yun.

Influential Chongqing-based Chinese newspaper Ta Kung Pao published an editorial demanding Thailand to surrender as an Axis member, and demanding Thai leaders to be arrested as war criminals.

Netherlands East Indies (Indonesia)

British General Philip Christison, commanding officer of British troops in Indonesia, announced that his mission was to accept Japanese surrender and to repatriate prisoners of war; he was hinting that his troops would not interfere with the conflict between Indonesian nationalists and the Dutch colonial administration.