On this day
Revisit the news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.
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Gers north of Strasbourg penetrate US lines and force Moder River crossings, winning 1 bridgehead; French repulse counter-attacks in Colmar area near Ostheim and near Richwillerand; map
coordinated attack of US warships, B-29's and Liberators, Iwo, noted
Ger resistance stiffens along entire front; reinforcements rushed in; Russians take 1,350 Ger places; map
The Red Army, in a day that saw the capture of more than 1,350 places, 700 of them German, stormed into the upper Silesian industrial center of Gleiwitz, laid siege to Breslau and...
cold continues with temperature near zero; subway switches and car doors frozen; trains delayed; war workers on outside jobs sent home; commercial fishermen unable to leave ports; ice coated fishing trawler illus
1945Jacqueline du Pré, English cellist (died 1987)[†]
Jacqueline Mary du Pré was a British cellist, widely regarded as one of the prominent cellists of the 20th century. Born in Oxford, she began studying at the Guildhall School of Music in the mid-1950s with William Pleeth, earning the school's Gold Medal in 1960. Her musical development was further enhanced by advanced studies with prominent cellists such as Paul Tortelier, Pablo Casals, and Mstislav Rostropovich.
1945David Purley, English race car driver (died 1985)[†]
David Charles Purley, GM was a British racing driver born in Bognor Regis, West Sussex, who participated in 11 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting at Monaco in 1973.
1945World War II: Audie Murphy displays valor and bravery in action for which he will later be awarded the Medal of Honor.[†]
Audie Leon Murphy was an American soldier, actor, and songwriter. He was widely celebrated as the most decorated American combat soldier of World War II, and has been described as the most highly decorated enlisted soldier in U.S. history. He received every military combat award for valor available from the United States Army, as well as French and Belgian awards for heroism. Murphy received the Medal of Honor for valor that he demonstrated at age 19 for single-handedly holding off a company of German soldiers for an hour at the Colmar Pocket in France in January 1945, before leading a successful counterattack while wounded.