World War II Today | Martin Cherrett | Substack

First Luftwaffe Raid on Moscow

21st July 1941: Strong anti-aircraft defences confound the raiders and pioneering photo journalist Margaret Bourke-White is there

20 hrs ago

'V for Victory' spreads across Europe

20th July 1941: Churchill promotes symbol of defiance in occupied countries and at home

Jul 20

Trapped in the sunken HMS Umpire

19th July 1941: Edward Young describes the aftermath of a terrible accident, as water rises around the survivors in the dark

Jul 19

Trekking out to sleep in a Piggery

18th July 1941: People cannot avoid the bombs in Hull - the most bombed city outside London - so take desperate measures to sleep safely

Jul 18

'Twin Pimples' - an early SAS style raid

17th July 1941: A first person account of a pioneering behind the lines attack, from 'Jock Lewes, Co-Founder of the SAS'

Jul 17

Recent posts

A German 'Garden of Eden' in the East

16th July 1941: Hitler sets out his plans for the Eastern territories - 'a harsh necessity, bare of any feelings'

Jul 16

A Uranium bomb is possible

15th July 1941: Scientific evaluation says it will be hugely expensive but essential to pre-empt the Nazis

Jul 15

'You do your worst – and we will do our best.'

14th July 1941: Churchill warns that the current lull in the Blitz may only be temporary - as he prepares Britain for worse to come

Jul 14

The Wehrmacht presses on into Russia

13th July 1941: The condition of Russian roads slows the Wehrmacht advance

Jul 13

Explore the War

Fighter Pilots in 1940

A selection of first-hand accounts from the men who fought the 'Battle of Britain'

Jan 4

Women at War in 1940

In a People's War, women are very much on the front line, whether they volunteered for it or not

Jan 3

Americans in 1940

U.S. citizens were 'neutral' in 1940 and unusually well placed to see the impact of the Nazis - some individuals wanted to take action directly

Jan 2

Hitler's most successful year confounds the world ... but his true ambition is yet to be revealed ... key posts from the past year

Jan 1

'Battle of Britain - The Gathering Storm'

Another highlight from the new history of the battle, with links to some of the other volumes featured this year ...

Dec 21, 2025

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