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TheUnited States Navy ferries troops across theRhine atOberwesel.

American logistics in the Western Allied invasion of Germany supported operations in Northwest Europe duringWorld War II from January 1945 until theend of the war in Europe on 8 May. TheAllies had to advance across the Rhineland, which was in the grip of thaws, rains and floods. They were then confronted by theRhine, the most formidable barrier to the Allied advance since theEnglish Channel. The river was crossed and bridged, and railways and pipelines were run across it. Most supplies were delivered by rail. In the final advance into the heart of Germany, combat losses and ammunition expenditure declined, while shortages of fuel and spare parts developed, as was to be expected in fast-moving mobile operations.Railheads were pushed forward, with the rehabilitation of the network keeping pace with the advance, while the Motor Transport Service organized an express service that moved supplies from the railheads to the forward units. (Full article...)

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May 8:Anniversary of the birth of Miguel Hidalgo in Mexico (1753);Victory in Europe Day (1945)

Lady Blanche Arundell

1643 –First English Civil War: Thefirst siege of Wardour Castle ended after six days with the surrender of theRoyalist garrison underLady Blanche Arundell(pictured).
1842 – A trainderailed and caught fire nearVersailles, France, killing at least 52 people.
1927 – French aviatorsCharles Nungesser andFrançois Coli aboard thebiplaneL'Oiseau Blanc took off from Paris, attempting to make the first non-stop flight to New York, only to disappear before arrival.
1963 – InHuế,South Vietnam, soldiersopened fire into a crowd ofBuddhists protesting against a government ban on the flying of theBuddhist flag onPhật Đản, killing nine and sparking theBuddhist crisis.
1972 – Four members ofBlack September hijackedSabena Flight 571 to demand the release of 315 Palestinians convicted on terrorism charges.

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TheAuxiliary Territorial Service was the women's branch of theBritish Army during theSecond World War. It was formed on 9 September 1938 as a successor to theFirst World War-eraWomen's Auxiliary Army Corps, and existed until 1 February 1949, when it was merged into theWomen's Royal Army Corps. This photograph shows ATS members working on aChurchill tank in 1942.

Photograph credit: Lt. Taylor, War Office official photographer; restored byAdam Cuerden

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