78 and 77 years ago today

[Enceladus828]

78 years ago:

HMAS Sydney, the Pride of the Australian Navy was sunk by the German Raider, HSK Kormoran 200 km off the Western Australian coast on the late afternoon of November 19th 1941. In the aftermath, both ships had disappeared beneath the waves. While 317 out of 399 of Kormoran's crew were rescued, Sydney's entire crew of 645 had perished, making this Australia's worst Maritime disaster. UIAM, this story is greatly unknown to most people outside of Australia and possibly Germany.

 

Important note: There was likely no shooting of Sydney survivors in the water after the battle or any war crimes/failure to follow rules of engagement by Kormoran's crew.

 

Some pics: 

         

 

77 years ago:

During the Battle of Stalingrad, the Soviets launched their counter-offensive, Operation Uranus, which encircled the German 6th Army in Stalingrad for 2 and 1/2 months before they surrendered.  

 

Cheers,

Novice Flyer