this week in history

second Battle of Passchendaele 

Oct-26 to Nov-10 1917 

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On October 26,1917 the first assault of the Battle of Passchendaele began. This battle finally broke the jugger knot of the German defence around the town. By November 10 the Canadian army captured the town and had down the impossible "again". This battle was the largest action the Canadian army had yet fought in the war and had prov en among the bloodiest.

Second Battle of El Alamin 

Oct-23 Nov-4 1942

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Seventy years ago today the German army launched a counter attack on the British army that had opened the second battle of El Alamein on the October 23, 1942. By October 26 the offensives had been bogged down in mine fields. the German army mounted a counter attack that lasted for several days but eventually petered out. The German line broke in early November forcing the Africa Corps into full scale retreat, with the British  eighth army hot on its heels. The picture above shows the actions of the British and German Armies on October 26th.

The Battle of Santa Cruz

Oct-25 to Oct-27 1942 

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Today in 1942 the main action of the Battle of Santa Cruz took place in the South Pacific. This battle was the last carrier action of 1942. It ended with one American carrier sunk and one severely damaged.  On the Japanese side two air craft carriers were disabled. this battle was a Japanese tactical victory but left the imperial navy with no more operational ships left to face the Americans and even they reserve of pilots was gone. As for the US Navy the surviving carrier enterprise was back in service within 2 weeks and played a important part in the defence of Guadalcanal.