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Whether the raid was a success is debated. Two of three dams were breached. The unusual manoeuvres needed to drop the bombs put the crews in especial danger and there was a 40% casualty rate.
The bombs did have an impact on Nazi industry, and Albert Speer commented that he was puzzled as to why the British did not follow up the success.
There were several thousand civilian deaths, many being slave workers. The Nazis realised, however, that the civilians living nearby regarded the dams as a legitimate target, and they could not use the casualties as propaganda.
16-17 May is the anniversary of the 1943 Dambusters raid. This raid by 19 British Lancaster Bombers was carried out on the Eder, Möhne and Sorpe dams in Nazi territory, which were used for hydroelectric power and various other military-industrial applications. The raid was notable because of both its military importance and the novel use of the 'bouncing bomb' to destroy the dams.
(Image: Simon Atack)
In response to Life Magazine, the pro-German American The Fatherland, edited by George Sylvester Viereck, published this cover imagining America if they joined Britain (February 23 1916).
Source
The first Eurovision Song Contest was held in Lugano, Switzerland. At this time the infrastructure was very limited for television transmission.
Switzerland's Lys Assia won with the song 'Refrains'.
Archaeologists from the University of Zadar have found an ancient neolithic-era road. It appears it connected an Hvar culture settlement with the island of Korčula. Not much is known about the Hvar people, but lots of tools and pottery have also been found.
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"We defended the peace - we will keep the peace!"
(Alexander Pogrebinsky and B. Khenkin, 1985).
A Soviet Victory Day poster celebrating 40 years since the end of the war. The motif "We defended the peace - we will keep the peace" ("Мир отстояли - мир сохраним") was a common theme.
The monarch then probably wants to go home. The crown is actually very heavy and they are probably tired. Unfortunately for them they then have to go in a procession, if there is no riot, like that at William I's coronation.
Image: The Coronation Procession of Elizabeth I of England, 1559.
The monarch is then invested. Here they receive an orb, representing Christ's rule over the world, a ring representing their ceremonial marriage to the nation, and a sceptre. They are then crowned. This is the most important part of the service and the one most depicted in art and propaganda.
Images: detail from The Coronation of King Edward VII by Edwin Austin Abbey, Coronation of Henry IV (1399) by Jean Froissart.
After this the monarch is anointed with sacred oil, using the oldest item in the coronation regalia; the very seriously named Coronation Spoon. This part is considered too sacred to be televised.
Image: Queen Victoria Receiving the Sacrament at her Coronation, 28 June 1838 by Charles Robert Leslie
May 6th sees the coronation of a new British monarch. It is historically significant as the ceremony can be traced back to 973, when English King Edgar was crowned alongside his wife Ælfryth, and may go back before that. Many elements have not changed in a thousand years.
The coronation has no administrative significance, but is rather an affirmation of the monarch's legitimacy and power. It was introduced in imitation of European trends, especially that of Charlemagne.
Top: a train takes witches and ghosts to Blocksberg, Germany, 1932.
Bottom: German postcard depicting witches celebrating in the Harz mountains.
https://thebabyhistorian.com/2019/12/09/beatrice-baxter-ruyl/
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The bouncing bomb was known for its extensive and intensive testing period and inventor Barnes Wallis (pictured). Many failed prototypes were tried to design a bomb that could reach the dams and explode after sinking. They were tested in Reculver, Kent, and the Fleet, in Dorset, where a golfball-like prototype is still present. The end result was more cylindrical.
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The Atlantic being transformed into 'Lake Winston Churchill' perhaps a reference to Churchill being half-American.
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'My Country, Tis of Thee' - Life Magazine, February 10 1916.
In response to an earlier German publication.
Source
More posters like this:
https://my-ussr.ru/soviet-posters/holidays/136-posters-of-the-ussr-for-the-holidays-the-day-of-the-great-victory-day-may-9.html
There are lots of specifics and bizarre elements about the ceremony. For example, some elements of Scottish coronations are fused in, such as in how the monarch is crowned atop the "Stone of Destiny" upon which all Scottish monarchs are crowned.
Such is the nature of a ceremony that is in many ways completely outdated. Even many surviving European monarchies no longer carry out a coronation. Since monarchy is now firmly hereditary, and there is no chance of a challenger, the main reasons for it happening are gone. It survives as a purported personification of political continuity and adherence to the rule of law.
They then receive the homage, where everyone present swears fealty. In times where those present might be planning a rebellion, this was also a very important part.
Image: The homage at the coronation of George VI (1937).
However the coronation's homage to Biblical traditions can be seen in the reciting of the Biblical passage about 'Zadok the Priest', which was put to music by Handel in 1727.
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There are numerous stages to the coronation, the first being the recognition and oath, in which those assembled formally recognise the monarch, who then performs his or her oath (pictured: Edward VII's oath, 1902).
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"The sacred oil which will be used to anoint King Charles at his coronation was consecrated at a ceremony in Jerusalem. It is based on the oil used for the coronation of the late Queen Elizabeth 70 years ago."
Source: Reuters (https://reut.rs/3yxQzyJ).
Soviet female athletes, a May Queen amongst them, at the Moscow May Day parade (5 May 1936). The May Queens were specially chosen female athletes and wore crowns, an apparent blending of the old traditions with the socialist element of the day. Such displays were encouraged after Stalin's 1935 declaration that 'life is now better, life is now gayer' (a dubious claim).
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It is Walpurgisnacht. This night celebrates Saint Walpurga. Born in Devon, England, Walpurga carried out missionary activities in Germany and was known for her strength against witches. Henceforth, the night often features witch and folklore-themed celebrations, which can vary by region. Many are drawn from old pagan beliefs.
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A series of Roman forts have recently been discovered in Saudi Arabia using satellite imagery on Google Earth. It seems likely they date from the 106 AD Roman invasion of the Nabataean Kingdom. The location of the forts indicates they were attempting to launch a surprise attack by coming from an unexpected direction, as opposed to previous theories that held that the transfer of power to Rome was peaceful after the death of King Rabbel II Soter.
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Käsebier and Ruyl were both progressive photographers who were active in the early 20th century. Ruyl was known for her photos of Zuni Pueblo Indians and mothers.
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