World War Two

On 29 April 1946, the International Military Tribunal for the Far East convenes in Tokyo for the first time, formally indicting 28 of Japan’s top wartime leaders on charges of crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

Modelled after the Nuremberg Trials in Europe, the Tribunal was established by the proclamation of General Douglas MacArthur in January under the authority of the Allied Powers. The Charter of the Tribunal was issued on 19 January and outlined the legal framework for trying individuals rather than states, bringing Japanese leaders to account for aggressive war, atrocities, and the systematic abuse of civilians and prisoners. Investigators from eleven Allied nations have spent months compiling evidence to build cases against Japan’s wartime elite.

The indictments, handed down today, accuse the defendants of conspiring to wage wars of aggression across the Asia-Pacific region between 1928 and 1945, violating international law, and overseeing atrocities including the Nanjing Massacre, the abuse of Allied POWs, and the forced labour of civilians. The charges span three classes of crimes: Class A (crimes against peace), Class B (conventional war crimes), and Class C (crimes against humanity).

Among the most prominent figures in the dock are former Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, widely seen as the face of Japan’s militarist regime, and Foreign Minister Shigenori Tōgō, who signed the Tripartite Pact with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. Also indicted are General Iwane Matsui, accused of command responsibility in the Nanjing Massacre; Kōki Hirota; and Kenryō Satō.

The courtroom itself—set up in the former War Ministry building in Ichigaya, Tokyo—is heavily fortified, with proceedings broadcast and recorded under the watch of an international bench. Eleven judges from the Allied powers preside, including Sir William Webb of Australia, who serves as President.

On this first day, the court reads out the full 55-count indictment over several hours, naming the accused and outlining the scope of their alleged crimes.

Picture: International Military Tribunal in Tokyo, Japan in May 1946
Source: Getty Images

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World War Two

On 28 April 1946, violent riots erupt around the Landsberg Displaced Persons camp after a rumour spreads that two Jewish guards have been killed.

The day already carries symbolic weight. In the town of Landsberg am Lech, local Germans are participating in the first democratic municipal elections since Hitler’s rise to power. For Jewish residents in the nearby Landsberg DP camp, it marks the one-year anniversary of the liberation of several Kaufering subcamps of Dachau, where many of them had been imprisoned.

This morning, a rumour spreads through the camp: two young Jewish men, assigned as guards to a villa in the nearby town of Dießen, have gone missing. As the story circulates, details grow more ominous—by afternoon, many camp residents believe the two men have been killed. Fueled by grief, fear, and anger, and absent any confirmation from authorities, groups of Jewish DPs begin forming vigilante bands, determined to exact revenge.

By evening, hundreds of male and female camp residents pour into the surrounding streets. German civilians are stopped and interrogated. Some are beaten, robbed, and, according to multiple testimonies, photographed while bloodied and humiliated. One woman recalls that when her husband pleaded for mercy, the assailants claimed, “Six Jews were killed last night, and revenge must be taken.” Vehicles passing near the camp are halted and damaged; drivers are pulled from their cars and assaulted. Witnesses describe the attackers as wielding clubs, iron hooks, and, in some cases, knives. At least twenty Germans are hospitalised, seven seriously wounded, and one left in critical condition.

The attackers include members of the camp police—identified by their capes and Star of David insignia—raising alarm over the role of self-defence forces within the DP system.

The violence subsides by nightfall, but the fallout will continue for months. Only later will it emerge that the two missing Jewish guards had simply abandoned their post early that morning and taken a train to Munich without authorisation. No attack had occurred.

Picture: Zionist demonstration in the DP camp in Landsberg, Nov 1947
Source: Yad Vashem Photo Archives 1486/612

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World War Two

On 27 April 1946, the McDonnell XHJH Whirlaway takes to the skies for its maiden flight, becoming the largest helicopter yet flown in the United States and the first American twin-rotor helicopter ever to lift off.

Developed for the U.S. Navy, the Whirlaway—formally designated the XHJH-1—emerges from a wartime drive to expand rotary-wing aviation beyond small, single-rotor designs. At a time when helicopters remain experimental and largely confined to niche roles, the Whirlaway represents a bold step into heavy-lift capability and multi-passenger transport. Unlike conventional helicopters such as the Bell Model 47, which received FAA civilian certification just weeks ago, which we covered in our 8 March post, McDonnell's new machine explores a very different engineering path: the transverse-rotor system.

The XHJH Whirlaway is built around two horizontally opposed, intermeshing rotors mounted at the ends of short wing-like outriggers. This transverse-rotor layout eliminates the need for a tail rotor, which in traditional designs counters torque produced by the main rotor. By using two counter-rotating rotors on either side of the fuselage, the Whirlaway inherently balances torque while also improving lateral stability. The aircraft is powered by two 450-horsepower Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior radial engines—each driving one of the rotors—allowing it to lift heavier loads than any other American helicopter to date.

The Whirlaway’s fuselage is large and boxy, designed to carry up to 10 passengers or bulky cargo. Its rear loading ramp and internal layout suggest the Navy’s interest in using it for air-sea rescue, medical evacuation, and cargo transport—tasks unmanageable with the compact Bell 47 or Sikorsky R-4. In testing, the XHJH-1 demonstrates promising handling characteristics and robust lift performance, though its size and mechanical complexity raise concerns about maintenance and operational costs.

Nevertheless, today, test pilot Charles R. Wood showcases the Whirlaway's flight capabilities.

Picture: The world’s first twin-engine helicopter, the XHJD-1, also was the largest.
Source: U.S. Naval Institute Photo Archive

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World War Two

On 26 April 1946, Chinese Communist forces capture the strategically vital city of Changchun in Manchuria.

Soviet forces occupied Manchuria until just a few days ago, formally handing over control to the KMT as stipulated by agreements with the Allies. However, the CCP has moved swiftly and established a strong military presence in the northern and central parts of the region. These tensions intensified rapidly as both sides accused the other of violating the fragile truce mediated by American envoy General George Marshall earlier this year.

KMT forces, led by Lieutenant General Cheng Tung-kuo, initially made significant gains, capturing Mukden by mid-March. Following this success, KMT commanders grew confident, planning an aggressive push northward toward Changchun, aiming to assert full control over Manchuria. The KMT had concentrated two of their strongest army corps—the elite American-trained New First Army and the Seventy-First Army—in a rapid advance towards Changchun, intending to secure the city immediately after the scheduled Soviet withdrawal on 15 April.

However, General Lin Biao, commanding CCP forces in Manchuria, anticipated this move and planned an effective response. Capitalising on the widespread discontent towards KMT administration and deploying experienced troops, the CCP launched aggressive pre-emptive attacks. Fighting intensified around Changchun about two weeks ago, with CCP troops, including Lin Biao’s veteran divisions, swiftly moving into the suburbs and cutting off key supply and communication routes into the city.

From 18 April onwards, fierce battles erupted around Changchun, as CCP forces began a comprehensive siege. By 22 April, KMT units inside Changchun faced severe shortages of food, ammunition, and reinforcements.

This morning, Lin Biao orders a coordinated assault involving his most seasoned units, breaking through KMT defensive positions and forcing the defenders into a chaotic retreat. By evening, Changchun falls decisively to CCP forces, delivering a critical blow to Nationalist ambitions in Manchuria.

Picture: Members of the Communist New Fourth Army stand at attention
Source: Getty Images

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World War Two

On 25 April 1946, France presents a memorandum at the Council of Foreign Ministers in Paris proposing the separation and international control of key German regions—the Ruhr, Rhineland, and Saar.

The Council, meeting in Paris this month, is addressing critical issues left unresolved after Germany's surrender.

In its detailed memorandum submitted today, France insists that Germany must be decisively deprived of the war-making capabilities concentrated in the Rhine-Westphalian region. Rather than annex these areas outright, France advocates a system of political and economic separation and international oversight.

For the Ruhr, home to Germany's coal mines and heavy industry and populated by approximately five million inhabitants, France proposes complete internationalisation. The region would become an independent political entity, governed under international supervision. Crucially, the Ruhr’s major industrial assets would be expropriated, operated as international public utilities, and a customs barrier established to prevent Germany from utilising these resources for future armament.

Regarding the Rhineland, France suggests its political and economic separation from Germany, advocating for permanent military occupation by Allied troops. France would take primary responsibility southward up to Cologne, with Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and potentially the United Kingdom managing northern sectors. The Rhineland states would have significant autonomy.

France’s demands for the Saar region go further. The Saar’s mines, previously awarded to France by the Treaty of Versailles, would again become French state property, and the territory would operate within French customs and monetary systems.

Finally, France reiterates opposition to any immediate centralisation within Germany, emphasising decentralisation as agreed upon at Potsdam. Local German governments within each Allied occupation zone should form the basis of Germany’s future political structure, preventing the resurgence of centralised Prussian dominance.

Picture: The Paris Conference of Foreign Ministers opens at the Luxembourg Palace in Paris, France, 25th April 1946
Source: Getty Images

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World War Two

On 24 April 1946, the Soviet Union successfully conducts the first test flights of its indigenous jet fighters—the MiG-9 and Yak-15.

The Soviet drive for jet fighters began during the final months of the war. Captured German jet technology, including the BMW 003 and Jumo 004 engines, became a critical resource. In April 1945, the Soviet government tasked aero-engine factories in Kazan and Ufa with producing these engines under the designations RD-20 (BMW 003) and RD-10 (Jumo 004). Simultaneously, Soviet design bureaus received strict orders from Stalin to rapidly develop jet-powered aircraft.

Two prominent Soviet aircraft designers, Artyom Mikoyan and Aleksandr Yakovlev, received orders to produce single-seat jet fighters. Mikoyan’s bureau (OKB-155) pursued a twin-engine layout, resulting in the MiG-9. Yakovlev’s OKB opted for a simpler approach by converting their proven piston-engine Yak-3 fighter into a jet-powered model—the Yak-15.

The MiG-9, initially designated as the I-300, featured two RD-20 turbojets housed in the fuselage, exhausting beneath the tail boom. This unusual configuration aimed to minimise drag and optimise thrust but posed significant technical challenges, including severe fuselage heating and structural vibrations from jet exhaust gases. Engineers overcame these issues using heat-resistant shields initially inspired by aircraft industry practices from captured German jet prototypes.

Meanwhile, Yakovlev’s Yak-15 retained much of the Yak-3’s airframe, removing the piston engine and installing a single RD-10 turbojet under the forward fuselage, creating a distinctive "pod-and-boom" appearance. This simpler conversion allowed quicker development and lower risk, though performance was somewhat limited by its reliance on an older piston-airframe structure.

After months of intense preparation, this morning, test pilot Aleksey Grinchik takes the MiG-9 into the air first, circling the airfield twice and landing safely after six minutes. Later that same day, pilot Mikhail Ivanov successfully completes the maiden flight of the Yak-15.

Picture: Grinchik preparing to take off in the first MiG-9 prototype.
Source: Russian Aviation Research Trust

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World War Two

On 23 April 1946, Enrico Piaggio files a patent for the Vespa scooter, an innovative two-wheeled vehicle intended to aid Italy's urgent post-war recovery.

Piaggio & Co., once prominent producers of aircraft parts and military equipment, suffered extensive destruction from Allied bombing campaigns during the recent war. As Italy grapples with the daunting task of reconstruction, Enrico Piaggio turns his company's considerable aeronautical experience towards creating practical civilian transport, addressing the desperate need for affordable and reliable mobility.

Earlier this year, Piaggio collaborated with renowned aeronautical engineer Corradino D’Ascanio to devise a new scooter prototype. Drawing heavily from aviation technology—and reusing surplus aircraft parts—D’Ascanio created a distinctive vehicle unlike conventional motorcycles. His initial prototype, known as the MP5 "Paperino," proved cumbersome, prompting rapid redesign into the sleeker MP6, which now receives its official patent application.

The Vespa (Italian for "wasp," due to its buzzing engine sound and slender waist-like design) incorporates numerous aviation-inspired innovations, including a stress-bearing steel chassis reminiscent of airplane fuselages, a streamlined enclosed engine that shields the rider from oil and dirt, and unique front suspension resembling aircraft landing gear. Even some wheel and suspension components have been directly adapted from spare airplane parts, showcasing Piaggio's resourcefulness in the face of material shortages.

The scooter's compact size, simplicity of operation, and economical fuel consumption make it particularly suited to the post-war environment of rationing, damaged roads, and limited public transport. Piaggio hopes the Vespa will enable thousands of Italians to return swiftly and safely to factories, offices, and fields, significantly contributing to Italy’s economic revival.

Picture: Luigi Di Gennaro (holding the handlebars) - dealer Piaggio and famous motorcycle racer, and Piaggio mechanic Guido Galbani (on the left). (Acquasanta Golf Club, Rome, March 29, 1946
Source: Piaggio Historical Archives

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World War Two

On 22 April 1946, General George C. Marshall publicly criticises the Chinese Communist Party for violating peace agreements, deepening mistrust, and pushing China closer to civil war.

As we covered in our 10 January post, President Truman appointed General George Marshall as his special envoy to broker peace between the rival factions. Marshall’s mission initially appeared promising; negotiations in Chungking earlier this year led to a ceasefire agreement and the formation of joint "peace teams" intended to enforce a nationwide truce and pave the way towards a unified government.

However, optimism quickly faded. Almost immediately after agreements were finalised, skirmishes erupted, particularly in North China and Manchuria. General Marshall, speaking to journalists at a press conference in Tokyo yesterday, openly expressed his disappointment with the Chinese Communist Party. Marshall stated unequivocally that the Communists had violated "elementary terms of the truce" by attacking government-controlled troop trains and surrounding and assaulting towns recently evacuated by Soviet troops.

He accused the CCP of demonstrating false eagerness during earlier negotiations, noting they had initially appeared committed to peace only to abandon agreements when conditions seemed favourable for military advantage. Marshall described Communist accusations against the Kuomintang—branding Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek a ruthless dictator and criticising the Nationalist-led administration as a "one-party Cabinet"—as a deliberate "campaign of mudslinging and calumny," aimed at undermining government legitimacy.

The General further warned that the CCP appeared to be rushing to establish spheres of influence in strategically vital territories, driven by unfounded fears that the central government was plotting their extermination. "China," he remarked, "was the victor against Japan, but materially and economically she is utterly unbalanced. Above all, China needs good leadership and the cooperation of every single Chinese."

Picture: Portrait of General Chang Chun, General George C. Marshall, General Chou En-lai, and Dr. Hsu Mo (L to R).
Source: Getty Images

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World War Two

On 21 April 1946, the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands, SED) is officially founded in East Berlin.

The formation of the SED results from a forced merger between two historic leftist rivals: the Communist Party of Germany (KPD) and the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). These two parties had shared deep ideological and strategic divisions since the early 20th century, particularly during the Weimar Republic. While the SPD pursued a parliamentary path toward socialism, the KPD aligned with Soviet-style Marxism-Leninism and openly opposed the SPD, even branding them "social fascists" during the 1930s.

After the Nazi regime outlawed both parties in 1933, many of their leaders were imprisoned, executed, or driven into exile. In the aftermath of Germany's defeat, both the KPD and SPD were re-established under Soviet license. However, as early as the summer of last year, Soviet authorities and German Communists began quietly pressuring Social Democrats to merge with the KPD in the Soviet zone—a move sold as a necessary unification to prevent a resurgence of fascism and ensure peace.

SPD members were deeply divided over the merger. While some agreed, many feared Communist domination and resisted what they saw as an undemocratic union. In the Western zones of Germany, the SPD remains a separate party, but in the East, the Soviet-backed consolidation effort succeeds. Despite significant internal opposition and reported cases of intimidation, arrests, and suppression of anti-merger Social Democrats, the unification is pushed through.

Today, the SED is born at a formal congress held in the Admiralspalast in Berlin. The party’s charter is read aloud and a joint leadership is elected, with Otto Grotewohl of the SPD and Wilhelm Pieck of the KPD serving as co-chairmen. Their presence is meant to symbolise parity between the two founding parties, though in practice, the former Communists hold dominant control and align the new party closely with Moscow’s interests.

Picture: Walter Ulbricht, Secretary-General of the newly formed party, unveils its official banner.
Source: BPA

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World War Two

On 20 April 1946, the Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry releases its final report, recommending the immediate admission of 100,000 Jewish displaced persons into Mandatory Palestine—but stopping short of endorsing the creation of a Jewish state.

Established in November last year, the Committee was created to investigate the plight of European Jews following the Holocaust and determine a viable political path forward for Palestine. President Truman’s letter to Prime Minister Attlee in August 1945 had called for urgent solutions, particularly regarding Jewish immigration, while the British sought to share the political burden of the Palestine question with the U.S.

Comprising six American and six British members, the Committee has since toured DP camps across Europe and visited Palestine, interviewing over a hundred witnesses, including Zionist leaders, Arab representatives, and international experts. Despite divergent ideological leanings among the members, today’s report is presented as a unified recommendation.

The central recommendation—to admit 100,000 European Jewish refugees to Palestine without delay—is a response to the appalling conditions in the DP camps.

However, the report also delivers a major political blow to the Zionist movement by recommending against the establishment of a Jewish state. It instead proposes that Palestine remain a bi-national state under British trusteeship, governed with equal rights and protections for both Jews and Arabs.

It also outlines the need for economic development and the establishment of a legislative council and calls for restrictions on land sales and immigration to be reviewed. The Committee explicitly condemns terrorism and violent resistance from Jewish militants while also warning of growing Arab hostility.

Today’s release immediately sets off heated reactions in both London and Washington. Zionist groups express disappointment over the rejection of a Jewish state, while Arab leaders vehemently oppose the immigration proposal.

Picture: Members of the Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry standing next to the Western Wall
Source: Central Zionist Archives (via Harvard University Library)

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