May 12

1943 - Axis forces in North Africa surrendered:  WWII.

Hitler’s 'soft underbelly' was collapsing...Taking Africa and Italy first was a brilliant strategy, and one Stalin cried about for years.

1. The German forces in North Africa and Italy would have likely overwhelmed - and enveloped from Africa, Italy and Germany proper - a continental invasion force at this point in the war. If this happened, instead of a forward fighting attack, the Allies would have had to fight German forces from all sides.

2. The 'underbelly' was a great training ground for American troops, because Rommel’s forces in Africa had been fighting the Brits for years and were wearing down. Also, the Nazi forces in Italy were probably Hitler’s worst units (even though they had great leadership), and the Italian troops were - well they were Italians (more French than the French).

3. Instead of taking on the main German forces, the Allies allowed the Ruskies to take the brunt of the fighting...And they deserved such a double-cross for allying with Hitler in 1939 (as well as dropping out of WWI without the Western allies).

So, Uncle Joe was right to feel the Soviets were screwed over, but Churchill and FDR were also right in thinking the USSR brought it on themselves, and the Western Allies needed more time before invading the Continent.

1949 - The Soviet Union announced an end to the Berlin Blockade. The Berlin airlift bringing supplies into West Berlin, Germany (blockaded by the USSR since June 1948) ended after 277,264 flights when the USSR allowed normal land communications to resume.

The first battle of the Cold War was over, and the good guys won...We weren't always so lucky.

Thankfully, old-school Democrats were in charge instead of today's Democrats. Had modern-day Democrats been in charge, much of Europe would currently be under the Soviet boot...And yes, there would still be a Soviet Union if the Democrats had their way.

2002 - Former president Jimmy Carter became the first U.S. president (in or out of office) to visit Fidel Castro's Cuba.

I’m sure they became great friends...No less should be expected from the worst U.S. president of the 20th Century.