Eighty years ago this week MacArthur returns and Rommel departs

US forces landed on the Philippines near Leyte in the southern component of the overall Pacific strategy. The northern, island hopping component was aimed more directly at the Japanese home islands and was of arguably greater strategic value. The invasion was led by General MacArthur, who had commanded in Manila when the Japanese had conquered the islands in 1942; he had famously promised that he would return and the landings made good on that promise. The Philippines President Osmena came ashore with him. He had hoped to land dry-shod and was furious when the beach master forced him to use a deep draught vessel so he had to wade the last yards to the beach. This translated to a look of grim determination on his face captured on the publicity photographs which were so powerful that he was reconciled to the inconvenience.

The Regent of Hungary, Admiral Horthy, attempted to bring his country over to the allied side even though German forces had occupied Hungary in March  but he was forestalled by the Germans.  Horthy's son was kidnapped by special forces commander Otto Skorzeny whilst engaged in clandestine peace talks. The Admiral himself was deposed and replaced by a member of Hungary's fascist party. Hungarian forces continued to fight on the German side.

Field Marshal Rommel commited suicide. He had been confronted at his home by two Wehrmacht generals, Burgdorf and Maisel, who were acting on instructions of Field Marshal Keitel, armed forces chief of staff and servile Hitler loyalist, and told that there was evidence that he had been involved in the July 20th bomb plot to kill Hitler. He was promised that if he took his own life, nothing would be said of this and he would be treated as a hero. His death was ascribed to the wounds he had received in an allied air attack and he was given a state funeral