Topic: It Happened this day in WWII

[Libertas]

No hurry, we aren't going anywhere.   

[rustybayonet]

March 11

1941 – Disorder in Yugoslavia breaks out out with demonstrations against Germany and Italy.
   -----   Lend-Lease Bill signed by President Roosevelt, becomes law.

1942 – Following President Franklin D. Roosevelt's orders, Gen. Douglas MacArthur pulls out of the Philippines, as the American defense of the islands collapses.
  -----    Burma – Allied troops take defensive postions to keep the Japanese out of the northern part of the country.
  -----   The 17th Indian Division is deployed near Tharrawaddy, in the Irrawaddy Valley.
 -----   1st Burma Division takes up positions in the upper Sittang Valley.
  -----   Lt. General Stilwell of the U.S. Army is appointed to command the Chinese 5th Army, to takes up position at Mandalay and 6th Army, with the garrison at Shan States, with another Chinese Division deployed in thd Toungoo area.
  -----   Winston Churchill speaks on India Sir Stafford Cripps is to be sent to India to prepare the way for independence.

1943 – Fighting continues in all areas.

1944 – Eastern Front – Russians occupy Berislav, east of Kherson.
   -----  Indian Tront – In Anzio sector units of the U.S. VI Corps begin preperations for a new offensive around the Albano road.
   -----  Bougainville – Atacking the Cape Torokina beachhead the Japanese gain little ground in the direction of the Piva airfield.
   -----  Admiralty Islands – American patrols land on Manus Island to reconnoitre.  On an islet north of Manus they fall into an ambush by the Japanese and only just succeed in re-embarking, after suffering heavy losses.
   -----  Burma – The 17th Indian Division takes Buthidaung in the Arakan.
   -----  Strong contingents of British and Indian Chindits are air-lifted into central Burma.

1945 – Western Front – With the capture of the Blucher strongpoint, the 35th Division U.S. 9th Army completes it's advance on Wesel.
  -----  American units take up positions around the Remagen bridgehead, U.S. 78th Division on the northern flank, 9th Division continues attack on the Hargarten area, and 99th Division in an offensive to the south-east the reaches Leubsdorf and Ariendorf.
   -----  Further south 2nd Division V Corps of the U.S. Strenghtens position on the Rhine.
   -----  U. S. VIII and XII Corps, 3rd Army continue mopping up operations on the west bank of the Rhine between the Rhine and the Moselle, in preparation for a crossing of the Moselle to be joined by XX Corps 10th Armoured to advance towards the river in the Bullay sector.
   -----  Eastern Front – Troops press from the south towards Danzig and Gdynia.
   -----  Berlin announces slight penetrations in the area of Kustrin.
   -----  In Hungary – German persist the their offensive, but losses are getting heavier with the Russian resistance stiffening.
   -----  Phillippines – Luzon, the U.S. XIV Corps, 43rd Division replaces the 1st Cavalry in the operations against the Shimbu line.
   -----   6th Infantry Division makes considerable progress south of Antipolo repulsing a series of night counter-attacks by the Japanese.
   -----  U.S. 33rd Division advances within 10 miles of Baguio.
   -----  U.S. 33rd Division is held upby the Japanese at Salacsac Pass.
   -----  Unit of the U.S. 35th Division occupy Salazar.
   -----  Iwo Jima - 4th Marine Division finally overcomes Japanese resistance in it's area on the right flank of the America line.
   -----  3rd Marine Division eliminates remaining Japanese strongpoints one by one , while5th Division advances slowly despite support from close-range fire and use of tanks armed with flame throwers.
   -----  Burma – Bridtish XXXIII Corpssector 19th Indian Diovision carries on battle for the capture of Mandalay.

[rustybayonet]

March 12

1940 – A peace treaty between Finland and the Soviet Union is signed in Moscow, including the cession of the Karelian ishmus, including Viipuri.  Terms confirm that the Hanko peninsula must be leased to the USSR for 30 years and that Russian personnel and materials must be allowed free passage in the region of Petsamo.  Stricken and humiliated, Finland still retains it's independence.

1941 – President Roosevelt sends congress a request for a Lend-Lease appropriation of $7,000 million.
   -----  Winston Churchill thanks America saying,” The people of America have in fact written a new Magna Carta”.
   -----  Heavy night raids on Merseyside.

1942 – New Caledonia – 17,500 Americans commanded by General Patch land at Noumea to garrison the island, build and equip base installations.
   -----  Andaman Islands – following the fall of Rangoon the British base here is no longer defensible and the garrison is taken off by seaplanes.
   -----  Burma – Allied headquarters set up at Maymyo, near Mandalay.
  ----- Eastern Front – RAF bombers attack Kiel and other targets in north-west Germany.
   -----  Luftwaffe is engaged more and more, the RAF is gradually winning air superiority in the west.
   -----  Since beginning of March RAF has been carrying out raids against German industrial centers and submarine bases, boath in Germany, France, and Italy.

1943 – The New Zealand Corps from the 2nd Division and the 8th Armoured Division begins to carry out Montgomery's plan to encircle the Axis force on the left flank.
   -----  Eastern Front – furious fighting in the streets of Kharkov.
   -----  German in the central sector now give up one postion after another to avoid surprise attack from the Russian advance from the south. 
   -----  Vyazma is ocuppied by the Russians without a shot fired.
   -----  Burma – General Stilwell, Chiang-Kai-cCeks advisor and chief of Staff is worried by Japanese troop movement in northern Burma and sends re-inforcements to Ledo.
   -----  Japanese try to encircle the Arakan sector to cut off the Indian units.
   -----  Washington DC – Pacific Military Conference to decide on strategy against the Japanese in 1943, opens and will last until the 15th.  General Southerland,MacArthurs Chief of Staff, submits revised version of the Elktron plan to capture New Britain and especially the Japanese base of Rabual.  It's now a co-ordinated effort with Admiral Halseys South Pacific Fleet.  Halseys would take the Soloman Islands while MacArthur would take New Guinea.  Once again differences between Nimitz, Commander – in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet, and MacArthur.
   -----  Italy – In Turin 100,000 workers strike.  Strikes immediately follow in Lombardy and Genoa.  These are against the regime and bring war production to a halt, and infuriates Hitler, who bursts out, 'It is inconceivable to me that work can be stopped … that anyone can have dared to hold it up …. if you show the least weakness in cases like this, you are finished”.

[rustybayonet]

March 13

1940 – At 11:00 AM all hostilities cease on the Finnish Front.  During the war with the Soviet Union; Finland lost some 25,000 dead, Russian dead number 200,000.  45,000 wounded for Finland and an unspecified number for Russia.

1941 – Greek-Albanian Front – Fighting contunues by Greeks against the Italians.  Trying to reach Klisura the Italians do not succeed in breaking the Greek line causing the fighting to continue until the end of the month.
   -----  Clydeside experiences it's first attack.  More heavy attacks on Merseyside where raids the last two nights have killed 500 and possibly injured 500 more.

1942 – New Guinea – Having consolidated their positions around Lae and Salamaua, the Japanese replace their infantry with navy personel.
   -----  Solomon Islands – Captured Buka and other Islands in the north of the archipelago is completed. Landing operations is protected by the Japanese 4th Fleet. Based on Rabaul, New Britain.

1943 – Eastern Front – Violent fighting continues as the Germans attack the Russian defenders holding Kharkov.

1944 – Eastern Front – The 3rd Ukraine Front advances across the lower Dniepr.  Kberson is captured and the Red Army advances towards Nikolayev.
   -----  Bougainville – An attack supported by tanks, Americans succeed in recapturing almost all positions occupied by Japanese since their offensive began.
   -----  Admiralty Islands – The squadron of the U.S. 7th Cavalry landed on Hauwei receives tank support and completes the capture of the island, and immediately large guns are landed to shell Manus Island.
   -----  Burma – Japanese attack 'Broadway' airstrip, used for supplying the Chindit units.  Admiral Mountbatten orders aircraft to be detached from the 5th Indian Division to central sector of the Arkan, which is giving way under Japanese pressure.

1945 –  Western Front – On the northern flank of the Remagen bridgehead, 78th Division unable to advance against the firm opposition of the German 7th Army.
   -----  9th U.S. Division having taken Hargarten moves on in the region between Kalendorn, Notscheid and Hartgerten.
   -----  U.S, 3rd Army completes their preperations to attack against Moselle.
   -----  Phillippines – U.S. XIV Corps drives off further Japanese counter-attacks in the area of Manila.
   -----  Iwo Jima – Americans go ahead with the liquidation of the Japanese positions on their left flank, using flamethrowers, bulldozers and tanks as well as artillery.  Naval aircraft and guns intervene because the two sides are at such close quarters.

[Libertas]

Finns 8:1 kill ratio while being out-everythinged (except fighting spirit, knowledge of their terrain and some really good snipers) really took it to the Mongrels.

[rustybayonet]

March 14

1940 – European turmoil continues building.
.
1941 – Hostilities continue in Europe.
   -----  Planning for December raid on Pearl Harbor continues in Japan.

1942 – North Africa – Further heavy bombing of Benghazi by the RAF.
   -----  Malta – Axis raids on TaVenezia and Hal Far by Germany.
   -----  US Chief of Staff committee decides to maintain defensive positions in the Pacific theater and proceed with the build-up of American forces in Britain for the opening of a second front against the Axis in Europe.

1943 – Eastern Front – German armour and infantry eradicate the last resistance in Kharkov.
   -----  New Guinea – Australians and Americans attack again, forcing the Japanese to retreat slowly north of Guadagasel.

1944 – Eastern Front – Russians traps a large Geerman force near Nikolayev.  10,000 German are killed and 4,000 taken prisoner.
   -----  The pro-Allied Italian government in the south, establishes diplomatic relations with the Coviet Union.
   -----  South-west Pacific – Admiral Nimitz proposes to MacArthur that aerial attacks should be carried out by his aircraft carriers on Hollandia and New Guinea in preporation for the invasion, and promises air support for the landing and – for a limited period after the landing also.  Rear Admiral Wilkinson is given the task of directing operations for the capture of Emira in the St. Matthias Islands.
   -----  Bougainville – Americans take steps to consolidate the positions retaken around the defensive perimeter of the Cape Torokina beachhead.
   -----  Burma – The 17th Indian Division is authorized to withdraw to avoid being surrounded, but finds the roak to Imphal already blocked by the Japanese.

1945 – Western Front - While German continue air attacks attempting to destroy the Remagen bridge and pontoon bridges erectedbyu the American III Corps, US 1st Army reorganizes it'sformations in readiness for the attack eat of the Rhine.  On the northern flank of the Remagen the 78th Division reaches it's objective near Agidianberg, Rottbiz and Kalenborn.
   -----  87th Division is moved into the Koblenz-Kehman sectir.  XX Corps takes Heddert, 94th Division takes Weiskirchen, 80th Division takes Nieder Felle and 65th takes Fell.
   -----  American 7th Army completes it's preparations for the offensive against the Sieeried Line, 101sr Cavalry and 7oth Division penetrate into Germany and patrol the south bank of the Saar river.
   -----  Phillippines -  Americans attack Japanese positions on Mount Capisan on Mindanao, while fighting continues north-east of San Roque.
   -----  At 9:30 AM consider that the capture of the island is complete and hoist their falg., but a number of pockets have still to be eliminated.
   -----  Burma – The 19th Indian Division takes most of the city of Mandalay including Fort Dufferin which is heavily bombarded by Allied artillery and aircraft.

[rustybayonet]

March 15

1939 -- Hitler's forces invade and occupy Czechoslovakia--a nation sacrificed on the altar of the Munich Pact, which was a vain attempt to prevent Germany's imperial aims.
  On September 30, 1938, Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, French Premier Edouard Daladier, and British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain signed the Munich Pact, which sealed the fate of Czechoslovakia, virtually handing it over to Germany in the name of peace. Although the agreement was to give into Hitler's hands only the Sudentenland, that part of Czechoslovakia where 3 million ethnic Germans lived, it also handed over to the Nazi war machine 66 percent of Czechoslovakia's coal, 70 percent of its iron and steel, and 70 percent of its electrical power. Without those resources, the Czech nation was left vulnerable to complete German domination.

1940 – Fighting continues in areas of Europe.
   -----  Pearl Harbor planning and organizing continues.

1941 – President Franklin Roosevelt promises aid until victory; :The end of compromise with tyranny”.
   -----  Sharp night attack on London.

1942 – Phillippines – In the Bay of Manila the Japanese artillery is reinfoced and pounds the fortified islands day after day, continuing until 21 March.
   -----  Burma – General Stilwell officially notified that the Commander-in-Chief of operations in Burma is still the British General Wavell, Commander-in-Chief of Allied forces in India answering disagreements of authority that have arisen.
   -----  Berlin – Hitler declares that Russia will be 'annihilatingly defeated' in the coming summer.  He blames the halt fo the German thrust on the exceptionally early winter.

1943 – Burma – Almost all columns making up 77th Indian Brigades Chinidits have crossed the Irrawaddy, cut strategic Baurma Railway in a dozen places.  They continue bold guerilla activities, but their logistic situation is getting precarious since they have to depend on supplies dropped by aircraft at points fixed from one day to the next.
   -----  Japanese are making plans to eliminate the menaced by the Chinidits.
   -----  New Guinea – A battalion of the US 162nd Infantry of the US 42st Division occupies some positions at the mouth of the Mambare River without oppostion.

1944 – Eastern Front – The 1stUkraine and 2nd Ukraine break through the German positions on the river Bug on a broad front to the west of Uman.
   -----  On this date the very long German line stretches from the Barents Sea across Finland to Karelia, from the south shore of the Gulf of Finland along the Narva and Lake Peipus to the south weat ofVitebsk and Mogilev, then southenters Poland and turns south-east following the lineof the Bug.
   -----  The German 17th Army has for some time been cut off in the Crimea.
   -----  the Wehrmachr has been driven back to the same line it held at the beginning of 1941, a few days after the beginning of the invasion.
   -----  In the Anzio sector the Allies have landed some 90,000 Americans and 35,000 British.
   -----  After a massive bombing of Cassino, where the Allies dropped 1,400 tons of bombs and an artillery barrage, the Allies advance on the town
   -----  The New Zealand 2nd Division of General Freyberg's Crops goes into action at 3:30 PM and finds the German resistance is extremely tenacious.  After a short advance the attackers are brought to a halt bya brilliant resistance of the German parachutists of the 1st Division at height 193.
   -----  Towards the evening the 4th Indian Division takes height 165.
   -----  Meanwhile the Allies are preparing 'Operation Strangle' to prevent supplies from reaching the front.  American aircraft bomb and machine-gun streets, bridges, railways and stations plus every form of transportationused by the enemy behind the lines.
   -----  Germany – RAF bombers carry outheavy night raid on Stuttgart.
   -----  Bougainville – The Japaneserenew their attacks against American lines near the Piva runways, make a little progress before being driven back by an American couter-attack with tank support.
   -----  After bombardment by aircraft, ships and artillery the US 8th Cavalry lands on the north coast of Manus Island.  Americans take the village of Lugos Mission and converge on Lorenau airfield.
   -----  Burma – India - While in the north-east, Ameriacn and Chinese adveance to within three miles of Jambu Burn Ridge.
   -----  The Japanese 15th and 31st Divisions cross the Chindwin River in force at several points north of Tamu, Indian forces are at a disadvantage.

1945 – Western Front – US 1st Army, 9th Division captures Lorscheid and Notscheid, 99th Division widens bradgehead over the Rhine.
   -----  German attacks on the American built bridges across the Rhine are beginning to slacken.
   -----  US 3rd Army prepares to cross the Moselle.
   -----  US 7th Army launches 'Operation Undertone' which intends to clear a breach in the Seigfried Line, and working eith 3rd Army to liberate the Saar-Palatinate triangle between the rivers Rhine, Moselle and Lauter-Saar.
   -----  The new Command-in-Chief of the German forces, Field Marshall Kesselring reports to Hitler the situation on the front at the time he took over is undoubtedly critical for the German troops, but it will be almost certainly possible tohalt the Allies if the western armies are re=inforced by some divisions from the Eastern Front.
   -----  Eastern Front – In East Prussia, the 3rd Belorussian Front splits the German forces in two reaching the Baltic coast south-west of Konigsbereg.
   -----  Phillippines; Luzon – In I Corps sector, the 32nd Division is heavily engaged by the Japanese on the Villa Verde track near Imugan, while the 25th Division begins assault on a rocky crest known as Norton's Knob, which the Japanese will hold for 10 days.
   -----  Iwo Jima – liquidation of enemy pockets continues.
   -----  Burma – British IV Corps and the 17th Indian Army Division cut off at Meiktila holds out against Japanese counter-attacks.  5th Brigaade of the Indian 5th Division is air-lifted in to assist the advance toward Jorhat.

[rustybayonet]

March 16

1940 – German air raid on Scapa Flow causes first British civilian casualties.

1941 --  East Africa – British detachments arriving by sea from Aden land at Barbera, in British Somaliland, driving out Italians who have occupied it, and advance westwards towards the Ethiopian border.
   -----  Bristol heavily bombed.
   -----  Hitler speaks; “England will fall.  “Eternal providence does not let those be victorious who are ready to shed blood of man merely for the attainment of their own ends”.

1942 – Eastern Front – Their 'porcupine defensive perimeters' held out well under Russian pressure, the Germans have beencompelled to withdraw all along the line.
   -----  Russian horse cavalry has made the greatest advances between the northern and central area of Kalinin and Kaluga and south of Lake Ilman, where huge German forces have been trapped in pockets in the Demyansk and Kholm region and south sector of Lzyum.
   -----  From Leningrad the front now runs to Novgorod, Staraya Russa and Veliliye Luki manned by Army Group North with the 18th,and 16th Armies.
   -----  German 3rd Armoured Army, 9th Army 4th Armoured Army and 2nd Armoured Army are operating
north of Bryansk and Orel.
   -----  According to OKH statistics the German on the Eastern Front have lost about 240,000 men between January and mid-March, including 52,000 killed and 15,000 missing.  Since 22 June 1941 the Wehrmacht has lost over a million men, and Russian losses are even higher, though the data here is uncertain and controversial.


1943 -- The first reports of the Katyn massacre in Poland seep to the West; reports say that more than 22,000 prisoners of war were killed by the NKVD, who eventually blame the massacre on the Germans.
   -----   In a letter to President Roosevelt, Stalin who has taken at face value Churchill's forecasts in his letters dated 9 February complains in blunt languageabout the 'treachery' [as he discribes] the delay tooperations in Africa andthe preporations for the landing in Sicily of the western Allies.  “your far from clwear reply to the question of the opening of a second front in France has aroused here an uneasiness that cannot be hidden”.  And he has some justification for his bluntness.
1944 – Eastern Front – The central sector the two Belorussian Fronts attack with force, breaking through the lines a Busches Army Corps Group Centre north of Pripet marshes.
   -----  Italian Front – While General Freyberg's New Zealanders make determined but largely unsuccessful efforts to take Cassino and Monte Cassino, a powerful counter-attack by Germanparachutists of the 1st Division drives them back on to the positions they hale on 14 March. Churchill complains to Alexander, asking him if he does not think it would be better to break off the attacks against the valley in front of the Abbey of Monte Cassino and concentrate on a move to get behind the enemy.
   -----  United States XI Corps arrives in Pacific Theater.
   -----  Admiralty Islands – On Manus Island the US 8th Cavalry with tank suppport continues it's advance toward Lorengau airfield.  As Japanese defenses stiffen Amaericans launch a heavy bombing attack during the night.
   -----  On Los Negros Island US land without oppostition at Chaporowan Point.
   -----  New Britain – US Marines reach Kilu east of Willaumez peninsula meeting Japanese defenders for the last time.
   -----  New Guines – Squadrons of the UA 5th AAF continuethe blockade of the Japanese base at Wewak, attacking a supply convoy.
   -----  The Japanese withdraw all their fighters from Wewak and transfer them to Hollandia.
1945 -- The German offensive in Hungary ends with another Soviet victory.
   -----  Western Front – US 1st Armyfurther extend bridgehead over the Rhine at Remagen. The 78th Division cuts the autobaun between Cologne and Frankfurt.
   -----  87th Division launches offensive for the crossing of the Moselle sending two regiments over the river in the area between Willinen and Kolber.  Units of the XII and XX Corps also cross the Moselle.
   -----  Operation Undertone goes on for 7th Army trying to break through the Siegfried Line.
   -----  Phillippines;Luzon American attacks continue against the Shimbu line and Norton's Knob. 
   -----  Iwo Jima is finally secured after a month's fighting;the battle is the only time that the number of    American casualties is larger than the Japanese's. Sporadic fighting will continue as isolated Japanese fighters emerge from caves and tunnels.

[rustybayonet]

March 17

1940 – Germany and Italy continue on their road to domination.
   -----  Japan continues plans and preperations while manufacturing and stocking war materials.

1941 – Huge convoy losses in mid-Atlantic this week.
   -----   The United States of America converts its Corps Areas to Defense Commands, with the term
                Corps reassigned as an intermediate field command of a Field Army.
   -----  East Africa – General Cunningham's troops [11th and 12th East African Divisions] and the South African 1st Division cross the Ethiopian border from British Somaliland and reach Jijiga, recently evacuated by the Italians.

1942 – Pacific – By order of President Roosevelt, General MacArthur flies from Mindanao to Darwin, Australia, where he is to assume supreme command of Allied Forces in the South-weat Pacific.  The territorial limits of his command have still to be worked out.  However, by agreement with the Allied governments, the USA takes over responsibility for the strategic defence of the whole Pacific Ocean.
   -----  Malta – The hammering of the island by Axis aircraft goes on without pause.  Out of 25,000 tons of supplies consigned to the island during the month, only 5,000 tons get through.

1943 – Germany – Berlin admits that, as a result of recent RAF raids, over 20,000 are homeless in Munich and over 100,000 in Essen, Duiburg, Bottrop and Stuttgart.
   -----  Burma – the 55th Indian Brigade which has relieved the 123rd east of the river Mayu, is attacked and surrounded by Japanese at Rathekaung.  With aid of reinforcements it is manages to fight clear of encirclement and to withdraw to Buthidaung, but leaves the troops eastern flanks of the troops west of the Mayu exposed.

1944 – Eastern Front – Troops of the 1st Ukraine Front advance to the south-west of Bovno, Poland, taking the important road and rail junction of Dubno.
   -----  Finland – The Finnish governmentwas recently apprached by Moscow about signing a seperate peace, fails to get the guarantees from London that it asks for and formerly rejects the proposal.
   -----  Italian Front – Units of the New Zealand Corps penetrate into part of Cassino and capture the railway station, but the resistance from German parachutists prevents them from advancing further.
   -----  Bougainville – Japanese carry out more attacks on defensive perimeter of the Cape Torokina beachhead held by US 129th Infantry.  They succeed in making a few small break throughs, but are then driven back.
   -----  Admiralty Island – On Manus Island US 7th and 8th Cavalry take Lorengau airfield. The airfield is to small for American aircraft, so they have to build another one.  Americans are engaged with the Japanese defenders on Los Negros and take some of the positions.
   -----  Burma – Lord Mountbetten presses Churchuill and Roosevelt to urge Chinese Chiang-Ksi-Shek to send Chinese reinforcements into Burma.

1945 – Western Front – US 1st Division opens it's offensive on the eat bank of the Rhine, towards the river Sieg.
   -----  After taking thousnads of tons of supplies, eguipment and troops across the Remagen bridge it collaapses suddenly, fortunately for Allied troops enough has crossed the bridge and Combat Engineers have finished several pontoon both bridges both up and down river to keep supplies coming.
   -----  The 9th and 99th Division of the US reach their objective, with the former cutting the railway line near Windhagen and the later reaching the Wied.
   -----  Units of the US 87th Division succeed in crossing the Moselle near Guels and then opening the offensive in the direction of Koblenz.
   ----- The 90th Division reaches Boppard and St. Goar, while the 4th Armoured and 89th Division exand their bridgeheads on Nahe and at Bullay.
   -----  The Nahe is also crossed at Turkismuhle by the 10th Armoured and while the 94th Division takes Birkenfeld, it's final objective, and the 80th establishes a bridgehead over the Prims in the Krettmich area.
   -----  The 65th Division is preparing to break out of the Saarlautern bridgehead.
   -----  Eisenhower meets Patton to discuss co-ordination between 3rd and 7th Armies for the offensive planned for the end of March.
   -----  In the 7th Army sector the XXI,XV, and VI Corps continue their offensive at breaching the Siegfried Line.
   -----  Marshall Kesselring issues a somewhat ambiguous directive which while ordering 'the maintenance of present positions', adds that 'endirclement, and with it the annihilation of most of the troops is to be avoided.  Hitlers orders against retreat are thus notdirectly contradicted, but General Hauser Commander of Army Group G considers this directive is enough to justify the withdrawl of his two most seriously threatened formations, ordering divions 7th and 1st Armies from the most western positions of the Siegfried Line.
   -----  Eastern Front – The Fuhrer authorizes the evacuation of the Donij-Miholjac bridgehead over the Drava. The 3rd Ukraine Front on the offensive in Hungary, makes progress between Lake Velencei and Lake Balaton.
   -----  Phillippine Islands –americans continue attacks on the Shimbu Line, east of Manila.  Powerful Japanese counter-attacks force the US 1st Army to withdraw in the Sanisidro area.
   -----  On Mindanao, Japanese resistance is mainly condentrated in the area of Masilay and Pasananca.
   -----  Iwo Jima   The last Japanese units still resisting are confined within an area about 200 to 500 yards wide and 625 yards deep.
   -----  Burma – Fighting continues in Mandalay where the Jaoanese hold some positions, and at Meikrila British and Indians are defending themselves against Japanese counter-attacks.  British 2nd Division takes Ava Fort south of Mandalay.

[Libertas]

The common thread for me for all of these is how much of the Burma campaigns are not as well known to me...I mean apart from A Bridge Over the River Kwai not much has been popularized in that area of conflict.  But then again most kids today are probably not aware of Guadalcanal, Bataan or Okinawa either.

[rustybayonet]

March 18

1940 – Hitler and Mussolini meet at Brennero, on th Brenner Pass.  The Italian dictator declares that Italy is ready to jin in the war against Britain and France.

1941 – Spain annexes the Free Territory of Tangier.

1942 – New Hebrides; American infantry and engineers arrive on Efate to build an airfield.
                 [Also see addition below  for this day]

1943 – Tunisia; The Allies liberate Gafsa.
   -----  Burma; The 6th Brigade of British 2nd Division and the 7th Indian Brigade make a last effort to drive the Japanese out of Donbaik.  Then they have to withdraw north because of enemy infiltration.
   -----  India; A group of B-24 Liberator bombers arrives to reinforce the American 14th Army Air Force
   -----  French Guyana declares for the Free Frence.

1944 – Eastern Front; Advancing into Bessaraba, the Russians reach the Rumanian frontier at Yampol, on the east bank of the Dnietr. 
   -----  After bitter fighting, troops of the 1 Ukraine Front capture Zhmerinka, south-west of Vinnitsa.
   -----  Admiral Horthy, Regent of Hungary is summoned to the Fuhrer's headquarters at Rastenburg, where he is arrested.  The Germans are preparing to occupy Hungary.
   -----  Germany; 1,000 RAF bombers make devastating night raid on Frankfurt, dropping 3,000 tons of bombs.  A similar arrack takes place four nights later.
   -----  Pacific; The directives for the occupation of Hollandia, New Guines, are issued. 
   -----  The American amphibian force, commanded by Commodore Reifsnider, which is to land on Emira Island [north of New Ireland], in the St. Matthias group] sails from Guadalcanal.
   -----  Admiralty Isalnd; On Manus the Americans take the village of Lorengau with unexpected ease.
   -----  On Los Negros American units advancing from the perimeter of the Papitalai Mission beachhead come up against Japanese units, which put up a determined opposition.
   -----  New Guinea; The Japanese convoy attacked by the American aircraft the previous day succeeds in reaching Wewak, avoiding a naval bombardment carried out against the base by a flotilla of US destroyers.
   -----  Marshall Islands; A US naval squadron under command of Rear Admiral Lee and including one aircraft carrier, two battleships and a flotilla of destroyers bombs and shells Japanese installations on the islet of Mili.
   -----  Burma; General Stilwell orders the US 5307th 'provisionsl unit' to block the southern entries to the Tanai valley, in the north-east sector.

1945 – Western Front; East of the Rhine, in the 1st Army sector, between Bonn and Remagen III Corps continues offenence, reaching Windhaven, while strenghtening it's position east of Vettelschoss and capturing the hills along the river Wied in the area of Strodt.
   -----  Units of the 87th press on with the battle for Koblenz.
   -----  Units of the XII Corps ore ordered to advance towards the Rhine between Mainz [90th Div] and [4th Armoured] toward Worms.
   -----  Units of the 5th Division reach the sector between  GemundenEast of Moselle.  At Mengerschied
 Sargenroth, units of the 89th Division reinforces it's positions.
   -----  The 76th succeeds in establishing a bridghead of the river south-east of Wittlich.
   -----  All formations of the US 7th Army launch simultaneous offensive against the Siegfried Line line positions, while the finishing touches are put to the plans for the Rhine crossing.
   -----  Eastern Front; The 1st Belorussian Front captures the town and harbour of Kolberg in Pomeramia, the last strongholdof Germans on the Baltic between the Polish Corridor and Stettin.
   -----  Phillippines; Luzson – Japanese are preparing to withdraw from San Fernando under pressure from the Filipino guerrillas in the north and the Americans from the south.   
   -----  US 25th Division overcomes the Japanese secistance north of Kapinalan.
   ----- Without Japanese opposition, American forces land on Panay Island after a short naval bombardment.
   -----  Iwo Jima;  the island is declared 'safe' for American forces, while the 5th Marines still proceed the liquidation of small Japanese pockets of the last resistance.
   -----  Japan; Aircraft from Vice Admiral Mitscher's carrier squadron attacks for two days the Japanese fleet in the area of Kure-Kobe and damage 16 enemy warships.
   -----  Japanese reaction is full-bloodied.  Pilots using 'flying bombs' cause serious damage to aircraft carrier the USS Franklin, and less damage to the Enterprise, Intrepid andWasp.

[Libertas]

Fire on a ship...nothing scarier.

[rustybayonet]

                               [Addition from above]

Found this in another place and should be included with the day March 18...

1942 -- The War Relocation Authority is created to "Take all people of Japanese descent into custody, surround them with troops, prevent them from buying land, and return them to their former homes at the close of the war."

Anger toward and fear of Japanese Americans began in Hawaii shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor; everyone of Japanese ancestry, old and young, prosperous and poor, was suspected of espionage. This suspicion quickly broke out on the mainland; as early as February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered that German, Italian, and Japanese nationals—as well as Japanese Americans—be barred from certain areas deemed sensitive militarily. California, which had a significant number of Japanese and Japanese Americans, saw a particularly virulent form of anti-Japanese sentiment, with the state's attorney general, Earl Warren (who would go on to be the chief justice of the United States), claiming that a lack of evidence of sabotage among the Japanese population proved nothing, as they were merely biding their time.

While roughly 2,000 people of German and Italian ancestry were interned during this period, Americans of Japanese ancestry suffered most egregiously. The War Relocation Authority, established on March 18, 1942, was aimed at them specifically: 120,000 men, women, and children were rounded up on the West Coast. Three categories of internees were created: Nisei (native U.S. citizens of Japanese immigrant parents), Issei (Japanese immigrants), and Kibei (native U.S. citizens educated largely in Japan). The internees were transported to one of 10 relocation centers in California, Utah, Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho, Colorado, and Wyoming.

The quality of life in a relocation center was only marginally better than prison: Families were sardined into 20- by 25-foot rooms and forced to use communal bathrooms. No razors, scissors, or radios were allowed. Children attended War Relocation Authority schools.

One Japanese American, Gordon Hirabayashi, fought internment all the way to the Supreme Court. He argued that the Army, responsible for effecting the relocations, had violated his rights as a U.S. citizen. The court ruled against him, citing the nation's right to protect itself against sabotage and invasion as sufficient justification for curtailing his and other Japanese Americans' constitutional rights.

In 1943, Japanese Americans who had not been interned were finally allowed to join the U.S. military and fight in the war. More than 17,000 Japanese Americans fought; the all-Nisei 442nd Regiment, which fought in the Italian campaign, became the single most decorated unit in U.S. history. The regiment won 4,667 medals, awards, and citations, including 1 Medal of Honor, 52 Distinguished Service Crosses, and 560 Silver Stars. Many of these soldiers, when writing home, were writing to relocation centers.

In 1990, reparations were made to surviving internees and their heirs in the form of a formal apology by the U.S. government and a check for $20,000.

[Libertas]

                               [Addition from above]

Found this in another place and should be included with the day March 18...

1942 -- The War Relocation Authority is created to "Take all people of Japanese descent into custody, surround them with troops, prevent them from buying land, and return them to their former homes at the close of the war."

Anger toward and fear of Japanese Americans began in Hawaii shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor; everyone of Japanese ancestry, old and young, prosperous and poor, was suspected of espionage. This suspicion quickly broke out on the mainland; as early as February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered that German, Italian, and Japanese nationals—as well as Japanese Americans—be barred from certain areas deemed sensitive militarily. California, which had a significant number of Japanese and Japanese Americans, saw a particularly virulent form of anti-Japanese sentiment, with the state's attorney general, Earl Warren (who would go on to be the chief justice of the United States), claiming that a lack of evidence of sabotage among the Japanese population proved nothing, as they were merely biding their time.

While roughly 2,000 people of German and Italian ancestry were interned during this period, Americans of Japanese ancestry suffered most egregiously. The War Relocation Authority, established on March 18, 1942, was aimed at them specifically: 120,000 men, women, and children were rounded up on the West Coast. Three categories of internees were created: Nisei (native U.S. citizens of Japanese immigrant parents), Issei (Japanese immigrants), and Kibei (native U.S. citizens educated largely in Japan). The internees were transported to one of 10 relocation centers in California, Utah, Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho, Colorado, and Wyoming.

The quality of life in a relocation center was only marginally better than prison: Families were sardined into 20- by 25-foot rooms and forced to use communal bathrooms. No razors, scissors, or radios were allowed. Children attended War Relocation Authority schools.

One Japanese American, Gordon Hirabayashi, fought internment all the way to the Supreme Court. He argued that the Army, responsible for effecting the relocations, had violated his rights as a U.S. citizen. The court ruled against him, citing the nation's right to protect itself against sabotage and invasion as sufficient justification for curtailing his and other Japanese Americans' constitutional rights.

In 1943, Japanese Americans who had not been interned were finally allowed to join the U.S. military and fight in the war. More than 17,000 Japanese Americans fought; the all-Nisei 442nd Regiment, which fought in the Italian campaign, became the single most decorated unit in U.S. history. The regiment won 4,667 medals, awards, and citations, including 1 Medal of Honor, 52 Distinguished Service Crosses, and 560 Silver Stars. Many of these soldiers, when writing home, were writing to relocation centers.

In 1990, reparations were made to surviving internees and their heirs in the form of a formal apology by the U.S. government and a check for $20,000.

But still, we are an inherintly racist nation dontchyaknow?!  Hence 2 dozen MOHs awarded per Congressional review yesterday to non-caucasoids.

[rustybayonet]

Saw that ceremony highlights - only three remain alive.  Am waiting for citations to be posted, for review.

[rustybayonet]

March 19

1940 – The first strong condemnation from an official representative of the United States government came from the US Ambassador in Canada, James Cromwell, he declares that Hitler's Germany is openly trying to destroy the social and economic order on which government of the USA is based.
   -----  As a reprisal for the German attack on Scapa Flow on 14 October 1939, 50 RAF bombers raid the German seaplane base at Hornum on the island of Sylt.

1941 – London has one of the heaviest night raids since the beginning of the war.
   -----  Admiral Weichold, representative of the German Navy at the Italian supreme command headquarters in Rome, sends a letter to the Chief of Staff of the Italian navy.  Admiral Arturp Riccardi, suggesting that the Italians should attack in force in the eastern Mediterranean; he has learned that in the British Naval base at Alexandria only one battleship, the Valiant, is war ready.
   -----  The German issue what amounts to an ultimatum to Yugoslavia, giving them only five days to decide about the demands made by Hitler to Prince Paul on 4 March.

1942 – British General WilliamSlim arrives to assume command of the British troops, now regrouped to form the 1 Burma Corps. 
   -----  In the Sittang Valley, the Japanese advance on Toyngoo, which is defended by the Chinese 200th Division.
   -----  Eastern Front; Russian pressure in the aentral and southern sectors continues.
   -----  Northern sectors, Army Group North launches a vigorous counter-attack to relieve the II Corps of the 16th Army from encirclement in the area of Kholm and Staraya Russia.

1943 – Eastern Front; After the recapturing of Kharkov the Raus Corps of the German Army Group South also retakes Belgorak.  This group is now practically back to it's winter positions of 1941.
   -----  Immediately north of Belogord the Russians have opened up a wide salient in the German front west of Kursk.  The elimination of thissalient [operation citadel] is to be for  several months the object of one of the most epic battles in history.
   -----  Tunisia; The New Zealand Corps advances inexorably towards the Tebaga Gap.

1944 – Eastern Front; In the central sector, German focrces are surrounded by the Russians north of the Pripet marshes.
   -----  Troops of the 2nd Ukraine reach the Dniestr and begin to cross.
   -----  North-west of Konev's forces the German strongpoint of Mogilev-Podolsky is taken by Soviet divisions converging from the north-east and south-east.
   -----  In the Dubno region the Germans are forced to evacuate Kremenech.
   -----  Hungary; German troops cross the Hungarian frontier, the surprise operation, code named Margarete I, is to ensure Hungary's continued allegiance and exploit it's resources, including the small oilfields.
   -----  Signs show the Rumania is about to collapse in the face of the Russian advance, and the BBC warns the Rumanian people that the hour of defeat is about to strike.
   -----  Italian Front In the Monte Cassino sector a German counter-attack fails to capture Height 193, but the Allied advance slows down.  Fighting has been ferocious, but both sides agree to a two hour truce, to allow the dead and wounded to be carried off the battlefield, in a sign of ancient chivalry.  Allies even lend stretchers to the Germans and give chocolate to wounded men and stretcher-bearers.
   -----  Admirality Islands; US 8th Cavalry begins mop up of Manus Island.
   -----  New Guines; US destroyers repeat their shelling of the Japanese base at Wewak.  The japanese convoy that had off loaded at Wewak, is surprised by US warships at Hollandia and destroyed by bombers and torpedo-aircraft of the US 5th Army Air Corps.
   -----  Burma; A detachment sent from the British and Chinese strongpoint at Fort Hertz occupies the village of Sumprabum.
   -----  The US 5307th Unit is ordered to block the road to Kamaing near Inkangahtawang.
   -----  5th Indian Division moves by rail and air into the areas where Japanese pressure in strongest.

1945 – Western Front; Koblenz is taken by the US 87th Division.
   -----  The 90th Division launches it's offensive across the Nahe river near Mainz, while 4th Aroumerd Division makes rapid progress to reach Wendelshiem and Schimsheim.
   -----  South of the nahe river, 11th Armoured breaks through the last defences of the German 7th Army and starts to to pursue the enemy on the east bank of the Rhine.
   -----  The 76th Division extends it's bridgehead across the Moselle to allow the engineers to throw a bridge over the river Muhlheim.
   -----  XX Corps is adveancing rapidly toward the Rhine, whils units of the10thArmoured reach the neighborhood of Kaiserelautern.
   -----  The 80th Division takes Kusel and St. Wendel, while the 65th adds considerably to the Saarlautern bridgehead.
   -----  70th Div. Crosses the river Saar in the area of
saarbrucken.
   -----  The army presists in it's offensive against the Siefried Line, in the area of the XV Corps, 45th Division, the village of Whenheim falls. 
   -----  Berlin; Hitler orders that in the area of the Reich abandoned by the German army everything must be destroyed -dykes, power stations, mines, industrial plants, even food and clothing shops, the invaders must find nothing to sustain them.  Among those opposed to this insane directive is Albert Spears, in charge of arms production.  By arrangement with Guderian, Chief of Staff of the Wehmacht, he sabotages Hitler's order.
   -----  Phillippines;  Luzon, 33rd Division occupies the town of Bauang, with it's bridge, and the offensive against the Shinbu Linew continues.
   -----  Burma;  Indian 19th Division follow up on attacks against Fort Dufferin, and powerful air bombardment opens a gap in it's walls.


Gen. Frank Merrill on left and Gen. Stilwell on right


Troops crossing Moselle to set-up beachhead;


Pontoon bridges for troop and equipment crossings;