It's About Liberty: A Conservative Forum
Topics => History => Topic started by: rustybayonet on March 01, 2014, 09:37:48 AM
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March 1
1941 – The southeastern European nation of Bulgaria joins the Axis powers by signing the
Tripartite Pact. When the Second World War broke out, Bulgaria declared its neutrality.
But Bulgaria's King Boris was eager to expand his country's borders, and Germany had
already coerced Romania to restore south Dobruja—which had been lost in World War
I to Bulgaria. Bulgaria had chosen the wrong side in World War I, deciding that its
territorial needs then would best be met by joining the Central Powers (Austria-Hungary
and the German Empire). They were wrong, and King Boris was determined not to make
the same mistake again.
1942 – U.S. War and Navy Deptments announce that Major General Walter Short and Rear Admiral
Kimmel, commanding officers of forces at Pearl Harbor at the time of the attack on
December 7,1941 are to be court martialled on charges of dereliction of duty.
1943 – Construction of the new Burma road is completed.
In the Pacific a American B-24 spots a Japanese convoy on it's way from Rabaul to the
Gulf of Huon in New Guinea.
1944 – The German offensive against Anzio beachhead is contained.
The Japanese infiltrators are wiped out on Los Negros Island by an American landing
force, to secure sites for air and naval bases.
1945 – U.S. 1st Army Forces continues attack towardCologne and the Rhine. U.S. 3rd Corps is
also continuing toward the Rhine.
The Philippines, Luzon in the capital, Japanese resistance is now confined to the Ministry
of Finance building.
East of Manila, the U.S. 6th Division regroups to attack from Antipolo to Mount Oro an
area strongly manned by the Japanese.
On Iwo JimaTurkey Crest, one of the three hills near Airfield No. 2 falls to the Marines after
heavy fighting.
Aircraft from Vice Admiral Mitscher's fast carrier squadron attack installations of Okinawa.
Turkey declares war on Germany.
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One must wonder of students in today's government schools even know these names, locations, and history.
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1942 – U.S. War and Navy Deptments announce that Major General Walter Short and Rear Admiral
Kimmel, commanding officers of forces at Pearl Harbor at the time of the attack on
December 7,1941 are to be court martialled on charges of dereliction of duty.
And yet those that cut military budgets to minimal levels were missed.
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March 2
1942 – Japanese continue to infiltrate between the 1sr Burma Division and17th Indian Division,
by-passing Pegi, they converge on Rangoon.
Japanese continue their oiccupation of Java.
New Guinea; Japanese aircraft begin massive air raids in preparation for invasion.
Austratlia declares war on Thailand.
There are two heavy air raids on Palermo by the British.
1943 – U.S. and Australian land-based planes begin an offensive against a convoy of Japanese
ships in the Bismarck Sea, in the western Pacific. On March 1, U.S. reconnaissance
planes spotted 16 Japanese ships en route to Lae and Salamaua in New Guinea. The
Japanese were attempting to keep from losing the island and their garrisons there by
sending 7,000 reinforcements and aircraft fuel and supplies.
Army Group Center under Germen General von Kluge evacuates Rzhev.
1944 – A train stops in a tunnel near Salerno, Italy, and more than 500 people on board suffocate
and die. Occurring in the midst of World War II, the details of this incident were not
revealed at the time and remain somewhat murky.
On Los Negros %th Calvary arrives to reinforsce those already landed.
Americans occupy Momote airfield without difficulty.
British forces moving from Ledo in Assam, cross the river Chindwin near Singkaling Hkamti
on boats dropped by parachute.
In the Arakan the 81st West African Division takes Apaukwa, but is driven out again by
the Japanese.
1945 – British and Canadian forces capture Weeze and advance sount towards Geldern on the
western front.
U.S, 9th Army 35th Division XVI Corp moves quickley into German territory reaching
Sevelen after passing through Strafen and Nieukerk.
The U.S, 83rd completes the capture of Neuss and reached the Rhine opposite
Dusseldorf, but the retreating Germans have destroyed all the bridges over the
rivers.
The U.s. 99th Division [VII Corp] crosses the Erft in the neighborhood of Glesch. And
further south the 3rd Armoured division and 104th defend the bridgeheads east of
the Erft, while III Corps continues it's advance to the Rhine
In the Phillippines American units reach the outskirts of Mauo.
On Iwo Jima the 3rd Marine Division captures Airfield #3 under intensive Japanese
artillary and machine-gun fire.
Burma; the 20th Indian Division and the British 2nd Diviaion join up their bridgeheads
west of mandalay.
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1942 – U.S. War and Navy Deptments announce that Major General Walter Short and Rear Admiral
Kimmel, commanding officers of forces at Pearl Harbor at the time of the attack on
December 7,1941 are to be court martialled on charges of dereliction of duty.
And yet those that cut military budgets to minimal levels were missed.
Yes. No doubt the same people sending confusing communiques to Pearl, robbing the Pacific Fleet to offset Atlantic Fleet transfers to Britain...real stand-up guys, eh?
::gaah::
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Always typical congressional CYA actions, find and blame a scape goat. ::bashing::
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Posting early, may not be available tomorrow, going for procedure for my back and they will be putting me out so I'll probably sleep most of the day after.
March 3
1941 – Russia criticizes German occupation of Bulgaria.
1942 – Berlin admits that the encircled 16th Army in seriously short of food.
Burma; Fighting continues in the WAW-Pyinbon area, north-east of Pegu.
New British trrops arrive to reinforce the defences of Rangoon.
The Phillippines; Japanese land at Zamboanga on the island of Mindanao.
Japanese aircraft raid Broome in Western Australia where most refuges from Java are.
RAF makes heavy raid on the Renault works on the outskirts of Paris.
1943 – Russians take Rzhev after days of bitteer fighting, also taking Lgov and Dmitriev-
Logovskiy on the Kharkov -Bryansk railway.
Burma; Windgate's column crosses the river Mu and skirting the village of Tongmauw,
tackle the Mingin Mountains east of where the railway and the river Irrawaddy flows.
Heavy night raid by RAF on Hamberg.
In London 173 people killed after entering a tube shelter during air raid in which no bombs
fell in that area, deaths caused by suffocation.
1944 – In what are to be the last battles in the Anzio sector, American 3rd Division halts a fresh
German attack near Pont Rotto, counter-attack and re-take some positions in the
afternoon.
The Japanese on Los Negros launch a very powerful night attack against the American
beachhead. They are driven back after suffering heasy losses, and never mount
operations on so big a scale again.
Burma; American 5307th occupies Lagang Ga and clears an open space for dropping of
supplies.
American / Chinese armoured group in support of Chinese 22nd Division occupies
Ngam Ga and repulses a night counter-attack.
1945 – Winston Churchill visits Julich, Germany for the first time as Prime Minister setting foot on
German soil.
American, British, and Canadian forces hook up at Wallbeck, south-west of Gelderen.
Units of the VII Corps[US 1st Army] advance rapidly to the Rhine, taking
Sinsteden,Stommeln,Gleesen and Dansweiller, before starting operations against
Konigsberg with the 104th Division. No improvement witht the 87th and 4th Divisions
pinned down near Ormont and Reuth. 11th Armoured crosses the Prium river and
attacks towards the river Kyll, taking Fleringen. 6th Armoured continues advance from
Prium to the Nims and some cross north of Schonecken.
Phillippines; All Japanese resistance in Manila is at an end, with the liquidation of their
forces in the Ternate area of the entire Manila Bay.
Iwo Jima; the 3rd,4th and 5th Marine units continue attacking strong Japanese
positions, Height 382 is finally taken, caves and tunnels are being 'mopped up'.
U.S. Marines fighting for control of Iwo Jima in WWII
(http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv176/rustybayonet_2009/World%20War%20II/220px-24th_marines_wwii_iwo_jima_zps2438dddc.jpg) (http://s681.photobucket.com/user/rustybayonet_2009/media/World%20War%20II/220px-24th_marines_wwii_iwo_jima_zps2438dddc.jpg.html)
(http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv176/rustybayonet_2009/World%20War%20II/220px-Ronson_flame_tank_Iwo_Jima_zps2485e384.jpg) (http://s681.photobucket.com/user/rustybayonet_2009/media/World%20War%20II/220px-Ronson_flame_tank_Iwo_Jima_zps2485e384.jpg.html)
(http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv176/rustybayonet_2009/World%20War%20II/220px-Browning_M1917_Marine_Iwo_Jima_fixed_zps91ba00c9.jpg) (http://s681.photobucket.com/user/rustybayonet_2009/media/World%20War%20II/220px-Browning_M1917_Marine_Iwo_Jima_fixed_zps91ba00c9.jpg.html)
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March 4
1941 – The British navy raids a German position off the coast of Norway and inside the Arctic
Circle—the Lofoten Islands. The raid, code name Operation Claymore, proved highly
destructive of its target—an armed German trawler—but ultimately a failure in achieving
its objective, the capture of an Enigma decoding machine. British send first convoy of
cargo ships and warships from Alexandria with troops and
supplies to Greece. Four cruisers and four destroyers are sent to protect the convoy.
Hitler meets with Prince Paul of Yugoslavia in secret and asks him to join the Tripartite Pact
allowing German troops to pass through, in exchange for Thessalonski and part of Greek
Macedonia.
Bulgaria breaks off diplomatic relations with Poland, Belgium and the Netherlands.
1942 – MacArthur reorganizes forces defending the islands in readiness for his departure.
The Dutch East Indies is now lost to the enemy, dutch nationals destroy all instalations
of value to enemy.
General Stilwell sets up Chungking as headquarters for America forces operating in China,
Burma and India.
1943 – Russians take Sevsk, south of Bryansk and west of Kursk.
1944 – In the Ukrfaine the Russians unleash another big offensive, driving the German forces back
between Kiev and Odessa, surrounding some of the enemy divisions.
About 600 Flying Fortresses [B-17] and Liberators [B-24] of the U.S. 8th Army Air Force
carry out the first daylight raid on Berlin. Met with heavy resistance they lose nearly
80 aircraft [ about 800 airman].
Green Islands landing strip for the Allied fighters is operational, and a runway big enough
for bombers is almost completed.
General Stilwell, and Chiang Kai-shek's Chief of Staff meet with Supreme Commander in
South-East Asia, Admiral Lord Mountbatten and iron out differences.
At Walawbum, Burma; the Japanese try unsucessfully to attack the Americans on the
flank.
American/Chinese armoured advances from Ngam GA to Tsmat GA, near Maingkwan, and
the Japanese evacuate Tsamat GA.
The U.S. Eighth Air Force launches the first American bombing raid against the German capital.The British Royal Air Force (RAF) had been conducting night raids against Berlin and other German cities since November 1943, suffering losses at increasingly heavy rates. While the British inflicted significant damage against their targets, the German defenses proved quite effective: The RAF flew 35 major raids between November 1943 and March 1944 and lost 1,047 aircraft, with an even greater number damaged. Having already suffered heavy losses during day raids of various German industrial centers, the Americans had been cautious in pursuing night raids. But in March, with the RAF exhausted, the U.S. Eighth Air Force finally pursued night bombing and made Berlin its primary target. Fourteen U.S. bomber wings took off for Germany from England on the evening of March 4; only one plane reached Berlin (the rest dropped their loads elsewhere; few planes were lost to German defenses). In retrospect, the initial American attack was considered "none too successful" (as recorded in the official history of U.S. Army Air Force). Subsequent attacks in March were more effective.
1944 – Louis "Lepke" Buchalter, the head of Murder, Inc., is executed at Sing Sing Prison in New York. Lepke was the leader of the country's largest crime syndicate throughout the 1930s and was making nearly $50 million a year from his various enterprises. His downfall came when several members of his notorious killing squad turned into witnesses for the government.
1945 – The 5th U.S. Armoured Division [part ofU.S. 9th Army] reaches the Rhine taking Orsoy
and Rheinkamp. The XIX Corps reaches Rhinehausen and eliminates the pocket near the
Adolf Hitler Bridge south of Urdinger. Third Armour Division attack Cologne early in the
morning and early that day enters the city. 104th Division continues attck toward
Cologne, taking Junkersdorf.
In Italy the limited offensive of the IV Corps [U.SD. 5th Army] is concluded.
In the Phillippines Near Luzon the 11th Division re-inforces XIV Corps and stars operations
for Balayan and Batangas bays.
Burma; The British XV Corps and Indian 25th Division advances from Arakan and takes
Tamandu, while 19th Indian Division advances to Mandalay.
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March 5
1941 – Britain severs diplomatic reltions with Bulgaria.
1942 – Fighting continues in Java.
The Dutch announce the evcacuation of Batavia.
Japanese convoy sails from Rabaul to New Guinea carring invasion troops.
General Alexander arrives in Rangoon, taking over troops ion Burma.
Soviets recapture Yucknov, an important rail center.
RAF carry out heavy raids at Benghazi in North Africa.
Yugoslavian forces under General Milhailovitch rout Italian troops at Nikshich, Montenegro.
1943 – Eastern Front – Russians attack Staraya Russa.
German Armyadvances under heavy resistance toward Kharkov and
Belgorod.
At Kiev, German Erich Koch gives “We belong to the superior race” –
speech
A heavy conce ntrated raid lasting 40 minutes, 150 4,000 lb. Bombs
are dropped with 442 planes, both fighters and bombers. This is
the first use of 'Oboe' navigational radar equipment.
1944 – New Guinea – U.S. 126th Infantry from the 32nd Division lands withouttrouble at Yalau
Plantation. The Japanese avoid encirclement by withdrawing towards
Masang.
MacArthur hoping to isolate Japanese presses plans for the invasion of
Hollandia, New Guinea and Kavieng, New Ireland.
Admiralty Island – U.S. 7th Cavalry starts operations to capture Los Negros, with General
Swif taking command.
Burma – Chinese 22nd Division surrounds and captures Maingkwan.
Admiral Mountbarren asks for reinforcements for the Arakan sector, believing a
big Japanese offensive is imminent. Also British XV Corps are beginning
offensive movement toward Maungdaw-Buthidaung towards the mouth of
the Naaf river.
1945 – Western Front – U.S. 9th Army sector, the 5th armoured Division reaches the Rhine at
Orsoy which is taken along with Rhinkamp. XIX Corps reaches
Rhienhausen and elimated pocket near the Adolf Hitler bridge.
U.S. 3rd Armour opens attack on Cologne
Italian Front – Limited offensive of the U.S. 5th Army is concluded.
Phillippines – U.S. XIV Corps and 11th Divisionstart occupation ofBalayan and Batrangas
Bays and Japanese halt advance near Langanan.
Burma – British XV Corps and Indian 25th Division advance from Arakan and take
Tamandu.
19th Indian Div ision advances towards Mandalay.
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March 6
1941 – German authorities in Holland condemn 18 members of the underground to death.
The British Admiralty announces that the German offical communiques claim to have
destroyed 19 more battleships,6 more aircraft carries 40 more cruisers and 13 more
submarines, more submarines than the Royal Navy had.
1942 – The 63rd Brigade of the 17th Indian Division carries out a futal attempt to open the
Rangoon-Pegu road, trying to block the Japanese.
1943 – Tunisia – Rommel's Africakorps attacks British 8th Army east of the Mareth Line. Following
the battle of Kasserine, Rommel realizes efforts to relieve the pressure in the west is
useless.
1944 – New Britain-U.S. Marine 1st Division carry out landing on Willaumesx penninsula near
Volupai.
Bouganville – Big Jaoanese forces are located on a hill overlookingCape Torokina
beachhead.
Americans try to extend and strengthen tyheir position perimeter, but are unable to
dislodge the Japanese.
Admiralty Islands – Another American regiment lands on Los Negros to pursue the
retreating Japanese.
Burma – Chiang Kai-shek orders General Stilwell to hold upthe offensive in the north-
east for a time.
In Argentine the Foreign Ministry repudiated the breaking off of relations with the
Tripartite Pact.
1945 – Members of the Dutch Resistance who were attempting to hijack a truck in Apeldoorn,
Holland, ambush Lt. Gen. Hanns Rauter, an SS officer. During the following week, the
German SS executed 263 Dutch in retaliation. The Dutch Resistance was one of the
fiercest of all the underground movements in Nazi-occupied Europe. "The Dutch
never accepted the German contention that... the war was over," wrote the Dutch
foreign minister in a postwar account of life under Nazi occupation. "Their acts of
resistance and sabotage grew more audacious as time passed." Those acts of
resistance and sabotage included harboring Allied soldiers and pilots who either
parachuted or crash-landed within Dutch territory, harboring Dutch Jews, and killing
German troops. The Resistance was composed of representatives from all segments
of Dutch society, ranging from the most conservative to communists. Rauter was
head of the SS in Holland and answered directly to Heinrich Himmler, the SS
commander. In 1941, during a strike that broke out in Amsterdam among Dutch
workers to protest the round-up of almost 400 Dutch Jews, Hauter ordered the SS
and German troops to open fire on the strikers, killing 11. The Jews, whom the
strikers were trying to protect, were deported to Buchenwald. All were dead by the
fall. Rauter was riding in an SS truck, filled with food destined for the Luftwaffe (the
German air force) based near Apeldoorn on March 6, 1945, when some young
members of the Dutch Resistance ambushed the truck. The closing days of the war
had left much of occupied Holland close to famine conditions, and the guerrillas were
determined to co-opt the food. They did not know Rauter was in the truck when it
was attacked; Rauter was shot during the heist attempt but lived. In retaliation, the
SS proceeded to round up and execute 263 Dutchmen, some of whom were
Resistance fighters who were already being held in prison. Rauter was tried for war
crimes by the Dutch court Den Haag. He was found guilty and sentenced to death.
He appealed the sentence at Nuremberg in 1949, but the sentence was upheld and
he was executed that year.
--------- British 3rd Division and Canadian 1st Army re-inforce their positions in the Xanten area
on the Western Front.
--------- Canadian 3rd Division concludes the mission when it takes Sonsbeck, while 4th Armour
pushes on to Veen.
---------- In the 9th Army sector Operation Grenade is brought to a conclusion.
---------- U.S. XVI, XIII, and XIX Corps have moved up from the Rur to the Rhine river.
---------- VII Corps and 3rd Armour from U.S. Continue the battle for Cologne.
---------- On the Easteern Front - 2nd Belorussian finishes off the capture of Grudziadz a key
point for German defensive system on the Vistula in Poland.
---------- Phillippines- On Palawanthe Japanese firmly dug in repuilse the attack of the U.S. 186th
Infantry.
---------- In Hungary – German Army Group South assembled considerable forces against the
U.S. 1st Army and 8th Cavalry.
---------- Iwo Jima U.S. Naval guns fire in support of American V Amphibious Corps in it's attempt
to break throughthe Japanese defense line north on the island. The scene of the
most bloody battles are Height 362B to the east ofMotoyama.
---------- 28 Mustang fighters and 12 twin-engine P61's arrive to be stationed on Airfield No. 1
to give speedy support to ground forces.
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One must wonder of students in today's government schools even know these names, locations, and history.
Often the TEACHERS don't know, so yeah, the students of course don't.
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I remember the books I paged through, and when I came across a picture of a P-51 I thought, jeez, for a prop job that has to be the damned best looking plane ever! I liked it better than many jets of the day!
Most of the other pictures and stories made me think "Ugh, wouldn't want to be there!" but many did go to these places. WWII literally was a world war, WWI had pretensions to be, but it was largely a European affair that spilled over into their territories elsewhere. Hopefully war on the WWII scale is never seen again.
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March 7
1941 -- British forces land in Greece.
1942 – Dutch East Indies – Java falls to Japanese. All allied aircraft have been destroyed
-------- Burma – Rangoon is evacuated. The British retire towards the nort of the country. The
Pegu garrison is cut off, and is ordered to break out and make it's way north.
-------- New Guinea – During the night the Japanese invasion convoy arrives in the Gulf of Huon
and under cover fire from the convoy, troops come ashore at Salamaua and Lae,
meeting no opposition.
1943 – Nothing different – existing battles still in progress.
1944 – Admiralty Islands – American advance guards capture Papitalai and the eastern part of
Seeadler Harbour in Los Negros Island. B-25 aircraft are able to make emergency
landings on Momore airfield.
------- The American and Chinese concentrate for the occupation of Walawbum where substantial
Japanese forces are in the vicinity.
1945 – Western front – Canadian II Corps prepare for final attack on Xanten, XVI Corps to extend
it's north flank towards Wesel, the U.S. 9th Army front remains quiet. Cologne
Germany's third city is captured by theU.S. 3rd Armoured Division and the 104th
Infantry. Some units of U.S, 9th Armoured establish beachheads across the rivers
Ahr and Rhine, while others seize a bridge across at Remagen.
------- U.S. 3rd Army and 87th Division advances north towards the Ahr river with units of the
11th Armoured taking Dockweiler, Boxberg and Kelberg.
--------- Phillippines – I Corps batttalion of the 127th Infantry Regiment occupies the bridge and
village of Aringay and advances toward Mount Magabang.
--------- XIV Corps begins operations against the Simbu line, the 158th Infantry occupies Taal
and advance rapidly toward Lake Taal.
--------- Iwo Jima – Taking the Japanese by surprise, regimental combat group of the 3rd Marines
attack Height 362 E without first using artillary.
--------- Burma – A regiment of the Chinese 38th division occupies Lashio, north east of
Mandalay.Japanese launch a counter offensive to recapture Meikitla and succeed in
cutting off the 17th Indian Division.
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"the U.S. 9th Army front remains quiet"
An uncle would dispute that, but it depends on where you were and how "quiet" was defined. ;)
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"the U.S. 9th Army front remains quiet"
An uncle would dispute that, but it depends on where you were and how "quiet" was defined. ;)
The research book I use [World War II - A complete Photographic History , More than 2,500 photographes and maps"] by Hal Buell, with earliest copyright in 1977 says: "Apart from some limited activity by the XVI Corps to extend north towards Wesel, the U.S. 9th Army remains quiet".
My thinking was 'not alot of new activity' so I didn't enter the entire sentence.
Could very easily be not factual about this [books do miss things, and so do I] - for this WWII history nut - if you could get some first hand info from him, I'd love to be updated. Thanks....
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March 8
1941 – U.S. Senate passes the Lend-Lease Bill by 60to 31. Britain and Greece to get military
supplies under the Act at once.
1942 – The Japanese enter Rangoon, Indian infantry, with tanks and artillery support break
through the Japanese block on the Rangoon-Prome road, along which the British are
retiring.
----- A new-style RAF air raid on Essen, the biggest city in the north Rhineland. Main target the
Krupp armament works, droppiing flares then incendiary bombs indicate the targets for
the bomber squadrons.
1943 – the Eastern Front – Russians re-take Sychevka, north of Vyazma, and bring pressure
against vonKluge's forces towards Smolensk.
----- China – Japanese forces cross the Yanhtze between Yichang and Yoyang. One of many
raids during the year to secure rice and supplies, not only for the dJapanese but also to
deprive the Chinese of Chiang Kai-shek's army.
1944 – 600 U.S. Bombers carry out another raid on Berlin, with the ball-bearing factory at Erkner
their target.
----- South-west Pacific – The U.S. 41st Division moves from Australia to Cape Cretin in New
Guinea, to concentrate on an attack on Hollandia.
----- Admiralty Islands – The capture of Los Negros is virtually complete.American ships tie up in
Seadler Harbour without Japanese gun fire.
----- Bougainville – Japanese surprise U.S. By opening artillery fire on the berachhead and the
Piva runways destroyingone bomber, 3 fighters and damaging 19 more. Remaining
bombers are moved to New Guinea. During the night tw Japnaese companies attack
the American positions in the 37th Divisions area.
----- New Britain – The 5th Marine Regiment continues advance to Talasea with very little
resistance.
----- Burma – American/Chinese attack on Walawbum area fails due to lack of co-ordination.
Chinese armoured enters Walawbum, but does not get infantry support.
----- Japanese 15th Army under General Mutaguchi carry out masssive attack north of Tiddim
and Tamu.
1945 – Western Front – British 43rd and Canadian 2nd Divisions attack Xanten and take it.
----- U.S. 1st Army [VII Corps] pushes on toward the Rhine oppostire the city of Bonn.
----- At Remagen the III Corps is engaged reinforcing and extending the bridgehead over the
Rhine, but with the haste that have been mounted [they cannot let this unexpected
advantage slip], lack of co-ordination starting to lead to congestion on routes leading to
the bridge. Germans are making every effort to plug the leak at Remagen, within two
days more than300 planes of the German Luftwaffe carry out dive-bombing attempts to
destroy it, but fortunately for the Allies it's in vain.
----- U.S. VIII Corps of U.S. 3rd Army advances rapidly towards Rhine.
----- Italian Front - 1st Armoured Division [U.S. II Corps] carries out limited attacks to
reinforce the corps left flanks, taking Carviano, north-east of Vergato.
----- Eastern Front – Fighting continues south of Stettin and Danzig as well in Silesia, while in
Hungary and Yugoslavia German 6th SS Armoured presses on from Szekesfehervar
towards the Danube and along the Sarviz Canal.
----- German Army Group E engages the Bulgarian and Yugoslav forces across the Drava and
contains the Yugoslav forces west of Sarajevo.
----- Phillippines – U.S. XIV Corps continues attack on the Shimbu line with 6th Division and 1st
Cavalry, with some progress towards Antipolo. American I Corps capture Mount
Magabang, north-east of Aringay and the village of Putlan. In southern Phillippines, all
Japanese resistance ceases on Palawan Island, with the Americans occupying the islets
of Busuanga, Balabac and Pandanan.
----- Iwo Jima – Three Marine divisions renew their attacks against Japanese positions with flame
-throwers and artillery. The 4th Marine Division then drives the Japanese off a violent
counter attack. American forces notice increased suicides among the enemy dead –
and incouraging sign for the Allies.
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March 9 [ busy tomorrow so posting tonight]
March 9
1940 – The Finish army is no longer able to hold it's position and General Mannerheim asks
polititians to come to terms with the enemy.
1941 – In Mussolini's presence, Italians launch their offensive in Albania [half of which between
Tomor and the Vijose River is already in their hands]. They gain successes in the area
of MaliArza and Mount Trebescini, south-east of Berat. There is a heavy night raid on
Portsmouth.
1942 – Dutch East Insies – The last Dutch units still fighting in Java surrender to the Japanese, all
of Dutch East Indies now under Japanese control.
----- New Guinea – American aircraft hit at the Japanese troop convoy in the Gulf of Huon.
Japanese air force continues raids on Australian and British positions on the island.
----- Burma – The British withdraw to the north continues.
1943 – Eastern Front – Russians contain pressure of von Manstein's armoured armies toward
Kharkov and Belgorod, and contunue advence on Smolensk.
----- New Guinea – Japanese aircraft attack Wau in force. This is the first of many raids carried
out on the important positions of the Allies, including Oro Bay, Milne, Port Morseby,
Dubodura and Porlock Harbour.
----- Soloman Islands – the Americans begin series of air raids against Japanese installations at
Munda in New Georgia, an important base of the enemy.
----- Field-Marshall Rommell called home after the battle of Medenine stops off in Rome for a
meeting with Mussolini, and does not hide the gravity of the Axis position, but
Mussolini announces that Tunisia must be saved at all costs. Command of the
German forces in Tunisia passes to General Jurgen von Arnim, and overall command of
Axis troops goes to General Giovanni Messe.
1944 – Eastern Front – Troops of the 1st Ukraine reach Tarnopol, where fiece house to house
fighting begins against Manstein's Army Group South.
----- Bougainville – Japanese resume attacks along perimeter of Cape Torokina beachhead
making small break in American lines of the 37th Division. Counter attacks are
unsuccessful.
Japanese switch artillery fire from Piva runways to the Torokina airfield.
----- Admiralty Islands – An American brigade lands at Salami Plantation, Los Negros and a
squdron of U.S. Fighters arrives a Momote airfield.
----- Burma – The American/Chinese 1st Armoured Group with Chinese 22nd and 38th Divisions
occupy Walawbum, giving the Chinese control of the Hukawng Valley.
1945 – Western Front – Germans abandon their bridgeheads in the Wesel area and destroy the
bridges.
----- Canadian 1st Army and their 4th Division take veen.
----- German 15th Army abandons the west bank of the Rhine, Bonn is captured by the U.S.
1st Division.
----- Control of the bridgehead at Remagen is taken over by U.S. 9th Division, mean while U.S.
7th Armoured has taken over defences of the west bank of the Rhine River between
Bonn and Remagen.
----- U.S. 3rd Army have reached the Rhine while the 4th Armoured Division is ordered to
establish a bridgehead at Treis.
----- Eastern Front – Yugoslavia 3rd Army launches a counter-attack against the bridgehead
over the Drava established by the German Army Group E, counter-attack is contained.
----- Russians storm through the defences of Kustrin and bitter house to house fighting
develops.
----- Phillippines – Hard fighting continues on the Shimbu line, east of manila, and in the central
part of the island.
----- South Phillippines – American aircraft and ships bombard the Zamboanga area of the
Mindaneo island area in preperation for a landing.
----- Iwo Jima – During the night large groups of Japanese with explosive charges tied to their
belts throw themselves against the American positions achieving some penatration
putting 4th Marines in some difficulty.
----- 3 Marine divisions continue their artillery, explosive and flame-thrower assault against
Japanese caves and other strongpoints.
----- In the morning after boths nights activities 784 Japanese dead are counted.
----- Burma – British XXXIII Corps and 19th Indian Division penetrates into the outskirts of
Mandalay where bitter fighting develops.
----- 334 B-29 bombers from Guam, Saipan, and Tinian drop incendiary bambs on Toyko in a
massive 3 hour raid. Confirmed kill numbers 130,000 with other estimates going as
high as 200,000.
----- French Indo-China – Japanese fearing American landings deprive Admiral Decoux of all
authority as Governor-General of the colony, and dismiss the entire French
administration, which strenghtens the resistance movement.
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March 10
1940 -- U.S. Undersecretary of State Sumner Welles, after a meeting with Adolf Hitler in Berlin,
visits London to discuss a peacemaking proposal with Prime Minister Neville
Chamberlain to prevent a widening of the European war. Sumner Welles, a diplomat
and expert on Latin America, spent his early professional life promoting the
UnitedStates' "Good Neighbor" foreign policy as attache to the U.S. embassy in Buenos
Aires, chief of Latin American affairs of the State Department, and commissioner to the
Dominican Republic. In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed him assistant
secretary of state, sending him to Cuba, where Welles successfully mediated opposing
groups attempting to overthrow the government of Gerardo Machado. He was
promoted to undersecretary of state in 1937, serving as a delegate to several
Pan-American conferences.
1941 – Further night raids on Portsmouth in a six-hour attack.
1942 – New Guinea – Another Japanese landing at Finschhafen.
--- One hundred – four American aircraft from the carriers Lexington and Yorktown bomb
Lae and Salamaua, damaging Japanese shipping and airfields.
--- Japanese aircraft from Rabaul [New Britain] carry out 'neutralization' raids on Port
Moresby.
--- Soloman Islands – The Japanese land on Buka.
--- The USA declares that help under the Lend-Lease Act may be extended to Iran.
1943 – Eastern Front – After savage fighting von Manstein's armoure recaptures Kharkov,
reversing the Red Army's biggest recent successes, even though Russian units
continue to hold out in part of the town.
--- In Sicily, Allied bombers make heavy attack on Palermo.
1944 – Eastern Front – After violent fighting 2nd Ukraine Front takes Uman south-west of
Cherkassy, which was previously a Luftwaffe important base.
--- Bougainville – The Japanese take an important feature on the perimeter of the Cape
Torokina beachhead, Hill 260 driving off repeated American counter-attacks.
--- In other areas the Americans manage to reduce but not eliminate the salient the Japanese
have won in their line.
--- Admiralty Islands – New American aircraft arrive at Momote airfield, Los Negroes, while
other aircraft begin a series of attacks against Manus Island, the largest island in the
archipelago, in preparation for the landing.
--- Allied Joint Chiefs of Staff determine timetable for the Pacific;
15 April – invasion of Hollandia, New Guinea
15 June – invasion of the Marianas
15 September – invasion of Palau Islands
15 November – landing on Mindanao in the Phillipppines
15 February 1945 – invasion of Formosa
--- Burma – Japanese bomb th Chowringee landing strip in central Burma, valuable for
supplying the columns operating in the enemy's rear flank.
1945 – Western Front – U.S. 1st Army finishes Operation Vertable with the capture of the region
between the rivers Moselle and Rhine. II Corps concludes Opersation Blockbuster
and as a result Allies have the Calcar-Uden-Xanten sector, but the success of the
two operations has cost America over 7,300 casualties, Canadian 5,500 and Britain
10,500.
--- U.S. 1st Army extends it's bridgehead over the Rhine at Remagen, where the 768th
Division while the Germanscontinue their efforts to destroy the bridge.
--- 4th Armoured Division completes occupation west of the Rhine between Andernach and
Koblenz, and north of Moselle between Koblenz and Cochem, while 5th Division
reaches there also.
--- On the southern flank XX Corps is reinforced by the 80th Division in readiness for attack
on the Saarburg bridgehead planned for March 13.
--- 10th Armoured Division reaches Wittolich sector and begins adveance towards the
Moselle.
--- Commanders of the 3rd Ukraine Front, Tolbukhin asks Soviat Supreme Command for
reinforcements because of threat by the German counter-offensive, but he is denied.
--- Germans break off their thrust toward the Canube because of resistance, but continue
with their penetration along the Sarviz Canal west of Lake Velencei.
--- German Army Group Centre still heavily engaged with 1st Ukraine Front near Oppelin in
Breslau near Grottkau, Striegau and Lauban.
------- Phillippines – Luzon, Violent aerial and artillery bombardment for the Shimbu line east of
Manila.
--- U.S. 8th Army in soutern Phillippines sail from Mindanao to occupy Romblon and Simara
islands. On Mindanao a powerful preperation by aircraft and warships, the U.S. 41st
Division lands on the Zamboanga penisula, overcoming weak Jaoanese resistance and
occupies Wolfe airfield, and advances to Mindanao City.
-------- Burma – British 36th Division take Mongmit.
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"the U.S. 9th Army front remains quiet"
An uncle would dispute that, but it depends on where you were and how "quiet" was defined. ;)
The research book I use [World War II - A complete Photographic History , More than 2,500 photographes and maps"] by Hal Buell, with earliest copyright in 1977 says: "Apart from some limited activity by the XVI Corps to extend north towards Wesel, the U.S. 9th Army remains quiet".
My thinking was 'not alot of new activity' so I didn't enter the entire sentence.
Could very easily be not factual about this [books do miss things, and so do I] - for this WWII history nut - if you could get some first hand info from him, I'd love to be updated. Thanks....
You and me both. He recently passed away but rarely if ever talked about his experiences, I had to piece together what I knew with what I could research...his was one of many units that kept getting transferred between American (Bradley) and British (Montgomery) command, that was not too well received by the Yanks forced to participate in that latter fellows meatgrinder affairs. Plus my uncle was not originally part of the 9th but transferred there after D-Day, so he had D-Day, the Ardennes and on into Germany.
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Damn - getting old is a bi*ch - everything done for March 11 posting, so what do I do ::pullhair::
hit paste instead of copy - everything gone and I get to start over after I get off work. ::cussing:: ::cussing::
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No hurry, we aren't going anywhere. ::hat-tip::
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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.
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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”.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
(http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv176/rustybayonet_2009/World%20War%20II/ussfranklinafterattack_zpsa3787f17.jpg) (http://s681.photobucket.com/user/rustybayonet_2009/media/World%20War%20II/ussfranklinafterattack_zpsa3787f17.jpg.html)
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Fire on a ship...nothing scarier.
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[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.
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[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.
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Saw that ceremony highlights - only three remain alive. Am waiting for citations to be posted, for review.
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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
(http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv176/rustybayonet_2009/World%20War%20II/250px-Stiwell_and_Merrill_zps02478c79.jpg) (http://s681.photobucket.com/user/rustybayonet_2009/media/World%20War%20II/250px-Stiwell_and_Merrill_zps02478c79.jpg.html)
Troops crossing Moselle to set-up beachhead;
(http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv176/rustybayonet_2009/World%20War%20II/CrossingtherhinebyAmericantroops_zps94bdd641.jpg) (http://s681.photobucket.com/user/rustybayonet_2009/media/World%20War%20II/CrossingtherhinebyAmericantroops_zps94bdd641.jpg.html)
Pontoon bridges for troop and equipment crossings;
(http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv176/rustybayonet_2009/World%20War%20II/pontoonbridgeforcrossingtherhine_zpsb0253e94.jpg) (http://s681.photobucket.com/user/rustybayonet_2009/media/World%20War%20II/pontoonbridgeforcrossingtherhine_zpsb0253e94.jpg.html)