Chronology of World War II
Wednesday, March 1, 1944
In Germany... The Jagerstab (Fighter Staff) is formed under Saur, acting under the authority of the Armaments Ministry led by Speer. The objective is to boost production of Me109 and Fw190 fighters to unprecedented levels. Many new assembly lines are to be established in salt mines and tunnels. Plans for large-scale production of the Me262 are abandoned.
In the Admiralty Islands... On Los Negros, US forces eliminate some small Japanese forces that infiltrated their lines during the night.
On the Eastern Front... In the north, Soviet forces capture Russaki near Pskov.
Thursday, March 2, 1944
Over Occupied France... British Halifax and Lancaster bombers target aircraft factories at Meulan-les-Mureaux and Albert.
From Washington... Lend-Lease aid to Turkey is cut off because it is reluctant to join the war on the Allied side or make any other contribution to the war effort.
In the Admiralty Islands... A second 1000 men from the US 5th Cavalry Regiment arrives at Los Negros. Meanwhile, the American forces already on the island capture Momote airfield with fire support from destroyers offshore.
Friday, March 3, 1944
In Italy... On the Anzio beachhead, German forces attack the line held by the US 3rd Division, near Ponte Ricco, but fail to penetrate. The German 14th Army goes over to the defensive after this failure.
In the Admiralty Islands... A night attack by the Japanese garrison on Los Negros is defeated by American forces.
Saturday, March 4, 1944
On the Eastern Front... Soviet forces launch a new series of attacks in the Ukraine. The forces of 1st Ukrainian Front (Zhukov) attack from the north and east of Tarnopol.
In the Admiralty Islands... US Task Force 74 (Crutchley) shells Japanese batteries on Hauwei and Ndrilo. These guns have hampered American access to Seeadler Bay.
In Burma... The 77th Long Range Penetration Brigade (LRP) is flown to a landing area named "Broadway", 50 miles southwest of Myitkyina. A second Chindit brigade, 16th LRP, is marching south toward the "Aberdeen" area from Ledo.
On the Eastern Front... The attacks by 1st Ukrainian Front (Zhukov) make rapid progress, fracturing the German defenses of Army Group South (Manstein). Izyaslav, Yampol and Ostropol are captured in the area of Shepetovka.
In New Guinea... Two battalions of the US 126th Infantry Regiment land at Yalau Plantation, 30 miles west of Saidor. There is almost no Japanese opposition.
In the Admiralty Islands... On Los Negros the forces of the US 5th Cavalry Regiment move into the northern half of the island. Destroyers escorting a further 1400 American reinforcements provide fire support for the advance.
Monday, March 6, 1944
Over Germany... US heavy bombers raid Berlin for the first time. A force of 660 bombers is sent and 69 are lost.
On the Eastern Front... The Soviet 3rd Ukrainian Front (Malinovski) launches a new offensive. In the northern Ukraine, the 1st Urkainian Front (Vatutin) continues to advance against German Army Group South. Its forces cut the Odessa-Lvov rail line and capture Volochisk.
In the Bismark Archipelago... On New Britain, the US 1st Marine Division is sent to land on the east side of Willaumez Peninsula with the objective of capturing Talasea. Japanese resistance is weak but the terrain is difficult, so the advance inland is slow.
Tuesday, March 7, 1944
In Germany... Members of the Nazi organization for women are making house-to-house calls to recruit females between the ages of 17 and 45 to work "in the service of the community." This effort is an attempt to bolster the depleted German labor force.
In the Solomon Islands... On Bougainville the Japanese are preparing to assault the American beachhead. On the Green Islands Allied forces have completed construction of an airfield.
In the Admiralty Islands... US Task Force 74 (Admiral Crutchley) bombards Japanese batteries on Hauwei and Ndrilo. There are 3 cruisers and 4 destroyers involved.
Wednesday, March 8, 1944
In Burma... The Japanese launch an offensive aimed at destroying the British forces around Imphal and Kohima, advancing through the passes to Dimapur and cutting off the Sino-American forces in the north. Three divisions of the Japanese 15th Army (General Mutaguchi) spearhead the operation. The initial feint by the Japanese 33rd Division (General Yamagida) strikes the British 17th Indian Division (General Cowan) around Tiddim. The British forces engaged in the initial assaults are part of The 4th Corps (General Scoones). The British intend for the 17th and 20th Indian Divisions to fall back, from their forward positions, to Imphal, where they can be supplied. They underestimate the size of the Japanese forces involved in the offensive.
Over Germany... USAAF heavy bombers raid Berlin for a second time. About 10 percent of the force of 580 bombers is lost despite the escort of 800 fighters.
From Helsinki... The Finnish reply to the Soviet armistice terms with a request for further guarantees. The principal difficulty is the Soviet demand for the internment of German military personnel.
In the Solomon Islands... Japanese forces attack the American beachhead on Bougainville. The US airfields at Piva are shelled by the Japanese and some of the American bombers are withdrawn. Japanese infantry infiltrate the positions of the US 37th Division. The attacking troops are most from the Japanese 6th Division (General Hyakutake).
In the Bismark Archipelago.... On New Britain, the attacks of US 1st Marine Division makes progress as does the American advance along the coast from Cape Gloucester.
Thursday, March 9, 1944
In the Solomon Islands... On Bougainville, Japanese counter attacks on the US 37th Division fail to make substantial gains. The American airfields at Piva and Torokina are shelled.
On the Eastern Front... Forces of the Soviet 1st Ukrainian Front capture Starokonstantinov, south of Shepetovka and reach the outskirts of Tarnopol. German forces of Army Group South offer heavy resistance.
In the Admiralty Islands... The first American planes begin operating from Momote airfield.
In Burma... News of the advance of the Japanese 33rd Division reaches the headquarters of British 17th Indian Division. Initially, General Cowan refuses to believe the reports.
In Argentina... President Ramirez resigns following an army coup.
Friday, March 10, 1944
On the Eastern Front... Attacks by 2nd Ukrainian Front (Konev) penetrate up to 40 miles, along a 100-mile frontage, into the lines of the defending forces belonging to German Army Group South (Manstein). To the immediate north, the 1st Ukrainian Front (Zhukov) continues to advance north of Proskurov.
In the Bismark Archipelago... On New Britain, American forces capture Talasea.
In the Solomon Islands... On Bougainville, Japanese forces capture Hill 260 but lose ground to American counterattacks in other areas.
In Burma... Japanese forces attack the rear of the positions of the British 17th Indian Division.
From Moscow... The Finnish reply to the armistice terms, requesting further guarantees, is rejected.
Saturday, March 11, 1944
In Burma... The Japanese 33rd Division continues attacking the British 17th Indian Division and is also infiltrating to the rear of 20th Indian Division where its advance is held near Witok. In central Burma, Chindit forces are disrupting Japanese communications with their forces facing American General Stilwell's Sino-American forces. Meanwhile, British forces capture Buthidaung in the Arakan.
On the Eastern Front... Forces of the Soviet 3rd Ukrainian Front (Malinovski) capture Berislav, to the north of the Dniepr River and east of Kherson.
In the Admiralty Islands... Reconnaissance forces land on Manus Island and Butjo Luo, where the Japanese garrison resists.
Sunday, March 12, 1944
On the Eastern Front... Soviet forces of the 2nd Ukrainian Front (Konev) reach the Bug River at Gayvoron. Other advances capture Dolinskaya.
In the Solomon Islands... On Bougainville, Japanese attacks continue. US forces continue to hold.
In the Admiralty Islands... A small American force lands on Hauwei Island. The Japanese garrison, led by Colonel Ezaki, resists.
In the Marshall Islands... Americans occupy Wotho Atoll. There is no Japanese garrison.
Monday, March 13, 1944
On the Eastern Front... Troops of the Soviet 3rd Ukrainian Front (Malinovski) capture Kherson.
In the Solomon Islands... On Bougainville, US forces mount a counterattack, with armor and air support, and recapture most of the ground lost during the last few days.
In the Admiralty Islands... On Hauwei Island, the small US forces overrun the Japanese garrison. Artillery units are landed to support planned operations on Manus Island.
In Burma... General Scoones, British 4th Corps commander, authorizes the 17th and 20th Indian Divisions to pull back to Imphal. Scoones is supported by his superiors, Slim and Giffard, that reinforcements are required. Therefore, Mountbatten sends requests for the use of American aircraft, airlifting supplies to the Chinese, to redeploy the 5th Indian Division from the Arakan. Meanwhile, Japanese planes attack the "Broadway" airfield used by Chindit forces.
Tuesday, March 14, 1944
On the Eastern Front... Small German forces are cut off by Soviet forces to the north of Kherson. Eventually, about 4000 Germans are taken prisoner and an estimated 10,000 are killed..
In the United States... Both Willkie (Republican) and Roosevelt (Democrat) top the polls in the New Hampshire primaries of the respective parties.
In Burma... The British 17th Indian Division (Cowan) begins to withdraw about 24 hours after having received permission. Japanese forces have prepared four roadblocks on the route it must take to pull back to Imphal. To the north, the 20th Indian Division (Gracey) is already retreating.
Wednesday, March 15, 1944
In Italy... Forces of the US 5th Army launches new attacks on Cassino. A preliminary bombardment consisting of 14,000 tons of bombs and 190,000 shells is directed on the town. The New Zealand 2nd Division then attacks with the 4th Indian Division to follow up against the monastery. Armored support is hampered by the rubble created during the bombardment. The German 1st Paratroop Division offers strong resistance. Allied forces make some gains at Castle Hill and Hangman's Hill.
On the Eastern Front... Soviet forces of the 2nd Ukrainian Front (Konev) cross the Bug River and capture Vapnyarka, thereby cutting the Odessa-Zhmerinka rail line. To their north, troops of the 1st Urkainian Front (Vatutin) capture Kalinkova, near Vinnitsa.
In the Solomon Islands... On Bougainville, there are renewed attacks by Japanese forces against the American beachhead. US forces hold the effort.
In the Admiralty Islands... On Manus Island, elements of the US 7th and 8th Cavalry Divisions land on the north coast, near Lugos Mission. The Americans advance toward Lorengau along two routes.
In Burma... The Japanese 15th and 31st Divisions begin crossing the Chindwin River, north and south of Homalin.
Thursday, March 16, 1944
In Italy... The Allied forces of the US 5th Army continue attacking around Cassino. No progress is made. The German 1st Paratroop Division (part of the 76th Panzer Corps, 10th Army) continues to hold.
In the Admiralty Islands... On Los Negros and Manus, American forces are advancing. Japanese resistance is increasing on Manus.
In New Guinea... US aircraft strike a Japanese convoy off Wewak.
Friday, March 17, 1944
In Italy... The battle for Cassino continues. Indian and New Zealander troops of US 5th Army mount attacks on the southwest of the town and along Snake's Head Ridge to Point 593. German forces mount attacks against Castle Hill and Hangman's Hill.
On the Eastern Front... Forces of the Soviet 1st Ukrainian Front (Vatutin) capture Dubno in the continuing advance against German Army Group South.
In the Admiralty Islands... On Manus Island, US forces reach their primary objective and take Lorengau airfield.
In Burma... Japanese aircraft strike the "Broadway" landing zone. Several British Spitfires are destroyed on the ground.
Saturday, March 18, 1944
In New Guinea... Allied destroyers bombard the Japanese base at Wewak during the night (March 18-19).
In the Admiralty Islands... On Manus, the village of Lorengau is captured by US forces. On Los Negros American and Japanese forces engage near Papitalai.
On the Eastern Front... Forces of the Soviet 1st Ukrainian Front (Zhukov) capture Zhmerinka.
In the Marshall Islands... US Task Group 50.10 (Admiral Lee) bombards Mili Atoll. Two battleships and the carrier Lexington are involved. The USS Iowa is damaged by fire from a Japanese coastal battery.
In Germany... Admiral Horthy, the Regent of Hungary, is summoned to visit Hitler and arrested.
Sunday, March 19, 1944
In Hungary... German forces occupy Hungary (Operation Margaret) to prevent a Hungary from withdrawing from the war and ensure a line of retreat for German forces to the east as well as continued access to Hungarian oil resources.
On the Eastern Front... The Soviet 2nd Ukrainian Front (Konev) cross the Dneipr River, near Yampol, and capture Soroki to the south on the west bank. To the immediate north, forces of 1st Ukrainian Front (Vatutin) take Krzemienic, near Dubno.
Monday, March 20, 1944
On the Eastern Front... Soviet forces continue to advance along a broad front throughout the Ukraine. Troops of 1st Ukrainian Front capture Mogilev Podolsky and Vinnitsa (former headquarters for Adolf Hitler and, afterward, German Army Group South), both important communication centers.
In Burma... The first brigade of the British 5th Division arrives at Imphal by air. A battalion is sent to Kohima.
In Italy... British General Alexander, Supreme Allied Command in the Mediterranean, agrees to the request of New Zealand Corps commander General Freyberg to halt attacks on Cassino because of heavy losses, unless substantial progress is achieved within the next two days.
In the Bismark Archipelago... The US 4th Marine Division (General Noble) lands on Emirau Island, in the Matthias group. There is no Japanese resistance. Naval support includes 4 carriers and 7 cruisers. Admiral Griffin commands 4 battleships and 2 carriers in attacks on Kavieng as cover for the landings.
Tuesday, March 21, 1944
In Burma... The British 20th Indian Division completes its withdrawal. The division now holds a line on the Shenan Hills and between Palel and Wangjing. The 17th Indian Division continues fighting through the roadblocks, held by the Japanese 33rd Division, in its effort to pull back.
In New Guinea... US forces moving west from Yalau Plantation link up with Australian forces advancing north, from inland, on the Huon Peninsula.
Wednesday, March 22, 1944
In Italy... The forces of the New Zealand Corps (part of US 5th Army) makes a final attack on German-held Cassino. It fails. General Freyberg, commanding the corps, then calls off the attack. Allied troops are withdrawn from the most advance positions and the remainder consolidate recent agains.
On the Eastern Front... The forces of 2nd Ukrainian Front (Konev) secure Pervomaysk, southeast of Uman.
From Berlin... The formation of a new Hungarian government is announced. It will be led by Field Marshal Szotjay.
In the Atlantic... Admiral Doenitz orders all U-boats to disperse from groups and work singly. This decision represents the final victory of the Allied escort forces over the German U-boats. The Germans have decided to give up on convoy attacks until new U-boat designs become available.
Thursday, March 23, 1944
On the Eastern Front... The Soviet 1st Ukrainian Front (Zhukov) strikes south between Proskurov and Tarnopol, threatening to drive a wedge between the German 1st and 4th Panzer Armies (both part of Army Group South). Soviet forces capture Kapychintsy.
In the Solomon Islands... On Bougainville, Japanese forces attack American positions without making any progress. Heavy Japanese losses are reported.
In the St. Matthias Islands... US destroyers shell the Japanese seaplane base on Elouae.
Friday, March 24, 1944
In Germany... The great escape from Stalag Luft III, a German prisoner of war camp near Sagan, takes place during the night (March 24-25). Of 76 Allied airmen who take part, 50 are recaptured and executed. In 1963, a movie titled "The Great Escape" (staring Steve McQueen, James Garner, James Coburn and Charles Bronson) is released based on this event.
In Burma... General Orde Wingate, commanding the Chindit forces, is killed in an airplane accident at age 41. The senior Chindits commander, Lentaigne, replaces him.
On the Eastern Front... Soviet forces of the 1st Ukrainian Front continue to advance. Southeast of Tarnopol, Chertkov and Zaleschik are captured. Forces of 3rd Ukrainian Front (Malinovski) take Voznesensk, northeast of Nikolayev.
Over Germany... During the night a thousand plane raid on Berlin is carried out by Bomber Command. Heavy damage is reported in Berlin but many bombers are blown off course and more than 50 are shot down by German Flak defenses. A total of 73 bombers are lost in all operations (including a diversionary attack on Kiel). Flight Sergeant Alkemade jumps, without a parachute, from a burning RAF Lancaster bomber at 5486 meters above western Germany and lands safely in a snow drift.
In Occupied Italy... German authorities execute 336 Italian civilians (including Jews) near Rome in reprisal for partisan activities. The event becomes known as the Ardeatine Caves massacre.
In the Solomon Islands... On Bougainville, significant Japanese resistance ends. American forces do not attempt to clear the Japanese remnants from the island. Over the course of the past few weeks, Japanese casualties are estimated at 8000 while the US forces have suffered about 300 casualties.
Saturday, March 25, 1944
In the Admiralty Islands... On Manus, a final drive by US forces eliminates most of the remaining Japanese forces. On Los Negros, Japanese resistance has been reduced to scattered groups and isolated individuals.
On the Eastern Front... Troops of the Soviet 1st Ukrainian Front capture Proskurov and continue advance southwest. The German 1st Panzer Army (General Hube) fails to attack westward and it is threatened with encirclement.
In the Caroline Islands... Japanese patrols sight large American naval forces heading for Palau Island.
Sunday, March 26, 1944
On the Eastern Front... A large part of the German 1st Panzer Army (part of Army Group South) is cut off around Kamenets-Podolski by Soviet advances to the Prut River by the 1st and 2nd Ukrainian Fronts. Other forces of the 2nd Ukrainian Front capture Balta.
In Italy... Allied forces begin regrouping. The French Corps and the New Zealand Corps are withdrawn from the line. Units from the British 8th Army designated to replace the forces withdrawn from US 5th Army line.
In the Caroline Islands... Japanese patrols again sight large American naval forces heading for Palau Island. They decide to disperse their warships.
Monday, March 27, 1944
On the Eastern Front... Kamenets-Podolski, on the Dnestr River and Gorodenka are captured by forces of the Soviet 1st Ukrainian Front (Zhukov). This movement is intended to block the breakout of the forces of the German 1st Panzer Army (Hube). Meanwhile, during the night, all units trapped in Hube's Pocket receive the following signal: "1st Panzer Army will fight its way through the enemy and defeat him wherever he is encountered." In Italy... A British torpedo boat squadron destroys a small German coastal convoy off Vado. In Burma... The British 33rd Corps (General Stopford) is assigned to 14th Army (General Slim). It is ordered to concentrate at Dimapur and then advance to Kohima. Meanwhile, a second brigade of the 5th Division arrives at Imphal by air while the third brigade is sent to Dimapur as a reinforcement for 33rd Corps. In the Arctic... Convoy JW-58 sails from Iceland for Murmansk.Tuesday, March 28, 1944
On the Eastern Front... Forces of the Soviet 3rd Ukrainian Front (Malinovski) capture Nikolayev. The sea borne evacuation of German and Romanian troops and wounded from Odessa begins.
In the Caroline Islands... The Japanese battleship Musashi is hit by a submarine torpedo while withdrawing from Palau Island.
Wednesday, March 29, 1944
In Burma... The Japanese 31st Division (Sato) cuts the road between Imphal and Kohima. General Slim, commanding British 14th Army, decides to supply the garrison of Imphal by air.
On the Eastern Front... Soviet troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front (Vatutin) capture Kolomya, west of the Prut River, in Moldava (formerly Romanian territory).
Thursday, March 30, 1944
Over Germany... RAF Bomber Command raids Nuremberg with 795 bombers. The force loses 96 aircraft, representing the single highest nightly loss of the entire war. It is apparent that on clear nights the growing technical skill of the German night-fighter controllers and the new Lichtenstein airborne radar units combine with the German ability to track RAF H2S and IFF transmissions in inflicting unacceptable loss rates on the attacking force.
From Berlin... Hitler dismisses Manstein and Kleist and renames their commands. Model is assigned to command Army Group North Ukraine (formerly Army Group South) and Schorner is assigned to command Army Group South Ukraine (formerly Army Group A). Lindemann replaces Model in command of Army Group North.
On the Eastern Front... Soviet forces capture Chernovtsy.
In the Admiralty Islands... US forces occupy Pityilu Island to the north of Manus Island. There is little Japanese resistance.
In the Caroline Islands... Admiral Spruance leads three groups from Task Force 58 (including 11 carriers) in attacks on Palau Island.
Friday, March 31, 1944
In Tokyo... Admiral Koga, Commander in Chief of the Japanese Combined Fleets, is killed in an airplane accident. Political differences in the Japanese hierarchy prevent the immediate appointment of a successor.
On the Eastern Front... Troops of 3rd Ukrainian Front (Malinovski) capture Ochakov, southwest of Nikolayev.
In the Caroline Islands... On Palau Island, attacks by US forces from Task Force 58 (including 11 carriers) continue.
Copyright © 2018 Ralph Zuljan