Chronology of World War II

Copyright © 1998-2024 Ken Polsson
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References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2023 December 20.


1943

October 1
  • In Italy, the United States 5th Army enters Naples. [1.21] [166.343] [721.42] (October 2 [416.E5])
  • British 10th Corps reaches Naples, Italy. [277.221]
October 3
  • A British Special Services brigade lands beyond Termoli, on the north coast of Italy, quickly capturing the town behind German lines. Instead of retreating to Sangro River, the Germans counterattack to try to regain Termoli. [277.221] [755.84]
  • German forces complete their evacuation of Corsica. [78.282]
October 4
  • Adolf Hitler decides not to withdraw to Northern Italy, but to prepare a firm defence called Winterstellung from rivers Garigliano and Rapido in the west, and the river Sangro in the east. [149.231]
October 5
  • US carriers Lexington, Essex, Yorktown, Cowpens, Independence, and Belleau Wood commence two days of air strikes on Wake Island. [712.42]
October 6
  • Canadian tanks force Germans to withdraw from Termoli, Italy. [755.84]
October 8
  • (evening) British bombers attack Hanover, Germany, for the third time in a month. The center of the city is devastated, with 4,000 buildings destroyed and 30,000 damaged. [84.206]
October 9
  • The United States 8th Air Force launches an attack against several European targets. One group makes a feint to Woensdrecht, another to Leeuwarden, both in the Netherlands. A diversionary strike is made on Anklam, Germany, then the main attack force of 246 B-17 and B-24 bombers attack Gdynia and Danzig in Poland, and destroy the Focke-Wulf aircraft plant at Marienburg in East Prussia. Of the 100 planes sent to Anklam, 18 planes and crew are lost, 51 planes are damaged, and 25 men wounded. [111.97]
October 12
  • Allied forces in Italy attack the German defensive line at the Volturno River, 20 miles north-west of Naples. [277.221]
  • British forces begin landing on the Portuguese Azores islands, to establish airbases. [38.91]
October 13
  • Italy declares war on Germany. [166.343] [406.210] [721.42]
October 14
  • In Italy, the 1st Canadian Corps takes Campobasso. [1.21]
  • 60 B-24 Liberator bombers and 291 B-17 Flying Fortress bombers of the US 8th Air Force in England begin Mission 115, an attack on ball-bearing plants at Schweinfurt, Germany. Due to bad weather, none of the Liberators is able to participate. 26 B-17s turn back due to mechanical difficulties. American P-47 Thunderbolt fighter planes provide escort protection up to Aachen, Germany. Beyond that, German planes knock out 37 bombers before they reach their target. The remaining planes complete their bombing successfully. The factories are hit hard, resulting in a loss of 67% of ball-bearing production. Another 23 bombers are downed on the return trip. 200 bombers return, but only 60 survive with little damage. Due to the high losses, the day becomes known to the 8th Air Force as Black Thursday. [81.65] [84.215] [373.285] (October 20 [29.117])
October 15
  • In Italy, the 1st Canadian Corps takes Vinchiaturo. [1.21]
October
  • In England, Louis Mountbatten leaves the position of head of Combined Operations. [101.39]

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  • Most of Denmark's 7000 Jews are evacuated to Sweden. [401.228]
  • In Germany, Kurt Meyer becomes commander of the 25th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment of the 12th Panzer Division (Hitler Youth). [101.20]
  • The Gay Viking, a specially-built British "pocket freighter", dashes through the German blockade of Sweden, arriving in Lysekil harbor to pick up important steel products. (This is the first run of five such ships operating for four months.) [38.138]
  • Spain orders the withdrawal of the Blue Division from the German Eastern Front. [38.104]
  • Spanish troops begin leaving the Russian front. [38.85]
  • British scientists recover German guided bomb parts from nine Dorniers Do 217 bombers abandoned at Foggia, Italy, including tranceivers and control panels, allowing technical analysis. [713.56]
October 16
  • Monks at Monte Cassino in Italy begin removing the archive and library, following German warning that it would soon be in the line of fire. [570.15]
October 18
  • British, American, and Soviet foreign ministers meet in Moscow, Russia, over 13 days. They establish the European Advisory Commission, to elaborate a joint Allied plan for Germany. [145.35] [407.20]
October 19
  • 300 miles off Oahu, Hawaii, Japanese submarine I-36 launches a floatplane to survey Pearl Harbor. It succeeds undetected, and returns to its mother submarine. [87.94]
October 22
  • (evening) British bombers attack Kassel, Germany, creating a firestorm. 155 industrial buildings are destroyed or damaged, three Henschel factories making V-1 flying bombs are damaged, 26,000 residential buildings destroyed, 9,000 people killed or missing, and 100,000 people made homeless. [84.205]
(month unknown)
  • German forces begin using a new radar device for night fighters called SN-2. [28.386]
November 1
  • The Moscow Declaration is published. The governments of USSR, UK, and USA declare they regard Germany's annexation of Austria null and void. [407.189]
  • US Marines land in Empress Augusta Bay on the island of Bougainville, in the Solomon Islands. [712.42]
  • (about 0200 hours) USS Borie destroyer unintentionally launches every depth charge in all of its racks and throwers at a diving German submarine U-405, forcing the sub to the surface. The two ships exchange all manner of gunfire, shelling, flares, tools, shoes, potatoes, knives, shell casings, and ramming. After 72-minute battle, U-405 sinks and explodes. Survivors are not able to be picked up due to presense of another German ship. (Next day, the Borie has to be sunk due to damage.) [827.29]
November 2
  • In the South Pacific, Japanese cruisers and destroyers battle an American cruiser-destroyer force. The Japanese lose light cruiser Sendai and destroyer Hatsukaze. [712.42]
  • 78 American B-25 bombers and P-38 fighters attack Japanese base Rabaul, defended by 112 Zeros. Americans lose nine fighters and nine bombers. Japanese lose 18 destroyed or damaged, plus suffer bomb damage to Rabaul. [712.42]
November
  • The Canadian 5th Armored Division is shipped to Italy. [442.18]
November 3
  • Adolf Hitler issues Directive 51, in which he warns of an Allied landing in western Europe, by spring of 1944. He orders the strengthening of the western defences near England and in Denmark, noting that an Allied landing would be more troublesome than Russian advances in the East. [28] [54.28] [149.218]
  • Air Chief Marshal Arthur Harris proposes to British Prime Minister Winston Churchill that sustained aerial bombing of Berlin would cost 400-500 aircraft, and cost Germany the war. Churchill authorizes commencing the Battle of Berlin. [10.11] [28.386]
  • In Italy, British 5th Corps forces Germans from Trigno, who withdraw to the Sangro River. [277.221]
  • Monks at Monte Cassino in Italy complete removing the archive and library. Most of the monks also leave. [570.15]
  • (evening) British Bomber Command sends a force of Lancaster bombers to attack Düsseldorf, Germany, blind-bombing using "GH" guidance technology. [84.345]
November 4
  • Commander of US Navy forces in Southwest Pacific Admiral William Halsey sends an order to Task Force 38 (carriers Saratoga and Princeton) of Rear Admiral Frederick Sherman to proceed from Remell Island as soon as possible to launch an attack on shipping in Rabaul. [712.44]
November 5
  • (morning) US Task Force 38 launches an air attack on Rabaul. Americans lose 13 planes, Japanese lose possibly 28. Damage is done to most ships, which was the objective of the raid. [712.44]
  • Adolf Hitler assigns Erwin Rommel the task of inspecting the Atlantic Wall. [54.63]
  • An air attack is made on the Vatican area in Italy. (After the war, investigators determine the attack was planned by Italian Fascist Robero Farinacci, in an attempt to discredit the Allies.) [504.2]
  • The Headquarters of the Canadian Corps and the 5th Canadian Armoured Division arrives at Italy. [1.21]
November 6
  • Kiev is liberated by Soviet forces. [80.323] [166.335,355] [277.212] [416.E5] [519.1933]
November 8
  • Adolf Hitler broadcasts a speech from a beer hall in Munich: "our hour of revenge is nigh!", refering to flying bomb and rocket weapons nearing a state of readiness. [339.108]
  • American submarine USS Nautilus departs Pearl Harbor with a US Marine detachment, to land at Abemama Island. [712.58]
November 10
  • (evening) British Bomber Command attacks the Mount Cenis railway tunnel. [84.346]
November 11
  • US Task Group 50.4, with carriers Saratoga and Princeton, launches an air assault on Rabaul, attacking a light cruiser and four destroyers without success. [712.45]
  • (0830 hours) American planes from carriers and New Georgia arrive over Cape St. George en route to Rabaul, met by 68 Japanese Zero fighter planes. [712.45]
  • (0905 hours) American planes attack Japanese ships at Rabaul. Light cruiser Agano is hit by a torpedo. Destroyer Naganami is hit by a torpedo. Destroyer Suzunami is sunk near the harbor entrance. Light cruiser Yubari is slightly damaged. Destroyer Urakaze is slightly damaged. Destroyer Umikaze is slightly damaged. [712.45]
  • (1200 hours) Rabaul naval commander Rear Admiral Jinichi Kusaka launches a counterattack on US Task Group 50.3, sending a large force of fighters and bombers. [712.47]
  • (about 1400 hours) Japanese fighters and bombers reach US Task Force 50.3, battling American fighters before reaching the ships. [712.48]
  • (1412 hours) US Task Force 50.3 commander Rear Admiral Alfred Montgomery cancels preparation of planes for a second strike on Rabaul, to deal with the incoming Japanese planes. [712.48]
  • (1458 hours) US Task Force 50.3 survives the Japanese air attack with no loss of ships, and only injuries to ten sailors. [712.48]
November 13
  • A German guided aerial bomb hits HMS Dulverton off Kos, forcing the scuttling of the destroyer. [713.56]
November 15
  • British Air Marshal Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory is appointed Air Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Expeditionary Force. [84.221]
November
  • US President Franklin Roosevelt embarks battleship Iowa, en route to Cairo and Teheran conferences. US destroyer William D. Porter accidentally launches a torpedo at the Iowa. The ship is able to move out the way, and the torpedo explodes harmlessly. (An investigation determines that water short-circuited the firing mechanism.) [480.48]
November 18
  • (evening) 395 British bombers attack Mannheim and Ludwigshafen, Germany, as a diversion from the main attack on Berlin. [84.209,346]
  • 444 British heavy bombers attack Berlin, Germany, in the first attack of the Battle of Berlin. Nine British planes are lost. Little damage is done, mainly due to much cloud cover. [28.386] [84.209]
November 19
  • Japanese submarine I-19 launches a floatplane to survey Pearl Harbor. It succeeds undetected, and returns to its mother submarine. [87.94]
  • (evening) 266 British bombers attack Leverkusen, Germany. Little damage is done. [84.209]
November 20
  • The British 8th Army commences Operation Encroach toward Rome, Italy. [715.14]
  • In the North Atlantic, Royal Canadian Navy corvettes Snowberry and Calgary and Royal Navy frigate Nene sink German submarine U-536. [27.21]
November 21
  • (0100 hours) The US Pacific Fleet, commanded by Admiral Chester Nimitz, begins Operation Galvanic, Marine landings on Tarawa, Makin, and Abemama in the Gilbert Islands chain. (In taking the islands, 17 of 4637 Japanese defenders survive.) [166.318,355] [522.1989] [712.58,62] (November 20 [51.186] [239.7])
November 22
  • British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, American President Franklin Roosevelt, and Chinese President Chiang Kai-shek meet at Cairo, Egypt, over five days. They agree on military strategy against Japan. [166.355] [407.20] [529.2017]
  • (evening) 764 British bombers attack Berlin, Germany. Enormous damage is done. [84.209] [373.287]
November 23
  • (evening) British bombers again attack Berlin, Germany, doing great damage. In this and the past night, over 30 major industrial complexes are destroyed, 9,000 people are killed or injured, and 200,000 are made homeless. [84.209]
November 25
  • US destroyer Radford sinks Japanese submarine I-19. [87.94]
November 26
  • A German He 177 bomber attacks a convoy off the Algerian coast. A Hs 293 guided bomb hits British troopship Rohna, killing nearly 1200, including over 1000 Americans. [713.56]
  • (evening) 433 British Lancaster bombers and seven Mosquito fighter/bombers attack Berlin, Germany. Damage is moderate, with 38 industrial plants destroyed. About 27 planes are shot down, and another 14 crash land on their return to England. [84.210] [373.289]
November 28
  • British General Bernard Montgomery launches an offensive on German defenses of the Sangro line in Italy. The immense air and artillery bombardment forces German 65th Division to withdraw behind the Sangro River to the main line farther back. [442.17] [277.224]
  • British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, American President Franklin Roosevelt, and Soviet Premier Josef Stalin meet at Teheran, Iran, over four days. Discussions include: European strategy, Far East strategy, Russia and Japan, United Nations, Turkey, Italy, Russian frontiers, Poland, and Germany's eastern frontier. [166.355] [382.10] [407.20] [529.2017]
November
  • The USSR issues two postage stamps commemorating the Tehran Conference. [343.523]
December 1
  • The Canadian 1st Division begins replacing the British 78th Division along the Moro River, Italy. [715.15]
  • The German program of long-range weapons, flying bombs and rockets is complete. Adolf Hitler approves orders to prepare and carry out their use against England. [149.239]
December 2
  • (0730 hours) Several German JU-88 bombers attack the Italian seaport of Bari. After 20 minutes, four ships have been damaged. One, a gasoline ship, explodes. Then an ammunition ship explodes. Sixteen cargo ships sink, with 1000 men killed. One ship containing a secret cargo of 100 tons of mustard gas in 100-pound bombs sinks. 559 men suffer greatly from the gas poisoning, with a further 69 dying within two weeks. [51.162] [736.41]
  • (1630 hours) Allied Operation Bluecoat begins in Italy. Over 900 guns open fire on Monte Sammucro. On the left is British X Corps, with objective Camino. On the right is the US II Corps, with objective La Difensa. Over two days, 200,000 shells are fired. [704.21]
  • (evening) Two battalions of the 2nd Regiment of the American/Canadian First Special Service Force begin climbing the north-east face of Monte la Difensa in Italy. Their objective is to clear German positions there and on Mount Remetanea. [28.375] [277.225] [412.24] [704.21]
  • (evening) 458 British bombers attack Berlin, Germany. Little damage is done, due to high winds. 40 planes are shot down. [84.211]
  • (evening) British bombers mount a heavy assault on Leipzig, Germany. [84.212]
December 3
  • (early dawn) Three battalions of the First Special Service Force clear Germans from positions on the summit of Mount la Difensa in Italy. [28.375] [412.24] [704.21]
December 6
  • A British division takes Mount Camino in Italy. [28.375]
  • Canadian forces in Italy begin an assault across the Moro River on three fronts. The main force is centered across from San Leonardo, with two smaller diversionary assaults near Villa Rogatti, and near the coast of the Adriatic sea. [442.17] [715.18]
  • (late) In Italy, the First Special Service Force captures Hill 907 below Monte Camino. [704.22]
December 7
  • (0500 hours) In Italy, American artillery fire on San Pietro commences. [704.23]
  • (0620 hours) In Italy, the 2nd and 3rd battalions of US 143rd Infantry Division approach San Pietro, but are thrown back by intense German fire. [704.23]
  • US President Franklin Roosevelt tells Dwight Eisenhower that he would command Operation Overlord, as Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary Force. [54.66]
  • Canadians across the Moro river near the Adriatic Sea commence south-west toward San Leonardo. [715.19]
  • In Italy, the last German defender leaves the area of Mount La Difensa. The First Special Service Force suffered 511 casualties of a force of about 1500. [704.22]
  • (evening) In Italy, a company of the US 143rd Infantry climbs the east face of Sammucro, reaching the top by first light. [704.22]
December 8
  • In Italy, the 2nd and 3rd battalions of US 143rd Infantry Division approach San Pietro again, but are thrown back again. Over a 36-hour period, losses are 60 percent. [704.23]
  • Nicaragua issues two postage stamps marking the 2nd anniversary of the country's declaration of war against the Axis powers. [342.1148]
  • (afternoon) Canadian artillery begin a barrage of the Moro Valley in Italy, in preparation for infantry of the 1st Division to assault it in the morning. [28.361]
December 9
  • (0430 hours) In Italy, the Canadian 1st Division infantry launches an attack on the Moro Valley, to clear out German forces while engineers build a bridge across the Moro River at San Leonardo. [28.361]
  • (0600 hours) In Italy, Canadian engineers complete a bridge across the Moro River at San Leonardo. [28.361] [442.17]
  • (evening) The Canadian 1st Division completes crossing the Moro River in Italy. [715.19]
December 10
  • Canadians encounter stubborn German defence at "The Gully" crossing of the Old Highway 16 en route to the "Cider" crossroads with Highway 538, south of Ortona in Italy. [715.21]
December 11
  • Louis Mountbatten establishes the Eastern Bomber Command in south-east Asia. [522.1989]
December 14
  • (0600 hours) In Italy, the Canadian Royal 22nd Regiment begins a one-hour artillery barrage of German positions, in preparation for an attack toward Casa Berardi. [28.362]
  • (about 1400 hours) In Italy, south of Ortona, C Company of the Canadian Royal 22nd Regiment captures Casa Berardi overlooking The Gully at the south-west end, allowing firing on German positions in The Gully. [28.362] [715.23]
December 15
  • (1200 hours) In Italy, sixteen American tanks attempt to advance into San Pietro. A few hours later, four surviving tanks withdraw. Seven were destroyed, five immobilized. [704.26]
December
  • A joint British-American-Canadian board overseeing the Habbakuk ice ship project decides to drop the project. [659.14]
  • Adolf Hitler witnesses a demonstration of the capabilities of the ME-262 twin-jet fighter plane. Hitler is impressed, but wants a jet bomber built instead of a fighter. [54.31]
  • Japanese forces in Burma attack Indian Army positions in the coastal region of Arakan, as a diversion from a later main thrust at Imphal in Assam. [345.21]
  • Rebellious officers of the Slovak army form the Slovak National Council (Slovenská Národná Rada), to prepare for a revolution against the Slovak fascist government of Jósef Tiso. [127.50]
  • The Australian chemical warfare effort begins experiments with humans in steel chambers. [51.172]
December 16
  • (0100 hours) In Italy, American foot soldiers attempt to advance into San Pietro. They fail. [704.26]
  • (0600 hours) In Italy, American foot soldiers attempt again to advance into San Pietro. They fail. [704.26]
  • (by dusk) In Italy, two battalions of the US 142nd Infantry Division overrun Monte Lungo, threatening encirclement of San Pietro. [704.27]
  • (evening) British bombers attack Berlin, Germany. [84.212]
December 17
  • (0000 hours) In Italy, German troops withdraw from San Pietro. The US 36th Division incurred 1200 casualties, and 2000 non-battle losses. One in ten villagers died. [704.27]
December 18
  • Winston Churchill informs President Franklin Roosevelt that the British War Cabinet favors Bernard Montgomery for commander of the land forces in the invasion of Europe. [382.18]
December 21
  • In Italy, the battle for Ortona begins, with the Canadian Seaforth Highlanders and Loyal Edmonton Regiment moving into the outskirts of the town. [55.26] [28.368] (December 20 [116.77])
December 23
  • American General Dwight Eisenhower is appointed Allied Commander-in-Chief for operation Overlord. [84.346]
December 24
  • (early) British General Sir Bernard Montgomery learns he will become Commander-in-Chief of 21st Army Group, the British and Canadian forces invading North-West Europe. [382.18]
  • The first successful flight of the German V-1 weapon is made. [54.482]
December 25
  • German battle cruiser Scharnhorst sails to attack convoy JW-55B. [212.33]
December 26
  • American Marines begin landing at Cape Gloucester, New Britain. [522.1989]
December 27
  • German forces retreat from Ortona, Italy, as Canadian forces complete taking the town. [28.373] [116.77] (December 23 [1.21]) (December 28 [277.224] [442.18])
  • Adolf Hitler orders troops to concentrate on the Cotentin peninsula in Normandy, expecting the main Allied attack in mid-February. [149.231]
  • Canadian General Andrew McNaughton is removed from command of the 1st Canadian Army in Europe. [5.136,162]
December 28
  • Adolf Hitler issues orders forbidding withdrawal of personnel or material from France, Belgium, or Holland areas. [149.231]
  • With the Canadian 1st Division close to Highway 16 northwest of Ortona, Italy, German defenders withdraw from the city. [715.24]
December
  • Oliver Leese replaces Bernard Montgomery as commander of British forces in Italy. Montgomery returns to England to command the 21st Army Group. [277.224]
  • British battleship Duke of York sinks German battle cruiser Scharnhorst. [29.106]
December 31
  • Soviet forces capture Zhitomir. [166.355]
  • Winston Churchill shows Bernard Montgomery plans for the invasion of Europe. Montgomery argues that three divisions on 25 miles of Normandy is too small, and too restricted in area. (Soon, the plan is changed to five divisions on a 50-mile front.) [382.19]
  • (evening) On the beach at the seaside village of Luc-sur-Mer (France), British No. 1 Combined Operation Pilotage and Beach Reconnaissance Party emerges from midget submarine to take samples of the sand, to determine if it could support trucks and tanks of an invasion. [54.74]
Year
  • Japanese merchant shipping losses during the year: 2.07 million tons. [518.1916]

End of 1943. Next: 1944.

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A list of references to all source material is available.


Last updated: 2023 December 20.
Copyright © 1998-2024 Ken Polsson (email: ken@kpolsson.com).
URL: http://kpolsson.com/ww2hist/
Link to Ken P's home page.

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