- January
- The European Advisory Committee meets in London, England. [145.35]
- In Germany, Gruppenführer Odilo Globocnik, head of Aktion Reinhard, reports to Heinrich Himmler that the plan produced RM 178.7 million in cash, 16,000 carats in diamonds, and gold coins. [15.30]
- In northern Scotland, an imaginary British Fourth Army is created, to fool the Germans into thinking an invasion of Norway is being planned. Code name is Fortitude North. [54.81]
- January 15
- Dwight Eisenhower begins his command of Operation Overlord. [54.66]
- Erwin Rommel takes command of the German 15th and 17th armies. [54.64]
- January
- The various elements of French Resistance form the French Forces of the Interior. [382.23]
- British General H. Maitland Wilson becomes Supreme Commander, Mediterranean. [277.230]
- Czechoslovakian forces in Britain propose to the Soviets to send Czech pilots in Soviet fighters to assist a future uprising in Slovakia. The idea is approved. [127.51]
- January 17
- Canadian forces in Italy attempt an attack on German defences over the Arielli River. It is a disaster, with 185 Canadians killed or wounded. [442.18]
- British Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder is appointed Deputy to Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force. [84.223]
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- (evening) British 10th Corps in Italy crosses the Garigliano River, forming a strong bridgehead around the town of Minturno. [277.226]
- January 20
- The Soviet Red Army captures Novgorod. [519.1933]
- The German siege of Leningrad is lifted. [416.E5]
- US 2nd Corps in Italy attacks German defenses across the Rapido River south of Cassino, but the attck is a failure. [277.226] [570.15]
- (evening) 769 British bombers attack Berlin, Germany. Massive damage is inflicted. Seventy planes return before the attack due to mechanical problems. [84.212]
- January 21
- US General Dwight Eisenhower accepts the revised plan for Operation Overlord, with five divisions landing on fifty miles of Normandy beaches. Americans are to land on the west, aiming for Chrebourg, Brest, and ports around the Loire estuary. British and Canadian forces are to land on the east near Caen, seizing Caen on the first day. D-Day is set for June 5. [277.240] [382.20]
- January 22
- US General Dwight Eisenhower orders George Patton to take command of the US 3rd Army in Britain. [277.203]
- The Allies launch Operation Shingle, as US 6th Corp and some British troops land a force of 50,000 men at Anzio, Italy, south of Rome. [10.17] [166.343] [239.7] [277.226] [519.1933] [713.56] (January 21 [149.232])
- January 23
- A German Hs 293 guided aerial bomb damages British destroyer Jervis. [713.56]
- January 24
- Adolf Hitler orders the Gustav Line in Italy to be held at all costs. [570.15]
- January 26
- General Christison's 15th Corps of 5th and 7th Indian Divisions begins its objective of recapturing Akyab island on the Arakan coast of Burma. The 5th Division attacks Razabil, but fails after four days. [167.168]
- January 27
- The complete relief of Leningrad is announced. [383.37] [519.1933]
- (evening) Over 500 British bombers attack Berlin, Germany. [84.212]
- January 29
- Operation Bonaparte is launched in France, as Canadian spies Lucien Dumais and Raymond LaBrosse begin the transfer of downed airmen back to Great Britain. (In six months, they save 135 Allied fugitives.) [757.32]
- German guided bombs hits British cruiser Spartan, sinking it. Other bombs set American transport ship Samuel Huntington ablaze. [713.56]
- January 30
- Air Ministry head Charles Portal replies to a letter from Bomber Command head Arthur Harris, that Bomber Command must comply with allowing his bombers be used for operation Overlord. [84.223]
- (evening) Over 500 British bombers attack Berlin, Germany. [84.212]
- February 1
- The Allied Combined Chiefs of Staff agrees to postpone Operation Overlord by a month. [519.1956]
- American forces invade Kwajalein. [659.14]
- February 2
- US Marines capture the islands of Roi and Namur in the Kwajalein Atoll. [522.2002]
- February 3
- German forces begin a counterattack at Anzio, Italy. [519.1933]
- February 4
- Japanese forces launch an offensive in Arakan, Burma. [522.1989]
- (0900 hours) A Japanese force of about 5500 under General Sakurai captures Taung Bazar in Burma. [167.169]
- February 6
- US 4th Marine Division forces begin landing on Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands. [166.318,355] (February 1 [522.2002])
- February 8
- (evening) Twelve British Lancaster bombers attack Limoges, France. They destroy most of the Gnome et Rhône airplane-engine factory. All planes return to England safely. A 12,000-pound bomb is dropped for the first time. [84.214,346]
- February 9
- British submarine HMS Venturer torpedoes and sinks German submarine U-864 in the North Sea, with the loss of 73 lives. (This is the first time a submarine destroys another submarine while both are submerged.) [561.11]
- February 11
- German Admiral Wilhelm Canaris is relieved of his Abwer command. [691.203]
- February 12
- The first battle for Cassino ends in failure for the Allies. Since January 20, Allied casualties number 14,375, with German casualties at 6,444. [570.15]
- February 14
- Adolf Hitler orders a heavy counter-attack on Anzio, Italy. [149.233]
- February 15
- (about 0945 hours) In Italy, about 230 Allied B-17 bombers based at Foggia drop 257 tons of 500 pound bombs and 59 tons of incendiaries on the monastery atop Monte Cassino. (In the afternoon, a further 283 1000-pound bombs are dropped. No German troops were based in the monastery, but the immediate area was used for tank patrols, observation post to direct fire, and an ammunition dump.) [71.16] [277.228] [570.14]
- (morning) The Japanese commander at Truk, Vice Admiral Siezo Kobayashi, concludes there is no imminent danger to the island, so he grounds reconnaissance planes, defuels planes, removes bombs and torpedoes, sends pilots to quarters on another island. [659.14]
- (evening) 891 British bombers attack Berlin, Germany. They drop 2645 tons of bombs, inflicting enormous damage. About 43 planes are shot down. [84.215,346]
- February
- The German navy begins equipping its submarines with snorkels, allowing them to remain submerged longer. [27.21]
- Canada sends Britain first samples of Canadian-made anthrax. [51.120]
- Canada's biological/chemical warfare group begins producing anti-botulinus toxin vaccines for use by Canadian soldiers in the upcoming invasion of France. [51.123]
- The Japanese navy decides to build human-guided torpedoes, named "Kaiten", meaning "turn the tide". [53.16]
- February 16
- (morning) Forces of Admiral Raymond Spruance is Carrier Task Force 58 strike Truk, defeating island's defenders in one day. [659.14]
- German forces in Italy counterattack the Anzio front. [277.228]
- A German guided bomb hits SS Elihu Yale, sinking it. [713.56]
- February 18
- The US naval task force completes the neutralization of the Japanese base at Truk. [522.1989]
- Soviet forces take control of Nikopol, with its manganese mines. [373.316]
- February 19
- (evening) 823 British bombers attack Leipzig, Germany. 78 planes are shot down. [84.216]
- February 20
- About 200 American bombers from England attack Leipzig, Germany. Much damage is done to five of ten targets. [84.216]
- Over the day, the US 8th Air Force launches over 1000 bombers on various attacks. [84.216]
- (evening) British bombers make a massive assault on Stuttgart, Germany. Heavy damage is inflicted. [84.216]
- February 21
- American forces begin landing on Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands. [166.355] (February 18 [522.1989])
- Over the day, the US 8th Air Force launches 861 bombers on various attacks. [84.216]
- Over the day, the US 8th Air Force launches 600 bombers on various attacks. [84.216]
- February 23
- American forces complete the capture of Eniwetok Island. [522.2002]
- February 24
- Over the day, the US 8th Air Force launches bomber attacks on Gotha, Rostock, and Schweinfurt. [84.216]
- In the North Atlantic, Royal Canadian Navy frigate Waskesiu sinks German submarine U-257. [27.21]
- (evening) 734 British bombers attack Schweinfurt, Germany. [84.216,346]
- February 25
- Over the day, the US 8th Air Force launches bomber attacks on the German cities of Augsburg, Stuttgart, Regensburg, and Brunswick. [84.217]
- A German guided bomb hits British destroyer Inglefield, sinking it. [713.56]
- (evening) About 600 British bombers attack Augsburg, Germany. Serious damage is done to the engineering works and aircraft components factory. 85,000 people are made homeless. About 21 planes are shot down. [84.217]
- February 28
- German forces in Italy launch another counterattack on the Anzio front. [277.228]
- The Japanese Sakurai Unit and Doi Unit withdraw to the line of the Maungdaw - Buthidaung road. During the recent Japanese offensive, casualties totaled about 5000 Japanese and 3500 British and Indian soldiers. (This victory is the turning point in the Burma Campaign.) [167.174] [345.21]
- February 29
- The US 1st Cavalry Division lands on Los Negros Island in the south Pacific. [522.2004]
- March 1
- A joint British-American-Canadian board overseeing the Habbakuk ice ship project is dissolved. [101.39]
- March 3
- Adolf Hitler orders the Channel Islands converted into fortresses. [149.234]
- March 4
- The United States air force makes its first attack on Berlin. [84.346]
- German forces in Italy give up counterattacks on the Anzio front. [277.228]
- March 5
- Allies begin an aerial invasion of Burma, with gliders carrying the British/Indian "Chindits" force to Landing Zone Broadway. [100.28] [571]
- March 6
- General Truscott of the US 6th Corps at Anzio, Italy, launches a major offensive on German forces. [519.1952]
- In the Atlantic ocean, several Royal Canadian Navy and British Royal Navy ships sink German submarine U-744. [27.21]
- In the south Pacific, the US 5th Marine Division lands on Willaumez Peninsula of New Britain. [522.2004]
- 800 American aircraft bomb Berlin. [84.346]
- US bombers begin daylight raids on Germany. [766.42]
- (evening) 267 British bombers attack the railway centre at Trappes, south-west of Paris. Enormous damage is inflicted, with no loss of planes. This is the first attack of the Allied Transportation Plan, to disrupt German reinforcement routes prior to an amphibious landing. [84.226,346] [638.29]
- March 7
- (evening) 304 British bombers attack railway targets in Le Mans, France. Enormous damage is inflicted, with no loss of planes. [84.226]
- March 8
- Adolf Hitler issues Führer Order 11, defining two classes of fortresses on the Eastern front. Fortified Areas are to hold down enemy forces, and counter-attack. Local String-points are to defend against enemy penetrations past Fortified Areas. [149.234]
- March 10
- In the North Atlantic, while escorting convoy SC-154, Royal Canadian Navy ships HMCS St. Laurent and HMCS Swansea and a British Royal Navy destroyer surface and sink German submarine U-845. [27.21] [447.28]
- March 13
- In the North Atlantic, several Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Navy, and United States Navy ships and planes sink German submarine U-575. [27.21]
- (evening) British bombers attack railway targets in Le Mans, France. [84.226]
- March 15
- Allies launch another attack on Cassino. Over eight hours, 1000 tons of bombs are dropped, and 190,000 shells are fired on the town. By nightfall, two-thirds of the town is in Allied hands. [277.228] [519.1952]
- Japanese forces in Burma cross Chindwin, attacking Imphal. At the town of Kohima on a 5000-foot ridge, about 3000 British, Indian, and Nepalese soldiers are besieged by a Japanese division. (They are able to hold the position for almost four months.) [345.21] [522.1989]
- (evening) British bombers attack railway targets in Amiens, France. Much damage is inflicted. [84.226]
- March
- The USSR issues four postage stamps honoring defenders of Stalingrad, Leningrad, Odessa, and Sevastopol. [343.523]
- March 16
- (evening) British bombers attack railway targets in Amiens, France. Much damage is inflicted. [84.226]
- March 19
- German troops enter Budapest, Hungary. [15.32] [165.24]
- March 20
- Canadian Lieutenant-General Harry Crerar leaves Canadian 1st Corps in Italy to lead the Canadian 1st Army in England. He is replaced by Lieutenant-General E. Burns. [455.24]
- In the south Pacific, the US 4th Marine Division lands on Emirau in the St. Matthias Islands. [522.2004]
- Operation Anvil is cancelled. The plan was for a landing in south France simultaneously with the landing in north France. [382.20]
- Adolf Hitler tells his principal commanders in the West that keeping the Allies from a successful landing would decide the war. [54.29]
- March 22
- Germans install their own government in Hungary. [390.4]
- In the Atlantic ocean, south-west of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, German submarine U-802 torpedoes and sinks Canadian merchant ship Watuka. [27.21]
- March 23
- American forces at Anzio, Italy, finally break out of the bridgehead. [519.1952]
- In Italy, British General Harold Alexander halts the Cassino operation due to weather and strong resistance. [277.229]
- March 24
- The Zionist Relief and Rescue Committee proposes to Dieter Wisliceng, an aide of Adolf Eichmann, a US$2 million ransom with US$200,000 downpayment to guarantee that Hungarian Jews would not be deported or forced into ghettos. [15.33]
- The plane of Major General Orde Wingate crashes into a hillside near Imphal, killing him. [571]
- 76 men escape via tunnel from German POW camp Stalag Luft III in Lower Silesia. 73 are soon recaptured, 50 executed. [837.19]
- (evening) 811 British bombers attack Berlin, Germany. 72 planes are shot down, killing 392 crew members, and leaving 131 as prisoners. This is the final British air assault of the Battle of Berlin. Since August 1943, Bomber Command had flown over 10,000 sorties and dropped over 30,000 tons of bombs, making it the longest and most sustained bombing offensive against a single target in the war. (The British official history of the Battle of Berlin declares it an operational defeat for Britain.) [10.11] [84.218,346]
- (night) The SS unit of Captain Erich Priebke rounds up 335 Italians, and machine-guns them in the Ardentine caves on the outskirts of Rome. The massacre is in reprisal for the killing of 33 German soldiers two days earlier by Italian resistance fighters. [64.31] [683.A4]
- March 26
- (evening) 705 British bombers attack Essen, Germany, with good results. Nine planes are shot down. [84.218]
- (evening) British bombers attack railway targets in Courtrai, France. [84.227]
- March 30
- Adolf Hitler removes Erich von Manstein from command of Southern Army Group, on the eastern front. [78.275]
- (evening) British Bomber Command sends 795 aircraft to bomb Nuremberg, Germany. The attack is ineffective, inflicting little damage. During their flight, about 200 German fighter planes shoot down 95 bombers. 540 crew are killed, 25 wounded, and 148 taken prisoner. (This is the highest single air raid loss in history.) [28.387] [84.346]
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