Air Operations, Aleutians6 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s, 10 B-25s, 12 XI Fighter Command P-38s, and 4 P-40s are sent to attack Kiska, but 6 B-25s and the 4 P-40s abort due to bad weather. [ | ]Air Operations, CBIBURMA
Air Operations, EuropeBOMBER COMMANDDaylight Ops:
Air Operations, New GuineaIn an effort to mount a major air offensive against Allied bases and positions, an estimated 26 Japanese bombers escorted by an estimated 32 fighters attack Wau Airdrome and nearby Australian Army ground forces. [ | ]Air Operations, Solomons3 XIII Bomber Command B-24s mount individual attacks against the Ballale airfield, the Kahili airfield on Bougainville, and the Munda Point airfield on New Georgia. [ | ]Eastern FrontHausser's SS troops begin to attack Kharkov from the west and north. South of the city the small town of Taranovka is strongly held by the Soviet 25th Guards Div despite vicious attacks by LXVIII Pzr Corps. The Russians contain the pressure by these armored units of von Manstein and continue to advance on Smolensk in the central sector. The Russians withdraw from Krasnodar in the Donets Basin and Barvenkovo. SOUTHERN SECTORThe Grossdeutschland Division attacks toward Bogodukhov, striking elements of the 69th Army. Soviet 40th Army deploys 3 of its divisions at Bogodukhov in an effort to counterattack and link up with the hard-pressed 3rd Tank Army. Heavy attacks by the SS Panzer Corps sever the 69th Army from the 40th, enabling its advance east to isolate Kharkov. While the XLVIII Panzer Corps fights its way along the Mzha River from Merefa to Zmiyev, SS Panzer Corps captures Lyubotin. Amid heavy fighting the Soviets attempt to reinforce the Kharkov defenses with new units. Around the city the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler Division pushes west of Dergachi while Totenkopf moves north and captures Olshany, forcing back the remnants of the 3rd Tank Army. [ | ]Indian Ocean3 trapped German merchant ships are scuttled at Marmagao, Portuguese India by British Commandos of the Calcutta Light Horse in an SOE operation to stop the radioing of shipping movements to U-boats in the Indian Ocean. This action is not made public until 1978. [ | ]New GuineaThere are heavy Japanese attacks on Wau as a prelude to a spell of intensive effort in the air. This is the first in a series of raids carried out on the most important strategic positions of the Allies, including Oro Bay and Milne Bay, Port Moresby, Dobodura and Porlock Harbor. [ | ]North AfricaThe reorganization of Axis forces continues. Field Marshal Kesselring's authority over ground, air and sea units in the Mediterranean theater is extended. Gen von Arnim takes command of Army Group Africa, succeeding Field Marshal Rommel, who leaves Africa. Gen Gustav von Vaerst succeeds von Arnim as commander of the 5th Panzer Army. TUNISIAField-Marshal Rommel, called home after the Battle of Medenine, stops off in Rome for a meeting with Mussolini. He does not hide the griavity of the Axis position, but Mussolini solemnly announces: 'Tunisia must be saved at all costs . . . I agree with the Führer; we must save Tunisia.' Rommel also meets with Hitler in East Prussia but is not able to persuade either of them to withdraw from Africa. Command of the German forces in Tunisia passes to Gen Jürgen von Arnim, while overall command of the Axis troops goes to Gen Giovanni Messe. In the US II Corps area, the 1st Div is joined in Bou Chebka by the 18th Regimental Combat Team, which reverts to it from its attachment to the 34th Div. [ | ]SolomonsThe Americans begin a series of air raids against Japanese installations at Munda in New Georgia, an important enemy base. [ | ]Soviet Union, Home FrontThe Russian people are told for the first time, in a radio broadcast, that the Soviet Union is receiving supplies from Britain and the US. [ | ] |
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[March 8th - March 10th] |