1943 - THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Homer_J_Simpson | 1 January 2013 | CougarGA7

[CougarGA7]

1943 – THE YEAR IN REVIEW

December 7th, 1943 was not another day that would live in infamy. There was no sudden shift on any single war front. There were no surprise attacks. There was no significant shift on any of the front lines. The New York Times that day did report something of extreme significant. Six days prior, the Allied leaders, Josef Stalin, Winston Churchill, and Franklin Roosevelt completed and signed the 3-Power Declaration. This was the outcome of the Tehran Conference in Iran in which these leaders decided how they would complete the war as well as conduct the peace after the war was over. There was no longer any debate over whether or not the Nazis could be defeated. This was now a forgone conclusion.

This was a significant shift from how things were just two years prior. 730 days earlier the American base at Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japan and the United States was thrust into the war. As 1942 progressed things did not initially go the Allies way either. Most of the Pacific Rim fell to Japan. The Nazi’s had pressed into southern Russia all the way to Stalingrad. Even with the first signs that things were going to turn for the Allies, victory seemed like a distant vision; perhaps even an impossibility. 1943 would be different. The advantages created by end of 1942 would continue to be exploited and victory became a tangible reality.

On the eastern front, the Soviets continued to put pressure on the Wehrmacht in the south. Stalingrad was surrounded. The 6th Army had no orders, and by now no means to break out of the city to escape the closing noose. Hitler, who still doggedly clung to the idea of the German Army finding a way to salvage the situation refused to allow his surrounded soldiers to attempt to escape, or surrender. In fact he went as far as to promote commanding general Friedrich Paulus to the rank of Generalfeldmarschall. Hitler’s reasoning was simple. A German field marshal had never surrendered in the entire history of Germany. Paulus received the new rank and after careful consideration came to the conclusion that there is a first time for everything. In February, the 6th Army lay down its arms in Stalingrad. Paulus’ surrender was the first in what would be a continuous collapse of the lines on the eastern front.

By the end of the year, the Soviets had taken back a large portion of Germany’s advances in the east. Major city after major city would fall back into the Soviets hands. Kursk, Rostov, Stalino, Smolensk, Dniepropetrovsk, Kiev; all of these cities would again be rejoined to the Soviet Union. In the trail of this advance, German forces were being worn to the barest of threads. The only offensive strike attempted by the Germans, OPERATION ZITADELLE, would result in the largest tank engagement in history. This would take place around the city of Kursk. The 50 day long battle would ultimately involve over four million troops, 70,000 artillery pieces, 12,000 aircraft, and 23,000 tanks. The largest ever single day engagement would take place on July 12th and would involve around 1,500 tanks. The result would be a sound defeat for the Germans and would mark the last German offensive on the eastern front. 1944 would open with the Soviets within a stone’s throw of entering the former country of Poland.

Meanwhile, the western Allies were making some noise of their own. The American forces that had landed in North Africa the previous year had advanced all the way to Tunisia. These forces would get their first taste of hard combat in February when they were soundly defeated in what is more commonly known as the Kasserine Pass. This was the blooding that was needed though and when they had recovered from this drubbing, they went on to support the ousting of the Germans and Italians from North Africa. American troops would enter the port town of Bizerte as the British took the city of Tunis. The Axis was finally expelled from the African continent.

U. S. troops would better show their mettle when the next target in the Mediterranean was struck. OPERATION HUSKEY, the battle for Sicily, would put generals Bernard Montgomery of the British and George S. Patton in direct competition for which troops would play the most significant role in the capture of the island. Patton would show is value as a commander as he quickly moved his units up the west side of the island and capture the town of Palermo. The race was not on to be the first to Messina. Montgomery’s Eighth Army headed up the east coast of the island but got held up at the town of Catania. Patton and the Seventh Army was set significantly far to the west when he hit the north coast due to his orders to take Palermo first. He would go on to use a series of coastal landings to spur his advance and would arrive in Messina a full 18 hours before the first of Montgomery’s forces could get into the town. This still was not fast enough though since at 6:30 am on the day Patton arrived in Messina, Generaloberst Hans-Valentin Hube telegraphed Field Marshal Al Kesselring that he had successfully ferried 40,000 German and 70,000 Italian troops across to Italy along with 10,000 vehicles, 200 guns, 47 tanks, and 1000 tons of ammunition. The Nazis had escaped.

The British Eighth quickly follow up with landings on the toe of Italy. The Americans, now under the command of General Mark Wayne Clark would follow up later by landing south of Naples and Salerno. The fall of Sicily would prove to be too much for the Italian government to handle. King Victory Emmanuel III would step in and remove Mussolini from power. He would be replaced by Pietro Badoglio. Badoglio was better known for his role in the 1935 invasion of Abyssinia when he was charged by Mussolini to use mustard gas to complete the victory over the Ethiopian forces. Badoglio would sue for peace and even go so far as to declare war on Germany. Hitler would step in though. In September, OPERATION EICHE would rescue the incarcerated Mussolini, and he would be installed as the puppet head of a northern Italian country that was in reality just the land occupied by German troops.

As Hitler was coming to realize that he was in trouble things were also going awry in the Pacific. The true turning point of the Pacific war had happened in 1942. The defeat of Midway in June, 1942, was a sound defeat and would be the last offensive operation of the Japanese in the war. By August, U. S. Marines had landed on Guadalcanal and had started the slow process of removing the Japanese from the plethora of islands they had occupied. At the start of 1943, Guadalcanal was in a mop up mode. The last Japanese troops finally escaped the island in February. The operation in the Pacific continued with its limited resources, and a commitment to a two prong strategy.

Douglas MacArthur would continue his work on liberating New Guinea from the Japanese and by the end of the year had made significant progress up the coast of this large island. Chester Nimitz on the other hand would begin the process of liberating many of the small islands that would serve as a stepping stone to the islands of Japan itself.

One of these islands that would be liberated in 1943 was Tarawa. This island and this invasion would be very telling as to what the U. S. forces would have to face in the process of defeating Japan. Marines would land on this fortified island and would defeat the Japanese forces on it in a manner of days. But this would come at a terrible cost. A small island that was hardly even large enough to build an airstrip on would cost the American forces 3,797 casualties. 1696 of these men were killed in action. At the same time, the Japanese would absorb terrible casualties before submitting. There were over 4700 Japanese forces on this little island. By the time they capitulated, there were only 17 soldiers left to take as prisoner. Of all the Japanese forces on the island, 4,690 soldiers would have to fall before the remainder would finally give up the fight. And this was just for a small strip of land in the middle of the Gilbert Islands. What would the Americans face when they began to hit islands closer to the mainland of Japan?

Back home, support for the war was strong among most of the population. But there were those who it seemed at least, were more concerned with their own agenda, rather than the importance of winning the war. John L. Lewis was the most prominent figure of these people. Certainly, he was not an open objector, or agitator against the war, but his efforts as president of the United Mine Workers placed him in the position where he was constantly at odds with the President of the United States and the war effort. On more than one occasion Roosevelt had to use his authority that was given in an amendment in the original draft bill to take over the coal mines so that war production could continue. The commotion created by this conflict between Lewis and Roosevelt even overshadowed the largest race riot of the Second World War. In June, Detroit had a large riot that was spurned from a combination of the creation of a Negro housing project called Sojourn Truth, and promotion of 6 African Americans at the Packard Auto factory that placed them on the line with other whites. The final death toll reached 34 and over 600 were injured. It was the worse of the more than 200 race riots that took place in the United States during the war.

Overall, the Allies had taken control of the war. As you look at the different articles presented this year we see a continuous stream of Allied advances and victories. The next year will show more of the same as we have reached the point in which the Axis is on its heels, and are only in the process of trying to hold on to what they have left.

• European Events

• Asian Events

• American Events

• Sports

• Entertainment

• Other

1943

January

• SOVIET SEALS RING AROUND 22 DIVISIONS, PUTS AXIS STALINGRAD LOSSES AT 312,650 –Jan 1

• RUSSIANS CAPTURE VELIKIYE LUKI, VITAL BASE; U.S. BOMBERS BATTERED JAPANESE ON WAKE – Jan 2

• RUSSIANS NOW 60 MILES FROM LATVIA; BUNA AREA CLEARED OF THE JAPANESE – Jan 3

• RUSSIANS TAKE MOZDOK IN CAUCASUS; ALLIES DOWN 28 PLANES OVER AFRICA – Jan 4

• RUSSIANS SEIZE NAZI AIR BASE AND BIG STORES IN DON BEND; PT BOATS HIT JAPANESE SHIPS – Jan 5

• NAZIS LOSE 6 TOWNS TO RUSSIANS; U.S. TROOPS GAIN ON GUADALCANAL – Jan 6

• OPA BANS PLEASURE DRIVING ON A, B AND C CARDS IN EAST; RUSSIANS MOVE ON ROSTOV – Jan 7

• ROOSEVELT SEES ALLIES ON THE ROAD TO VICTORY, URGES A POST-WAR AMERICA FREE FROM WANT – Jan 8

• CITY SCHOOLS CLOSE FEB. 1-5; CHAOS IN OIL RATION CHARGED; SOVIET STILL GAINS IN SOUTH – Jan 9

• FORTRESSES POUND BIZERTE 3 TIMES; DEFEAT OF JAPANESE AT LAE GROWS – Jan 10

• RED ARMY RINGS GEORGIEVSK, RAIL JUNCTION IN CAUCASUS; PUSHES ON EAST OF ROSTOV – Jan 11

• PRESIDENT ASKS 109 BILLIONS IN WAR BUDGET; RUSSIANS GAIN; 11 LOST U.S. SHIPS IDENTIFIED – Jan 12

• “Shadow of a Doubt,” “Tennessee Johnson” (Movie Reviews) – Jan 13

• CAUCASUS DRIVE SWEEPS ON, BUT NAZIS STIFFEN AT DON; FRENCH WIN PASS IN TUNISIA – Jan 13

• FORTRESSES BAG 34 PLANES IN RAID AND FIGHT AT TRIPOLI; FOE DRIVEN BACK IN CAUCASUS – Jan 14

• RUSSIANS ADVANCE 26 MILES IN DAY’S DRIVE IN CAUCASUS; BEAT BACK ATTACKS ON DON – Jan 15

• RUSSIANS MAKE NEW GAINS TOWARD ROSTOV FROM NORTH; CAPTURE CAUCASUS RAILHEAD – Jan 16

• RUSSIANS STRIKE NEAR VORONEZH; CUT FOE AT STALINGRAD BY 140,000 – Jan 17

• R.A.F. BLASTS BERLIN WITH BIGGEST BOMBS; RUSSIANS IN MILLEROVO, PUSH ON KHARKOV – Jan 18

• RUSSIANS BREAK LENINGRAD SIEGE; BRITISH RAID BERLIN FOR 2D NIGHT – Jan 19

• RUSSIANS WITHIN 79 MILES OF KHARKOV; BRITISH COLUMNS CONVERGE ON TRIPOLI – Jan 20

• NAZI RAID KILLS 34 LONDON PUPILS; DRIVE FOR TRIPOLI NEARS CLIMAX – Jan 21

• TRIPOLI’S FALL IMMINENT AS BRITISH CLOSE IN; GERMANS AGAIN PUSH FRENCH BACK IN TUNISIA – Jan 22

• BRITISH REACH TRIPOLI, LEFT AFIRE BY FOE; RUSSIANS TAKE SALSK, GAIN IN CAUCASUS – Jan 23

• TRIPOLI FALLS, BRITISH DRIVE ON; ALLIES GAIN 4 MILES IN TUNISIA – Jan 24

• RUSSIANS NEAR RAIL POINT BELOW ROSTOV; ALLIES IN TUNISIA STIFFEN AFTER LOSSES – Jan 25

• FRENCH IN MARSEILLE FIGHT NAZIS SEEKING TO OUST 40,000 AT PORT – Jan 26

• ROOSEVELT, CHURCHILL MAP 1943 WAR STRATEGY AT TEN-DAY CONFERENCE HELD IN CASABLANCA – Jan 27

• FIRST U.S. RAIDS ON REICH BLAST WILHELMSHAVEN BASE AND EMDEN – Jan 28

• ROOSEVELT STOPS OFF IN BRAZIL AFTER A SHORT VISIT TO LIBERIA; RUSSIANS MARCH ON JUNCTIONS – Jan 29

• ROOSEVELT, VARGAS AFFIRM AIM TO MAKE ATLANTIC SAFE FOR ALL – Jan 30

• R.A.F. BOMBS BERLIN’S ANNIVERSARY FETE; RUSSIANS RETAKE MAIKOP AND TIKHORETSK – Jan 31

February

• NAZIS’ STALINGRAD CHIEF CAPTURED, ONE OF LAST 2 POCKETS WIPED OUT – Feb 1

• CHURCHILL AND AIDES VISIT TURKEY; TWIN U.S. DRIVES OPEN IN TUNISIA – Feb 2

• JAPANESE LAUNCH NEW BATTLE FOR SOLOMONS; RUSSIANS LIQUIDATE LAST STALINGRAD POCKET – Feb 3

• RUSSIANS, AT ’41 FRONT, CUT KURSK RAILWAY; U.S. GAINS IN TUNISIA; NAVIES SPAR IN PACIFIC – Feb 4

• RUSSIANS SPLIT FOE BELOW ROSTOV, LAND ON COAST TO BLOCK ESCAPE – Feb 5

• RUSSIANS DRIVE AHEAD IN UKRAINE; MUSSOLINI OUSTS CIANO, 10 OTHERS – Feb 6

• RUSSIANS SWEEP TO SEA OF AZOV, GAIN ALONG DONETS; EISENHOWER SUPREME IN AFRICA – Feb 7

• RUSSIANS ON BANK OF DON, SHELL ROSTOV; U.S. TROOPS FLANK FOE ON GUADALCANAL – Feb 8

• RUSSIANS WIN KURSK, VITAL POINT; U.S. BOMBERS SMASH AT NAPLES – Feb 9

• PRESIDENT ORDERS 48-HOUR WEEK IN WAR EFFORT; GUADALCANAL IS OURS; RUSSIANS TAKE BELGOROD – Feb 10

• RUSSIANS ONLY 22 MILES FROM KHARKOV; JAPANESE THROWN BACK IN NEW GUINEA – Feb 11

• CHURCHILL PLEDGES INVASION WITHIN 9 MONTHS; EISENHOWER, PROMOTED, IN SUPREME COMMAND – Feb 12

• PRESIDENT PLEDGES MANY INVASIONS IN EUROPE, OUSTING FOE FROM CHINA AND ATTACK ON JAPAN - Feb 13

• RUSSIANS 11 MILES FROM KHARKOV; BRITISH REPULSE TUNISIAN ATTACK – Feb 14

• ROSTOV AND VOROSHILOVGRAD RECAPTURED; R.A.F. BLASTS LORIENT BASE TWICE IN NIGHT – Feb 15

• ROMMEL BREAKS U.S. LINES IN TUNISIA; NAZIS FLEEING TRAPS IN DONETS BASIN – Feb 16

• RUSSIANS WIN KHARKOV, PUSH PAST ROSTOV; U.S. TANK ATTACK GAINS 6 MILES IN TUNISIA – Feb 17

• AMERICANS DRIVEN BACK 22 MILES, QUIT THREE AIRFIELDS IN TUNISIA – Feb 18

• ROMMEL TAKES THREE MORE TOWNS IN TUNISIA; U.S.-FRENCH UNITS IN NEW LINE AS DRIVE WANES – Feb 19

• RUSSIANS DRIVE ON WEST OF KHARKOV; U.S. TROOPS STABILIZE TUNISIAN LINE – Feb 20

• RUSSIANS WIN KRASNOGRAD, PAVLOGRAD; ALLIES REPEL TWO TUNISIAN THRUSTS – Feb 21

• NAZIS SEIZE VITAL TUNISIAN PASS FROM ALLIES; RUSSIANS SMASH AHEAD IN THE DONETS BASIN – Feb 22

• ROMMEL GAINS IN DRIVE TO SPLIT ALLIES; 850 LOST ON 2 OF OUR SHIPS IN ATLANTIC – Feb 23

• ALLIES HALT NEW THRUSTS BY ROMMEL AS U.S. PLANES MAKE 20 RAIDS ON FOE – Feb 24

• ROMMEL REELS BACK, POUNDED BY PLANES; ARMOR SHATTERED, FOE MAKES FOR COAST – Feb 25

• AMERICANS TAKE KASSERINE GAP; NAZI ATTACKS SLOW SOVIET DRIVE – Feb 26

• ROMMEL FLEES KASSERINE REGION; U.S. FLIERS RAID WILHELMSHAVEN – Feb 27

• AXIS ATTACKS IN NORTH TUNISIA, CONTINUES TO RETREAT IN CENTER; BOMBS BATTER COLOGNE, BREST – Feb 28

March

• BRITISH HALT ATTACKS IN NORTH TUNISIA AND GAIN GROUND IN COUNTER-THRUST – Mar 1

• R.A.F. RAIDS BERLIN, SETTING FIRES; RUSSIANS LAUNCH PUSH IN NORTH – Mar 2

• “The Human Comedy” (Movie Review) – Mar 3

• CENTER OF BERLIN BLASTED IN HEAVIEST RAID; 900 TONS OF BOMBS DROPPED IN HALF HOUR – Mar 3

• M’ARTHUR FLIERS DESTROY 22 JAPANESE SHIPS; ENEMY LOSES 15,000 MEN IN CONVOY, 55 PLANES – Mar 4

• REMNANTS OF JAPANESE CONVOY SUNK; TOLL OF ENEMY PLANES MOUNTS TO 82 – Mar 5

• “Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man” (Movie Review) – Mar 6

• RUSSIANS SWEEP ON SOUTH OF RZHEV; BRITISH REGAIN NORTH TUNISIAN TOWN – Mar 6

• RUSSIANS CAPTURE GZHATSK BASE; NAZIS ATTACK FROM MARETH LINE; BRITISH BOMBS DEVASTATE ESSEN – Mar 7

• BRITISH CHECK MARETH LINE ATTACKS AND SEIZE INITIATIVE IN NORTH TUNISIA – Mar 8

• ROMMEL THROWN BACK IN MARETH AREA; RUSSIANS SMASH ON TOWARD VYAZMA – Mar 9

• RUSSIANS DRIVEN BACK 80 MILES, LOSE 8 DONETS BASIN KEY TOWNS – Mar 10

• ROOSEVELT OFFERS PLAN TO CONGRESS FOR BIRTH-TO-GRAVE SOCIAL SECURITY – Mar 11

• NAZIS ADMIT EVACUATION OF VYAZMA; BRITISH, BEHIND MARETH LINE, REPEL FOE – Mar 12

• EDEN ARRIVES TO CONFER ON WAR PROBLEMS AND PREPARE MEETINGS ON POST-WAR ISSUES – Mar 13

• R.A.F. GIVES ESSEN WORST POUNDING; U.S. FLIERS SMASH FRENCH RAILWAYS – Mar 14

• BERLIN REPORTS RECAPTURE OF KHARKOV; CAPITAL AGREED ON POST-WAR PLANS – Mar 15

• RUSSIANS YIELD KHARKOV, GAIN IN NORTH – Mar 16

• U.S., BRITAIN, CANADA MAP U-BOAT CURB; RUSSIANS ROLL ON TOWARD SMOLENSK – Mar 17

• NAZIS REPORT BRITISH OFFENSIVE AT NORTH END OF MARETH LINE; RUSSIANS ATTACK NEAR KHARKOV – Mar 18

• “Keeper of the Flame,” “Journey Into Fear” (Movie Reviews) – Mar 19

• AMERICANS DRIVE 42 MILES, TAKE GAFSA; NAZI TANK THRUSTS AT DONETS LINE FAIL – Mar 19

• AMERICAN TROOPS TAKE EL GUETTAR, BUT FLOODS SLOW TUNISIAN ADVANCE – Mar 20

• RUSSIAN LINES SWAY ALONG DONETS; ALLIES CONSOLIDATE TUNISIAN GAINS – Mar 21

• U.S.-BRITISH PINCERS GRIPPING FOE IN TUNISIA – Mar 22

• BRITISH BATTER THE MARETH LINE AS AMERICAN DRIVE FORGES AHEAD – Mar 23

• BRITISH BREACH AND CIRCLE MARETH LINE; AMERICANS RACE FOR SEA PAST MAKNASSY – Mar 24

• BRITISH HALT MARETH ATTACK, DRIVE ON; AMERICANS FIGHT WAY CLOSER TO SEA – Mar 25

• BIG GUNS ROAR IN MARETH LINE BATTLE; AMERICANS EDGE AHEAD ON NAZI FLANK – Mar 26

• BRITISH PUSH AHEAD SLOWLY IN FURIOUS MARETH FIGHTING; AMERICANS SPAR WITH FOES – Mar 27

• AMERICANS OPEN NEW TUNISIAN DRIVE AS BRITISH CONTINUE MARETH GAINS – Mar 28

• AMERICANS SWEEP INTO FONDOUK; U.S. REPELS FLOTILLA IN ALEUTIANS – Mar 29

• ROMMEL FLEES AS BRITISH BREAK MARETH LINE; R.A.F. AGAIN HITS BERLIN, RUHR AND ST. NAZAIRE – Mar 30

• 8TH ARMY TAKES GABES, PURSUES FOE NORTH; ALLIED LANDING REPORTED AT SFAX, IN HIS PATH – Mar 31

April

• “Oklahoma!” (Theater Review) – Apr 1

• BRITISH PUSH ON NORTH OF GABES; U.S. UNITS ADVANCE TO JOIN THEM – Apr 1

• 100 FORTRESSES BATTER SARDINIA, SMASH 26 SHIPS AND 71 PLANES; ROMMEL DIGS IN NORTH OF GABES – Apr 2

• BRITISH PUSH AHEAD TOWARD MATEUR; AMERICANS REPEL ROMMEL’S TANKS – Apr 3

• PATTON ATTACKS EAST OF EL GUETTAR AS BRITISH DRIVE CLOSER TO MATEUR – Apr 4

• 133 FORTRESSES RAID PARIS PLANT; U.S. UNITS GAIN 6 MILES IN TUNISIA – Apr 5

• U.S. FLIERS POUND NAPLES AND ANTWERP; 700 R.A.F. PLANES RIP KIEL NAVAL BASE – Apr 6

• BRITISH OPEN DRIVE ABOVE GABES; U.S. FLIERS DOWN 18 TRANSPORTS – Apr 7

• AMERICANS AND 8TH ARMY JOIN IN SOUTH TUNISIA AFTER BRITISH BREAK ROMMEL LINE ABOVE GABES – Apr 8

• ROOSEVELT ORDER FREEZES WAGES AND PRICES AND BARS SHIFTING OF JOBS FOR HIGHER PAY – Apr 9

• OPA TO FIX PRICES ON WHEAT, COTTON, FRUITS, FISH, LIVESTOCK, OIL SEEDS – Apr 10

• BRITISH PURSUE ROMMEL NORTH FROM SFAX; ALLIES PUSH THROUGH MOUNTAINS ON FLANK – Apr 11

• 8TH ARMY RACES ON 27 MILES; ALLIES THREATENING SOUSSE; BAG 61 BIG PLANES IN 2 DAYS – Apr 12

• ALLIES SWEEP THROUGH SOUSSE AND KAIROUAN, CORNERING ROMMEL FOR SHOWDOWN BATTLE – Apr 13

• 2 BRITISH ARMIES PUSH TOWARD TUNIS AND BIZERTE, PIERCING REAR DEFENSES – Apr 14

• FORTRESSES BLAST 73 PLANES IN SICILY; ALLIES TIGHTEN ARC AROUND ROMMEL – Apr 15

• BRITISH AND FRENCH TAKE KEY HEIGHTS IN TUNISIA AS ALLIES BOMB AIRFIELDS – Apr 16

• BRITISH AND FRENCH REPEL ASSAULTS AND HOLD VITAL HEIGHTS IN TUNISIA – Apr 17

• U.S. FLIERS SMASH FOCKE-WULF BREMEN PLANT, R.A.F. HITS SKODA WORKS; 71 BOMBERS LOST – Apr 18

• ALLIED FLIERS DESTROY 29 AXIS PLANES AND SMASH 6 SHIPS IN MEDITERRANEAN – Apr 19

• ALLIES SHOOT 96 AXIS PLANES OUT OF AIR – Apr 20

• ROOSEVELT, ON TOUR, VISITS MEXICAN PRESIDENT; THEY PLEDGE FIGHT FOR ‘GOOD NEIGHBOR WORLD’ – Apr 21

• “China,” “Assignment in Brittany,” “I Walked With a Zombie” (Movie Reviews) – Apr 22

• JAPANESE EXECUTE OUR AIRMEN; U.S. WILL PUNISH ALL RESPONSIBLE – Apr 22

• BRITISH SMASH ROMMEL ATTACKS; GAIN IN HILLS ABOVE ENFIDAVILLE – Apr 23

• BRITISH PUNCH OUT 3-MILE GAINS WEST OF TUNIS AND ALONG COAST – Apr 24

• AMERICANS GAIN 5 MILES IN NORTH AS ALL TUNISIAN DRIVES PROGRESS – Apr 25

• BRITISH AND FRENCH HACK INTO CENTER, EDGE AHEAD IN HARD TUNISIA FIGHTING – Apr 26

• AMERICANS PACE TUNISIAN GAINS; SOVIET BREAKS TIES WITH POLAND – Apr 27

• SOFT COAL STRIKE SATURDAY SET BY LEWIS, DEFYING WLB; 26,000 MINERS ALREADY IDLE – Apr 28

• “Crash Dive” (Movie Review) – Apr 29

• BRITISH STORM LAST HILL ON TUNIS ROAD AS AMERICANS WIN 3 HEIGHTS IN NORTH – Apr 29

• “Mission to Moscow,” “Presenting Lily Mars,” “Good Morning, Judge” (Movie Reviews) – Apr 30

• PRESIDENT ORDERS MINERS TO CONTINUE WORK OR HE WILL INVOKE WAR POWERS; LEWIS SILENT – Apr 30

May

• COAL MINES CLOSING, DEFYING ROOSEVELT ORDER; PRESIDENT READY TO SEIZE PITS THIS MORNING – May 1

• ROOSEVELT SEIZES ALL STRUCK COAL MINES; TROOPS TO GUARD RETURNING MEN, IF NEEDED – May 2

• LEWIS ANNOUNCES 15-DAY TRUCE ON COAL STRIKE JUST BEFORE ROOSEVELT REBUKES MINE UNION – May 3

• AMERICANS WIN MATEUR IN 15-MILE PUSH, THEN DRIVE ON TO MENACE FOE’S FLANK – May 4

• U.S. AND FRENCH TROOPS 13 MILES FROM BIZERTE; AIR CRASH KILLS GEN. ANDREWS, BISHOP LEONARD – May 5

• STALIN FOR STRONG, FREE POLAND; ALLIED COLUMNS NEARING BIZERTE – May 6

• ALLIES BREAK THROUGH TO COASTAL PLAINS IN ALL-OUT BATTLE FOR TUNIS AND BIZERTE – May 7

• TUNIS AND BIZERTE CAPTURED, ENEMY IN FLIGHT TOWARD CAP BON, FACING DEATH OR SURRENDER – May 8

• FLEEING FOE IS HARRIED IN TUNISIA; MANY TRAPPED IN ALLIED ROUND-UP – May 9

• “The Ox-Bow Incident” (Movie Review) – May 10

• TUNISIAN RESISTANCE COLLAPSING; 50,000 AND 4 GENERALS CAPTURED – May 10

• AXIS REMNANTS POUNDED ON CAP BON AND IN SEA; 25,000 SURRENDER TO AMERICANS NEAR BIZERTE – May 11

• CHURCHILL ARRIVES FOR TALK WITH ROOSEVELT; FOE CUT OFF ON CAP BON PENINSULA COLLAPSING – May 12

• TUNISIAN RESISTANCE ENDS IN ROUT OF GERMANS; GEN. VON ARNIM AND 150,000 MEN CAPTURED – May 13

• “The More the Merrier,” “Lady of Burlesque” (Movie Reviews) – May 14

• U.S. IN RECORD RAID OVER FRANCE; TUNISIA PRISONERS RISE TO 175,000 – May 14

• AMERICANS ON ATTU, BATTLE TO OUST JAPANESE; OUR FLIERS AND R.A.F. POUND EUROPEAN BASES – May 15

• BIGGEST U.S. RAIDS POUND EMDEN; BOMBS ROCK MORE ITALIAN PORTS – May 16

• BERLIN BOMBED AGAIN IN ALLIED DRIVE; NAZIS REPLY WITH WEAK RAID ON LONDON – May 17

• R.A.F. BLASTS 2 BIG DAMS IN REICH; RUHR POWER CUT, FLOODS CAUSE DEATH AND RUIN – May 18

• U.S. TROOPS CLOSING PINCERS ON ATTU; LIBERATORS BOMB FOE ON WAKE ISLAND – May 19

• CHURCHILL PLEDGES JAPAN’S RUIN, BUT REAFFIRMS NAZIS COME FIRST – May 20

• U.S. FLIERS BOMB ENEMY IN ATTU TRAP; FOE LOSES 73 PLANES IN MEDITERRANEAN – May 21

• “Action in the North Atlantic” (Movie Review) – May 22

• ALLIES DESTROY 113 PLANES, LOSE ONE AS ITALIAN AIRFIELDS ARE SMASHED – May 22

• MOSCOW DISSOLVES COMMUNIST INTERNATIONAL; JAPANESE ON ATTU SPLIT INTO THREE GROUPS – May 23

• 18 ARE REPORTED KILLED, SCORES INJURED IN WRECK OF JERSEY EXPRESS TRAIN – May 24

• 2,000 TONS OF BOMBS ROCK DORTMUND; ALLIES RAID PANTELLERIA FOUR TIMES – May 25

• CONFEREES AGREE ON TAXES, CANCELING THOSE UNDER $50 AND CUTTING ALL OTHERS 75% - May 26

• BIG R.A.F. FLEET BATTERS DUESSELDORF; 400 U.S. PLANES POUND ITALIAN ISLANDS – May 27

• “This Land is Mine,” “Corregidor,” “Cowboy in Manhattan,” “Cabin in the Sky” (Movie Reviews) – May 28

• RUSSIANS PIERCE GERMAN KUBAN LINE; MOSQUITOS BOMB JENA, OPTICAL CENTER – May 28

• BYRNES HEADS NEW 6-MAN BOARD TO DIRECT ALL WAR MOBILIZATION – May 29

• U.S. BOMBERS SMASH U-BOAT BASES IN BIGGEST BRITAIN-BASED ATTACK – May 30

• JAPANESE REPORT ATTU IS LOST; R.A.F. BLASTS ANOTHER RUHR CITY – May 31

June

• 100 FORTRESSES BATTER NAPLES HARBOR; SARDINIA AND PANTELLERIA ALSO RAIDED – Jun 1

• MINERS IGNORE ICKES’ CALL TO RETURN; DE GAULLE GAINS CONTROL IN AFRICA AS PEYROUTON GOES – Jun 2

• ROOSEVELT STUDIES COAL CRISIS AFTER THE WLB REFERS IT TO HIM; IT BARS TALKS TILL MEN RETURN – Jun 3

• “Bataan” (Movie Reviews) – Jun 4

• ROOSEVELT ORDERS STRIKERS BACK MONDAY; CALLS WORK IN COAL MINES WAR ESSENTIAL – Jun 4

• ANTI-AXIS REVOLT OUSTS CASTILLO IN ARGENTINA; HE FLEES TO URUGUAY AS TROOPS SEIZE CAPITAL – Jun5

• U.S. HITS 3 ITALIAN BATTLESHIPS; MARSHALL AT AFRICA CONFERENCES – Jun 6

• WARSHIPS SHELL PANTELLERIA 5TH TIME; U.S. FLIERS BAG DESTROYER IN SOLOMONS – Jun 7

• BOMBS POUND PANTELLERIA AND PORTS IN SOUTH ITALY – Jun 8

• INVASION NEARING, SAYS CHURCHILL; ROOSEVELT WARNS ON POISON GAS – Jun 9

• PANTELLERIA REFUSES SURRENDER, BOMBARDED BY SHIPS AND PLANES – Jun 10

• SMOKE VEILS PANTELLERIA ON 18TH DAY OF BOMBING; ALLIED AIR SCORE IS 39-1 – Jun 11

• PANTELLERIA YIELDS, CONQUERED BY AIR MIGHT; 200 U.S. PLANES HAMMER REICH U-BOAT YARDS – Jun 12

• LAMPEDUSA FALLS SWIFTLY TO AIR-SEA ATTACK; 10,000 PRISONERS CAPTURED ON PANTELLERIA – Jun 13

• “Spitfire,” “Mr. Big” (Movie Reviews) – Jun 14

• FORTRESSES SMASH KIEL, BREMEN; 26 LOST IN BIG DAYLIGHT BATTLE – Jun 14

• U.S. SUBMARINES SINK 12 JAPANESE SHIPS, ONE A DESTROYER; 4 CRAFT DAMAGED – Jun 15

• KING GEORGE VISITS NORTH AFRICA, REVIEWING ALLIED FORCES THERE – Jun16

• “Coney Island” (Movie Review) – Jun 17

• ALLIED FLIERS BOMB AIRFIELDS IN SICILY AND POUND TARGETS IN SOUTHERN ITALY – Jun 17

• U.S. FLIERS DOWN 77 JAPANESE PLANES AT COST OF 6 IN GUADALCANAL BATTLE – Jun 18

• WLB, 8 TO 4, REJECTS COAL MINERS’ DEMANDS – Jun 19

• 60,000 CEASE WORK IN THE COAL MINES AS UNION AND OPERATORS DELIBERATE – Jun 20

• 3D WARTIME COAL STRIKE BEGUN AT MIDNIGHT; PARLEYS BREAK OVER PORTAL-TO-PORTAL ISSUE – Jun 21

• ONLY PRESIDENT CAN END COAL STRIKE, OFFICIALS ASSERT AS CRISIS SPREADS – Jun 22

• LEWIS CALLS OFF COAL STRIKE UNTIL OCT. 31 IF GOVERNMENT KEEPS CONTROL OF MINES – Jun 23

• ROOSEVELT TO ASK DRAFT LAW RISE TO AGE 65 TO DEAL WITH WAR STRIKES – Jun 24

• “Stage Door Canteen,” “The Youngest Profession,” “Pilot No. 5” (Movie Reviews) Jun 25

• RAF RUNS BRITAIN-AFRICA BOMB SHUTTLE; FRIEDRICHSHAFEN RAIDERS BLAST SPEZIA – Jun 25

• CONGRESS OVERRIDES VETO OF ANTI-STRIKE BILL – Jun 26

• SENATE, 46-29, BARS FOOD SUBSIDIES IN PASSING $3,650,000,000 CCC BILL – Jun 27

• RAF FLEETS SMASH AT REICH FOR EIGHTH STRAIGHT NIGHT; 3D MESSINA RAID IN 36 HOURS – Jun 28

• DAVIS QUITS AS FOOD CHIEF, BLAMING DIVIDED AUTHORITY; 2 GREEK AIRDROMES BOMBED – Jun 29

• WALLACE ACCUSES J.H. JONES OF OBSTRUCTING WAR EFFORT; RAF DEALS 2,000-TON BLOW TO COLOGNE – Jun 30

July

• M’ARTHUR STARTS ALLIED OFFENSIVE IN PACIFIC; NEW GUINEA ISLES WON, LANDINGS IN SOLOMONS – Jul 1

• “Bombardier,” “Fire in the Straw,” “Chatterbox” (Movie Reviews) – Jul 2

• AMERICANS WIN RENDOVA, TURN GUNS ON MUNDA; DOWN 101 PLANES; BAY ON NEW GEORGIA TAKEN – Jul 2

• AUSTRALIANS FIGHT WAY TO NEW GUINEA COAST TO JOIN AMERICAN FORCES BELOW SALAMAUA – Jul 3

• JAPANESE FLOTILLA IS DRIVEN OFF BY OUR WARSHIPS NEAR RENDOVA – Jul 4

• RAF RIPS COLOGNE, ‘FORTS’ RAID FRANCE; ANOTHER LANDING MADE IN SOLOMONS – Jul 5

• NAVAL BATTLE RAGES OFF NEW GEORGIA ISLAND; GERMANS OPEN OFFENSIVE NORTH OF KHARKOV – Jul 6

• 6 JAPANESE WARSHIPS BELIEVED SUNK IN FIGHT, 4 DAMAGED; U.S. LOSES CRUISER AND DESTROYER – Jul 7

• U.S. TROOPS BRACKET MUNDA BASE; NAZIS GAIN AT COST OF 30,000 KILLED – Jul 8

• CONGRESS RECESSES UNTIL SEPT. 14; AMERICANS FIGHT JAPANESE ONLY 3 MILES FROM MUNDA – Jul 9

• ALLIED TROOPS START INVASION OF SICILY; NAVAL ESCORTS BOMBARD SHORE DEFENSES – Jul 10

• ALLIES ADVANCE ON 100-MILE FRONT IN SICILY; WIN BATTLES FOR BEACHES, THEN PUSH INLAND – Jul 11

• ALLIES CAPTURE THREE AIRDROMES IN SICILY; WARSHIPS SMASH TANKS TO LET AMERICANS GAIN – Jul 12

• ALLIES SEIZE SYRACUSE AND NINE OTHER TOWNS IN DRIVE FOR MESSINA, KEY DEFENSE OF SICILY – Jul 13

• ALLIES CAPTURE PORT OF AUGUSTA, LAND NEW FORCES NEAR CATANIA; AMERICANS TIGHTEN MUNDA RING – Jul 14

• “For Whom the Bell Tolls” (Movie Review) – Jul 15

• BRITISH ADVANCE NEAR CATANIA; AMERICANS SEIZE KEY AIRDROMES – Jul 15

• ROOSEVELT STRIPS WALLACE, JONES OF POWER OVER WAR PURCHASES; ALLIES GAIN IN SICILY – Jul 16

• ROOSEVELT, CHURCHILL WARN ITALY TO END FASCIST RULE OR FACE RUIN – Jul 17

• JAPAN LOSES 7 SHIPS, 49 PLANES TO U.S. FLIERS IN SOLOMONS FIGHT – Jul 18

• BRITISH REACH CATANIA’S FRINGES; 500 BOMBERS LAY NAPLES IN RUINS – Jul 19

• ALLIED BOMBS BLAST ROME MILITARY AREAS; TIMES MAN FROM AIR SEES SHRINES SPARED – Jul 20

• CATANIA BATTLE RAGES, ALLIES NEAR ENNA; RUSSIANS PRESS ON OREL, STRIKE IN SOUTH – Jul 21

• “Stormy Weather,” “Hers to Hold” (Movie Reviews) – Jul 22

• FOE FLEES NORTHEAST IN SICILY; RUSSIANS ARE 8 MILES FROM OREL – Jul 22

• “Mr. Lucky,” “Squadron Leader X,” “What’s Buzzin’ Cousin?” (Movie Reviews) – Jul 23

• AMERICANS SWEEP TO SICILY’S WEST TIP AND THREATEN PALERMO FROM THE SOUTH – Jul 23

• “The Constant Nymph” (Movie Review) – Jul 24

• AMERICANS CAPTURE PALERMO, TRAP 30,000; AXIS FORCES DRIVEN TO NORTHEAST SICILY – Jul 24

• AMERICANS MOP UP WESTERN SICILY; OUR BOMBERS STRIKE AT NORWAY – Jul 25

• MUSSOLINI OUSTED WITH FASCIST CABINET; BADOGLIO, HIS FOE, MADE PREMIER BY KING – Jul 26

• ITALY PUT UNDER MARTIAL LAW BY BADOGLIO TO PREVENT CIVIL WAR; FASCIST RULE ENDED – Jul 27

• ITALY SAID TO SEND PEACE GROUP; WORKERS IN NORTH KILL FASCISTS – Jul 28

• PEACE RIOTS, STRIKE REPORTED IN NORTH ITALY – Jul 29

• ALLIES BREAK CENTER OF SICILIAN LINE; EISENHOWER OFFERS ITALY PEACE TERMS – Jul 30

• MILAN MOBS STORM JAIL, TROOPS PASSIVE; BOMBS SMASH HAMBURG AND KASSEL AGAIN – Jul 31

August

• ALLIES WARN ITALY BOMBINGS WILL RESUME; ARMIES PUSH AHEAD ON ALL SICILIAN FRONTS – Aug 1

• BIG RUMANIAN OIL FIELD BOMBED BY 175 U.S. PLANES IN LONG FLIGHT – Aug 2

• ALLIES OPEN FINAL PUSH IN SICILY; AMERICANS SEIZE 10,000 IN THRUST – Aug 3

• ALLIES MOVING FORWARD IN SICILY; U.S. GAIN THREATENS FOE’S REAR – Aug 4

• RUSSIANS ENTER OREL, NAZIS FLEE; WARSHIPS AID ADVANCE IN SICILY – Aug 5

• BRITISH SEIZE CATANIA, PURSUE FOE NORTH; RUSSIANS WIN BELGOROD AND MOP UP OREL – Aug 6

• RUSSIANS DRIVE AHEAD, MENACE KHARKOV; BRITISH SCALE SOUTHERN SLOPE OF ETNA – Aug 7

• ALLIES WIN TROINA, THREATEN TO SPLIT FOE; RUSSIANS SWEEPING CLOSER TO KHARKOV – Aug 8

• BRITISH SWEEP AROUND MT. ETNA, THREATEN TO BLOCK FOE’S ESCAPE – Aug 9

• AMERICANS LAND BEHIND GERMANS AND OPEN WAY FOR GAIN IN SICILY – Aug 10

• CHURCHILL IN QUEBEC, ROOSEVELT WILL SEE HIM; RUSSIANS GAIN; ALLIES EDGE AHEAD IN SICILY – Aug 11

• “Heaven Can Wait” (Movie Review) – Aug 12

• RUSSIANS SMASH AHEAD IN THREE SECTORS; BRITISH GAIN IN SICILY, SHIPS SHELL ITALY – Aug 12

• FOE EVACUATING SICILY UNDER RAIN OF BOMBS; AMERICANS AGAIN LAND BEHIND ENEMY LINES – Aug 13

• ALLIES TAKE RANDAZZO, SWEEP ON FOR MESSINA; AMERICANS BOMB ROME, RAF AGAIN OVER ITALY – Aug 14

• BADOGLIO DECLARES ROME AN OPEN CITY; SICILIAN ADVANCE SPEEDED AS FOE FLEES – Aug 15

• AMERICANS GAIN 14 MILES IN SICILY; BRITISH CUT A NAZI ESCAPE ROUTE – Aug 16

• ALLIES’ HEAVY ARTILLERY BOMBARDS MESSINA AS TWO COLUMNS ADVANCE TOWARD CITY – Aug 17

• SICILY CONQUERED AS AMERICANS WIN MESSINA; ‘FORTS’ RAID DEEP IN REICH, SOUTH FRANCE HIT – Aug 18

• “We’ve Never Been Licked” (Movie Review) – Aug 19

• RAF BLASTS SECRET NAZI RESEARCH AREA; ARMIES READY TO GO, SAYS EISENHOWER – Aug 19

• WAR FOR TOTAL DEFEAT OF AXIS MAPPED BY ROOSEVELT, CHURCHILL – Aug 20

• JAPANESE ABANDON RIDGES AT SALAMAUA; AMERICAN FLEET TAKES ISLES OFF SICILY – Aug 21

• U.S.-CANADIAN FORCES TAKE KISKA – Aug 22

• FLIERS HAMMER AT NAPLES RAIL LINKS; QUEBEC PARLEY TO SPUR WAR IN ORIENT – Aug 23

• KHARKOV FALLS TO THE RED ARMY; GERMANS HURLED BACK ON DONETS – Aug 24

• QUEBEC CONFEREES HOPE FOR SOVIET TALKS; 700-PLANE RAID OPENS BATTLE OF BERLIN – Aug 25

• ROOSEVELT WARNS HITLER TO SURRENDER NOW; SAYS ALLIES WILL END ‘GANGSTERISM’ IN WORLD – Aug 26

• U.S., BRITAIN RECOGNIZE FRENCH COUNCIL AS ADMINISTRATOR, NOT GOVERNMENT – Aug 27

• “Watch on the Rhine,” “Hitler’s Madman” (Movie Reviews) – Aug 28

• RUSSIANS BREAK BRYANSK LINE; ALLIES SPEED UP BLOWS ON ITALY – Aug 28

• NUREMBERG IS SHATTERED IN RECORD RAID; RUSSIANS SMASH AHEAD, BY-PASS POLTAVA – Aug 29

• DANES SINK NAVY TO BALK NAZIS WHO SEIZE KING TO CRUSH REVOLT – Aug 30

• RUSSIANS TAKE TAGANROG, NAZIS’ SOUTH ANCHOR; ENCIRCLE ENEMY THERE BY SWEEP TO THE WEST – Aug 31

September

• RUSSIANS DRIVE FOR SMOLENSK; GAIN 20 TO 40 MILES IN 2 SECTORS – Sep 1

• U.S. SHIPS BLAST ISLE DEEP IN JAPAN’S SEAS; GERMAN LOSS AT TAGANROG PUT AT 40,100 – Sep 2

• “The Sky’s the Limit,” “First Comes Courage” (Movie Reviews) – Sep 3

• ALLIES LAND IN ITALY OPPOSITE MESSINA; 8TH ARMY LEADS, WITH AIR-NAVAL COVER – Sep 3

• ALLIES TAKE TWO ITALIAN TOWNS AND PRESS ON; FORTRESSES SMASH BRENNER PASS RAILROAD – Sep 4

• ALLIES PUSH INTO ITALY FROM WIDE BEACHHEAD; RUSSIANS CLOSE IN ON STALINO IN DONETS DRIVE – Sep 5

• DUAL ALLIED ADVANCE GRIPS TIP OF ITALY; SURPRISE NEW GUINEA LANDING FLANKS FOE – Sep 6

• MORE THAN 50 ARE KILLED IN WRECK OF SPEEDING CONGRESSIONAL LIMITED – Sep 7

• MARSHALL SEES VICTORY CERTAIN, BUT BARS UNDUE LOSS OF LIVES – Sep 8

• ITALY SURRENDERS, WILL RESIST GERMANS; ALLIED FORCES LAND IN THE NAPLES AREA – Sep 9

• “So Proudly We Hail,” “Swing Shift Maisie,” “The Great Mr. Handel” (Movie Reviews) – Sep 10

• ALLIES CLASH WITH GERMANS IN NAPLES AREA; INVASION WITH VAST AIR COVER LED BY CLARK – Sep 10

• NAZIS OCCUPY ROME, TAKE MILAN AFTER SIEGE; BRITISH SEIZE TARANTO, ALLIES GAIN AT NAPLES – Sep 11

• MOST OF THE ITALIAN FLEET ESCAPES TO ALLIES; 5TH ARMY TAKES SALERNO, FIGHTS WAY INLAND – Sep 12

• ALLIES TAKE BRINDISI, PUSH ON AT SALERNO; 14 ITALIAN SUBMARINES GIVE UP AT MALTA – Sep 13

• BITTER BATTLE RAGES AT SALERNO; BRITISH SWEEP AHEAD IN SOUTH – Sep 14

• NAZIS REGAIN GROUND IN SALERNO BATTLE, BUT ALLIES HOLD FIRMLY TO BEACHHEADS – Sep 15

• ALLIES HOLD AT SALERNO AFTER A RETREAT; RUSSIANS ONLY 50 MILES FROM DNIEPER – Sep 16

• ALLIES DRIVE 8-MILE WEDGE INTO SALERNO LINE; RUSSIANS TAKE NOVOROSSIISK AND PUSH ON KIEV – Sep 17

• DATES SET FOR NEW INVASIONS, PRESIDENT SAYS; 8TH AND 5TH ARMIES JOIN, ADVANCE AT SALERNO – Sep 18

• ALLIES PLUNGE INLAND IN SALERNO REGION, THREATEN NAPLES BY CAPTURING ISLANDS – Sep 19

• ITALIANS DRIVE GERMANS FROM SARDINIA; ALLIES AGAIN WIDEN SALERNO BEACHHEAD – Sep 20

• FRENCH TROOPS LAND ON CORSICA; RUSSIAN DRIVE FLANKS SMOLENSK – Sep 21

• GERMANS SACK AND FIRE NAPLES AS ALLIES GAIN; CHURCHILL PLEDGES INVASION FROM THE WEST – Sep 22

• ALLIES LAND ABOVE FINSCHHAFEN IN BIG STEP UP NEW GUINEA COAST – Sep 23

• NAZIS WRECK NAPLES PORT, SINK SHIPS; ALLIES SWING THEIR LINE NORTHWARD – Sep 24

• GERMANY ADMITS THE LOSS OF SMOLENSK; ALLIES OPEN NAPLES DRIVE, TAKE 3 TOWNS – Sep 25

• RUSSIANS FIGHT WAY INTO KIEV SUBURBS AFTER TAKING STRONGHOLD OF SMOLENSK – Sep 26

• RUSSIANS FORD DNIEPER, FOE SAYS; REACH RIVER BANK OPPOSITE KIEV – Sep 27

• RUSSIANS FACE DNIEPROPETROVSK, CAPTURE LAST KUBAN FORTRESS – Sep 28

• BRITISH SEIZE FOGGIA AIR CENTER, BASE FOR WIDE PLANE OPERATIONS – Sep 29

• NAPLES’ FALL NEAR AS ALLIES BREAK LINE AND PURSUE FLEEING GERMANS ON PLAIN – Sep 30

October

• GERMANS QUIT NAPLES AS ALLIES CLOSE IN; RED ARMY WINS WHITE RUSSIA RAIL KEY – Oct 1

• NAPLES AND AVELLINO FALL TO ALLIED FORCES; RED ARMY DRIVES 30 MILES IN WHITE RUSSIA – Oct 2

• ALLIES PUSH NORTH FROM NAPLES; BOMBERS BLAST RUHR AND EMDEN; FINSCHHAFEN FALLS TO M’ARTHUR – Oct 3

• ALLIES SWEEP FORWARD IN ITALY; NAZIS ATTACK KOS IN DODECANESE – Oct 4

• BRITISH LAND BEHIND FOE IN EAST ITALY; U.S. FLIERS IN RECORD ATTACK ON REICH – Oct 5

• NAZIS STIFFEN IN ITALY, BUT ALLIES GAIN; BERLIN CLAIMS CAPTURE OF ISLE OF KOS – Oct 6

• U.S. NAVY AND PLANES POUND WAKE; 5TH ARMY CROSSES THE VOLTURNO – Oct 7

• “Lassie Come Home,” “Sherlock Holmes Faces Death” (Movie Reviews) – Oct 8

• 3 RUSSIAN FORCES CROSS DNIEPER; 8TH ARMY REPELS ATTACK IN ITALY – Oct 8

• U.S. SHIPS SINK JAPANESE CRUISER AND 2 DESTROYERS IN SOLOMONS – Oct 9

• U.S. BOMBERS POUND EAST PRUSSIA; FIFTH ARMY CROSSES VOLTURNO – Oct 10

• U.S. FLIERS DOWN 102 NAZI PLANES IN BLOW AT MUENSTER RAIL HUB – Oct 11

• ALLIES HACK SALIENT INTO LINE IN ITALY; RUSSIANS ADVANCE TO GOMEL SUBURBS – Oct 12

• ITALY WILL DECLARE WAR ON GERMANY TODAY; PORTUGAL GRANTS ALLIES USE OF AZORES BASES – Oct 13

• BIGGEST PACIFIC AIR FLEET BOMBS RABAUL; BADOGLIO, DECLARING WAR, RALLIES ITALY – Oct 14

• U.S. FLIERS DOWN 104 NAZI PLANES, LOSE 62 IN SCHWEINFURT BATTLE – Oct 15

• ALLIES PUSH AHEAD NORTH OF VOLTURNO; RUSSIANS CLEARING MELITOPOL OF FOE – Oct 16

• ALLIES SURGE FORWARD IN ITALY; SIX IMPORTANT TOWNS CAPTURED; GERMANS IN MELITOPOL STIFFEN – Oct 17

• M’ARTHUR FLIERS BAG 104 PLANES; RUSSIANS 15 MILES PAST DNIEPER – Oct 18

• ALLIES ADVANCE ABOVE VOLTURNO AFTER REPULSING ENEMY ATTACKS – Oct 19

• RUSSIANS CUT NAZI ESCAPE ROUTE; ALLIES CAPTURE 8 TOWNS IN ITALY – Oct 20

• “Corvette K-225,” “Sweet Rosie O’Grady” (Movie Reviews) – Oct 21

• NAZIS FLEE CLOSING TRAP AT DNIEPER; ALLIES UNLEASH AERIAL FURY IN ITALY – Oct 22

• RUSSIANS CUT RAILROAD TO KRIVOI ROG AND TIGHTEN TRAP IN DNIEPER’S BEND – Oct 23

• RUSSIANS CAPTURE MELITOPOL; ALLIED ADVANCE IN ITALY SLOWED – Oct 24

• RUSSIANS CONVERGE ON KRIVOI ROG AND FAN OUT FROM MELITOPOL – Oct 25

• RUSSIANS RECAPTURE DNIEPROPETROVSK; FIFTH ARMY GAIN SETS A TRAP IN ITALY – Oct 26

• ALLIES GAIN 2 TO 6 MILES IN ITALY AS FOE FALLS BACK ON NEW LINE – Oct 27

• RUSSIANS SHATTER 72-MILE GERMAN LINE; BATTLE FOR ROME NEARS; ALLIES SLOWED – Oct 28

• RUSSIAN SWEEP WINS ROAD HUB; ALLIES MOVE NORTH IN SOLOMONS WITH LANDING NEAR BOUGAINVILLE – Oct 29

• MOSCOW TALK A SUCCESS, ROOSEVELT SAYS; OCCUPATION OF EUROPE IS BELIEVED FIXED – Oct 30

• RUSSIANS SWEEP TO EDGE OF THE CRIMEA AND ARE 22 MILES FROM ESCAPE RAIL WAY – Oct 31

November

• RUSSIANS 8 MILES FROM PEREKOP RAILWAY IN DASH ACROSS PLAIN TO CUT OFF CRIMEA – Nov 1

• FOUR POWERS AGREE ON A WORLD PEACE GROUP; RUSSIANS IN PEREKOP; ALLIES ON BOUGAINVILLE – Nov 2

• HANLEY WINS BY 345,000; REPUBLICAN TREND SEEN THROUGHOUT NATION – Nov 3

• COAL STRIKE CALLED OFF AS ICKES GRANTS LEWIS $1.50 A DAY RISE IN PAY – Nov 4

• U.S. SINKS ENEMY CRUISER, 4 DESTROYERS, HITS 4 OTHER SHIPS IN BOUGAINVILLE FIGHT – Nov 5

• “Princess O’Rourke,” “Son of Dracula” (Movie Reviews) – Nov 6

• SENATE VOTES 85 TO 5 TO COOPERATE IN PEACE; ALLIES GAIN IN ITALY, RUSSIANS DRIVE ON KIEV – Nov 6

• BOMBS SINK 2 JAPANESE CRUISERS, HIT 7; RUSSIANS SEIZE KIEV, LAND IN EAST CRIMEA – Nov 7

• RUSSIANS CAPTURE JUNCTION BEYOND KIEV, THREATENING TO SPLIT ENEMY IN UKRAINE – Nov 8

• RUSSIANS DRIVE WEST FROM KIEV FOR LAST VITAL UKRAINE RAILWAY – Nov 9

• FOE LANDS ON BOUGAINVILLE, BATTLE RAGES; CHURCHILL SETS 1944 AS CLIMACTIC YEAR – Nov 10

• U.S. ARMY TROOPS LAND ON BOUGAINVILLE; MARINES SMASH JAPANESE INVADING FORCE – Nov 11

• “Sahara” (Movie Review) – Nov 12

• AIR OFFENSIVE HITS BOLZANO, MUENSTER; RUSSIANS 16 MILES FROM VITAL RAILWAY – Nov 12

• JAPANESE CRUISER, TWO DESTROYERS SUNK, 88 PLANES DOWNED IN ATTACK ON RABAUL – Nov 13

• RUSSIANS CAPTURE ZHITOMIR, SWEEP AHEAD; AMERICANS SEIZE 2-MILE SALIENT IN ITALY – Nov 14

• BERLIN REPORTS RUSSIAN BREAK-THROUGH BY 30 DIVISIONS WITHIN THE DNIEPER BEND – Nov 15

• RUSSIANS, CIRCLING GOMEL, CUT RAIL LINE; ALLIED PLANES FROM ITALY BOMB SOFIA – Nov 16

• RUSSIANS CLOSE IN ON KOROSTEN, PRESS ENCIRCLEMENT OF GOMEL; U.S. PLANES BOMB SOUTH NORWAY – Nov 17

• “Guadalcanal Diary,” “Flesh and Fantasy” (Movie Reviews) – Nov 18

• U.S. FLIERS BOMB 3 PACIFIC BASES ON THIRD DAY OF AIR OFFENSIVE – Nov 18

• RED ARMY CAPTURES TWO KEY JUNCTIONS; LIBERATORS AGAIN BLAST PACIFIC BASES – Nov 19

• RECORD AIR ATTACK LEAVES BERLIN AFIRE; U.S. CARRIER PLANES POUND PACIFIC ISLES – Nov 20

• RAF SMASHES POISON GAS PLANTS; RUSSIANS BEAT OFF NAZI ATTACKS – Nov 21

• AMERICANS LAND ON TWO GILBERT ISLANDS COVERED BY MIGHTY SEA AND AIR FLEETS – Nov 22

• AMERICANS LAND ON THIRD GILBERT ATOLL; GAIN IN BATTLES ON TARAWA AND MAKIN – Nov 23

• RAF BOMBERS RETURN TO DEVASTATED BERLIN AFTER 2,300-TON ATTACK, GREATEST IN HISTORY – Nov 24

• RUINED BERLIN AFIRE AFTER 2D BOMBING; U.S. PLANES SMASH AT TOULON AND SOFIA – Nov 25

• RUSSIANS OPEN NEW PUSH NORTH OF GOMEL IN 37-MILE BREACH, CUT ANOTHER RAIL WAY – Nov 26

• RUSSIANS CAPTURE GOMEL AND PRESS ON; MARINES’ LOSSES ON TARAWA VERY HEAVY – Nov 27

• BERLIN GETS 1,000-TON BATTERING; RUSSIANS DRIVE ON ABOVE GOMEL – Nov 28

• NAZIS WRECK BRIDGES, MINE ROADS AS RUSSIANS GAIN ABOVE GOMEL – Nov 29

• 8TH ARMY RIPS INTO SANGRO LINE; RUSSIANS CONVERGE ON RAIL HUB – Nov 30

December

• ROOSEVELT, CHURCHILL AND CHIANG CONFER, REPORTED ON WAY TO IRAN TO SEE STALIN – Dec 1

• “No Time for Love,” “The Dancing Masters” (Movie Reviews) – Dec 2

• CRUSHING OF JAPAN MAPPED AT CAIRO PARLEY; EMPIRE WILL BE STRIPPED TO PRE-1895 STATUS – Dec 2

• “What a Woman,” “Girl Crazy,” “The Cross of Lorraine” (Movie Reviews) – Dec 3

• NAZIS ON THE RUN BEYOND SANGRO AFTER 8TH ARMY CRUMPLES LINE – Dec 3

• “Orchestrated Hell” – Dec 3

• ROOSEVELT, STALIN, CHURCHILL AGREE ON PLANS FOR WAR ON GERMANY IN TALKS AT TEHERAN – Dec 4

• 5TH ARMY CRACKS GERMAN LINE – Dec 5

• 5TH ARMY CAPTURES KEY HEIGHTS; FINAL STRATEGY FIXED AT TEHERAN – Dec 6

• ‘BIG 3’ CHARTS TRIPLE BLOWS TO HUMBLE REICH AND AGREES ON A PEACE TO ELIMINATE TYRANNY – Dec 7

• ALLIES TIGHTEN TIES WITH TURKEY; RUSSIANS RETIRE AGAIN NEAR KIEV – Dec 8

• U.S. CARRIERS SINK TWO CRUISERS, DOWN 72 PLANES IN MARSHALLS – Dec 9

• U.S. NAVY BOMBARDS NAURU ISLE; STRONG FORCE INCLUDES CARRIERS – Dec 10

• ALLIES CONTINUE DRIVE IN ITALY; BOMBERS HIT BULGARIAN CAPITAL – Dec 11

• U.S. BOMBERS SET EMDEN ABLAZE; 138 NAZI PLANES DOWNED TO OUR 20 – Dec 12

• RUSSIANS TURN TIDE IN KIEV AREA; BATTLESHIPS USED AGAINST NAURU – Dec 13

• RUSSIANS PUSH ON WEST OF KIEV FOR 3D DAY WITH GUERRILLA AID – Dec 14

• RUSSIANS RECAPTURE CHERKASSY BUT LOSE A TOWN WEST OF KIEV; 8TH ARMY BEATS OFF TANK DRIVES – Dec 15

• 2 SOVIET ARMIES JOIN ON DNIEPER; 300 U.S. PLANES ATTACK IN GREECE – Dec 16

• “Madame Curie,” “Swingtime Johnny” (Movie Reviews) – Dec 17

• U.S. TROOPS INVADE NEW BRITAIN, WIN FOOTHOLD; RAF BOMBS BERLIN; ‘FORTS’ ALSO ATTACK REICH – Dec 17

• AMERICANS GAIN IN NEW BRITAIN – Dec 18

• ALLIES MAKE NEW GAINS AT ARAWE, AND FELL 10 MORE ENEMY PLANES – Dec 19

• RUSSIANS RIP INTO 50-MILE FRONT, GAIN UP TO 19 MILES BELOW NEVEL – Dec 20

• U.S. FLIERS HIT BREMEN, AUGSBURG; RUSSIANS ADVANCING ON VITEBSK – Dec 21

• BIG RAF FORCE BLASTS FRANKFORT AS LESSER BLOW SPLITS DEFENSE – Dec 22

• U.S. PLANES BOMB GERMANY AGAIN, DESTROY 38 CRAFT AT COST OF 25 – Dec 23

• “A Guy Named Joe” (Movie Review) – Dec 24

• ROOSEVELT MOVES TO TAKE OVER THE RAILROADS AS 3 BROTHERHOODS REJECT MEDIATION BY HIM – Dec 24

• Franklin D. Roosevelt – Fireside Chat, December 24, 1943

• EISENHOWER NAMED COMMANDER FOR INVASION; 3,000 PLANES SMASH FRENCH COAST; BERLIN HIT – Dec 25

• RED ARMY IS CLOSING ON VITEBSK; CANADIANS GAIN IN ORTONA FIGHT – Dec 26

• CBS World News Today – Dec 26

• BATTLESHIP SCHARNHORST IS SUNK BY BRITISH SHIPS IN ARCTIC FIGHT – Dec 27

• ARMY SEIZES RAILROADS ON PRESIDENT’S ORDER; MARINES GAIN IN NEW LANDINGS IN NEW BRITAIN – Dec 28

• RAILROADS FUNCTION SMOOTHLY WITH OFFICIALS IN ARMY UNIFORM; RED ARMY SURGES WEST – Dec 29

• STRONG RAF FORCE BLASTS BERLIN; RUSSIANS PUSH BEYOND KOROSTEN – Dec 30

• RUSSIANS BREACH LINE, ROUT 22 DIVISIONS; BIGGEST U.S. AIR ARMADA SMASHES REICH – Dec 31

[CougarGA7]

Thank you Homer for another fantastic year of war reporting.

After six years this is still an incredible project.

This year I didn't have the time to devote to this that I wish I could, but I am always glad to be able to contribute at least the end of year article.

One of the pictures I put in this thread this year has a very interesting aspect. In one picture you see evidence of something that was deliberately downplayed and even hushed up by one of the Allied partners. Lets see who notices it first. If no one even gets close, I'll provide hints on the 2nd.

[GeronL]

What kind of vehicle is that?

[GeronL]

Riot Information Bureau? I have never heard of that.

[montanajoe]

“Thank you Homer for another fantastic year of war reporting”

let me second that..

It has become my favorite way to start the day checking to see the war news.

Happy New Year

[NEWwoman]

what a marvelous resource!

[CougarGA7]

You tell me.

[CougarGA7]

I found that photo when I was preparing a lecture on the domestic events in America during the Second World War. I found it amusing that the problem with rioting in Detroit was so severe that they needed to have a Riot Information Bureau. I spent a lot of time on this riot and the Zoot Suit riot in Los Angeles.

[Hoplite]

Soviet Lend Lease Churchill Mk IV passes German SdKfz232 with “bedstead” antenna.

[CougarGA7]

Homer has created a fantastic historical resource for us all to enjoy.

[CougarGA7]

WINNER!!!!

Damn, I thought that would take longer. Freepers always amaze me.

The Soviets spent a great deal of time and resources to underplay the effectiveness of Lend-Lease to the success of the Soviet war effort. In fact, they may not have been able to achieve what they did without it.

There are two major things that were provided to the Soviets besides the occasional Churchill or Matilda tank that really made the difference for the Russians.

So as a follow up question I will ask what these two things were. One was large, one was not. Both were not war machines.

[GeronL]

interesting

[Hoplite]

Given the constraints, I'll have to proffer the following:

Large - Studebaker truck.
Small - Can o' spam.

[iowamark]

You would think that someone would toss a brick through the big glass window of the Riot Bureau.

[CougarGA7]

pinging the list which I forgot to do last night.

[CougarGA7]

I’ll give you the first one. The 2-1/2 Ton Truck. Most of them were manufactured by GM, but all the motor companies pitched in on them.

The small item is machine tools.

[CougarGA7]

That would be my inclination, and I’m not even a riotous type of person.

[fso301]

Wow! Thanks.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Thanks again, Cougar. I don’t know how you find time to do this with your schedule, but I sure do appreciate it. I will add this thread to the index on my profile later today.

[CougarGA7]

It’s the least I can do. Thanks again for this fantastic resource you have created.

[henkster]

The occasional tank or airplane didn’t make much impact for the Soviets. Soviet weapons were pretty high quality and obviously high quantity. The trucks were a huge difference, but there were a lot of little things we provided. Food, cloth fabric for uniforms, boots, radios, and waterproof telephone cable were all things the Soviets needed but couldn’t make. It wasn’t so much a lack of know-how as much as the destruction and dislocation from the German invasion limited what the Soviets could make. They chose to make weapons, we supplied the rest. It was a sensible arrangement.