 HMS Dasher - lost in accident |
Project 60: A Day-by-Day Diary of WWII
Remembering the First Fight Against Fascism |
 The real Bridge over the River Kwai |
HMS Dasher - lost in accident |
Project 60: A Day-by-Day Diary of WWII
Remembering the First Fight Against Fascism |
The real Bridge over the River Kwai |
March 23, 1943 Patton’s drive on El Guettar is stopped by determined German and Italian resistance with the 10th Panzer Division taking serious losses. Montgomery redirects his main attack toward the Tebaga Gap, sending General Horrocks’ 1st Armored Division to reinforce the New Zealand Corps. March 24, 1943 Wingate is ordered to end his Chindit
operations and return to India. The group breaks into smaller march columns.
Most of the force would be back in India in April. March 25, 1943 Pressure from the British 1st Armored
Division at Tebaga Gap and the US II Corps at Maknassy forces General von Arnim
to withdraw from the Mareth Line. March 26, 1943 The British 1st Armored
Division, supported by heavy air support break the Axis rearguard at the Tebaga
Gap and advance toward El Hamma. March 27, 1943 As Patton begins a new attack near
Fondouk, British armor is stopped in front of El Hamma as German infantry hold
the road open for the retreating Axis forces heading toward new positions at
Wadi Akarit March 28, 1943 British 8th Army forces complete the capture of the Mareth line as Free French forces operating in southern Tunisia, clear several towns. March 29, 1943 The light cruiser HMS Glasgow
successfully intercepts the German blockade runner Regensburg in the
Denmark Strait. Rather than be captured, the Germans fire the ship. Only 6 of
her crew survived. Attacks against the German 17th
Army in the Kuban peninsula result in the fall of Anastasyevsk to the advancing
Soviet forces. British coastal fighters and torpedoe planes engage the Italian blockade-runner Pietro Orseolo off the coast of Spain. Escorting German destroyers destroy five of the attacking aircraft, but the US submarine Shad hits the ship with a torpedo, causing substantial damage. American bombers make a series of raids on Kiska and Attut islands in the Aleutians. Patton’s thrust by II Corps around El Guettar are stopped by determined Axis defenses. In their now nearly continuous
operations over Germany, British Bomber Command has a particular “success”
against Kiel, dropping 1300 tons of bombs on Kiel during a night raid, killing
26 civilians. Japanese forces on the Mayu peninsula
drive northwestward, in the direction of India overrunning a British brigade HQ. As Italian units take up defensive
postions at Wadi Akarite, the Geramn 15th Panzer and 90th
Light Divisions move to counterattack Patton’s II Corps at El Guettar.
Meanwhile, the British 8th Army makes a tentative move to dislodge
the Axis by sending the 4th Indian Division on a flank move against
the Djebel Fatnassa position. USAAF Bombers hit the Renault factory
in Paris, killing 228 French civilians. Bomber command launched a daylight raid
over Antwerp. The intended target, the Minerva aircraft factory, was generally
missed due to a navigation error. Most of the bombs fell on residential areas.
936 Belgian civilians, including 209 children, were killed in the raid. After making good progress, the 4th Indian Division attacks Diebel Fatnassa. The attack goes poorly and draws the German 15th Panzer and 90th Light divisions south, and away from Patton’s forces at El Guettar. The Japanese concentrate the last of
their highly trained aviators and send the fleet carriers Shokaku, Junyo
and Hiyo south to raid the Americans in the Solomon Islands. During the
first of 10 days of bombing, 180 aircraft bomb Guadalcanal and Tulagi. The
attacks sink a destroyer, the USS Aaron Ward, a NewZealand corvette, the Moa,
and a merchant ship. Japanese forces in Burma, planning to advance into northern Burma, begin building a series of new rail lines. 60,000 Allied prisoners of war are employed in this work. Axis forces continue to retreat in Tunisia as the British 8th Army occupies Mahares, 50 miles north of Gabes. A force of 84 USAAF B-24 bombers attack
and sink the Italian heavy cruiser Trieste in a raid on La Maddalena, The
Gorizia is also damaged in the raid. In northern Tunisia, the British First
Army takes Kalrouan, 100 miles South of Tunis. April 12, 1943 The British 8th Army takes Sousse. 1941 Archive: 1942 Archive: 1943 Archive: Special Editions: Editor's Corner Archive: Hitler's Angle "The story of Prescott Bush and his association with the Nazis begins just before the end of World War I..." The Past Through Tomorrow "It is quite frightening to realize just how similar our nation’s actions have been and appear to be heading when compared this way..." Afghanistan and Vietnam: When the “war against terrorism” began, many knowledgeable people warned that our operations in Afghanistan would turn into another Vietnam. Want to Win - Think Before You Lash Out - "If we are serious about taking the war to the enemy, it is time to look ..." The First Fight Against Fascism - We must remember the Spanish Civil War also. Arguing Victory - "... Each nation who fought against fascist tyranny in WWII brought with it part of whole needed to defeat that evil..." War, Glory, Honor and Remembrance - "War is a brutal and savage insult on human society..." The First
Casualty... in time of war, those in power are even more inclined to
hide the truth, since that truth is often manifest in the most gruesome and
terrible acts. Those wishing to contribute items. stories or comments should contact D.A. Friedrichs |