 Mussolini poses with his rescuers |
Project 60: A Day-by-Day Diary of WWII
Remembering the First Fight Against Fascism |
 The battleship Tirpitz takes to the seas. |
Mussolini poses with his rescuers |
Project 60: A Day-by-Day Diary of WWII
Remembering the First Fight Against Fascism |
The battleship Tirpitz takes to the seas. |
August 31, 1943 In a fit of realism, Hitler grants von
Manstein the right to make “limited” withdrawals in the Ukraine, seemingly
oblivious that his troops were already in headlong retreat. The Japanese submarine I-8 reaches
France after traversing half the globe having departed from Pengan in Malaya. RAF bombers returned to Berlin with 622
aircraft. The Germans reacted quickly to the raid and the bombing was badly
scattered as a result. Sixty-six civilians were killed and 2784 houses
destroyed. The American “Fast Carrier Task
Force”, including the Essex, Yorktown and Independence, make
their debut launching air raids on Marcus Island. September 1, 1943 US forces land on Baker Island and
begin work on airfields to support operations in the Gilbert Islands. Meanwhile,
US naval planes hit Marcus Island. This attack was the debut for the new Grumman
F6F “Hellcat” fighter, arguably the most successful plane in the war. September 2, 1943 Red army forces liberate Lisichansk and Kommunarsk in the Donets while to the north, Sumy and Glushkovo are recaptured. After a secret armistice is signed
between Italy and the Allies, elements of the British VIII Corps (from
Montgomery’s 8th Army) land on the Italian mainland at Reggio,
Catona and San Giovanni. As part of the armistice agreement, no Italian troops
went into action against the invaders. September 4, 1943 The Australian 9th Division
lands at Huon Gulf east of Lae in New Guinea. September 5, 1943 The attacks toward Lae contrinue as the
US 503rd Parachute Regiment is dropped into the Markham Valley and
link up with the Australians attacking out of Tsili Tsili. September 6,
1943 The German navy sorties the battleship Tirpitz,
heavy cruiser Scharnhorst, and nine destroyers (Erich Steinbrinck, Karl Galster, Hans Lody, Theodor Riedel, Z27, Z29,
Z30, Z31, Z33) with the intent to bombard Spitzbergen. Soviet forces succeed in opening a
large hole between the German Army Group Center and South. They continue their
march west capturing Makeyevka, Konotop, Kromatorsk and Slavyansk. The British 8th Army begins
moving up the “Italian boot” capturing Bova Marina. Red Army offensives force the Germans
to abandon Baturin and Zvenkov. They also begin the evacuation of the Donets
industrial center at Stalino. RAF aircraft bomb a series of
suspicious sights along the coast of France. It turned out that these sites were
to be launch points for V-1 “Buzz Bombs”. The attacks greatly disrupted the
German plan for this new “Blitz” against England. An armistice is signed between the Italian government and the Allied powers. Although some diehards would continue the fight, Fascist Italy becomes the first Axis nation to surrender. An Italian Fleet of 3 battleships (Roma,
Vittorio Veneto, Italia), 6 cruisers and 9 destroyers sorties from La Spezia
and Genoa with the intent of surrendering to the Allies. Meanwhile, the British
8th Army captures Locri and Pizzo. Red Army advances continue unabated as
Stalino, Yasinovataya and Krasnoarmeisk are captured. After taking Saingaua, Austrlian forces
are stopped by stiffening Japanese resistance along the Busu River. Meanwhile,
US destroyers bombard Lae. German naval forces lead by the battleship Tirpitz bombarding the enemy 3” gun battery at Barentsburg. The destroyers landed parties who captured prisoners, wrecked a radio station and destroyed a supply dump. Operation “Avalanche” begins as the
US 5th Army, led by Mark Clark, begin landing operations south of
Salerno, behind the German forces facing the British 8th Army. The
British X Corps and US VI Corps lead the assault. Commando and Ranger units
support the attack capturing inland targets. Meanwhile, the British 1st
Airborne Division captures the port at Taranto. Minor resistance is encountered. German forces enter Rome, brushing
aside the Italian garrison and forcing the government to flee. While attempting to save his ships from
capture by the Germans, Italian Admiral Bergamini’s ships are attacked by
Luftwaffe air units. In the attack, the new Fritz X guided bomb was used to
great effect as one of the devices went down the funnel of the Roma,
exploding deep inside her. All hands, including Bergamini were killed. German begin to fight back against Red
Army attacks as heavy fighting is reported around Bakhmach. However, the German
17th Army in the Kuban begins pulling back from its exposed position. Quick reaction by the Germans turn the
beachhead at Salerno into a bitter fight. Rearguards are left to slow the
advance of the already tardy Montgomery while the bulk of the German striking
power is directed at the US VI Corps. Meanwhile, the British advance in the
north of the beachhead, capturing Montecorvino and Battipaglia, only to loose
them in German counterattacks. Large parts of the Italian navy reach Malta to surrender. Meanwhile, British forces are landed at Castelrosso in the Aegean Sea and the Germans begin the evacuation of Sardinia. Red Army forces try their hand at amphibious landings hitting the Black Sea coast near Novorossiysk. The makeshift nature of the attack creates a great deal of confusion among the Soviet units and unexpectedly heavy resistance and quick reaction from the Germans leads to heavy losses. A similar assault in the sea of Azoz is conducted at Mariupol. It too is met by heavy resistance from Rumanian artillery units which cause heavy losses. Other Red Army forces take Barvenkovo, Volnovakha and Chaplino. Allied forces fail to expand the very
shallow beachhead at Salerno after a day of heavy fighting which saw no
appreciable gains against ever stiffening German resistance. German aircraft
attack the Allied positions despite friendly air cover, damaging the US cruiser Savanah.
Meanwhile, Montgomery’s 8th Army continues to creep forward
capturing Catanzaro and Brindisi. The Italian’s on Rhodes surrender to
the Germans. As heavy fighting on the island
continues, the US 27th Infantry Regiment reinforces Arundel. Australian forces in New Guinea capture
Salamaua. In a daring German assault, Otto
Skorzeny leads a glider attack on a mountain top resort at Gran Sasso to free
Mussolini who had been under arrest since the Badoglio government was formed.
Despite high winds and a rocky landing field, the attack goes in and within
minutes, Il Duce is flown off the mountain to Rome and then Germany. The Germans launch a
general counterattack against the beachhead at Salerno hitting the entire
perimeter. Elements of the 16th Panzer and 29th
Panzergrenadier Divisions (XIV Panzer Corps) hit the American VI Corps,
capturing Persano. The German spearheads come to within a mile of the beach and
are stopped only by naval gunfire. Elements of the 82nd Airborne
Divisions are rushed into a drop into the beachhead to reinforce the VI Corps.
Clark panics and orders the VI Corps to begin planning to evacuate the
beachhead. 1941 Archive: 1942 Archive: 1943 Archive: Special Editions: Editor's Corner Archive: Hitler's Angel "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 |