 British infantry advancing in Italy |
Project 60: A Day-by-Day Diary of WWII
Remembering the First Fight Against Fascism |
 Soviet infantry crossing the Dnepr River |
British infantry advancing in Italy |
Project 60: A Day-by-Day Diary of WWII
Remembering the First Fight Against Fascism |
Soviet infantry crossing the Dnepr River |
September 14, 1943 Heavy fighting continues at Salerno as
the Germans attempt to push the Allies back into the sea. A paratroop battalion
is dropped behind the German lines to help relieve the pressure. Free French commandos are landed on
Corsica to form resistance groups to harass the Germans occupying the island. September 15, 1943 The Australian 7th and 9th
Divisions capture Lae in New Guinea. Mussolini returns to power in Italy (at
least the northern half). It is a political move and has little real impact. September 16, 1943 German attacks are renewed against the
British 10th Corps between Salerno and Battipaglia, but failed
utterly. By evening, Field Marshal Kesselring calls it quits and orders the
withdrawl of German forces to the Volturno line. After a week of very heavy fighting,
Soviet ground forces link up with the beachhead at Novorossysk, capturing the
town. RAF Bomber Command makes a hash of the
first use of the massive 12,000 pound "Tall Boy" bomb in raids against the
Dortmund-Ems Canal. The British battleship Warspite
is damaged when two of the new German glider bombs hit the ship. The Germans begin to withdraw from the
Salerno area as the British 8th Army finally links up with the US 5th
Army. September 18, 1943 British forces continue their
occupation of Aegean islands moving onto Simi, Stampalia and Icaria. German
aircraft hit the British airfield on Kos. The Soviet offensive in the Ukraine
continues as Red Army forces capture Pavlograd, Krasnograd, Pologi and Nogaysk. Admiral Pownall's fast carrier force (Lexington, Princeton and Belleau Wood) attack the island of Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands chain. September 19, 1943 US heavy bombers (B-24 Liberators)
attack Tarawa. German forces complete the evacuation
of Corsica under pressure from French resistance fighters. Soviet forces capture Yartsevo and
Dukovschina northeast of Smolensk. September 20,
1943 British commandos launch an attack on
the German battleship Tirpitz at its anchorage in Alta Fjord. The six
midget (4-man crew) submarines were sent against the anchorage. Three were lost
before reaching the target, but the survivors succeeded in damaging the ship,
knocking it out of action for six months. In testimony before the US Senate,
General Marshal and Admiral King indicate that failure to allow draft exemptions
for fathers will likely prolong the war. German hopes of establishing a firm
defensive line along the Dnepr River are thwarted as an advance party
establishes a small bridgehead over the river at Dnepropetrovsk, south of Kiev. Elements of the 9th
Australian Division (20th Brigade) land at Finschhafen in New Guinea. Soviet forces take Anapa in the Kuban
Peninsula and Novomoskovosk (near Dnepropetrovsk). Heavy fighting is reported at
Poltava. Red Army forces capture Poltava. The Australian 20th Brigade
breaks the Japanese defense lines along the Buni River, capturing the
Finschhafen airfield. Red Army forces liberate Smolensk and
Rostavl. German forces in Italy begin a planned withdrawal to fortified lines as the US 5th and British 8th Armies move north in pursuit. Elements of the British 8th
Army occupy Foggia and Melfi. The capture of Foggia brought with it the massive
airbase, allowing the Allies to stage future raids throughout the Balkans and
southern Germany and Poland. Soviet forces enter Dnepropetrovsk. The British 10th Corps (US 5th Army) captures Nocera and continues its advance on Naples. The US 6th Corps captures Teora and moves on Avellino. The Soviets capture Kremenchug The US 5th Army enters
Naples and captures Avellino. The German withdrawl comes to an end
along a line running south of Rome. Meanwhile, the SU 5th Army
completes the occupation of Naples while the British 8th Army
continues to advance north. The Australian 20th Brigade,
reinforced by the Australian 23rd Brigade takes Finschafen in New
Guinea. In Italy, the US 5th Army
captures Benevento while the Britgish 8th Army establishes a
bridgehead over the Biferno River. As the British occupied more islands in
the Aegean Sea, they began to pressure Turkey to enter the war. In an effort to
force Turkey to remain neutral, the Germans launched Operation Polar Bear, a
series of attacks in these islands. The first attack came from paratroops
landing on the island of Kos. The Germans complete their conquest of
Kos capturing 1400 British and 3150 Italians. Even more important is the
destruction of the northern most British airfield in the Aegean. 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 |