Video: 'Battle of the Bismarck Sea'
(Tuesday, March 2, 1943, at about 10 a.m. local time; part of the Pacific War of World War II) — The three-day Battle of the Bismarck Sea began this morning in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA); U.S. and Australian warplanes were able to inflict heavy damage on an Imperial Japanese convoy.
Video: 'The World At War: Tough Old Gut Italy 1/5' (Feb. 19-25, 1943, at 5:21)
(Friday, February 19, 1943; during the Battle of the Kasserine Pass, part of the Tunisian Campaign of World War II) — German Gen. Erwin Rommel and his Afrika Korps launched an offensive today against an Allied defensive line in Tunisia, North Africa, in the first large-scale meeting of American and German forces of the war.
Video: 'Marine Corps Women's Reserve Drill Team, circa 1945'
(Saturday, February 13, 1943; during World War II) — The U.S. Marine Corps Women’s Reserve was officially established today to provide women shore duty jobs so the men of the Marine Corps could be released for combat duty.
Video: 'The World At War: It's A Lovely Day Tomorrow Burma 2/5' (Feb. 8, 1943, at 3:43)
(Monday, February 8, 1943; during the Burma Campaign, part of the Pacific War during World War II) — 3,000 Chindits, a British India “Special Force” led by British Brigadier Orde Charles Wingate, marched into northern Burma today, launching Operation Longcloth against the Japanese.
(Sunday, February 7, 1943; during World War II) — The U.S. government abruptly announced that rationing of shoes made with leather would go into effect in two days, limiting consumers to buying three pairs per person per year. (Rationing was lifted in October 1945.)
Video: 'Hôtel Terminus: The Life and Times of Klaus Barbie' (part 15; Feb. 5, 1983, at 11:01
(Saturday, February 5, 1983) — Former Nazi Gestapo official Klaus Barbie, expelled from Bolivia, was brought to Lyon, France, today to stand trial (known as the “Butcher of Lyon” for having personally tortured prisoners of the Gestapo while stationed in Lyon, France, he was convicted of war crimes and sentenced to life in prison. He died in 1991.) Continue reading Former Nazi Gestapo official Klaus Barbie brought to Lyon, France 30 years ago today (1983)
Video: Feb. 3, 1943 (at 52:30)
(Wednesday, February 3, 1943; a day after the Battle of Stalingrad ended on the Eastern Front of World War II) — German radio announced today that Stalingrad had fallen to the Soviets; the 6th Army had fought courageously but had succumbed to vastly superior enemy forces and to unfavorable circumstances. Continue reading German radio announces defeat at Stalingrad 70 years ago today (1943)
Video: '442nd Regiment of WWII'
(Monday, February 1, 1943; during World War II) — One of America’s most highly decorated military units, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, made up almost exclusively of Japanese-Americans anxious to prove their loyalty to their country of birth and defy national prejudice that they are aliens and dangerous, was authorized today.
Video: Event of Jan. 30, 1943 described w/cover video of Jan. 31, 1943 (at 46:05)
(Saturday, January 30, 1943; during the Battle of Stalingrad on the Eastern Front of World War II) — German dictator Adolf Hitler today promoted Gen. Friedrich Paulus to Generalfeldmarschall. Since no German Field Marshal had ever been taken prisoner, Hitler assumed that Paulus would fight on or take his own life.
Image: U.S. bombs Wilhelmshaven, Germany (Jan. 27, 1943)
(Wednesday, January 27, 1943; during World War II) — 91 bombers from the U.S. Eighth Air Force, a combination of B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators, mounted the first American airstrike inside Germany today.
55 of the B-17s made a daylight raid on the submarine bases at Wilhelmshaven. All of the aircraft were able to return to base.
