The Japanese launched Operation Ha-Go in the Arakan, a major offensive against British forces in Burma. As was typical for Japanese offensive operations, it featured a strict timetable.
Stemming from the same region, the Swiss passed on a protest from Thailand, stating:
The Swiss Minister (Bruggmann) to the Secretary of State
Th. 1 Thailand
The Minister of Switzerland presents his compliments to The Honorable, The Secretary of State, and has the honor to submit a communication from the Government of Thailand which has been received from the Federal Political Department in Berne, with the request that it be transmitted to the Government of the United States:
“In air raids about the end of 1943 and January 1944 Anglo-American aeroplanes dropped bombs on Chulalongkon Hospital, Saowapha, on the Pasteur Institute of the Red Cross Bangrak Hospital and two mental disease hospitals. Such humanitarian establishments cannot be said in any way to be military objectives and the indiscriminate bombing thereof is not only a violation of the Geneva Convention [Page 1322]of 192925 but also of the principles of humanity. His Majesty’s Government therefore enters a strong protest against the unjustifiable act of destruction above mentioned.”
The Minister would be grateful to The Honorable, The Secretary of State, for an acknowledgment of this communication.26
Washington , February 4, 1944.
All Japanese organized resistance on Kwajalein ceased. Of 8,700 defenders, 265, many of them Korean laborers, survive. The American forces sustained 370 KIA and 1,500 WIA.
The Germans attacked the British 1st Division at Anzio, forcing it to fall back. The US 5th Army gained ground further south.
The Soviet 42nd Army took Gdov. Hitler ordered the 24th panzer Division to assist in the relief of the Korsun Pocket. Relieving forces are spearheaded by the Heavy Panzer Regiment Bake.
The U-854 struck a mine in the Baltic and sank.
President Roosevelt established the Bronze Star.
Executive Order 9419—Bronze Star Medal
February 04, 1944
By virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States and as Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, it is hereby ordered as follows:
There is hereby established the Bronze Star Medal, with accompanying ribbons and appurtenances, for award to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard of the United States on or after December 7, 1941, distinguishes, or has distinguished, himself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military or naval operations against an enemy of the United States.
The Bronze Star Medal and appurtenances thereto shall be of appropriate design approved by the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy, and may be awarded by the Secretary of War, or the Secretary of the Navy, or by such commanding officers of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard as the said Secretaries may respectively designate. Awards shall be made under such regulations as the said Secretaries shall severally prescribe, and such regulations shall, so far as practicable, be of uniform application.
No more than one Bronze Star Medal shall be awarded to any one person, but for each succeeding heroic or meritorious achievement or service justifying such an award a suitable device may be awarded to be worn with the medal as prescribed by appropriate regulations. The Bronze Star Medal or device may be awarded posthumously, and, when so awarded, may be presented to such representative of the deceased as may be designated in the award.
Signature of Franklin D. Roosevelt
FRANKLIN D ROOSEVELT
The White House,
February 4, 1944.
It's a surprise, really, to realize that Bronze Star was created this late, but like the Silver Star, it was created to reflect combat conditions that the US had not experienced since the Civil War.
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