Friday, April 21, 1944. Les Françaises obtiennent le droit de vote.

Black artillerymen of Btry B., 140th FA Bn., 37th Div. Btry firing a 105 on Bougainville. 21 April, 1944.

Charles de Gaulle issued a decree giving French women the right to vote.

It's hard to imagine that the vote came to French women this late.

US troops inspecting German one many torpedo at Anzio.

Japanese troops captured Crete West Hill during the Battle of Imphal.

As Sarah Sundin notes on her blog:

Today in World War II History—April 21, 1944: German Gen. Hans-Valentin Hube is killed in a plane crash at Berchtesgaden; Gen. Erhard Raus replaces him over German First Panzer Army.

She also noted that a massive US task force with up to twenty aircraft carriers had attacked  Hollandia, Wakde, Sawar, and Sarmi, New Guinea from the air in preparation for landings.  D-Day was the following day.

The following statement, a product of Bretton Woods, was released:

Italy formed a coalition government.

The RAF hit Cologne, La Chappelle (Paris), Lens and Ottignies (Brussels).

The Battle of Gurba occured in Ukraine, but it's obscure.  It was an action between the Soviets and the Ukrainian National Army, and relatively large-scale for such an encounter.

Last prior edition:

Thursday, April 20, 1944. Bombs for Hitler's birthday.

1940s, 1944, Adolf Hitler, baseball, Battle of Anzio, Battle of Kohima, boats and ships, German Kriegsmarine, German Luftwaffe, Merrill's Maurauders, Operation U-Go, Personalities, Royal Air Force, U.S. Navy

Wednesday, March 8, 1944. Battle of Imphal begins.

The Battle of Imphal began in northeast India.  British forces had plans to deal with the assault, but initially underestimated the large-scale size of the Japanese offensive.

The Japanese attacked American forces on the beachhead on Bougainville.

The Finns asked the Soviets for guarantees as part of a negotiated peace.

The 8th Air Force raided Berlin for a second day, losing about 10% of a 580 bomber force in spite of an 800 fighter escort.

The British government announced post-war plans to build 300,000 houses.

A general strike in the "Italian Social Republic" was put down by the Germans.

Pvt. Ray E. Thiel, Long Island, Calif., of 3rd Bn., Mortar Platoon, 504th Parachute Infantry, cleans 81mm mortar near Cisterna, Italy.  March 8, 1944.

Last prior:

Tuesday, March 7, 1944. U-Go and women at war.