Tuesday, February 23, 1943. Tragedy in County Cavan and Converse County, Retreat in North Africa, Steel Pennies, Red Army General deaths.

 A B-17 crashed between Glenrock and Douglas on this day in 1943.  More specifically, B-17F 42-5102 crashed, with the loss of the entire crew of ten, 28 miles east of Casper.

A marker is planned for this site.

Air disasters during training happened at what would now be regarded as a horrific rate.

The Afrika Korps, overextended, began to withdraw back through the Kasserine Pass.  Rommel's decision to commence withdrawing was objected to by his senior officers at first.

Rommel addressing German troops riding in a captured American M3 halftrack.  By Bundesarchiv, Bild 146-1990-071-31 / CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5419522

His decision was correct, but telling. The attack had been largely successful up to the day prior, but now with a change of command and facing growing Allied firepower and superior logistics, the advance was effectively ended and now the battle's gain were about to turn into losses. This could be said of the entire North African effort, and for that matter, the entire German war effort at this point.

Steel pennies were first stamped, and then put in circulation on February 27.  The act was to save copper and was not popular.

Ukrainian born Lt. Gen. Grigory Kravchenko, age 30, fighter ace and twice Hero of the Soviet Union, was shot down and subsequently died from his injuries when his parachute failed to open.  He'd grown up in Kazakhstan after being born in Ukraine.

Soviet Major General M.M. Shaimuratov, died following his brutal torture by Cossacks serving under German command.  He was a Tartar cavalryman who had first joined the Red Army in 1919.

A terrible fire at the St. Joseph's Orphanage in County Cavan, Ireland, resulted in the death of 35 girls and one adult. The fire which occurred in the very early morning hours was not detected until it was advanced.

The girls who perished ranged from 7 to 15 years of age.

Wednesday, February 17, 1943. Joe DiMaggio joins the Army.

Hitler flew to Erich Von Manstein's headquarters in Zaporizhia intending to dismiss him as Von Manstein had suggested that he be appointed overall chief of staff. While there, he became engrossed with the situation facing Army Group South and did not do so, but, after two days, agreed to allow Manstein to take troops from Army Group A for an offensive aimed at Kharkov. 

The Afrika Korps won the Tunisian battle of Sidi Bou Zid.

Joe DiMaggio enlisted in the U.S. Army.  During his wartime service, he played baseball for the Seventh Air Force.  A request for a combat assignment would be refused.

Sunday, February 14, 1943. The Battle of Kasserine Pass.

The Afrika Korps launched a surprise assault on U.S. forces at Kasserine Pass, ultimately causing US forces to withdraw 50 miles and causing massive American material loss.

US troops were green and poorly led and poorly supported by air cover.  Rommel's German and Italian forces were experienced and well led, and well supported by air cover.   It was the first major U.S. engagement against the Afrika Korps and an embarrassing failure of American arms. It would also lead to immediate shakeups in the American command.

Part of an overall Afrika Korps effort, the Axis forces profited from the American defeat in real terms.  It interestingly was part of an overall German pattern of commencing offensives on Sundays.

The Priestly Society of the Holy Cross was founded by Spanish Catholic Priest St. Josemaria Escriva.  It would become an integral part of Opus Dei, which he also founded.  Opus Dei has been an influential Catholic organization which seeks to sanctify its members through their secular vocations.