The Royal Air Force raided Gestapo headquarters at the Aarhus University in Denmark The goal was to destroy Gestapo records to aid the Danish resistance. The raid was conducted, as an earlier on in France had been, with Mosquitos.
German Army Group North was trapped on the Courland Peninsula.
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The Black Hills Expedition returned to Ft. Abraham Lincoln after covering nearly 1,200 miles over lasting sixty days.
The Sixth Cavalry and Fifth Infantry under the command of Colonel Nelson A. Miles attacked a large group of Southern Cheyenne near the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River in Texas in what became the day long Battle of Red River.. Though armed with Gatling guns and a 10-pounder Parrott rifle, the Cheyenne were able to hold them the Army long enough to escape up Tule Canyon into the Staked Plains.
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A couple of big items are reported by Sarah Sundin:
These include the beginning of the 1944 Democratic Convention and the 5th Army taking Livorno, Italy.
President Roosevelt had no real opposition to his nomination. The big question was who would be his vice president.
The Battle of Verrières Ridge in Normandy south of Caen, with two Canadian divisions pitted against three SS divisions.
Saint-Lô was taken by U.S. troops.
The Red Army entered Latvia.
The Ōi was sunk by the USS Flasher.
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The largest "banzai charge" of the Second World War occured on this day, when 3,000 troops made a suicidal attack on U.S. Army positions, overrunning two battalions of the 27th Infantry Division.
The word "banzai" comes from the Japanese battle cry "tennōheika banzai" (天皇陛下万歳) "long live His Majesty the Emperor".
The Polish Home Army commenced Operation Ostra Brama, and armed up rising in Vilnius. Vilnius had been hotly contested between Poland and Lithuania after World War One and was in pre World War Two Poland. Today, of course, it is the capital of Lithuania.
The Japanese destroyer Tamanani as sunk by the USS Mingo off of Mainila.
Georges Mandel, French resistance leader, was executed by hte Milice.
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The Battle of Biak in Indonesia (then part of New Guinea, which it is just off of) began with the landing of the U.S. Army's 41st Infantry Division.
Today it is a tropical tourist destination.
The U-292 was sunk by a British B-24.
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One of the most iconic photographs of World War Two was taken on this day in 1944, that being a rare combat action photograph. The subject was M4 Sherman supported infantrymen on Bougainville.
From Sarah Sundin's blog:
Today in World War II History—March 16, 1944: US Air Transport Command begins airlift of 5th Indian Division from Arakan in southern Burma to reinforce besieged Imphal and Kohima in India.
The Japanese Indian Ocean Raid ended inconclusively with lackluster results, and Japanese atrocities.
The Tautoq sank the Shirakumo east of Muroran, Hokkaido.
March 16, 1944It has always seemed odd to me and to the people of the United States to find Finland a partner of Nazi Germany, fighting side by side with the sworn enemies of our civilization.The Finnish people now have a chance to withdraw from this hateful partnership. The longer they stay at Germany's side the more sorrow and suffering is bound to come to them. I think I can speak for all Americans when I say that we sincerely hope Finland will now take the opportunity to disassociate herself from Germany.
The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, the predecessor of NASA, proposed a jet-propelled transonic research airplane be developed, which would leads to the "X" series research airplane projects.
Teresa Gullace, seven months pregnant, was killed by a German soldier when she attempted to pass a sandwich to her husband, who was detained by the Germans in Rome. She was part of a group of women that had gathered to protest the Germans holding their husbands.
The scene was later depicted in Rosellini's 1945 Rome open city, one of three great films by the director set during World War Two and filmed immediately after, and which used amateur actors to a large degree.
The U.S. Army Air Force hit the Roman rail facilities at the Tiburtino, Littorio and Ostiense marshalling yards. There were 400 civilian casualties.
Over 500 railroad passengers died of carbon monoxide poisoning during a protracted stall in a tunnel at Balvano, Italy. It's one of the worst rail disasters of all time.
Stalin shut the door on further negotiations on the Polish border.
The Soviet Union created the Medal of Ushakov and the Medal of Nakhimov, both of which were awarded to sailors. Interestingly, they were both named after Imperial Russian officers.
Japanese troops on Los Negros launched a night attack, which was repulsed by US cavalrymen.
The 3d Infantry Division repulsed a German attack on the Anzio beachhead at Ponte Rotto. It would be the last German offensive action at Anzio.
Paul-Émile Janson, a Belgian Prime Minister just before World War Two, died at Buchewald at age 71.
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.
Today in World War II History—January 22, 1944: 80 Years Ago—Jan. 22, 1944: US and British troops land at Anzio, Italy, establish a solid beachhead, and secure the towns of Anzio and Nettuno.
Initial landings were unopposed, and the harbor was taken intact. The US Third Army and the British First Army were landed on three separate beaches, with U.S. Gen. John Lucas under overall command. Italian resistance offered to guide the Allies to Rome. The offer was declined.
They should have been accepted.
Lucas is somewhat remembered by history not only for his unfortunate command at Anzio, which would lead to his being later relieved under circumstances which some feel made him a scapegoat for the operation's failure, but also for being in command of the Machine Gun Troop at Columbus, New Mexico when it was attacked by Pancho Villa in March 1916. As we noted about that event:
The raid on Columbus New Mexico, 1916
WHEREAS it is the policy of this Government to take all measures within its power to rescue the victims of enemy oppression who are in imminent danger of death and otherwise to afford such victims all possible relief and assistance consistent with the successful prosecution of the war.NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the statutes of the United States, as President of the United States and as Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy, and in order to effectuate with all possible speed the rescue and relief of such victims of enemy oppression, it is hereby ordered as follows:There is established in the Executive Office of the President a War Refugee Board (hereinafter referred to as the Board). The Board shall consist of the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Treasury and the Secretary of War. The Board may request the heads of other agencies or departments to participate in its deliberations whenever matters specially affecting such agencies or departments are under consideration.The Board shall be charged with the responsibility of seeing that the policy of the Government, as stated in the Preamble, is carried out. The functions of the Board shall include without limitation the development of plans and programs and the inauguration of effective measures for (a) the rescue, transportation, maintenance and relief of the victims of enemy oppression, and (b) the establishment of havens of temporary refuge for such victims. To this and the Board, through appropriate channels, shall take the necessary steps to enlist the cooperation of foreign governments and obtain their participation in the execution of such plans and programs.It shall be duty of the State, Treasury and War Departments, within their respective spheres, to execute at the request of the Board, the plans and programs so developed and the measures so inaugurated. It shall be the duty of the heads of all agencies and departments to supply or obtain for the Board such information and to extend to the Board such supplies, shipping and other specified assistance and facilities as the Board may require in carrying out the provisions of this Order. The State Department shall appoint special attaches with diplomatic status, on the recommendation of the Board, to be stationed abroad in places where it is likely that the assistance can be rendered to war refugees, the duties and responsibilities of such attaches to be defined by the Board in consultation with the State Department.The Board and the State, Treasury and War Departments are authorized to accept the services or contributions of any private persons, private organizations, State agencies, or agencies of foreign governments in carrying out the purposes of this Order. The Board shall cooperate with all existing and future international organizations concerned with the problems of refugee rescue, maintenance, transportation, relief, rehabilitation, and resettlement.To the extent possible the Board shall utilize the personnel supplies, facilities and services of the State, Treasury and War Departments. In addition the Board, within the limits of funds which may be available, may employ necessary personnel without regard for the Civil Service laws and regulations and the Classification Act of 1923, as amended, and make provisions for supplies, facilities and services necessary to discharge its responsibilities. The Board shall appoint an Executive Director who shall serve as its principal executive officer. It shall be the duty of the Executive Director to arrange for the prompt execution of the plans and programs developed and the measures inaugurated by the Board, to supervise the activities and the special attaches and to submit frequent reports to the Board on the steps taken for the rescue and relief of war refugees.The Board shall be directly responsible to the President in carrying out the policy of this Government, as stated in the Preamble, and the Board shall report to him at frequent intervals concerning the such recommendations as the Board may seem appropriate for further action to overcome any difficulties encountered in the rescue and relief of war refugees.FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELTTHE WHITE HOUSE,January 22, 1944.
The Battle of the Rapido River began in Italy when the 36th Infantry Division crossed the river at night. They'd establish a beachhead, but things would not go well. Within a couple of days, the 36th would have to withdraw back across the river.
The attack, widely regarded as producing a disaster, was ordered by Gen. Mark Clark over the objection of the 36th's commanding officer, Gen. Fred Walker, who had experience with a disastrous river crossing in World War One.
Walker, who at 56 years of age was the oldest divisional commander in the Army at the time, was correct in his assessment.
The 36th Infantry Division assigned to the task was a division of the Texas National Guard.
Walker, who complained that Clark and Gen. Keys were ignorant of the difficulties of the assault, was in ill health at the time, but a very good officer. Helping to make up for his physical condition was the fact that two of his sons were on his staff. He was returned to the United States in June, where he went on to command the Infantry School. In spite of ill health, he lived until 1969, dying at age 82.
Winston Churchill met with the Polish Government In Exile to attempt to convince the Poles to accept the Curzon Line for discussion purposes. Churchill promised that he'd resist Soviet efforts, in exchange, to influence the makeup of the post-war government.
The Curzon Line had been first proposed as a demarcation between the Second Polish Republic and the Soviet Union following World War One by Lord Curzon and Herbert James Paton, and it was based on demographics. Poles did live to the east of the line, but they became increasingly mixed with other populations in what has been termed, quite appropriate, as "the Bloodlands' in a fantastic book on the post World War One era of the region by Timothy D. Snyder. Like every other imperial domain in Europe, Imperial Russia had regions of strong ethnic uniformity and others of mix ethnicity. The region that became the westernmost region of Poland had a large Polish population, but also had a Belarusian population and a Ukrainian one, as well as many areas of Jewish populations. From 1918 into the early 1920s, every country in the region, to include Lithuania, had fought to establish their borders. Poland had been remarkably successful, throwing back a massive Red Army assault in the Russo Polish War, but even at that the Second Polish Republic did not extend as far to the east as it had originally sought to.
