Some 724 people were killed when a Japanese dive bomber (Kamikaze) attacked the carrier USS Franklin off Japan: however the ship was saved. Adolf Hitler issues “Nero Decree” ordering the destruction of all [ … ]
Event Type: Key Events of WW II
1944-03-19
British composer Michael Tippett’s oratorio “Child of Our Time” premieres in London.
1943-03-19
British Merchant Motor ship Canadian Star is sunk by German submarine U221. British 8th Army opens assault on Mareth line in Tunisia. Frank Nitti, the Chicago Boss after Al Capone, commits suicide at the [ … ]
1942-03-19
President Franklin D. Roosevelt orders men between 45 & 64 to register for non-military duty. The Thoroughbred Racing Association of U.S. formed in Chicago, Il.
1945-03-18
Some 1,250 U.S. bombers attack Berlin. Maurice “Rocket” Richard becomes the 1st National Hockey League player to score 50 goals in season. U.S. Task Force 58 attacks targets on Kiushu, Japan.
1944-03-18
Nazi Germany occupies Hungary. 2,500 women trample guards & floorwalkers to purchase 1,500 alarm clocks announced for sale in a Chicago, Illinois department store.
1943-03-18
American Steamship James Oglethorpe was sunk by German Submarine U-758 & Dutch Steam Merchant Terkoelei sunk by German submarine U-631. Red Army evacuates Belgorod, Russia.
1942-03-18
President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order authorizing the War Relocation Authority, which was put in charge of interring Japanese-Americans, with Milton S. Eisenhower (the younger brother of Dwight [ … ]
1945-03-17
Allied ships bomb North-Sumatra.
1943-03-17
The Dutch Steam Merchant Alderamarin & British Steam Merchant Fort Cedar Lake are torpedoed & sunk by a German submarine. F. Hugh Herbert’s “Kiss & Tell” premieres in NYC. The Taoiseach of Ireland, [ … ]
1942-03-17
Bełżec Concentration Camp opens with the transport of 30,000 Lublin Polish Jews. General Douglas MacArthur arrives in Australia to become supreme commander.
1945-03-16
American Forces declared they had secured Iwo Jima, although pockets of Japanese resistance remained. In 20 minutes Würzburg, Germany is 90% destroyed by British bombers with 5,000 dead.
1944-03-16
French Vichy Internal Minister Pierre Pucheu sentenced to death for treason.
1943-03-16
Elin K (Norway) & Zaanland (Netherland) torpedoed & sinks.
1945-03-15
17th Academy Awards: “Going My Way”, Bing Crosby & Ingrid Bergman win. Bert Shepard (1 legged WW II vet) tries out as a pitcher for Washington Senators. Billboard publishes its 1st [ … ]