March

March 8 in World War II saw critical events unfold across Europe and the Pacific. The U.S. Senate passed the Lend-Lease Act, providing vital support to Allied nations, while Japanese forces captured Rangoon and expanded their reach in the Pacific. American bombers struck Berlin in a costly raid, and Allied troops advanced deeper into Germany as the war neared its final months.

March 7 in World War II saw Hitler remilitarize the Rhineland in 1936, British troops deploy to Greece, the sinking of U-boat ace Günther Prien’s U-47, Japan capture Rangoon, German wolfpacks attack Atlantic convoys, and U.S. forces seize the vital Rhine bridge at Remagen in 1945.

March 6 in World War II saw Hitler approve the daring Ardennes invasion plan, German aircraft mine the Suez Canal, the battleship Tirpitz attempt to intercept Arctic Convoy PQ-12, Allied bombing intensify over Berlin and northern France, Marines land in New Britain, and U.S. forces reach the Rhine as Cologne falls in 1945.

March 5 in World War II saw Allied naval forces seize an Italian collier, the Royal Navy escort troop convoys to Greece, German aircraft locate Arctic Convoy PQ-12, Allied forces evacuate Rangoon, RAF Bomber Command begin the Battle of the Ruhr, Chindits establish the Broadway stronghold in Burma, and U.S. troops reach Cologne as Germany begins conscripting teenage soldiers.

March 4 in World War II saw Hitler pressure Yugoslavia to join the Axis,
a daring Allied commando raid on Norway’s Lofoten Islands, early Pacific carrier strikes,
renewed Soviet offensives in Ukraine, Arctic convoy battles, Merrill’s Marauders in Burma,
and Red Army advances toward the Oder River in 1945.

World War II Today: March 3 includes the Soviet assault on Viipuri during the Winter War, RAF attacks on occupied France, the tragic Bethnal Green disaster, fighting at Anzio and Los Negros, and Allied advances into Germany in 1945.

World War II Today: March 2 includes the bombing of the liner Domala, Germany’s occupation of Bulgaria, Churchill’s warning about the battleship Tirpitz, the Battle of the Bismarck Sea, Allied advances into Germany, and the recapture of Corregidor.

March 1 in World War II saw Sumner Welles begin a diplomatic peace mission, Bulgaria join the Tripartite Pact, Himmler order the expansion of Auschwitz,
the sinking of USS Houston and HMAS Perth at the Sunda Strait, strategic bombing of European railways, Chindit operations in Burma,
and Allied advances toward the Rhine in 1945.

1939 Britain and France agree to support Poland if Germany threatens to invade. 1940 German armed merchant cruiser Atlantis sets sail, will sink 22 ships before being sunk November 22, 1941. 1941 British civilian casualties for March are 4,259 killed and 5,557 injured. Italian naval forces sink the British Cruiser, HMS Bonaventure off Crete. The 5th Light

1940 The Japanese set up a puppet government called Manchuko in Nanking, China. 1941 Claiming their crews are engaged in sabotage, President Roosevelt orders the government to seize sixty ships belonging to Axis countries that are currently docked in American ports. 1942 First trainloads of Jews from Paris arrive at Auschwitz. The RAF makes a