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Today in
World War II History

Today in World War II History—March 19, 1944

Damage to Ponte di Piave bridge in Italy after Mediterranean Allied Air Force raid, WWII (USAF photo)

Damage to Ponte di Piave bridge in Italy after Mediterranean Allied Air Force raid, WWII (USAF photo)

80 Years Ago—Mar. 19, 1944: Mediterranean Allied Air Force issues directive for Operation Strangle, air raids on railroads north of Rome to hinder German supply and reinforcement.

German troops occupy Hungary to prevent the nation’s withdrawal from the war.

Today in World War II History—March 18, 1944

Adm. Miklós Horthy, Regent of Hungary in WWII (public domain via Wikipedia)

Adm. Miklós Horthy, Regent of Hungary in WWII (public domain via Wikipedia)

80 Years Ago—Mar. 18, 1944: Hungary’s regent, Adm. Miklós Horthy, agrees to new terms of alliance with Nazi Germany, including occupation by German troops and deportation of Hungary’s 750,000 Jews.

Movie premiere of comedy See Here, Private Hargrove, starring Robert Walker & Donna Reed.

Today in World War II History—March 17, 1944

“Félix Éboué—Governor-General Fighting French Africa—Scholar, Statesman, Soldier” by Charles Alston for US Office of War Information, 1943 (US National Archives: 535672)

“Félix Éboué—Governor-General Fighting French Africa—Scholar, Statesman, Soldier” by Charles Alston for US Office of War Information, 1943 (US National Archives: 535672)

80 Years Ago—Mar. 17, 1944: In Cassino, Italy, New Zealanders take western part of town and the train station, and assault German strongholds in hotels.

Félix Éboué, Governor-General of French Equatorial Africa, dies of a heart attack in Cairo, age 60; he was the first person of Black African descent to be appointed to a high office in the French colonies.

Ruins of Continental Hotel in Cassino, Italy, 1944 (US Army Center of Military History)

Ruins of Continental Hotel in Cassino, Italy, 1944 (US Army Center of Military History)

Today in World War II History—March 16, 1944

Troops of 5th Indian Division loading a jeep into a Douglas Dakota of No.194 Squadron RAF during the reinforcement of the Imphal Garrison in India, March 1944 (Imperial War Museum: CF 145)

Troops of 5th Indian Division loading a jeep into a Douglas Dakota of No.194 Squadron RAF during the reinforcement of the Imphal Garrison in India, March 1944 (Imperial War Museum: CF 145)

80 Years Ago—Mar. 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.

Today in World War II History—March 15, 1944

Pre-invasion Bombing of Pointe du Hoc by US Ninth Air Force A-20 light bombers, spring 1944. (US Army Center for Military History)

Pre-invasion Bombing of Pointe du Hoc by US Ninth Air Force A-20 light bombers, spring 1944. (US Army Center for Military History)

80 Years Ago—Mar. 15, 1944: Countdown to D-day: US Ninth Air Force in England begins pre-invasion tactical missions for Operation Overlord (D-day).

Second Allied aerial attack destroys town of Cassino, Italy, in largest massed tactical air raid yet: 1,200 tons of bombs plus 200,000 rounds of artillery.

Town of Cassino during Allied bombing, 1944 (US Army Center of Military History)

Town of Cassino during Allied bombing, 1944 (US Army Center of Military History)

Today in World War II History—March 14, 1944

US Army recruiting poster, WWII

US Army recruiting poster, WWII

80 Years Ago—Mar. 14, 1944: Countdown to D-day: Commodore Cyril Douglas-Pennant takes command of Royal Navy’s Force G, which will conduct landings and provide support at Gold Beach.

In Burma, Japanese cut road from Tiddim north to Imphal, India; Indian troops are unable to retreat.

US Selective Service cancels all draft deferments for men ages 18-26 except for certified “key men” in essential occupations.

Today in World War II History—March 13, 1944

German Tiger I tank in front of the Altare della Patria, Rome, 1944 (German Federal Archives: Bild 101I-310-0880-38)

German Tiger I tank in front of the Altare della Patria, Rome, 1944 (German Federal Archives: Bild 101I-310-0880-38)

80 Years Ago—Mar. 13, 1944: To eliminate Rome as an Allied air raid target, Germans order removal of all military installations except medical, quartermaster, butcher, and bakery, and place Vatican City off limits to soldiers.

In Ukraine, Soviets cross the lower Dnieper at Kherson and take Kherson.

Today in World War II History—March 12, 1944

Edvard Beneš, president of Czechoslovakian government-in-exile, 1942 (US Library of Congress: LC-USW33- 019089-C)

Edvard Beneš, president of Czechoslovakian government-in-exile, 1942 (US Library of Congress: LC-USW33- 019089-C)

80 Years Ago—Mar. 12, 1944: Czechoslovakian government-in-exile in London urges uprising against the Nazis to meet the approaching Soviet army.

Neutral Eire (Ireland) refuses to expel German diplomats and is isolated by the Allies.

Today in World War II History—March 11, 1944

Patches of the US Fifth Air Force and the US Fifteenth Air Force, WWII

Patches of the US Fifth Air Force and the US Fifteenth Air Force, WWII

80 Years Ago—Mar. 11, 1944: In Denmark, Germans arrest 13 members of Hvidsten Group (resistance) and an SOE agent.

US Fifth Air Force begins neutralizing Japanese airfields at Wewak, New Guinea, in preparation for April landings at Hollandia.

US Fifteenth Air Force (based in Italy) bombs Toulon, France, sinking German U-boats U-380 and U-410 and several French warships that had been raised by the Germans.

Today in World War II History—March 10, 1944

Poster for US Navy Construction Battalions (Seabees), WWII

Poster for US Navy Construction Battalions (Seabees), WWII

80 Years Ago—Mar. 10, 1944: Countdown to D-day: Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Force issues Operation Overlord directive to ground, air, and naval forces for D-day.

National movie premiere of The Fighting Seabees starring John Wayne.

Embers in the London Sky cover
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—Booklist starred review for Embers in the London Sky
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