Today in World War II History—Mar. 24, 1944

German troops and Italian collaborators round up civilians in front of the Palazzo Barberini, Rome, 23 March 1944, before the Ardeatine Caves Massacre (German Federal Archive: Bild 101I-312-0983-05)
75 Years Ago—Mar. 24, 1944: Ardeatine Caves Massacre—Nazis kill 335 Italian civilians in reprisal for partisan bombing the day before.
“The Great Escape”—76 Allied airmen escape from German POW camp Stalag Luft III near Sagan, 50 are recaptured and murdered, 3 escape to Allied or neutral territory.
Countdown to D-day: Allies decide to postpone Operation Anvil (invasion of southern France) to free up more landing craft for Operation Overlord (landings in Normandy).
The word “gobbledygook” is invented, used in a memorandum from US Smaller War Plants Corporation director Maury Maverick promoting short and plain writing.