February 11th – February 12th 1942, North Atlantic.
The German battle-cruisers
Scharnhorst and
Gneisenau, along the heavy cruiser
Prince Eugen escape from the French port of Brest in day light through the English Channel, supported by destroyers and aircraft. The British air attacks are complete failures, 42 planes are lost. However, during the "Channel Dash", the German ships hit mines and will need repairs.
February 13th 1942, Germany.
Adolf Hitler finally cancels operation ‘Sea Lion’.
February 14th 1942, Germany.
Great Britain hands the order of ‘Zone Bombardment’, which stipulates the RAF Bomber Command’s strategic objectives. The bombardments will now try to destroy the German people’s morale and their psychological resistance and the German industry by attacking the cities.
February 18th – February 23rd 1942, Burma.
The Japanese troops are chasing the British without a pause. At River Sittang battle, the British cross the river through the only bridge and then blow it up —losing a lot of equipment and leaving behind many troops, that have to cross the river by boats—, but the Japanese have already managed to cross it somewhere else. The Japanese now have an unopposed way to Rangoon, the capital.
February 19th 1942, United States.
The relatively unknown lieutenant general Dwight D. Eisenhower becomes Chief of Operations Division of the US General Staff. He will be a strong advocate of the increase of American troops in Great Britain and the invasion of Europe though the English Channel.
February 19th 1942, Far East.
In the battle of Lombok Strait, east of Bali, American and Dutch ships make several attacks against the Japanese. A Dutch cruiser and a destroyer are lost, whilst a Japanese destroyer is damaged.
February 19th 1942, Australia.
Japanese aircraft carrier-based planes attack the port of Darwin. 16 ships are sunk or damaged, 172 lives are lost.
February 19th 1942, United States.
Franklin D. Roosevelt sign executive order 9.066, which causes the deportation of Japanese-American citizens to concentration camps, due to the general anti-Japanese feeling of the population after December 7th.
