February 3rd 1943, Soviet Union.
General Karl Strecker’s XI Corps finally surrenders inside Stalingrad’s tractor factory.
February 4th 1943, France.
British and American bombers launch an attack against German U-boats in the Vizcaya Gulf using powerful searchlights.
February 8th 1943, Soviet Union.
Soviet forces capture the city of Kursk.
February 9th 1943, Mediterranean Sea.
An Axis convoy heading for Tunisia is almost destroyed by Allied planes, submarines, ships —based in Malta— and mines.
February 12th – February 14th 1943, Soviet Union.
The Soviets take Krasnodar on the 12th and Rostov on the 14th.
February 14th – February 22nd 1943, Tunisia.
Field marshal Erwin Rommel launches an attack Northwest from his fortified ‘Mareth Line’ against Bône in the coast. At the battle of Kasserine Pass, the II American Corps is hardly beaten. The American forces were 160 kilometres from Gabès, the key point of the German defences because its road junction, port and airfield. Rommel exploits the ill co ordination and inexperience of the Americans to attack; he reaches Thala but then retreats when his momentum is lost. He losses 2.000 men and the Americans 10.000.
February 15th 1943, Soviet Union.
The Soviets re-capture Khárkov and other cities beyond de Don.
February 16th – February 21st 1943, Germany.
Anti-nazi demonstrations in Munich take place, which expand to other German cities. Hans and Sophie Scholl, the leaders of the anti-nazi organisation ‘White Rose’ are arrested and beheaded.
February 18th 1943, Burma.
Brigadier general Orde Wingate launchs the first chindit raid with 3.000 men in the Japanese rear, cutting their communication lines. The chindits —supplied by air— have little strategic impact, but they deeply impress Winston Churchill for their unorthodox tactics, he will approve in the future more and more ambitious chindit raids.
February 18th – February 27th 1943, Soviet Union.
Field marshal Erich von Manstein, commander of Army Group ‘Don’ launches a counteroffensive against the Soviet forces that were pushing to the Dniéper River. Taking advantage of the overextended Soviet supply lines and adequate communication he manages to annihilate three Soviet armies and re-capture Khárkov, stabilising the entire German southern front, about to collapse.
February 20th – February 25th 1943, North Atlantic.
The Allied convoy ON-166 losses 15 of 49 ships because of U-boats’ action. Only one of the latter is lost.
February 21st 1943, Solomon Isles.
American forces land in Rusell Island, being the first move to conquer the isles. Operation ‘Cartwheel’ pretends to supreme the Japanese air base at Raubaul in New Brittany.
February 23rd – February 24th 1943, North Atlantic.
7 tankers of convoy UC-1 are lost because of U-boats.
February 26th – February 28th 1943, Tunisia.
The German V Panzer Army, under colonel general Hans Jürgen von Arnim launches very late the much-needed counterattack Northwest of the ‘Mareth Line’, unsuccessfully.
February 28th 1943, Germany.
Colonel general Heinz Guderian is appointed General Inspector of Panzer Troops to re-organise the German armoured units, annihilated during the last year.
