February 28th 1943, Norway.
British commandos destroy the German plant at Norsk, where they were producing heavy water and making nuclear investigations.
February 1st – February 4th 1944, Marshall Isles.
Some 40.000 American marines land in Roi, Namur and Kwajalein. Japanese resistance is very strong. It takes 2 days and 737 men to settle in Roi and Namur. Kwajalein 4 days and 372 men. The Japanese have 11.612 men killed.
February 4th 1944, Anzio/Cassino.
The Germans stop the Allied assaults in Cassino and Anzio, even if in the latter the Allies have 70.000 men and 18.000 vehicles.
February 4th – February 24th 1944, Burma.
The Japanese launch operation ‘Ha-Go’ with their 55th division to isolate the forward troops of the XV Allied Corps and force them to withdraw to the Indian border. The initial attacks succeed and the Allies are pushed to Admin Box, near Sinzweya. The Japanese surround the Allies, but on the 25th, the 123rd brigade breaks the line and gets to Admin Box though Ngakyedauk.
February 5th 1944, Burma.
Orde Wingate’s 16th chindit brigade advances from the Ledo, India in the south to Indaw in northern Burma. Their mission is to help lieutenant general Joseph Stilwell in Myitkyina, eliminating enemy forces; creating a favourable situation for Yunnan’s armies and inflicting as much damage as possible to the enemy forces.
February 12th 1944, Far East.
The Japanese submarine I-27 sinks RMS
Khedive Ismail, a troop transport, with huge life-loss. Destroyers HMS
Petard and HMS
Paladin then sink the I-27 shortly after.
February 16th – February 17th 1944, Cassino.
The American 34th infantry division makes a last try to take the monastery, but fails. It is then replaced by the 4th Indian and 4th New Zealander divisions.
February 16th – February 19th 1944, Anzio.
Field marshal Albert Kesselring’s 10 divisions attack the Allied beachhead, breaking the front and penetrating 1,5 kilometres between their lines, but Allied aircraft from all over Italy and the beachhead’s artillery finally disrupt the German attack.
February 18th – February 22nd 1944, Marshall Isles.
The American forces finish their conquest by taking Eniwetok. This combined operation took the lives of 3.400 Japanese and 254 marines and 94 soldier from the US Army. The Marshalls is the first part of Japanese territory to fall during the war.
February 26th 1944, Baltic Sea.
The Red Army conquests Porjov and re-groups in the line Novorzhev and Putoshka. During six months of campaign the Soviet Voljov, Leningrad and II Baltic fronts have annihilated Army Group ‘North’ —3 divisions, severely damaging 17 and capturing 189 tanks and 1.800 guns. Soviet partisans also killed 21.500 Germans, destroyed 300 bridges and 136 trains.
February 29th 1944, the Admirals.
As part of the strategy to isolate Raubaul, the Americans land in the Admiral Isles.
February 1st 1945, Eastern Prussia.
The IV German Army tries to break and get to friendly lines at Elbing, but the Soviets prevent it.
February 3rd – March 3rd 1945, Philippines.
The American XIV Corps starts its attack against Manila, defended by 17.000 Japanese under rear admiral Sanji Iwabuchi. The garrison, after destroying the city, is annihilated. The Americans have 1.000 men killed, 5.500 wounded and 100.000 Philippine civilians die.
February 4th – February 11th 1945, Soviet Union.
At Yalta, in the Crimea, Franklin D. Roosevelt, American President, Winston S. Churchill, British Prime Minister and Iósif Stalin, Soviet Premier meet to discuss about post-war Europe. It is agreed to divide Austria and Germany as well as Berlin and Vienna into four occupation zones: American, British, French and Soviet. The USSR is also going to declare war on Japan four weeks after the war in Europe ends.
