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 Over Germany... During the night (February 13-14), 773 Lancaster bombers, of British RAF Bomber Command, raid the eastern German city of Dresden. Five bombers are lost. However, the incendiary bombs dropped generate a fire storm that continues to burn for 7 days and 8 nights and ultimately razes 6.5 square kilometers. Casualty estimates vary from 30,000 to 250,000 killed. Among the witnesses to events in Dresden at the time is Kurt
Vonnegut, an American POW, who will vividly describe the scene in
Slaughterhouse Five. During the day, the US 8th Air Force raids Dresden where the firestorm continues.
On the Western Front... The British and Canadian forces reach the south bank of the Rhine opposite Emmerich in the advance of British 21st Army Group. American forces farther south are mostly regrouping to prepare for the next series of attacks.
On the Eastern Front... In the Soviet attacks in
Pomerania, Schneidmuhl falls. Deutsche Krone is also taken after being surrounded but Arnswalde hold out against a similar attack. The 1st Ukrainian Front captures Sorau and Grunberg in the advance toward the Neisse River.
In Burma... The British 7th Indian Division, part of British 4th Corps, begins to cross the Irrawaddy River near Myaungu. Japanese opposition is limited because most of the forces have been withdrawn to defend Mandalay. North of Mandalay, the British 19th Indian Division takes Singu despite Japanese resistance.
In the Volcano Islands... American USAAF B-24 and B-29 bombers raid Iwo Jima in preparation for the landings later in the month. They drop a daily average of 450 tons of bombs over the course of 15 days (6800 tons).
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