OnWar.com

Chronology of World War II

Thursday, March 1, 1945

On the Eastern Front... In Pomerania, the northward attacks of 1st Belorussian Front (Zhukov) forces achieve a breakthrough north of Arnswalde and move on in the Kolberg direction.

On the Western Front... Munchen-Gladbach and Neuss fall to the US 9th Army, which is now advancing rapidly toward the Rhine. The attacks of US 1st Army toward Cologne are continuing as are the efforts of US 3rd Army near the River Kyll and south of Trier.

In the Volcano Islands... On Iwo Jima, forces of US 5th Amphibious Corps now hold both the first and second of the island's airfields and have a foothold at the southern end of the third. There is intensive fighting all along the line.

In the Philippines... Japanese resistance in Manila is confined to a few blocks in the administrative area of the city. Nearer the landing area at Lingayen Gulf there are renewed efforts by US 1st Corps in the direction of Baguio and north along the coast.

In Okinawa... Part of US Task Force 58 conducts air strikes on targets on Okinawa and nearby shipping. Two small Japanese warships are sunk.


Friday, March 2, 1945

On the Western Front... Trier is captured by units of US 20th Corps, part of US 3rd Army. The US 1st Army, to the north, is extending its advance beyond the Erft River toward Cologne and to the south. US 9th Army captures Roermond and Venlo on the Maas on the left flank of its advance while on the right, the Rhine River is reached opposite Dusseldorg.

Over Germany... British bombers conduct two daylight raids on Cologne.

In Romania... King Michael is pressured by Soviet representatives to dismiss his government.

In the Ryukyu Islands... Elements of US Task Force 58, consisting of 4 cruisers and 15 destroyers, under the command of Admiral Whiting, bombard Okino Daito Jima.


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On the day of the Japanese surrender, US General McArthur surveys the wreckage in Manila

Saturday, March 3, 1945

In the Philippines... Japanese resistance in Manila comes to an end after a month-long battle. Most of the 20,000 Japanese defenders have been killed and the town has been devastated. Troops from the Americal Division are landed on Ticao and Burias Islands to the west of the San Bernadino Strait.

In Burma... Meiktila is completely occupied by units of the British 4th Corps. This effectively cuts the main route for supplies to the bulk of the Japanese forces in Burma is and compels some of the Japanese units fighting farther north, against British 33rd Corps, to turn away to try to clear their lines of communication.

In the Volcano Islands... On Iwo Jima, an area of the island which has become known as "the Mincer" is cleared by the marines of US 5th Amphibious Corps. The third airfield is completely occupied by the American.

On the Western Front... Troops of Canadian 1st and US 9th Armies link up near Geldern. Farther south, units of the US 12th Corps from US 3rd Army capture a crossing over the KyllRiver. Meanwhile, elements of the US 7th Army take Forbach.


Sunday, March 4, 1945

On the Eastern Front... The Soviet offensive in Pomerania continues to make gains especially toward the west near Stettin. There is renewed fighting in East Prussia.

On the Western Front... Geldern is captured by the British 30th Corps, part of Canadian 1st Army. US 1st and 9th Armies continue their advance to the Rhine River. The US 7th Corps from US 1st Army reaches the Rhine just north of Cologne.

In the Volcano Islands... On Iwo Jima, the first damaged B-29 uses the landing field.

In Helsinki... The government of Helsinki declares war on Germany. An unofficial state of war has existed since September 1944.


Monday, March 5, 1945

On the Western Front... Units of the US 8th Corps (part of US 1st Army) enter Cologne from the south and the east. The Allied advance continues along the entire line.

Over Germany... The British RAF conducts a daylight raid on the Gelsenkirchen oil facilities.

In Germany... Fifteen- and sixteen-year-old boys from the class of 1929 are called up to serve in the German army.

In Burma... Japanese counterattacks against British 4th Corps begin. The small town of Taungtha is retaken by the Japanese and the British 17th Indian Division is nearly cut off in Meiktila. British airborne supply operations continue, however.


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German armor and bicycle troops concentrate in Hungary

Tuesday, March 6, 1945

On the Eastern Front... The German forces in Hungary launch a major counteroffensive in the area just north of Lake Balaton. The 6th SS Panzer Army, which was withdrawn from the Ardennes battle early in January, has been moved here to spearhead the attack. Other units from Army Group South (Wohler) also take part in the offensive. The operation is code named Fruhlingserwachen or Spring Awakening. The German aim is to retake all the territory between Lake Balaton and the Danube. The Soviet 27th Army, defending along the targeted line of advance, is forced to give ground initially. However, 3rd Ukrainian Front (Tolbukhin) responds with the allotment of reserves to slow the advance down. Meanwhile, in the fighting in Poland, forces of 2nd Belorussian Front complete the capture of the fortress town of Grudiaz after a lengthy siege.

On the Western Front... Units of the Canadian 1st Army are preparing to clear the final German pocket west of the Rhine around Xanten. The US 9th Army has reached the Rhine all along its front. To the south, US 1st Army is fighting in Cologne and driving toward Remagen farther south -- the US 9th Armored Division leads the advance. Farther south, units of US 3rd Army are making a rapid advance toward the Rhine at Koblenz.

In Burma... In their advance down the Burma Road, units of the Chinese 1st Army reach and capture Lashio.

In Romania... King Michael appoints a new government dominated by the Romanian Communist Party. In the west, this move is viewed as a sign the Stalin and the Soviet Union will not hold to the assurances given at Yalta about doing nothing to hinder the process of democracy in eastern Europe.


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The Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen

Wednesday, March 7, 1945

On the Western Front... The leading tanks of US 3rd Corps (part of US 1st Army) reach the Rhine River opposite Remagen and find the Ludendorff Bridge there damaged but still standing. Troops are immediately rushed across and a bridgehead is firmly established during the day. Other elements of the US 1st Army complete the capture of Cologne. Units US 12th Corps from US 3rd Army continue to advance rapidly.

From Berlin... Hitler relieves Field Marshal Rundstedt from his post as Commander in Chief of the German armies in the west because of the American capture of the bridge at Remagen. Field Marshal Kesselring is appointed to replace him.

On the Eastern Front... In Hungary, the German offensive by Army Group South continues and achieves more gains. To the north of Lake Balaton, attacks are by 6th SS Panzer Army while to the south of the lake, there are attacks by units of the German 2nd Panzer Army toward Kaposvar. Farther south, in occupied Yugoslavia, elements of German Army Group E (Lohr) attack northeast of the Drava River against allied forces of 3rd Ukrainian Front. Meanwhile, on the Baltic, German evacuations begin from around the city of Danzig which continue until mid-April.

In the Philippines... Forces of the US 1st Corps are engaged south of San Fernando. South of Manila, the US 14th Corps is fighting near Balayan Bay and Batangas against the defense lines of the south Luzon Shimbu Group of the Japanese forces.

In Liberated Yugoslavia... The two existing governments, that led by Tito and the royalist government, are merged into a new single government dominated by Tito and his followers.


Thursday, March 8, 1945

In Liberated France... During the night, German forces from the garrisons in the occupied Channel Islands mount a raid on Granville on the west coast of the Cotentin Peninsula. One small US warship and 4 merchant ships are sunk. The raiders also free 67 German prisoners of war.

On the Western Front... American efforts to reinforce the Remagen bridgehead continue. German bombers, including some jets, begin attacks on the bridge but fail to destroy it. To the north, units of the Canadian 2nd Corps (part of Canadian 1st Army) capture Xanten.

In Britain... A V2 rocket strikes Farrington Market in London, killing 110 and seriously injuring 123.

In Burma... The British 2nd and 20th Indian Divisions begin to break out of their bridgeheads over the Irrawaddy River to the west of Mandalay.

In the Volcano Islands... On Iwo Jima, the forces of US 5th Amphibious Corps continue pushing northward with heavy fire support. Japanese forces are now all within one mile of the north end of the island.


Friday, March 9, 1945

Over Japan... During the night (March 9-10), 279 low flying US B-29 Superfortress bombers drop 1667 tons of napalm and oil bombs on Tokyo. The resulting firestorm devastates 26 square kilometers of built-up area, killing some 84,000; injuring 102,000 and leaving roughly one million homeless. There are similar raids on Nagoya, Osaka and Kobe. Japanese civil defenses are unable to cope.

In Indochina... The Japanese depose the Vichy French administration, forcibly disarm the French garrisons and establish the "Empire of Annam."

In Burma... The southward advance of the British 19th Indian Division reaches the outskirts of Mandalay. Other units of British 33rd Corps are advancing toward the city from the west. The fighting around Meiktila continues as the Japanese bring troops from the Mandalay area in a desperate attempt to free their lines of communications.

On the Western Front... Bonn and Godesberg are captured by units of US 1st Army while others continue to expand the bridgehead over the Rhine River, at Remagen, where Erpel is captured. Farther south, toward Koblenz, US 3rd Army units reach the Rhine at Andernach.


Saturday, March 10, 1945

On the Western Front... The last German forces are withdrawn from the pocket west of the Rhine between Wesel and Xanten. They have lost heavily to the British and Canadian attacks. The US 1st and 3rd Armies link up near Andernach completing the Allied hold on the west bank of the Rhine everywhere north of Koblenz. Field Marshal Kesselring arrives from Italy to take command of the German armies in the west.

On the Eastern Front... The German forces of Army Group South advancing around Lake Balaton encounter heavy resistance from Soviet air and ground forces of 3rd Ukrainian Front and make limited progress. German progress is also hindered by muddy conditions and a lack of fuel for the tanks and other vehicles.

In the Philippines... Most of the US 41st Infantry Division is landed at the southwest of Mindanao near Zamboanga. General Doe commands the troops and Admiral Barbey the naval support. On Luzon fighting continues south of Laguna de Bay where the US forces are still trying to break through to the east. Organized Japanese resistance on the island of Palawan comes to an end.

In Washington... Roosevelt informs Spanish representatives that no American aid will be forthcoming so long as the Franco dictatorship continues.


Sunday, March 11, 1945

In Britain... Some 70 German prisoners of war stage a mass escape from the POW camp at Bridgend, Glamorgan (South Wales). All are recaptured by March 17.

Over Germany... The RAF attacks Essen, dropping 4700 tons of bombs, nominally targeting the railroad system. All production at the Krupp Works is stopped. American bombers strike U-boat yards in northwest Germany.

In Burma... Mongmit is captured by a converging attack, from north (around Myitson) and west, by the brigades of the British 36th Division.

In the Philippines... There is more fighting in the Batangas area south of Manila and in the north toward Baguio.

In the Yap Islands... The American carrier, Randolph, is damaged in a Japanese Kamikaze attack on the Pacific Fleet base at Ulithi Atoll.


Monday, March 12, 1945

On the Western Front... There is heavy fighting in the Remagen bridgehead where elements of the German 7th Army are counterattacking. On the Eastern Front... Kustrin falls to forces of the Soviet 1st Belorussian Front, after a bitter struggle. Apart from a small area in the north near Stettin, the Soviets now hold the whole of the Oder-Neisse river line as far south as Gorlitz. To the north, forces of 2nd Belorussian Front continue to push forward toward the Gulf of Danzig. In the Polish Corridor, they capture Tczew. In Burma... Myotha, southwest of Mandalay, falls to the British 20th Indian Division.

Tuesday, March 13, 1945

On the Eastern Front... The German offensive to the north and south of Lake Balaton, in Hungary, begins to lose momentum.

In Burma... Maymo, to the east of Mandalay, is taken by the British 62nd Indian Brigade -- cutting the last rail line to Mandalay. Other units of the British 19th Indian Division are still engaged in Mandalay but most of the city has been capture in in a house-to-house fighting.


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he 22,000 pound "Grand Slam" first of the British Volcano bombs dropped on the Bielefeld viaduct

Wednesday, March 14, 1945

Over Germany... On a British air raid on the Bielfeld viaduct, the largest conventional bomb dropped during the war is used for the first time, the 22,000-pound "Grand Slam." On the Western Front... The US 12th Corps (part of US 3rd Army) launches attacks southeast over the Moselle River, near Koblenz, and US 20th Corps expands its attacks from between Trier and Saarburg. To the north, US 1st Army continues to expand the Remagen bridgehead despite German counterattacks. On the Eastern Front... Soviets forces capture Zvolen in western Czechoslovakia. Meanwhile, in Hungary, German Army Group South (Wohler) commits its remaining reserves to battle. The force is based on the 6th Panzer Division and consists of a mixed grouping of 200 tanks and assault guns which engage the Soviet 27th Army (Trofimenko).

Thursday, March 15, 1945

On the Western Front... The US 7th Army launches attacks in the area around Saarbrucken and Bitche in a joint effort with US 3rd Army to eliminate German forces from the area between the Saar, Moselle and Rhine rivers.

In Burma... Japanese forces intensive their efforts against Meiktila but fail to make significant progress against the British 17th Indian Division which is receiving supplies, reinforcements and ground attack support from the air.

In the Volcano Islands... On Iwo Jima, US 5th Amphibious Corps continues to engage the Japanese forces which are now confined a small area in the northwest of the island.

In the Kurile Islands... Admiral McCrea commands a squadron of American cruisers and destroyers in a bombardment of Matsuwa.


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Red Army T-34-85 tanks with infantry advance in Hungary

Friday, March 16, 1945

On the Eastern Front... The Soviet forces in Hungary, of 3rd Ukrainian Front, have regrouped following the German attacks, of Army Group South, around Lake Balaton and begin an offensive against the northern flank of the recently won German salient. The Hungarian 3rd Army takes the brunt of the first assaults and is soon in great difficulty.

In the Philippines... Part of the US 41st Division lands on Basilan Island. Here, as on other small islands, the US forces to subdue the Japanese garrison during the first few days of battle and then mostly to withdraw, leaving the mopping up to Filipino irregulars. Meanwhile, fighting continues on Luzon, with US 14th Corps engaged along the Japanese held Shimbu Line, southeast of Manila, while the US 1st Corps is engaged to the north on the Villa Verde track.

On the Western Front... Bitche is taken as US 7th Army continues its efforts to break through the Siegfried Line.


Saturday, March 17, 1945

On the Western Front... The Ludendorff Bridge over the Rhine River, at Remagen, collapses under the combined strain of bomb damage and heavy use but US Army engineers have built several other bridges nearby and the advance over the Rhine continues. To the south, the US 3rd Army offensive over the Moselle River takes Koblenz and Boppard on the left flank of the drive while farther forward, the Nahe River has been crossed.

In Burma... Units of the Chinese 6th Army take Hsipaw on the Burma Road, 50 miles southwest of Lashio. The Chinese 1st Army is still trying to advance along the road from Lashio to clear it of Japanese blocks.


Sunday, March 18, 1945

Over Germany... About 1300 American bombers, with some 700 escorting fighters, drop 3000 tons of bombs on Berlin, despite heavy anti-aircraft defenses, including numerous jet fighters. The US fleet loses 25 bombers and 5 fighters.

On the Western Front... Forces of US 3rd Army capture Bingen and Bad Kreuznach as the advance to the southwest continues. To the south, the progress of US 7th Army is beginning to accelerate, with most of its forward units having now crossed the German border.

On the Eastern Front... Troops of the Polish 1st Army, part of the Soviet 1st Belorussian Front, take Kolberg on the Pomeranian coast. Other Soviet forces are closing in around Gdynia and Danzig to the east and making further inroads into the German positions in East Prussia.

In the Philippines... There are American landings on Panay by 14,000 men of US 40th Infantry Division (General Brush) in the area near Iloilo. There is little initial opposition from the Japanese garrison.

In Burma... The British 2nd Division takes Ava on the bend of the Irrawaddy River only a few miles south of Mandalay. The heavy fighting in Mandalay and round Meiktila continues.

In Japan... US Task Force 58 (Admiral Mitscher) conducts air raids on airfields on Kyushu. There are Japanese Kamikaze attacks by about 10 planes which hit Intrepid, Yorktown and Enterprise but fail to disable any of the aircraft carriers. Admiral Spruance, command the US 5th Fleet, is present for the operations.


Monday, March 19, 1945

On the Eastern Front... There are renewed attacks by 3rd Belorussian Front against the German forces in East Prussia, especially in the area south of Konigsberg. The offensive lasts for a week until most of the German forces are eliminated or evacuated. About 38,000 people, including many wounded and refugees, are evacuated by the many ships involved.

On the Western Front... US 7th Army forces complete the capture of Saarlouis. Fighting in Saarbrucken and the towns to the east continues. US 3rd Army continues to advance east and southeast toward the Rhine River. Worms is reached, while to the left and right other units are near Mainz and Kaiserslautern.

From Berlin... Hitler orders a scorched earth policy to be put into effect on all fronts. Industrial plants, buildings and food are to be completely destroyed. Speer, who remains in charge of German industry, does his best to prevent this decree being carried out. In addition, many of the German army commanders in the field either ignore or circumvent the order.

In the Philippines... In their northward attacks along the west coast, US 1st Corps captures Bauang, south of San Fernando, on Luzon.

In Burma... Mogok is taken by the British 36th Division.

In Japan... US Task Force 58 (Admiral Mitscher) conducts air raids naval bases in the Inland Sea, with Kure specifically targeted. Six Japanese carriers and 3 battleships are reported damaged. There are Japanese Kamikaze attacks in response which badly damage the carriers Franklin and Wasp as well as hitting Enterprise and Essex. The 832 killed on board the USS Franklin is the heaviest casualty list ever recorded on a US ship. Admiral Spruance, command the US 5th Fleet, is present for the operations.


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British troops on the outskirts of Mandalay

Tuesday, March 20, 1945

In Burma... The British 19th Indian Division completes the capture of Mandalay. The Fort Dufferin position has been among the most stubbornly defended by Japanese forces.

In Japan... US Task Force 58 (Admiral Mitscher) is replenishing in preparation for operations around Okinawa. There are Japanese Kamikaze attacks that fail to achieve significant success. Admiral Spruance, command the US 5th Fleet, is present for the operations.

On the Eastern Front... Soviet forces around Stettin eliminate the German bridgehead over the Oder River, at Altdamm. In East Prussia, Braundsberg is captured.

From Berlin... General Heinrici, one of the best defensive tacticians in the German Army, is appointed to command Army Group Vistula in succession to Himmler. Heinrici is tasked with building up defenses along the Oder River in preparation for the expected Soviet offensive toward Berlin by 1st Belorussian Front (Zhukov). The German army group has already lost a large part of its original force in the fighting in Pomerania.

On the Western Front... Troops of US 7th Army capture Saarbrucken as well as Zweibrucken a little to the east. Forces of US 3rd Army capture Ludwigshafen and Kaiserslautern. Farther north, the US 1st Army continues fighting to expand the Remagen bridgehead which is now almost 30 miles wide and 19 miles deep.


Wednesday, March 21, 1945

In the Pacific... US Task Force 58 (Admiral Mitscher) is replenishing in preparation for operations around Okinawa. The Japanese 5th Air Force deploys the first Ohka piloted rocket bombs, slung under Misubishi bombers, against the American fleet. The flight of 18 aircraft is intercepted by carrier aircraft and all but one are shot down. Admiral Spruance, command the US 5th Fleet, is present for the operations.

On the Western Front... Most of US 3rd Army forces are engaged in clearing German resistance on the west bank of the Rhine River, to the north of Mannheim. Other elements of US 3rd and US 7th Army units are cooperating to take Annweiler, Neunkirchen, Neustadt and Homberg.

Over Occupied Denmark... British Mosquito bombers attack and destroy the German Gestapo headquarters in Copenhagen. Some of the bombs dropped land on a nearby school, killing 86 students and 17 teachers.

Over Germany... The US 8th Air Force targets Me262 fighter bases in western Germany.


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Soviet troops advance through the Polish Corridor

Thursday, March 22, 1945

On the Eastern Front... In Silesia, troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front achieve a breakthrough in attacks over the Oder River to the south of Oppeln as well as extending an existing bridgehead to the north of the town. In the Polish Corridor, the Soviet forces continue fighting to reach the Baltic between Gdynia and Danzig.

On the Western Front... The US 5th Division (an element of US 3rd Army) establishes a bridgehead over the Rhine River near Nierstein. Other US 3rd Army units are completing the mopping up west of the Rhine and preparing to make crossings of their own. In the north, British 21st Army Group (Montgomery) forces are also preparing to establish bridgeheads over the Rhine.

In Madrid... Don Juan, the pretender to the Spanish crown, demands the resignation of Franco and the restoration of the monarchy.

In Japan... The carriers of US Task Force 58 (Admiral Mitscher) are attacked by Japanese Kamikaze aircraft that fail to achieve significant success. However, it is noted that many of the attacks are made by manned rocket bombs. Admiral Spruance, commanding the US 5th Fleet, is present for the operations.


Friday, March 23, 1945

On the Western Front... The British 2nd Army and Canadian 1st Army mount a carefully prepared operation, code named Plunder, to cross the Rhine River in the area from Emmerich to just south of Wesel. There is massive artillery and air support. Two parachute divisions are also to be dropped to aid the crossing. The operation begins at 2100 hours and continues in the moonlight. Meanwhile, US 1st Army and the elements of US 3rd Army are extending their bridgeheads over the Rhine. In Burma... As well as capturing Mandalay, British 33rd Corps units attack southward. Wundwin is taken by British 20th Indian Division on one flank of this advance. In Italy... General Vietinghoff takes over command of German forces in Italy replacing Field Marshal Kesselring who has been withdrawn to the Western Front. Throughout March there have been small attacks by both US 2nd and 4th Corps of US 5th Army in the area around the Pistoia-Bologna road and to the west. In the Philippines... On Luzon, San Fernando is taken by US 1st Corps with help from Filipino guerrillas. In the Ryukyu Islands... US Task Force 58 (Admiral Mitscher) conduct air raids on Okinawa. The American force includes 14 carriers organized in three groups. Japanese submarines make unsuccessful attacks on the American ships.

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Members of the Cheshire Regiment who supported initial assault by British Commandos cross the Rhine River as part of Operation Plunder

Saturday, March 24, 1945

On the Western Front... Forces of the British 18th Airborne Corps land east of Wesel on the east bank of the Rhine River. By the end of the day, the Rhine crossing assault (Operation Plunder) of British 21st Army Group (Field Marshal Montgomery) has established a bridgehead more than five miles deep. The bombed-out town of Wesel is captured by troops of British 2nd Army which link up with the airborne detachments. The US 9th Army, also part of 21st Army Group, begins to cross the Rhine a little to the south of the British and Canadians forces.

On the Eastern Front... In Hungary, Szekesfehervar falls to the attacks of troops of 2nd Ukrainian Front. Meanwhile, the front line of the Soviet offensive in this area has already pushed farther to the west, taking Veszprem and Mor. The German and Hungarian forces of German Army Group South are retreating in disorder after sustaining heavy losses. To the northeast, in Poland, Soviet forces capture Spolot on the Baltic coast between Gdynia and Danzig.

In the Ryukyu Islands... US Task Force 58 (Admiral Mitscher) conduct air raids on Okinawa. The island is also bombarded by 5 battleships and 11 destroyers under the command of Admiral Lee. Japanese submarines make unsuccessful attacks on the American ships. Meanwhile, American scout planes sight a Japanese convoy south of Kyushu and subsequent attacks sink all 8 ships.

In Burma... The Allied Chinese New 1st Army links up with the Chinese 50th Division near Hsipaw, bringing the campaign in northern Burma to an end.


Sunday, March 25, 1945

In the Ryukyu Islands... US Task Force 58 (Admiral Mitscher) conduct air raids on Okinawa. US TF52 (Admiral Dungin), with 17 escort carriers begin air raids on the same targets. Meanwhile, there is an American bombardment of the island of Kerama Retto, to the west of Okinawa, as well. Japanese submarines make unsuccessful attacks on the American ships. Japanese Kamikaze attacks begin, under the direction of Admiral Ugaki, with 26 planes scoring 8 hits including one on the American battleship Nevada.

Over Formosa... American B-24 Liberator bombers of the US 5th Air Force destroy a hydroelectric power station on the island.

On the Eastern Front... In East Prussia, Keiligenbeil falls to units of the 3rd Belorussian Front. In Hungary, the Soviet offensive continues with the capture of Esztergom on the Danube River. Just north of the Danube, there are attacks by other elements of 3rd Ukrainian Front.

On the Western Front... During the day, the various crossings of British 21st Army Group are consolidated into a single bridgehead, 30 miles wide. Further south, US 1st Army units, principally from US 3rd Corps, begin to break out of the Remagen bridgehead. The US 8th Corps (part of US 3rd Army) begins to cross the Rhine River near Boppard. To the south, Darmstadt is taken by US 12th Corps units who crossed at Nierstein. Other units have advanced farther east to the Main near Hanau and Aschaffenburg.

Over Germany... Bombers of the US 8th Air Force bomb Hamburg with the nominal objective of striking the underground oil stores.


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On Iwa Jima, Marines eliminate the final Japanese resistance

Monday, March 26, 1945

In the Volcano Islands... On Iwo Jima, the few hundred Japanese troops remaining on the island mount a final suicide attack. They are wiped out by elements of the 5th Marine Division, which have been assigned the task of reducing the last pockets of resistance. About 200 of the Japanese garrison of 20,700 remain alive as prisoners of the marines of US 5th Amphibious Corps. American casualties have been almost 6,000 dead and 17,200 wounded.

In the Philippines... About 14,000 men commanded by General Arnold and drawn from the units of the Americal Division land just south of Cebu City on the island of Cebu. Admiral Berkey leads a bombardment group in support.

In the Ryukyu Islands... US naval forces (TF58 and TF52) continue air strikes on Okinawa. US Task Force 54 (Admiral Deyo), with 10 battleships, 10 cruisers and 33 destroyers, begin the main bombardment of Okinawa. The US 77th Infantry Division (General Bruce) lands on Kerama Retto and overruns the small Japanese garrison. The British Pacific Fleet (Admiral Rawlings), also designated Task Force 57, with 4 fleet carriers, 2 battleships, 5 cruisers and 11 destroyers, attacks airfields and other targets on Sakashima Gunto. Japanese submarines make unsuccessful attacks on the Allied ships.

On the Western Front... The US 7th Army begins to send units of US 15th and US 6th Corps across the Rhine River between Worms and Mannheim. To the north all the Allied armies continue to advance.


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A Soviet soldier carries his wounded comrade in the heavy fighting at the final German defensive lines in Poland

Tuesday, March 27, 1945

On the Eastern Front... In Poland, Soviet forces have penetrated to the final German defense lines at both Gdynia and Danzig. In Hungary and Czechoslovakia, the 2nd and 3rd Ukraine Fronts continue their attacks. The heaviest fighting is along the line of the Raba River where 6th SS Panzer Army suffers heavy casualties in counterattacks.

On the Western Front... In the northeast sector British 21st Army Group units are advancing along the line of the River Lippe with US 9th Army beginning to penetrate south into the Ruhr industrial area. US 3rd Army has now crossed the Main both west of Frankfurt, where Wiesbaden is attacked, and to the east.

Over Britain... The last German V2 rocket lands southeast of London at Orpington. The V2 campaign has killed over 2700 British civilians and injured 6500. As well as the 1115 launched at British targets, a further 2050 were aimed at Antwerp, Brussels and Liege.

In the Philippines... Cebu City is captured by the US landing force. As on the other islands, the Japanese are beginning to withdraw to inland strongholds where they will be confined and worn down by Filipino forces. Only on Luzon, Mindanao and Negros will the prolonged presence of US troops be necessary. In Manila Bay, an American force lands on Caballo Island, better known to the Americans as Fort Hughes, where they encounter strong Japanese resistance.

In the Ryukyu Islands... US naval forces, including TF58 and TF52, continue air strikes on Okinawa and TF54 continues bombarding the island. The British Pacific Fleet (Admiral Rawlings), also designated Task Force 57, again attacks airfields and other targets on Sakashima Gunto. A Japanese attack by explosive boats fails. Unsuccessful submarine attacks continue.


Wednesday, March 28, 1945

In Moscow... Stalin receives a personal telegram from General Eisenhower (Supreme Allied Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force) giving details of his order of battle and saying that he intends to send the main weight of his advance across southern Germany and Austria. The main thrust is to be toward Erfurt and Leipzig and a secondary effort is to go for Nuremberg, Regensburg and Linz.

On the Eastern Front... Gdynia falls to forces of the Soviet 2nd Belorussian Front. In Hungary, just south of the Danube River, Gyor is captured by troops from the 2nd Ukrainian Front.

On the Western Front... Marburg is taken by US 3rd Corps (part of US 1st Army) which has made a rapid advance from the Remagen bridgehead.

In Washington... The British protest the signal sent to Stalin, suggesting that decisions of such importance should not be taken by Eisenhower alone and that he also overstepping the authority in communicating directly with the Soviets. Both Churchill and the British Chiefs of Staff would prefer the advance to be directed on Berlin as had been the plan up to now for the political value of this move. However, President Roosevelt, weakened by his illness, leaves most military decisions to General Marshall and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Marshall confirms his support for Eisenhower in response to the British protest.

In Berlin... After a heated argument with Hitler, General Guderian is dismissed from his post as Chief of the Army General Staff. His replacement is General Krebs.

In Burma... The Japanese have failed in their efforts to retake Meiktila and while they have been involved in this area, British 33rd Corps has been making important gains to the north. General Kimura, commanding Japanese forces in Burma, decides that with his main line of communications cut, he must try to withdraw his troops to the east of Meiktila.

In the Ryukyu Islands... US naval forces, including TF58 and TF52, continue air strikes on Okinawa while TF54 continues bombarding the island. Japanese Kamikaze and submarine attacks continue.


Thursday, March 29, 1945

On the Western Front... Armor of the British 21st Army Group breaks out of the Wesel bridgehead. The US 7th Army captures Mannheim and Heidelberg.

Over Britain... The last of 2419 German V1 flying bombs reaches Greater London.

In the Philippines... There are American landings in the northwest of the island Negros near Bacolod. The landing force, part of the US 185th Infantry Regiment, encounters heavy Japanese resistance on the island.

In the Ryukyu Islands... US naval forces, including TF58 and TF52, continue air strikes on Okinawa while TF54 continues bombarding the island. Japanese Kamikaze and submarine attacks continue.


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Wreckage in the streets of Danzig after the fighting

Friday, March 30, 1945

On the Eastern Front... On the Baltic coast the final German positions in Danzig are overcome by Soviet forces. In Hungary, leading elements of Soviet 3rd Ukrainian Front, advancing beyond the Raba River enter Austria north of Koszeg. To the north of these attacks, 2nd Ukrainian Front is approaching Bratislava in Slovakia.

On the Western Front... The US 1st Army advances north out of its salient around Marburg and reaches and crosses the Eder River. US 3rd Army is attempting to strike east and north toward Gotha and Kassel.

In Burma... Kyaukse is taken by British 20th Indian Division. British forces hold most of the important positions on the road between Mandalay and Meiktila. Japanese forces in central Burma have been brought to battle and defeated exactly as General Slim, commanding British 14th Army, has hoped. The Japanese have not been able to slip away largely intact as they intended, and instead have been compelled to fight the main action with improvised forces against the carefully organized British defense around Meiktila.

Over Germany.... In American air raids on the northern ports, the German cruiser Koln and 14 U-boats are sunk.

In the Ryukyu Islands... US naval forces, including TF58 and TF52, continue air strikes on Okinawa while TF54 continues bombarding the island. A Japanese Kamikaze plane badly damages the cruiser USS Indianapolis. Unsuccessful submarine attacks continue.


Image of War
Chinese 6th Army troops patrol in Burma

Saturday, March 31, 1945

In Burma... Northeast of Mandalay, the British 36th Division and units of the Chinese 6th Army take Kyaukme. The Burma Road from Mandalay to Lashio has been cleared of Japanese forces.

In the Ryukyu Islands... US naval forces, including Task Force 58 and TF52, continue air strikes on Okinawa while TF54 continues bombarding the island. Japanese Kamikaze and submarine attacks continue.

On the Western Front... Forces of French 1st Army begin to cross the Rhine River near Speyer. To the north, all the Allied armies continue to advance.

On the Eastern Front... Ratibor on the upper Danube is taken by forces of the Soviet 1st Ukrainian Front.

Copyright © 2018 Ralph Zuljan