Chronology of World War II
Wednesday, September 1, 1943
In the Central Pacific... US forces land on Baker Island and build an air strip within a week. This action is to support the campaign in the Gilbert Islands.
In the Solomon Islands... On Vella Lavella the US force reaches Orete Cove.
On the Eastern Front... Soviet forces capture Dorogobuzh, halfway between Vyazma and Smolensk. To the south, the Red Army continues to advance beyond Taganrog.
Thursday, September 2, 1943
On the Eastern Front... The Soviets announce gains in the Donets basin. Lisichansk, Kommunarsk, among other centers have been captured. The forces of the Bryansk Front take Glushkovo and Sumy.
In Italy... British battleships (Valiant and Warspite) bombard Italian defenses around Reggio.
Friday, September 3, 1943
In Italy... At dawn units of the British 8th Corps, part of Montgomery's 8th Army, land on the Italian mainland. The landings, north of Reggio, meet almost no resistance. Reggio, Catona and San Giovanni are all captured by the end of the day. In addition, Allied commandos occupy Melito and Bagnara.
In Sicily... Italian General Castellano signs a formal surrender agreement with the Allies in Cassibili. No announcement is made in order to prevent any German occupation of Italy.
On the Eastern Front... Soviet forces capture Putivl, northeast of Konotop. They have cut the Bryansk-Konotop railroad. To the south, in the Donets basin, Ilovask is occupied.
Saturday, September 4, 1943
In New Guinea... Elements of the Australian 9th Division (20th and 26th Brigades) land on Huon Gulf, east of Lae. Naval support includes 10 US destroyers under Admiral Barbey.
In the Solomon Islands... On Arundel, American forces begin to advance out of their beachhead after a quiet period of consolidation.
Sunday, September 5, 1943
In New Guinea... The US 503rd Parachute Regiment lands at Nadzab in the Markham Valley, to the rear of Lae. They link up with Australian forces from Tsili Tsili. The Australian 7th Division is to be flown in.
On the Eastern Front... Soviet offensives in the area of Bryansk and the Donets basin make progress. Artemovsk, in the south, Khutov and Mikhailovsky, farther north, are all captured.
Monday, September 6, 1943
In the Arctic... The German battleship Tirpitz and battle cruiser Scharnhorst depart on a bombardment sortie to Spitzbergen (September 6-9).
In Italy... The British 8th Army advances slowly, capturing Palmi and Delianuova. There is little German resistance but demolitions cause delays.
On the Eastern Front... Soviet forces capture Makeyevka, west of Stalino, Kromatorsk and Slavyansk as well as the railroad junction town of Konotop.
In the Solomon Islands... On Arundel the Japanese begin to resist American attempts to advance.
In New Guinea... Elements of the Australian 9th Division advance west, from Huon Gulf, toward Lae, meeting strong Japanese resistance.
Tuesday, September 7, 1943
On the Eastern Front... Soviet forces take Baturin, east of Konotop, and Zvenkov, near Kharkov. German forces begin to evacuate Stalino.
In Italy... The British 8th Army captures Bova Marina.
Wednesday, September 8, 1943
In Rome... Italian General Badoglio publicly announces the Italian surrender. The Italian Fleet (3 battleships, 6 cruisers, 9 destroyers) leaves port, from La Spezia and Genoa, to surrender to the Allies.
In Italy... The British 8th Army captures Locri and takes Pizzo in an amphibious operation.
On the Eastern Front... Soviet forces occupy Stalino as well as Yasinovataya nearby and Krasnoarmeisk.
In the Solomon Islands... American and Japanese reinforcements arrive on Arundel. Fighting continues.
In New Guinea... Australian forces advancing on Lae from the east capture Saingaua but are held by Japanese resistance at Busu River. The Japanese begin to withdraw from Salamaua under Australian pressure. For US destroyers shell Lae.
Thursday, September 9, 1943
In Italy... Allied forces land at Salerno. The US 5th Army (General Clark) lands at on beaches to the south of Salerno. His forces include the British 10th Corps (General McCreery) -- the Northern Assault force, and US 6th Corps (General Dawley) -- the Southern Assault Force. Naval support for the operation is under British Admiral Cunningham and a covering force (4 battleships and 2 carriers) under Admiral Willis, a support group (5 small carriers) under Admiral Vian and Admiral Hewitt commands the landing ships. There is some resistance to the landings. To the north of the main landing, US Rangers and British Commandos land at Maiori and Vietri to secure mountain passes. In addition, the British 1st Airborne Division comes ashore at Taranto and seizes the port. To the south, the British 8th Army continues a slow advance. German forces near Rome engage the Italian garrison. The Italian government is forced to flee, leaving Rome under German occupation.
In the Mediterranean... The Italian battleship Roma is sunk by a German glider bomb; similar attacks damage other Italian ships attempting to reach Allied ports.
On the Eastern Front... Soviet forces capture Bakhmach, west of Konotop, after a sharp battle. In the Caucasus, in the Kuban Peninsula, the German 17th Army begins to pull back from its forward positions.
In New Guinea... Australian forces achieve minor bridgeheads over the Busu River.
Friday, September 10, 1943
On the Eastern Front... Soviet forces conduct a successful amphibious assault on Mariupol, on the coast of the Sea of Azov. In the Caucasus, a similar landing in the Kuban Peninsula at Novorossiysk meets heavy resistance. In the Donets basin, Soviet forces capture Barvenkovo, Volnovakha and Chaplino.
In Italy... On the Salerno beachhead, the forces of the American 6th Corps advance inland. The forces of the British 10th Corps occupy Montecorvino airfield and Battipaglia. German counterattacks by local divisional forces recapture the British gains before nightfall. German forces south of the beachhead, including those engaging the British 8th Army, withdraw northward to reinforce the forces containing the Allied beachhead at Salerno. Rearguard forces continue resisting Montgomery's forces.
In the Mediterranean... The Italian fleet, including 5 battleships, arrives in Malta to surrender. Many smaller Italian vessels reach other Allied ports. The island of Castelrosso, in the Aegean Sea, is occupied by British troops. Two British officers are parachuted on to the island of Rhodes to contact the Italian garrison commander, General Campione, about surrendering. Meanwhile, the German garrison on Sardinia begins evacuating to Corsica in transit to the Italian mainland. This operation is completed by September 30th.
In New Guinea... The Australian 7th Division begins advancing from its positions at Nadzab toward Lae. Patrols reach Heath's Plantation.
In the Solomon Islands... There is heavy fighting on Arundel island. More American reinforcements are sent to the island.
Saturday, September 11, 1943
In Italy... On the Salerno beachhead, British and American forces of the US 5th Army fail to make significant progress against German resistance. German aircraft bomb the beachhead throughout the day despite the presence of Allied air forces. The cruiser Savannah is damaged by a German glider bomb. Meanwhile, troops of the British 1st Airborne Division capture Brindisi without opposition. To the south, the British 8th Army takes Catanzaro and advances toward Crotone.
In the Mediterranean... The Italian garrison on Rhodes surrenders to German forces on the island.
In the Solomon Islands... The US 27th Infantry Regiment lands on Arundel, reinforcing American forces.
In New Guinea... The Japanese garrison of Salamaua withdraws. Australian forces capture the airfield and enter the town.
Sunday, September 12, 1943
In Italy... On the Salerno beachhead, German forces mount their first major counterattack. Forces of the British 5th Corps are pushed out of Battipaglia, again. To the north of the beachhead, Allied forces holding the Molina Pass are under pressure from the German "Hermann Goring" Panzer Division. To the south, the British 8th Army captures Crotone and continues to make progress. Meanwhile, in a daring raid by a German parachute detachment led by Otto Skorzeny, Mussolini is freed from Gran Sasso in the Abruzzi Mountains and flown to Germany.
On the Eastern Front... Soviet forces near Bryansk renew their attack. In the Donets basin Soviet forces capture Stary Kermenchik. In the Caucasus, the Germans begin evacuating the 17th Army from the Kuban Peninsula.
In New Guinea... Troops of the Australian 5th Division capture Salamaua. To the north, the Japanese forces at Lae are being isolated.
Monday, September 13, 1943
In Beijing... Chiang Kai-shek becomes president.
In Italy... On the Salerno beachhead, the German counterattack against the British 10th Corps sector is expanded to include that of the American 6th Corps. Elements of the German 16th Panzer and 29th Panzergrenadier Divisions capture American-held Persano and penetrate the American line in several places. The possibility of isolating the British and American Corps arises as the Germans reach to within one mile of the beaches. Allied naval gunfire prevents further German penetrations. The US 6th Corps headquarters makes plans for evacuation. Elements of the US 82nd Airborne Division (General Ridgeway) are parachuted on to the beaches to stiffen the defenses. To the south, the British 8th Army captures Cosenza in its continued advance.
In the Solomon Islands... A American battalion lands on Sagekarasa.
In Occupied Greece... At Cephalonia, the Italian "Acqui" Division resists German forces seeking to disarm it.
Tuesday, September 14, 1943
On the Eastern Front... The Germans announce the evacuation of Bryansk although fighting there continues. In the Caucasus, there is heavy fighting over the town of Novorossiysk in the Kuban Peninsula.
In Italy... On the Salerno beachhead fighting continues. Allied air and naval support contribute to preventing a German breakthrough. To the south, the British 8th Army reaches Bari in the east and beyond Belvedere in the west.
In the Mediterranean... Free French contingents land on the island of Corsica, harassing the German garrison that is evacuating.
In the Solomon Islands... On Vella Lavella, American and New Zealand forces are advancing. Reinforcements are sent to the US battalion on Sagekarasa because of Japanese attacks.
In Occupied Greece... At Cephalonia, the Italian "Acqui" Division continues to resist German forces.
Wednesday, September 15, 1943
In Italy... On the Salerno beachhead there is a lull in the fighting. German forces are regrouping. They have assembled the equivalent of 4 divisions with as many as 100 tanks. The US 5th Army now has 7 Allied divisions and about 200 tanks ashore. In a morning inspection of the beachhead, Alexander decides to replace General Dawley, commanding the US 6th Corps. To the south, the British 8th Army is advancing. A group of war correspondents manages to drive from beyond the British 8th Army frontline and makes contact with US 5th Army on the Salerno beachhead. Meanwhile the island of Procida in Naples Bay is captured by Allied forces.
In Occupied Italy... Mussolini proclaims the resumption of his authority.
In New Guinea... Australian forces cross the Busu River in force and build bridges. The front is now less than 2 miles from Lae.
In the Mediterranean... In the Aegean Sea, the island of Cos is occupied by British paratroops and a squadron of Spitfires is flown in.
On the Eastern Front... Soviet General Rokossovsky's forces capture Nezhin, on the rail line from Konotop to Kiev. North of Bryansk, German forces are pushed out Dyatkovo.
In Occupied Greece... At Cephalonia, the Italian "Acqui" Division resists German forces seeking to disarm it.
Thursday, September 16, 1943
In Italy... On the Salerno beachhead, German General von Vietinghoff orders a renewed attack on the positions of the British 10th Corps between Salerno and Battipaglia. The attack fails. By midday, Field Marshal Kesselring, commanding the German forces in Italy, authorizes a withdrawal to the Volturno line. During the day, patrols of the US 5th Army and the British 8th Army make contact. In the afternoon the British battleship Warspite is seriously damaged by two German glider bombs.
In the Mediterranean... In the Aegean Sea, British forces occupy the islands of Leros and Samos.
On the Eastern Front... Soviet forces capture Novgorod Seversky and Romny to the north and south of Konotop. Soviet forces continue to advance toward Kiev. Soviet forces also capture the railroad junction of Lozovaya, northeast of Pavlograd. In the Caucasus, Soviet forces occupy Novorossiysk on the Kuban Peninsula.
In New Guinea... In converging attacks, the Australian 7th and 9th Divisions capture Lae. Many of the Japanese garrison escape into the jungle, heading north to the Huon Peninsula. The Japanese lose many aircraft in a raid on Wewak.
In Occupied Greece... At Cephalonia, the Italian "Acqui" Division resists German forces seeking to disarm it.
Friday, September 17, 1943
In Occupied Yugoslavia... A senior British liaison mission arrives and meets with Tito. Brigadier Fitzroy Maclean leads the mission, as Churchill's personal representative. The mission aims to confirm reports in May and June suggesting the Tito is doing more than Mihajlovic to fight the German occupation.
On the Eastern Front... Soviet forces complete the capture of Bryansk. Soviet forces are advancing across the Desna River on a broad front. To the south, on the Sea of Azov, the town of Berdyansk is also seized by Soviet forces.
In Italy... The US 5th Army begins to advance out of its beachhead. German forces attack Altavilla and Battipaglia in rearguard action to cover their withdrawal to the Volturno Line.
In Occupied Greece... At Cephalonia, the Italian "Acqui" Division resists German forces seeking to disarm it.
Over the Gilbert Islands... American land-based Liberator bombers attack the island of Tarawa.
Saturday, September 18, 1943
On the Solomon Islands... Fighting continues on Arundel. New Zealand General Barrowclough takes command of Allied forces on Vella Lavella.
In the Mediterranean... In the Aegean Sea, British forces occupy the islands of Simi, Stampalia and Icaria. German aircraft attack the Antimachia airfield on the British occupied island of Cos.
On the Eastern Front... Soviet forces capture Priluki, Lubny and Romodan in their advance toward Kiev. Farther south, Soviet forces take Pavlograd, Krasnograd, Pologi and Nogaysk in advances.
In Occupied Greece... At Cephalonia, the Italian "Acqui" Division resists German forces seeking to disarm it.
Over the Gilbert Islands... American planes from the carriers Lexington, Princeton and Belleau Wood attack the island of Tarawa. Admiral Pownall commands the carrier force.
Sunday, September 19, 1943
Over the Gilbert Islands... American land-based Liberator bombers attack the island of Tarawa.
On the Eastern Front... Northeast of Smolensk, Soviet forces capture Yartsevo and Dukovschina.
In Italy... A British 8th Army unit (5th Division) takes Auletta.
In Occupied Greece... At Cephalonia, the Italian "Acqui" Division resists German forces seeking to disarm it.
Monday, September 20, 1943
In the Solomon Islands... American forces on Sagekarasa discover that the Japanese forces have been evacuated.
In New Guinea... Australian forces, advancing up the Markham Valley, seize Kaiapit from the Japanese defenders.
In Washington... In an ongoing debate over drafting fathers of families, General Marshal and Admiral King tell a Senate Committee hearing that failure to draft such persons will probably prolong the war.
On the Eastern Front... Yeremenko's troops capture Velizh, northwest of Smolensk as well as Kholm, farther north.
In Italy... A British 8th Army unit (Canadian 1st Division) captures Potenza after fighting a German rearguard. General Lucas replaces General Dawley in command of the US 6th Corps (part of the US 5th Army).
In Occupied Greece... At Cephalonia, the Italian "Acqui" Division resists German forces seeking to disarm it.
Tuesday, September 21, 1943
On the Eastern Front... Soviet forces capture Demidov, north of Smolensk. Forces of the Soviet Central Front take Chernigov and Sinelnikovo. Soviet forces also take Dnepropetrovsk, further east. In Italy... The US 5th Army reorients to the left as the British 8th Army moves to east side of the front. German forces are withdrawing all along the front with the exception of the passes leading to Naples. In the Mediterranean... Several transports engaged in the evacuation of the German garrison on the island of Corsica are sunk by Allied air and submarine attacks. In Occupied Greece... At Cephalonia, the Italian "Acqui" Division resists German forces seeking to disarm it. In the Solomon Islands... American forces on Arundel discover that the Japanese forces have been evacuated.
Wednesday, September 22, 1943
In the Occupied Norway... The German battleship Tirpitz, in Altenfiord, is attacked by a force of British midget submarines. Two of the six midget submarines succeed in attaching charges to the ship. Repairs to the battleship will take until March 1944 to complete.
On the Eastern Front... Soviet forces capture Anapa in the Kuban Peninsula (the Caucasus). North of Dnepropetrovsk, Soviet forces take Novomoskovosk. Heavy fighting is reported at Poltava as German forces begin to a withdrawal.
In Italy... The British 8th Army is reinforced by the 78th Division and the 8th Indian Division. The reinforcements land at Bari and Brindisi. The US 5th Army is preparing to advance. The British 10th Corps is to clear a route to Naples and US 6th Corps will initially move toward Benevento.
In New Guinea... The Australian 20th Brigade lands at Katika, north of Finschafen. The landing is supported by a naval bombardment (Admiral Barbey is in command) and cover is provided by an air group.
In Occupied Greece... At Cephalonia, the Italian "Acqui" Division surrenders to German forces seeking to disarm it. About 1500 Italians have died in the fighting and another 5000 are killed now and the remainder are sent to labor camps.
Thursday, September 23, 1943
On the Eastern Front... Soviet forces capture Poltava. To the north, Soviet forces enter Uneacha east of Klintsy, between Bryansk and Gomel.
In the Mediterranean... On Corsica, Free French forces occupy Bonifaccio. They now control more than one half the island. The German garrison continues to be evacuated.
In Italy... The British 10th Corps (part of the US 5th Army) begins attacks to clear the passes to Naples. The German defenders amount to little more than a regiment.
In Occupied Italy... Mussolini announces the foundation of the Italian Social Republic. Parts of northern Italy, are given up to German administration.
In New Guinea... The Australian 20th Brigade advances south toward Fischafen and reaches Japanese positions along the Bumi River.
Friday, September 24, 1943
In New Guinea... The Australian 20th Brigade breaks through the Japanese defenses along the Bumi River. Finschhafen airfield is captured. Offshore, Japanese aircraft attack Allied shipping convoys with little effect.
On the Eastern Front... Soviet forces capture Borispol, east of Kiev. Farther north, German Army Group Center begins to evacuate Smolensk and Roslavl under pressure from Soviet forces.
Saturday, September 25, 1943
On the Eastern Front... Soviet forces capture Smolensk and Roslavl. To the south, German forces are retreating behind the Dniepr River under pressure from Soviet forces.
In London... There is a Cabinet shuffle. Atlee becomes Lord President of the Council, Sir John Anderson Chancellor, Lord Cranbourne Dominions Secretary and Lord Beaverbrook Lord Privy Seal.
In Algiers... A Lend-Lease agreement is signed by American and Free French representatives.
In the Solomon Islands... The Japanese begin to evacuate the garrison on the island of Kolombangara.
Sunday, September 26, 1943
In New Guinea... Japanese forces launch unsuccessful counterattacks against the Australian brigade around Finschafen.
In the Mediterranean... On the island of Corsica, Free French forces occupy Ghisonaccia airfield. The German garrison continues evacuating.
In Italy... The advance of the British 10th Corps (part of US 5th Army) advances without resistance. The German rearguard has withdrawn, because all German forces inland have successfully been pulled back. To the east, the 13th Corps (part of the British 8th Army) enters Canosa on the Ofanto River.
Monday, September 27, 1943
In Italy... Elements of the British 8th Army enter Foggia and occupy the airfields without a fight. Melfi is captured by Canadian units attached to the British 8th Army.
In the Mediterranean... German forces take control of the island of Corfu after eliminating the Italian garrison.
On the Eastern Front... Red Army forces enter the suburbs of Dnepropetrovsk. In the Caucasus, Temryuk, the last port held by the German 17th Army falls to Soviet forces as the evacuation of the 17th Army continues.
In New Guinea... There are Allied air attack on Japanese airfields around Wewak.
In Occupied Italy... There is a popular uprising begins in Naples, fighing the German occupation.
Tuesday, September 28, 1943
In Italy... The British 10th Corps (part of the US 5th Army) breaks into the plain of Naples at Nocera and advances. The US 6th Corps (also part of 5th Army) advances toward Avellino and has captured Teora.
In Occupied Italy... The uprising in Naples continues.
In New Guinea... There are Allied air attack on Japanese airfields around Wewak.
Wednesday, September 29, 1943
In Italy... Elements the US 5th Army continue to advance. Elements of the US 6th Corps attack Avellino. The British 10th Corps reaches Pompeii.
In Malta... General Eisenhower and Marshal Badoglio sign the armistice agreement aboard the HMS Nelson in Malta harbor.
On the Eastern Front... Soviet forces capture Kremenchug. Farther north, Rudnya on the Smolensk-Vitebsk railroad, is also taken by Soviet forces.
In Occupied Italy... The uprising in Naples continues.
Thursday, September 30, 1943
In Italy... The US 5th Army continues to advance. Elements of the British 10th Corps reach the outskirts of Naples as elements of US 6th Corps capture Avellino.
In Occupied Italy... The last of the German garrison evacuated from Corsica arrive on the mainland. The uprising in Naples ends as Allied forces approach. There have been heavy losses to civilians involved.
On the Eastern Front... The Soviets capture Krichev on the Sozh River.
Copyright © 2018 Ralph Zuljan