February 1944

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29

  Axis Feb-44 United Nations
Vichy France Thailand Romania Germany Japan Total Class Total USAGreat Britain Free France Soviet UnionCanada AustraliaNew Zealand Poland
0 0 0 2 8 10 Battleship 36 20 11 2 2 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 3 3 Fleet Carrier 9 6 3 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 4 4 Light Carrier 8 6 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 1 11 12 Heavy Cruiser 32 16 5 3 6 0 2 0 0
1 0 0 3 10 13 Light Cruiser 68 24 27 5 1 0 2 2 1
0 8 7 67 76 158 Destroyer 541 297 128 16 44 21 10 0 4
0 4 2 356 61 423 Submarine 483 175 103 18 161 0 0 0 2
0 0 0 0 4 4 Escort Carrier 71 33 37 0 0 1 0 0 0
3 0 3 18 32 53 Escorts 759 213 386 17 12 102 4 0 2
0 3 0 2 0 5 Other 17 0 10 2 0 0 2 1 0

 

United Nations   Neutral
ClassNetherlands NorwayGreece Brazil Yugoslavia Columbia Italy Argentina ChilePeru DenmarkSweden Portugal SpainTurkey
Battleship 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 1
Fleet Carrier 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Light Carrier 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Heavy Cruiser 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Light Cruiser 2 2 0 2 0 0 7 1 0 0 0 1 0 5 0
Destroyer 2 3 3 9 2 2 15 15 8 2 0 22 5 16 6
Submarine 14 1 4 4 1 0 29 3 9 4 0 24 3 5 9
Escort Carrier 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Escorts 2 6 9 5 1 0 14 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
Other 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 6 3 0 0 7 0 0 2

 

Tuesday 1st February 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
USA Washington BattleshipDamaged Damaged in collision with American warship Indiana, whilst manoeuvring in darkness, she was refuelling destroyers when Indiana cut across her path, Washington's bow was crushed up to 60' 01/02/1944. Temporary repair at Majuro reinforcing damaged bow 11/02/1944
USA Indiana BattleshipDamaged Damaged in collision with American warship Washington, whilst manoeuvring in darkness, she cut across the path ofWashington whilst she was refuelling destroyers, Indiana was damaged on her starboard side, and 7 dead 01/02/1944. Temporary repair at Majuro
Great Britain Dido Light CruiserDamaged Damaged by collision with American Tank Landing Ship, in Naples Bay, during Operation Shingle 01/02/1944
Germany TA 14 DestroyerLost Damaged by rocket firing British aircraft at Samos 01/02/1944. Bombed whilst under repair by American aircraft at Salamis 15/09/1944
Japan Umikaze DestroyerLost Torpedoed by American submarine Guardfish, S of Truk, in the Pacific Ocean, the ship slowly capsized & sank, 50 dead, 215 survivors 07.10N 151.43E 01/02/1944
USA Anderson DestroyerDamaged Damaged when she struck the uncharted pinnacle of rock off Kwajalein Atoll, during the Battle of Kwajalein. She was transferring her wounded from the previous day's shelling when she struck the rock on 01/02/1944. She had to be towed to Pearl Harbor
Japan Ro-39 SubmarineLost Depth charged by American warship Walker, off Wotje, New Guinea. The boat was detected by radar & attacked on the surface, she crashed and dived to escape but was sunk by a single depth charge attack, 70 dead, 0 survivors 09.24N 170.32E 01/02/1944
Japan I-171 SubmarineLost Depth charged by American warships Guest & Hudson, off Buka, in the Solomon Islands, 91 dead, 0 survivors 05.37S 154.14E 01/02/1944
 
Military

The Eastern Front: The Soviets began the Kingisepp–Gdov Offensive. The Soviet 2nd Shock Army captured Kingisepp.

The Western Front: The French Forces of the Interior (FFI) is created, unifying all French Resistance movements.

Wednesday 2nd February 1944
Daily Report
Military

The Italian Campaign: The Battle of Cisterna ends in German victory. German forces counterattacked at Anzio and effectively sealed the beachhead.

The Eastern Front: The Battle of Narva began on the Eastern Front. The Battle for Narva Bridgehead began that day.

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 540+ aircraft attack on Wilhelmshaven, Germany.

Thursday 3rd February 1944
Daily Report
Naval

The Pacific Campaign: The Battle of Kwajalein ends in United States victory.

Friday 4th February 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
Germany U-854 SubmarineLost Mined in the Baltic Sea, N of Swinemunde, 51 dead, 7 survivors 04/02/1944
Japan I-175 SubmarineLost Depth charged by American warship Charrette, E of Wotje Atoll, in the Pacific Ocean. Four underwater explosions were heard, signalled her sinking, 100 dead, 0 survivors 06.48N 168.08E 04/02/1944
Japan Tachikaze Destroyer Escort Damaged Damaged when run aground on Kuop Atoll, in Truk Lagoon, the ship remained stranded unable to be worked free 04/02/1944
 
Military

The Eastern Front:The Soviet forces capture Gdov.

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 430+ aircraft attack on Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Saturday 5th February 1944
Daily Report
Military

The Burma Campaign: The Battle of the Admin Box began in the Burma Campaign.

The Eastern Front: The Soviet forces capture Lutsk and Rovno.

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 450+ aircraft attack on various aircraft factories in Chateauroux, Avord, Tours, Chateaudum, Orleans, and Villacoublay, and aircraft works at Villacoublay, France.

Allied Bomber Offensive: Operation Crossbow, attack on V-Weapon sites: Heavy day-time American air raid, 180+ aircraft attack on northern France.

Sunday 6th February 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
Germany U-177 SubmarineLost Depth charged by American Liberator aircraft in the South Atlantic, 640 miles WSW of Ascension Island, 50 dead, 15 survivors captured 10.35S 23.15W 06/02/1944
 
Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time Soviet air raid, 200+ aircraft attack on Helsinki, Finland.

Allied Bomber Offensive: Operation Crossbow, attack on V-Weapon sites: Heavy day-time American air raid, 200+ aircraft attack on Sanint-Andre-de-L'Eure, Evreux/Fauville, Chateaudun, and Caen/Carpiquet, and rocket-launching installation at Eclimeux in northern France.

Monday 7th February 1944
Daily Report
Politics

American President Roosevelt asks Soviet Premier Stalin not to allow the Polish border issue to undermine future international cooperation. Roosevelt proposed that the Polish Prime Minister accept the desired territorial changes and then be allowed to alter the makeup of his government without any evidence of foreign pressure.

With Soviet forces approaching Estonia's borders, Estonian Prime Minister Jüri Uluots broadcast a speech over the radio calling on the Estonian people to fight alongside the Germans against the bigger perceived threat to Estonian freedom.

Tuesday 8th February 1944
Daily Report
Naval

The Italian Campaign: The German prisoner transport ship Petrella was torpedoed by the British submarine Sportsman off Crete with the loss of 2,670 Italian POWs aboard.

The Pacific Campaign: The Japanese troopship Lima Maru was torpedoed and sunk southeast of the Gotō Islands by the American submarine Snook. The ship sank quickly and as many as 2,765 lives were lost.

Country Vessel Type Report Description
Germany U-762 Submarine Lost Depth charged by British warships Woodpecker & Wild Goose, in the North Atlantic, WSW of Bantry Bay, 51 dead, 0 survivors 49.02N 16.58W 08/02/1944
 
Politics

The Brazzaville Conference in the capital of French Equatorial Africa is concluded. This meeting of prominent Free French leaders. The conference recommended political, social and economic reforms in post-war France, and led to an agreement called the Brazzaville Declaration.

Wednesday 9th February 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
Great Britain Loyal DestroyerDamaged Damaged by gunfire from a German shore battery, off Anzio during Operation Shingle. The ship was providing gunfire support for the landing when she was hit by 88 mm shell fire in her Boiler Room on 09/02/1944. Towed to Taranto for repair arriving 16/02/1944
Germany U-734 SubmarineLost Depth charged by British warships Starling & Wild Goose, in the North Atlantic, SW of Ireland. During the attack boat launched a GNAT acoustic homing torpedo against Starling. As the torpedo approached the stern of Starling, the captain ordered the dropping of depth charges into the path of the torpedo & detonated it, 49 dead, 0 survivors 49.43N 16.23W 09/02/1944
Germany U-238 SubmarineLost Depth charged by British warships Starling, Magpie & Kite in the North Atlantic, SW of Ireland, 50 dead, 0 survivors 49.44N 16.07W 09/02/1944
 
Politics

Church of England Bishop of Chichester George Bell started a debate in the House of Lords over the morality of the bombing of European cities.

Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: Night-time attack on Gnome et Rhone aero-engine factory at Limoges, France. British RAF 617 Squadron attacked with 12 aircraft. The factory was destroyed without a single French worker being injured after they were alerted by repeated low-level passes by the lead Lancaster bomber flown by Group Captain Leonard Cheshire.

Allied Bomber Offensive: Operation Crossbow, attack on V-Weapon sites: Heavy day-time American air raid, 130+ aircraft attack on targets at Tergnier, in northern France.

Thursday 10th February 1944
Daily Report
Naval

The Pacific Campaign: The landing by American & Australian forces at Saidor, Papua New Guinea, codenamed Operation Michaelmas takes place

Country Vessel Type Report Description
Germany U-666 SubmarineLost Missing no explanation, in the North Atlantic, 51 dead, 0 survivors 10/02/1944
Germany U-290 SubmarineDamaged Damaged in collision with German submarine U-958, during a training exercise, in the Baltic Sea between Hela & Gotland, damaging conning tower 10/02/1944
Japan Minekaze Destroyer EscortLost Torpedoed by American submarine Pogy, 85 miles off the E coast of Taiwan, in the Philippine Sea 23.12N 121.30E 10/02/1944
 
Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: Operation Crossbow, attack on V-Weapon sites: Heavy day-time American air raid, 110+ aircraft attack on sites in coastal France, A/Fs at Poix and Beauvais/Tille, bridge at Le Crotoy, and coastal battery N of Conch

Friday 11th February 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
Germany U-545 SubmarineLost Scuttled after being crippled by 4 depth charges from British Wellington aircraft, in the North Atlantic, N of Rockall, 1 dead, 56 survived, 58.17N 13.22W 10/02/1944. During this attack, a U-boat shot down a Canadian Wellington aircraft. U-545 survivors were picked up by U-714.
Germany U-283 SubmarineLost Depth charged by Canadian Leigh Light Wellington aircraft, the boat was illuminated on the surface & attacked, WSW of the Faeroe Islands, 49 dead, 0 survivors 60.45N 12.50W 11/02/1944
Germany U-424 SubmarineLost Depth charges & hedgehog bombs by British warships Wild Goose & Woodpecker in the North Atlantic, SW of Ireland, 50 dead, 0 survivors 50.00N 18.14W 11/02/1944
Japan Ro-110 SubmarineLost Depth charged by Indian warship Jumna and Australian warships Ipswich & Launceston, in the Bay of Bengal. The boat had already attacked a British convoy when she was detected submerged. After repeated attacks a large amount of oil appeared on the surface, followed by several underwater explosions, 47 dead, 0 survivors 17.25N 83.21E 11/02/1944
 
Military

The Eastern Front: The Soviet forces capture Shepetovka

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 130+ aircraft attack on Ludwigshafen, Germany.

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 180+ aircraft attack on Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Saturday 12th February 1944
Daily Report
Naval

The Italian Campaign: German steamboat Oria sinks in a storm sailing from Rhodes to Piraeus with over 4,000 Italian prisoners of war aboard. It was one of the worst disasters of all time in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Burma Campaign: The British troop ship Khedive Ismail was torpedoed and sunk in the Indian Ocean with the loss of 1,297 people by Japanese submarine I-27

Country Vessel Type Report Description
Great Britain Paladin DestroyerDamaged Damaged in an abortive attempt to ram Japanese submarine I-27, near Addu Atoll, in the Indian Ocean. Hydroplanes of the boat caused an 80' gash in her side aft, flooding her engine room, and gearing room, rupturing 2 fuel tanks & her aft magazine on 12/02/1944. Towed by tanker British Loyalty to Addu Atoll for emergency repair 13/02/1944. Departed Addu Atoll for repair in Simonstown on one engine & propeller shaft 03/03/1944
Japan I-27 SubmarineLost Damaged by depth charges & forced to the surface by British warships Paladin & Petard, near Addu Atoll, in the Indian Ocean. The boat was attempting to attack British warships when she was detected. The boat tries to escape on the surface, whilst down by the stern & after being damaged by gunfire she was sunk by a torpedo from Petard that cuts the boat in two 01.25N 72.22E 12/02/1944
 
Military

The Eastern Front: During the Battle of the Korsun–Cherkasy Pocket, German forces captured Vinograd & Lysianka but could make no more progress in relieving the Korsun Pocket.

Sunday 13th February 1944
Daily Report
Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: Operation Crossbow, attack on V-Weapon sites: Heavy day-time American air raid, 370+ aircraft attack on 17 targets in the Pas de Calais area, France.

Monday 14th February 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
USA St Louis Light CruiserDamaged Damaged by bombs from Japanese Aichi D3A 'Val' dive bomber aircraft, in the Solomon Islands, a bomb penetrated the deck near No 6 gun mounting, her 2 scout planes were damaged, the ventilation system was knocked out & the communication system was disrupted, 23 dead, 30 injured 14/02/1944
Germany U-738 SubmarineLost Collision with Merchantship Erna, in the Baltic Sea near Gotenhafen, 22 dead, 24 survivors 14/02/1944
Germany UIT-23 SubmarineLost Torpedoed by British submarine Tally-Ho, in the Straits of Malacca, 26 dead, 14 survivors 04.27N 100.11E 14/02/1944
 
Politics

The United States declared neutrality in the border dispute between Poland and the Soviet Union.

Tuesday 15th February 1944
Daily Report
Naval

The Pacific Campaign: New Zealand forces land on the Green Islands.

Country Vessel Type Report Description
Japan I-43 SubmarineLost Torpedoed by American submarine Aspro, 280 miles ESE of Guam, in the Pacific Ocean. Attacked on the surface, she was hit by 2 torpedoes & sank stern first, 166 dead, 0 survivors 10.23N 150.23E 15/02/1944
 
Military

The Eastern Front: The Soviet forces start the first offensive in the Battle of Narva.

Allied Bomber Offensive: Operation Crossbow, attack on V-Weapon sites: Heavy day-time American air raid, 190+ aircraft attack on targets in the Cherbourg area, France.

Wednesday 16th February 1944
Daily Report
Naval

The Pacific Campaign: American forces launched Operation Hailstone, a massive attack against the Japanese naval and air base at Truk in the Caroline Islands.

Country Vessel Type Report Description
Japan Agano Light CruiserLost Damaged by a torpedo from an American submarine Skate, 160 miles N of Truk, in the Pacific Ocean. Skate was on patrol in preparation for Operation Hailstone. The torpedo caused flooding in the engine & boiler room and disabled her. Ship signalled for towing vessel 16/02/1944. Flooding extended & she slowly sank 10.11N 151.42E 17/02/1944
Japan Ro-40 SubmarineLost Depth charged by American warships Phelps, Macdonough & Sage, NW of Kwajalein Atoll, in the Pacific Ocean. The boat was attempting to attack an American convoy when she was detected by sonar, 69 dead, 0 survivors 09.50N 166.35E 16/02/1944. Boat declared lost 04/03/1944
 
Politics

Lord Chancellor John Simon appeared before the House of Lords and made a speech defending the British bombing campaign. Referring specifically to the monastery at Monte Cassino, he said that most of the buildings there date from the nineteenth century and that the most valuable art treasures and manuscripts had been moved elsewhere weeks and months earlier.

Soviet Premier Stalin responded to Roosevelt's message of February 7 by saying the Polish government was made up of elements hostile to the Soviet Union and was incapable of friendly relations with the USSR. Stalin advised that "The basic improvement of the Polish government appears to be an urgent task."

Military

The Eastern Front: The Battle of the Korsun–Cherkasy Pocket ends in Soviet victory. Most of the German forces managed to escape but left much heavy equipment behind.

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time British air raid, 980+ aircraft attack on Berlin, Germany. In his post-raid report, German Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels attempted the unusual tactic of exaggerating the damage done in the hope that the Allies might think that the capital was no longer an important target.

Thursday 17th February 1944
Daily Report
Naval

The Pacific Campaign: Operation Hailstone ends in American victory.

The Pacific Campaign: The Battle of Eniwetok begins in the Marshall Islands when American forces land on Eniwetok Atoll.

The Pacific Campaign: The Battle of Karavia Bay begins in the Rabaul area of New Britain when American warships attack the harbour defences of Karavia Bay.

Country Vessel Type Report Description
USA Intrepid Fleet CarrierDamaged Damaged by a torpedo from Japanese aircraft, off Truk after Operation Hailstone. Attacked at night the ship was hit on the starboard side 15' below the waterline, several compartments flooded & her rudder jammed hard to port. Using her engines she was able to steer on 17/02/1944. Used jury-rig sail to return to Pearl Harbor for emergency repair on 24/02/1944. Arrived for repair at Hunter's Point, California 22/03/1944
Great Britain Penelope Light CruiserLost Torpedoed by a T5 acoustic homing torpedo from German submarine U-410 in the Mediterranean Sea, 35 miles W of Naples, Gulf of Gaeta, the second torpedo caused a major explosion that finished her off, 415 dead, 250 survivors 40.15N 13.25E 17/02/1944
Japan Naka Light CruiserLost Bombed & torpedoed by Curtis SB2C Helldiver dive bombers & Grumman TBF Avenger aircraft from American warships Bunker Hill & Cowpens, 35 miles SW of Truk, during Operation Hailstone. Ship broke in two & sank, 240 dead, 210 survivors 07.15N 151.15E 17/02/1944
Japan Katori Patrol CruiserLost

Sunk by gunfire from American warship Iowa, 40 miles NW of Truk, in the Pacific Ocean, during Operation Hailstone. The ship was part of a convoy leaving Truk for Yokosuka when she was attacked. Hit several times by 16" shells, she listed to port & then sank stern first after only 11 minutes 07.45N 151.20E 17/02/1944

Japan Matsukaze DestroyerDamaged Damaged by strafing & bomb near misses from aircraft from American warships Task Force 38, at Truk, in the Pacific Ocean, during Operation Hailstone 17/02/1944
Japan Maikaze DestroyerLost Sunk by gunfire & torpedoes from American warships Minneapolis, New Orleans, Radford & Burns, 40 miles NW of Truk, in the Pacific Ocean, during Operation Hailstone. The ship was part of a convoy leaving Truk for Yokosuka when she was attacked, 240 dead, 0 survivors 07.45N 151.20E 17/02/1944
Japan Oite DestroyerLost Torpedoed by aircraft from American Task Force 38, while carrying 522 survivors of Agano, whilst entering the North Passage of Truk Atoll, in the Pacific Ocean, during Operation Hailstone. Torpedo hit amidships & broke in half & sank, 172 dead, 20 survivors 07.40N 151.45E 17/02/1944
Japan Shigure DestroyerDamaged Damaged by bombs from aircraft from American Task Force 38, in the North Channel, at Truk Atoll, during Operation Hailstone. The bomb hit the No. 2 turret & flooded the magazine, 21 dead, and 45 injured on 17/02/1944
Japan Fumizuki DestroyerLost Damaged by a torpedo from aircraft from the American warship Enterprise, SW of Truk, in the Pacific Ocean, during Operation Hailstone. The ship was at anchor for repair at anchorage off W lagoon when a torpedo caused serious flooding. Japanese warships Matsukaze & Hakachi assist the crew in trying to save her, 29 dead 17/02/1944. Flooding increases & ship sinks 07.24N 151.44E 18/02/1944
Soviet Union ShCh 216 SubmarineLost Sunk by German submarine chases Uj 104 & Uj 106 off Cape Tarkhancut 17/02/1944
Japan Tachikaze Destroyer EscortLost Torpedoed & strafed by aircraft from American Task Force 38, at Truk Atoll, in the Pacific Ocean, during Operation Hailstone. The ship was torpedoed in the engine room & the ship sank stern first 07.04N 151.55E 17/02/1944
 
Friday 18th February 1944
Daily Report
Naval

The Pacific Campaign: The Battle of Karavia Bay ends in an American victory and a blockade of the Japanese-held port.

Country Vessel Type Report Description
Germany U-406 SubmarineLost Depth charged by British warship Spey in the North Atlantic, NNE of the Azores, 12 dead, 45 survivors captured, 48.32N 23.36W 18/02/1944
 
Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: Operation Jericho: British aircraft attacked Amiens Prison in German-occupied France, breaching its walls and allowing 258 prisoners to escape.

The Eastern Front: Soviet forces capture Staraya Russa.

Saturday 19th February 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
Germany U-274 SubmarineLost Damaged by a depth charge from British Liberator aircraft, the submerged boat was attacked by depth charges & hedgehog bombs from British warships Duncan & Vedette in the North Atlantic SSW of Iceland, 48 dead, 0 survivors 57.14N 27.15W 19/02/1944
Germany U-386 SubmarineLost Depth charged by British warship Spey in the North Atlantic, NNE of the Azores, 33 dead, 16 survivors captured 48.15N 22.44W 19/02/1944
Germany U-264 SubmarineLost Damaged by depth charge attack & forced to the surface by British warships Starling & Woodpecker in the North Atlantic, the boat was scuttled & crew abandoned the ship, 0 dead, 51 survivors captured 48.31N 22.05W 19/02/1944
Germany U-386 SubmarineLost Depth charged by British warship Spey in the North Atlantic, NNE of the Azores, 33 dead, 16 survivors captured 48.15N 22.44W 19/02/1944
 
Military

The Blitz: Operation Steinbock Heavy night-time German air raid, 190+ aircraft attack on London, England.

Other

Wartime Football International: England 6-2 Scotland, Maine Road, Manchester

Sunday 20th February 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
Great Britain Woodpecker SloopLost Damaged by T5 acoustic homing torpedo from German submarine U-256, 500 miles W of Cork, Ireland, in the North Atlantic, blowing stern off the ship, no casualties 48.49N 22.11W 20/02/1944. Taken in tow by British warship Sterling 21/02/1944. Tow transferred to tug Stormcloud 22/02/1944. Weather conditions worsened as ships approached the entrance to the English Channel on 26/02/1944. Foundered whilst under tow in a gale SSE of the Scilly Isles, England 49.39N 06.08W 27/02/1944
 
Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: The Allies launch "Big Week", a six-day strategic bombing campaign against Germany.

The Western Front: German General Erwin Rommel completes a four-day inspection tour of the Atlantic Wall. He reported to Adolf Hitler that the German coastal defences were up to all requirements.

The Norwegian steam-powered railway ferry SF Hydro was sunk by Norwegian resistance fighters as part of the Norwegian heavy water sabotage campaign.

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time British air raid, 820+ aircraft attack on Leipzig, Germany.

Monday 21st February 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
Soviet Union M 108 SubmarineLost Mined off the Norwegian coast 21-28/02/1944
 
Politics

British Prime Minster Churchill advised Soviet Premier Stalin that the Polish government-in-exile was ready to accept the Curzon Line as a basis for talks and assured him that by the time they resumed diplomatic relations with the Soviets, their government would only consist of members willing to cooperate with Moscow. Stalin remained unconvinced.

Military

The Eastern Front: Soviet forces capture Soltsy & Kholm.

Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tojo also becomes Chief of Staff of the Japanese Army.

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 760+ aircraft attack on Brunswick, Germany.

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time British air raid, 590+ aircraft attack on Stuttgart, Germany.

Tuesday 22nd February 1944
Daily Report
Naval

The Burma Campaign: The British oil tanker British Chivalry was sunk by Japanese submarine I-37 in the Indian Ocean. I-37 circled the sinking ship indiscriminately shooting at the survivors, for which Lieutenant-Commander Nakagawa Hajime was tried and found guilty of a war crime in 1948.

Politics

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill gave a speech in the House of Commons aimed at dispelling Soviet distrust. Churchill said he supported the Soviet border demands in Poland as reasonable and stated that Britain had never guaranteed any Polish border.

Military

The Eastern Front: In the Nikopol–Kryvyi Rih Offensive, Soviet forces captured Kryvyi Rih, when the German forces pulled out to avoid being encircled.

Other

French poet and Resistance fighter Robert Desnos was arrested in Paris. He was sent to the Theresienstadt concentration camp and would die in June 1945 shortly after the camp's liberation.

Wednesday 23rd February 1944
Daily Report
Naval

The Pacific Campaign: The Battle of Eniwetok ended in American victory when U.S. forces secured the last islands in the Eniwetok Atoll.

Politics

The Eastern Front: Claiming they helped the Nazis, Stalin exiled the vast majority of the Chechen and the Ingush population in the Caucasus to the deserts of Siberia and Central Asia.

Military

The Burma Campaign: The Battle of the Admin Box ended in Allied victory.

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 230+ aircraft attack on Schweinfurt, Germany.

Thursday 24th February 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
Great Britain Tally-Ho! SubmarineDamaged Damaged when rammed by Japanese torpedo boat Kari, damaging boat's ballast tanks & forward planes 24/02/1944
Germany U-761 SubmarineLost Damaged by retro bombs from 2 American MAD Catalina aircraft, the boat was detected underwater & attacked and then depth charged to the surface by British warships Anthony & Wishart and American Ventura VPB-127, the crew abandoned the sinking boat, in the Straits of Gibraltar, SW of Tangier, the boat was attempting to pass into the Mediterranean Sea, 9 dead, 48 survivors captured, 35.55N 05.45W 24/02/1944
Germany U-713 SubmarineLost Depth charged by British warship Keppel, in the Arctic Ocean, SSE of Jan Mayen, 50 dead, 0 survivors 69.27N 04.53E 24/02/1944
Germany U-257 SubmarineLost Depth charged by Canadian warship Waskesiu in the North Atlantic N of the Azores, 31 dead, 19 survivors captured 47.19N 26.00W 24/02/1944
 
Politics

Finnish Prime Minister Edwin Linkomies announced that his country was ready to make peace with the Allies

Military

The Pacific Campaign: The Battle of Arawe in the New Britain campaign ended in Allied victory.

The Eastern Front: Soviet forces capture Rogachev.

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time British air raid, 730+ aircraft attack on Schweinfurt, Germany. Follow-up attack after American attacks on the main German ball-bearing factories

Friday 25th February 1944
Daily Report
Naval

The Japanese cargo ship Tango Maru was torpedoed and sunk in the Java Sea by the American submarine Rasher, killing 3,500 Japanese labourers and hundreds of Allied prisoners of war. Rasher sank the Japanese transport ship Ryūsei Maru that same day, killing some 5,000 Japanese soldiers.

Country Vessel Type Report Description
Canada Columbia DestroyerDamaged Run aground off Newfoundland. The ship struck a cliff at Moreton Bay, Newfoundland, seriously damaging her bow. The weather was foggy & her radar was unserviceable on 25/02/1944. Decommissioned 17/03/1944. Constructive total loss
Great Britain Inglefield DestroyerLost Bombed by Henschel Hs 293A radio-controlled rocket-powered glide bomb from German aircraft off Anzio, during Operation Shingle. Attacked at dusk, a bomb hit ship amidships. She sank quickly 35 dead, 157 survivors 41.26N 12.38E 25/02/1944
Great Britain Mahratta DestroyerLost Torpedoed by T5 acoustic homing torpedo from German submarine U-990, W of North Cape, in the Barents Sea, 217 dead, 17 survivors 71.17N 13.30E 25/02/1944
USA Farenholt DestroyerDamaged Damaged by a Japanese shore battery whilst shelling shore installations at Kavieng, New Ireland, holed below the waterline on the starboard side, it needed counter flooding to save her 25/02/1944. Temporary repair Purvis Bay 27/02/1944
Germany U-601 SubmarineLost Depth charged by British Catalina aircraft in the Arctic Ocean, NW of Harstad, 51 dead, 0 survivors 70.26N 12.40E 25/02/1944
Germany U-91 SubmarineLost Depth charged by British warships Affleck, Gore & Gould, in the North Atlantic N of the Azores, 36 dead, 16 survivors captured 49.45N 26.20W 25/02/1944
 
Politics

The Founding of the Republic of Iceland took place after the Icelandic parliament decided to sever ties between Iceland and the Danish monarchy.

Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: The Allies end "Big Week", a six-day strategic bombing campaign against Germany.

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time American air raid, 680+ aircraft attack on aircraft factories at Regensburg, Augsburg, and Furth, and ball bearing plant at Stuttgart, Germany.

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy night-time British air raid, 590+ aircraft attack on Augsburg, Germany. Damaged as caused to the primary target the MAN engineering factories

Saturday 26th February 1944
Daily Report
Politics

The Polish government-in-exile in London defied the British government's wishes and rejected the recognition of the Curzon Line as Poland's eastern frontier.

Military

The Eastern Front: Soviet forces capture Porkhov.

Allied Bomber Offensive: Heavy day-time Soviet air raid, 60+ aircraft attack on Helsinki, Finland.

Sunday 27th February 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
USA Grayback SubmarineLost Bombed by aircraft from a Japanese warship, in the East China Sea, 60 dead, 0 survivors 25.47N 128.45E 27/02/1944
 
Military

Allied Bomber Offensive: The American Office of Strategic Services began Operation Ginny I intending to blow up railway tunnels in Italy to cut German lines of communication, but the mission was aborted when the OSS team landed in the wrong place and could not locate the tunnel.

Other

The Khaibakh massacre takes place in Chechnya. Over 700 villagers considered "non-transportable" during Operation Lentil were burned alive or shot by Soviet forces.

Monday 28th February 1944
Daily Report
Country Vessel Type Report Description
Great Britain Musketeer DestroyerDamaged Damaged in collision with Polish warship Blyskawica, off the Norwegian coast, causing serious structural damage 25/02/1944. Arrived for repair Brigham & Cowan shipyard Hull 28/02/1944
Great Britain Syrtis SubmarineLost Lost probably mined, off Bobo, Norway in the Norwegian Sea, 48 dead, 0 survivors 28/02/1944
 
Military

The Eastern Front: The first Narva Offensive ends in a defensive German victory.

The Italian Campaign: German forces attack American forces at Anzio.

Allied Bomber Offensive: Operation Crossbow, attack on V-Weapon sites: Heavy day-time American air raid, 180+ aircraft attack on targets in the Pas de Calais area, France.

Other

German-aligned forces carried out the Huta Pieniacka massacre of between 500 and 1,200 ethnic Poles in the village of Huta Pieniacka.

German aviator Hanna Reitsch visits Hitler in Berchtesgaden to receive a second Iron Cross. While there she suggested the creation of a squad of suicide bombers who could fly specially designed versions of the V-1 flying bomb and volunteered to become one such suicide pilot herself. Hitler was not receptive to the idea, believing it to be an inefficient use of resources, but he would investigate the prospect of designing such aircraft.

Tuesday 29th February 1944
Daily Report
Naval

The Pacific Campaign: The Admiralty Islands campaign began with American forces landing on Los Negros Island.

Country Vessel Type Report Description
USA Trout SubmarineLost Depth charged by Japanese warship Asashimo, SE of Okinawa, 81 dead, 0 survivors 22.40N 131.81E 29/02/1944
 
Military

The Eastern Front: The Nikopol–Kryvyi Rih Offensive ends a the Soviet victory.