World War II Chronology 1943

January
1. Soviets recapture Velikiye Luki.
6. United States makes first daylight raid on Rabaul.
18. Soviet army partially lifts siege of Leningrad.
22. Papuan campaign completed.
23. British take Tripoli; Rommel in retreat.
26. Casablanca conference announces demand for unconditional surrender.
		



February
2. Soviets defeat Nazis at Stalingrad.
6. Creation of United States North African theater under command of Eisenhower announced.
8. United States forces completely occupy Guadalcanal.
14. Soviet army recaptures Rostov.
16. Soviets recapture Khar'kov.
21. Allies evacuate Kasserine Pass in Tunisia.
25. Allies recapture Kasserine Pass.



March
2-4. Allies bomb Japanese convoy in Bismarck Sea.
10. Fourteenth Air Force set up in China under Chennault.
14. Germans recapture Khar'kov.
28. British break German Mareth Line in Tunisia.



April
7. British and American forces join in Tunisia.



May
7. Announce American troops occupy Adak, Amchitka. Allies capture Tunis and Bizerte.
11. American forces invade Attu in Aleutian Islands.
12. German resistance ends in North Africa.
30. Americans conquer Attu.



June
3. De Gaulle forms French Committee of National Liberation.
11. Allies take Pantelleria.
17-18. American planes from Funafuti bomb Tarawa.
30. Allies land on Rendova in New Georgia group.



July
2-3. Americans land on New Georgia.
6. United States Navy victorious in Kula Gulf.
9-10. Allies invade Sicily.
25. Mussolini succeeded by Badoglio.
29. Eisenhower broadcasts peace offer to Italy.



August
1. United States planes bomb Ploesti oil fields.
5. British enter Catania in Sicily. Americans take Munda on New Georgia Island.
15. Americans-Canadians land on deserted Kiska.
17. Americans take Messina to end Sicily campaign. American bombers make first shuttle raid 
from England over Germany and on to North Africa.
19. Allied air raid smashes Foggia, German air base in Italy.
25. Japanese evacuate New Georgia.



September
3. Allies invade southern Italy, receive Italian surrender effective 5 days later.
4. American Marines invade Nanumea in Ellice group.
4-16. Allied forces encircle and recapture Lae-Salamaua area in New Guinea.
8. Soviets take Stalino in Donets basin.
9. British take Taranto naval base at tip of southern Italy. American 5th Army invades Italy 
at Salerno.
10. Germans seize Rome, assure "protection" of Vatican.
16. British 8th Army joins American 5th Army at Salerno. Soviets capture naval base at 
Novorossiysk.
22. Australian troops land north of Finschhafen, New Guinea.
25. Nazis evacuate Smolensk.
27. Allies capture Foggia air base.



October
1. Allies take Naples; Germans retreat north to Volturno River.
2. MacArthur's forces capture Finschhafen after 10-day campaign.
12. Portugal opens Azores bases to the Allies.
13. Italy declares war on Germany.
18. Allies force Nazis from Volturno line.



November
1. United States Marines invade Bougainville.
6. Soviet army liberates Kiev in midst of winter offensive.
21. United States forces invade Gilbert Islands, Marines landing on Tarawa and Infantry on Makin.
22. Roosevelt, Churchill, Chiang Kai-shek open Cairo talks.
24. Americans conquer Tarawa and other key Gilbert Islands.
28. Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin open Tehran conference; agree on final plans to defeat Germany.



December
15. American soldiers land at Arawe, New Britain.
26. Marines land at Cape Gloucester, New Britain.