1940: British and French governments agree to land an expeditionary force in northern Norway without regard for Norway's neutrality in order to aide Finland, although in eventuality was never carried out.

1941: Adolf Hitler writes to Mussolini. In the letter goes is satisfaction for the work of the Italian officers at command operations in North Africa and he offers his help with one division with the condition of the Italian troops not to retreat to Tripoli.

1941: An advanced column of armoured cars from the 7th Armoured Division intercept the Italian retreat about 70 miles south of Benghazi.

1943: Mussolini sacks his son-in-law, Count Ciano from Foreign Ministry and takes control himself.

1944: U.S. troops reach the outskirts of Cassino, but are repulsed.

1944: The ‘Chindits’ begin moving towards Indaw, 100 miles behind the Japanese lines in Burma.

1945: American and French troops destroy German forces in the Colmar Pocket in France.

1945: RAF balloon command to be disbanded as the air raid threat lessens. 278 V1's have been claimed by balloons.

1945: Red Army troops approach Elbing and Marienburg in East Prussia.

1945: MacArthur orders a containment in the northern Philippines, as the main effort is directed to the capture of Manila.

1945: The Australians land on the Japanese stronghold of New Britain, East of New Guinea.

This Day in WWI

1917: British General Staff estimates that no more than 250,000 American soldiers could be in Europe even after a year

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