What Happened in 1943

Dismantling and Liquidation of Prisoners at Sobibor Extermination Camp Following Partially-Successful Jewish Uprising

After the revolt, the Germans and the Trawniki-trained guards dismantled the killing center and shot the Jewish prisoners who had not escaped... Read more

SS Evacuates and Liquidates Janowska Concentration Camp

The evacuation of the Janowska camp began in November 1943. As the Germans attempted to destroy the traces of mass murder (Aktion 1005), they... Read more

Battle of Changde

The Battle of Changde (simplified Chinese: 常德会战; traditional Chinese: 常德會戰; pinyin: Chángdé Huìzhàn) was a major engagement in the Second... Read more

"Sahara" Is Released

Sahara is a 1943 war film directed by Zoltán Korda. Humphrey Bogart stars as a U.S. tank commander in Egypt during the Western Desert Campaign of... Read more

British Surrender to Germany at Leros

On the morning of 16 November it became apparent to the British commander, Brigadier Tilney, that their situation was untenable and he surrendered.... Read more

Battle of Tarawa

The Battle of Tarawa was a battle in the Pacific Theatre of World War II, largely fought from November 20 to November 23, 1943. It was the second... Read more

Cairo Conference is Held

In November and December of 1943, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt met with Chinese President Chiang Kai-shek and British Prime Minister... Read more

Tehran Conference

The first of only two wartime meetings between the three leaders, the Tehran Conference opened with Stalin brimming with confidence after several... Read more

Rosa Parks joins NAACP and becomes active in Civil Rights Movement

In December 1943, Parks became active in the Civil Rights Movement, joined the Montgomery chapter of the NAACP, and was elected volunteer secretary... Read more

Bari Air Raid

The Air Raid on Bari was an air attack on Allied forces and shipping in Bari, Italy by Nazi German bombers on December 2, 1943. In the attack, 105... Read more

Canadian Allied Forces Capture the Villa Rogatti

The task of taking Villa Rogatti, the westernmost crossing point, was given to Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI). Having... Read more

Battle of San Pietro Infine

The direct attack on the German positions in and around San Pietro began on December 8 by II Corps of the Fifth Army. The positions were defended... Read more

German Forces Fall Back from San Leandro Following Successful Ally Crossing of Moro River

By the morning of 9 December, the RCE had completed the bridge across the Moro River, enabling the tanks of the King's Own Calgary Regiment... Read more

Angelo Bertelli Wins Heisman Trophy

He made the T-Formation click for the Fighting Irish until his entry into the Marine Corps in 1943. Bertelli completed 169 of 324 passes in 26... Read more

Massacre of Kalavryta

The Holocaust of Kalavryta (Greek: Ολοκαύτωμα των Καλαβρύτων), or the Massacre of Kalavryta (Σφαγή των Καλαβρύτων), refers to the extermination of... Read more

Largest Allied Assault on 'The Gully' is Abandoned after Devastating German Retaliation

On 18 December, Vokes planned what would be the largest assault on The Gully during the campaign. Beginning at 0800, Canadian artillery would... Read more

Battle of Ortona

The Canadians faced elements of the renowned German 1st Parachute Division. These soldiers were battle-hardened after many years of war, and were... Read more

Lower Dnieper Offensive Ends in Decisive Soviet Victory

The Battle of Dnieper was another defeat for the Wehrmacht that required it to restabilize the front further West. The Red Army, which Hitler hoped... Read more