August 17-18
Air War, Germany
The rocket research center at Peene-münde on the Baltic Sea is attacked by 597 British bombers. The center has been developing a remote-controlled, pulse-jet-powered 'Flying Bomb'; (V1) and a faster, liquid-fuel model (V2) as terror weapons to undermine the morale of enemy populations. The raid kills 732 people and delays V2 testing. The British lose 40 aircraft. A raid by 230 US bombers is made on ball-bearing works at Schweinfurt and Regensburg. Around 20 percent of the bombers are destroyed.

August 19
Pacific, Papua New Guinea
Allied forces finally take the Japanese strongpoint of Mount Tambu. Japanese troops are now wedged between Salamaua and the Francisco River.

Red Army artillery pounds German units outside
Kharkov in the Soviet advance to the Dniepr River

August 22-23
Eastern Front, Ukraine
Kharkov is retaken by the Red Army. The Soviets now seriously threaten the southern area of the German Front in Ukraine and are well placed for advancing to the Dniepr River. The Soviets have won victories at Kursk, Orel, and Kharkov by exhausting the enemy with fierce defensive actions followed by decisive counterattacks.

August 26
Eastern Front, Ukraine
Soviet forces begin their offensive to seize the Eastern Ukraine and cross the Dniepr River. The river forms a key part of the German defenses established to halt Red Army advances.

August 28
Politics, Denmark
The Danish government resigns after refusing a German demand for the repression of 'saboteurs.'; The Danish authorities have tried to avoid collaboration with Germany. Martial law is declared on the 29th, the army is disarmed but many Danish warships are scuttled or sent to Sweden before the Germans can seize them.

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