March 18 Eastern Front, Ukraine The Soviet 2nd Ukrainian Front has reached the Dniester River and seized a large bridgehead at Mogilev Podolsky. This has split the German Army Group South's Front in two and has put the Red Army in a position to advance to the Romanian Frontier. March 19 Politics, Hungary With the Red Army rapidly approaching the Balkans, Hitler has sent troops to occupy the country. Admiral Mikl—s Horthy, the regent, has been ordered to appoint a pro-Nazi premier, allow the German Army to take over the transport system, and give the SS a free hand in deporting Hungarian Jews to concentration camps. Italy, Cassino A German counterattack against Peak 193 is unsuccessful but has loosened the Allied stranglehold. A New Zealand armored assault against the monastery is destroyed. March 20-22 Italy, Cassino Despite further Frontal attacks by New Zealand troops under General Harold Alexander, the German defenders, veterans of the 1st Parachute Division, remain in and around the monastery and repulse all efforts to dislodge them. On the 22nd, therefore, Alexander halts all Frontal assaults. March 24 Far East, Burma Major General Orde Wingate, the commander of the Chindits, is killed in a plane crash. A charismatic and controversial figure, Winston Churchill has called him a 'man of genius and audacity' following the success of his long-range penetration missions in Burma. March 28 Eastern Front, Ukraine As the Germans retreat in haste from the waters of the southern Bug River, Nikolayev falls to the Red Army. The 3rd Ukrainian Front is now developing an assault toward the port of Odessa. March 29 Far East, India The Japanese 20th Division establishes itself on the Shenam Saddle near Imphal. Japanese forces have cut the Imphal to Kohima road and begun the siege of Imphal. prev | next |