January 30
Eastern Front, Germany
The left wing of the 1st Ukrainian Front has reached the Oder River and some of its units have set up bridgeheads on the west bank. This ends one of the greatest strategic operations of the whole war.

The Red Army has advanced 355 miles (568 km), liberated all of Poland and a large part of Czechoslovakia, reached the Oder on a broad Front, and is only 100 miles (160 km) from Berlin. In its offensive, it has inflicted losses of 500,000 dead, wounded, or captured on the Germans, and captured 1300 aircraft, 1400 tanks, and over 14,000 guns of all calibers.

As fighting rages in and around Manila, the capital
of the Philippines, refugees pour out of the city.
This bridge was built by US engineers

January 31
Pacific, Philippines
Elements of the US 11th Airborne Division go ashore at Nasugbu Bay against light Japanese resistance. The US troops land just 50 miles (80 km) southwest of the capital Manila, which is their ultimate objective.

January 31 - February 21
Far East, Burma
The British 36th Division effects a crossing of the Shweli River at Myitson following a savage battle against the Japanese. The division's success threatens the Japanese northern approaches to the Mandalay Plain.

prev | next