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• » 20 Feb 1944

• The "Blue Legion" of the Germany Army, which was a regiment-sized unit of Spanish volunteers, began to be withdrawn from the front lines due to Spain's request. ww2dbase [CPC]
• Destroyer Yuzuki became the flagship of Rear Admiral Ko Nakagawa of Destroyer Squadron 3. She departed Rabaul, New Britain, Bismarck Islands as a part of the final destroyer transport mission out of Rabaul. She arrived at Qavuvu, New Britain later on the same day. ww2dbase [Yuzuki | CPC]
• I-53 was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [I-53 | CPC]
• Destroyer Yukikaze departed Kagoshima, Japan to escort carrier Chitose to Saipan, Mariana Islands. ww2dbase [Yukikaze | CPC]
• Egmont Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld was named the wing commander of Nachtjagdgeschwader 5. ww2dbase [Egmont | CPC]
• Léon Degrelle was awarded the Knight's Cross the of Iron Cross. ww2dbase [Léon Degrelle | CPC]
• Léon Degrelle was awarded the Wound Badge in Silver. ww2dbase [Léon Degrelle | CPC]
• Lucien Lippert was awarded the German Cross in Gold and was promoted to the rank of SS-Obersturmbannführer, posthumously. ww2dbase [Lucien Lippert | CPC]

• Repair ship Akashi departed Truk, Caroline Islands. ww2dbase [Akashi | Truk | CPC]

• USAAF launched the "Big Week", sending 970 bombers against Braunschweig, Hamburg, and Leipzig in Germany. The RAF followed through by hitting Stuttgart. ww2dbase [Bombing of Hamburg, Dresden, and Other Cities | Hamburg | TH]
• Robert Johnson shot down two Bf 110 aircraft over Dümmer Lake, Germany. ww2dbase [Robert Johnson | Lembruch, Weser-Ems | CPC]
• U-822 was launched by Oderwerke in Stettin, Germany. ww2dbase [Oderwerke AG | U-822 | Stettin, Pommern | CPC]

• The Germans called off Operation Fischfang aimed at the Allied beachhead at Anzio, Italy. ww2dbase [Battle of Anzio | Anzio, Lazio | CPC]

• Japanese hospital ship Hikawa Maru departed Yokosuka, Japan for her 18th voyage with the Japanese Navy. ww2dbase [Hikawa Maru | Yokosuka, Kanagawa | CPC]
• Landing ship No. 149 was completed. ww2dbase [No. 101/103-class | CPC]

• American troops captured Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands. ww2dbase [Marshall Islands Campaign | Eniwetok | CPC]
• USS New Mexico arrived at Maloelap Atoll, Marshall Islands. ww2dbase [New Mexico | Maloelap | CPC]

• On Lake Tinn (Tinnsjo) in Norway, the ferry D/F Hydro, carrying the last of the heavy water produced at Vemork destined for the German atomic weapons reseach program, was sunk by Norwegian resistance saboteurs. ww2dbase [Vemork Heavy Water Plant | Tinn, Telemark | TH, CPC]

• Shokaku departed Singapore for Lingga, Dutch East Indies. ww2dbase [Shokaku | Singapore | CPC]
• Shokaku departed Singapore for Lingga, Dutch East Indies. ww2dbase [Shokaku | Singapore | CPC]

• Allied convoy JW-57 departed Liverpool, England, United Kingdom. It was consisted of 42 merchant ships, was supported by 2 tankers and 1 rescue ship, and was escorted by 4 corvettes (and later reinforced with destroyers and frigates). ww2dbase [Arctic Convoys | Liverpool, England | CPC]

• USS Marblehead arrived in New York, United States. ww2dbase [Marblehead | New York | CPC]
• USS Lexington (Essex-class) departed Puget Sound Naval Shipyard after repairs. ww2dbase [Puget Sound Navy Yard | Lexington (Essex-class) | Bremerton, Washington | DS]

20 Feb 1944 Interactive Map