23 Mar 1939
  • Erwin Rommel returned to his position as the commanding officer of the military academy at Wiener Neustadt in southern Germany. ww2dbase [Erwin Rommel | CPC]
China
  • At dawn, the largest bombardment of the Second Sino-Japanese War was commenced on Chinese positions at Wucheng near the Xiushui River in Jiangxi Province, China where Japanese troops were held down by Chinese defenses since 18 Mar 1939; this bombardment would continue until 26 Mar 1939. Nearby, Japanese troops captured Fengxin County and Anyi County. ww2dbase [Battle of Nanchang | Jiangxi | CPC]
Czechoslovakia Germany
  • Joachim von Ribbentrop and Vojtech Tuka signed the official document in Berlin, Germany that declared Slovakia as an independent nation under German protection. ww2dbase [Dismemberment of Czechoslovakia | Berlin | CPC]
Japan
  • Hisao Tani was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure 1st Class. ww2dbase [Hisao Tani | CPC]
Lithuania
  • The Lithuanian representatives aboard German heavy cruiser Deutschland gave in to German demands, signing the city of Klaipeda, Lithuania, known as Memel in German, to Germany in the early hours of the day. In the afternoon, Adolf Hitler visited the newly gained territory. ww2dbase [Annexation of Klaipeda | Klaipeda | CPC]

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis




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Famous WW2 Quote
"Since peace is now beyond hope, we can but fight to the end."

Chiang Kaishek, 31 Jul 1937


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