20 Nov 1943
  • US Army soldiers invaded Makin Atoll and US Marines invaded Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands. ww2dbase [Gilbert Islands Campaign | TH]
  • On Samos Island, Greece, nearly 5,000 British prisoners were taken by the Germans. ww2dbase [Dodecanese Campaign | TH]
  • The Soviet Army began an advance on Kirovograd, Ukraine after breaking through German lines near Kremenchug. ww2dbase [TH]
  • Hitler refused permission for the German Armeegruppe Nord to withdraw to the Panther-Wotan Line. ww2dbase [TH]
  • Jews in northern Italy were ordered to be sent to concentration camps. ww2dbase [Discovery of Concentration Camps and the Holocaust | TH]
  • Kumano and her task force departed Truk in response to the United States’ landings on Tarawa. ww2dbase [Gilbert Islands Campaign | Kumano | DS]
Australian Papua
  • The headquarters of USAAF 49th Fighter Group was transferred out of Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua. ww2dbase [Dobodura Airfield | Dobodura | CPC]
British Western Pacific Territories
  • US Marine Corps Major General Ralph Mitchell was named Commander Air Solomons and was placed in charge of all US naval and Marine aviation units in the Solomon Islands region. ww2dbase [CPC]
  • Cruisers USS Nashville and USS St. Louis returned to Tulagi, Solomon Islands. ww2dbase [Nashville | St. Louis | Walden Ainsworth | Tulagi, Solomon Islands | DS]
Caroline Islands
  • Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for destroyer Fumizuki at Truk, Caroline Islands. ww2dbase [Akashi | Truk | CPC]
Egypt Gilbert and Ellice Islands Hawaii India
  • The US Army 1688th Detachment completed its 3-day move to Camp Deogarh in central India. ww2dbase [Deogarh, Central Provinces | CPC]
Italy Japan
  • Nachi departed Ominato Guard District, Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. ww2dbase [Nachi | Mutsu, Aomori | CPC]
Marshall Islands Switzerland
  • Alexander Foote, a young English adventurer and International Brigade veteran, who had been recruited by Moscow as a spy with the Lucy Ring, was arrested by the Swiss Police. ww2dbase [AC]
United Kingdom
  • British Fascist Sir Oswald Mosley and Lady Diana Mosley were released from imprisonment. They would stay with Lady Diana's sister Pamela Mitford after their release, followed shortly after by a stay at the Shaven Crown Hotel in Shipton-under-Wychwood. He then purchased Crux Easton, near Newbury, England, United Kingdom, with Diana. He and his wife became the subject of much media attention, but the war had ended what remained of his political reputation. ww2dbase [Oswald Mosley | London, England | AC, CPC]
  • The FIDO (Fog Intensive Dispersal Operation) scheme was first instigated to effect the safe landing of RAF bombers. ww2dbase [AC]
United States
  • USS Parche was commissioned into service with Commander Lawson Ramage in command. ww2dbase [Parche | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 20 Nov 1943
F6F Hellcat fighter of US Navy VF-5 preparing to launch off Yorktown (Essex-class) to attack a target in the Marshall Islands, 20 Nov 1943Japanese soldiers assaulting the city of Changde, Nov 1943Battleship Colorado bombarding Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, 20 Nov 1943; note Camouflage Measure 32, Design 3DAdmiral William Halsey and Commander Joseph Clifton at a party for officers at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, circa Nov 1943
See all photos dated 20 Nov 1943

20 Nov 1943 Interactive Map

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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