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• Bernard Freyberg was born. ww2dbase [Bernard Freyberg | CPC]

• Walter Schreiber was born in Berlin, Germany. ww2dbase [Walter Schreiber | Berlin | CPC]

• Ioseb Jughashvili stopped working at the Tiflis Meteorological Observatory in Tiflis, Georgia Governorate, Russian Empire. ww2dbase [Joseph Stalin | Tiflis | CPC]

• Captain Lewis Sayre Van Duzer was named the commanding officer of New York Navy Yard in Brooklyn, New York, United States. ww2dbase [New York Navy Yard | Brooklyn, New York | CPC]

21 Mar 1910 Interactive Map

• British No. 100 Squadron RFC, the first RFC squadron specifically trained for night operations, moved from Hingham, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom (where it was formed) to Saint-André-aux-Bois in France. The unit's first aircraft were twelve F.E.2Bs. ww2dbase [Saint-André-aux-Bois, Nord-Pas-de-Calais | AC]

• The Germans opened their last great offensive on the western front, the Ludendorff offensive. ww2dbase [AC]
• The British War Cabinet continued to press for American support to the idea of asking the Japanese to intervene in Siberia (to protect the war stores at Vladivostok, Russia). Colonel House, the US President's special adviser admitted that while he was impressed by the British argument he was not at all impressed by the attitude of the Japanese themselves. President Wilson refused to even discuss the subject of intervention. ww2dbase [AC]

• Robert Greim achieved his 9th kill over France. ww2dbase [Robert von Greim | CPC]

• La Motte-Picquet was launched at Lorient, France. ww2dbase [La Motte-Picquet | Lorient, Bretagne | CPC]

• Crown Prince Olav of Norway married his first and second cousin Princess Märtha of Sweden at Oslo Cathedral in Norway. ww2dbase [Oslo | AC]

21 Mar 1929 Interactive Map

• The mock-up of the TB-3 heavy bomber design was approved by the Soviet Air Force. ww2dbase [TB-3 | CPC]

• Germany established a special court to handle crimes committed against the country. It was presided by three Nazi Party-affiliated judges and had no jury. ww2dbase [CPC]

• Japanese troops captured Yiyuankou Pass of the Great Wall near Beiping, China. ww2dbase [First Battle of Hebei | Beiping | CPC]

• The opening ceremonies of the German Reichstag were held at the Garrison Church in Potsdam, Germany. ww2dbase [CPC]

• Franklin Roosevelt submitted his plan to establish the Civilian Conservation Corps to the United States Congress; it was initially opposed by organized labor leaders and even some members of the Democratic Party for the plan's militaristic organization, fascist appearance, and low wages (US$1 per day of work), but it would nevertheless be passed into law within ten days. ww2dbase [Franklin Roosevelt | CPC]

• In Germany an emergency decree made it an offence to spread malicious gossip, spread defeatist of demoralizing comments, make defamatory remarks about political figures or the Nazi Party, or utter remarks likely to cause "foreign policy difficulties". ww2dbase [AC]
• The Nazi German regime reintroduced Sondergerichte Courts, special courts without the usual safeguards in legal procedure, to deal with political cases. ww2dbase [AC]

• USS Pennsylvania departed Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. ww2dbase [Puget Sound Navy Yard | Pennsylvania | Bremerton, Washington | DS]

21 Mar 1936 Interactive Map

• The Papacy's encyclical (Mit Brenneder Sorge) was commanded to be read out in all Catholic churches. Much of it expressed concern over breaches in the Concorat agreement on education and religious freedoms in Germany. The letter also called for a cessation of anti-Christian propaganda and rejected the Nazi position regarding Political mastery over the Catholic Church. ww2dbase [AC]

• The female prisoners at Moringen Concentration Camps were transferred to the Lichtenburg Concentration Camp, which was a camp exclusively for women prisoners. ww2dbase [Discovery of Concentration Camps and the Holocaust | CPC]

• The Chinese 31st Division arrived at Jiangsu Province in response of a Japanese attack. ww2dbase [Battle of Xuzhou | Jiangsu | CPC]
• USS Stewart departed Chinese waters. ww2dbase [Stewart | CPC]

• F10 was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [F10 | CPC]

• Emden departed Spanish waters. ww2dbase [Emden | CPC]

• Édouard Daladier resigned as the French Prime Minister. ww2dbase [Édouard Daladier | CPC]
• German heavy cruiser Deutschland set sail for Memel, Lithuania. Meanwhile, Germany demanded Lithuania to sent representatives to the warship on the following day to sign Memel over to Germany. ww2dbase [Annexation of Klaipeda | CPC]
• Dong Zhao was relieved of his position and the commander of the 28th Division so he could focus on his corps-level command. ww2dbase [Dong Zhao | CPC]

• Japanese 6th Division crossed the Xuishui River west of Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province, China and marched toward Wuning. ww2dbase [Battle of Nanchang | Jiangxi | CPC]

• French President Albert Lebrun visited London, England, United Kingdom. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain attempted to persuade Lebrun to enter into a British-French-Polish alliance to contain Germany; a similar proposal was also sent to the Polish leadership via the British ambassador in Warsaw, Poland, but the Polish responded coolly. On the same day, in Berlin, Germany, German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop expressed that if Poland continued to not agree with German demands for Danzig and if Poland continued to resist signing the Anti-Comintern Pact, then the present German-Polish friendship would deteriorate. ww2dbase [The Danzig Crisis | London, England | CPC]

• Paul Reynaud was named the Prime Minister of France. ww2dbase [TH]
• German submarine U-38 sank neutral Danish merchant ship Algier 15 miles north of the Shetland Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom at 0100 hours, killing 5; British trawler Manx King rescued 18 survivors At 0326, U-38 torpedoed another Danish ship, Christiansborg, killing 1; HMS Discovery II rescued 24 survivors from the damaged Danish ship. ww2dbase [CPC]
• British and Turkish delegations met in Syria. ww2dbase [CPC]
• Chinese troops captured Japanese-occupied Wuyuan, Suiyuan Province, China. ww2dbase [Battle of Wuyuan | CPC]

• Paul Wenneker began serving as a naval attaché at the German embassy in Tokyo, Japan. ww2dbase [Paul Wenneker | Tokyo | CPC]

• Semyon Timoshenko was made a Hero of the Soviet Union for the first time and the Order of Lenin for the second time. ww2dbase [Semyon Timoshenko | CPC]
• Kirill Meretskov was made a Hero of the Soviet Union and was awarded his second Order of Lenin. ww2dbase [Kirill Meretskov | CPC]

• Tatsuta Maru arrived at San Francisco, California, United States. ww2dbase [Tatsuta Maru | San Francisco, California | CPC]

• Yugoslavians protested Prince Paul's pact with Hitler. Many ministers resigned in protest. ww2dbase [CPC]
• After laying siege to the Italian garrison at Giarabub in southeastern Libya for the past three months, Australian forces finally gathered enough strength to begin a large scale assault. ww2dbase [Battle of Giarabub | CPC]
• German submarine U-105 attacked Allied convoy SL-68 500 miles west of Cap blanc, French West Africa at 0046 hours, sinking British ships Clan Ogilvy (61 killed, 24 survived) and Benwyvis (34 killed, 21 survived). At 2200 hours, U-105 attacked the same convoy again, sinking British ship Jhelum (8 killed, 49 survivors). ww2dbase [CPC]
• German aircraft attacked Allied convoy AS-21 en route between Piraeus, Greece and Alexandria, Egypt, sinking Greek ship Embiricos Nicolaos (2 killed) and damaging Norwegian tanker Solheim (1 killed). ww2dbase [CPC]
• Oberleutnant Ernst-Ulrich Brüller was named the commanding officer of U-23, relieving Kurt Reichenbach-Klinke. ww2dbase [U-23 | CPC]

• German battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau were detected by aircraft of the British Coastal Command. They were met by German aircraft at 1900 hours, escorting them as they headed for Brest, France. ww2dbase [Operation Berlin | Gneisenau | Scharnhorst | CPC]

• Nigerian Brigade of British 11th African Division attacked Italian defenses at Marda Pass east of Hadew in eastern Ethiopia at 1200 hours. Italian defenses held off the attacks for hours before falling back after sundown. ww2dbase [Invasion of Italian East Africa | Hadew | CPC]

• German aircraft attacked British shipping off various ports in England, United Kingdom; minesweeping trawler HMT Asama was sunk near Plymouth, ship Millisle was sunk off Bristol (10 killed), and ship London II was sunk off Swansea (4 killed). ww2dbase [England | CPC]

• Tatsuta Maru departed San Francisco, California, United States; among the passengers was German Army General Werner Thiel. ww2dbase [Tatsuta Maru | San Francisco, California | CPC]
• George Murray was named the commanding officer of USS Enterprise. ww2dbase [Enterprise | CPC]

• US Army General MacArthur arrived at Kooringa, Australia by train and discovered there would be no army waiting for him to reinforce the Philippine Islands. ww2dbase [Douglas MacArthur | CPC]
• The United Kingdom discussed plans for Indian independence after the war. ww2dbase [CPC]
• Adolf Hitler placed Fritz Sauckel in charge of mobilizing forced laborers from occupied territories. ww2dbase [Fritz Sauckel | CPC]
• Germany introduced harsh laws against unnecessary rail travel. ww2dbase [CPC]
• German submarine U-124 heavily damaged US tanker Esso Nashville 20 kilometers southeast of Wilmington, North Carolina, United States at 0608 hours. At 1005 hours, U-124 struck again, damaging US tanker Atlantic Sun. ww2dbase [Second Happy Time | CPC]
• Submarine Mingo was laid down. ww2dbase [Mingo | CPC]
• The US Marine Corps established the 3rd Marine Brigade at New River, North Carolina, United States; the unit was slated for the defense of Western Samoa. ww2dbase [CPC]
• British aircraft carriers HMS Argus and HMS Eagle departed Gibraltar, escorted by battleship HMS Malaya, cruiser HMS Hermione, and 9 destroyers, with Spitfire fighters for Malta. Italian submarines Mocenigo and Dandolo attempted to attack the force in failure. ww2dbase [Eagle | CPC]

• Four US Kittyhawk fighters arrived over Port Moresby, Australian Papua as reinforcement at 1400 hours, but nervous anti-aircraft gunners fired on them, damaging all four. Later in the day, a lone Japanese bomber attacked Port Moresby, and one of the newly arrived Kittyhawks was able to scramble and shoot down the attacker. Later in the day, 14 additional Kittyhawk fighters arrived. ww2dbase [Port Moresby | CPC]

• 151 Japanese bombers attacked the British airfield at Magwe in northern Burma, the operating base of the Chinese Air Force 1st American Volunteer Group "Flying Tigers"; 15 Sino-American aircraft were destroyed at the cost of 2 Japanese aircraft. Meanwhile, at Oktwin, forward elements of Japanese 55th Division engaged Chinese troops. ww2dbase [Invasion of Burma | CPC]

• Japanese hospital ship Hikawa Maru arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands. ww2dbase [Hikawa Maru | Truk | CPC]

• Allied convoy PQ-13, consisted of 19 merchant ships, set sail from Reykjavík, Iceland, with 1 destroyer and 5 trawlers in escort. ww2dbase [Arctic Convoys | Reykjavík | CPC]

• Tatsuta Maru departed Yokosuka, Japan. ww2dbase [Tatsuta Maru | Yokosuka, Kanagawa | CPC]

• Italian submarines Onice and Platino spotted British convoy MW10, which had departed from Alexandria, Egypt, off the Libyan coast. A force consisted of battleship Littorio, 3 cruisers, and 10 destroyers departed from Taranto on mainland Italy and Messina on the island of Sicily to intercept; British submarine P36 spotted this Italian response. ww2dbase [Malta Campaign | Onice | Platino | CPC]

• Jews from the Lublin ghetto in occupied Poland were deported to Belzec, Majdanek, and other concentration camps. ww2dbase [Discovery of Concentration Camps and the Holocaust | Lublin | CPC]

• General Walther von Seydlitz-Kurzbach led a German assault out of the Demyansk, Russia to the northwest. ww2dbase [Rzhev-Vyazma Offensive and the Demyansk Pocket | Demyansk, Leningrad | CPC]

• At Fort Benning in Georgia, United States, 276 men of the US 501st Parachute Battalion received their "wings". ww2dbase [Columbus, Georgia | CPC]
• USS Marlin departed New London, Connecticut, United States. ww2dbase [Marlin | New London, Connecticut | CPC]

21 Mar 1942 Interactive Map

• The submarine Cod was launched, sponsored by Mrs. G. M. Mahoney. ww2dbase [Cod | CPC]
• Cornelia Fort was killed during an aircraft ferrying mission in Texas, United States. ww2dbase [Cornelia Fort | CPC]
• New Zealand troops under Lieutenant General Bernard Freyberg bypassed the Mareth Line defenses in Tunisia by moving his forces through Wilder's Gap to the west. They engaged surprised German defenses at the Tebaga Gap. ww2dbase [Operations Pugilist and Supercharge II | CPC]
• Lieutenant Colonel Derek Seagram won a posthumous Victoria Cross for leading an attack on the Mareth Line in Tunisia. He inspired his men by being first across the scaling ladders over the German anti-tank ditches but was mortally wounded in the fighting. ww2dbase [AC]
• USS Pollack continued to chase the Japanese freighter she had attacked between Jaluit and Makin Atolls in the Gilbert Islands and Marshall Islands area, further damaging the ship. ww2dbase [Pollack | CPC]
• USS Finback damaged a Japanese cargo ship in the Southwestern Pacific, hitting her with two of three torpedoes fired. ww2dbase [Finback | CPC]
• Kurt Fricke was made the commanding officer of Naval Group Command South. ww2dbase [Kurt Frike | CPC]

• PBY Catalina aircraft delivered a group of US Marine Corps scouts at Segi Plantation, New Georgia for a reconnaissance mission; they would later report that Segi's beaches would not accommodate a large landing force. ww2dbase [Solomon Islands Campaign | Segi, New Georgia | CPC]

• Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for destroyers Isokaze and Kawakaze at Truk, Caroline Islands. ww2dbase [Akashi | Truk | CPC]
• Katori departed Truk, Caroline Islands. ww2dbase [Katori | Truk | CPC]

• Adolf Hitler, Hermann Göring, Wilhelm Keitel, Karl Dönitz, Heinrich Himmler, Fedor von Bock, Erhard Milch, and others visited the Zeughaus in Berlin, Germany to inspect an exhibition featuring captured Soviet weapons. It was Hitler's first public event in four months. At the Zeughaus, Colonel Rudolf von Gersdorff wore an overcoat packed with explosives with the intention of killing Hitler, but Hitler's schedule changed unexpectedly, and Hitler's early departure from the exhibition caused the assassination attempt to be called off. After departing from the exhibition, the group of German leaders attended a memorial ceremony for the Heroes' Memorial Day. ww2dbase [July Plot | Adolf Hitler | Berlin | TH, CPC]

• The 1,474-ton Greek merchant steamer Varvara, damaged by German air attack on the previous day, sank near the Tripoli harbour entrance, Libya. ww2dbase [HM]

• Destroyer USS Saufley departed Nouméa, New Caledonia bound for Efate, New Hebrides. ww2dbase [Saufley | Nouméa | DS]

• Cruisers USS Nashville and USS St. Louis arrived at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides. ww2dbase [St. Louis | Nashville | Segond Channel, Espiritu Santo | DS]

• USS Wahoo sank freighter Hozen Maru in the Yellow Sea near the coast of Korea, hitting her with 1 of 3 torpedoes; about 33 survived. Four hours later, she sank freighter Nittsu Maru, hitting her with 2 of 3 torpedoes; she encountered 3 survivors, all of whom refused to be rescued. ww2dbase [Wahoo | Yellow Sea | CPC]

• The BI-3 rocket-powered prototype aircraft took its third flight at Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg), Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia. ww2dbase [BI | Sverdlovsk | CPC]

• No. 617 Squadron RAF was established at RAF Scampton, England, United Kingdom under the command of Wing Commander Guy Gibson for the purpose of launching an attack upon the Ruhr dams in Germany. ww2dbase [Dambuster Raid | Scampton, England | AC]

21 Mar 1943 Interactive Map

• HMS Cumberland carried out offensive sweep in Indian Ocean with HM Battleships Queen Elizabeth, Valiant, HM Battlecruiser Renown, HM Aircraft Carrier Illustrious, HM Cruisers London, Gambia and Ceylon screened by fleet destroyers. (Operation Diplomat). ww2dbase [Valiant | Renown | Illustrious | Queen Elizabeth | London | Cumberland | DS]

• Torpedo boats Jaguar, Möwe, Greif, Kondor, T27, and T29 began to lay mines off Le Havre and Fécamp, France. ww2dbase [Möwe | Greif | Kondor | Jaguar | T27 | T29 | English Channel | CPC]

• USS Corregidor arrived at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. ww2dbase [Corregidor | Guadalcanal | CPC]
• Carriers USS Corregidor and USS Coral Sea with destroyers USS Nicholas, USS LaVallette, and USS Ellet arrived at Tulagi, Solomon Islands. ww2dbase [Ellet | Anzio | Corregidor | Nicholas | Tulagi, Solomon Islands | DS]

• British Chindit forces attacked Indaw, Burma. Meanwhile, Orde Wingate began moving his headquarters from Imphal to Sylhet in India, thus causing some confusion in the Indaw offensive. ww2dbase [Operation Thursday | Indaw | CPC]
• Troops of US 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) received an air drop at the village of Auche, Burma. Colonel Charles Hunter gave the villagers the parachutes as compensation for their assistance. Meanwhile, Chinese troops captured Jambu Bum ahead of schedule, thus Frank Merrill ordered Hunter to establish a roadblock on Kamaing Road 36 hours earlier than originally planned. Merrill also ordered the Orange Combat Team of 3rd Battalion to depart Janpan and form a block near Auche. ww2dbase [Battle of Myitkyina | Frank Merrill | Charles Hunter | Auche | CPC]

• Patrol Boat No. 102 arrived at Tarakan, Dutch East Indies at 0830 hours. ww2dbase [Stewart | Tarakan, Borneo | CPC]

• Barbers Point Naval Air Station: Officers and men of Air Group 100 arrived on board. ww2dbase [Barbers Point Naval Air Station | Ewa, Oahu | DS]

• While transiting from Emirau Island in the Bismarck Islands to Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, one of the wounded Marines aboard destroyer USS Saufley died of his wounds and was buried at sea. ww2dbase [Saufley | DS]

• A Junkers Ju 88A-14 from 8/KG6 of German Luftwaffe shot down during the night by a Mosquito of No. 488 Squadron RAF crashed on three B-26 Marauder bombers of the US 323rd Bombardment Group (Medium) at RAF Earls Colne at Earls Colne, Essex, England, United Kingdom. ww2dbase [Earls Colne, England | AC]

• USS Wasp arrived at San Diego, California, United States. ww2dbase [Wasp (Essex-class) | San Diego, California | CPC]

21 Mar 1944 Interactive Map

• Soviet forces captured Braunsberg near Königsberg in East Prussia, Germany. ww2dbase [East Prussian Offensive | TH]
• US First Army advanced toward Siegburg, Germany. ww2dbase [Advance to the Rhine | TH]
• The Japanese made the first operational sortie with the Yokosuka Ohka (Cherry Blossom) suicide aircraft. The sixteen Mitsubishi G4M2e bombers of 321st Squadron launched aircraft were intercepted short of their target and were forced to jettison their piloted weapons. ww2dbase [MXY7 Ohka | AC]
• USS Preston departed for Ryukyu Islands. ww2dbase [Preston (Fletcher-class) | CPC]

• An intact Japanese Fu-Go balloon bomb was located near Dillingham, Alaska. ww2dbase [Fu-Go | Dillingham | DS]

• USS Wake Island departed Ulithi, Caroline Islands. ww2dbase [Wake Island | Ulithi | CPC]
• Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Sargent Bay departed Ulithi, Caroline Islands bound for operations in the Okinawa area. ww2dbase [Sargent Bay | Ulithi | DS]

• The USAAF 306th Bomb Group flying from RAF Thurleigh launched a bombing raid against the airfield at Rheine, Germany. ww2dbase [Bombing of Hamburg, Dresden, and Other Cities | RAF Thurleigh | Rheine | DS]

• Barbers Point Naval Air Station: Air Group 53 arrived on board. ww2dbase [Barbers Point Naval Air Station | Ewa, Oahu | DS]

• Soviet forces captured Székesfehérvár (German: Stuhlweißenburg), Hungary. ww2dbase [Budapest Strategic Offensive Operation | Székesfehérvár | TH]

• In a Disney operation, three B-17 Fortresses attacked the E-boat pens at IJmuiden, Netherlands with rocket-assisted bombs. ww2dbase [Schnellboot-class | Disney | IJmuiden | DS]

• USS Baya fired three torpedoes at a Japanese transport in the South China Sea; all torpedoes missed. ww2dbase [Baya | South China Sea | CPC]
• USS Corregidor began an anti-submarine patrol in the vicinity of Wotje and Maloelap, Marshall Islands. ww2dbase [Corregidor | CPC]

• USS Kimberly departed San Pedro Bay, Philippine Islands for radar picket duty. ww2dbase [Philippines Campaign, Phase 2 | Kimberly | San Pedro Bay | CPC]

• Allied convoy JW-65 arrived at the Kola Inlet near Murmansk, Russia. ww2dbase [Arctic Convoys | Murmansk | CPC]

• German V-2 rocket hit the Packard factory in London, England, United Kingdom at 0939 hours, destroying it and damaging 13 factories and 662 houses; it killed 32, seriously injured 100, and lightly injured 460. Another rocket hit Primrose Hill in St Pancras (though officially listed as in Hampstead), London, damaging the reservoir and injuring 14 people. ww2dbase [V-Weapons Campaign | Vergeltungswaffe 2 | London, England | CPC]

• USS Carbonero departed New London, Connecticut, United States. ww2dbase [Carbonero | New London, Connecticut | CPC]
• Captain Atherton Macondray, Jr. relieved Commander John T. Corwin as the commanding officer of the cruiser USS Nashville and would remain in command for the rest of Nashville’s time in the United States Navy. ww2dbase [Nashville | Bremerton, Washington | DS]
• Escort carrier USS Card arrived at Quonset Point, Rhode Island where she would spend the next 9 weeks conducting carrier landing qualifications in Narragansett Bay involving 4,742 aircraft landings with only one fatal mishap ww2dbase [Card | Quonset Point, Rhode Island | DS]

21 Mar 1945 Interactive Map

• Holland was decommissioned from service. ww2dbase [Holland | CPC]

• George Washington Carver entered the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Suisun Bay, California, United States. ww2dbase [George Washington Carver | Suisun Bay, California | CPC]

21 Mar 1947 Interactive Map

• Chen Lifu stepped down as a committee member at the Executive Yuan. ww2dbase [Chen Lifu | CPC]

• USS Yorktown (Essex-class) placed in commission in reserve at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Washington, United States where she was to receive extensive modifications, most significantly an angled flight deck to increase her capabilities for handling jet aircraft. ww2dbase [Puget Sound Navy Yard | Yorktown (Essex-class) | Bremerton, Washington | DS]

21 Mar 1955 Interactive Map

• USS Wasp arrived at Boston, Massachusetts, United States. ww2dbase [Wasp (Essex-class) | Boston, Massachusetts | CPC]

• USS Wasp embarked a television film crew from the National Broadcasting Company. ww2dbase [Wasp (Essex-class) | CPC]

• Béarn was struck from the French Navy list. ww2dbase [Béarn | CPC]

• USS Caiman exited drydock at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California, United States. ww2dbase [Mare Island Navy Yard | Caiman | Vallejo, California | CPC]

• USS Missouri departed Persian Gulf. ww2dbase [Missouri | CPC]

• Frederick Aikman passed away in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. ww2dbase [Frederick Aikman | St. Catharines, Ontario | CPC]

21 Mar 2015 Interactive Map