World War II Chronicles

During the Spring of 1944, the Japanese - occupying the Dutch East Indies - anticipated an American attack from the east. However, the Japanese had little air cover and little resistance -- but they would hold out until August. Long before then, General MacArthur would prepare for his return to the Philippines.

In early 1944, the sixteen major league baseball teams began spring training. By the time the season began in April, 60% of the starting players in 1941 were in the Armed Forces. With so many players drafted, the league began to fill their teams with teenagers and middle-aged men.

The Japanese offensive on the Burma-India front had reached Kohima and Imphal on April 6, 1944. A quick assemblage of British and Indian troops held out against a Japanese force six times the size, in bitter hand-to-hand combat.

To maintain neutrality during WWII was to court the wrath of belligerents on both sides. Only six nations in Europe remained neutral, and it was constantly tested. In April 1944, the Swiss were outraged when US planes mistakingly bombed a Swiss town.

During March of 1944, Allied Air Forces were engaged in massive dogfights over Axis territory. American pilots consciously attacked special targets to lure the Luftwaffe into battle.

Since American forces landed on the island of Bougainville in November 1943, they protected their newly won air fields which would enable air strikes. By early 1944, advances towards Rabaul became more intense and the Japanese realized they needed to relieve the pressure. They prepared to attack American positions during the first week in March.

Until March 4, 1944, the lack of long-range fighter escort prohibited U.S. participation in bombing raids over Berlin. Over the next week, massive squadrons of bombers swarmed over the German capital. American bombing over Berlin would continue to cripple German forces.

During February 1944, officers under General MacArthur's command were counseling him to launch a reconnaissance attack against the Admiralty Islands. Their occupation would complete the encirclement against the Japanese stronghold at Rabaul. MacArthur ordered an invasion for February 29, 1944.

The Landing Ship Tank, known as the 'LST' served as the backbone of Allied landings in the Pacific and Italy throughout early 1944. The first LST was completed in December of 1942, and these vessels became critical ships in warfare over the next year. They could obtain a remarkable amount of damage and still survive.

The hard fought Italian campaign of 1943 made the town of Cassino a key objective. To crack the German line, the hill of Monte Cassino was ordered to to be taken by Bernard Freyberg and the New Zealand Corps.