World war II chronology - February 1943

1 February 1943	The German 21st Panzer Division of the 5th Panzer Army captures the French garrison at Faid pass. The whole area of Le Panier, Marseille, France, is detonated: 34 acres, 1924 buildings, thousands of homes. A British Stirling bomber with H2S technology crashes in Holland, potentially giving the Germans a head-start on understanding and countering the technology.
2 February 1943	The remainder of the German 6th Army surrenders at Stalingrad. About 150,000 Axis soldiers died in the battle, another 150,000 were taken prisoner. In total, about 450,000 on both sides died. (Only about 6000 German soldiers ever return to Germany.)
3 February 1943	263 British bombers attack Hamburg, Germany.
4 February 1943	The British Air Ministry gives Bomber Command a directive, listing submarine bases as top priority. 188 British bombers attack Turin, Italy. Heavy damage is inflicted. Three planes are shot down.
6 February 1943	East of Gibraltar, an Italian torpedo bomber sinks Royal Canadian Navy corvette Louisburg.
7 February 1943	Japanese forces evacuate Gualcanal. 323 British Bombers attack German submarine bases at Lorient.
8 February 1943	In the Mediterranean, Royal Canadian Navy corvette Regina sinks Italian submarine Avorio.
9 February 1943	American Marines defeat final resistance on Guadalcanal.
10 February 1943	The Soviet Red Army launches an offensive to try to open the October Railroad between Moscow and Leningrad. Soviet forces attack the Spanish Blue Division near Krasny Bor, below Leningrad. The Blue Division is forced to retreat for the first time in the war. Spanish and German governments sign a secret protocol, in which Spain will resist entry of Anglo-American forces on any Spanish territory, in exchange for German supplies of war material.
11 February 1943	Karkov is recaptured by the Soviet Red Army.  177 British bombers attack Wilhelmshaven, Germany. A hit on a naval ammunition depot devastates 120 acres of the town and dockyards.
12 February 1943	Winston Churchill writes to Josef Stalin, informing him of preparations for a cross-Channel invasion of Europe in August or September.
13 February 1943	466 British Bombers attack German submarine bases at Lorient. In nine attacks since January 14, 2000 sorties have been flown against this one target.
14 February 1943	Near Tunisia, the German 21st Panzer Division launches an attack from Faid toward Sbeitla. Field Marshal Erich von Manstein is moved from Commander Army group Don to Commander Army group South. 142 British Lancaster bombers attack Milan, Italy. At least 27 factories are destroyed. Two planes are shot down.
15 February 1943	The British government protests to the Swedish government regarding Sweden building fishing boats for the Germans to use as minesweepers. Allied Atlantic convoy ON166 loses 14 of 63 ships, with escort ships sinking two of 21 German submarines.
16 February 1943	The British Air Ministry instructs Bomber Command to bomb Berlin, Germany, due to Russian successes at Stalingrad.
17 February 1943	Near Tunisia, the German 21st Panzer Division launches an attack on American positions in front of Sbeitla. By nightfall, American forces pull back. In three days of fighting, US forces lost 150 tanks, almost 3000 men, against minor German losses.
19 February 1943	British General Sir Harold Alexander takes over command of the whole Tunisian front.
20 February 1943	Near Tunisia, German forces capture Kasserine pass from the Americans. (This loss gives the British a low opinion of American fighting capabilities.)
21 February 1943	Near Tunisia, British 26th Armored Brigade Group pulls back to Thala.
22 February 1943	Near Tunisia, German forces withdraw through Kasserine. Near Gibraltar, Royal Canadian Navy corvette Weyburn strikes a mine and sinks.
23 February 1943	German Erwin Rommel is put in command of all Axis forces in Africa.
25 February 1943	337 British bombers attack Nuremberg, Germany. Nine planes are shot down.
26 February 1943	Near Tunisia, German commander General Dietloff Juergen von Arnim launches panzers along a 70-mile stretch, with objective Beja. The attack is a failure, with the loss of 71 tanks and 2500 prisoners. 417 British bombers attack Cologne, Germany.
28 February 1943	437 British bombers attack German submarine bases at St. Nazaire.