World war II chronology - March 1943

1 March 1943	16 British Halifax and Stirling bombers with H2S navigation control lead about 300 bombers on Berlin. Much damage is done, but 17 planes are shot down.
3 March 1943	British Mosquitoes attack molybdenum mines at Knaben. 417 British bombers attack Hamburg, Germany. Most bombs fall on Wedel, 13 miles away.
4 March 1943	In southern England, the General Headquarters exercise "Spartan" begins, testing the army's ability to break out of a bridgehead, and engage in open warfare. The exercise ends on March 12. (As a result of this exercise, three Canadian generals lose their commands, including General Andrew McNaughton.) 17 American bombers attack Hamm, Germany, losing four planes. Near Portugal, Canadian destroyer HMCS St. Croix and corvette HMCS Shediac sink German submarine U-87.
5 March 1943	British Air Chief Marshal Arthur Harris begins "The Battle of the Ruhr", with a major attack on Essen and its Krupps factories. About 438 bombers attack in several waves, with yellow, green, and red flares and bombs helping mark targets. Oboe and H2S navigation aids also help direct bombers to their target areas. 160 acres of the town are devastated. 450 more acres suffer extensive damage. 14 aircraft do not return to their bases.
6 March 1943	Near Tunisia, German commander Erwin Rommel attacks the British 8th Army at Medenine. After the loss of 40 tanks, Rommel calls off the attack.
7 March 1943	US General George Patton arrives at US 2nd Corps headquarters in North Africa.
8 March 1943	British Bomber Command receives orders to modify Lancaster bombers to carry a special 10 ton mines to be used for breaking dams. The mine is code named "Upkeep", and has to be released from close to the water's surface, allowing it to drop down the face of the dam before exploding.
9 March 1943	German commander in Africa Erwin Rommel takes sick leave to Europe.
13 March 1943	While escorting a convoy to Gibraltar, RMS corvette Prescott sinks submarine U-163 in the Bay of Biscay. In Smolensk, a bomb disguised as two bottles of brandy is put on board Adolf Hitler's personal Focke-Wulf 200 Condor plane. The detonator activates, but due to cold temperature, the plastic explosives do not detonate.
14 March 1943	A German victory at Kharkov in Russia creates a bulge around Kursk. In Rjukan, Norway, resistance fighters destroy a heavy water plant. Allied Atlantic convoy SC121 loses thirteen ships, with no destruction of German submarines. Combined Chiefs of Staff appoints British Lt. General Frederick Morgan to the post of chief of staff to the supreme Allied commander. He is given instructions to co-ordinate plans for the invasion of Europe. An Atlantic Convoy Conference is held, with British, American, and Canadian participation. Canada's Rear Admiral Murray is appointed Commander-in-Chief, Canadian Northwest Atlantic. The United States announces its decision to withdraw completely from the Atlantic. Britain and Canada are placed in complete charge of trade convoys on northern routes.
16 March 1943	Convoys SC-122 and HX-229 across the Atlantic are attacked by submarines. Over three days, 21 ships are sunk.
17 March 1943	Near Tunisia, the US 1st Infantry Division launches an attack on Gafsa, quickly driving out the Italian defenders without a fight.
20 March 1943	Near Tunisia, the British 8th Army launches an attack on Axis defences of the Mareth line.
22 March 1943	357 British Bombers attack German submarine bases at St. Nazaire.
23 March 1943	Near Tunisia, British General Bernard Montgomery shifts his forces to the inland flank of the Mareth line. German commander Dietloff Von Arnim withdraws Messe's army to Wadi Akarit.
26 March 1943	US naval Task Group 16.6 sights a Japanese convoy approaching the Komandorski Islands, near the Aleutian Islands. The task forces consists of one heavy cruiser, one light cruiser, and four destroyers. The Japanese force sighted is two heavy cruisers, two light cruisers, and six destroyers. Near the Aleutian Islands, Japanese heavy cruiser Nachi is struck by several hits. Near the Aleutian Islands, Japanese heavy cruiser Maya hits US heavy cruiser Salt Lake City with a shell. Near the Aleutian Islands, a Japanese shell hits the main deck of heavy cruiser Salt Lake City, passing through the ship below the waterline. Near the Aleutian Islands, an 8-inch shell hits US warship Salt Lake City below the waterline, exploding in a fuel tank.
27 March 1943	The British Secret Intelligence Service headquarters receives the transcript of a recorded conversation between two captured German generals about rockets to start hitting London next year. Near Tunisia, the British 8th Army reaches Gabés. 396 British bombers attack Berlin, Germany.
28 March 1943	323 British Bombers attack German submarine bases at St. Nazaire.
29 March 1943	329 British bombers attack Berlin, Germany. 21 planes do not return.
30 March 1943	The British 8th Army breaks the German Mareth Line in Tunisia.