World War II Database

• Home
• » Events
• » WW2 Timeline
• » 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]

• The headquarters of USAAF 49th Fighter Group was transferred out of Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua. ww2dbase [Dobodura Airfield | Dobodura | CPC]

• 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]

• Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for destroyer Fumizuki at Truk, Caroline Islands. ww2dbase [Akashi | Truk | CPC]

• Joseph Stilwell and Frank Merrill arrived at Cairo, Egypt and checked into the Mena House hotel. ww2dbase [Joseph Stilwell | Frank Merrill | Cairo | CPC]

• USS Alabama provided naval gunfire support for the US landing at Betio, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands. ww2dbase [Alabama | Betio, Tarawa | CPC]
• USS New Mexico shelled Japanese positions at Makin Atoll, Gilbert Islands. ww2dbase [New Mexico | Gilbert Islands Campaign | Makin | CPC]
• USS Portland shelled shore positions on Betio Island at Tarawa Atoll in support of the US Marine landings. ww2dbase [Gilbert Islands Campaign | Portland | Tarawa | DS]
• USS Hoel served as part of the destroyer screen for US escort carriers providing air support for the Butaritari Island in the Makin Atoll. ww2dbase [Hoel | Gilbert Islands Campaign | Makin | DS]
• USS Kimberly arrived off Makin, Gilbert Islands. ww2dbase [Kimberly | Gilbert Islands Campaign | Makin | CPC]

• USS Mingo arrived at Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii, ending her second war patrol. ww2dbase [Mingo | Pearl Harbor Navy Base and Ford Island Naval Air Station | Honolulu, Oahu | CPC]

• The US Army 1688th Detachment completed its 3-day move to Camp Deogarh in central India. ww2dbase [Deogarh, Central Provinces | CPC]

• British Eighth Army crossed the Sangro River in Italy. ww2dbase [Advance to the Gustav Line | TH]

• Nachi departed Ominato Guard District, Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. ww2dbase [Nachi | Mutsu, Aomori | CPC]

• USS Yorktown (Essex-class) sent raids back to the airfield at Jaluit, Marshall Islands and some of her planes also supported the troops on Makin, Gilbert Islands. ww2dbase [Yorktown (Essex-class) | J. J. Clark | Gilbert Islands Campaign | DS]
• Aircraft from carriers USS Corregidor, Coral Sea, and Liscombe Bay strike Makin Island as part of the Gilbert Island Campaign. ww2dbase [Gilbert Islands Campaign | Anzio | Corregidor | DS]

• 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]

• 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]

• USS Parche was commissioned into service with Commander Lawson Ramage in command. ww2dbase [Parche | CPC]

20 Nov 1943 Interactive Map