SprueStack Zero Hour: WW2 day by day

21 January 1943

What happened on this day in the Second World War, from 1939 to 1945, with a source for every entry.

About this page

Each day we list events from the Second World War that happened on that date, from 1939 to 1945. Every entry names its source and links to it, so you can read further. Entries are sourced and machine-screened before they go up, a subset is human-reviewed, and we add more over time.

7 of 10 sourced entries for this date, chosen by the editor.

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Entries

Guadalcanal

XIV Corps completes preparations for offensive on 22d. 2d Bn of 161st Inf, 25th Div, advances to Hill Y, SW of Hill X, where opposition is negligible.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Libya

Br Eighth Army continues to press W toward Tripoli, 51st Div overcoming resistance in Corradini area. Learning that enemy has strengthened Tarhuna at expense of Horns front, Gen Montgomery decides to make main effort along coast.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
New Guinea

Aus and U.S. troops effect junctions along coast E of Sanananda and on Soputa- Sanananda road. 127th Inf column drives through Giruwa virtually unopposed to join Australians just W of the village.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Red Army armies have more victories in the Caucasus.

Source Wikipedia (opens external site)
China-Burma-India Theater

THOR mission records show at least 4 Allied sorties (1 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1943-01-21, flown by USAAF 10th Air Force. Targets included BURMA.

Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

THOR is a secondary compilation with known gaps, not a complete record.
Mediterranean Theater

THOR mission records show at least 49 Allied sorties (23 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1943-01-21, flown by unidentified Allied air units. Targets included TUNISIA, FRENCH WEST AFRICA.

Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

THOR is a secondary compilation with known gaps, not a complete record.
Pacific Theater

THOR mission records show at least 3 Allied sorties (2 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1943-01-21, flown by USAAF 5th Air Force. Targets included CELEBES ISLANDS.

Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

THOR is a secondary compilation with known gaps, not a complete record.

The full list for this date is being cleaned and will return soon.

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21 January in other years 1940 1941 1942 1944 1945

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21 January 1943

Entries

XIV Corps completes preparations for offensive on 22d. 2d Bn of 161st Inf, 25th Div, advances to Hill Y, SW of Hill X, where opposition is negligible.

Br Eighth Army continues to press W toward Tripoli, 51st Div overcoming resistance in Corradini area. Learning that enemy has strengthened Tarhuna at expense of Horns front, Gen Montgomery decides to make main effort along coast.

Aus and U.S. troops effect junctions along coast E of Sanananda and on Soputa- Sanananda road. 127th Inf column drives through Giruwa virtually unopposed to join Australians just W of the village.

Red Army armies have more victories in the Caucasus.

THOR mission records show at least 4 Allied sorties (1 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1943-01-21, flown by USAAF 10th Air Force. Targets included BURMA.

THOR mission records show at least 49 Allied sorties (23 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1943-01-21, flown by unidentified Allied air units. Targets included TUNISIA, FRENCH WEST AFRICA.

THOR mission records show at least 3 Allied sorties (2 recorded unit missions) in the Pacific Theater on 1943-01-21, flown by USAAF 5th Air Force. Targets included CELEBES ISLANDS.

Talk about it