Wednesday 1^st March 1944.

Glorious day.  My eye cured from mosquito bite.  New Chief Clerk arrived.  Shall not form an opinion too soon.  Lunched with Halli at C.C.  Went to a party in Lottie’s new flat in the evening.  Quite a merry affair.  Lottie looked very sweet.  Halli & I in good form.  Stayed the night there.

Thursday 2^nd March 1944.

Bakery at Haifa closed for repairs.  All scraping of walls & ceiling completed.  Tank placed on roof.  Had boozy evening with Halli & some R.E. officers at Carmelia Ct.  Sang with Greta over mike.  Finished up in Movements Mess.  Very tight.

Friday 3^rd March 1944.

Page, Halli & I went to Sarafand.  All feeling very grim.  Got pulled up by MP for speeding in built up area!  Bakers walked out at Rafah.  Submitted proposed Bky plan at Sarafand to Col. Franklin.  He approved.  Spent quiet evening with Lottie at flat.

Saturday 4^th March 1944.

Repairs to Bky nearing completion.  Discussed state bky in Syria with Major Overman.  He is to ask me to Beirut for some purpose.  Had a farewell dinner for Halli at C.C. Lottie came as well.  A great evening.

Sunday 5^th March 1944.

Took Halli to Jerusalem.  Went via Nazareth, pretty run.  Lunched at Officers’ Club.  Left Halli just after lunch & returned to Haifa.  He will phone when he is fixed up.  Bed early & read “Four in hand!”  Priestly.

Monday 6^th March 1944.

Visited Mafrae with Knowles.  He is now S.Q.M.S.  Went via Tiberias.  Most glorious scenery.  Came back same way at sunset.  Colours just amazing.  Dined quietly at Lottie’s flat.  Elfie was there for a short time.

Tuesday 7^th March 1944.

Met Mr. Shipton, 2i/c to Spinney.  Advised him on their bakery.  He asked me to dinner next week.  Had my second attempt on a m/cycle today.  Doing well!  Pictures with Lottie.  Saw “Manhattan Madness”.  Great cast.

Wednesday 8^th March 1944.

Work at Haifa Bky completed.  Baking to start tonight.  Col. Hull inspected the place in afternoon and congratulated us.  Finished in office about 19.30 and went straight to bed.  Grand to have an early night.

Thursday 9^th March 1944.

First bread out at Haifa.  All O.K. so far.  Had third m/cycle lesson.  Getting on well.  Met Frank Powell, old cityman.  Hadn’t seen him for 12 years.  Had a few beers with him.  Went to C.C. with Lottie & had some more drinks.  Night at flat.

Friday 10^th March 1944.

Page & Knowles left for Rafah & El Jiya.  Colin Harrison arrived as my 2i/c.  brought back many Beirut memories.  Homan came down to see me.  He has just refused an infantry commission.  Took Harrison, Homan & Hopkinson to the “Behal”.   Still spending money like water!!

Saturday 11^th March 1944.

Had a coffee with Lottie at 11.00.  Chief Clerk advised new filing system.  He promises to be a good chap.  Halli phoned from Rehovat.  Had dinner at C.C. with Lottie.  Met the Wheatman’s.  Pessy’s birthday!  Very cheery evening.  Discussed leave question with Lottie.  To meet Lt. Col. Byrne on Cairo train at 09.30 hrs.  Cancelled.

Sunday 12^th March 1944.

Harrison left for Sarafand on m/c to take up duties.  Page reported Rafah & El Jiya improving all round.  Harrison should wake ‘em up.  Byrne not coming till Monday.  Shall miss him.  Took Capt. Davis to Jerusalem.  We dined at Fink’s with Perkins.  Stayed at “Pantiles”.  Davis not very well.

Monday 13^th March 1944.

Attended D.D.S.T. Supply Conference.  Usual waste of time.  Had lunch at the “International” with Davis, O’Callgan, Wheatly & Helen Barrat.  Back in Haifa 19.00.  Pictures with Lottie.  Saw “The Reluctant Dragon”.  Had eggs & chips at flat afterwards.  Feeling a bit sick & tired!

Tuesday 14^th March 1944.

Garden beginning to take shape at Fr. Ganmin.  Breadstone painted at Pott’s.  Plans for static oven nearing completion.  Dined with Lottie & her friend Marie at C.C.  Marie very chic & charming.  We had a grand evening.  Got back to camp about 24.00 hrs.

Wednesday 15^th March 1944.

Held a fire practice at Fr. Ganmin.  Satisfactory.  75 DID getting agitated about my snotty letter.  Emir of Transjordan visited Haifa.  Had coffee in afternoon with Lottie & Marie at the Café Sterkein.  Saw Lottie in the evening.  Stayed in the flat.  She cooked me eggs & bacon.  Just like home.  She’s a sweet child.

Thursday 16^th March 1944.

Page attending Ct. of Enquiry at the C.S.D.  Col. Hull sent for me and told me to enquire into a “dud cheque” affair concerning Segt. Marshall.  Picked up Halli’s kit at C.C.  Met Major Williams, O.C., R.E. Beirut.  Back in camp early.  Phoned Lottie & went to bed.  Dinner with Mr. Shipton at 19.30 hrs cancelled.

Friday 17^th March 1944.

Went to Sarafand & El Jiya with Harrison.  El Jiya greatly improved.  Ovens at Sarafand still sooting up the place.  Picked up Halli at Rehovat Stn and took him to Tel Aviv.  Hall, Colin & myself went to a party with Lottie.  We three stayed the night at the Yarke Hotel.

Saturday 18^th March 1944.

Took Halli back to Rehovat.  Went on to Rafah with Colin.  Bakery clean but bread poor.  All labourers as bakers gone.  Car broke down at Gaya on way back.  Got a taxi back.  Car towed to Stn. Maint. Sarafand.  Back in Haifa by 20.00.  Had dinner at Lottie’s flat.

Sunday 19^th March 1944.

Congrats from A.C. 15 Area on Pott’s Bky!  Feel very pleased about it.  Notified that new truck awaits collection at Sarafand.  Made Keen a L/Cpl.  A.A. officer came to see me about accommodating his men in Fr. Ganmin.  Think it good idea.  Phoned Lottie & went to bed early.

Monday 20^th March 1944.

Visited Stn. Maintenance & blew them up about the car.  They admitted their bad work.  New truck arrived only not so “new”!  Col Hull & I took Lottie & Marie to dinner at C.C.  We finished up at Area Commander’s dance.  Wonderful evening.  All of us in good form.  God bless Lottie.

Tuesday 21^st March 1944.

Don’t feel so good today!  Harrison & Sgt. Fancott at Degania Bky to teach them our methods.  P.O.W.’s at Hadrea still complaining.  Are we getting soft again!  Phoned Lottie & had an early night in camp.

Wednesday 22^nd March 1944.

Truck into W/S for initial inspection.  Had my photo taken in afternoon.  Had tea with Lottie & Page.  We bought some more stockings.  Went to fetch Lottie for pictures in evening but she had some friends from Damascus.  We all dined at Bosses.  Went on to C.C.  Lottie very sad when we got back.  She cried a lot & said she had nearly deceived me.  Hurt me at first but made it up again.  All well now and both of us very happy.

Thursday 23^rd March 1944.

Saw Mr. Sperrey in morning & discussed his bky.  [Meet Mr. Sperrey at 10.00 hrs.  Thurs.  To discuss waste of labour or production losses in his bakeries.  Think I can help him quite a bit.] He is arranging to send me two men for training.  D.A.D.S. & Col. Hull inspected Pott’s.  All O.K.  Held unit dance in camp.  Best we’ve had.  Plenty of “bints”.  I took Naomi from the house near the camp.  Quite a sweet kid.  Colin came up for the occasion.

Friday 24^th March 1944.

Martial law and curfew from 6 – 6 proclaimed in Haifa, Jerusalem & Tel Aviv, owing to recent bomb outrages.  Col. Hull & I were unable to meet Lottie & Mary as poor Lottie is in restricted area.  Hull & I dined at C.C. and finished up at his mess.  Managed to get a taxi home.

Saturday 25^th March 1944.

D.D.S.T. visited bakery in afternoon at Haifa.  Baking looked a picture but D.D.S.T. not the man to give any bouquets!  Had coffee with Lottie in morning.  She moved to C.C. for duration of curfew.  Dined with her & back in camp by 24.00 hrs.

Sunday 26^th March 1944.

Saw the proofs of my photos.  Grinning like a bloody ape!  Had lunch with Lottie at C.C.  Left her at 16.00 hrs & went back to camp.  Cleared up in office & was in bed by 20.30 hrs.  Reading “The Lautermack Bros” by L. Feuchtwanger.

Monday 27^th March 1944.

Very dull, heavy day.  Became Subst. Capt today.  Mr. Nuttall arrived back!  Hope he will go or all men recently promoted will have to come down.  Dined with Lottie at C.C.  Heavy storm started about 22.00.  Wind & rain.  Herman picked me up at 24.00 and took me back to camp.  Blowing all night.

Tuesday 28^th March 1944.

Still blowing & raining like hell.  Messed up all the garden in the camp.  Haven’t had a letter from angel for nearly 3 weeks.  Feel worried and depressed.  Things don’t seem to be going so well.  Dinner with Lottie at C.C.  She gave me small photo in gold frame of mother to put on my watch.

Wednesday 29^th March 1944.

D.D.M.S. inspected camp at Fr. Ganmin.  All O.K. despite the mud & rain.  Col. Hull called to discuss move to DID site.  Decided to remain at Fr. Ganmin for time being.  Left Haifa for Tel Aviv at 12.00.  Arrived at 15.00.  Booked in at Officers’ Club & inspected Degaria Bky.  Great involvement by Colin.  Back in club by 17.00 owing to curfew.  Spent evening boozing with two South African Officers.

Thursday 30^th March 1944.

Visited Sarafand, El Jiya & Rafah.  Bread at Rafah shocking owing to lack of skilled bakers.  Must get some P.O.W.s.  El Jiya looks much better.  Arrived Haifa at 19.30.  Phoned Lottie & had an early night in camp.

Friday 31^st March 1944.

Visited SPLCO in morning re cook at camp.  Had coffee Lottie in afternoon.  She gave me my photos.  Not bad.  Page bought some more stockings from her.  Had dinner with her at C.C.  She got a little tight with wine.  Very happy eve.

Collins Diamond Diary

1944

Saturday 4 March 1944

Left C at 8 am – arrived Colchester at 11.45.  Lunch at Ox Rd –n Caught 3.43 to L met A Kings X at 6.5 super minute – Dinner Liverpool St.  Then caught 7.30 to C – arrived just after 9 ocl – chat etc and so to bed after bath.

Sunday 5 March 1944

Quiet day – in pm went to see The N.S.O. at the Regal.

No entries Monday 6 March 1944 to Sunday 19 March 1944

Monday 20 March 1944

Conference SECO.

Tuesday 21 March 1944

Duty officer.

Date                Time   Location         Damage

02/03/1944    Between   Great       A private motorcar property of Dr J B Radcliffe of 1

14.00      Wakering   Tudor Way Hawkwell was pierced by an incendiary

and 16.00                  bullet from a Thunderbolt Fighter.  N.C.

14/03/1944    23.00  Herongate     2 – H.Es exploded in fields at rear of “Old Dog”

                                                            P.H.  N.D.C.

14/03/1944    23.05  Canvey          1 – Container of I.Bs. exploded in field on White

                                    Island             Farm Haven Road.  N.D.C.

14/03/1944    23.05  Canvey          7 – Ux.H.Es fell in Cook’s field Haven Road. 

                                    Island             N.D.C.

14/03/1944    23.05  Canvey          1 – Ux.Ph.I.B. fell in White’s field W of Haven

                                    Island             Road.  N.D.C.

14/03/1944    23.05  Canvey          1 Container of I.Bs fell in Hole Haven Creek. 

                                    Island             N.D.C.

14/03/1944    23.15  Ingrave           1 – H.E. exploded on 13th fairway, Thorndon Park

                                                            Golf Course.  N.D.C.

14/03/1944    23.15  Mountnessing          6 – H.Es exploded in field between Belman’s

Farm and the ‘George and Dragon’ P.H.  Damage to property.  N.C.

14/03/1944    23.15  Shenfield       2 – Ux.Ph.I.Bs fell in garden of ‘Trevosper’ Worrin

                                                            Road.  N.D.C.

14/03/1944    23.20  Great Warley A number of I.Bs fell on Stoneyhills Farm.  Stack

                                                            fire.  N.C.

14/03/1944    23.20  Shenfield       2 – Ux.Ph.I.B. fell in Worrin Road.  N.D.C.

14/03/1944    23.20 Great Warley 5 – Ux.H.Es and 3 exploded H.Es fell in woodland

                                                            near Stonyhills Farm.  N.D.C.

14/03/1944    23.30  Langdon        1 – Ux. A.A. Shell fell in garden of “Oakdene”

                                    Hills                Eastleigh Drive.  N.D.C.

17/03/1944    21.30  Brentwood     1 – A.A. Shell exploded in garden of “Three

                                                            Cables” Cornlands.  N.D.C.          

19/03/1944    17.45  Vange            3 children were seriously injured as the result of a

fourth placing a partly ignited I.B. on a fire burning on waste land and are detained in hospital.        

22/03/1944    01.00  Rochford       1 – I.B. container exploded in field 200 yards W of

                                                            Butler’s Farm, Shopland.   N.D.C.

22/03/1944    01.00  Shenfield       1 AB/1000/2 container of French I.Bs fell in field

                                                            adj. Herd’s Farm Cottage.  Slight damage.  N.C.

22/03/1944    01.00  Rochford       1 AB/500/1 container of mixed I.Bs fell in field on

                                                            Butler’s Farm, Shopland.  N.D.C.

 22/03/1944   01.00  Little Warley  1 – H.E. exploded in field W of Hall Lane.   N.D.C.

22/03/1944    01.05  Rochford       An enemy aircraft crashed in flames and was

totally destroyed.  2 of crew captured and 1 found dead.  Plane crashed in field on Butler’s Farm.

22/03/1944    01.05  Rochford       2 – Ux.H.Es and 1 exploded H.E. on field on

                                                            Butler’s Farm Shopland.

22/03/1944    01.05  Rochford       1 – Ux.H.E. fell in field 400 yards SW of Butler’s

                                                            Farm, Shopland.  N.D.C.

22/03/1944    01.05  Rochford       1 – Ux.H.E. Fell 150 yards of Butler’s Farm

                                                            Shopland.  N.D.C.

22/03/1944    01.10  Ashingdon    1 AB/1000/2 container of mixed I.Bs fell in field

                                                            200 yards S of Ashingdon School.  N.D.C.

22/03/1944    01.10  Ashingdon    1 AB/1000/2 container of mixed I.Bs fell in

                                                            Canewdon Road.  N.D.C.

22/03/1944    01.10  Ashingdon    1 AB/1000/2 container of mixed I.Bs fell in field

400 yards NW of Ashingdon School.  Damage to property.  N.C.

22/03/1944    01.12  Billericay        A number of I.Bs fell in 40 acre and surrounding

fields.  Damage to property and telephone wires.  N.C.

22/03/1944    01.16  Ashingdon    A number of I.Bs fell at Beckney’s Corner.  Stack

                                                            fired.  N.C.                            

22/03/1944    01.20  Pitsea             1 – A.A. Shell exploded in garden of “Gorlestone”

                                                            Winifred Road.  N.D.C.

22/03/1944    01.30  Bowers           1 – A.A. Shell exploded in field 350 yards NNE of

                                    Gifford            Gun Inn.  N.D.C.

22/03/1944    01.30  Hutton            1 – A.A. Shell exploded in garden of ‘Laburnum’

                                                            Rayleigh Road.  Slight damage.  N.C.

22/03/1944    01.50  Rochford       1 – Ux.Ph.I.B. fell in field on Butler’s Farm

                                                            Shopland.  N.D.C.

22/03/1944    07.15  Barling           An empty metal container 2′ in length marked

‘O.H.M.E.’ together with balloon was found at Burton Farm.  N.D.C.  Date and time of falling unknown.

22/03/1944    07.30  Barling           1 – German machine gun and 1 cannon gun with

part of turret attached were found on mud flats at Barling Point.  N.D.C.  Date and time of falling unknown.

22/03/1944    08.00  Great              1 – German rubber dinghy with equipment

Wakering       including wireless transmitting set was found at Oldbury Farm.  N.D.C.  Date and time of falling unknown.

24/03/1944    00.05  Langdon        1 – A.A. Shell exploded rear of ‘Lilac Cottage’ Dry

                                    Hills                Street.  N.D.C.

24/03/1944    23.30  Wickford        1 – A.A. Shell exploded in field rear of London

                                                            Road.  N.D.C.

24/03/1944    Unknown  Brentwood         On night of 24/25 roof of Police house in La

                                                            Plata Grove was damaged by shrapnel.

24/03/1944     Unknown  Pitsea     On night of 24/25 1 – Ux. A.A. Shell fell in garden

                                                            of  ‘Parkville’ Northland Park Drive.  N.D.C.

24/03/1944    Unknown  Brentwood         1 – Ux. A.A. Shell fell in field 300 yards S of

                                                            railway bridge.  Nags Head Lane.  N.D.C.

25/03/1944    00.30  Billericay        1 – Ux. A.A. Shell fell in meadow 400 yards NE of

                                                            Oak Farm, South Green.  N.D.C.

27/03/1944    17.45  Coxtie Green A meteorological balloon with kite attached was

found on Red Lion Farm.  Date and time of falling unknown.

31/03/1944    08.30  Rayleigh        Found on railway track 1 mile NE of Hambro Hill

railway bridge (M.108/261111) portion of cardboard box measuring approx. 5 1/2″ x 5″ bearing words Berax Universal BILBFILPREATE MIT HALTED N.R. 128 Berax GILBFILTER’ on the reverse thereof.  Figures 126 on back of box.  Also 1 camera filter in black metal with spring clip attached but bearing words ‘Berax’.  Also a piece of camera filter glass.  Time deposited between 08.30 30.3.44 and 08.50 31.3.44.

March 1944

(Britain)

During March 1944 a series of RAF bombing attacks were conducted against various German cities. In February 1942 Sir Arthur “Bomber” Harris was appointed commander-in-chief of Bomber Command. He is quoted as saying “They sowed the wind – now they will reap the whirlwind”. A raid of 30 RAF planes attacked Dusseldorf, without much success, on the 4^th March 1944 which was the beginning of the whirlwind.  Frankfurt was bombed with heavy civilian losses on the 22^nd March 1940. Heavy bombing over a period of 24 hours was conducted against various German cities beginning the 24^th March 1940. When the RAF attacked Nuremburg on the 30^th March 1940, they suffered great losses. Of the 795 RAF bombers attacking Nuremburg, 95 were shot down, and over 700 men were missing. As many as 545 died and over 160 were taken prisoner. On the raid one Victoria Cross was awarded posthumously to Flying Officer Cyril Barton. He was piloting his Handley Page Halifax bomber when the aircraft was badly shot-up. Despite loss of one engine, radio and rear-turret and leaking fuel tanks he continued on to the target. In the meantime three of the seven man crew had bailed out during the engagement owing to a misunderstanding in on-board communications. The three crew members were the navigator, bombardier and wireless operator. Having reached the target Barton dropped his bombs and headed for home. He crossed the North Sea with only one engine still running. Desperately short of fuel he attempted to land near the village of Ryhope near Sunderland. He steered away from the village and crash-landed and was pulled from the wreckage seriously injured but died on the way to hospital. The remaining three crew members survived the crash-landing.

—

(Eastern Front)                                                                                                                                                                                 

On the Eastern Front the strategically important Narva Isthmus in Estonia in the Bay of Finland was attacked by the German Army on the Soviet Leningrad Front. The offensive began on the 1^st March 1944 and lasted until August 1944.

The harbour city of Tallinin, Estonia, located in the Bay of Finland, was occupied by the Germans. As part of the overall Soviet offensive the Soviet air force bombed the city in two waves on the 9^th/10^th March 1944. Between 6:30 – 9:00

 pm on the 9^th 300 Soviet aircraft dropped 3068 bombs. The second wave of bombers attacked at 2:00 am on the 10^th which lasted for an hour and half. Approximately 20% of the buildings were destroyed and over 750 people died of whom most were civilians.

The Dnieper-Carpathian offensive was well established on the 8^th March 1944 when 3,500,000 Soviet soldiers advanced along a 745 mile (1,200 km) front. The aim was to split the 3,500,000 Axis soldiers from the Ukraine and Moldovian territories. By rapidly advancing, on the 23^rd March 1944 the Red Army had successfully achieved their aim by capturing Chorikova, which cut off the supply line to the German Panzer Army.The Soviet offensive continued and ended in May 1944.

Hungary was part of the Axis from early in the war. However, Hungarian Prime Minister Miklos Kallay and Regent Miklos Horthy wished secretly to enter into a separate peace with the Allies. When German Fuhrer Adolf Hitler became aware he wanted to prevent the Hungarians abandoning Germany. He therefore invited Horthy, to meet on the 18^th March 1944 for discussions in Austria. Whilst discussions were being conducted, German forces marched into Hungary. The discussions were a distraction to keep Horthy out of the country and leave his Army without orders. On the 19^th March 1944, Operation Margarethe, the German occupation of Hungary began, and being a complete surprise, was quick and bloodless. 

—

(Italy)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

During the Second World War, the Vatican City in Rome was neutral. Both allied and axis air-crews were ordered to respect the neutrality, if and when bombing Rome. With Italy now out of the war following an armistice with the Allies, the German Army was the sole occupiers of Rome. However, the Vatican City was bombed twice by the allies. The first occurred on the clear and cloudless evening of the 5^th November 1943. At approximately 20:10 a single aeroplane was heard consistently circling Rome and the Vatican. At the same time a squadron of Allied aircraft passed over Vatican City. Once the squadron passed over the single aircraft dropped four bombs on Rome and flew away. There does not appear to be any documentation as to the perpetrators. The bombs dropped landed in the Vatican gardens. The blast caused all the windows to be blown to pieces in the outer buildings but there were no casualties. The Vatican itself did not suffer any damage. The second bombing of the Vatican occurred on the 1^st March 1944 when a British aircraft dropped his bombs on Rome. Unfortunately six bombs landed too close to the Vatican wall and one workman was killed and a number of injuries were sustained. The bombers caused damage to a number of the Vatican buildings, and most of the glass in the Vatican was shattered. However, the glass with the image of Our Lady remained intact. Later two sculptured shield-bearing Angels were installed on either side of the image. Beneath the Angel sculptures was an inscription – AB ANGELIS DEFENSA KAL MART. A.D. MCMXLIV. This translates into – Protected by angels. 1^st March 1944 AD. 

The Battle of Anzio had begun on the 12^th January 1944 and was an amphibious landing by the U.S. VI Corps of the U.S. Army. They were opposed by the German 14^th Army. The U.S. plan was to draw the German forces away from Monte Cassino south of Anzio. Initially the surprise attack was successful and U.S. troops proceeded inland.  Rather than advance toward Rome they dug-in expecting a German counter-attack. Whilst the U.S. troops consolidated, Field Marshall Albert Kesselring, German commander of the Italian theatre, moved as many forces he could spare into a defensive ring around the beachhead. His artillery had a clear view of every Allied positions. Desperate fighting occurred during February 1944 and by the beginning of March 1944 both sides had realised that a decisive result could not be achieved until the spring. With both sides building up their fighting capabilities they indulged in artillery duels. On the 3rd March 1944 Kesselring ordered the preparation of the Caesar C Line. This was to run from just south of Rome, across Italy to the eastern Adriatic coast of Pescara. This would enable the German defenders to retreat behind the line should the need arise. During March 1944 both sides saw many changes.  Many British troops were replaced after suffering heavy casualties The Germans, although well dug-in, lacked any reserves through the shortage of Officers and NCOs.   

Whilst the winter continued the Allied commanders decided the Battle of Monte Cassino would continue with a bombing campaign. The third battle began on the 15^th March 1944 with the bombardment of 750 tonnes of 1,000 lb bombs, fitted with delayed action fuses, being dropped from 8:30 am. The bombardment lasted three and half hours. However, the bombing concentration was not accurate, with only about 8% of the bombs landing within a 1,000 yards from the German defenders amongst the ruins. Of the rest only approximately 50% landed a mile or less from the target. What bombs did land on target managed to kill approximately 50% of the 300 German paratroopers stationed in the town. In the meantime 746 Allied artillery pieces provided a creeping barrage for the New Zealand advance. The momentum was lost as the defenders had acted far quicker than had been expected. Allied armour was also held up by the bomb craters. A follow-up assault was too late as the defenders had been reorganised far quicker. The most critical factor in the failure to advance was that the rain had started again, which flooded bomb craters and turned rubble into a muddy morass. But more importantly, communications were lost as the radio sets were incapable of surviving constant immersions in water. Moonlight was blotted out by dark rain clouds, which hindered clearing routes through the ruins. By the 19^th March 1944, Allied commanders decided to mount an attack on the town and monastery ruins. This was to be in the form of a surprise attack by tanks of the 20^th Armoured Regiment Any possibility of an assault on the monastery, by the tanks, was completely disrupted when the German defenders counter-attacked. Owing to lack of infantry support all the tanks were destroyed by mid-morning. The initiative was gradually passing to the Germans. To counter this the Allies committed some of the 78^th Infantry Division to the battle in order to provide a greater troop presence in the town. The plan was that the cleared areas of the town would not be re-infiltrated by the German defenders and secondly prevent any possible reinforcements. However, the defenders held out and the Allied gains in the town were measured by taking house by house. The Allies spent the remainder of March 1944 replacing exhausted troops. Fighting continued through April 1944 which prevented the Germans from reinforcing the army facing the Allied invasion of Operation Overlord in Normandy. The Fourth and final battle for Monte Cassino would begin on the 11^th/12^th May 1944.

With Italy out of the war the allies were able to establish an airbase at Foggia. The allies, located north-east of Naples and south-east of Rome were in an ideal position to attack the enemy. On the 17^th March 1944 Vienna in Austria was attacked in the first of a number of heavy bombing raids by the USAAF. Included in these attacks were the Floridsdorf Oil Refinery which suffered untold damage and the city also. The attacks on Vienna continued right up to the end of the war in April 1945. 

In Rome, on the 24^th March 1944, German occupation troops conducted the ”Fosse Ardeatine massacre”. The massacre was a reprisal by the S.S. Police Regiment Bozen at Via Rasella who were ambushed by Partisans the previous day, the 23^rd March 1944. Twelve partisans of the communist resistance group carried out an ambush by placing an improvised explosive device in a rubbish cart. When it exploded the blast caused the immediate deaths of 28 S.S. policemen. The partisans drifted away into the by-standing crowd. The commander of the German Security Police of Rome was Herbert Kappler an S.S. officer, who was on the scene shortly after the explosion. He was summoned to the German Headquarters of Kurt Mälzer who had decided that reprisals were to be carried out. Mälzer and Kappler both agreed that a suitable ratio of ten Italians should be executed for every German policeman killed. Upon hearing the news Hitler endorsed the executions, which he stipulated should be carried within 24 hours. By the time the executions were to take place on the 24^th March 1944, the German Police toll had risen to 33 dead. A total of 335 Italian prisoners were transported by trucks to the Ardeatine caves. They were forced to kneel down and were shot through the Cerebellum to ensure that only one bullet was required for each prisoner. The Cerebellum is the largest part of the brain located at the top and front of the skull. Following the executions, the bodies were buried under tons of debris. German military engineers had used explosives to seal the entrance to the caves. This deliberant act was to cover up the atrocity and to prevent the executions from becoming known which, for the Nazis, was the aim.  

—

(Pacific)

The Japanese-held Admiralty Islands are located east of New Guinea. U.S. troops invaded the Admiralty Islands by attacking Los Negros on the 5^th-7^th March 1944. On the 15^th March 1944 the Americans quickly took Manus Island as the Japanese were completely taken by surprise. The U.S. army finally achieved victory over the Admiralty Islands on 18^th May 1944.

The island of Bougainville had been administered by Australia as part of New Guinea since before the Second World War. As part of their advance into the South Pacific the Japanese had invaded and landed on Bougainville during March-April 1942. By early March 1944 U.S. troops were on Bougainville. On the 8^th March 1944 they were attacked by the Japanese at Hill 700 and by the 13^th March 1944 had failed to establish control of the area. For the time being the planned building of an airbase so that Rabaul could be attacked had to be put on hold. 

In 1942 the British Burma Corps was commanded by Field Marshall William (Bill) Slim who was forced to retreat to India. The corps had been attacked and heavily out-fought by the advancing Japanese. General Archibald Wavell, Commander-Chief of the Middle East Command, was based in India and part of his responsibility was the defence of Burma. In March 1942, Wavell requested the services of Brigadier Orde Wingate in Burma. Wingate was to assist Slim in the eventual Burma Campaign. Wingate arrived in Burma in March 1942. Using tactics he had developed in the East Africa Campaign, he began to train troops in the jungles of India during the wet season. He formed the “Chindits” for deep penetration raids against the Japanese. The word “Chindits” was a corrupted form of the Burmese language for “Lion”. By February 1943, in the first “Chindit” operation, a force of 3,000 men marched over 1,000 miles in order to harass the Japanese lines of communications. By the end of April 1943, after taking heavy losses, the order was given to return to India. Slim by now was the new commander of the British Fourteenth Army, and had trained his forces to take the fight to the enemy. Military equipment for the Fourteenth Army was being delivered to the Imphal and Kohima supply bases in India. The second and larger force of “Chindits” operation began training and by the 6^th March 1944 had been deployed by making several successful forays into Burma.  Slim issued an order to Wingate to inflict the greatest possible damage and confusion on the enemy in North Burma. In order to liaise with air force commanders regarding air supplied equipment, Wingate flew to Imphal on the 24^th March 1944.

 On the return journey the USAAF B- 25 bomber possibly flew into a thunderstorm and crashed in the jungle, killing all on board including Wingate. The Burma Campaign continued into April 1944. On several fronts the war was going against the Japanese at the beginning of 1944. However, Burma remained under Japanese control following the British retreat to India. Their ability to re-supply their occupying troops was becoming more difficult. Japanese merchant ships, carrying supplies to the troops, were under constant attack by Allied submarines and aircraft which were based in India. To counter these, the Japanese plan was to isolate the Allied units in their forward positions, destroy them, advance and capture the British supply bases at Imphal and Kohima. The supply base at Imphal was commanded by British Lieutenant General Geoffry Scoones of the IV Corp as part of the Fourteenth Army. When British intelligence informed Slim and Scoones of the Japanese offensive, they planned to withdraw forward troops onto the Imphal plain. This would force the Japanese to fight at the end of a long march through the jungle. However, Slim and Scoones misjudged the date and strength of the Japanese attack. On the 7^th March 1944 the Japanese began an invasion attempt on India. By the 13^th March 1944 Scoones ordered his forward divisions to withdraw to Imphal. On the 20^th March 1944 Japanese troops crossed the border into India. The Battle of Imphal continued into April 1944. The Battle of Kohima also began in April 1944.

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General Charles de Gaulle was recognised by the UK government as leader of the Free French and had been exiled in London since June 1940. Various resistance groups had begun in France following the German occupation in 1940. A unification committee was proposed by de Gaulle, broadcast from London, to act as a resistance group against the Nazis. On the 1^st January 1942, de Gaulle delegated Jean Moulin to form the committee. The committee was to be called the Council of the French Resistance. Moulin formed the committee and met for the first meeting in Paris on the 27^th May 1943. After months of negotiations, agreement was reached and the document signed. On the 15^th March 1944 the document was adopted as the National Council of the Résistance (CNR). Shortly after the formation of the CNR Moulin was arrested by the German S.S. An officer of the S.S., Klaus Barbie, known as “The Butcher of Lyon”, personally tortured Moulin for three days. During that time Moulin did not divulge any information to the Nazis. He was being transported to Germany when he died. His silence allowed the CNR to pursue its resistance activities.

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