February 19th, 1943 (FRIDAY)
U.S.S.R.: Zaporozhe: Hitler, on a visit to von Mantein's headquarters, tells German troops that new, top-secret weapons are going to help them win the battle.
Kharkov: This once-great industrial city, now a ruined ghost town, its inhabitants killed or deported, fell to the triumphant Red Army yesterday. After fighting their way in through the suburbs, street by street, the Russians were astonished to find that the Germans has suddenly fled, despite Hitler's orders that it had to be held to the last man.
The decision to pull out was taken by SS General Paul "Papa" Hausser, the battle-scarred commander of the newly-formed Waffen-SS corps composed of the crack Leibstandarte, Totenkopf and Das Reich divisions. As the Russians circle around Kharkov drew tighter and tighter, Hausser sent ever more urgent cables to Hitler seeking permission to leave the burning city. Hitler remained adamant, but Hausser, risking execution, has defied the Führer and saved his Panzers from certain destruction. Fighting against odds of seven to one, they stood no chance.
Moscow is delighted: its forces have come 400 miles in barely three months. But the Russians are beginning to run out of steam. They have taken heavy losses against stubborn German resistance, and their supply lines have been over-extended. The Germans believe it is time to strike at the Russians exposed flank.
MEDITERRANEAN SEA: U-562 sunk in the Mediterranean NE of Benghazi, in position 32.57N, 20.54E, by depth charges from destroyers HMS Isis and Hursley and an RAF 38 Sqn Wellington. 49 dead (all hands lost).
TUNISIA: Ninth Air Force B-25 Mitchells bomb the Gabes western area through heavy clouds.
The Kasserine Pass is defended by the US 19th Engineer Regiment, a battalion of the 26th Infantry, some TDs and a four gun battery of French 75mm cannon. As German armour approaches the pass, the French artillery fires on the German reconnaissance battalion, driving them back. (Jay Stone)
BURMA: Tenth Air Force P-40s dive-bomb a Japanese headquarters at Hpunkizup and afterwards strafe a rail defile south of Meza, burying about 100 feet (30.48 meters) of track while five B-25 Mitchells bomb the rail terminal at Sagaing.
NEW GUINEA: Fifth Air Force A-20 Havocs bomb and strafe Japanese forces in the Butibum and Angari areas while B-24 Liberators carry out single-plane attacks against shipping at Salamaua.
BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: Fifth Air Force B-24 Liberators carry out single-plane attacks against shipping off Cape Gloucester, New Britain Island, and at Gasmata Island.
SOLOMON ISLANDS: Fifth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses bomb shipping and a seaplane base between Buin and Faisi on Bougainville Island and at Ballale Island and hit the Kahili Airfield on Bougainville.
AUSTRALIA: The Citizens Military Forces Act comes into force allowing Australian militia to be sent to an area between the 110th and 159th east meridians and south of the equator (i.e. most of SWPA).
This same day MacArthur writes to General Marshall that the Australian militia were:
"not of sufficient quality for employment in the offensive. It can only be used for garrison duty".
(Michael Mitchell)
TERRITORY OF ALASKA: In the Aleutians, weather cancels all Eleventh Air Force missions except limited weather reconnaissance.
CANADA: HMS MMS 1062, 1063, 1064, 1065, 1066, 1067, 1068, 1069, 1070, 1071, 1072 and 1073 ordered in Canada.
Corvettes HMCS Frontenac and Trentonian laid down Kingston, Ontario.
U.S.A.: Destroyer escorts USS Wintle, Snowden and Dempsey launched.
Destroyer USS Bennett commissioned.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-268 sunk in the Bay of Biscay west of Nantes, France, in position 47.03N, 05.56W, by depth charges from an RAF 172 Sqn Wellington. 45 dead (all hands lost).
SS Zeus sunk by U-403 at 49.28N, 44.50W.