February 14th, 1944 (MONDAY)
FRANCE: Marseilles: German officials have told the Vichy government that they are taking direct control of the Mediterranean coast which they say is threatened with invasion. Martial law will be declared tomorrow in the seven coastal departments between Italy and Spain: "non-essential" people have been urged to leave the coast.
GERMANY: U-738 sunk near Gotenhafen, in position 54.31N, 18.33E, after collision with SS Erna. 22 dead and 24 survivors.
U.S.S.R.: Soviet troops enter the Korsun pocket, meeting strong resistance from the Germans trapped inside.
INDIAN OCEAN: Salvage vessel HMS Salviking torpedoed and sunk by U-168 SW of Ceylon at 03.30N, 76.30E.
MALACCA STRAITS: A German crewed ex-Italian submarine, UIT-23, launched as the Reginaldo Giuliani on 13 March, 1939 is sunk in position 04.27N, 100.11E, by torpedoes from the British submarine HMS Tallyho. 26 dead, 14 survivors. She has been taken over by the Germans following the Italian capitulation, at Singapore on 10 September, 1943. (Alex Gordon)
PACIFIC OCEAN:
Submarine USS Snook torpedoes and sinks the Japanese merchant cargo ship Nittoku Maru (3591 BRT) SW of Tsushima, Japan in position 33.48N, 128.50E.
CANADA: Corvette HMCS Vancouver and Dawson departed Esquimalt for Halifax.
U.S.A.: Corvette HMCS Mayflower completed refit and forecastle extension Norfolk, Virginia.
Destroyer USS Irwin and Monssen commissioned.
Destroyer USS Wallace L Lind laid down.
Destroyer USS Jarvis launched.
Seaplane tender USS St George launched.
Submarine USS Shark commissioned.
USS PCE-877 commissioned.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: RAF 10 Sqn Liberator attacked U-845 with 8 depth charges. One man died and another wounded.