February 3, 1942 Dutch East Indies
Major Japanese attacks on Java. Surabaya and other bases are struck. Port Moresby in New Guinea is bombarded.
February 3, 1941 Greco-Italian war
Mussolini sent Fascist Party leaders to the Albanian front to bolster morale.
February 3, 1940 Winter War
Finnish forces continue to hold the Soviet assault on the Mannerheim Line.
February 3, 1943 Eastern Front
In the Caucasus, the Soviets capture Kuschevka on the Soskya River, 50 miles south of Rostov. Kupyansk is captured in the offensive toward Kharkov.
In Berlin... The loss of the 6th Army at Stalingrad is made public. Three days of national mourning are set to begin on February 4th.
February 3, 1944 Eastern Front
In Moscow... The encirclement of German forces in the Korsun pocket is announced and celebrated.
From Berlin... Hitler orders the troops in the Korsun pocket are not to retreat.
Army Group South (Manstein) assembles an armored force to relieve the Korsun pocket.
February 3, 1944 Italy
At the Anzio beachhead, German forces commanded by General Mackensen begin limited attacks against the British 1st Division salient around Campoleone. To the south, the New Zealand Corps (General Freyberg) joins the US 5th Army order of battle. It is being deployed near Cassino.
February 3, 1945 Western Front
French and American units complete the capture of Colmar. All formations of French 1st Army are now making good progress in this sector. The other Allied armies keep up the pressure on the Germans all along the front.
February 3, 1945 Eastern Front
In East Prussia, the Soviet attacks continue to confine and divide the German forces. Landsberg and Bartenstein are taken.
