1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 5–12 MARCH 1942 ]
5 March
SOLOMON Is.—U.S. naval TF successfully bombards
Vila and Munda, night 5–6.
TUNISIA—18 Army Group: In Br First Army’s
g Corps area, 1st Para Brig, upon relief by RCT
26 of U.S. 1st Div, moves N to strengthen 46th
Div units in Tamera area, where enemy threat is
still serious. U.S. II Corps continues to patrol
aggressively. Rcn force of 34th Div enters Pichon,
from which Germans have withdrawn, but later
withdraws because of enemy forces on hills to
N and S.
USSR—Red Army troops are attacking toward
Staraya Russa.
6 March
RUSSELL Is.—Islands undergo enemy air attack.
This is the first indication that Japanese
have learned of American occupation of the
islands.
TUNISIA—18 Army Group: In Br First Army’s 5
Corps area, enemy maintains pressure against N
flank of corps in Tamera area. In U.S. II Corps area,
Gen Patton takes command of corps, relieving Gen
Fredendall. As head of I Armd Corps in Morocco,
Gen Patton had been preparing to command U.S.
troops of projected invasion of Sicily. Maj Gen Omar
N. Bradley, who is to succeed Gen Patton after operations
in S Tunisia are completed, becomes deputy
corps commander.
In Br Eighth Army’s 30 Corps area, Rommel
makes his last attack in Tunisia and is decisively
defeated. Four strong thrusts toward Médenine are
repulsed by British, who commit only one sq of
tanks. Enemy retires after nightfall, having lost about
50 tanks.
USSR—Gzhatsk, on rail line between Moscow
and Smolensk, falls to Red Army.
7 March
TUNISIA—18 Army Group: SE Algerian Command,
disposed generally SW of Gafsa between U.S.
II Corps and Br Eighth Army, occupies Redeyef and
patrols toward Tozeur. This command, which includes
Fr Camel Corps, was formed late in January
under Gen Robert Boissau, previously Fr Army commander
at Oran.
8 March
CHINA—Japanese cross Yangtze between Ichang
and Yoyang.
TUNISIA—18 Army Group: Takes command of
U.S. II Corps, but leaves Fr 19th Corps attached
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to Br First Army. II Corps continues planning for
offensive in mid-March. Forward elements of SE
Algerian Command occupy Tozeur.
In Br First Army area, 5 Corps continues to withstand
pressure against N flank in Tamera area.
USSR—Red Army troops capture Sychevka, N
of Vyazma, forcing enemy back toward Smolensk.
9 March
NEW GUINEA—Japanese planes attack Wau in
force. This is the first of a series of heavy air attacks
on strategic points in New Guinea, among them
Dobodura, Oro Bay, Porlock Harbor, Port Moresby,
and Milne Bay.
BURMA—Columns of Ind 77th Brig (Chindits)
begin crossing the Irrawaddy R in order to harass
enemy farther E.
N AFRICA—Axis reorganization of forces continues.
Field Marshal Kesselring’s authority aver
ground, air, and sea units in the Mediterranean theater
is extended. Gen von Arnim takes command of
Army Group Africa, succeeding Field Marshal
Rommel, who leaves Africa. Gen Gustav von Vaerst
succeeds von Arnim as commander of Fifth Panzer
Army.
18 Army Group: In U.S. II Corps area, 1st Div is
joined in Bou Chebka area by RCT 18, which reverts
to it from attachment to 34th Div.
10 March
TUNISIA—18 Army Group: In Br First Army’s 5
Corps area, enemy continues to attack 46th Div
positions in vicinity of Tamera. French relieve RCT
26, U.S. 1st Div, in Bou Arada area. SE Algerian
Command takes Metlaoui.
In Br Eighth Army area, Fr force under Gen
Leclerc (L Force), screening W flank of Eighth Army
at Ksar Rhilane, repels sharp enemy attack.
USSR—NW of Vyazma, Soviet forces seize
Byelyi.
11 March
CHINA—U.S. Fourteenth Air Force is activated
under Maj Gen Claire L. Chennault.
TUNISIA—18 Army Group: In Br First Army area,
5 Corps remains under enemy pressure in Tamera
sector.
USSR—Continuing counteroffensive toward
Kharkov, enemy reaches the town, which Red Army
is staunchly defending.
12 March
U.S.—Pacific Military Conference opens in
Washington to plan for operations against the Japa-