India & World War 2 Volume 1 | Page 3

Total Indian WW2 Events: 23 1944- Friday, February 11th 1940- Friday, December 6th - December 8th A blanket retreat is enacted by the Allies in an attempt to regroup and plan a new strategy to take Cassino. The Western Desert Force in Egypt, under the command of Major-General Richard O'Connor, set up pre-assault positions. The force includes 36,000 total men from the 7th Armored Division, 4th Indian Division and the New Zealand Division. They set up their initial position southeast of the Italian fort at Nibeiwa. 1940- Monday,December 9th Operation Compass is officially launched. 1940 – Monday, December 9th The British 7th Tank Regiment, along with the 4th Indian Division, attack Italian positions at Tummar West and Nibeiwa. 1942- Thursday, April 1st The Japanese aircraft carrier Ryujo enters the Bay of Bengal. 1944- Tuesday, February 15th Following the Allied aerial bombardment, the second major Allied offensive to take Cassino is launched. 1944- Tuesday, February 15th - February 18th The 4th Indian Division is charged with taking both Monte Calvario and Monastary Hill. 1944- Tuesday, February 15th - February 18th The 4th Indian Division assault is repelled and driven away, suffering high casualties. 1944- Saturday, February 19th - March 13th The Italian winter makes its arrival and postpones any further Allied offensives for the next month. 1944- Wednesday, March 15th - March 21st 1942- Friday, April 3rd The 4th Indian Division gains ground. No fewer than five Japanese Navy aircraft carriers reach the Indian Ocean. 1944- Wednesday, March 15th 1942- Saturday, April 4th Admiral Sir James Somerville detaches a force to intercept the arriving Japanese fleet. 1942- Saturday, April 4th A small contingent of British Royal Navy vessels operating in the Indian Ocean are warned of the arriving Japanese Navy force. 1944- Tuesday, January 11th The first major Allied offensive to take Cassino is launched. 1944- Friday, February 11th US and Indian losses mount in the offensives against German positions in Calvario, the town of Cassino and Monte Cassino itself. Artillery guns open up on Cassino while 600-plus Allied bombers attempt to shake the German defenders. 1944- Wednesday, March 15th - March 21st Positions on Monte Cassino are officially in Allied hands. 1944- Wednesday, March 15th A third major Allied offensive is put into action. 1944- Wednesday, March 22nd With mounting losses in both manpower and tanks, further Allied thrusts are called off. 1944- Thursday, March 23rd - May 10th A lengthy six-week period allows the Allies to rebuild their forces - though this period allows the Germans to increase their defensive foothold. 1944- Thursday, May 11th 1944- Friday, February 11th The fourth offensive to take Cassino is put into action. The 4th Indian Division reports unacceptably high casualties when coming up against the stout German defenders. 1944- Thursday, May 18th Monte Cassino falls to the Allies.