Major Events of February 1941: Key Historical Moments from the Month
Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from February 1941 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.
Major Events of February 1941: Key Historical Moments from the Month
- 01 Feb 1941 Georgy Zhukov Appointed to Red Army General Staff: Georgy Zhukov, who would become one of the most significant Soviet military commanders of World War II, was appointed chief of the Red Army's General Staff, marking a crucial leadership transition.
- 02 Feb 1941 Mussolini Declares Southern Italy a War Zone: In a dramatic wartime measure, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini placed the southern portion of Italy under martial law, signaling the increasing severity and direct impact of World War II on Italian territory.
- 03 Feb 1941 Nazi Restoration of Pierre Laval in Vichy France: During World War II, the Nazi regime forcibly reinstated Pierre Laval as a key political figure in the Vichy French government, demonstrating the Third Reich's direct control over the puppet French administration.
- 04 Feb 1941 British Mechanized Movement near Benghazi: British forces initiate a strategic mechanized military movement that successfully encircles Italian troops south of Benghazi, demonstrating the British Army's tactical capabilities during the North African Campaign of World War II.
- 05 Feb 1941 Battle of Keren Begins in East African Campaign: Allied forces initiated the Battle of Keren in Eritrea, a significant military engagement during World War II's East African Campaign aimed at capturing the strategic location of Keren.
- 06 Feb 1941 Fall of Benghazi and Appointment of Rommel: During World War II, the Western Desert Force captured Benghazi, and Lieutenant-General Erwin Rommel was appointed commander of the Afrika Korps, marking a significant turning point in the North African campaign.
- 07 Feb 1941 British Victory at Battle of Beda Fomm: The Battle of Beda Fomm concluded with a decisive British victory in North Africa, marking a significant moment in the early stages of World War II. This engagement was part of the Western Desert Campaign, where British and Commonwealth forces successfully defeated Italian troops, dealing a major blow to Axis powers in the region.
- 08 Feb 1941 U.S. House Passes Lend-Lease Act: During World War II, the U.S. House of Representatives passes the Lend-Lease Act with a vote of 260-165, a critical piece of legislation that allowed the United States to provide military aid to Allied nations without directly entering the war.
- 09 Feb 1941 Churchill's Rallying Call to America: In a powerful worldwide broadcast, Winston Churchill directly appealed to the United States to support Britain's war effort by sending arms, famously declaring, 'Give us the tools, and we will finish the job.'
- 10 Feb 1941 Britain Severs Diplomatic Relations with Romania: In a significant diplomatic move during World War II, Britain officially severed diplomatic relations with Romania due to the substantial presence of 500,000 German troops in the country, signaling growing tensions and Romania's alignment with Axis powers.
- 11 Feb 1941 Rommel Arrives in Tripoli: Lieutenant General Erwin Rommel, the famous German military commander known as the "Desert Fox", arrived in Tripoli, signaling the beginning of his North African campaign during World War II.
- 12 Feb 1941 Rommel Arrives in North Africa: German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel arrived in Libya aboard a Junkers Ju 52 transport aircraft, marking the beginning of his legendary campaign in North Africa, which would earn him the nickname 'Desert Fox'.
- 13 Feb 1941 Nazi Persecution of Dutch Jews in Amsterdam: On February 13, 1941, Nazi leaders escalated their persecution of the Jewish population by ordering all non-Jewish residents to leave Amsterdam's Jewish Quarter and began enclosing the area with barbed wire, effectively creating a segregated zone.
- 14 Feb 1941 German Africa Corps Lands in Tripoli: The first units of the German Afrika Korps, led by General Erwin Rommel, arrived in Tripoli, Libya, marking a significant escalation of the North African Campaign during World War II. This deployment would dramatically change the balance of power in the region.
- 15 Feb 1941 British Forces Attack Italian Positions at Keren: British and Indian forces initiate a significant battle against Italian strongholds around Keren in Eritrea during World War II. The 11th Indian Brigade successfully captures Cameron Ridge but faces strong Italian counterattacks, marking an intense phase of the East African Campaign.
- 16 Feb 1941 Mass Italian Surrender at Beda Fomm: Large-scale surrenders commence at Beda Fomm after Italian attempts to break through are futile. Ultimately, approximately 25,000 Italian soldiers surrender, along with 200 guns and 120 tanks, marking a significant Allied victory in North Africa during World War II.
- 17 Feb 1941 Yugoslavia Surrenders to Axis Powers: During World War II, Yugoslavia capitulated to the Axis powers, marking a significant moment in the early stages of the war in the Balkans. This surrender represented a strategic loss for the Allies and demonstrated the expanding military dominance of Nazi Germany and its collaborators in southeastern Europe.
- 18 Feb 1941 Birth of Irma Thomas, Soul Music Legend: Irma Thomas, known as the 'Soul Queen of New Orleans', was born in Piety Street, New Orleans. She would become a pioneering rhythm and blues vocalist famous for her powerful voice and influential recordings like 'It's Raining' and 'Ruler of My Heart'. Her career spanned several decades, and she significantly influenced the development of soul and R&B music in the United States.
- 19 Feb 1941 Nazi Deportation of Jews from Amsterdam: Nazi forces conducted a brutal raid in Amsterdam, forcibly rounding up 429 young Jewish individuals for deportation, a tragic event in the Holocaust's systematic persecution.
- 20 Feb 1941 Greece Rejects German Mediation: Greece refused a German offer to mediate in the ongoing Greco-Italian War, maintaining its resistance against Axis diplomatic pressures.
- 21 Feb 1941 Death of Frederick Banting, Nobel Laureate: Frederick Banting, the renowned 49-year-old Canadian medical scientist and Nobel Prize winner, tragically died from injuries sustained in a plane crash. Banting was a pivotal figure in medical history, best known for his groundbreaking work in discovering insulin and its potential for treating diabetes.
- 22 Feb 1941 I.G. Farben's Auschwitz Factory Plan: I.G. Farben, a major German chemical company, made the controversial decision to construct the Buna-Werke factory within the Auschwitz Concentration Camp, utilizing forced labor and contributing to the Holocaust's industrial infrastructure.
- 23 Feb 1941 First Isolation of Plutonium: Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg successfully produced and isolated plutonium, a groundbreaking achievement in nuclear chemistry that would later play a crucial role in scientific research and atomic energy development.
- 24 Feb 1941 HMS Dainty Sunk by German Bombers: British destroyer HMS Dainty was sunk by German bombers off the coast of Tobruk, Libya, during World War II's North African Campaign, representing a significant naval engagement.
- 25 Feb 1941 First European Popular Uprising Against Axis Powers: The occupied Netherlands initiated the first popular uprising in Europe against the Axis powers, known as the 'February Strike', protesting Nazi deportation and anti-Jewish measures in Amsterdam and surrounding areas.
- 26 Feb 1941 German Submarine U-47 Sinks Convoy Ships: German submarine U-47 attacked convoy OB-290 northwest of Ireland, sinking four ships. Subsequently, five Fw 200 patrol bombers from I/KG.40 joined the attack and sank seven additional steamers from the same convoy.
- 27 Feb 1941 Netherlands February Strike: The February Strike begins in the Netherlands as a powerful protest against the Nazi occupiers' anti-Jewish measures, representing a significant act of civilian resistance during World War II.
- 28 Feb 1941 February Strike in the Netherlands: The February Strike, a significant act of resistance against Nazi occupation, was largely suppressed. This protest was primarily in response to the Nazi regime's anti-Jewish measures, demonstrating Dutch civilian resistance during World War II.