previous year1939
1940194119421943194419451946194719481949
1950next year

Major Events of March 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 March 1941 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of March 1941: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Mar 1941 Himmler Inspects Auschwitz: Heinrich Himmler, a key Nazi leader, personally inspects the Auschwitz concentration camp, signaling the intensification of the Holocaust.
  • 02 Mar 1941 German Military Enters Bulgaria During World War II: On March 2, 1941, German military units officially entered Bulgaria after the country's strategic decision to join the Axis Pact. This marked a significant geopolitical shift in the Balkan region, expanding Nazi Germany's territorial influence and setting the stage for further military operations in southeastern Europe.
  • 03 Mar 1941 Roosevelt Freezes Bulgarian Assets: U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an executive order freezing all Bulgarian assets in the United States, a strategic economic measure reflecting the escalating tensions of World War II and the United States' growing involvement in international conflicts.
  • 04 Mar 1941 Operation Claymore: Strategic British-Norwegian Commando Raid on Lofoten Islands: A pivotal World War II operation where British and Norwegian commandos conducted a sophisticated raid on the Lofoten Islands, Norway. The mission was strategically significant, involving the destruction of critical oil production facilities, sinking of eight enemy ships, capturing two valuable Enigma machines with code books, and extracting 314 Norwegian volunteers to support the Allied war effort. The operation also resulted in capturing 285 German prisoners, demonstrating the effectiveness of specialized commando tactics.
  • 05 Mar 1941 Hitler's Directive on Japanese Cooperation: Adolf Hitler issued Directive No. 24, focusing on strategic cooperation with Japan during World War II, which signaled potential expanded Axis powers collaboration.
  • 06 Mar 1941 Churchill Establishes Battle of the Atlantic Directive: Prime Minister Winston Churchill issued a critical strategic directive establishing a dedicated committee to coordinate and oversee the complex naval logistics of the Battle of the Atlantic, a pivotal theater of World War II naval warfare.
  • 07 Mar 1941 British Troop Deployment to Greece: 50,000 British soldiers land in Greece, a critical military movement during the early stages of World War II. This deployment was part of the British effort to support Greece against potential Axis invasion and demonstrate Allied solidarity.
  • 08 Mar 1941 U.S. Senate Passes Lend-Lease Act: On March 8, 1941, the United States Senate passed the Lend-Lease Act with a vote of 60-31. This pivotal legislation allowed the U.S. to provide military equipment and supplies to Allied nations during World War II, significantly supporting the war effort against Axis powers without direct military engagement.
  • 09 Mar 1941 Italian Offensive in Greece during World War II: On March 9th, 1941, Italian forces launched a strategic military offensive in Greece, attempting to reclaim territory previously lost during earlier confrontations. This operation was part of the broader Axis campaign in the Balkans during World War II, reflecting Italy's ongoing military efforts to expand its territorial control and support its alliance with Nazi Germany.
  • 10 Mar 1941 Pearl Harbor Attack Plan Draft: Japanese rear admiral Takijirō Ōnishi provided Isoroku Yamamoto with a draft of the Pearl Harbor attack plan, a pivotal moment in the strategic planning that would lead to the infamous surprise attack on December 7, 1941.
  • 11 Mar 1941 Lend-Lease Act Signed by President Roosevelt: On March 11, 1941, United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Lend-Lease Act into law, a critical piece of legislation that allowed the United States to provide substantial military aid to Allied nations during World War II. The act authorized the president to sell, transfer, exchange, or lease war supplies to countries deemed vital to the defense of the United States, effectively supporting nations like Great Britain in their fight against Nazi Germany without direct military involvement. The initial authorization was for US$1.3 billion, which represented an enormous sum at the time and signaled America's commitment to supporting the Allied war effort before its official entry into World War II.
  • 12 Mar 1941 German Panzer Deployment in North Africa: German armored divisions (Panzers) arrived in North Africa, marking the beginning of a significant German offensive in the region. This deployment represented a strategic expansion of the Axis powers' military presence in the Mediterranean theater during World War II.
  • 13 Mar 1941 Mass Execution of Dutch Resistance Fighters: In a brutal act of Nazi oppression, 15 members of the Dutch resistance were executed by firing squad in Scheveningen, Netherlands. This event highlights the brutal tactics used by German forces to suppress local resistance movements during World War II.
  • 14 Mar 1941 Nazi Restrictions on Jewish Businesses in the Netherlands: During the German occupation of the Netherlands, Nazi authorities implemented a systematic economic persecution of Jewish businesses by issuing a comprehensive ban on Jewish-owned companies. This discriminatory policy was part of the broader Nazi strategy to marginalize and economically disenfranchise the Jewish population, a precursor to more severe persecution and eventual deportation.
  • 15 Mar 1941 Roosevelt Pledges Support to Allies: At the White House Correspondents' Dinner, President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered a powerful speech promising comprehensive aid to the British and their allies 'until total victory has been won,' signaling America's increasing commitment to the war effort.
  • 16 Mar 1941 National Gallery of Art Opens in Washington DC: The National Gallery of Art was officially inaugurated in Washington, D.C., marking a significant moment in American cultural infrastructure. President Franklin D. Roosevelt presided over the opening, establishing a premier institution for art preservation and public education.
  • 17 Mar 1941 Luftwaffe Bombing of Bristol: During World War II, 162 German Luftwaffe aircraft conducted a strategic bombing raid on the Avonmouth district of Bristol, causing significant damage and escalating the aerial campaign against British civilian and industrial targets.
  • 18 Mar 1941 Luftwaffe Bombing of Liverpool and Birkenhead: During World War II, the German Luftwaffe conducted strategic air raids on the cities of Liverpool and Birkenhead in the United Kingdom. These bombings were part of the broader German aerial campaign targeting British industrial and port cities to disrupt war production and morale.
  • 19 Mar 1941 Tuskegee Airmen Activated: The 99th Pursuit Squadron, historically known as the Tuskegee Airmen, is activated as the first all-black unit of the Army Air Corps, marking a significant milestone in racial integration of the U.S. military during World War II.
  • 20 Mar 1941 German-Yugoslav Diplomatic Pact Signed: On March 20, 1941, Nazi Germany and Yugoslavia signed a diplomatic agreement, attempting to secure regional cooperation and potentially prevent immediate military conflict. This pact was part of Germany's broader strategy to minimize resistance and consolidate control in southeastern Europe during World War II.
  • 21 Mar 1941 Allied Victory in Siege of Giarabub: The Siege of Giarabub concluded with a decisive Allied victory, marking an important strategic moment in the North African Campaign of World War II, where Allied forces successfully captured the Italian-held position.
  • 22 Mar 1941 Grand Coulee Dam Begins Electricity Generation: The Grand Coulee Dam in Washington State commenced electricity generation, marking a significant milestone in American infrastructure and hydroelectric power development during World War II era.
  • 23 Mar 1941 US Warns Soviet Union About German Invasion Plans: U.S. Under Secretary of State Sumner Welles delivered a critical intelligence warning to Soviet Ambassador Konstantin Umansky, revealing confirmed information about Germany's imminent plans to attack the Soviet Union, a pivotal moment preceding Operation Barbarossa.
  • 24 Mar 1941 Rommel's First North African Offensive: During World War II, German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel launches his first major offensive in Cyrenaica, Libya, marking a significant turning point in the North African campaign. Rommel's strategic military maneuver demonstrates the German Afrika Korps' tactical prowess and ability to quickly mobilize and challenge British colonial forces.
  • 25 Mar 1941 Yugoslavia Joins Tripartite Pact in Vienna: On March 25, 1941, in Vienna, Austria, Yugoslav Premier Prince Paul and Foreign Minister signed the Tripartite Pact in the presence of Adolf Hitler and German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop, aligning Yugoslavia with the Axis powers during World War II.
  • 26 Mar 1941 Yugoslav Military Coup Against Pro-Axis Government: At 0020 hours, a significant military revolt led by General Dusan Simovic successfully overthrew the Regency and pro-Axis government in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. This coup marked a critical turning point in Yugoslavia's stance during World War II, challenging the country's alignment with Axis powers.
  • 27 Mar 1941 Yugoslav Coup d'État: Dušan Simović and other Serbian nationalist officers in the Royal Yugoslav Air Force overthrew Yugoslavia's pro-Axis government, intending to back out of the Tripartite Pact. This bold move provoked Hitler's immediate and severe response, leading to the invasion directive.
  • 28 Mar 1941 Battle of Cape Matapan: British Naval Victory in Mediterranean: During World War II, in a significant naval engagement in the Mediterranean Sea, British Admiral Andrew Browne Cunningham led the Royal Navy in a decisive battle against the Italian fleet. The British forces successfully destroyed three major Italian heavy cruisers and two destroyers, dealing a substantial blow to Axis naval power and demonstrating the Royal Navy's strategic superiority.
  • 29 Mar 1941 Battle of Cape Matapan in World War II: During World War II, British Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy forces engaged and intercepted Italian Regia Marina naval units off the Peloponnesus coast of Greece in a significant naval confrontation known as the Battle of Cape Matapan.
  • 30 Mar 1941 Hitler's War Strategy Conference: Adolf Hitler meets with his generals and outlines a brutal strategy for the upcoming invasion of Soviet Russia, explicitly discussing the extermination of communist commissars and Jews by SS Einsatzgruppen. He confidently predicts a swift defeat of the Soviet Union.
  • 31 Mar 1941 German Counter-Offensive in North Africa: During World War II, German forces under General Erwin Rommel launched a significant counter-offensive in North Africa, challenging British and Commonwealth troops' positions in the region. This military operation was part of the larger North African Campaign, which would prove strategically crucial in the Mediterranean theater of war.