World War 2, Yugoslavian soldiers surrender after heavy fighting with German Wehrmacht, April 1941, Signal magazine. The invasion of Yugoslavia, also known as the April War Operation 25, was a German led attack on the Kingdom of Yugoslavia by the Axis powers which began on 6 April 1941 during World War II. (Photo By: Fireshot/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Photo Courtesy: gettyimages.in
World War I (1914–1918)
April 17, 1915: Second Battle of Ypres – Gas Attacks and Hill 60
- Context: Germany launched the first large-scale chlorine gas attack on April 22, 1915, but preliminary actions began earlier.
- Action: On April 17, British forces (1st Battalion, East Surrey Regiment) captured Hill 60, a strategic mound southeast of Ypres, using tunneling and explosives. The hill was critical for artillery observation.
- Casualties: 91 British soldiers killed, 200+ wounded.
- Heroism: Pvt. Edward Dwyer (East Surrey Regiment) later earned the Victoria Cross on April 20 for holding a trench alone under heavy fire.
April 17, 1917: Battle of Arras – The Fight for Monchy-le-Preux
- Context: Part of the broader British Arras Offensive (April 9–May 16, 1917).
- Action: The 1st Essex Regiment and Newfoundland Regiment attacked German positions near Monchy-le-Preux. Heavy machine-gun fire halted advances.
- Casualties: 600+ British/Commonwealth troops killed or wounded.
- Outcome: Tactically inconclusive but diverted German resources from the French Nivelle Offensive.
April 17, 1918: German Spring Offensive – Defense of Bethune
- Context: Germany’s Operation Georgette aimed to capture Ypres and Bethune.
- Action: The 55th (West Lancashire) Division repelled German assaults on Bethune, using coordinated artillery and machine-gun fire.
- Casualties: 1,200 German soldiers killed; British losses minimal.
- Heroism: Lt. James Kirk (King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment) led a counterattack under gas shelling, awarded the Military Cross.
World War II (1939–1945)
April 17, 1941: Invasion of Yugoslavia – Capitulation
- Context: Axis forces (Germany, Italy, Hungary) invaded Yugoslavia on April 6, 1941.
- Action: On April 17, Yugoslavia formally surrendered. The 1st Panzer Group (Gen. Kleist) captured Sarajevo, while the XLIX Mountain Corps secured Montenegro.
- Casualties: 300,000 Yugoslav POWs; German losses: 558 killed.
- Aftermath: Yugoslavia was partitioned; resistance movements like the Chetniks emerged.
April 17, 1942: Doolittle Raid Preparations
- Context: The U.S. planned retaliatory strikes on Japan after Pearl Harbor.
- Action: The USS Hornet (CV-8) carrying 16 B-25 Mitchell bombers under Lt. Col. James Doolittle sailed toward Japan. Crews finalized plans on April 17.
- Outcome: Raid launched April 18, bombing Tokyo and boosting Allied morale.
April 17, 1943: Operation Vengeance – Yamamoto’s Downing
- Context: U.S. intercepted Japanese naval codes revealing Adm. Yamamoto’s inspection tour.
- Action: 18 P-38 Lightnings from the 339th Fighter Squadron (Maj. John Mitchell) ambushed Yamamoto’s G4M Betty bomber near Bougainville.
- Casualties: Yamamoto and 11 staff killed.
- Heroism: Capt. Thomas Lanphier claimed the kill, later awarded the Navy Cross.
April 17, 1944: Burma Campaign – Battle of Ngakyedauk Pass
- Context: Part of the Allied push to retake Burma from Japan.
- Action: The 7th Indian Infantry Division (Maj. Gen. Frank Messervy) broke through Japanese defenses at Ngakyedauk Pass, supported by M3 Lee tanks.
- Casualties: 1,200 Japanese killed; 200 Allied troops lost.
- Outcome: Opened the path to Imphal and Kohima.
April 17, 1945: Battle of the Seelow Heights – Final Assault
- Context: Soviet forces advanced toward Berlin.
- Action: The 8th Guards Army (Gen. Chuikov) and 1st Guards Tank Army overran German 9th Army positions.
- Casualties: 30,000 Germans killed/captured; Soviet losses: 15,000+.
- Heroism: Sgt. Nikolai Shevchenko destroyed 3 Panzer IVs with a PTRS-41 anti-tank rifle, earning the Hero of the Soviet Union.
U.S.-Vietnam War (1955–1975)
April 17, 1965: First Anti-War March in Washington, D.C.
- Context: Escalation after the Gulf of Tonkin Incident (1964).
- Action: 25,000 protesters rallied at the National Mall, organized by Students for a Democratic Society (SDS).
- Impact: Marked the beginning of mass domestic opposition to the war.
April 17, 1970: Cambodian Incursion – Operation Rockcrusher
- Context: Nixon authorized attacks on Viet Cong sanctuaries in Cambodia.
- Action: The 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (Col. George S. Patton IV) engaged the 9th Viet Cong Division near Fishhook.
- Casualties: 3,000+ Viet Cong killed; 282 U.S. troops lost.
- Heroism: Sgt. Peter C. Lemon (1st Cavalry Division) earned the Medal of Honor for defending Firebase Illingworth on April 1, 1970.
April 17, 1975: Fall of Phnom Penh
- Context: Khmer Rouge encircled Cambodia’s capital.
- Action: U.S. Operation Eagle Pull evacuated 276 personnel via CH-53 helicopters.
- Casualties: 2 U.S. Marines killed during the evacuation.
- Aftermath: Khmer Rouge established the genocidal Democratic Kampuchea regime.
Gulf War (1990–1991)
April 17, 1991: Post-War Insurgency in Southern Iraq
- Context: Saddam Hussein crushed Shiite uprisings post-Gulf War.
- Action: Iraqi Republican Guard’s Hammurabi Division massacred 500+ civilians in Karbala.
- Casualties: 30,000+ Shiites killed in March–April 1991.
- U.S. Response: Enforced no-fly zones via Operation Provide Comfort.
Iraq War (2003–2011)
April 17, 2003: Occupation and Insurgency Begins
- Context: Baghdad fell on April 9, but resistance persisted.
- Action: The 1st Marine Division clashed with Fedayeen Saddam in Ramadi.
- Casualties: 12 Marines wounded; 40 insurgents killed.
- Heroism: Cpl. Jason Dunham (posthumous Medal of Honor, 2004) smothered a grenade in Husaybah on April 14, 2004.
