Photo Courtesy: ushmm.org
World War I (1914-1919) Events on February 1
1914: The tension that had been simmering across Europe showed no signs of cooling. On the Western Front, reconnaissance patrols from the German XIV Reserve Corps clashed with French Chasseurs Alpins in sporadic engagements near the Vosges. Intelligence reports from Berlin suggested increased military mobilization by both France and Britain, but diplomacy still clung to the hope that war could be averted.
1915: The British and German navies continued to test each other in the North Sea, though no decisive engagement occurred. German U-boats, however, were beginning to assert their deadly presence, with U-20 sinking the merchant vessel SS Oriole off the coast of Scotland. Meanwhile, in the trenches of Flanders, British 1st Battalion, Royal Fusiliers repelled a late-night German assault, suffering severe casualties but holding their ground.
1916: The prelude to Verdun was already unfolding. German 5th Army, under Crown Prince Wilhelm, continued finalizing plans for a massive artillery bombardment. Across the lines, French XXX Corps bolstered its defenses, aware that something ominous loomed. Meanwhile, on the Eastern Front, Russian 8th Army probed Austro-Hungarian lines near Lutsk, testing enemy fortifications ahead of a larger offensive.
1917: The war at sea intensified as Germany officially announced the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare. This declaration sent shockwaves through Britain and the United States, with American merchant vessels now prime targets. Meanwhile, on the Western Front, British XV Corps engaged German 17th Army near the Ancre, engaging in close-quarters combat amidst frigid winter conditions. In the Middle East, British 13th Division launched another assault on Ottoman defenses near Kut-al-Amara.
1918: The German Spring Offensive loomed. On February 1, German 18th Army, under General von Hutier, moved more artillery and shock troops into place along the St. Quentin sector. In the air, British Royal Flying Corps reconnaissance squadrons detected increased German troop concentrations, prompting urgent reinforcements by British and French high command.
1919: With the war concluded, the Paris Peace Conference dragged on. Disputes between Georges Clemenceau, David Lloyd George, and Woodrow Wilson over reparations intensified. The League of Nations was being shaped, but fractures were already apparent, particularly concerning the United States’ role.
World War II (1939-1945) Events on February 1
1939: Hitler’s war machine accelerated. The Kriegsmarine conducted naval drills, refining tactics for unrestricted submarine warfare. Meanwhile, in Britain, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain continued diplomatic efforts, though few believed war could still be avoided.
1940: The frigid waters of the North Atlantic claimed another victim as German U-59 torpedoed the British steamer SS Manchester Progress. The British Royal Navy scrambled to adjust convoy strategies, attempting to curb the growing U-boat menace.
1941: In North Africa, British 7th Armoured Division, the famed Desert Rats, clashed with Italian 10th Army remnants as Operation Compass pushed toward Benghazi. Meanwhile, in Greece, British intelligence intercepted Axis communications suggesting an imminent invasion.
1942: The Pacific War raged. Japanese forces advanced into the Dutch East Indies, landing at Ambon. American 31st Infantry Regiment, stationed in the Philippines, continued a desperate defense against the Japanese 14th Army. Meanwhile, in the Atlantic, U-123 claimed another victim, torpedoing the SS Norman Prince off the coast of Nova Scotia.
1943: Stalingrad reached its grisly conclusion. Soviet 62nd Army, led by General Vasily Chuikov, tightened the noose around Field Marshal Friedrich Paulus’ 6th Army. Starvation, frostbite, and relentless Soviet assaults had shattered German morale. On February 1, Paulus surrendered, marking one of the most catastrophic defeats in Nazi Germany’s history. Over 90,000 German soldiers entered Soviet captivity; few would return home.
1944: The Anzio stalemate dragged on. American VI Corps, under General John P. Lucas, remained pinned down by ferocious German counterattacks. In Burma, British 14th Army, supported by Indian 7th Infantry Division, launched probing attacks against Japanese 15th Army near the Chindwin River, setting the stage for the grueling battles to come.
1945: The Soviets stormed deeper into Germany. 1st Byelorussian Front, commanded by Marshal Zhukov, secured key crossings over the Oder River, putting Berlin within striking distance. Meanwhile, in the Philippines, the Battle of Manila began as American 1st Cavalry Division and 37th Infantry Division launched a large-scale offensive against entrenched Japanese forces.
Indo-Pak War of 1947-48: February 1
As winter gripped the Kashmir Valley, the Indian 50 Para Brigade, commanded by Brigadier Usman, launched a counteroffensive against Pakistani tribal raiders near Naushera. Meanwhile, in Baramulla, Indian 1st Sikh Regiment consolidated its gains, repelling yet another incursion attempt. The war dragged on, with both sides locked in a bitter contest for strategic high ground.
US-Vietnam War: February 1 Events (1960-1975)
1968: The Tet Offensive was in full swing. In Hue, NVA 6th Regiment and Viet Cong elements entrenched themselves in the ancient citadel. The US 1st Marine Division, backed by ARVN 1st Division, engaged in house-to-house combat, attempting to dislodge communist forces. In Saigon, South Vietnamese ARVN 5th Division struggled to reclaim lost ground, battling fiercely in the city streets.
1970: In Cambodia, US 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment conducted deep-penetration raids against suspected NVA supply depots. Meanwhile, the CIA-backed Phoenix Program targeted Viet Cong infrastructure, ramping up efforts to neutralize enemy leadership.
1973: Diplomatic efforts dominated the day. The Paris Peace Accords had been signed, yet violence still simmered. Skirmishes between NVA and South Vietnamese ARVN forces continued, despite official ceasefire agreements.
Gulf War (1990) and US-Iraq War (2003) on February 1
1991: The Battle of Khafji had ended, but mopping-up operations continued. US Marines of Task Force Ripper pursued retreating Iraqi 5th Mechanized Division elements, while Saudi Arabian National Guard forces secured the outskirts. Coalition air power devastated Iraqi supply lines, ensuring no further counterattacks.
2003: War loomed over Iraq. The US 3rd Infantry Division and 1st Marine Expeditionary Force prepared for imminent invasion. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts at the UN faltered, as the Bush administration pushed for decisive action against Saddam Hussein.
War’s face changes, but its brutality remains. Each year, February 1 bore witness to the sacrifices, the triumphs, and the tragedies of battle. The names may change, but history never forgets.
