ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base

1944: A Year of Global Conflict

1944 was a pivotal year in world history, marked by significant events that shaped the course of World War II. The year began on Saturday, January 1, as a leap year, with the Gregorian calendar marking it as 1944.

Events of World War II

The war continued to rage across various fronts, with the Allies making significant gains in North Africa and Italy. On January 2, Free French General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny was appointed to command French Army B, part of the Sixth United States Army Group in North Africa.

In Asia, the Philippines declared war on Japan on January 8, entering the province of Ilocos Sur in Luzon and attacking Japanese forces. Meanwhile, American troops landed on Papua New Guinea on January 13, attempting to cut off a potential Japanese supply route.

The Soviet Union continued its advance, with General Franz Kutschera being assassinated by AK members on February 1. In retaliation, the Nazis executed 100 prisoners at the site of his assassination and another 200 near the Pawiak prison.

On February 5, the Soviets conquered the city of Lutsk, while in Lesno, 60 women working on railways were executed by the Nazis for an act of sabotage on February 9. The NKVD troops surrounded hundreds of Chechen villages in the USSR and deported their population to Siberia within 24 hours, resulting in around 530,000 deaths.

In March, Ukrainian SS troops and supporters of Bandera massacred 250 Poles in a Dominican monastery in Podkamien, while Hitlerists assassinated nearly 400 prisoners, Soviet citizens, and anti-Nazis in Rîbnita on March 17. Nazi troops occupied Hungary on March 18, prompting C.I.C. Brătianu and Iuliu Maniu to address Marshal Ion Antonescu with a letter requesting Romania's exit from the war.

The Nazis also carried out atrocities against Jewish populations, including burning down all inhabitants of Huta Werchobuska for housing Jews on March 23. The attack on Via Rasella in Rome occurred on this day as well.

In April, the U.R.S.S. declared its guarantee to Romania's sovereignty and integrity under certain conditions on April 2.