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• The "Blue Legion" of the Germany Army, which was a regiment-sized unit of Spanish volunteers, began to be withdrawn from the front lines due to Spain's request. ww2dbase [CPC]
• Destroyer Yuzuki became the flagship of Rear Admiral Ko Nakagawa of Destroyer Squadron 3. She departed Rabaul, New Britain, Bismarck Islands as a part of the final destroyer transport mission out of Rabaul. She arrived at Qavuvu, New Britain later on the same day. ww2dbase [Yuzuki | CPC]
• I-53 was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [I-53 | CPC]
• Destroyer Yukikaze departed Kagoshima, Japan to escort carrier Chitose to Saipan, Mariana Islands. ww2dbase [Yukikaze | CPC]
• Egmont Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld was named the wing commander of Nachtjagdgeschwader 5. ww2dbase [Egmont | CPC]
• Léon Degrelle was awarded the Knight's Cross the of Iron Cross. ww2dbase [Léon Degrelle | CPC]
• Léon Degrelle was awarded the Wound Badge in Silver. ww2dbase [Léon Degrelle | CPC]
• Lucien Lippert was awarded the German Cross in Gold and was promoted to the rank of SS-Obersturmbannführer, posthumously. ww2dbase [Lucien Lippert | CPC]

• The 2nd Battalion of US 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) arrived at Shingbiyang, Burma. Lieutenant Colonel George McGee chose not to rest and pressed on for the assembly area at Ningbyen 10 miles down the road despite the approaching darkness. They would end up needing the entire night to reach Ningbyen, arriving in the morning of 21 Feb. ww2dbase [George McGee | Battle of Myitkyina | Shingbiyang | CPC]

• Repair ship Akashi departed Truk, Caroline Islands. ww2dbase [Akashi | Truk | CPC]

• Escort carrier USS Card and her task group arrived at Casablanca, French Morocco. ww2dbase [Card | Casablanca | DS]

• USAAF launched the "Big Week", sending 970 bombers against Braunschweig, Hamburg, and Leipzig in Germany. The RAF followed through by hitting Stuttgart. ww2dbase [RAF Thurleigh | Bombing of Hamburg, Dresden, and Other Cities | Hamburg | TH]
• Robert Johnson shot down two Bf 110 aircraft over Dümmer Lake, Germany. ww2dbase [Robert Johnson | Lembruch, Weser-Ems | CPC]
• U-822 was launched by Oderwerke in Stettin, Germany. ww2dbase [U-822 | Oderwerke AG | Stettin, Pommern | CPC]

• The Germans called off Operation Fischfang aimed at the Allied beachhead at Anzio, Italy. ww2dbase [Battle of Anzio | Anzio, Lazio | CPC]

• Japanese hospital ship Hikawa Maru departed Yokosuka, Japan for her 18th voyage with the Japanese Navy. ww2dbase [Hikawa Maru | Yokosuka, Kanagawa | CPC]
• Landing ship No. 149 was completed. ww2dbase [No. 101/103-class | CPC]

• American troops captured Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands. ww2dbase [Marshall Islands Campaign | Eniwetok | CPC]
• USS New Mexico arrived at Maloelap Atoll, Marshall Islands. ww2dbase [New Mexico | Maloelap | CPC]

• On Lake Tinn (Tinnsjo) in Norway, the ferry D/F Hydro, carrying the last of the heavy water produced at Vemork destined for the German atomic weapons reseach program, was sunk by Norwegian resistance saboteurs. ww2dbase [Vemork Heavy Water Plant | Tinn, Telemark | TH, CPC]

• Shokaku departed Singapore for Lingga, Dutch East Indies. ww2dbase [Shokaku | Singapore | CPC]
• Shokaku departed Singapore for Lingga Roads, Dutch East Indies. ww2dbase [Shokaku | Singapore | CPC]

• Allied convoy JW-57 departed Liverpool, England, United Kingdom. It was consisted of 42 merchant ships, was supported by 2 tankers and 1 rescue ship, and was escorted by 4 corvettes (and later reinforced with destroyers and frigates). ww2dbase [Arctic Convoys | Liverpool, England | CPC]

• USS Marblehead arrived in New York, United States. ww2dbase [Marblehead | New York | CPC]
• USS Lexington (Essex-class) departed Puget Sound Naval Shipyard after repairs. ww2dbase [Puget Sound Navy Yard | Lexington (Essex-class) | Bremerton, Washington | DS]

• Gato-class submarine USS Silversides departed Midway for her assigned patrol area. ww2dbase [Silversides | Midway | DS]

20 Feb 1944 Interactive Map