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20 Aug 1944
  • French resistance fighters liberated Toulouse, France. ww2dbase [The French Resistance | AC]
  • At Falaise, France, Major David Currie became the only Canadian to win the Victoria Cross during the Normandy campaign. In three days of non-stop action, his little force of tanks, self-propelled anti-tank guns and infantry had destroyed seven Panzers, 12 heavy guns and 40 other vehicles, killing more than 1,000 of the enemy and taking 11,000 prisoners. ww2dbase [AC]
  • USS Segundo completed taking on ammunition and supplies for a war patrol. ww2dbase [Segundo | CPC]
  • Destroyer Yuzuki was assigned to Destroyer Division 30 of Escort Squadron 31 of the Combined Fleet as the division's flagship under Captain Seiji Sawamura. ww2dbase [Yuzuki | CPC]
  • Remy Van Lierde became the commanding officer of No. 164 Squadron RAF. ww2dbase [Remy Van Lierde | CPC]
  • The US Liberty ship, SS Richard Montgomery, with a cargo of explosives, ran aground and broke her back on a sandbank off Sheerness, Kent, England, United Kingdom. ww2dbase [AC]
Atlantic Ocean
  • 300 miles south of Newfoundland, aircraft flying from escort carrier USS Bogue spotted the German submarine U-1229 running on the surface in broad daylight. In a coordinated attack by 5 Avengers and 2 Wildcats using depth charges, FFAR rockets, and strafing, the submarine was sunk. 18 were killed and 41 were rescued. Among the survivors was Oskar Mantel, an intelligence officer who was to be landed in the Gulf of Maine had U-1229 not been sunk. This contact gave the US Navy their first detailed photographs of a German submarine equipped with a schnorkel device. ww2dbase [Conclusion of the Battle of the Atlantic | Bogue | DS]
Australia France Hawaii Japan Latvia
  • Z35 and Z36 completed the escorting of heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen off the Latvian coast. Z35 damaged her propellers on a rock, thus requiring her to sail to Gotenhafen, Germany (occupied Gdynia, Poland) for repairs. ww2dbase [Prinz Eugen | Z35 | Z36 | CPC]
Pacific Ocean
  • USS Gunnel attacked a Japanese transport in the South China Sea; all 9 torpedoes missed. ww2dbase [Gunnel | South China Sea | CPC]
Poland
  • Members of the Armia Krajowa attacked the State Telephone Exchange high-rise building in Warsaw, Poland. ww2dbase [Warsaw Uprising | Warsaw | CPC]
  • After sundown, aircraft of No. 1586 (Polish Special Duties) Flight RAF successfully made one supply drop in Warsaw, Poland and two drops in nearby Kampinos Forest. ww2dbase [Warsaw Uprising | Warsaw | CPC]
  • After sundown, aircraft of No. 1586 (Polish Special Duties) Flight RAF failed to deliver supplies to resistance fighters in Warsaw, Poland. ww2dbase [Warsaw Uprising | CPC]
Romania
  • 2nd Ukrainian Front and 3rd Ukrainian Front launched the Second Jassy-Kishinev Offensive into northeastern Romania. The Romanian 3rd Army was broken, while Axis shipping was attacked by Soviet aircraft on the Romanian coast. ww2dbase [Jassy-Kishinev Offensive and Romania's Surrender | AC, CPC]
United Kingdom
  • Three V-1 flying bombs caused 16 deaths in the area around Twickenham Road, Feltham and Studeley Road in Stockwell, both of London, England, United Kingdom. Pilot Officer John Bilodeau RCAF (129 Squadron) flying Mustang III FB395/DV-Y fighter appeared to spin out of low cloud and crash into the sea, this was the squadron's first loss of a pilot whilst combatting the flying bombs. ww2dbase [Vergeltungswaffe 1 | V-Weapons Campaign | London, England | HM]
United States Photo(s) dated 20 Aug 1944
Charles de Gaulle spoke at the balcony of Hotel de Ville, Cherbourg, France, 20 Aug 1944WAVES personnel touring escort carrier Mission BayWAVES personnel examining aircraft propellers aboard escort carrier Mission Bay, 20 Aug 1944WAVES personnel examining a 20mm anti-aircraft machine gun aboard escort carrier Mission Bay, 20 Aug 1944
See all photos dated 20 Aug 1944

20 Aug 1944 Interactive Map

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis




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Famous WW2 Quote
"With Germany arming at breakneck speed, England lost in a pacifist dream, France corrupt and torn by dissension, America remote and indifferent... do you not tremble for your children?"

Winston Churchill, 1935


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