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WWII On This Day: February 26

What happened on February 26 during World War II? This date brings together 2 events from 1943 and 1945, with period photographs and links to the full operations documented across WW2 Theatres.

1943
Men of the U.S. 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry move through Kasserine Pass on 26 February 1943 after the Axis withdrawal.
Men of the U.S. 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry move through Kasserine Pass on 26 February 1943 after the Axis withdrawal. U.S. Army Signal Corps SC 170121 / NARA · U.S. Government public domain Source
Operation Torch and the Tunisian Campaign

U.S. infantry moves through the recovered pass

On 26 February the U.S. 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment marched through Kasserine Pass after the Axis withdrawal. Signal Corps photographs show soldiers moving east towards Kasserine and Fériana. The battle had exposed deficiencies in training and coordination as well as problems created by long supply routes and mountainous terrain. Command changes followed while both armies prepared for the next phase of operations.

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1945
Churchill tanks of 107th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps moving through mud during the Reichswald battle, 9 February 1945.
Churchill tanks of 107th Regiment RAC in the Reichswald, 9 February 1945 · Sgt John Silverside, No. 5 Army Film & Photographic Unit · IWM B 14422 · public domain UK Government work · Source
The Rhineland Battles

Blockbuster attacks the Hochwald position

First Canadian Army opened Operation Blockbuster on 26 February against the Hochwald position and the routes toward Xanten. II Canadian Corps took the leading role as the attack moved onto another prepared belt of woods, anti-tank obstacles and defended approaches. The Hochwald fighting coincided with Ninth Army's bridgehead expanding rapidly to the south. German forces now had to hold the Canadian advance while also reacting to American armour moving toward Krefeld, Geldern and the Rhine, reducing the freedom Schlemm had enjoyed during the flooded interval.

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