On 20 November 1943 the US 2nd Marine Division landed on Betio in Tarawa Atoll, wading in across a coral reef under fire; the island was declared secure on 23 November after about 1,000 Americans and almost the whole Japanese garrison had died. On 20 November 1917 the British opened the Battle of Cambrai with 476 tanks.
The Battle of Tarawa, 1943: the costly lesson of the atoll
20 to 23 November 1943 · 82 years ago
By late 1943 the Allies were driving across the central Pacific toward Japan, taking island bases one by one. The Gilbert Islands were the next step, and the key was Betio, a tiny islet of Tarawa Atoll with an airfield, held by a strong Japanese garrison.
Read the full story of The Battle of Tarawa, 1943: the costly lesson of the atoll ›Battle of Maxen, 1759: the Prussian corps that surrendered
20 November 1759 · 266 years ago
Austrian forces under Field Marshal Daun trapped an isolated Prussian corps of 14,000 men under Friedrich August von Finck at Maxen in Saxony in the Seven Years' War. Unable to break out, Finck surrendered with his whole force, a success Daun failed to exploit.
Read the full story of Battle of Maxen, 1759: the Prussian corps that surrendered ›Battle of Vuelta de Obligado, 1845: chains across the Paraná
20 November 1845 · 180 years ago
Buenos Aires forces, with defenses led by General Lucio Mansilla, tried to block an Anglo-French squadron forcing its way up the Paraná River. The squadron broke through, but its heavy damage showed that sailing Argentine rivers without consent would be too costly.
Read the full story of Battle of Vuelta de Obligado, 1845: chains across the Paraná ›
