World War II

Historical eventAugust 171943

World War II

World War II: The Royal Air Force began a strategic bombing campaign against Nazi Germany's V-weapon programme by attacking the Peenemünde Army Research Center.

In context

When
Tuesday, August 17 194383 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
20th century · 1940s
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

At a glance

Dates: From 1943.

What happened

World War II: The Royal Air Force began a strategic bombing campaign against Nazi Germany's V-weapon programme by attacking the Peenemünde Army Research Center.

August 17 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 1943World War II
  2. 1998Clinton–Lewinsky scandal
  3. 19991999 İzmit earthquake
  4. 2004National Assembly (Serbia)
  5. 20052005 Bangladesh bombings
  6. 2005Israeli settlement
  7. 2008Michael Phelps
  8. 2009Sayano-Shushenskaya power station accident
  9. 20152015 Bangkok bombing
  10. 20172017 Barcelona attacks
  11. 201917 August 2019 Kabul bombing

Also in 1943

  • September 14World War IIWorld War II: Nazi forces began a mass extermination campaign against the civilian residents of around 20 villages on the Greek island of…
  • September 5World War IIWorld War II: American and Australian airborne forces landed at Nadzab as part of the New Guinea campaign against Japan.
  • November 17World War IIWorld War II: Australian forces launched an assault on Sattelberg, New Guinea, against Japanese forces, initiating the Battle of Sattelberg.
  • July 13World War IIWorld War II: Operation Fustian, an Allied operation to capture the Primosole Bridge in Sicily, was launched.
  • November 27World War IIWorld War II: Australian forces began the Battle of Wareo by conducting clearing operations between Bonga and North Hill.
  • September 3Operation BaytownWorld War II: British and Canadian troops land on the Italian mainland. On the same day, Walter Bedell Smith and Giuseppe Castellano sign…
  • November 5World War IIWorld War II: An unknown aircraft dropped four bombs on Vatican City, which maintained neutrality during the war.
  • October 14World War IIWorld War II: During the second raid on Schweinfurt, the U.S. 8th Air Force suffered so many losses that it lost air supremacy over Germa…

Everything we record for 1943 →

Sources

Cite this page

“World War II”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/world-war-ii-1943-august-17, accessed October 26, 2026.

Cite the underlying source as well — the source links above go to the record this entry is adapted from.

Questions about this entry

When did World War II happen?

August 17 1943 — 83 years ago, on a Tuesday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints.

How do I cite this page?

Use the ready-made citation near the sources at the bottom of the page, and follow the source link to cite the underlying record as well.

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