World War II

Historical eventNovember 171943

World War II

World War II: Australian forces launched an assault on Sattelberg, New Guinea, against Japanese forces, initiating the Battle of Sattelberg.

Everything on November 17Original source

In context

When
Wednesday, November 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, or the Second World War, was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies and the Axis powers. Nearly all of the world's countries participated, with many engaging in total war on an unprecedented scale. World War II was the deadliest conflict in history, causing the deaths of 60 to 75 million people, a majority of whom were civilians. Millions died as a result of massacres, starvation, disease, and genocides including the Holocaust. After the Allied victory, Germany, Austria, Japan,

November 17 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 1943World War II
  2. 1997Luxor
  3. 1997Luxor massacre
  4. 2000Alberto Fujimori
  5. 2000Landslide
  6. 2003Arnold Schwarzenegger
  7. 2009University of East Anglia
  8. 2012Manfalut train–bus collision
  9. 2013Tatarstan Airlines Flight 363
  10. 2013Tornado outbreak of November 17, 2013
  11. 2019COVID-19

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.
  • 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…
  • October 14The HolocaustThe Holocaust: Prisoners at Sobibor extermination camp revolted, killing 11 SS officers and staging a mass escape.

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-november-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?

November 17 1943 — 83 years ago, on a Wednesday.

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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