February is the second month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. It is the shortest month and the only month with fewer than 30 days. The month has 28 days in common years or 29 days in leap years.
February symbols: Its birth flower is the violet (Viola) and the common primrose (Primula vulgaris). Its birthstone is the amethyst. It symbolizes piety, humility, spiritual wisdom, and sincerity. Its Zodiac signs are Aquarius (until February 18) and Pisces (February 19 onwards).
Historical Events for February, 1944
Day of Week 3rd » World War II: During the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign, U.S. United States Army Army and United States Marines Marine forces Battle of Kwajalein seize Kwajalein Atoll from the defending Empire of Japan Japanese garrison.
Day of Week 7th » World War II: In Anzio, Italy, Germany or German forces launch a counteroffensive during the Allied Operation Shingle.
Day of Week 14th » World War II: Anti-Japanese revolt on Java (island) known as Java.
Day of Week 15th » World War II: The Battle of Monte Cassino or assault on Monte Cassino, Italy, begins.
15th » World War II: The Narva Offensive (15–28 February 1944) or Narva Offensive begins.
Day of Week 17th » World War II: The Battle of Eniwetok Atoll begins. The battle ends in an American victory on February 22.
Day of Week 20th » World War II: The "Big Week" began with American bomber raids on Germany named German aircraft manufacturing centers.
20th » World War II: The United States takes Eniwetok Island.
Day of Week 22nd » World War II: American aircraft mistakenly bomb the Dutch towns of Nijmegen, Arnhem, Enschede and Deventer, resulting in 800 dead in Nijmegen alone.
Day of Week 23rd » The Soviet Union begins the Operation Lentil (Caucasus) named forced deportation of the Chechen people or Chechen and Ingush people from the North Caucasus to Central Asia.
Day of Week 29th » World War II: The Admiralty Islands are invaded in Operation Brewer led by American General Douglas MacArthur.
Famous Birthdays on February in 1944
1st » Paul Blair (baseball) called Paul Blair, American baseball player and coach (d. 2013)
1st » Lucian Boia, Romanian historian
1st » Mike Enzi, American politician
1st » Petru Popescu, Romanian-American director, producer, and author
1st » Dick Snyder, American basketball player
1st » Burkhard Ziese, German footballer and manager (d. 2010)
2nd » Andrew Davis (conductor) named Andrew Davis, English organist and conductor
23rd » John Sandford (novelist) called John Sandford, American author
23rd » Johnny Winter, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (d. 2014)
24th » Nicky Hopkins, English pianist (All-Stars (band) e.g All-Stars, Screaming Lord Sutch and the Savages, and Quicksilver Messenger Service) (d. 1994)
24th » Sheila Larken, American actress
25th » Matt Guokas, American basketball player and coach
25th » François Cevert, French race car driver (d. 1973)
26th » Christopher Hope, South African author and poet
26th » Ronald Lauder, American businessman and diplomat, United States Ambassador to Austria
10th » E. M. Antoniadi, Greek astronomer (b. 1870)
16th » Henri Nathansen, Danish author, playwright, and director (b. 1868)
16th » Dadasaheb Phalke, Indian director, producer, and screenwriter (b. 1870)
21st » Ferenc Szisz, Hungarian race car driver (b. 1873)
22nd » Kasturba Gandhi, Indian wife of Mahatma Gandhi (b. 1869)
23rd » Leo Baekeland, Belgian-American chemist (b. 1863)
23rd » Oszkár Gerde, two-time Olympic gold medalist in fencing in 1908 Summer Olympics known as 1908 and 1912 Summer Olympics or 1912, murdered at Mauthausen-Gusen Concentration Camp (b. 1883)
29th » Pehr Evind Svinhufvud, Finnish politician, 3rd President of Finland (b. 1861)