February in Military History
The shortest month packs a punch, from the Battle of Verdun anniversaries to pivotal WWII Pacific operations throughout February.
290 events across 29 days
Featured Events in February
February 1
Space Shuttle Columbia Disintegrates on Re-Entry, Seven Crew Lost
2003
February 2
German Surrender at Stalingrad Complete, 91,000 Taken Prisoner
1943
February 3
Four Chaplains Sacrifice Their Lives on the USAT Dorchester
1943
February 4
Yalta Conference Begins, The Big Three Reshape the World
President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill, and Premier Stalin met at Yalta in Crimea to plan the final defeat of Nazi Germany and the post-war reorganization of Europe, making decisions that would define the Cold War.
February 5
General MacArthur Returns to Manila, Liberation of the Philippines Begins
American forces under General Douglas MacArthur entered Manila, beginning the brutal month-long Battle of Manila that would devastate the Philippine capital and kill over 100,000 Filipino civilians.
Every Day in February
Space Shuttle Columbia Disintegrates on Re-Entry, Seven Crew Lost
10 events · 2003
German Surrender at Stalingrad Complete, 91,000 Taken Prisoner
10 events · 1943
Four Chaplains Sacrifice Their Lives on the USAT Dorchester
10 events · 1943
Yalta Conference Begins, The Big Three Reshape the World
10 events · 1945
General MacArthur Returns to Manila, Liberation of the Philippines Begins
10 events · 1945
Queen Elizabeth II Ascends to the Throne, Commander of the World's Largest Military
10 events · 1952
NVA Overruns Lang Vei Special Forces Camp with Tanks
10 events · 1968
Japan Launches Surprise Attack on Port Arthur, Russo-Japanese War Begins
10 events · 1904
Guadalcanal Secured, Japan's First Major Land Defeat
10 events · 1943
Treaty of Paris Ends the French and Indian War, Britain Dominates North America
10 events · 1763
Nelson Mandela Released After 27 Years, South Africa's Military Transformation Begins
10 events · 1990
Abraham Lincoln Born, The Commander Who Saved the Union
10 events · 1809
Bombing of Dresden Begins, Firestorm Devastates a City
10 events · 1945
Battle of Manila Reaches Its Bloodiest Phase, Intramuros Under Siege
10 events · 1945
USS Maine Explodes in Havana Harbor, "Remember the Maine!"
10 events · 1898
U.S. Forces Recapture Bataan, Avenging the Death March
10 events · 1945
CSS Hunley Becomes First Submarine to Sink a Warship
10 events · 1864
Battle of the Java Sea Approaches, ABDA Fleet Mobilizes
10 events · 1942
Battle of Iwo Jima Begins, Marines Storm the Beaches
10 events · 1945
John Glenn Orbits the Earth, Marine Pilot Conquers Space
10 events · 1962
Battle of Verdun Begins, "They Shall Not Pass"
10 events · 1916
George Washington Born, Father of the Nation and Its Military
10 events · 1732
Flag Raised on Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima's Iconic Moment
10 events · 1945
Russia Invades Ukraine, Largest European War Since 1945
10 events · 2022
Iraqi Scud Missile Kills 28 Americans in Dhahran Barracks
10 events · 1991
World Trade Center Bombed, First Attack on American Soil
10 events · 1993
Gulf War Ceasefire, 100-Hour Ground War Ends in Decisive Victory
10 events · 1991
Watson and Crick Discover DNA Structure, Military Medicine Transformed
10 events · 1953
Deerfield Raid, French and Indian Attack on the Massachusetts Frontier
10 events · 1704
Notable Military Figures Born in February
February 1
Langston Hughes
Renowned poet and Harlem Renaissance leader whose works addressed the Black military experience, including the contributions and discrimination faced by African American soldiers in both World Wars.
1901–1967
February 1
Viktor Suvorov
Former Soviet military intelligence officer who defected to the UK and wrote influential books on Soviet military doctrine and the controversial "Icebreaker" thesis about Stalin's war plans.
1947–present
February 2
James Joyce
Irish novelist whose masterwork "Ulysses" was published on this same date in 1922. His experimental literary techniques influenced military intelligence report writing and war correspondence.
1882–1941
February 2
Ayn Rand
Russian-American philosopher and novelist who fled Soviet totalitarianism. Her philosophy of individualism influenced American Cold War-era defense intellectuals and military strategists.
1905–1982
February 3
Simone Weil
French philosopher and political activist who served as a volunteer in the Spanish Civil War and wrote extensively on war, justice, and the moral obligations of military force.
1909–1943
February 3
Norman Rockwell
Iconic American illustrator whose Saturday Evening Post covers during WWII, including "Rosie the Riveter" and the "Four Freedoms" series, became some of the most powerful military propaganda art in history.
1894–1978
February 4
Charles Lindbergh
Aviation pioneer who made the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight. A controversial figure who opposed U.S. entry into WWII, he later flew combat missions in the Pacific as a civilian consultant, shooting down a Japanese aircraft.
1902–1974
February 4
Thaddeus Kosciuszko
Brigadier General
Polish military engineer who designed the fortifications at West Point and Saratoga during the American Revolution. His engineering skills proved decisive in several Continental Army victories.
1746–1817
February 5
Adlai Stevenson II
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations who confronted the Soviet ambassador during the Cuban Missile Crisis, demanding proof that Soviet missiles were not in Cuba in one of the Cold War's most dramatic diplomatic moments.
1900–1965
February 5
Robert Peel
British Prime Minister who established the Metropolitan Police in 1829 and oversaw British military policy during a period of imperial expansion, creating the modern concept of civilian law enforcement.
1788–1850
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About February in Military History
February has witnessed 290 significant military events spanning from the American Revolution to the modern era. Each day of February carries its own story of battles, innovations, sacrifices, and turning points that shaped the course of military history.
Our day-by-day coverage includes detailed narratives, historical context, images from military archives, and connections to our broader library of military history articles. Whether you're researching a specific date or browsing for fascinating stories, February has no shortage of compelling military history.