drive for the Belfort Gap. August 18 – WWII: American submarine sinks Teia Maru, Eishin Maru, Teiyu Maru, and aircraft carrier from Japanese convoy HI71, in one of the most effective American "wolfpack" attacks of the war. August 19 – WWII: American submarine torpedoes Japanese landing craft depot ship ; more than 4,400 Japanese servicemen drown. Liberation of Paris starts with resistance forces staging an insurrection against the German occupiers. August 20 – WWII: American forces successfully defeat Nazi forces at Chambois, closing the Falaise Pocket. 168 captured Allied airmen, including Phil Lamason, accused of being "terror fliers" by the Gestapo, arrive at Buchenwald concentration camp, where they form the KLB Club. August 21 The Dumbarton Oaks Conference (Washington Conversations on International Peace and Security Organization) opens in Washington, D.C.: U.S., British, Chinese, French and Soviet representatives meet to plan the foundation of the United Nations. WWII: Operation Tractable concludes, when Canadian troops relieve the Polish and link with the Americans, capturing remaining German forces in the Falaise Pocket, and securing the strategically important French town of Falaise, in the final offensive of the Battle of Normandy. August 22 – WWII: , an unmarked Japanese passenger/cargo ship, is sunk by torpedoes launched by the submarine off Akuseki-jima, killing 1,484 civilians, including 767 schoolchildren. Holocaust of Kedros: German Wehrmacht infantry begin an intimidatory razing operation, killing 164, against the civilian residents of nine villages in the Amari Valley on the occupied Greek island of Crete. August 23 – WWII: King Michael's Coup: Ion Antonescu, Conducator of Romania, and Mihai Antonescu, prime minister of Romania, are arrested and a new military government established. Romania leaves the war against the Soviet Union, joining the Allies. General Constantin Sanatescu is the "armed force" of the coup d'état and will be appointed by King Michael of Romania as prime minister of Romania on September 1. Padule di Fucecchio massacre: At least 174 Italian civilians are killed by members of the 23rd Infantry Division (Wehrmacht) as a reprisal for the wounding of two soldiers. August 24 – WWII: Liberation of Paris: The Allies enter Paris, successfully completing Operation Overlord. Japanese vessels attack and sink the submarine off Luzon. August 25 – WWII: German surrender of Paris: General Dietrich von Choltitz surrenders Paris to the Allies, in defiance of Hitler's orders to destroy it. Maillé massacre: 129 civilians (70% women and children) are massacred by the Gestapo