Battle of the Atlantic

• The British steamer Granta (2719t) sinks on a mine 11 miles from the Cromer Knoll Light Vessel with the loss of 12 crewmen. This is a result of the German destroyer minelaying operation the night of the 10th. The survivors are rescued by 3 smaller ships in the area.
• U-23 torpedoes the Danish tanker Danmark (10,517t) east of South Ronaldsay.
• German aircraft of the X Air Corps sink the British armed patrol trawler Valdora (251t) off Cromer with the loss of the entire crew of 10.

Finland - Winter War

Day 44

In northern Finland the Soviets make a surprise advance in the Juntusranta sector forcing Group Susi to take up defensive positions on the Tormua parallel. The F19 air force regiment of Swedish volunteers enters combat for the first time near Mäakäjärvi. Battle of the Taipale. A major Russian effort to break through the left flank of the Mannerheim Line, by crossing the frozen River Taipale, is defeated by hand-to-hand fighting. (ends 23 Jan) On the Ladoga Karelia the commander of the 56th Army requests an aircraft to lift him out of the Kitelä-Syskyjärvi-Koirinoja triangle. The aircraft is damaged by the Finns and is forced to make an emergency landing on the frozen Lake Ladoga.

The Russians send 400 aircraft to bomb localities across Finland, the main focus being in the southwest.

Over 400 enemy aircraft bomb several localities across Finland; the main focus of the bombing is in the southwest. Photo: SA-KUVA Heavy Soviet Bombing Attack

Germany, Command

Gen Albert Kesselring takes command of the Luftwaffe 2nd Air Fleet.