Battle of the Atlantic

U-65 sinks the British tanker British Premier (5872t) 200 miles southwest of Freetown with the loss of 32 of her crew. 4 survivors are picked up by the British destroyer Faulknor.

German Raiders

In a rare rebuff, the heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper is driven away from a 20-ship convoy en route to Sierra Leone by its especially strong escort vessels.

Germany, Home Front

Rudolph Hess, deputy Nazi leader, broadcasts a Christmas message: 'Divine justice has turned against England. We are carrying on the fight in the belief in the superior value of our people. For the Almighty has also created the German people; and service for this people is thus service in the belief in the Almighty who created it.'

Mediterranean

The Greek submarine Papanicolis sinks the Italian transport Firenze (3952t) east of Saseno off Albania in the Adriatic.