Barents Sea

The British submarine Sealion sinks the Norwegian steamer Island (638t) off northern Norway.

Diplomatic Relations

• Gen Sikorski, the head of the exiled Polish government is in Moscow to see Stalin. A friendship and mutual aid agreement between the Soviets and the Poles is signed by the 2 leaders.
• (6th?)Great Britain declares war on Finland, Hungary and Rumania.
• Japan tells the US that Japanese troops moving into Indochina are purely precautionary because 'Chinese troops have recently shown frequent signs of movement along the northern frontier of French Indochina bordering on China.'
• Thailand seeks assurances from Britain that Britain would declare war immediately on Japan if the Thais are attacked by the Japanese. Churchill suggests the next day that the Thais should defend themselves and that British aid would be forthcoming. Roosevelt learns of Churchill's offer and agrees that US assistance will also be supplied, but neither agrees on an automatic declaration of war.

Eastern Front

Hitler agrees that the German Moscow offensive should be halted, as the growing weakness of the German forces prevents there being any possibility of further gains. Of the 3,500,000 men committed to the Russia by the Axis, 750,000 have been killed, wounded or missing since June.

Soviet Troops Moving Forward During the Counteroffensive Outside Moscow

While the German offensive in front of Moscow has exhausted itself due to lack of proper equipment and terrible winter conditions, the Russians, who have built up all the human and material resources they can, launch an offensive all along the front. In front of Moscow 88 infantry and 15 cavalry divisions along with 1,500 tanks attack the 67 German divisions. The intention is break through both wings of Army Group Center, encircle it, and then wipe it out. The Soviet cavalry suffers badly but the Russian tanks are superior. Guderian vainly asks Hitler permission to rectify his front. His 2nd Pzr Army has been ravaged by heavy casualties, frostbite and mechanical breakdowns. Northwest of Moscow, in the area of Krasnaya Polyana-Dmitrov-Kalinin, the most advanced positions of the German 9th Army and III and IV Panzergruppe, 7 Soviet armies move forward. To the south of Moscow, in the Tula-Kashira-Mkhaylov area, 3 Soviet armies and a corps of Guards cavalry attack the II Panzergruppe. The Germans are taken completely by surprise by the strength and violence of the attacks.

At 0300 hours the 31st Army begins attacking the 9th Army force south of Kalinin, penetrating their defenses. Lead units are involved in bitter fighting at Turginovo. During the morning, at 1100 hours, the 29th Army attacked north of Kalinin. By early afternoon both armies have established limited bridgeheads across the Volga. At 1600 hours the 5th Army of West front launches probing attacks against the German forces to the south.

Russians Counterattack near Moscow

With the temperature on the Moscow axis down at minus 30 degrees Centigrade, a meter of snow lying on the ground and the Red Army launching ferocious attacks north of Moscow, Hitler reluctantly agrees to the suspension of Operation TYPHOON. He blames the failure to reach Moscow on the unusually early onset of winter. He instructs the Ostheer to go onto the defensive but calls for the field armies to hold their positions and halt the Soviet attacks.

Mediterranean

• Hitler orders the transfer of the whole of Fliegerkorps II from the Eastern Front to the Mediterranean. The aim is to reduce the effectiveness of the attacks of the British Malta forces on the Axis supply convoys and by this, a more direct intervention to help the forces in North Africa.
• The British armed boarding vessel Chakdina is sunk by German bombing in the eastern Mediterranean. The British destroyer Farndale and the anti-submarine whaler Thorgrim rescue about 200 survivors. There are about 300 British wounded and 100 prisoners of war when she sinks.

North Africa

Stukas sent to raid Lt-Gen Willoughtby Norrie's position are intercepted by Tomahawks of 112 and 250 Squadrons which claim 18 planes for the loss of 5 of their own and 2 pilots.

The Afrika Korps, which has been re-united, then attacks the 11th Indian Bde dispersing it.

Pacific

The US carrier Lexington leaves Pearl Harbor bound for Midway with Task Force 12.

United States, Preparations

US naval offices and facilities in Tokyo, Bangkok, Peking, Tientsin, Shanghai, Guam and Wake are ordered to destroy all absolutely essential communication codes and secret documents.