Borneo
The Indian garrison withdrawing from Kuching reaches Sanggau in Dutch Borneo and is placed under Dutch command.
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]Burma
British pressure forces the Japanese back from Bokpyn into Thailand.
[ | ]Diplomatic Relations
Eden meets with Stalin and Molotov in Moscow to discuss cooperation both during and after the war.
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Eastern Front
There are new Soviet landings in the eastern Crimea at Feodosia. The forces moved to here and Kerch will be a serious threat to the German 11th Army and it will be compelled to halt attacks on Sevastopol while it deals with them. The Soviet units involved are the 51st and the 54th Armies.
The continuing Soviet advance on the Moscow sector recaptures Tula.
German Troops Unloading Supplies |
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Anothern force of 23,000 men of 44th Army lands in the Crimea. The new landing comes ashore at Feodosia, where German defenses are virtually non-existant, consisting mainly of Rumanian forces and rear area personnel. The Soviets throw the Rumanians back and establishes a firm bridgehead, threatening the rear of the XLII Corps. With his rear open and his force in danger of being isolated, Sponek takes immediate action and withdraws from the peninsula to the Ak-Monai narrows, the withdrawal beginning during the night of December 29-30. With this new danger to his rear, Manstein suspends attacks upon Sevastopol and begins to move the XXX Corps east to the aid of the XLII Corps.
[ | ]India, Home Front
Gandhi resigns leadership of the Congress Party when it decides to support the British war effort.
[ | ]Malaya
The XII Bde of the 11th Indian Div is forced to withdraw from its position at Kampar and retires to Bidor.
Japanese Tankette Type 94 |
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| ]North Africa
Lt-Ge Ludwig Crüwell attacks again destroying another 23 British tanks, again only losing 7. The Axis forces then resume their retreat to El Agheila which they reach on 6 January without any further trouble from the British.
Rommel's casualties: 2,300 killed, 6,100 wounded, 29,000 prisoners but about 2/3 of these are Italians. But, his army had not been destroyed as a fighting force, not even temporarily. The 8th Army has suffered 17,700 casualties: 2,900 killed; 7,300 wounded; 5,500 prisoners.
[ | ]Philippines
The Japanese pressure increases in Luzon. They capture Ipoh and advance towards Kuantan on the east coast. For the first time Japanese aircraft attack the fortified island of Corregidor, south of the Bataan peninsula, where US headquarters is now located. Damaged in the attack is the submarine tender Canopus (AS-9).
Gun Drill at an AA Battery on Corregidor |
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