Air Operations, EuropeBritish aircraft raid Naples causing severe material damage.
BOMBER COMMAND
Barents SeaU-134 sinks the British steamer Waziristan (5135t) from Convoy PQ-7A 20 miles south of Bear Island with the loss of all 47 of her crew. [ | ]BorneoBrunei Bay is occupied by a Japanese landing force. [ | ]
Eastern FrontIn the advance of the West Front south of Moscow Maloyaroslavets, 129 km southwest of Moscow, is retaken as 3 German divisions are defeated. On the Kerch peninsula during the last few days the Russians capture 48 guns and over 1,000 motorcycles. CENTRAL SECTORThe Northwest Front receives new orders for operations against Army Groups North and Center. The 3rd and 4th Shock Armies are to seize Ostashkov and Toropets and smash the junction of the two army groups. The attack is planned for January 9 and is aimed to destroy the northern wing of Army Group Center, completing the envelopment of the German armies before Moscow. Already hard pressed by the Kalinin Front, the 9th Army requests permission to withdraw from its positions on the Volga to a shorter line to the rear. Hitler categorically forbids a withdrawal, ordering the 9th to hold its line. To the south, the West Front recaptures Maloyaroslavets as the 4th Army falls back. SOUTHERN SECTORThe fighting on the Kerch peninsula has cost the Soviets 30,000 killed and missing and 7,700 wounded of 62,000 originally committed. The Soviets have also lost 35 tanks, 133 artillery pieces and 39 aircraft. [ | ]MalayaBritish and Empire forces continue to be compelled to retreat southward. To avoid encirclement by the Japanese, who have landed in their rear and taken Telok Anson, the 15th Indian Bde defending Kampar, begin withdrawing southward to the Slim River line. The Japanese occupy Kampar and attempt a landing at Kuala Selangor (on the west coast, northwest of Kuala Lumpur), but are stopped by British artillery. [ | ]MaltaThere are more attacks on the island's air and naval bases by Axis aircraft. [ | ]
North AfricaThe Axis garrison of Bardia on the Egyptian border, surrounded since the middle of December and left without supplies or ammunition, surrenders to the 2nd South African Div and the 1st Armored Brigade, 8th Army. It has held out since almost the start of the CRUSADER offensive. 7,000 prisoners are taken. [ | ]PacificThe American steamer Latouche (2156t) is seized by Japanese forces at Manila. The ship is renamed Azuchi Maru for Japanese use. Several other American steamers in the Manila area are seized by Japanese forces and renamed for Japanese use. Among these are the motor vessel Anakan (837t) renamed Anan Maru, steamer Dos Hermanos (838t) renamed Himeno Maru, steamer Kaiping (2563t), steamer Luzon (1679t) renamed Kaiho Maru, steamer Mauban (1253t) renamed Manbo Maru, steamer Paz (4260t) renamed Hatsu Maru, and steamer Palawan (562t) renamed Paran Maru. [ | ]PhilippinesUnits of the Japanese 48th Div occupy Baliwag and consolidate the capture of Manila and occupy the Cavita base south of the city. Japanese bombers begin systematic attacks against the fortified island of Corregidor. American and Filipino forces evacuate San Fernando, north of Manila, and set up strongpoints in the area of Guagua, between San Fernando and the Bataan Peninsula. The US defensive positions located across the entrance to the Bataan Peninsula will become known as the Porac Line which the Japanese are already pushing against.
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