Air Operations, Europe

British aircraft raid Naples causing severe material damage.

BOMBER COMMAND

• 12 Hampdens are involved in 'roving patrols' on the Dutch and German coasts. 1 plane bombs at Leeuwarden. There are no losses.
• In evening operations 22 Wellingtons and 9 Stirlings are sent to bomb the German battlecruisers in Brest. Only 7 aircraft bomb the primary target in what is the first of 11 January raids on these ships. 15 Whitleys and 12 Manchester are sent to St Nazaire where only 8 bomb the primary target area. There are no losses on either raid.
• In minor operations 36 Hampdens lay mines in the Frisians and off the French Biscay ports. There are no losses.

Barents Sea

U-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.

Borneo

Brunei Bay is occupied by a Japanese landing force.

A Convoy in China

Eastern Front

In 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.

The 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.

The 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.

Malaya

British 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.

Malta

There are more attacks on the island's air and naval bases by Axis aircraft.

Advancing Near Tobruk

North Africa

The 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.

Pacific

The 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.

Philippines

Units of the Japanese 48th Division 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 organize delaying positions along the 10-mile front from Porac to Guagua. Holding this line are the 21st PA Division on the west, its left flank covered by the 26th Cavalry (Philippine Scouts) at San Jose, south of Porac, and the 11th PA Division on the east. The Japanese attack the western flank in the vicinity of Porac in the afternoon and force the 21st Division to fall back. Meanwhile, the Japanese east of the Pampanga succeed in crossing the river and move to San Fernando, where they join up with Japanese troops from Angeles.

Japanese Occupy Manila

Japanese Tanks Enter Manila