Air Operations - CBI

2nd AVG Fighter Squadron P-40s destroy 4 Japanese fighters on the ground while attacking the Rahaeng/Tak Airdrome in Thailand.

Air Operations - Europe

82 aircraft are sent on a raid to Brest. There are no losses.

In minor operations, 5 Hampdens are sent to lay mines off Brest. 1 plane is lost. 1 Manchester is sent on a leaflet flight over France.

Atlantic

The destroyer Vimiera hits a mine and sinks in the Thames Estuary.

Snow in London

Eastern Front

The Soviet Northwest, Volkhov and Kalinin Fronts launch a new offensive in the Valdai Hills area west and northwest of Moscow. The Soviet advance is very rapid at first despite fierce German resistance. Over the next 12 days the Russians make a 113-km-deep breakthrough between Smolensk and Lake Ilmen. They capture 9 towns and by January 22 Velikie Luki, a vital railway junction, is seriously threatened.

The 3rd and 4th Shock Armies begin to attack across the frozen surface of Lake Selinger but encounter fierce resistance from the 16th Army. Th 3rd Shock plans to punch through the German defenses and advance upon Kholm and Velikiye Luki, crushing the southern flank of the 16th Army, while the 4th Shock Army exploits the hole in the German line and rushes forward to storm Vitebsk. The 22nd Army provides support on the left flank. As the Northwest Front increases the pressure upon the right wing of the 16th Army, the German defenses at Peno, near Andreapol, begin to crumble. Elements of the 11th Army penetrate into the German rear and moves up to Staraya Russa.

Bitter fighting continues at Rzhev as the 29th and 39th Armies pound the 9th Army. The Germans throw back each Soviet attack, albeit with heavy casualties. Farther south, the 49th Army is involved in heavy fighting as it advances toward Vyazma, while the 10th Army storms Lyudinovo, taking the town after a fierce battle with the 2nd Panzer Army. The 10th Army is ordered to take Kirov and then cut the Vyazma-Bryansk railway. The 3rd and 13th Armies join the 61st Army attacks upon Bolkhov.

Malaya

The Indian III Corps begins to withdraw southward into Johore, where the final stand before the Singapore Naval Base is to be made. The 11th and 9th Indian Divisions are given the task of stopping the enemy advance, covering the area Seremban, Port Dickson, Tampin and Malacca.

Mediterranean

The British submarine Triumph is declared lost after failing to pick up a party of escapers at Bireans in the Adriatic on 30 December. The submarine was lost to unknown caueses sometimte between 30 December and 9 January with a crew of 62.

Pacific

• I-58 sinks the Dutch steamer Camphuijs (2380t) in the central Java Sea. The survivors are rescued by a naval seaplane and brought to Surabaya.
• The Dutch steamer Benkoeln (1103t) is sunk by I-65 in the central Java Sea. The American destroyer Paul Jones picks up 101 survivors from rafts.
• The US submarine Pollack (SS-180) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese merchant cargo ship Teian Maru (4472t) 40 miles south-southwest of Inubozaki, Japan.

Philippines

Philippines

On Luzon, on the Bataan peninsula, the first period of Japanese attacks begins at 1500 hours. From the Dinalupihan-Hermosa area, 3 RCTs with artillery support move forward, 2 against the II Corps on the east and 1 toward I Corps sector on the west. None of the columns reaches the outpost line. The II Corps, defending the Abucay line (from Mabatang on Manila Bay to Mt Natib) with the 57th Infantry (PS) on the east, the 41st Division (PA) in the center, and the 51st Division (PA) on the west, opens fire on the enemy combat team driving down East Road and makes patrol contact with it. To the west, another Japanese column advances unmolested down a trail from Dinalupihan to the vicinity of Album. In the I Corps area, the enemy column from Dinalupihan is slowed only by demolitions while moving west along Route 7 toward Olongapo.

United States, Home Front

Joe Louis knocks out Buddy Baer in the first round of a World Heavyweight Boxing Championship.