Air Operations, New Guinea

V Bomber Command B-25s, B-26s, and A-20s, and V Fighter Command P-400s mount an all-out effort against Buna in support of a renewed Allied ground attack that fails to secure the objective. An Australian Army brigade,however, takes Gona.

Allied Command

Responsibility for the India-China air lift is transferred from Gen Stilwell to Air Transport Command, based in India.

Battle of the Atlantic

The British anti-submarine trawler Jasper (581t), escorting Convoy PW-256, is sunk by German motor torpedo boat S-81 in the English Channel with the loss of 10 of her crew.

The British battlecruiser HMS Renown firing a 15" salvo on December 1, 1942. (Imperial War Museum, A-13012)

British Battlecruiser Renown Firing a Salvo

Britain, Home Front

The House of Commons receives the Report on Social Insurance and Allied Services prepared by the Beveridge Committee. The report proposes far-reaching measures of social reform which are designed to eliminate poverty in Britain. The laws which will emerge from the consideration of the report are the foundation of Britain's modern welfare system. The Report is a bestseller as 635,000 copies are sold.

In London, Sydney Silverman, MP, reports that more than 2,000,000 Jews have been exterminated by the Nazis up to the end of September.

Burma

After a period of rest and re-equipping the Japanese man a line Tengchung-Myitkyina-Kamaing-Kalewa-Akyab.

Diplomatic Relations

Ethiopia declares war on Germany, Italy and Japan.

Eastern Front

The 20th Army continues its futile attacks for five days, failing entirely to break the now solid German defenses between Osuga and Sychevka. To the west the battle for Belyi is equally unsuccessful, the Germans driving the salient back with heavy losses. At the end of four days' fierce fighting, the 41st Army has been contained, having pushed a ten-mile salient into the German lines. To the north the 22nd Army is similarly beaten, being contained by German counterattacks.

Soviet soldiers fire from a ruined building as they fight against Nazi troops in the city of Stalingrad (now Volgograd). Photo was taken on December 1, 1942 during the 200-day Battle of Stalingrad that turned the tide of World War II.

Soviet Soldiers Firing from a Ruined Building

Guadalcanal

The 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, is withdrawn from forward positions west of the Matanikau River, leaving Americal Division units to hold the west sector.

Tanaka is back at Shortland. 3 more destroyers are assigned to supply duty: Arashi, Nowaki, and Yugure.

USS Minneapolis at Tulagi with torpedo damage a few hours after the battle, on December 1, 1942.

USS Minneapolis

USS New Orleans near Tulagi on 1 December 1942. The bow was blown off forward of turret two during the Battle of Tassafaronga the night before, killing 180+ of the ship’s crew.

USS New Orleans

A close up of damage to the USS Pensacola during the battle of Tassafaronga.

USS Pensacola

The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS New Orleans (CA-32) camouflaged at Tulagi, Solomon Islands, some days after she was torpedoed during the Battle of Tassafaronga on 30 November 1942. Note that her stern is riding high, and that her forward end is low in the water. The torpedo and subsequent explosion had severed her bow between No.1 and No.2 eight-inch gun turrets.

USS New Orleans (CA-32) Camouflaged at Tulagi

Mediterranean

Axis supply problems are well illustrated by events during the next two days. There are 4 Italian convoys at sea which are threatened by a British squadron, Q Force, of 3 cruisers and 2 destroyers. 3 of the convoys are recalled. The 4 freighters and 1 of the escorts of the 4th convoy are sunk and 2 more escorts damaged. The British later lose 1 destroyer, the Quentin, to an air attack. During December the Italians will try to convoy over 200,000 tons of cargo to Tunis and Tripoli, but of this 90,000 tons, in 32 ships, will be lost to British and Allied naval and air attacks.

New Guinea

The Australian 21st Bde captures Gona. The Japanese retire to Gona Mission to carry on their resistance. Elsewhere they show no sign of giving way; they press very vigorously on the roadblock set up on the Soputa-Sanananda track by units of the US 32nd Div, repelling American counterattacks. Allied attacks on Buna and Cape Esperance are unsuccessful.

North Africa

Adm Darlan broadcasts from Algiers announcing that, because the Chief of State, Marshal Pétain, is a virtual prisoner, he has assumed the responsibilities of the French government, with Anglo-American approval.

This German had sought cover in a bomb shelter, attempting to escape an Allied attack in the Libyan desert, on December 1, 1942. He did not make it. (AP Photo)

A German Casualty of an Allied Attack

In an attempt to forestall the impending Allied attack, there is a strong German counterattack near Tebourba a little west of Djedeïda. The Allies manage to repel it after taking heavy casualties and are forced to withdraw. Combat Command B, US 1st Arm Div, attached to the British 78th Div, is to hold the Germans in the Tebourba area. Concentration of the 78th Div, the first full division of the V Corps, British 1st Army, on the Tunisian front, is now complete. Axis aircraft bomb port installations at Bône and Algiers.

German forces in Tunisia are now over 15,000 strong. The buildup is to continue. Two German infantry divisions and most of 10th Pzr Div will arrive soon. The Italians have shipped 90,000 tons of supplies to Tunisia since Operation TORCH began and the German air-transport fleet is also very active. Allied attacks are taking a considerable, and increasing toll of these shipments. The efforts made to strengthen Tunisia also mean that Rommel is forced to make do with a poorer allowance for his troops to the east.

United States, Command

Gen Ira C. Eaker takes over command of the 8th Air Force from Gen Spaatz who takes over the 12th Air Force in North Africa. Many of the supplies which would otherwise have come to 8th Air Force are now being sent to North Africa where 12th Air Force will be established.

United States, Home Front

Gasoline rationing is introduced throughout the country.