Air Operations, Bismarcks

38th Medium Bomb Group B-26s attack the Gasmata airfield on New Britain.

Air Operations, Europe

• 4 Bostons and 4 Mosquitos make railway attacks in France and Belgium, but only 2 Mosquitos bomb, at Laon and Criel. There are no losses.

• 6 Wellingtons lay mines off Lorient and St Nazaire without a loss.

Air Operations, Libya

The WDAF, including the 9th Air Force's 12 Medium Bomb Group and 57th Fighter Group, maintain pressure and attempt to interdict German Army routes of retreat. 57th Fighter Group P-40 pilots down 2 Bf-109s near El Agheila.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• Repeated attacks by Allied aircraft, including V Bomber Command B-17s and B-24s, are unable to turn back five Japanese destroyer-transports that are discovered off Madang on their way from Rabaul to Buna with 800 Japanese Army ground troops.
• 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17s attack the Salamaua area.
• 3rd Light Bomb Group A-20s attack targets in the Cape Killerton area.

Air Operations, Solomons

During the night, an AirSoPac PBY based in the New Hebrides mounts the first in a series of night-heckling attacks against the airfield at Munda Point, New Georgia.

Air Operations, Tunisia

• 17 97th Heavy Bomb Group B-17s attack port facilities at Tunis.
• 10 301st Heavy Bomb Group B-17s and 19 93rd Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack port facilities at Bizerte.
• B-25s attack port facilities at Sousse.
• B-26s attack a bridge north of Sfax.
• P-38s escort the medium-bomber missions, fly patrols, and attack Axis road convoys and individual vehicles north of Gabes.

Eastern Front

Heavy fighting continues in Stalingrad and central sectors.

The 3rd Shock Army launches new attacks against the garrison at Velikiye Luki.

The LVII Panzer Corps presses home its attack, the 23rd Panzer Division reaching the Aksai River. Hitler agrees to release the 17th Panzer Division from behind the 8th Italian Army and sends it south to aid Hoth's attack. The division has only 40 battle-worth panzers and will arrive too late to support the relief attack, arriving just as the Soviets bolster their defenses. With the German plan apparent and the 51st Army retreating to the northeast, Vasilevsky proposes that the 2nd Guards Army be used to halt the counterattack. Stalin angrily refuses to sanction this, having intended to uses the 2nd Guards to help reduce the 6th Army. After reasoned argument, he gives way though, and the 2nd Guards begin the move to the Myshkova River.

German Panzer III fighting in the Southern Soviet Union in December 1942

German Panzer III

Along the Chir the 11th Panzer Division is struck on its right flank by strong Soviet forces. Balck redeploys and counterattacks, defeating the Soviets. However, the fighting has prevented the 11th from finishing off the Nizhne Kalinovski bridgehead.

Guadalcanal

The 3rd Battalion, 182nd Infantry, and C Company, 2nd Marine Engineer Battalion, arrive.

New Guinea

Allied aircraft attack a squadron of 5 enemy destroyers carrying supplies and 800 men, but with no result. Among those on board is Gen Kensaku Oda, successor to Gen Tomitaro Horii as Commander of the 'South Seas Detachment'. The convoy is taking reinforcements to the greatly reduced Japanese garrison on the island. The roadblock between Soputa and Sanananda is cut off by the Japanese again. The Australians direct a heavy artillery barrage on Buna village, and at night the last of the Japanese defenders, now only a hundred strong, evacuate the village and swim to the village of Giruwa.

North Africa

The New Zealand 2nd Div of 8th Army captures Mersa Brega east of El Agheila. Rommel begins to pull out of the El Agheila position, leaving a rearguard and a number of minefields to slow down the British advance. The RAF harries the retreating Germans and Italians relentlessly.

There are heavy US air raids on Bizerta and Tunis. On the ground the fighting dies down for the moment as the V Corps of the British 1st Army is ordered to get ready for a new offensive against Tunis.

Occupied France

Laval says 'without equivocation. . . I want Germany's victory.'

Occupied Holland

Anton Mussert, leader of the Dutch Nazi Party (NSB), is appointed 'Leader of Netherlands People' by Hitler although supreme authority continues to be held by Arthur Seyss-Inquart, chief of German occupation.

On December 13, 1942 Adolf Hitler declared Mussert 'Leader of the Dutch People'.

Adolf Hitler and Anton Mussert