Air Operations, Europe

The bomber effort is less intense this month but Aachen, Cologne, Bremen and Brest are all attacked while light forces are active over northern France.

Occupied Europe

The 'Nacht und Nebel' Decree (Night and Fog) is issued to the German secret services. This allows them to arrest and hold anyone they judge is a danger to German security, without being required to give any information about who they are holding or why. In future those arrested by the Gestapo will virtually vanish leaving their friends and relatives with the terrible dilemma about whether to inquire and risk being implicated in their 'crimes'.

War At Sea

With the beginning of the war with Japan total Allied shipping losses soar this month to 285 ships of 583,700 tons. More than 430,000 tons is lost in the Pacific. It is again a poor month for the German submarines with much of their effort still being devoted to the comparatively unrewarding waters of the Mediterranean and off Gibraltar. 10 U-boats are lost during the month.

Axis Diplomacy

Marshal Pétain and Reichsmarschall Göring

Battle of the Atlantic

The German supply ship Python is scuttled in the South Atlantic when intercepted by the British heavy cruiser Dorsetshire. 414 survivors are rescued by several Axis submarines in the area.

Britain, Command

London announces the formation of a new and expanded Eastern Fleet. Adm Sir Tom Phillips is appointed to the command. In the past Britain has maintained a cruiser squadron, but its presence in Asia will let by more powerful ships, the battleship Prince of Wales and the battle cruiser Repulse. This announcement expresses Britain's concern about Japan's southward movement.

Eastern Front

There is a brief Soviet counterattack in the Moscow sector near Tula. In the south von Reichenau replaces von Rundstedt as Commander-in-Chief of Army Group South. Von Rundstedt has resigned because Hitler tried to cancel von Rundstedt's order for a retreat from Rostov and Taganrog.

In the center, the Germans are only 23 miles from Red Square.

Fresh Soviet Troops on the Way to the Front

German Troops in Retreat

A Nazi Surrenders near Solnechnogorsk

Soviet Troops Mining a Railroad near Moscow

The German I Corps at Tikhvin continues to hold out against concentrated assaults by the Leningrad Front seeking to relieve the city.

The German 4th Army grinds forward toward Naro-Fominsk, with Zhukov feeding reserves into the line to halt the enemy. The Stavka commits the 10th Army threatening the southern flank of the 2nd Panzer Group and stalling Guderian's further advance. It is becoming obvious that Army Group Center is at the end of its endurance, which von Bock states to Hitler. The Führer, however, insists on continuing Operation TYPHOON.

Hitler Insists Operation TYPHOON Continues

As the 1st Panzer Group and the 17th Army continue their fighting withdrawal, Hitler as last permits his forces to pull back to the Mius River line.[MORE]

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British tanker British Captain (6968t) sinks on a mine southeast of Lowestoft with the loss of 1 crewman.
• The Italian submarine Cappellini sinks the British steamer Miguel de Larrinaga (5231t) southwest of the Azores.
• U-43 sinks the American tanker Astral (7542t) west of Portugal with the loss of the entire crew of 37. This was the third American ship of four sunk by u-boats prior to the United States' entry into the war.

Black Sea

The German steamer Cordelia (1357t) is sunk by a Soviet submarine off Konstanza, Romania.

Diplomatic Relations

In a personal note to the Japanese envoys in Washington, Roosevelt asks for an explanation of the Japanese troop expansion in Indochina. The President says, 'The stationing of these increased Japanese forces in Indochina would seem to imply the utilization of these forces by Japan for purposes of further aggression, since no such number of forces could possibly be required for the policing of that region. . .'

East Indies

The British battleship Prince of Wales and the battlecruiser Repulse arrive in Singapore. Their arrival is noted by the Japanese, but is now too late for them to have the planned deterrent effect.

Eastern Front

In the Moscow sector some small German forces reach the Khimki tram station, 19 km from the center of Moscow and within sight of the Kremlin. Guderian establishes his headquarters at Yasnaya Poliana, a village about 4 miles from Tula. This village is the site of Tolstoy's house and tomb which, according to Soviet propaganda, has profaned. There are renewed efforts, on Hitler's direct order, by von Kluge's forces to the west of the city. The weather continues to grow colder with blizzards being added to the previous hard frosts and heavy snow. Both von Bock, commanding Army Group Center, and von Brauchitsch, the Commander-in-Chief, are ill and unable to perform their duties fully effectively.

In the south, the Russians attack von Kleist's rearguard as the Germans withdraw to Mariupol.

North of Moscow, the 4th Panzer Group pushes forward as far as Khimki, only 12 miles from the city, but the Russians launch strong counterattacks which push the Germans back from the town. The 4th Army continues to attack the 33rd and 43rd Armies at Golizno and Akulovo, being involved in furious fighting in both sectors. After a bitter struggle, Akulovo falls. From here the 4th Army can see the spires of the Kremlin on the eastern horizon, but this is as close as they will get to their objective. Gen Mikhail Efremov takes command of a composite group of 1 rifle and 2 tank brigades to force the Germans back. The group counterattack, striking the flank of the XX Corps and almost isolating elements at Aprelevka.

Panzer III Assault Gun and Tank

To the south, the 2nd Panzer Army launches an attack on Tula, taking the 50th Army by surprise. The Germans aim to encircle the town with 2 shock groups formed around the 3rd and 4th Panzer Divisions. These will attack to the west from the area north of Tula, while a third group, containing XLIII Corps' 31st and 296th Divisions, attack east from northwest of the city. Despite a day of bitter fighting, which cuts the Tula-Moscow road, the Germans are unable to break through and go onto the defensive. The XLVII Panzer Corps, situated farther east, is brought under intense pressure as the Soviets begin to counterattack.

The fighting around Rostov has been costly for the Soviets. The South Front has suffered 11,000 killed and 13,000 wounded since November 17, while the 56th Army has lost 4,000 killed and 5,000 wounded.

Allied Preparations

The movement of the reconstituted Polish army to Iran and Iraq is approved by Stalin. These troops will be grouped with British forces in that area. Stalin would rather see them fight elsewhere even though he could use all the help he could get.

Atlantic

The US merchantman Sagadahoc is torpedoed by U-124 and sinks in the South Atlantic.

Balkans

Yugoslav partisans begin attacking German units in what becomes the first instance of organized resistance in Axis-held territory.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British steamer Maclaren (2330t) sinks on a mine southwest of Cardiff in the Bristol Channel with the loss of 3 crewmen.
• U-124 sinks the American steamer Sagadahoc (6275t) in the South Atlantic with the loss of 1 crewman. 34 survivors are rescued after several days in lifeboats by other steamers.

Eastern Front

Bitter fighting rages at Dimitrov as the 1st Shock Army strikes the 3rd Panzer Group. To the south, the 4th Army has the tables turned on it, being brought under heavy attack at Akulovo and Golizno. von Kluge extricates his battered 258th and 3rd Motorized Divisions and abandons the recently won territory. Akulovo is retaken as the Germans are forced back to the Nara.

Gulf of Finland

The transport J. Stalin (7,500t) evacuating Russian troops besieged at Hangö since June is badly damaged by 4 mines. About 2,000 soldiers lose their lives. The wreck will be captured later by the Germans.

Axis Diplomacy

• The Japanese ambassador in Berlin ask the Germans what their position would be if Japan initiated war against the Allies. This possibility was not covered in the Tripartite Pact. Hitler has never been advised of the planned attacks in the Pacific.
• The Netherlands is declared an enemy power by Japan and will be treated as if a state of war exists between the two nations.

Baltic Sea

The German steamer Edith Faulbaum (1318t) sinks on a mine off Warnemünde, Germany.

Britain, Home Front

A new National Service Bill is passed by Parliament. Its provisions include compulsory direction and conscription for female labor.

Eastern Front

In the northern sector the Finns take Hanko, the base at the entrance to the Gulf of Finland which the Russians had taken the previous year.

In the central sector the Germans continue to pressure Moscow especially near Tula, south of the capital. The night brings bitter cold. This results in tanks that won't start, guns that won't fire and thousands of cases of frostbite.

Operation TYPHOON finally splutters to a halt. The 3rd and 4th Panzer Groups can go no farther, and the 4th Army withdraws back to the Nara. Zhukov prepares to unleash his offensive: 100,000 troops of the Kalinin Front, 558,000 troops of the Western Front and 60,000 troops of the Southwestern Front.[MORE]

Report That Red Army Reserves Were Totally Exhausted

Mediterranean

The British submarine Trusty sinks the Italian steamer Eridano (3586t) off Argostoli, Greece.

North Africa

Rommel finally concludes he cannot help his frontier garrisons, isolate Tobruk and still oppose Lt-Gen Willoughby Norrie's XXX Corps. He begins a withdrawal of all his fighting forces and all transport as possible from the area north of the Via Balbia and around Sidi Rezegh. Covered by the Ariete Div, they withdraw to a line running from the west of Ed Duda via El Adem to the area of Bir el Gubi.

Barents Sea

The British submarine Sealion sinks the Norwegian steamer Island (638t) off northern Norway.

Diplomatic Relations

• Gen Sikorski, the head of the exiled Polish government is in Moscow to see Stalin. A friendship and mutual aid agreement between the Soviets and the Poles is signed by the 2 leaders.
• Great Britain declares war on Finland, Hungary and Rumania.
• Japan tells the US that Japanese troops moving into Indochina are purely precautionary because 'Chinese troops have recently shown frequent signs of movement along the northern frontier of French Indochina bordering on China.'
• Thailand seeks assurances from Britain that Britain would declare war immediately on Japan if the Thais are attacked by the Japanese. Churchill suggests the next day that the Thais should defend themselves and that British aid would be forthcoming. Roosevelt learns of Churchill's offer and agrees that US assistance will also be supplied, but neither agrees on an automatic declaration of war.

Eastern Front

Hitler agrees that the German Moscow offensive should be halted, as the growing weakness of the German forces prevents there being any possibility of further gains. Of the 3,500,000 men committed to the Russia by the Axis, 750,000 have been killed, wounded or missing since June.

Soviet Troops Move Forward

While the German offensive in front of Moscow has exhausted itself due to lack of proper equipment and terrible winter conditions, the Russians, who have built up all the human and material resources they can, launch an offensive all along the front. In front of Moscow 88 infantry and 15 cavalry divisions along with 1,500 tanks attack the 67 German divisions. The intention is break through both wings of Army Group Center, encircle it, and then wipe it out. The Soviet cavalry suffers badly but the Russian tanks are superior. Guderian vainly asks Hitler permission to rectify his front. His 2nd Panzer Army has been ravaged by heavy casualties, frostbite and mechanical breakdowns. Northwest of Moscow, in the area of Krasnaya Polyana-Dmitrov-Kalinin, the most advanced positions of the German 9th Army and III and IV Panzergruppe, 7 Soviet armies move forward. To the south of Moscow, in the Tula-Kashira-Mkhaylov area, 3 Soviet armies and a corps of Guards cavalry attack the II Panzergruppe. The Germans are taken completely by surprise by the strength and violence of the attacks.

At 0300 hours the 31st Army begins attacking the 9th Army force south of Kalinin, penetrating their defenses. Lead units are involved in bitter fighting at Turginovo. During the morning, at 1100 hours, the 29th Army attacked north of Kalinin. By early afternoon both armies have established limited bridgeheads across the Volga. At 1600 hours the 5th Army of West front launches probing attacks against the German forces to the south.

Russians Counterattack near Moscow

With the temperature on the Moscow axis down at minus 30 degrees Centigrade, a meter of snow lying on the ground and the Red Army launching ferocious attacks north of Moscow, Hitler reluctantly agrees to the suspension of Operation TYPHOON. He blames the failure to reach Moscow on the unusually early onset of winter. He instructs the Ostheer to go onto the defensive but calls for the field armies to hold their positions and halt the Soviet attacks.

Atomic Research

A secret project known as the Manhattan Engineering District is authorized by President Roosevelt. The project is under the control of the US Office of Scientic Research and Development and will begin the development of atomic weaponry. It will eventually be renamed the Manhattan Project.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British steamer GreenlandM (1281t) sinks on a mine off Lowestoft with the loss of 9 crewmen.
• U-131 sinks the British steamer Scottish Trader (4016t), a straggler from Convoy SC-56, south of Iceland with the loss of her entire crew of 43.

Diplomatic Relations

• Roosevelt makes a final appeal to the Japanese Emperor for peace. He calls on Japan to withdraw its troops from Indochina. He says a large military force there creates 'a reasonable doubt on the part of other nations that this continuing concentration in Indochina is not defensive in its character. . . . the people of the Philippines, of the hundreds of islands of the East Indies, of Malaya, and of Thailand itself are asking themselves whether these forces of Japan are preparing or intending to make attack in one or more of these many directions.' This is misunderstood and resented by the Japanese leaders who believe it wrong for the Emperor to be given the burden of such decisions. There is no Japanese reply. Late in the day the Japanese begin transmitting what is to be their final message to the US Government. The first 13 parts of the note are intercepted by the US codebreaking service, quickly translated and passed to the president. Although the crucial 14th and last part is not yet available, Roosevelt correctly interprets the message at meaning war. The message is not seen at this stage by Gen Marshall or Adm Stark.
• It is also known in the US that a Japanese agent in Honolulu has been asked for a special situation report on the US Pacific Fleet, but since similar requests to agents elsewhere have also been intercepted no special interpretation is put on this order.

Eastern Front

In the early hours the Soviets begin a major counteroffensive all along the 500 miles of the Moscow sector. 10 armies are now engaged including many Siberian units and thousands of T-34 tanks. Fresh troops and tanks have been added to the Kalinin, West and Southwest Fronts. Among the units prominent in the attack are 1st Shock and 20th Armies in the advance against the Klin area and 10th Army which leads the move against Guderian troops east of Tula.

Moscow Citizens Digging Anti-Tank Ditches

Cossack Cavalry Attacking

Ill-Clad German Soldiers

Russian Tank Passing Through Moscow

The Soviet intention with these attacks, and others on their immediate flanks, is to cut through the panzer wings of Army Group Center and then to isolate and destroy it. Among the Soviet commanders in the attack are Zhukov, who has planned and commands the whole effort, Rokossovsky, Kuznetsov and others who will be among the Red Army's best war leaders in the years to come. From the beginning the attacks meet with considerable success against the weak and overextended German forces. In the northern sector the counterattack occurs near Tikhivin east of Leningrad. In the center the Russians break through the lines of III Panzergruppe north of Moscow to a depth of 11 miles. South of Moscow Guderian troops resist desperately against the superior Russian forces.

In the northern sector Leningrad is in Day 90 of its siege. The first supply truck has crossed over ice-covered Lake Ladoga using the track that will be known as the 'Road of Life'. The track is 322 km long and the vehicles can only make about 32 km per day.

Medveshyegorsk, on the Murmansk rail line just north of Lake Onega, is captured by the Finns. It marks their easternmost advance into the Soviet Union.

There is bitter fighting as the 4th Army closes upon Tikhvin. Heavy fighting rages at Malaya Vyshera as the 52nd Army attacks the XXXVIII Corps in an effort to penetrate the southern flank of the salient.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British steamer Welsh Prince (5148t) sinks on a mine off Spurn Point. The entire crew are rescued.
• U-208 is sunk by depth charges from British destroyers Harvester and Hesperus west of Gibraltar.

  U-208

  Class	Type VIID
  CO	Kapitänleutnant Albert Schlieper
  Location	W of Gibraltar
  Cause	Depth charge
  Casualties	45
  Survivors	None

Diplomatic Relations

The 14th part of the Japanese signal, stating specifically that relations are being broken off, reaches Washington in the morning and is decoded by the US authorities around 0900 hours. A little after 1000 the order to the Japanese Embassy in Washington to deliver the main message at 1300 is similarly intercepted by the Americans. It is quickly realized that this timing coincides roughly with dawn at Pearl Harbor. Various delays ensue while Gen Marshall is found (it is a Sunday and he has gone for a morning ride) and then there are errors in the method of transmission of the warning message. It arrives in HQ in Oahu just before midday local time, when it is far too late.

There are also delays in the preparation of the Japanese note at their Embassy in Washington. The decoding and translation proceeds at a leisurely pace until the order giving the time for delivery arrives - the Embassy has had no previous hint that urgency is required. There is also delay in obtaining an appointment for the ambassador to see Sec Hull. He eventually does so and delivers the message at 14:30. Hull has, of course, already seen the American version and has just received first reports of events at Pearl Harbor.

The British receive no official indications of what is afoot from the Japanese until 3 hours later, when their Ambassador in Tokyo is given a copy of the Japanese note. Both the British and US ambassadors in Tokyo are given declarations of war a further 3 hours later.

Eastern Front

Already stricken by illness and demoralized by the Soviet counteroffensive, von Brauchitsch offers his resignation to Hitler. No formal acceptance of the resignation is made, but von Brauchitsch will take no more important decisions.

The Soviet 30th Army breaks through the 3rd Panzer Group's lines northeast of Klin. The 1st Shock, 16th and 20th Armies continue their attacks, their main objective being the destruction of enemy forces at Krasnaya Polyana. The 2nd Panzer Group is pushed back by the 10th and 50th Armies, the 10th recapturing Michailov and the 50th nearing Tula to cut off the 2nd Panzer Group.[MORE].

Far East

The Japanese II Fleet, under the command of Vice-Adm Nobutake Kondo, escorts a convoy carrying the Japanese 25th Army to the coasts of Thailand and Malaya. The 25th Army is commanded by Gen Tomoyoku Yamashita whose task is to occupy the Malay peninsula and capture the highly important British base of Singapore.

Agana, the capital of the island of Guam is bombed by the Japanese. Guam is the only island in the Marianas that is administered by the US, all the others being under Japanese administration.

Germany, Command

After suffering a heart attack, von Brauchitsch, Chief of the Army General Staff, tenders his resignation, an offer that is not immediately accepted by Hitler.

Japan, Planning

The Japanese Army has 51 divisions of which 11 can be spared from duties in China, Indochina and at home to join the offensive against the Allies. The Japanese navy has 10 battleships, 6 large and 4 smaller carriers, 36 cruisers, 113 destroyers and 63 submarines. There is no independent air force but the navy has about 1,000 aircraft, half of them carrierborne, which will be committed along with about half of the army's 1,500 planes.

It is clear that with such forces the Japanese cannot hope to win an all-out war aganst the United States and the British Empire. Instead their aim is to take advantage of the distraction provided by the war in Europe and seize the resource producing areas of Malaya and the East Indies. They will then be self-sufficient and will hope to defend a fortified perimeter around their conquests so fiercely that Britain and the United States will make peace. As well as the economic and militaristic pressure supporting the plan, there is also an element of broader Asian nationalism which sees value in the Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere which is to be created.

Pearl Harbor

At 0755 local time Japanese carrier aircraft attack the main base of the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor. There is complete tactical and strategic surprise.

The Japanese have sent 6 carriers, Akagi, Kaga, Hiryu, Soryu, Zuikaku and Shokaku, with a total of 423 planes embarked to make the attack. The pilots are brilliantly trained and their equipment is good. Adm Chuichi Nagumo commands and he has, in addition to the carriers, 2 battleships and 2 heavy cruisers in his force along with destroyers and other supporting vessels including tankers.

Two waves of attacks are sent in. Commander Mitsuo Fuchida leads the first strike with 40 torpedo bombers (with special shallow running torpedoes), 51 dive bombers, 50 high-level bombers and 43 fighters. The second wave is of similar total strength but with extra dive bombers replacing the torpedo aircraft. All 8 US battleships in port are damaged, 5 of them sinking.(Arizona is a total loss; Oklahoma will be raised but scrapped; California, Nevada, and West Virginia will be rebuilt and will rejoin the fleet later in the war.) 1 minelayer and 1 target ship are also sunk. Besides 4 battleships, 3 cruisers, 3 destroyers, 1 seaplane tender and 1 repair ship are damaged. In addition to Pearl Harbor, other Japanese targets include the Naval Air Station, Ford Island; the Naval Patrol Plane Station, Kaneohe; the Marine Corps field, Ewa; the Army airfields Hickam, Wheeler and Bellows. The Americans lose 188 aircraft from the island's airfields. The Japanese lose 29 planes and 55 men. Reported casualties are 2,729 dead and 656 wounded. In 1955 official figures are given as 2,330 dead and 1,347 wounded.

• Battleship Oklahoma (BB-37) (k-416,w-44)
• Battleship Arizona (BB-39) (k-1007,w-39)
• Battleship California (BB-44) (k-92,w-97)
• Battleship West Virginia (BB-48) (k-105,w-83)
• Minelayer Oglala (CM-4) (w-5)
• Target ship Utah (AG-16) (k-58,w-12)

• Battleship Nevada (BB-36) (k-57,w-112)
• Battleship Pennsylvania (BB-38) (k-29,w-29)
• Battleship Tennessee (BB-43) (k-5,w-27)
• Battleship Maryland (BB-46) (k-4,w-20)
• Light cruiser Raleigh (CL-7) (w-7)
• Light cruiser Honolulu (CL-48) (w-1)
• Light cruiser Helena (CL-50) (k-34,w-63)
• Destroyer Cassin (DD-372) (w-6)
• Destroyer Shaw (DD-373) (k-24,w-27)
• Destroyer Downes (DD-375) (k-18,w-6)
• Seaplane tender Curtiss (AV-4) (k-20,w-59)
• Repair ship Vestal (AR-4) (k-7,w-81)

Anchorage at Pearl Harbor USS Shaw Explodes USS California Hit by Two Bombs

USS California On Fire Aerial View of the Air Base at Wheeler Airfield Water Rescue of Sailors from the West Virginia

The Arizona Rolling Over Torpedo Plane on the Shokaku Utah Capsizing at Pear Harbor

Arizona burning at Pearl Harbor The Maryland and the Capsized Oklahoma The Wrecks of the Downes and Cassin

Burning PBY at NAS Kaneohe after the Japanese Attack Japanese Aerial Photo of Pearl Harbor under Attack Japanese Photo of the West Side of Ford Island

The Raleigh After She Was Torpedoed Pearl Harbor at the Beginning of the Attack

Although what is regarded at the time as the main force of the US Pacific Fleet has been destroyed before the conflict has even begun. The losses suffered here will take a long time to replace. It is perhaps more relevant to recount what escapes the Japanese attack. By a combination of coincidences all 3 carriers serving with the Pacific Fleet at this time are absent when the Japanese attack, and of necessity they will become the major element in the USN forces. The base installations at Pearl Harbor including the massive oil storage tanks also escape unhurt because Nagumo unwisely disregards the advice of his staff to send in a third attack. The Americans are, therefore, left with their base intact and the nucleus of a more modern fleet still in being. One aspect of the Japanese attack plan is a complete failure. They have sent off 5 midget submarines to try to penetrate the American anchorage but all of these are lost. One is attacked by the destroyer Ward (DD-139) at about 0630 but, since it has not been unknown for destroyers to make false submarine reports, no great stir is caused. When compared with the wonderful successes of their airmen, the failure of the Japanese submarine service is especially disappointing and this has a disproportionate effect on the later Japanese naval effort. The submarine service will find its work devalued and there will be no Japanese equivalent of the U-boat offensive in the Atlantic. The tactical doctrine of the Japanese submarine service is also faulty in its emphasis on attacking enemy warships and disregarding commerce destroying. It will be on the US Navy which will mount an increasingly effective submarine offensive, destroying a growing proportion of the Japanese gaining anything like the desired benefit from the resources of Malaysia and the East Indies because of their inability to ship the raw materials back to Japanese factories and refineries. It is ironic that access to these resources is the principal Japanese war aim and that, although they will be taken, they will be of disappointingly little use. It should be noted that it will be some time before the US submarine campaign begins to be effective because of depth keeping and fuse defects in their torpedoes which will take time to remedy. (The Germans had similar trouble off Norway in 1940.)

The sighting report of the Ward is not the only warning received by the US authorities. Even more exact warning comes from one of Oahu's 5 radar stations. Two conscientious operators stay on watch for longer than the prescribed early morning period and just after 0700 they detect the Japanese strike approaching. Their reports are disregarded by the junior officer they contact who believes that they must be American aircraft. To add to this is the information from the diplomatic radio traffic that a deadline for action is imminent, and a mass of lower level radio information that some Japanese moves are about to take place. No radio intelligence is received concerning the position of the Japanese carriers, but no sinister interpretation is placed on this silence. A similar radio pattern has occurred during previous Japnese moves against Indochina in which the carriers were not involved. It is, therefore, easy to assume that, although the Japanese may be up to something, the carriers may not be involved. The US commanders at Pearl Harbor base have been kept fully informed of the intelligence situation, and their general conclusion has been that, since none of the evidence points more specifically to Pearl Harbor than elsewhere, it is unnecessary to order a very high state of readiness. Instead, US aircraft are found parked wingtip to wingtip on the island's airfields; there are no torpedo nets to protect fleet anchorage; partly because it is a Sunday officers and crew from the ships are ashore and few anti-aircraft guns are manned; many ammunition boxes for AA guns are kept locked because peacetime custom decrees that every round must be accounted for. Adm Kimmel, Commander-in-Chief, US Pacific Fleet, and Gen Short, commanding US Army forces in Hawaii, will be dismissed for this catalog of errors.

At the highest level of the US command criticism is also deserved. The proverbially poor relations between the US Army and Navy are one cause of the difficulty. More understandably the misguided audacity of the Japanese is a very real surprise. The American leaders all find it easier to believe that the Japanese might attack Singapore, for example, since this would leave the US Government with the political problem of whether is could declare war to help Britain defend colonies, when the whole idea of empire is ideologically obnoxious to American opinion and without an attack on American territory.

The Pearl Harbor attack leaves the Allies with the 3 US carriers and the 2 doomed British battleships at Singapore as the only active capital ships left to face the Japanese. Counting Dutch and Free French ships the Allies have only a slight inferiority in cruisers, destroyers and submarines, but the Allied forces are widely dispersed and there will be problems of coordianation and command.

Air Operations, Pacific

In widely scattered operations, Japanese aircraft bomb targets at Guam, Wake, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippine Islands. Extensive damage is inflicted on US Army aircraft at Clark Field, Luzon. A horizontal bomber sinks the minesweeper Penguin (AM-33) at Guam in the Marianas.

Axis Diplomacy

Japan requests that Germany declare war on the US.

Battle of the Atlantic

The British steamer Fireglow (1261t) sinks on a mine 3 miles south of the Dudgeon Buoy with the loss of 1 crewman.

Diplomatic Relations

The United States and Britain declare war on Japan. In his address to Congress President Roosevelt describes the events at Pearl Harbor as forming part of 'a date which will live in infamy'. Roosevelt does not ask Congress to declare war on Germany and Italy. Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Netherlands, the Free French, Yugoslavia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras and Panama all declare war on Japan also. Colombia breaks diplomatic relations with Japan. China declares war on Germany, Italy and Japan.

'Day of Infamy' Speech

Eastern Front

The Soviet counteroffensive in the Moscow sector continues to make considerable headway despite desperate German defense. The defensive line of the Germans runs form Orel to Rshev. The Soviets have breached this line on the left side which the Germans are unable to close. The line being held by the Germans, Vyazma-Orel-Kursk-Kharkov, is connected by a series of strongpoints known as 'boxes' which support one another.

The Red Army forces are advancing successfully in the Leningrad sector also. The German 16th Army withdraws from Tikhvin, along the metalled road between Leningrad and Vologda, which they had captured on November 8. The Germans barely avoid being encircled at great cost leaving behind vast amounts of supplies and retreat south in the direction of Volkhov. The II Army Corps of about 100,000 men is still cut off from the rest of the army. It is in the Demiansk area, southeast of Lake Ilmen, and will have to wait until April 28, 1942 before it can re-establish contact with the rest of the army. In the meantime it will be supplied by air.

The German 18th Army is under severe pressure at Tikhvin and is on the verge of losing the town.

There is a blood bath in the Rumbula forest near Riga, Latvia where 27,000 Jews are shot.

The 30th Army passes Klin in the north, and the 1st Shock Army is approaching the town. These moves threaten the 3rd Panzer Group. The Soviet 16th and 20th Armies continue to make steady gains, although to the south the 50th Army is held up before Tula by the 3rd Panzer and 296th Infantry Divs. The Soviet 3rd Army batters the German 2nd Army, and Soviet horsemen of the 55th Cavalry Div pour into the German rear.[MORE]

Germany, Strategy

Hitler issues Directive No 39. As the Wehrmacht fights for its life on the Eastern Front, Hitler dictates that: 'The severe winter weather which has come surprisingly early in the East, and the consequent difficulties in bringing up supplies, compel us to abandon immediately all major offensive operations and to go over to the defensive. The way in which these defensive operations are to be carried out will be decided in accordance with the purpose which they are intended to serve, viz:

• '(a) To hold areas which are of great operational or economic importance to the enemy.
• '(b) To enable forces in the east to rest and recuperate as much as possible.
• '(c) Thus to establish conditions suitable for the resumption of large-scale offensive operations in 1942.'

In an oblique admission of the losses incurred in Russia, the directive ends with measures to supply fresh manpower to the Eastern Front: 'The replacement of personnel of the Armed Forces for 1942 must be ensured even in the event of heavy casualties. As the Class of 1922 will not be sufficient alone for this purpose, drastic steps are necessary.'

Malaya

Not long after midnight Japanese transports appear off Kota Bharu and landings begin. At 4:15a.m. there is a small bombing raid on Singapore by 17 Japanese bombers. The city is fully lit and at peace. 61 people are killed and 133 injured. By early morning the Japanese have also begun landings at Singora and Patani in Thailand. Units of the Japanese 5th Div land here while at Kota Bharu the troops are from 18th Div. Tank units are landed at Singora and Pitani also. The British have almost no tanks in Malaya. In Malaya the British have 3 divisions and numerous fortress troops but only 1 division is free for active operations against the Japanese, since the other units are guarding possible landing places or airfields. The British force is poorly trained and too dependent on movement with motor transport by road. Gen Arthur Percival is in command. The RAF has 158 planes in Malaya when operations begin but many are lost on the first day. The airfield at Kota Bharu is also abandoned on the first day, but the runway is left untouched and stocks of fuel and bombs are not destroyed. At 5:35p.m. Adm Phillips sails with the battleships Prince of Wales and Repulse and 4 destroyers from Singapore. His intent is to intercept the Japanese forces thought to be about to land on Singapore. The Japanese have 2 battleships and 6 heavy cruisers covering their landings as well as many smaller ships. Adm Kondo is in command. The British air force can aid the naval squadron with reconnaissance but no proper air cover.

The British have hoped to forestall Japanese landings at Singora and Patani by an advance into Thailand, but have not ordered this before the Japanese attack because such an advance into a neutral country could have upset opinion in the United States. Once the Japanese land it is too late to begin this plan and so a more limited alternative involving delaying actions at Jitra in northern Malaya and an advance into Thailand to a position known as The Ledge is ordered. There is delay in putting the plan into operation and more delay is imposed by the resistance of the Thai border guards who know nothing of events farther north. Thus by the end of the day the Japanese are well ashore at all 3 of their landing places and the British have been delayed in their counter moves and have lost heavily in the air.

North Africa

The British forces in Libya re-take Sidi Rezegh and restore a supply corridor to Tobruk. In the 7 plus months since April the British Mediterranean Fleet has delivered 32,667 troops and 34,000 tons of supplies. 34,115 troops, 7,516 wounded nad 7,097 POWs have been evacuated. The Fleets losses: 1 cruiser/minelayer, 2 destroyers and 24 other vessels.

Rommel decides to give up attempts to stay in the fight around Tobruk. There are only about 40 tanks left in the German divisions and 90th Light is down to a strength equivalent to 2 battalions. The German retreat is well controlled and the whole force is back around Gazala on the 11th.

'Hurribombers' of 80 Squadron leave a mile of the coastal road covered with blazing German transports.

Indian Troops Capture Tank Crew

Philippines

The Japanese, under the command of Gen Masaharu Homma, launch their operations against the Philippines which lie along their future supply line for oil which they wish to obtain from the East Indies. To defend the islands there are only 160 US aircraft, 35 of which are B-17 bombers, not very useful for defense. The Japanese offensive begins in the morning with air attacks and a landing on Bataan Island north of Luzon by a small force who soon overcome the tiny garrison and begin work on a airfield. The main air attacks come in at 12:55p.m., having been delayed by fog over the Japanese airfields in Formosa. Almost 200 aircraft are involved and they catch most of the defending aircraft on the ground and destroy about 100, leaving 17 B-17 bombers and less than 40 fighters in operating condition. 7 Japanese Zeros are shot down. There are also attacks by 22 planes from the carrier Ryujo against Davao on Mindanao causing considerable damage. The first of the Japanese landing forces bound for the Philippines leaves Palau. Gen MacArthur commands the 130,000 strong Allied force on the Philippines. About 20,000 of his men are American, the rest being from the Philippine army. They are comparatively poorly equipped and trained. Many are unavoidably dispersed to garrisons on the various islands. The largest units are on Luzon as part of either Wainwright's North Luzon Force or the smaller South Luzon Force or the smaller South Luzon Force led by Gen Parker. MacArthur has hoped to use his aircraft to delay and disrupt Japanese landings which he recognzes his ground forces are too weak to repel. He then plans to retreat into the Bataan Peninsula and to hold out there until help can be brought from the main forces of the Pacific Fleet. The losses at Pearl Harbor and his own losses in aircraft mean that neither part of this can work properly.

The American Asian fleet, under the command of Rear-Adm William A. Glassford, sails from Iloilo in the Philippines in the direction of Macassar Straits in the Dutch East Indies.

Air Operations, Pacific

Japanese G3M 'Nell' medium bombers based at Kwajalein/Roi airfield attack Wake Island at 1145. 1 'Nell' is downed by antiaircraft fire and a second by VMF-211’s 2dLt David D. Kliewer and TSgt William J. Hamilton, the first USMC aerial victory of the war.

Barents Sea

U-134 sinks the German steamer Steinbek (2185t) in error off Tanafjord.

Battle of the Atlantic

The German steamer Madrid (8777t) is sunk by British bombing near Den Helder, Netherlands.

Burma

It their effort to occupy Burma in order to protect their northerly flank for the offensive into Malaya, the Japanese 15th Army under Lt-Gen Shojiro Iida, moves into the Kra isthmus between Prachuab and Nakhon. Occupying Burma will also sever supply routes into China and secure Burmese oil production.

Diplomatic Relations

Nationalist China declares war on Japan, Germany and Italy. An unofficial 'state of war' with Japan has existed since 1937.

Eastern Front

In the Moscow sector the Soviet drive against Guderian forces succeeds in reaching and re-taking Elets, south of Tula. In the Leningrad sector the Soviets retake Tikhvin and force the Germans into a brief but hurried retreat. Gen Kirill Meretskov commands the Soviet forces here. Although tremendous efforts are being made by the citizens and garrison of the city and Meretskov's forces outside, only the merest trickle of supplies is getting in. Rations are already well below starvation level and during this month perhaps 50,000 of the population will die.

A Soviet T-28E Model 1938 Tank

During the night of December 8-9 the Soviets launch a furious attack into Tikhvin. 2 rifle divisions attack simultaneously from the north and south, supported by heavy artillery fire. After a bitter battle Tikhvin is cleared.

The Red Army has succeeded in wresting the initiative from Army Group North, forcing the 18th Army back to the Volkhov. The I Corps, however, retires intact, despite the loss of 7,000 men in the Tikhvin battle, On the southern flank, the XXXVIII Corps also retreats to the Volkhov as the 52nd Army presses forward from Malaya Vyshera.

South of Lake Ilmen, the 16th Army is relatively unaffected by the recent Soviet attacks, holding a line from Staraya Russa to Ostashkov with its X and II Corps and XXXIX Panzer Corps.

The 1st Shock Army captures Fedorovka, west of Klin. After the very heavy losses of the first few days of the counteroffensive, Zhukov orders his armies to avoid frontal attacks, and instead to seek out open flanks to penetrate into the German rear. The 20th Army continues to advance amid heavy fighting while the 16th Army supports the attack. Rokossovsky splits his 16th Army into 2 offensive groups. Group Remezov is to strike out from the right wing, while Group Beloborodov attacks on the left toward Istra. Hoeppner attempts to reinforce the crumbling Klin sector by moving up the 10th Panzer Division to help the 3rd Panzer Group. Das Reich abandons Snegiri to the Soviets after bitter fighting.

On the southern wing, Venev falls to Group Belov, which then pushes toward Stalinogorsk. Under heavy pressure from these attack, the XLVII Panzer Corps begins to withdraw from its exposed positions east of Tula as the XXIV Panzer Corps comes under renewed attack by the 50th Army. The 10th Army attack stalls due to fierce resistance by the 112th Infantry Division along the Shat and Don Rivers. Yelets falls to Group Maskalenko of the 13th Army as the 2nd Army retires. Group Kostenko of the 13th Army is supporting the attacks of the 3rd Army, hitting the LIII Corps near Livny and isolating part of the German force. A dangerous gap, 20 miles wide, has opened between the 2nd Army and the 2nd Panzer Army, through which the V Cavalry Corps and 121st Rifle Division surge ahead.

Gilbert Islands

Small Japanese forces occupy Tarawa and Makin.

Malaya

There are more Japanese landings at Kota Bharu and Singora. The British minesweeping coaster Banka sinks on a mine at Tioman. 44 of the crew are lost, 6 are rescued.

Mediterranean

• The British submarine Porpoise badly damages the Italian steamer Sebastiano Vernier (6311t), returning from Benghazi with 2,000 prisonsers of war, 5 miles south of Navarino. The hospital ship Arno rescues 1,800 of the prisoners. The Italian steamer is sunk by the British submarine Torbay off Cape Methene on the 15th.
• U-652 sinks the French steamer St Denis (1595t) south of the Balearic Islands.

Air Operations, Pacific

26 G3M 'Nell' medium bombers from Kwajalein again attack Wake Island. 2 are brought down by a VMF-211 F4F.

Battle of the Atlantic

In attacks on Convoy SC-57 U-130 sinks the Egyptian steamer Star of Luxor (5298t) and the British steamers Kurdistan (5844t) and Kirnwood (3829t) west of Rockall. 4 are killed on the Egyptian ship, there are 52 survivors. 20 crewmen are lost on the Kurdistan, 56 survivors are picked up by the British corvette Kingcup. 12 are lost on the Kirnwood, 33 survivors are picked up by the British rescue ship Dewsbury, then transferred to the Kingcup and taken to Londonderry.

Burma

The pro-Japanese Burma Independence Army (BIA) of 2,300 men march from Thailand into Burma. In Thailand it had been secretly organized and trained by the Japanese. Aung San, a Burmese nationalist officer, leads the BIA in their fight to remove the British. The BIA is the creation of Col Keishi Suzuki of the Japanese army who has been posing as a news correspondent in Rangoon.

Eastern Front

Following the fall of Tikhvin, the Stavka creates the Volkhov Front under Gen Meretskov. The new front becomes operational on December 17 and incorporates the 26th Army and 59th Army in addition to its existing forces. The 26th Army will later become the 2nd Shock.

There is heavy fighting around Klin and Solnechnogorsk as the German panzer groups fight to escape the developing Soviet pincers. The 3rd Panzer Group is fighting in operational isolation around Klin, while on the southern flank, the XLVII Panzer Corps falls back upon Yepifan.

With his lines falling apart, Guderian manages to extricate the LIII Corps from its near disastrous battle around Livny, having brought this corps and the XXIV Panzer back to the line of the Don, Shat and Upa Rivers. During the heavy fighting, the 95th Infantry Division has suffered 50 percent casualties, while the 45th Infantry Division has been all but destroyed. Heavy fighting along the river lines brings the 10th Army's attack to a complete halt. The gap between the 2nd Panzer and 2nd Army, however, has widened to 85 miles, elements of the 2nd Army being cut off from the body of their force with the 2nd Panzer.

Gilbert Islands

Small Japanese forces occupy Makin.

Hong Kong

The Japanese forces have now advanced up to the main defense line and succeed in capturing an important position at its west end.

Marianas

A Japanese force of about 6,000 commanded by Adm Aritomo Goto lands and captures the island of Guam which is defended by about 500 US troops armed with nothing heavier than .30 caliber machine guns. Several district patrol craft, open lighters, water barges and the miscellaneous auxiliary Robert L. Barnes (AG-27) are all lost to the Japanese occupation of this island.

North Africa

The 242-day siege of Tobruk is raised completely on this day. Commonwealth troops break out and join up with British 8th Army units at nearby Acroma. 34,113 men have been taken in to replace the garrison during the siege and a similar number taken out as well as 7,000 wounded and 7,000 prisoners. 72 tanks, 92 heavy guns and 34,000 tons of supplies had also been brought in to aid the defenders. In the various supply operations 2 destroyers have been lost and many other ships sunk or damaged.

6 unescorted Bostons of 24 Squadron SAAF are all shot down except 1 by a dozen enemy fighters. The lone survivor crash lands on its return to base.

Maj-Gen Max Sümmermann, CO of the 90th Light, is killed by strafing fighters as the unit moves toward Agedabia.

Pacific

• US aircraft from the carrier Enterprise (CV-6) sink the Japanese submarine I-70 near the Hawaiian Islands.
• The Japanese minesweeper W-10 is sunk by American bombing off Vigan, Philippines.
• The British steamer Harledawins (1523t) is sunk by Japanese bombing 8 miles west of Barigayos Point, Luzon. The entire crew are rescued.

Philippines

There are Japanese landings and air attacks on Luzon. 50 Japanese bombers hit the naval base at Cavite. Most of the base is destroyed and the entire reserve stock of torpedoes for the US Far East fleet is lost.. On the north coast, at Aparri, 2,000 men of the Tanaka Detachment land from 1 cruiser, 6 destroyers and other ships while in the northeast of the island at Vigan a similar number, the Kanno Detachment, also goes ashore covered by a slightly larger naval force.

Japanese Bomb Cavite Navy Yard

Japanese air attacks heavily damage the Cavite Navy Yard. US naval vessels damaged in the attacks include the destroyer Peary (DD-226), submarine Seadragon (SS-194), submarine Sealion (SS-195) and the minesweeper Bittern (AM-36). In US Army aircraft action the Japanese minesweeper No. 10 is sunk and minesweeper No. 19 is damaged.

5 B-17s from the 14th Heavy Bomb Squadron, 19th Heavy Bomb Group, attack the invasion convoy at Vigan. The Japanese battleship Haruna is reported to be sunk. Capt Colin Kelly becomes the first American hero of the war when it is reported that his bomber hit the battleship in Philippine waters. Later investigation, however, reveals that no Japanese warships of that size were in the area. As for the Haruna itself, it survives almost until the end of the war when it founders in Kure harbor in July of 1945.

Axis Diplomacy

Germany, Italy and Japan make an agreement that none will conclude a separate peace.

Germany and Italy declare war on the United States. The German declaration of war can only be regarded as one of Hitler's greatest mistakes, since without it US participation in the European war has still been in doubt.

Hitler Declares War on the United States

Britain, Home Front

Churchill gives a review of the war situation in the House of Commons: 'In Hitler's launching of the Nazi campaign on Russia we can already see, after less than six months of fighting, that he has made one of the outstanding blunders of history.'

Burma

The Tavoy airdrome in southern Burma is attacked by Japanese aircraft preliminary to a ground offensive.

China

In Peking the Japanese take the American garrison prisoner.

Diplomatic Relations

The US declares war on Germany and Italy.

Nicaragua and the Polish and Dutch governments-in-exile declare war on Japan.

Eastern Front

The Soviet propaganda machine begins to announce the Red Army's success in the Moscow counteroffensive. 400 places in the Moscow area have been liberated by the Red Army, including Solnechnogorsk and Istra. They also claim the destruction of 17 German divisions, including 7 armored and 3 motorized.

The gains on the ground continue to be impressive with Guderian troops being forced back from Stalinogorsk and Rogachev. Many of the already weakened German units have suffered so heavily in the few days of the Soviet offensive that they are virtually out of the fight.

In an effort to slow the Soviet advance, the Germans blow up the Istra dam, which halts the progress of the Soviet 16th Army. The 50th Army is also slowed. Nevertheless, the gap between the 2nd Panzer Group and 2nd Army could lead to the encirclement of Army Group Center.

The German 1st Panzer Group, 6th and 17th Armies are now on the defensive and are fighting to stop enemy incursions into the Donbas and eastern Ukraine. Red Army units are massing to cross both the Mius and Donets Rivers.[MORE]

Hong Kong

The Japanese begin to operate against this British colony which also included the so-called New Territories on the Chinese mainland. A violent air and artillery bombardment forces the Scottish, Canadian and Indian troops in the garrison to withdraw from the mainland on to the island. In their withdrawal the 11,300 troops left behind much of their equipment and ammunition.

Malaya

The position of the 11th Indian Div at Jitra is attacked by Japanese units which have advanced from Singora. The Indian div has already lost heavily in some outpost actions and the Jitra position is abandoned after a further brief fight.

Tank Detachment at Jitra

RAF bombers in Malaya are restricted to night missions because of a shortage of fighter aircraft for protection during daylight operations. The fighters are primarily being used in the defense of Singapore.

Mediterranean

• A group of Allied destroyers intercept and sink 2 Italian light cruisers leaving Palermo en route to Benghazi escorted by the Italian torpedo boat Cigno. The British destroyers Sikh, Maori and Legion and the Dutch destroyer Isaac Sweers sink the Di Guissano and Da Barbiano after they had turned around when spotted by British aircraft after passing Cape Bon. 1,020 crew are lost in the 2 cruisers. The Italian torpedo boats Cigno and Sirtori and other small boats rescue 645 survivors.
• The British destroyer Farndale sinks the Italian submarine Caracciolo off Bardia. 43 of the crew are rescued.
• The British anti-submarine trawler Lady Shirley is sunk by U-374 off Gibraltar with the loss of 33 of her crew. U-374 also sinks the British armed patrol yacht Rosabelle in the Straits of Gibraltar with the loss of 30 crewmen. 12 survivors are picked up by the British patrol yacht Sayonara.
• The British submarine Talisman sinks the Italian steamer Calitea (4013t) 90 miles south of Cape Matapan.

Air Operations, CBI

The American-manned Nationalist Chinese Air Force American Volunteer Group (AVG, or 'Flying Tigers') makes its combat debut when a squadron supports a Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter sweep against Japanese army ground forces in Burma. The AVG P-40 fighters are based at the RAF's Rangoon/Mingaladon Airdrome.

Air Operations, Pacific

• A VMF-211 F4F pilot downs one of two H6K reconnaissance bombers that attack Wake Island from their base on Majuro Atoll in the Marshall Islands.
• A USAAF B-17 (19th Bomb Group) bombs Japanese shipping off Vigan, Philippines, damaging the transport Hawaii Maru.

Axis Diplomacy

Rumania and Hungary declare war on the US. These declarations are not accepted by the US Senate until June 5, 1942 and only then because of pressure from the Russians.

Battle of the Atlantic

The British steamer Dromore Castle (5242t) sinks on a mine 20 miles south-southeast of Humber. The entire crew are rescued.

Britain, Planning

Gen Auchinleck is told the forces intended for North Africa will be diverted to Asia.

Burma

Small numbers of Japanese troops begin infiltrating into Burma from Thailand. An American Flying Tigers squadron, made up of American volunteers and commanded by Col Claire L. Chennault, fly into Burma from China to help in the defense.

Diplomatic Relations

Slovakia declares war on the US and Britain. Washington never accepts this declaration nor when the Croats declare on the 14th.

Haiti, Honduras and Panama declare war on Germany and Italy.

Eastern Front

Finnish forces complete the destruction of 2 Russian divisions south of Medvezhyegorsk in Soviet Karelia. From here on the Finns take on a defensive posture and effectively withdraw from the war. The campaign against Russia costs the Finns 25,000 dead and 50,000 wounded. Russia's losses are several times greater but Moscow never discloses the casualty figures.

The 18th Army abandons its hard won territory east of the Volkhov, giving up all gains made during TYPHOON.

Panzers in the Snow

The 1st, 6th and 7th Panzer and 14th Motorized Divisions of the 3rd Panzer Group fight on the outskirts of Klin, while the 2nd Panzer Division holds open the road to the west. The 30th and 1st Shock Armies are closing in from the north and east. Army Group Center subordinates command of the 3rd Panzer to the equally hard pressed 4th Panzer Group. The 16th Army struggles to make any headway in the flooded Istra area. The 18th and 354th Rifle divisions attempt a crossing of the swollen Istra River but are held up by fierce German artillery fire. Rokossovsky redeploys his army into 2 groups, Groups Remizov (Gen Fedor) and Katukov (Gen Mikhail), to envelop the Istra reservoir from north and south. The 5th Army is to support the attack with its own 3-division mobile group.

The situation on the right flank continues to deteriorate as the 2nd Army is separated from the 2nd Panzer Army. Yefremov is evacuated as the 2nd Army falls back. To the left of the 2nd Army, the 2nd Panzer Army is forced away from the 4th Army to the north, leaving both flanks of the 2nd Panzer exposed.

Hitler blames the entire debacle in the center upon Field Marshal von Bock, dismissing him from command of Army Group Center. Field Marshal von Kluge succeeds the ill von Bock.

Germany, Home Front

Hitler addresses about 50 leading Nazis in the Chancellery, telling them that the time has come to annihilate the Jews in Europe.

Hong Kong

Japanese aircraft carry out heavy raids.

Japanese Occupy the Kowloon Peninsula

Axis Diplomacy

Bulgaria declares war on Britain and the US. Hungary declares war on the US.

Borneo

A detachment of Indian troops destroys the oil installations in Sarawak and Brunei. These troops then retire to Kuching, capital of Sarawak, in order to defend the airport there.

Burma

The British evacuate their airfield at Victoria Point on the Thai border in the southern part of the country on the Kra Isthmus. They retreat northwards to the area of Tenasserim. The Japanese move in.

Eastern Front

Soviet forces are reporting progress on all fronts according to the Russian High Command.

Elements of the 29th and 31st Armies, advancing around Kalinin, cut the German line of retreat from the town. The mobile groups of the 16th and 5th Armies push forward near Istra, the 5th Army group moving toward Ruza. Exploiting the cracks in the German line, the II Guards Cavalry Corps pushes forward, closely followed by a tank brigade.

To the south, the 2nd Panzer Army falls back to the Plava but is threatened on both flanks as the Soviets press theier attacks home. On the northern wing, the XLIII Corps becomes separated from the XXIV Panzer Corps by more than 25 miles. Guderian's flanks are uncovered.

Hawaii

An American squadron sails from Pearl Harbor to bring aid to Wake Island. Rear-Adm Frank Jack Fletcher is in command.

Deportation of Jews to Riga, Latvia

Hong Kong

The British forces withdraw from their positions on the mainland on to Hong Kong island. Terms for surrender are handed to the governor, Sir Mark Young. The British refuse in the hope that Chiang Kai-shek's Chinese 7th Army, only about 30 miles away, will come to their aid. That help does not arrive.

Mediterranean

• There is much naval activity by both sides during the next week. During this day 2 Italian cruisers, the Alberico da Barbiano and the Alberto di Giussano, carrying a cargo of fuel to North Africa are attacked and sunk off Cape Bon by 3 British and 1 Dutch destroyer, the Isaac Sweers. 900 Italian sailors are killed. Also, the Italians begin a major convoy operation to bring supplies to Benghazi covered by their main fleet including 4 battleships. The British submarine Upright sinks the Italian steamers Fabio Filzi (6836t) and Carlo del Greco (6836t) 15 miles south of Cape St Vito.
• U-453 sinks the neutral Spanish tanker Badalona (4202t) east of Gibraltar with the loss of 3 crewmen.

Occupied Soviet Union

Men of Einsatzgruppe D and German police finish the execution of 12,500 Jews who had been held in Simferopol. The victims had been transported out of the town in trucks, unloaded and then shot.

Air Operations, Pacific

• Japanese H6K reconnaissance bombers attack Wake Island at dawn followed by 30 G3M 'Nell' bombers at 1100. One of the two remaining VMF-211's F4Fs is destroyed by a bomb in the attack.
• USAAF B-17s bomb and damage Japanese cargo ships Ikushima Maru and Hayatoma off Legaspi, Luzon.

Axis Diplomacy

A treaty of alliance is signed between Japan and Thailand. Bangkok retains a measure of independence but the Japanese will exercise whatever control necessary to operate in Thailand.

Battle of the Atlantic

Convoy HG-76 sails from Gibraltar for the UK. There are 32 ships in the convoy and the escort includes the escort carrier Audacity and 12 other ships. The escort is led by perhaps the most famous of the British escort leaders, Cmdr Frederic John Walker. During the 10 days of the convoy's passage 12 U-boats are involved in attacks, but 5 are sunk and in addition 2 Condor aircraft are shot down. This success is termpered by the sinking of the Audacity on the 21st by U-751 commanded by Korvettenkapitän Gerhard Bigalk. 1 destroyer and 2 merchant ships are also lost to the attacks which are called off by Dönitz on the 23rd.

Dönitz records in his war diary: 'The risk of being sunk is greater than the possible success. The presence of aircraft make 'wolf pack' tactics impossible. U-boat High Command now issues standing directives to U-boat commanders telling them to make the location and destruction of aircraft carriers their prime objective.

U-108 sinks the Portuguese steamer Cassequel 160 miles southwest of Cape St Vincent. The entire crew of 57 are rescued.

Eastern Front

The Russians continue to advance on all fronts. Berlin reports great loss of material through the freezing of vehicles, tanks and guns stuck in deep mud.

Group Chanchibadze (Gen Porfiry), with 2 cavalry and 1 motorized division (assigned to the 30th Army) cut the road west from Klin, isolating the 1st, 2nd, 6th and 7th Panzer and 14th Motorized Divisions. As the group pushes west, it enters Dyatkovo but is halted by heavy fore from elements of the 6th Panzer and 14th Motorized Divisions.

Russian Troops March through Newly-Liberated Klin

Battle of the Atlantic

• The Australian destroyer Nestor sinks U-127 off Cape St Vincent with the loss of all 51 of the crew.

  U-127

  Class	Type IX
  CO	Kapitänleutnant Bruno Hansmann
  Location	Atlantic, SW of Cape St Vincent
  Cause	Depth charge
  Casualties	51
  Survivors	None

• U-77 sinks the British steamer Empire Barracuda (4972t) 34 miles northwest of Cape Trafalgar with the loss of 13 crewmen. 39 survivors are picked up by the British corvette Coltsfoot.

Burma

A Japanese brigade enters the country across the Kra Isthmus.

Eastern Front

In their attacks northwest of Moscow the Soviets capture Klin and Istra and advance towards Kalinin claiming to have taken both towns. South of Moscow the threat to the town of Tula is relieved. Elsewhere the remorseless pressure of their offensive continues to wear the defending German units out.

In the northern sector Russian forces cross the Volkhov and establish a bridgehead 30 miles deep on the other side of the river. In the Schlüsselburg (Petrokrepost) area the German position investing Leningrad becomes dangerous.

The I Corps completes its withdrawal to the Volkhov and, together with the XXXVIII Corps, fights to prevent the Red Army from crossing the river. Despite their efforts, the Soviet gain a bridgehead south of Lake Ladoga, threatening to break the ring around Leningrad.

After a bitter battle, the Germans are forced back into Kalinin, fierce street battles erupting as the 29th and 31st Armies push into the town. Klin falls to the 365th and 371st Rifle Divisions of the 30th Army and 348th Rifle Division, 50th and 84th Rifle Brigades of the 1st Shock Army after running battles during the night. The 3rd Panzer Army is retreating in disarray. Farther south the II Guards Cavalry Corps, operating ahead of the 5th Army, cuts the German line of retreat west of Zvenigorod, forcing the 4th Panzer Group to accelerate the pace of its withdrawal.

The battle around Klin had virtually destroyed the cohesion of the panzer forces north of Moscow. Amid terrible winter conditins, with engines frozen solid and weapons inoperable, the Germans could not counter the Soviet attacks. Never had a modern Western army encountered such difficult conditions and yet the Wehrmacht fought on, the struggle having taken on a brutality that forbade any quarter.

The Skede Beach Massacre

Moments Before They Were Murdered

Most of the men from the Jewish population of the town of Liepaja, Latvia had been killed by December 1941. It was now decided to kill off the remaining population of mainly women and children, leaving only a minority behind who would be used as slave labour.

The men of the Einsatzgruppen were now confident of their procedures and capable of organizing the killing in a relatively orderly way. The Jewish population of Liepaja were kept compliant by a curfew ordering them to stay in their homes, from where they were gathered up and taken to the local prison. From there groups were taken to the beach and split into groups of ten.

At the first stage they were ordered to undress down to their underwear, then they were moved closer to the killing site and many ordered to undress completely. From there they were very quickly taken to the edge of the mass grave and shot.

Hong Kong

The Japanese attempt to ferry a small force over to Hong Kong Island from Kowloon but are pushed back.

Mediterranean

• Because of setback from the onset, the Italians abandon their re-supply effort.
• U-557 sinks the British light cruiser Galatea off Alexandria upon returning from an unsuccessful cruise against Italian convoys. 470 are lost on the cruiser. 144 men are rescued by the British destroyers Griffin and Hotspur.
• The British begin an operations to bring supplies to Malta from Egypt. Including the forces that set out from Malta 6 cruisers and 16 destroyers are involved.

Borneo

Early in the day there are Japanese landings at Miri and Lutong in Serawak and at Seria in Brunei. The oil plants are set on fire before the small British and Dutch forces retreat. The Japanese force is from 16th Infantry Div and they have considerable naval support.

In the Gulf of Siam 4 transports are torpedoed by the Dutch submarine O-16.

Burma

The Allied air base at Victoria Point falls to the Japanese. This cuts off aerial resupply to British forces in the area. It also enables Japanese fighter aircraft to escort bombers on raids into southern Burma especially against the capital of Rangoon.

Japanese Attack in Burma

Eastern Front

After a week of intensive fighting the Russians defeat the German 9th Army and take Kalinin. The Russian advance in the Ukraine comes within 30 miles of Orel.

The 9th Army is unable to hold its positions on the Volga and gives up Kalinin. The 31st and 29th Armies force the Germans to the Volga between Lake Selinger and Kalinin, threatening to expose the northern flank of Army Group Center, Soviet forces claim to have inflicted 10,000 casualties on the Germans at Kalinin.

The West Front transfers the 30th Army to the Kalinin Front, to bring greater pressure to bear upon the rear of the 9th Army. The 39th Army is allocated to the Kalinin Front from the High Command reserve.

Group Chanchibadze (Gen Porfiry) is 10 miles northeast of Volokolamsk, while Group Remizov (Gen Fedor), now under 20th Army direction, is 9 miles west of the Istra reservoir. Gen Mikhail Katukov is nearly 15 miles west of Istra. These units are forcing the XLVI Panzer Corps back to the west. To the south, Dedilovo falls to Group Belov (Gen Pavel) and Bogoroditsk to the 10th Army.

Japan, Home Front

Tojo warns the Japanese people that the war could be a long one.

Malaya

There is a second wave of Japanese landings. Over the next few days the 5th and 18th Divs will be brought up to full strength and the Imperial Guards Div will begin to arrive. The British forces withdraw from Penang on the west coast.

Japanese Troops Land in the Philippines

Axis Diplomacy

Albania declares war on the US.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-131

Eastern Front

In contrast to the continuing Soviet attacks on all other fronts, in the Crimea German attacks by LIV Corps begin against the fortress city of Sevastopol. The attacks will continue for about 2 weeks and force the defending garrison back to final defense lines about 8 km north of he city.

An official spokesman in Berlin admits the Germans have been surprised by the qualities of the Russian soldier. The Russian soldier will endure severe hardships and disregards loss of life.

Gen Kirill Meretskov's Volkhov Front is officially activated. The new front consists of the 4th, 52nd, 59th and 2nd Shock Armies, the latter having only recently been raised around the core of the 26th Army. To the left of the Volkhov Front is Gen Pavel Kurochkin's Northwest Front, deployed between Lake Ilmen and Ostashkov with the 11th Army, 34th Army, 3rd Shock Army and 4th Shock Army, the latter having been formed around the old 27th Army.

The German 11th Army resumes its assault upon Sevastopol, with supporting heavy artillery and air strikes. Although the Germans make minor gains, XXX and LIV Corps are soon bogged down in the face of Red Army firepower.

Manstein begins a new attack in the Crimea, aiming to destroy the Soviet forces isolated in Sevastopol. At 0800 hours an overwhelming artillery barrage, supported by air strikes, strikes the Soviet positions. German infantry move closely behind the rolling artillery barrage, hitting the Soviet defenses hard. On the northern perimeter, the XXX Corps is pinned down in the Belbek Valley and suffers heavy casualties, while to the south the LIV Corps makes minor gains before also being halted by sustained machine-gun and artillery fire.

Germany, Policy

Hitler issues his 'Halt Order'. All German troops on the Eastern Front 'are to force to put up a fanatical resistance in their lines', even if out-flanked and cut off by the Russians. Such resistance will give time for the transport of reinforcements from Germany and the west.

Malaya

The British pull back from their main defensive position at Gurun. They will now retreat south of the Perak River fighting delaying actions on the way.

Daylight Raid on Brest

Battle of the Atlantic

U-434 is sunk by the British destroyers Blankney and Stanley southwest of Cape St Vincent with the loss of 2 of her crew. 44 survivors are rescued.

U-434

Borneo

The Japanese destroyer Shnomone is sunk by a Dutch Dornier 24 off Miri.

Britain, Home Front

Parliament passes the National Service Act conscripting unmarried women.

Diplomatic Relations

The US State Department announces that Rear-Adm Frederick J. Horne and French High Commissioner at Martinique, French West Indies, Adm Georges Robert, have reached an agreement neutralizing French Caribbean possessions.

Eastern Front

Following von Rundstedt's dismissal at the beginning of the month, a second of the German army group commanders is replaced. Field Marshal von Bock has been ill like von Brauchitsch and is replaced by von Kluge.

The West Front launches a series of frontal attacks aimed at pinning the 4th Army and preventing the transfer of reinforcements from the center to the flanks. The 5th, 33rd, 43rd and 49th Armies attack, but the 33rd and 43rd Armies are soon bogged down along the Nara River and at Naro-Fominsk.

Russian Soldiers Advancing

Buildings in Kalinin Set on Fire by the Nazis

Zhukov orders the 50th Army to thrust toward Kaluga. The army forms Group Popov (Gen Markian) (1 rifle, 1 tank and 1 cavalry division) to punch through the gap between the XLIII Corps and the 2nd Panzer Army.

The Stavka reactivates the Bryansk Front commanded by Gen Yakov Cherevichenko. The front incorporates the 61st, 3rd and 13th Armies and Group Kostenko (Gen Fyodor), with a strength of 18 rifle and 7 cavalry divisions, 2 tank, 1 rifle and 1 motorized rifle brigade. The Stavka plans to use the Bryansk Front to penetrate the southern wing of the Moscow axis while also maintaining the line between the West and Southwest Fronts. Gen Rodion Malinovsky takes over command of the South Front following Cherevichenko's move to the center.

Battle of the Atlantic

• Grumman Martlet fighters from the escort carrier HMS Audacity shoot down 2 Focke-Wulf Condors.
• U-108 sinks the British steamer Ruckinge (2869t) from Convoy HG-76 west of Lisbon with the loss of 3 of her crew. 14 survivors are picked up by the British sloop Stork, 25 more are picked up by the American steamer Finland.
• The British destroyer Stanley, escorting Convoy HG-76, is sunk by U-574 southwest of Portugal. 134 are lost on the destroyer. U-574 is then sunk by the British sloop Stork when the u-boat, damaged from depth charge attack, surfaced and is rammed by the sloop. 27 crewmen are lost on the u-boat. 20 of the crew are picked up.

  U-574

  Class	Type VIIC
  CO	Kapitänleutnant Dietrich Gengelbach
  Location	Atlantic, off Lisbon
  Cause	Ramming
  Casualties	27
  Survivors	20

Burma

The SS Tulsa issue quickly develops into an incident. The American Military Mission to China (AMMISCA) under Brig-Gen John Magruder is authorized by the War Department to transfer Len-Lease materiél awaiting transportation in the port of Rangoon from Chinese to British control, subject to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek's approval. An American officer in Rangoon requests that the government of Burma impound the Lend-Lease materiél, most of which is on board the SS Tulsa in Rangoon harbor and destined for China. The Chinese representative in Burma, objecting to the transfer of material to the British, suggests a committee be formed to determine the disposition of the supplies.

Diplomatic Relations

Colombia severs its diplomatic ties with both Germany and Italy.

Eastern Front

In the Crimea the German attacks on Sevastopol continue.

Groups Katukov (Gen Mikhail) and Remizov (Gen Fedor) outflank Volokolamsk from the north and southeast. The right flank of the 4th Army is on the brink of collapse as Soviet attacks pound the German lines. The XLVII Panzer and LIII Corps of the 2nd Panzer Army are forced back across the Plava.

Gen Pavel Belov's II Guards Cavalry Corps is ordered to break into the German rear and advance upon Yukhnow to destabilize the 4th Army. The 10th Army is to support the attack, securing the group's flanks at Sukhinichi and Mosalsk.

Heavy fighting rages around Sevastopol as the 11th Army launches repeated attacks against the seemingly impregnable Soviet positions. Gen Dmitry Kozlov's Trans-Caucasus Front is responsible for the defense of Sevastopol but can do little to aid the port.

Field Marchal von Brauchitsch, having tendered his resignation, is formally relieved of his post. Hitler decides to appoint himself Commander in Chief of the Army.

German Command

Hitler formally removes von Brauchitsch from his post of Commander in Chief of the army. Hitler directly assumes the responsibilities of this post himself, telling Halder that 'anyone can do this little matter of operational command'.

At first Hitler is remarkably successful, applying his considerable talents to mastering a range of detailed information relating to his task. It is generally agreed that his orders to stand fast, which he repeats throughout this winter campaign on the Eastern Front, will help save the German Army from an even more disastrous defeat.

The Germans will be able to retreat into admittedly isolated defensive localities based around what shelter can be obtained in the many villages. The Soviets will be unable to prevent Luftwaffe supply operations and will lack the heavy weapons or tanks necessary to break into the German defenses.

Hitler's clear perception of his own place in this defensive success will only serve to convince him further of his own ability as a general and of useless weakness of the army leaders. He will also remain convinced to the end that no retreat is a sufficient tactical answer to any attack in any circumstances. His belief in the army's failure also encourages him to expand the forces of the Waffen SS. Although these units will almost always fight fanatically in the German cause, their leaders often lack the training and experience of their army counterparts because they have been selected for Nazi Party reasons. The priority of equipment that the SS receives also means that more experienced army formations will end up going short.

Malaya

The British evacuate Penang Island and Georgetown harbor.

Mediterranean

• Adm Vian's squadron is caught in a minefield off Tripoli. The cruiser Neptune hits 4 mines and sinks. There is only 1 survivor. A destroyer is also lost.

  HMS Neptune

• U-652 sinks the Soviet steamer Varlaam Avanesov (6775t) in the Aegean Sea. The entire crew are rescued.

North Africa

The Axis retreat through Cyrenaica continues. The following Allied troops reach Derna. Derna and Mechili are captured.

Air Operations, Pacific

At 0850 Wake Island ground targets are attacked by 29 Japanese carrier bombers escorted by 18 A6M 'Zeros'. 33 Kwajalein-based G3M 'Nell' bombers attack at noon.

Burma

The Flying Tigers enter combat for the first time successfully challenging Japanese aircraft over Kunming. Col Clair Chennault's American Volunteer Group (AVG), under control of the Chinese Air Force, is responsible for protecting the Burma Road and contesting Japanese air operations along the southwest border region. The popular press of China calls them Fei Wing, or flying tigers.

American Volunteer Group (AVG) 'Flying Tigers'

Diplomatic Relations

Nicaragua declares war on Rumania, Hungary and Bulgaria.

Eastern Front

In the Moscow sector the Soviet offensive continues to inflict considerable losses on the German forces. Northwest of the capital Volokolamsk is retaken.

Captured German Vehicles

Remains of a Defeated Nazi Unit

Volokolamsk falls to Groups Remizov (Gen Fedor) and Katukov (Gen Mikhail), while the II Guards Cavalry Corps of the 5th Army pushes toward Zvenigorod. The Soviets have drawn up to the Lama, Ruza and Moskva Rivers, but are being held by the 78th Infantry Division, XLVI Panzer Corps, 11th Panzer Division and the VII Corps.

Group (Gen Markian) is in sight of Kaluga, the XLIII Corps having fallen back to the northwest and the 2nd Panzer Army to the southwest. Elements of the 10th Army push west toward Odoyevo and Livny, having crossed the Plava.

The 39th Army joins the Kalinin Front.

Barents Sea

The Soviet submarine M-174 sinks the German steamer Emshorn (4301t) near Petsamo, Finland.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British auxiliary aircraft carrier Audacity, escorting Convoy HG-76 is sunk by U-751 about 500 miles west of Cape Finisterre. 73 onboard are lost. Survivors are picked up by the British corvettes Convolvulus, Marigold and Pentstemon.
• The British steamer Benmacdhui (6869t) sinks on a mine in the North Sea off Grimsby with the loss of 2 crewmen.
• U-567 sinks the British steamer Annavore (3324t) from Convoy HG-76 west of Portugal with the loss of 34 of her crew. There are 4 survivors. U-567 is then sunk north of the Azores by the British sloop Deptford and the British corvette Samphire. The entire crew of 47 are lost.

  U-567

  Class	Type VIIC
  CO	Kapitänleutnant Engelbert Endrass
  Location	Atlantic, W of Cape Finisterre
  Cause	Depth Charge
  Casualties	47
  Survivors	None

• U-451 is sunk by a Swordfish of 812 Squadron off Cape Spartel, Morocco with the loss of 54 of her crew. 1 survivor is later picked up by the British corvette Myosotis.

  U-451

  Class	Type VIIC
  CO	Kapitänleutnant Eberhard Hoffmann
  Location	Strait of Gibraltar, off Tangiers
  Cause	Air attack
  Casualties	44
  Survivors	1

Britain, Politics

Churchill sends a cable to Hong Kong Governor Sir Mark Young stating: 'Every day that you are able to maintain your resistance you help the Allied cause all over the world, and by a prolonged resistance you and your men can win the lasting honour which we are sure will be your lasting due.'

Eastern Front

During the next week, Russian warships transport 10,000 reinforcements to Sebastopol and bombard the German positions.

Budogosh falls as the Germans retreat to the Volkhov.

With typhus reportedly sweeping through the German Army, Group Popov (Gen Markian) storms Kaluga with the 31st Cavalry Division penetrating into the town only to be thrown back by the 137th Infantry Division. This division has been given strict orders to hold Kaluga, and following the Soviet attack, counterattacks and encircles Group Popov. The 50th Army attempts to push through to Kaluga but is held back by the Germans.

Group Belov (Gen Pavel) attacks toward Odoyevo and Yukhnow, while elements of the 10th Army push toward Kozelsk and Sukhinichi.

The battle for Sevastopol reaches its peak as the Germans brreak through the positions of the 40th Cavalry Division northeast of Severnaya Bay. Only the hasty commitment of reserves prevent the collapse of the position.

Air Operations, Pacific

• 9 B-17s of the FEAF’s 19th Heavy Bomb Group based at Darwin/Batechlor Field, Australia, attack Japanese ships off Davao, Mindanao, and subsequently land at Mindanao/Del Monte Field. During the night, 4 of the B-17s attack Japanese transports in Lingayen Gulf. Following the attack, they are unable to land on Mindanao, so they withdraw toward Australia. One lands on Mindoro Island and the other three land at a Dutch base on Amboina Island in the East Indies. All 4 then proceed to Darwin/Batchelor Field.
• 33 Japanese carrier bombers escorted by 6 A6M 'Zeros' attack Wake Island. A VMF-211 F4F pilot downs 2 of the 'Zeros', but one of the two remaining F4Fs is shot down. The last F4F crashes upon landing and becomes unserviceable.

Allied Planning

The British and American leaders begin the Arcadia Conference in Washington. These meetings will last about two and a half weeks. There are long discussions between Churchill and Roosevelt, their Chiefs of Staff and other political leaders from both countries. The two main conclusions of the conference are to confirm the policy of beating Germany first agreed to early in 1941 and to establish the Combined Chiefs of Staff as the directing body for the whole Allied military effort. The idea for the Combined Chiefs of Staff is Gen Marshall's and arises from his belief that a Supreme Commander should be appointed to control the operations against the Japanese in the East Indies and Malaysia.

Arcadia Conference

A general strategic program is also agreed upon. This provides for a US buildup in Britain in preparation for future land operations against Germany. The bomber offensive will continue. It is accepted that there will be further losses in the Pacific but these are to be held to a minimum by stout defense. The British come to the conference rather better prepared than the Americans, not unnaturally since they have been fighting longer. The American military delegation is also a little unbalanced since Adm King has only just taken over at the head of the US Navy.

The US military leaders will feel afterward that they have been unfairly dominated and will also worry about Churchill's personal influence on Roosevelt.

Australia

The first American troops arrive under the command of Brig-Gen Julian F. Barnes.

Battle of the Atlantic

The Greek steamer Stylianos Chandris (6059t) sinks on a mine a few miles off the Humber. The entire crew are rescued.

Burma

Chiang Kai-shek offers 2 Chinese armies, the 5th and 6th, to help the British in their defense of Burma. Wavell accepts the 6th Army's 93rd Division as it moves into Burma.

Eastern Front

Russian pressure continues on all fronts. A Russian report says that the Red Army has recaptured 1,500 cities, town and villages in the past 25 days.

The Kalinin Front prepares to launch a new offensive with the 22nd, 39th, 29th, 31st and 30th Armies, the aim being to destroy the German forces around Rzhev. The front deploys 30 rifle and 5 cavalry divisions and 2 tank brigades.

Mediterranean

• The German steamer Tinos (2826t) is sunk by British bombing at Benghazi.
• The German steamer Spezia (1825t) and the Italian steamer Umbra Cadamosto (1010t) sink on Italian mines about 14 miles from Misurata, Libya.

Occupied Europe

More than 32,000 Jews have been murdered by German Einsatzgruppen (mobile killing units) execution squads in Vilna, Lithuania. It is reported by Einsatzgruppen A that a total of 229,052 Jews have been killed in the Baltic states during the first six months of the German occupation.

Pacific

The US submarine S-38 (SS-143) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese army transport Hayo Maru (5446t) in Lindayen Gulf.

Philippines

At 1:00am the Japanese land at Bauang, Aringay and Agoo 40 miles farther north than MacArthur expected them and at which he had the bulk of his available artillery. By 11:00am the Japanese have firmly established a bridgehead and have made contact with the troops that landed at Aparri and Gonzaga earlier in the month. The Philippine Scouts (26th Cavalry) and elements of the Philippine Army 71st Division off resistance.

Air Operations, CBI

The Japanese begin their air assault on Rangoon. 14 3rd AVG Fighter Squadron P-40s and 16 RAF Buffalo fighters intercept a Japanese strike force over Rangoon and the Rangoon/Mingaladon Airdrome. 10 Japanese Army Ki-30 light bombers and 1 Japanese Navy A5M fighter are shot down between 1000 and 1035. 2 P-40s and their pilots are lost.

Battle of the Atlantic

The Belgian steamer Leopold II (2902t) sinks on a mine off Great Yarmouth with the loss of 35 of her crew.

Borneo

There are Japanese landings at Kuching, the capital of Sarawak. Two transports (Hokkai Maru and Hiyoshi Maru) are sunk and two (Nichiran Maru and Katori Maru) damaged by a Dutch submarine (K-XIV). A second submarine sinks a Japanese destroyer but is then sunk in turn. The small British force at Kuching resists for 2 more days and then withdraws.

Burma

There are the first Japanese air attacks on Rangoon. The Allied air forces in Burma only have two fighter squadrons at this stage, one from the RAF, and one from Chennault's American Volunteer Group.

Diplomatic Relations

Mexico severs diplomatic relations with Bulgaria, Hungary and Rumania.

Eastern Front

In the Crimea, after heavy fighting, the Germans capture the outer ring of forts around Sevastopol. The garrison is being strengthened, however, in various Soviet naval operations during this time. Altogether over 14,000 men are brought in as well as supplies.

Heavy fighting rages at Sevastopol as the Germans pound the city with artillery and sustained attacks.

Hong Kong

Despite tough resistance, the British positions are cut in two by the attacking Japanese.

Mediterranean

• The British destroyer Hasty and Hotspur sink U-79 off Bardia, Libya. 44 of the crew are rescued.

  U-79

  Class	Type VIIC
  CO	Kapitänleutnant Wolfgang Kaufmann
  Location	Mediterranean, off Bardia
  Cause	Depth Charge
  Casualties	None
  Survivors	44

• U-559 sinks the British steamer Shuntien (3059t) northeast of Tobruk. The steamer had a crew of 70 and was carrying about 850 prisoners of war. The British corvette Salvia rescues a number of survivors, but are all lost the next day when the corvette is sunk. An unknown number of survivors are picked up by the British destroyer escort Heythrop.

North Africa

The Axis forces evacuate Benghazi. The Allied advance has reached Barce.

Pacific

• The Japanese submarine I-21 sinks the American tanker Montibello (8272t) 6 miles off Cambria, California. The entire crew are rescued.

Oil Tanker Sinks Off California Coast

• The US submarine Seal (SS-183) sinks the Japanese army cargo ship Soryu Maru off Vigan, Luzon.
• The Dutch submarine K-XIV torpedoes and sinks transport Hokkai Maru, army transport Hiyoshi Maru, and damages army cargo ship Nichiran Maru and transport Katori Maru off the beaches at Kuching, Sarawak, Borneo.

Air Operations, Asia

The Japanese launch an air offensive against the Burmese capital of Rangoon which is an important British naval and air base.

Atlantic

Free French forces under the command of Adm Emile Muselier landed from three corvettes and a submarine occupy the islands of St Pierre and Miquelon between Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. Official opinion in the United States, which would have preferred Canadian control, is offended by this move because the US still has relations with Vichy.

Battle of the Atlantic

• British submarine H-31 is lost to unknown causes when she fails to return from a patrol off Cape Finisterre. The submarine had a crew of 33.
• The British steamer Merchant (4615t) sinks on a mine a couple of miles north of Yarmouth with the loss of 1 crewman. The British tanker Stanmount (4468t) is also lost on a mine in the same area. The entire crew are rescued.
• The Norwegian tanker Ole Jacob, captured by the German raider Atlantis 10 November 1940 and renamed Benno for German use, is sunk by British torpedo aircraft at Puerto Carino in northwest Spain.

Borneo

A Japanese convoy breaks through attacks by British and Dutch aircraft and Dutch submarines to land troops in the area of Kuching, capital of Sarawak. The airfield there has been destroyed by the garrison of local troops which now asks to be allowed to escape to Dutch Borneo. The local troops are ordered to do everything possible to slow down the Japanese advance.

Burma

A series of violent air attacks on Rangoon is begun by the Japanese in an effort to win air superiority in the area. These attacks will continue until the end of February 1942.

Eastern Front

The 2nd Army withdraws from Livny and Chern as the 10th Army piles pressure on the exposed German southern flank.

The Bryansk Front becomes officially operational but is well below it regulation strength, many of its divisions having as few as 4,000 men.

Japanese Forces near Jardine’s Lookout

Malaya

The 11th Indian Div organizes a defense line in depth in the area of the Slim River and the town of Kampar, about half-way down the Malay peninsula to the north of Kuala Lumpur, on the west coast.

Mediterranean

• The British corvette Salvia is sunk by U-568 west of Alexandria. 59 crewmen are lost.
• The British tanker Phenix (5907t) sinks on a mine at Haifa with the loss of 4 crewmen.

Norwegian Sea

In Operation ARCHERY, a raid on Vaagso and Maaloy Islan, the British destroyers Onslow and Oribi sink the German steamers Reimar Edward Fritzen (2936t), Norma (2258t) and Anita L.M. Russ (1712t) at Maaloy. The British destroyers Offa and Chiddingtonfold sink the German auxiliary patrol vessel VP-1502 and the steamer Anhalt (5872t) in the same area.

Philippines

The Japanese land 7,000 men of the 16th Infantry Div at Lamon Bay in southeast Luzon. These troops take Atimonan and Siain and advance to join up with units in the Legaspi area in the extreme south of Luzon.

Maj-Gen Jonathan M. Wainwright, commanding the North Luzon Force, in unable to stop Homma's advance. With the Philippine Scounts conducting a brilliant defense, the American forces have taken up the second of five delaying positions at the Arno River.

The South Defense Force, now under the commmand of Brig-Gen Albert M. Jones, begins a retreat past Manila and heading north to reach Bataan.

The Bataan Defense Force, commanded by Brig-Gen George M. Parker, Jr, begins preparations to establish two defensive lines for the arriving troops.

MacArthur's intention from the first has been to retire to this area and await help and reinforcements from across the Pacific. Such help cannot now arrive but MacArthur has no other options open.

Gen Homma Steps Ashore

Air Operations, CBI

3rd AVG Fighter Squadron P-40s down 16 Japanese Army Ki-30s and 8 Navy A6Ms over Rangoon between 1200 and 1245. Flight Leader Robert P. Hedman, a 3d AVG Fighter Squadron P-40 pilot, achieves ace-in-a-day status when he downs 4 Ki-27 'Nate' fighters and an A6M Zero near Rangoon during the encounter; and Flight Leader Charles H. Older, another 3d AVG Squadron P-40 pilot, achieves ace status when he downs 2 Ki-21 'Sally' bombers near Thongwa and an A6M Zero over the Gulf of Martaban.

Battle of the Atlantic

The British steamer Cormead (2848t) sinks on a mine about 3 miles north of Lowestoft. The entire crew are rescued.

Borneo

The Indian garrison retires towards Dutch Borneo after some heavy fighting near the Kuching airport.

Britain, Home Front

King George VI broadcasts a Christmas message to the Empire: 'Never did heroism shine more brightly than it does now, nor fortitude, nor sacrifice, nor sympathy, nor neighborly kindness.'

Burma

The Chinese announce they will no longer cooperate with the British and withdraw all Chinese troops from Burma. Chiang Kai-shek became angry when the British failed to release ammunition aboard the American ship Tulsa which was in Rangoon harbor. The munitions were shipped for Chinese use but the situation in Burma caused consideration for redeployment.

China

• The Japanese open an offensive against Changsha, in the Hunan province.
• Chiang Kai-shek announces through a military representative that he will recall Chinese troops from Burma after determining that the British seized the Tulsa's Lend-Lease cargo with American assistance. He declares that the Chinese will no longer work with the British.

Eastern Front

The Soviet offensives continue to achieve successes. The German forces are now down to 75 percent of their strength in June. Their losses in tanks have been especially severe. Guderian has less than 40 tanks in his whole command. In Hoeppner's Panzer Group only one of the 4 armored divisions has more than 15 tanks. Reports continue coming in speaking of German troops suffering from cold and frostbite. Guderian is dismissed by Hitler for refusing to obey his 'Halt Order'.

In Leningrad about 3,700 Russians die of starvation. It is sadly ironic because the daily bread ration was increased due to new supplies reaching the city.

In the southern sector the Russians begin a series of violent attack against enemy positions especially the Italian expeditionary force, and in the eastern Crimea.

With temperatures well below zero, the citizens of Leningrad struggle to endure the privations of the siege. On this single day, 3,700 people die of starvation, hypoothermia or exhaustion. The daily death rate in the city is 1,500, very few due to German bombs or shells; most to starvation of hypothermia.

Against the northern wing of Army Group Center the 39th Army completes its concentration, having brought together 5 rifle divisions. Other Soviet attacks begin to falter, the 20th and 16th Armies stalling as they try to cross the Lama and Ruza Rivers.

Guderian becomes the latest victim of Hitler's purge, being dismissed from the 2nd Panzer Army. Hitler condemns Guderian for his failure to halt the Soviet attacks, an unreasonable charge given the exhausted state of his army. Gen Rudolf Schmidt is appointed to command the 2nd Panzer.

With German attention fixed firmly upon Sevastopol, the Soviets prepare to launch an offensive into the Kerch peninsula. Units of the Trans-Caucasus Front aided by the Azov Flotilla set sail from the Kuban in 2 groups which are to land north and south of Kerch. Group A consists of the 44th Army with 23,000 men, 30 tanks and 130 artillery pieces, while Group B has 3,000 men of the 44th Army together with 13,000 of the 51st Army. The landing is due to begin on December 26.

Germany, Command

For his retreats and insubordination, Hitler dismisses Guderian as commander of the 2nd Panzer Group. He is replaced by Gen Rudolf Schmidt.

Japanese Artillery in Action

Hong Kong

The British forces in Hong Kong capitulate in the evening after a siege lasting 17 days. At 9:00am the Japanese present their surrender terms, proposing a 3-hour cease fire. Receiving no reply they open fire again at noon. At 3:30pm, recognizing the hopelessness of the situation, the British commander gives the order to surrender. It is carried out at 5:30p.m. The Chinese population of the island, with their ancient prudence, and also under the influence of Japanese propaganda heralding the 'common Asian sphere of prosperity', gives the victors at triumpant welcome, many of the waving Rising Sun flags.

Commonwealth losses in defending Hong Kong total 11,848. Many civilian were also killed and wounded. The Japanese casualties were 675 killed and 2,079 wounded.

Australia, Politics

Fearing an imminent invasion by the Japanese, Prime Minister John Curtin tells the Allies not to give priority to the European war at the expense of the Pacific theater.

China

Chiang is mollified over the Tulsa issue with promises of support from the US representative of the American Military Mission to China. Although Chiang eventually will allow the transfer of the Lend-Lease shipment to Britain, it quickly becomes clear to the Americans that the Chinese leader will be a difficult ally.

Eastern Front

The German attacks on Sevastopol are continuing, but other German units of 11th Army are threatened by Soviet landings in the eastern Crimea at Kerch.

German armor pulls out of Kaluga, southwest of Moscow.

Death Toll Mounts in Leningrad

On the northern flank, the Soviets launch a new attack with the 39th Army. The attack falls around Rzhev and aims to break the center of the 9th Army. Farther south, despite repulsing and encircling Group Popov (Gen Markian), the hardpressed forces of the 2nd Panzer Army relinquishes control of Kaluga to the 50th Army.

Manstein launches more attacks upon Sevastopol but fails to break the Soviet positions. Later in the day, the Soviets begin the Kerch-Feodosia operation. Elements of the 51st Army land north of Kerch, while a smaller component of the 44th Army goes ashore at Cape Opuk, near Feodosia. Both units are able to gain a firm foothold despite the horrendous conditions, and proceeds to attack the XLII Corps' single infantry division. Sponek requests permission to withdraw to the Ak-Monai narrows but is instead ordered to launch an immediate counterattack and drive the Soviet forces into the sea.

Malaya

The Japanese break through the Perak River defense line and push through to Ipoh. The town of Ipoh is evacuated by the 11th Indian Div. Small detachments carry out rearguard actions north of Ipoh, near Kemor.

Mediterranean

U-559 sinks the Polish steamer Warszawa (2487t) 40 miles east of Tobruk with the loss of 23 passengers and crew. 445 survivors are picked up by the British boom defense vessel Burgonet and the British corvette Peony.

Norway

Over the next 2 days the German bases on the Lofoten Islands off the coast of Norway are attacked in swift raids by British commandos. 260 men land on Moskenesoy to destroy the fish-oil factory there.

Norwegian Sea

The Norwegian steamers Kong Ring (1994t) and Inger Nielsen (1862t) sink on mines near Ullsfjord laid by Soviet submarine K-1 on December 16 and 17.

Pacific

• The Soviet tanker Maikop (1846t) is sunk by Japanese bombing at the southwestern point of the Gulf of Davao, Philippines with the loss of 1 crewman.
• The Japanese minesweeper W-6 and the steamer Unyo Maru No. 2 are sunk in a Dutch air attack near Kuching, Sarawak, Malaya.
• The British steamer Tantalus (7724t) is sunk by Japanese bombing at Manila. 45 of the crew are made prisoners of war.

Battle of the Atlantic

The British steamer J. D. Paddon (570t) is sunk by German bombing off Hornsea. The entire crew are rescued.

Britain, Command

Lt-Gen Sir Henry Pownall replaces Air Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham as Commander-in-Chief, Far East. This command will shortly be superseded by Wavell's ABDA to which Pownall will become Chief of Staff.

Eastern Front

Soviet troops reach the Volkhov at Kirishi, clearing the Germans of all their gains on the east bank of the river.

The XLII Corps counterattacks north of Kerch and succeeds in inflicting heavy casualties upon the Soviet forces. The Germans are unable to clear up the Soviet bridgeheads because of a lack of strength, enabling the Soviets to land reinforcements and strengthen those units that are already ashore.

North Africa

The Germans halt at Agedabia. They are attacked here unsuccessfully by the 22nd Guards Brigade. At the same time the 22nd Armored Brigade attempts an outflanking move through the open desert, but Lt-Gen Ludwig Crüwell, now with 60 tanks, attacks this column knocking out 37 British tanks to only a loss of 7 on the German side.

Malaya

Kampar, on the west coast, and Kuantan on the east coast of the peninsula, are both being threatened by the Japanese.

Raid on Vaagso

Norway

About 600 British commandos land on Vaagso and Maaloy. Again fish factories and radio stations are the targets. The raids are a success with various merchant and patrol craft being sunk (about 16,000t worth) and 243 volunteers being taken to join the Norwegian forces in Britain. The raid also contributes to fears of Hitler's about a British invasion of Norway. In the short term Dönitz will be ordered to station U-boats to guard against this and in the long term considerable German forces will be sent to idle in Norway.

Burma

Gen Sir Thomas Hutton is appointed to command the British forces.

Eastern Front

The German attacks on Sevastopol make some gains in the Fort Stalin area where the 22nd and the 24th Divs are leading the offensive. The German commanders believe that they will soon take the city.

Berlin reports intense Russian pressure in the Ukraine sector.

Manstein continues to attack Sevastopol, gaining territory around Fort Stalin. Fighting on the Kerch peninsula results in the destruction of Soviet forces south of Kerch, but those to the north can not be dislodged. Sponek again requests permission to fall back to the Ak-Monai narrows but is overruled by Manstein, who knows the only chance of defeating this new threat is to push the Soviets back into the sea before they become well established on the peninsula.

North Africa

Over the next couple of days in a series of brisk engagements the British 22nd Armored Brigade takes severe losses as the retreating Germans turn and counterattack. The German performance in this retreat through Cyrenaica and in their retreat after Alamein, contrasts strongly with the behaviour of the British and Allied forces when they have the same experience. In March 1941 and January 1942 when the Allied front breaks, there in great confusion and often panic in the rear areas. The Afrika Korps in retreat is trained and orderly.

Malaya

The British forces withdraw from Ipoh under pressure from the Japanese advance. The next defended positions will be at Kampar and the crossings of the Slim River.

Mediterranean

U-75 sinks the British steamer Volo (1587t) of Convoy AT-6 about 45 miles northwest of Mersa Matruh, Egypt with the loss of 24 of her crew. 14 survivors are picked up by the British landing craft LCT-11. The British destroyer Kipling then sinks U-75 with the loss of 14 crewmen. 30 survivors are picked up by the Kipling and the British destroyer Legion.

U-75

Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham

Borneo

The Indian garrison withdrawing from Kuching reaches Sanggau in Dutch Borneo and is placed under Dutch command.

Burma

British pressure forces the Japanese back from Bokpyn into Thailand.

China

The China theater is established under command of Chiang Kai-shek, supported by an Allied staff. The theater boundaries include portions of China, Thailand, and Indochina not occupied by enemy forces.

Diplomatic Relations

Eden meets with Stalin and Molotov in Moscow to discuss cooperation both during and after the war.

Eastern Front

There are new Soviet landings in the eastern Crimea at Feodosia. The forces moved to here and Kerch will be a serious threat to the German 11th Army and it will be compelled to halt attacks on Sevastopol while it deals with them. The Soviet units involved are the 51st and the 54th Armies.

The continuing Soviet advance on the Moscow sector recaptures Tula.

German Troops Unloading Supplies

Another force of 23,000 men of 44th Army lands in the Crimea. The new landing comes ashore at Feodosia, where German defenses are virtually non-existant, consisting mainly of Rumanian forces and rear area personnel. The Soviets throw the Rumanians back and establish a firm bridgehead, threatening the rear of the XLII Corps. With his rear open and his force in danger of being isolated, Gen Hans von Sponeck takes immediate action and withdraws from the peninsula to the Ak-Monai narrows, the withdrawal beginning during the night of December 29-30. With this new danger to his rear, Manstein suspends attacks upon Sevastopol and begins to move the XXX Corps east to the aid of the XLII Corps.

India, Home Front

Gandhi resigns leadership of the Congress Party when it decides to support the British war effort.

Malaya

The XII Brigade of the 11th Indian Div is forced to withdraw from its position at Kampar and retires to Bidor.

Japanese Tankette Type 94

Eastern Front

While Army Group South continues its offensive against Sevastopol, Russian troops coming from the Caucasus mount an amphibious attack against the eastern Crimea, taking Kerch and Feodosia. On the central front the Germans are forced back under the pressure of the Soviet counteroffensive. The Russians occupy Kaluga, 90 miles southwest of Moscow.

Cossack Troops in Action

Cossack Troops Waiting to Attack Enemy Blockhouses

The Soviets pour forces into the Crimea as the XLII Corps retreats to the Ak-Monai narrows, fighting rear guard battles as it falls back.

Malaya

The Japanese advance has now reached nearly to Kampar in the west and Kuantan in the east.

Mediterranean

• The British submarine Thorn sinks the German steamer Campina (3032t) in the Peloponnese.
• The British submarine Proteus sinks the Italian steamer Citta di Marsala (2480t) leaving Argostoli.

North Africa

After losing still more tanks to what is now considered to be superior German armored vehicles, the British cease their drive for Agedabia in Libya.

Pacific

Battle of the Atlantic

U-87 sinks the British tanker Cardita (8237t) 110 miles northeast of St Kilda with the loss of 27 of her crew. 33 survivors are picked up by the British destroyers Onslow and Sabre.

Eastern Front

Although the battles since June have seen huge losses for the Red Army - at least 5,000,000 casualties, 3,000,000 prisoners, 20,000 tanks and 30,000 guns destroyed - the Soviets are still very much in the fight. They will maintain the initiative until well into the spring of 1942, but by then the resources that have been carefully assembled during the autumn of 1941 will have been dissipated in attacks. Although the Germans have already lost severely in the winter offensive and will continue to do so, there will be no Soviet breakthrough and instead a gradual growth in German manpower and equipment levels.

In Day 115 of the Siege of Leningrad, it is reported that 52,000 people have died of starvation and lack of medical treatment during December.

In the southern sector the Germans break off the operation against Sevastopol to check the Russian threat from Kerch and Feodosia. In the central sector the Soviet counteroffensive before Moscow ends with the recapture of Kozelsk.

German Pictures of the Wehrmacht Were Deceiving

The Soviet 10th Army recaptures Kozelsk. However, the Red Army offensive is running out of steam due to losses in men and equipment. The 3rd Army, for example, totals only 16,000 troops and 138 artillery pieces.

The German XLII Corps comes under pressure at Feodosia from the 40,000 troops that the Red Army has landed. Manstein is thus forced to halt attacks against Sevastopol until this threat has been dealt with.

The Wehrmacht has suffered major losses on the Eastern Front during its first campaign against the Soviet Union. The Luftwaffe has lost 2,100 aircraft destroyed and 1,300 badly damaged (Luftwaffe monthly losses in November and December were 741 aircraft and 318 air crews), while the army has lost 302,000 troops killed.

Soviet losses thus far have been colossal. During the last three months the army and navy combined has lost 1,007,996 killed and missing and 648,521 wounded.[MORE]

Germany, Home Front

Hitler issues a New Year message to the German people. 'He who fights for the life of a nation, for her daily bread and her future, will win, but he who, in this war, with his Jewish hate seeks to destroy whole nations will fall.'

Malaya

The Indian troops still try to hole up the enemy near Kampar on the west of the peninsula, and Kuantan on the east. The British, however, have already abandoned the area to the Japanese. This area produces 38% of the world's rubber and 58% of its tin.

North Africa

Rommel halts his withdrawal at El Agheila. An isolated Axis force at Bardia is attacked by South African and British troops.

Pacific

• The American steamer Ruth Alexander (8135t) is sunk by Japanese bombing off northwest Borneo with the loss of 1 crewman.
• The American steamer Capillo (5135t) is sunk by Japanese bombing at Manila.

Philippines

With the Japanese forces 30 miles away, the Americans and Filipinos complete the evacuation of Manila. Some key positions, such as the Calumpit bridge, are reinforced to hold the enemy and allow defenders to concentrate their forces in the Bataan peninsula. At 5:45pm the first Japanese enter Manila, which is in flames. MacArthur has already lost 30,000 men but he still has 80,000, 15,000 of which are American. Demoralized and ill-equipped, they prepare for a last stand.

Japanese Forces Enter Manila