December 1941

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December 7, 1941: The destruction ofUSSArizonaduring theattack on Pearl Harbor.

The following events occurred inDecember 1941:

December 1,1941 (Monday)

• Japanrejected the latestU.S.proposals as "fantastic and unrealistic".
• TheBattle of Pljevljawas fought in theItalian governorate of Montenegro.Italian military forces repulsed an attack by Montenegrin Partisans.
• Field MarshalGerd von Rundstedtresigned following the Germanretreat from Rostov.
• Karl Jägerwrote theJäger Report,the most precise surviving document of the activities of anEinsatzkommandounit.
• A worldwideelectric drillandpower saw brand,Hiltiwas founded inLiechtenstein,that first business start on workshop section.
• The German15th Panzer Divisionrouted the 20th Battalion of the2nd New Zealand Divisionat Belhamed, Libya, but tanks of the British4th Armoured Brigadedrove off the attack.
• U.S. PresidentFranklin D. Rooseveltcut short his vacation inWarm Springs, Georgia,and returned toWashington, D.C.due to the critical situation in the Pacific.
• The United States Civil Air Defense Services (CADS), now known as theCivil Air Patrol,was formed.

December 2,1941 (Tuesday)

• TheBattle of Hankoended in Finnish victory.
• TheRed Armyset up theMoscow Defence Zone.
• Adolf HitlerissuedDirective No. 38,ordering reinforcement of the Luftwaffe presence in the Mediterranean.
• Japanese Rear AdmiralMatome Ugakireceived an order authorizing theCombined Fleetto attack any time after midnight on December 7, Japan time. Based on this order, Ugaki sent a wireless communication with the coded message "ClimbMount Niitaka",meaning the attacks were to go forward as planned.
• President Roosevelt sent Japan a request for an explanation for the heavy Japanese troop concentrations inFrench Indochina,exceeding the 25,000 agreed upon between Tokyo andVichy France.
• U.S. "Magic"cryptologists intercepted Japanese orders to destroy codes at the Japanese embassy in Washington.
• Born:Sean P. F. Hughes,Emeritus Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, inFarnham,Surrey,England
• Died:Edward Rydz-Śmigły,55, Polish general and politician (heart failure)

December 3,1941 (Wednesday)

• Erwin Rommel's assault toward the garrisons atBardia,SallumandHalfaya Passwas repulsed by the Allies.
• The Japanese carrier fleet tasked with the Pearl Harbor attack began approaching theHawaiian Islandswith increased speed.
• U.S. Secretary of StateCordell Hullgave a press conference expressing a pessimistic view of U.S.-Japan relations, saying that the months of discussions to this point had never reached a stage where actual negotiations toward a peaceful settlement could take place.
• China Radio Internationalwas founded.
• The first issue of theChicago Sun(later merged with another paper to become theChicago Sun-Times) was published.
• Died:Christian Sinding,85, Norwegian composer

December 4,1941 (Thursday)

• Japanese invasion fleets departed from various locations for their destinations inMalayaandThailand.
• Japanese aircraft scoutedWake Islandundetected.
• Rainbow Five,the U.S. government's top-secret war plan, was leaked on the front pages of theChicago TribuneandWashington Times-Herald.The plan alarmedisolationistswho took it as proof that President Roosevelt was preparing to lead the United States into war against Germany, despite his pledge during the1940 electionthat no Americans would be sent into foreign wars. SenatorBurton K. Wheeler,without mentioning his own role in the leak, demanded a congressional investigation.
• German submarineU-599was commissioned.
• Born:David Johnston,television news presenter, inMelbourne,Australia

December 5,1941 (Friday)

• Britain declared war on Finland, Hungary and Romania.
• Japan responded to Roosevelt's inquiry of December 2 by saying that foreign reports of the number of Japanese troops in French Indochina were exaggerated and the troop concentrations were in full accord with the agreement between Tokyo and Vichy.
• War SecretaryHenry L. Stimsonsaid during a press conference that those responsible for the previous day's leaking of American war plans were "wanting in loyalty and patriotism." Stimson also offered a statement asking, "What would you think of an American general staff which in the present condition of the world did not investigate and study every conceivable type of emergency which may confront this country and every possible method of meeting that emergency?"The White House made no other comment on the matter and it would quickly be forgotten about after the events of December 7.
• German submarineU-175was commissioned.
• The SovietRed Armylaunched amassive counter-offensiveagainst theGerman Forcesduring theBattle of Moscowwhich effectively put Operation Typhoon to an end.

December 6,1941 (Saturday)

• President Roosevelt wrote a personal appeal to EmperorHirohitoto avoid war between the United States and Japan. "Developments are occurring in the Pacific area which threaten to deprive each of our Nations and all humanity of the beneficial influence of the long peace between our two countries." the president wrote. "Those developments contain tragic possibilities... I address myself to Your Majesty at this moment in the fervent hope that Your Majesty may, as I am doing, give thought in this definite emergency to ways of dispelling the dark clouds. I am confident that both of us, for the sake of the peoples not only of our own great countries but for the sake of humanity in neighboring territories, have a sacred duty to restore traditional amity and prevent further death and destruction in the world."
• Finnish II Corps and Group "O" capturedMedvezhyegorsk.
• The British submarineHMSPerseusstruck a mine and sank in theIonian SeaoffCephalonia.
• SSGreenlandhit a mine and was sunk in the North Sea near Lowestoft with the loss of nine men.
• Born:
  • Vittorio Mezzogiorno,actor, inCercola,Italy(d. 1994)
  • Bruce Nauman,artist, inFort Wayne, Indiana
  • Richard Speck,mass murderer, inKirkwood, Illinois(d. 1991)

December 7,1941 (Sunday)

• Japan launched its invasion of British Malaya, at Kota Bharu, at 7:00 am Hawaiian Time (1:00 am 8 December Malaya time).
• The Japanese surpriseattack on Pearl Harborbegan at 7:55 a.m. Hawaiian Time.21 American ships and over 300 aircraft were sunk, destroyed or damaged, and 2,403 Americans were killed. Japan lost 29 planes in return.
• Japan declared war on the United States, Great Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa.
• The Japanese midget submarineHA. 19ran aground and was scuttled atOahu.Eventually Americans retrieved the sub andKazuo Sakamakibecame the first Japanese prisoner of war to be captured by American forces.
• TheNiihau incidentbegan when Japanese pilot Shigenori Nishikaichi crash-landed his damagedA6M2 Zeroon the Hawaiian island ofNiihauafter participating in the attack on Pearl Harbor. The local Hawaiians, who were as yet unaware of the attack and could not communicate with Nishikaichi, sent, in succession, for two locals of Japanese ancestry who agreed to help the pilot to retrieve his papers and escape.
• Winston Churchillwas dining atChequers,the country house of thePrime Minister of the United Kingdom,with the American diplomatsJohn Gilbert WinantandW. Averell Harrimanwhen the news of the Pearl Harbor attack arrived. Churchill realized that the United States would now enter the war and that Britain would no longer have to fight alone. He later wrote of that night, "Being saturated and satiated with emotion and sensation, I went to bed and slept the sleep of the saved and thankful."
• One hour after the Japanese attack, Australian Prime MinisterJohn Curtinannounced that "from one hour ago,Australiahas been at war with the Japanese Empire. "War would be formally declared two days later.
• German forces withdrew fromTikhvin.
• Hitler issued theNacht und Nebel( "Night and Fog" ) decree, targeting political dissidents fordisappearances.
• Realizing that success on the Tobruk front was unlikely at this time,Erwin Rommelpulled his forces 10 miles (16 km) back toward the Gazala line.
• German submarineU-208was sunk off Gibraltar by depth charges from the British destroyersHarvesterandHesperus.
• Canadadeclared war on Finland, Hungary, Japan, and Romania.
• Panama declared war on Japan.
• The Japanese conducted theFirst Bombardment of Midway,killing four and wounding 10.
• The American cargo shipSS Cynthia Olsonwas sunk by theJapanese submarine I-26.
• Born:Melba Pattillo Beals,journalist and member of theLittle Rock Nine,inLittle Rock, Arkansas
• Died:Isaac C. Kidd,57, American admiral and posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor (killed in the Pearl Harbor attack)

December 8,1941 (Monday)

• Hitler issuedDirective No. 39,cancelling offensive operations on the Eastern Front and ordering theWehrmachtto switch to defensive formations.
• New Zealanddeclared war on Japan at 11:00 a.m. New Zealand time.
• The Japanese carried out theBombing of Singapore,killing 61.
• President Roosevelt made theInfamy Speech(with its famous opening line "Yesterday, December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy," ) to aJoint session of Congress.Within one hour theUnited States declared war on Japan.Lifelong pacifistJeannette Rankinwas the only member of Congress to vote against declaring war.
• TheUnited Kingdom declared war on Japan.
• Costa Rica,theDominican Republic,El Salvador,Haiti,Honduras,theDutch government-in-exileandNicaraguaalso declared war on Japan.
• The British House of Commons convened on short notice in light of recent events.Winston Churchillmade a speech concluding, "We have at least four-fifths of the population of the globe upon our side. We are responsible for their safety and for their future. In the past we have had a light which flickered, in the present we have a light which flames, and in the future there will be a light which shines over all the land and sea."
• TheJapanese invasion of Thailandoccurred. A ceasefire was reached in only a few hours; Thailand formed an alliance with Japan and declared war on the Allies.
• TheMalayan Campaign,Philippines Campaign,Dutch East Indies campaign,Battle of Guam,Battle of Wake IslandandBattle of Hong Kongbegan.
• Japanese troopsinvaded Batan Island.
• The Japanese troopshipAwazisan Maruwas bombed by aLockheed Hudsonaircraft ofNo. 1 Squadron,Royal Australian Air Forceand abandoned offKota Bharu,Malaya.
• The second day of theRumbula massacreoccurred nearRiga,Latvia.A total of about 25,000 Jews were killed on this day and November 30.
• Charles Lindberghreleased a statement through theAmerica First Committeethat said: "We have been stepping closer to war for many months. Now it has come and we must meet it as united Americans regardless of our attitude toward the policy our government has followed. Whether or not that policy has been wise, our country has been attacked by force of arms and we must retaliate."
• German submarineU-511was commissioned.
• TheU.S. Supreme CourtdecidedLisenba v. California.

December 9,1941 (Tuesday)

• Soviet forces capturedYeletssouth of Moscow.
• President Roosevelt gave afireside chaton the U.S. declaration of war on Japan.
• Chinaformally declared war on Japan, Germany and Italy. TheSecond Sino-Japanese Warhad been undeclared up to this time despite being in its fifth year.
• CubaandGuatemaladeclared war on Japan.
• British CommandosconductedOperation Kitbag,a raid on the Norwegian town ofFlorø.
• Cleveland Indianspitching aceBob Fellerenlisted in theUnited States Navy Reserve.
• German submarineU-659was commissioned.
• Born:Beau Bridges,actor and director, inLos Angeles,California
• Died:Eduard von Böhm-Ermolli,85, Austrian general

December 10,1941 (Wednesday)

• Sinking ofPrince of WalesandRepulse:A naval battle took place north ofSingaporein which the British battleshipPrince of Walesand battlecruiserRepulsewere sunk by Japanese aircraft.
• TheBattle of Guamended in Japanese victory.
• TheJapanese occupation of the Gilbert Islandsbegan onButaritari(Makin).
• Japanese forcesinvaded ViganandAparri.
• The American submarine USSSealionwas bombed and damaged during a Japanese air-raid on theCavite Navy Yard.
• Los Angeleshad its firstblackoutof the war.
• Born:Kyu Sakamoto,singer and actor, inKawasaki, Kanagawa,Japan(d. 1985),Tommy Kirk,actor (d. 2021).
• Died:Tom Phillips,53, British admiral and highest ranking Allied officer killed in battle during WWII (died in the sinking of thePrince of Wales)

December 11,1941 (Thursday)

US PresidentFranklin D. RooseveltSigns a Declaration of War Against Germany

German dictatorAdolf HitlerDeclares War on TheUnited States4 Days after TheAttack on Pearl Harbor

• Germanydeclared war on the United States.Hitler gave a speech to theReichstagannouncing the declaration of war.
• Italydeclared war on the United States."The powers of thesteel pact,Fascist Italy and Nationalist Socialist Germany, ever closely linked, participate from today on the side of heroic Japan against the United States of America, "Benito Mussolinideclared in a statement.
• Germany, Italy and Japan signed a new pact barring any of them from making a separate peace with the United States or Great Britain.
• President Roosevelt sent a message to Congress asking for formal recognition of a state of war with Germany and Italy.Congress passed theJoint Resolution Declaring That a State of War Exists Between The Government of Germany and the Government and the People of the United States and Making Provisions To Prosecute The Same.along with anidentical resolution for Italy.
• ThePolishandDutchgovernments-in-exile declared war on Japan.
• TheBattle of Jitrabegan as part of theMalayan Campaign.
• Soviet forces capturedIstrawest of Moscow.
• During the Battle of Wake Island, the Japanese destroyerHayatewas sunk by American coast-defense guns and the destroyerKisaragiwas bombed and sunk.
• The British destroyer HMSJackalwas damaged in the Mediterranean Sea by Italian torpedo bombers and knocked out of action until May 1942.
• TheAmerica First Committeeheld a special meeting and voted to dissolve itself. The organization expressed no regrets for its past activities and declared, "Our principles were right. Had they been followed, war could have been avoided."
• German submarineU-600was commissioned.
• Born:J. Frank Wilson,singer, inLufkin, Texas(d. 1991)
• Died:John Gillespie Magee Jr.,19, American aviator and poet (mid-air collision overLincolnshire);Émile Picard,85, French mathematician

December 12,1941 (Friday)

• TheReich Chancellery meeting of 12 December 1941was held between Hitler and high-ranking officials of the Nazi Party. The meeting marked a decisive step toward the implementation of theFinal Solutionwhen Hitler announced that the Jewish race was to be annihilated.
• The Japaneseinvaded Legaspiin southernLuzon.
• The Japanese began theshelling of Johnston and Palmyra.
• Romania and Bulgaria declared war on the United States and Britain; both countries responded in kind.
• Haiti, El Salvador and Panama declared war on Germany and Italy.
• German Jews were forbidden to use public telephones.
• German submarineU-458was commissioned.
• TheUniversal HorrorfilmThe Wolf ManstarringLon Chaney Jr.was released.
• Died:César Basa,25 or 26, Filipino pilot (killed in action)

December 13,1941 (Saturday)

• TheBattle of Cape Bonwas fought offCape Bon,Tunisia.The Italian cruisersAlberico da BarbianoandAlberto di Giussanowere sunk and the Allies took no losses in return.
• TheBattle of Jitraended in Japanese victory.
• New Zealand and Indian troops attacked the Gazala Line in Libya but were halted by German tanks.
• Hungary declared war on the United States.
• Great Britain, New Zealand and South Africa declared war on Bulgaria.
• Honduras declared war on Germany and Italy.
• TheNiihau incidentended with the death of Shigenori Nishikaichi in a struggle with people on the island and the suicide of one of his confederates, Yoshio Harada. The incident may have influenced the U.S. government's decision tointern Japanese Americansduring the war, out of a belief that American citizens of Japanese ancestry might aid Japan.
• Between 4,000 and 6,000 people were killed inHuaraz,Peruwhen a glacier partially collapsed into a nearby lake and triggered amorainelandslide.
• Born:John Davidson,singer, actor and television host, inPittsburgh,Pennsylvania

December 14,1941 (Sunday)

• TheBattle of Gurunbegan in the Malayan Campaign.
• TheIndependent State of Croatiadeclared war on the United States and Britain.
• The British light cruiser HMSGalateawas torpedoed and sunk offAlexandriaby the German submarineU-557.
• Born:Ellen Willis,journalist, feminist and music critic, inNew York City(d. 2006)

December 15,1941 (Monday)

• Soviet forces capturedKlin,northwest of Moscow.
• The largest of theLiepāja massacresbegan in Latvia. From this date through December 17 a total of 2,731 Jews and 23 communists were massacred by the Nazis.
• The British 4th Armoured Brigade arrived at Bir Halegh el Eleba where they planned to outflank the Axis forces.
• German submarineU-127was depth charged and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean by the Australian destroyer HMASNestor.
• German submarinesU-176andU-216were commissioned.
• The British cargo shipEmpire Barracudawas torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean by the German submarineU-77.
• The site of theRose Bowl Gamewas transferred fromPasadena, CaliforniatoDurham, North Carolina.
• The radio programWe Hold These Truthswas aired live, the first program broadcast on all four major U.S. radio networks simultaneously. The hour-long special commemorated the 150th anniversary of theUnited States Bill of Rightswhich was ratified on December 15, 1791.

December 16,1941 (Tuesday)

• TheBattle of Gurunended in Japanese victory.
• TheBattle of Borneobegan.
• TheCzechoslovak government-in-exiledeclared war on all countries at war with the United States, Britain and the USSR.
• Axis forces began to fall back toEl Agheila,moving too quickly for the British 4th Armoured Brigade to outflank their retreat.
• Hitler called on the German troops of the Eastern Front to mount "fanatical resistance" and prohibited any retreat around Moscow.
• Japanese battleshipYamatowas commissioned.
• German submarineU-557was accidentally rammed and sunk by the Italian torpedo boatOrionewest ofCrete.
• Brześć Ghettowas created in Nazi-occupied Poland.
• Born:Lesley Stahl,television journalist, inLynn, Massachusetts

December 17,1941 (Wednesday)

• The naval engagement known as theFirst Battle of Sirtewas fought in theGulf of Sirtewith an indecisive result.
• Japanese forces invadedPenang Island.
• Albaniadeclared war on the United States.
• Husband E. Kimmelwas relieved of his command of the U.S. Pacific Fleet as part of a shake-up of officers following the Pearl Harbor attack.Kimmel was replaced byChester Nimitz.
• The American passenger shipCorregidorstruck a mine and sank inManila Bay.
• The Japanese destroyerShinonomewas sunk nearMiri,Sarawak,probably from an air attack.
• German submarineU-131was heavily damaged by British ships and aircraft and scuttled west ofMadeira,Portugal.
• TheChungpu earthquakeinTaiwanclaimed 358 lives.

December 18,1941 (Thursday)

• Japanese troops landed onHong Kong Island.
• Citing stomach illness,Fedor von Bockrelinquished command ofArmy Group CentretoGünther von Kluge.
• German submarineU-434was depth charged and sunk by the British destroyersBlankneyandStanleynorth of Madeira.
• TheWar Powers Act of 1941was put into law in the United States.
• Manhattan Project:The S-1 Committee formally met for the first timeand recommended that $400,000 be assigned toErnest Lawrence's work in electromagnetic isotope separation.
• President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 8983, appointing a commission headed by Supreme Court JusticeOwen Robertsto investigate the Pearl Harbor attack in order to determine "whether any derelictions of duty or errors of judgment on the part of United States Army or Navy personnel" contributed to the success of the Japanese attack, "and if so, what these derelictions or errors were, and who were responsible therefor."
• German submarinesU-256,U-407andU-601were commissioned.
• The swashbuckler filmThe Corsican BrothersstarringDouglas Fairbanks Jr.,Ruth WarrickandAkim Tamiroffhad its world premiere inWashington, D.C.
• Born:Prince William of Gloucester,inBarnet,England (d. 1972)
• Died:Dmitry Lavrinenko,27, Russian tank commander andHero of the Soviet Union(killed in action)

December 19,1941 (Friday)

• TheJapanese invasion of Davaobegan.
• Indian 4th Division capturedDerna, Libya.
• Italian Navydivers ofDecima Flottiglia MAScarried out theRaid on Alexandria,attacking and disabling twoRoyal Navybattleships withmanned torpedoes.
• The British light cruiser HMSNeptunewas sunk by naval mines offTripoli.
• Nicaragua declared war on Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania.
• Hitler relievedWalther von Brauchitschas Commander-in-Chief of theGerman Armyand took personal command himself. A proclamation announcing the move was published two days later.
• The British light cruiser HMSNeptunestruck naval mines offTripoliand sank. The destroyerKandaharstruck a mine and was damaged trying to come toNeptune's rescue and had to be scuttled the next day.
• The British destroyerStanleywas torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean by German submarineU-574.The sloop HMSStorkthen depth charged, rammed and sankU-574.
• Born:Lee Myung-bak,10th President of South Korea, inOsaka,Japan;Maurice White,musician and founder ofEarth, Wind & Fire,inMemphis, Tennessee(d. 2016)
• Died:John Robert Osborn,42, Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross (killed in action in Hong Kong)
• Died:John K. Lawson,54, the highest ranking Canadian officer to be killed in World War II (killed in action in Hong Kong)

December 20,1941 (Saturday)

• TheBelgian government in exiledeclared war on Japan.
• Joseph Goebbelsannounced a winter clothing collection drive for troops on the Eastern Front. Rather than admitting to a supply shortage he presented it as an expression of solidarity between the soldiers and the homeland.
• The American tankerEmidiowas torpedoed and damaged offCape Mendocino,Californiaby the Japanese submarineI-17,killing five crew. ACatalinaflying boat was dispatched to attack theI-17,but the submarine escaped.
• Charles Lindberghwrote to Chief of Army Air ForcesHenry H. Arnoldoffering to serve in the military.
• German submarinesU-90,U-356,U-439andU-512were commissioned.
• "Elmer's Tune"byGlenn Millerand His Orchestra hit #1 on theBillboardsingles charts.
• Died:Igor Severyanin,54, Russian poet
• TheWabbit Twoublecartoon was released byWarner Bros. Pictures.

December 21,1941 (Sunday)

• Japanese troopsinvaded Lingayen GulfandLamon Bay.
• Romanian and German units began murdering the inmates of theBogdanovka concentration camp.By the end of the year 30,000 Jews would be killed.
• The British escort carrierAudacitywas torpedoed and sunk 430 nautical miles west ofCape Finisterre,Spain by the German submarineU-751.
• The Dutch submarineK XVIIstruck a mine offTioman Islandand sank.
• German submarineU-451was torpedoed and sunk offCape Spartel,Morocco byFairey Swordfishaircraft of812 Squadron,Fleet Air Arm.
• German submarineU-567was depth charged and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean by British warships.
• The first play of the twelve-episode radio play cycleThe Man Born to Be King,based on the life ofJesus,premiered on theBBC Home Service.
• TheChicago Bearsbeat theNew York Giants37-9 in theNFL Championship GameatWrigley FieldinChicago.
• Born:Lo Hoi-pang,actor, inPanyu,China

December 22,1941 (Monday)

• Allied troops reachedBeda Fommbut were halted by 30 German tanks. Axis forces began evacuatingBenghaziby sea.
• TheBattle of Sjenicawas fought in theItalian governorate of Montenegro.TheYugoslav Partisanswere defeated.
• Winston Churchillarrived inWashington, D.C.aboardHMSDuke of Yorkafter a secret ten-day journey across the Atlantic.TheArcadia Conferencebegan.
• German submarineU-380was commissioned.
• The1942 NFL draftwas held. ThePittsburgh SteelersselectedBill Dudleyof theUniversity of Virginiaas the number one overall pick.

December 23,1941 (Tuesday)

• TheBattle of Wake Islandended in Japanese victory.
• The Japanese invasions ofLingayen GulfandLamon Baywere completed.
• Douglas MacArthurdeclaredManilaanopen cityand began withdrawing toBataan.
• The British passenger shipShuntienwas torpedoed and sunk west ofAlexandriaby German submarineU-559.
• German submarineU-79was depth charged and sunk offBardia,Libya by British warships.
• Pope Pius XIIauthorized all local officials of the Catholic Church to permit the faithful to dispense with the laws offast and abstinencefor the duration of the war. This dispensation did not apply toAsh WednesdayorGood Friday.
• Born:Tim Hardin,folk musician and composer, inEugene, Oregon(d. 1980)

December 24,1941 (Wednesday)

• Japanese troops capturedKuching,Sarawak.
• The thirdBattle of Changshabegan.
• Theshelling of Johnston and Palmyraended inconclusively.
• Haiti declared war on Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania.
• The American steamerAbsarokawas torpedoed off Point Fermin, California by Japanese submarineI-19and beached atFort MacArthur.
• The Japanese destroyerSagiriwas torpedoed and sunk off Kuching, Borneo by the Dutch submarineK XVI.
• The British corvetteSalviawas torpedoed and sunk west of Alexandria by German submarineU-568.
• The British submarineH31was lost, probably to a naval mine in theBay of Biscay.
• German submarineU-460was commissioned.
• Born:John Levene,actor, inSalisbury,England

December 25,1941 (Thursday)

• TheBattle of Hong Kongended in Japanese victory. TheJapanese occupation of Hong Kongbegan.
• TheJapanese invasion of Davaoended in Japanese victory.
• SirAlan BrookebecameChief of the General Staff.
• Rudolf Schmidtwas appointed Commander of the2nd Panzer Army,replacing the sackedHeinz Guderian.
• In acoup de main,Free French forces overthrew the pro-Vichy government ofSaint Pierre and Miquelonoff Newfoundland.
• The British destroyerThracianran aground at Hong Kong and scuttled.
• The American submarine USSSealionwas scuttled atCavite Navy Yardto prevent her from becoming useful to the Japanese.
• Dutch submarineK XVIwas torpedoed and sunk west of Kuching by Japanese submarineI-66.
• The stage musicalBanjo Eyeswith music byVernon Duke,lyrics byJohn La ToucheandHarold Adamsonand starringEddie Cantorpremiered on Broadway at theHollywood Theatre.
• Died:Blanche Bates,68, American actress

December 26,1941 (Friday)

• TheBattle of the Kerch Peninsulabegan.
• The Allies withdrew from the Malayan city ofIpoh.
• British CommandoslaunchedOperation Anklet,the raid on theLofoten Islands.
• Winston Churchilladdressed a joint meeting of U.S. Congress. He predicted that at least 18 months would be required to turn the tide of the war and warned that "many disappointments and unpleasant surprises await us."
• The musical filmHellzapoppin'starring the vaudeville comedy team ofOlsen and Johnsonwas released.

December 27,1941 (Saturday)

• The Germans flanked the British22nd Armoured Brigadeat El Haseia and destroyed many tanks.This removed any immediate danger toAjdabiyaand allowed the Axis forces to fall back in an organized fashion to the defensive line atEl Agheilawithout having to deal with pressure from the enemy.
• British Commandos completedOperation Ankletsuccessfully.
• British Combined OperationsexecutedOperation Archery,a raid against German positions on the island ofVågsøy,Norway.
• The dramatic playClash by NightbyClifford Odetspremiered at theBelasco Theatreon Broadway.
• Born:Miles Aiken,basketball player, inNew York City

December 28,1941 (Sunday)

• Lieutenant-generalThomas Jacomb Huttonassumed command of Burma Army.
• The British cargo shipVolowas torpedoed and sunk off the coast of Egypt by German submarineU-75.The destroyerHMSKiplingchased the U-boat down and sankU-75with depth charges.
• 70-year-old Warden James Brooks Jackson of thePulaski County, ArkansasSheriff's Office, serving as superintendent of the Pulaski County Prison Farm, was shot and killed by the assistant warden, who believed Jackson was about to fire him. The assistant warden would be convicted ofvoluntary manslaughterand receive a two-year prison sentence.In 1999, Jackson's grandson,architectBrooks Jackson, would submit a successful bid for the design of theArkansas Fallen Firefighters Memorialin memory of his grandfather.

December 29,1941 (Monday)

• The Japanese bombedCorregidorfor the first time.
• TheRed Armytook back the Crimean city ofKerch.
• Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayPresidentEddie Rickenbackerannounced that the1942 Indianapolis 500was cancelled and that the race would not be held again until after the war.
• German submarineU-602was commissioned.
• Born:Ray Thomas,flautist, singer, songwriter and member ofThe Moody Blues,inStourport-on-Severn,England (d. 2018)
• Died:Tullio Levi-Civita,68, Italian mathematician

December 30,1941 (Tuesday)

• Operation Crusaderended in Allied victory.
• TheBattle of Kamparbegan in Malaya.
• Japanese forces occupiedKuantan.
• Ernest Kingassumed command of theUnited States Fleet.
• Soviet troops made amphibious landings in the eastern Crimea and tookKerchandFeodosia.The Germans had to pause their assault on Sevastopol in order to deal with these forces.
• Winston Churchill made the "Chicken Speech" toCanadian Parliament.In reference to a comment made byPhilippe Pétainthat Britain would be invaded and "have its neck wrung like a chicken" by the Germans in three weeks, Churchill exclaimed, "Some chicken! Some neck!"
• German submarinesU-705andU-756were commissioned.
• American socialite and art collectorPeggy Guggenheimmarried the expatriate German artistMax Ernstin the United States.
• Born:Mel Renfro,NFL cornerback, inHouston,Texas
• Died:El Lissitzky,51, Russian artist

December 31,1941 (Wednesday)

• Venezuelabroke off diplomatic relations with Germany, Italy and Japan.
• Panamanian cargo shipRuth Alexanderwas bombed and damaged by a Japanese flying boat inMakassar Strait.A DutchDornier 24rescued the 48 survivors and the ship was abandoned, finally sinking two days later.
• Born:Alex Ferguson,footballer and manager, inGlasgow,Scotland
• Died:Sol Hess,69, American comic strip writer