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1932   (WEDNESDAY) 

GERMANY: President Paul von Hindenburg again rejects Adolf Hitler's demand for the German Chancellorship on the explicit ground that the powers Hitler insists on would transform the Chancellorship into a dictatorship.

 

UNITED STATES: President Herbert Hoover repeats that there is no connection between debts owed the United States and reparations claims. "After the war we refused to accept general reparations or any compensation in territory, economic privileges, or government indemnity. . . . Since we owe no obligation of any kind to others, no concession made in respect to a payment owed to us could either in whole or in part be set off or balanced against claims owed by us to any other creditor of our own country. On the contrary, every such concession would result in the inevitable transfer of a tax burden from the taxpayers of some other country to the taxpayers in our own, without the possibility of any compensating set-off."

 

1934   (FRIDAY) 

FRANCE: The prototype Bloch MB.210.01 twin-engine bomber makes its first flight. In September 1939, the Bloch MB.210 equipped 12 bomber units of the French Air Force.

 

1936   (MONDAY) 

UNITED STATES: LIFE magazine debuts. The first cover pictured the Fort Peck Dam in Montana (part of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal program) photographed by Margaret Bourke-White. On page 2, a photo showed a doctor slapping a newborn baby -- and the caption reads, "LIFE begins."

 

1937   (TUESDAY) 

CENTRAL EUROPE: The governments of Austria, Hungary, and Italy agreed to extend the Danubian Pact, their defensive treaty, until 30 June 1938 as a means to deter German expansion in central Europe.

November 23rd, 1939 (THURSDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: The magnetic mine dropped at Shoeburyness arrives at HMS Vernon. This marks a vital step in the battle against these particular mines which are causing heavy losses and long delays. In November alone 27 ships of 121,000 tons are sunk, and for a time the Thames is virtually closed to shipping.

AMC HMS Esperance Bay commissioned.

In London, R. G. Casey, Australian Minister for Supply and Development, sends a message to Australian Prime Minister R. G. Menzies in Canberra, ACT, that the British Government has promised that in the event of war with Japan, "the Admiralty will make such dispositions as would enable them to offer timely resistance either to a serious upon Singapore or to the invasion of Australia and New Zealand." Based on this statement, Casey recommends that :the wisest conclusion in our own and general British interests" is to send the Australian Expeditionary Force to Africa as soon as possible.

GERMANY: Food rationing for pets is announced.

Berlin: Hitler today gave his senior generals a dressing down for their plans for launching an offensive against Britain and France. Summoning them to the chancellery, he told them that he had led the German people to great heights, while they had only shown lack of faith in him. "I am irreplaceable," he stormed at the generals, "I shall attack France and England at the quickest moment. My decision is unchangeable."

POLAND: Cracow: Dr. Frank orders all Jews over the age of ten in the General Government area to wear armbands marked with the Star of David.

GIBRALTAR: U.S. Consul William E. Chapman declines to consent to execute the agreement wherein the master of the U.S. freighter SS Nishmaha (detained since 11 November) will agree to proceed via Barcelona, Spain, to Marseilles, France, to unload cargo deemed contraband by the Gibraltar Contraband Control board. U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull subsequently approves Consul Chapman's action with respect to U.S. merchantmen which left the U.S. with cargoes prior to the Neutrality Act of 4 November.

MALTA: U.S. freighter SS Express, released from her detention at Malta on 21 November by British authorities, continues on her voyage to Greece, Turkey, and Romania.

NEW ZEALAND: Major General Bernard Freyberg is appointed to command 2 New Zealand Expeditionary Force.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Armed merchant cruiser Rawalpindi (16,697-tons) (Capt. Edward .C. Kennedy) on Northern Patrol is sunk by gunfire from the 11in battlecruiser Scharnhorst as she and sister ship Gneisenau try to break out into the Atlantic. The AMC was on blockade duty when she is sighted by the BC, and armed with only four 6-inch guns against the BC nine 11-inch guns could not adequately defend herself. Every gun is put out of action and the ship is ablaze from end to end before she sinks.. Three boats carrying 37 survivors are able to get away: one with 11 survivors is found by AMC Chitral, whilst the other two are picked up by Scharnhorst . There were 270 casualties. After the action, which takes place to the southwest of Iceland, they turn back and return to Germany, the Rawalpindi managing a 152mm hit on the Scharnhorst"> Scharnhorst , having avoided searching ships of the Home Fleet. (Alex Gordon)(108)

U-33 torpedoed SS Borkum. Total loss.

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23 November 1940

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November 23rd, 1940 (SATURDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM:

RAF Bomber Command: The first Handley Page Halifax arrives at No. 35 Sqn. for familiarisation purposes.

London:

Telegram from Churchill to Roosevelt:

...the situation in Spain is deteriorating and ... not far from starvation point. An offer by you to dole out food month by month so long as they keep out of the war might be decisive. ... The occupation by Germany of both sides of the Straits would be a grievous addition to our naval strain. ... With a major campaign developing in the Eastern Mediterranean and need of supply and reinforcement of our armies all round the Cape we could not contemplate any military action on the mainland at or near the Straits. ... Gibraltar will stand a long siege, but once in Morocco the Germans will work South and U-boats and aircraft will soon be operating from Casablanca and Dakar. (Within range of South America).

Southampton:

The city suffers a heavy night raid.

8 Spitfires intercept 23 Italian CR.42 fighters. The Italians lose two aircraft but claim five and two probable, the RAF report no casualties or damage to their aircraft. (173) (Gordon Angus MacKinlay)

Submarine HNLMS O-26 launched.    

VICHY FRANCE: Admiral William Leahy is appointed US Ambassador to the Vichy government.

GERMANY: Berlin:

The Romanian Premier, Ion Antonescu, agrees to join the Tripartite Pact, paving the way for German intervention in Greece.

U-77 launched.

U-70 commissioned.

AUSTRIA: In Vienna, Romanian officials sign the protocol of adherence to the Axis Tripartite Pact.

GREECE: CIC of the Greek Army Papagos meets with General Tsolakogolu, head of the Greek Army III corps which has taken Koritsa. Papagos fears that the troops are tired and need rest. Tsolakogolu insists that the advance continue and recommends that a select group of Greek units be dispatched from those who have taken Koritsa to chase the Italians north. Among this specially chosen group are several heavy artillery regiments; one of which is the unit in which Dimitry Statharos is serving in. He recalls "We never entered the centre of Koritsa, instead we were suddenly ordered to turn off the road and head west and then north around the city, we were to continue the advance". (Steven Statharos)

COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: 20th Pursuit Squadron arrives in the Philippines from Hamilton AAF, the first USAAC pursuit unit added to the Department since 1919. (Marc Small)

CANADA:

Minesweeper HMCS Burlington launched Toronto, Ontario.

Corvette HMCS Barrie launched Collingwood, Ontario.

U.S.A.: Destroyers USS Ericsson and Edison launched.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-100 sank SS Bradfyne, Bussum, Justina, Leise Maersk, Ootmarsum and damaged beyond repair SS Bruse in Convoy SC-11.

The merchant vessel Salonica, in convoy SC-11 bound for Newcastle was torpedoed by U-100 position 55 16N 12 14W. 2 crew killed in the engine room, one lifeboat overturned putting 16 men into the very rough sea. 7 men were rescued by sloop HMS Enchantress. Several more by destroyer HMCS Skeena.

U-123 sank SS Anten, King Idwal, Oakcrest and Tymeric in Convoy OB-22. After attacking convoy OB-244, U-123 had an underwater collision with a piece of the wreckage and suffered heavy damage.

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23 November 1941

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November 23rd, 1941 (SUNDAY)

GERMANY: U-847 laid down.

U.S.S.R.: The German offensive in the Moscow sector continues. A 50 mile front northwest of the city sees 7 Pz Div. and 14 Inf Div. (mot.) / LVI A.K. (mot) of General der Panzertruppen Georg-Hans Reinhardt's 3rd Panzergruppe capture Klin. German forces are within 35 miles of the Soviet Capitol. (Jeff Chrisman)

MALTA: Force "K" attacks an Axis convoy from Greece to Benghazi, losing 2 transports.

LIBYA: Tobruk: Capt. Philip John Gardner (b.1914), Royal Tank Regiment, took two tanks to help two armoured cars, saving an officer who had lost both legs. (Victoria Cross)

More fierce battles are fought southeast of Sidi Rezegh. In the afternoon, German Panzer divisions are joined by the Italian Ariete Division in making a sharp charge against the British Armour and both South African Brigades. About 160 German tanks and several battalions attack 34 British tanks of the 22nd Armoured Brigade and infantry of the South African 5th Brigade. The Germans lose 70 tanks but the defenders are wiped out. To the Germans today will be known as "Totensonntag." the Sunday of the Dead. In the south the New Zealand Division attacks and captures the headquarters of the Afrika Korps and much of German General Erwin Rommel's communications equipment. Due to heavy British losses, Major General Alan Cunningham, General Officer Commanding Eighth Army, loses confidence and General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander in Chief Middle East Command, comes forward to watch the tactical moves closely.

JAPAN: Carrier Striking Task Force Operations Order No. 1 is issued stating that the "The Carrier Striking Task Force will proceed to the Hawaiian Area with utmost secrecy and, at the outbreak of the war, will launch a resolute surprise attack on and deal a fatal blow to the enemy fleet in the Hawaiian Area. The initial air attack is scheduled at 0330 hours, X Day. Upon completion of the air attacks, the Task Force will immediately withdraw and return to Japan and, after taking on new supplies, take its position for Second Period Operations. In the event that, during this operation, an enemy fleet attempts to intercept our force or a powerful enemy force is encountered and there is danger of attack, the Task Force will launch a counterattack.b  The second unit, the Midway Bombardment Unit (the 7th Destroyer Division less the 2nd section), bwill depart from Tokyo Bay around X-6 Day and, after refuelling, secretly approach Midway. It will arrive on the night of X Day and shell the air base. The unit will then withdraw and, after refuelling, return to the western part of the Inland Sea. The oiler Shiriya will accompany the bombardment unit on this mission and will be responsible for the refuelling operation."

MARSHALL ISLANDS: Nine Japanese submarines of the 3rd Submarine Unit, Advance Group, Pearl Harbor Strike Force, depart Kwajalein Atoll today and arrive off the Hawaiian Islands on 6 December. One of the submarine, HIJMS I-8, is carrying a "Glen" seaplane (Kugisho E14Y1, Navy Type 0 Small Reconnaissance Seaplane); on 7 December HIJMS I-8 will be stationed about 45 nautical miles (83 kilometers) southwest of Oahu Island, seven of the boats will be stationed about 25 nautical miles (46 kilometers) south of Oahu and one boat will be stationed 100 nautical miles (185 kilometers) west of Oahu.

CANADA: Minesweeper HMCS Goderich commissioned.

Minesweeper HMCS Gananoque arrived Halifax from builder Toronto, Ontario.

Corvette HMCS Morden departed St John's to join the 45-ship convoy SC-56 from Sydney which arrived intact at Liverpool 10 Dec 41.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: During stormy weather, a lookout was badly injured on U-372.

USN Task Unit 4.1.6 assumes escort duty for convoy HX-161 (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, to U.K.); the convoy will not be attacked by U-boats during its passage.

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November 23rd, 1942 (MONDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM:

Admiral Sir Dudley Pound, First Lord of the Admiralty, writes to Lieutenant General Ira C Eaker, Commanding USAAF General Eighth Air Force, praising the effects of the US bomber attacks on disorganizing the servicing schedule of the German U-boat bases on the French west coast.

Frigates HMS Berry and Blackwood launched.

Destroyer HMS Stevenstone launched.

Submarine HMS Vandal launched.

NETHERLANDS: During the night of 23/24 November, 15 RAF Bomber Command aircraft lay mines in the Frisian Islands.

FRANCE: The USAAF Eighth Air Force's VIII Bomber Command flies Mission 23: 50 B-17 Flying Fortresses and eight B-24 Liberators are dispatched to hit the St Nazaire submarine base for the fifth time in two weeks; the cumulative effect of the operation on the base is large though the sub shelter shows little permanent damage. Twenty eight B-17 and eight B-24s hit the target with the loss of four B-17 Flying Fortresses; the USAAF crews report a change in fighter tactics from rear to head-on attack as the Luftwaffe learns that the B-17 and B-24 are weak in forward firepower. .

During the night of 23/24 November, RAF Bomber Command aircraft lay mines off five Bay of Biscay ports: four lay mines in the River Gironde Estuary; three each lay mines off Bayonne, Lorient and St. Nazaire; and two lay mines off St. Jean de Luz.

GERMANY: Rastenburg: Hitler orders Germans at Stalingrad to "dig in and await relief", refusing to yield any ground.

U.S.S.R.: Soviet forces capture the bridge over the Don River at Kalach, in a surprise attack. Linking up with the tank forces of the Soviet 51st Army the encirclement of Stalingrad begins. The priority is to methodically destroy the Germans at Stalingrad. They believe there are 85,000 that will be cut off. The German forces actually number some 300,000.

ITALY: SARDINIA: USAAF Twelfth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses, with P-38 Lightning escort, sent to bomb the airfield at Elmas abort due to bad weather.

LIBYA: The Axis forces withdraw from Agedabia to the El Agheila position where they halt to reorganize. Montgomery halts to reorganize after an advance of over 600 miles in 14 days. German mines and booby traps have been one cause of delay for the British leading to some speculation that the advance was too cautious.

ALGERIA: Algiers: Admiral Darlan announces that the French colony of Senegal in west Africa now accepts his authority and joins the Allies. This includes the important port of Dakar.

Allied Force Headquarters (AFHQ) is moved from Gibraltar to Algiers.

1st Kompanie of Schwere Panzer Abteilung 501 (Heavy Tank Battalion 501) 1. /sPz. Abt.501 (20 Tiger tanks) are unloaded at Bizerte. (Russ Folsom)

TUNISIA: The Germans take the first step against the Jews here, when they arrest four leaders of the Jewish community, among them its president, Moise Borgel. (118)

A verbal agreement is reached that all troops north of the Le Kef-Zaghouan Line are to be under command of the British First Army and those south of it under French command.

FRENCH WEST AFRICA: Dakar, Senegal, falls to Allied forces without a shot.

INDIAN OCEAN: In the Arabian Sea, the 10,006 ton British India SN Company passenger/cargo liner SS Tilawa is torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine HIJMS I-29 about 809 nautical miles (1 497 kilometers) north-northeast of the Seychelles Islands in position 07.36N, 61.08E. The ship is en route from Bombay, India, to Mombasa, Kenya, and Durban, South Africa, with 6,472 tons (6 116 metric tonnes) of cargo. The explosion creates great panic among the native passengers who rush the lifeboats. The ship is carrying 222 crewmen, four gunners and 732 passengers. Of the 958 people on board, 252 passengers and 28 crew are lost. The British light cruiser HMS Birmingham (19) rescues 678 survivors.

CHINA: Six B-25 Mitchells and 17 P-40s of the USAAF Tenth Air Force's China Air Task Force attack Tien Ho Airfield at Canton claiming 40+ aircraft destroyed on the field. These strikes follow three weeks of missions in support of Chinese forces along the Siang-Chiang River.

FRENCH INDO CHINA: Nine B-25 Mitchells and seven P-40s of the USAAF Tenth Air Force's China Air Task Force feint at Hong Kong, then fly to the Gulf of Tonkin and sink a freighter and damage two others near Haiphong.

NEW GUINEA: In Papua New Guinea, the main body of the Australian 25th Brigade, 7th Division, arrives at the front and begins an assault on Gona against determined resistance. The 3d Battalion, 126th Infantry Regiment, U.S. 32d Infantry Division, continues toward Sanananda; Company L, on the right, is pinned down by fire at edge of food dump. The airfield at Popondetta becomes operational, and four guns are flown in and emplaced just south of Soputa. The 2d Battalions of the 126th and 128th Regiments are combined to form the Urbana Force under command of the commanding officer, 128th Infantry Regiment. The 2d Battalion of the 128th Infantry Regiment is slowed by extremely difficult terrain as it advances against the Triangle along the main track and swamps on either side of it. After ineffective preparatory fire against Japanese bunkers, the 1st Battalion of the 128th Infantry Regiment and the detachment of the1st Battalion, 126th Infantry Regiment, attack along the coast toward Cape Endaiadere, gaining some 300 yards (274 meters) against intense fire. The Australian 2/16th Independent Company makes limited progress toward the eastern end of New Strip.

In Papua New Guinea, USAAF Fifth Air Force A-20 Havocs and B-26 Marauders bomb Sanananda Point as Australian forces begin their assault on Gona and U.S. forces approach Sanananda.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: The frontline companies, west of the Matanikau River on Guadalcanal, withdraw about 300 yards this morning. 3 Btns of artillery pounded the Japanese lines for 30 minutes. The counterattack is held up, because it is too narrow and is halted. The Cactus AF also provided support and wounded General Hyakutake and his Chief of Staff for the 17th Army. Japanese mortar fire wounds Lt. Col. Hall of the 3rd Btn, 164th Regiment. This halt will result in a stalemate for the next 6 weeks.

Six Cactus Air Force SBD Dauntlesses attack the Munda area on New Georgia Island.

AUSTRALIA: Japanese bombers attack targets in the Northern Territory. At around midnight on the night of 22/23 November, a formation of high-flying bombers attack RAAF Coomalie Creek Airfield. All the bombs fall in the scrub and do no damage to the airfield. At least two Japanese bombers are shot down. Between 0300 and 0439 hours, the bombers attack the Darwin town area and RAAF Darwin.

Destroyer HMAS Warramunga commissioned.

TERRITORY OF ALASKA: ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: USAAF Eleventh Air Force aircraft fly a reconnaissance mission over Japanese-held Kiska and Attu Islands and Agattu, and Amchitka Islands.

CANADA: Stone frigate HMCS Bytown commissioned Ottawa, Ontario.

U.S.A.: Secretary of State Hull announced that a satisfactory agreement had been reached between the American negotiators and local authorities in Martinique. He stated that it would be unnecessary for American troops to occupy Martinique or other French possessions in the West Indies, and that the new agreement covered all French Caribbean possessions and French Guyana.   

The Bill authorizing the Women's Reserve, U.S. Coast Guard (SPARS) is signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Destroyer USS Hale laid down.

Minesweeper USS Saunter laid down.

ATLANTIC OCEAN:

German submarine U-172 torpedoes and sinks the 6,630 ton British freighter SS Benlomond about 254 nautical miles (470 kilometers) north of Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil, in position 00.30N, 38.45W. The ship is en route from Port Said, Egypt, via Cape Town, South Africa, to Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana. The only survivor of the 47-man crew is Poon Lim, the 49-year-old chief steward, who climbs into an empty raft and spends the next 133 days floating in the Atlantic Keeping alive with fish he catches with a crude fishing line and hook, he eventually is rescued by a Brazilian fishing boat which takes him to Belim Para, Brazil, 595 nautical miles (1 101 kilometers) west of where the ship sank. There, the British consul arranges for him to return to the U.K. where he is awarded the British Empire Medal and the Ben Line Shipping Company presents him with a gold watch. Poon Lim now holds the world's record as the longest lifeboat survivor.

U-518 sank SS Caddo.

U-601 sank SS Kusnec Lesov in Convoy QP-15.

U-625 sank SS Goolistan in Convoy QP-15.

U-552 encountered an enemy submarine that fired a torpedo at her without success.

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23 November 1943

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November 23rd, 1943 (TUESDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: HMC ML 114 commissioned.

Frigate HMS Dakins commissioned.

Submarine HNLMS Zwaardvis commissioned.

NETHERLANDS: Seven RAF Bomber Command Mosquitos bomb Texel Island.

FRANCE: Paris: The resistance have now killed 25 miliciens and wounded 27 more. The attacks for the most part occur in the open, in places like restaurants or in the victims' houses.

Eighty three USAAF Ninth Air Force B-26 Marauders bomb Berck-sur-Mer and Longuenesse Airfields at Saint-Omer.

GERMANY: Insterburg, East Prussia: Hitler watches a demonstration flight of the ME-262 prototype jet airplane. He predicts it will be an ideal light bomber. This aircraft was first flown in July and will take until June of 1944 until it becomes operational.

Berlin: Tonight RAF bombers return to the city, killing 1,315 people in a raid in which the Germans tried to confuse the RAF by using a woman's voice to direct their fighters; the RAF responded by using a woman's voice to direct the bombers.

383 aircraft, 365 Lancasters, ten Halifaxes and eight Mosquitos, to continue the attack on Berlin; 322 bomb the target. The bombing force uses the same direct route as had been employed yesterday. The German controllers make an early identification of Berlin as the probable target; their single-engined fighters are gathered over the city before the arrival of the bombers and other fighters arrive a few minutes later. Fake instructions broadcast from England cause much annoyance to the German who is giving the "running commentary;" the Germans start using a female commentator but this is promptly countered by a female voice from England ordering the German pilots to land because of fog at their bases. "Spoof" fighter flares dropped by Mosquitos north of the bomber stream also cause some diversion of German effort. Bomber crews notice that flak over the target is unusually restrained, with the German fighters obviously being given priority. Twenty aircraft, all Lancasters, are lost, 5.2 per cent of the bomber force. The target is again cloud-covered and the Pathfinders carry out skymarking, but many of the Main Force crews aim their bombs through the cloud at the glow of 11 major fires still burning from yesterday. Much further destruction is caused in Berlin. In other raids, sour Oboe Mosquitos attack Cologne while one each attack the Knapsack power-station near Cologne and the city of Emden without loss.

U-300, U-1171 launched.

ITALY: In the U.S. Fifth Army's II Corps area, the 1st Special Service Force, a highly trained group of Canadians and Americans under Colonel Robert T. Frederick, is attached to the 36th Infantry Division.

Weather limits USAAF Twelfth Air Force operations to fighter patrols of the battle area.

BURMA: In northern Burma, the Japanese overrun the command post of the 112th Regiment, Chinese 38th Infantry Division.

CHINA: The USAAF"> USAAF Fourteenth Air Force dispatches 13 B-25 Mitchells, 24 P-40s, and seven P-51 Mustangs attack the Yoyang railroad yards and warehouse area. Eight other P-40s, on armed reconnaissance over the Hanshow area, strafe barges, boats, supplies, and cavalry forces.

NEW GUINEA: In Northeast New Guinea, the Japanese counterattack on the Australian 24th Brigade, 9th Division, is stopped. The 26th Brigade continues advancing on Sattelberg, with bulldozers clearing the way for tanks.

In Northeast New Guinea, USAAF Fifth Air Force B-25 Mitchells and A-20 Havocs hit villages around Finschhafen.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES: USAAF Fifth Air Force B-24 Liberators attack a convoy near Halmahera Island in the Moluccas Islands and sink one vessel.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: On Bougainville, the 3d Marine Division, still strongly opposed in the Piva forks area, begins regrouping. The 1st Marine Parachute Battalion arrives.

USN Task Force 39, consisting of four light cruisers and eight destroyers, bombards the Buka Island-Bonis area of northern Bougainville.

On Bougainville Island, Chabai Airfield is attacked by 23 B-25 Mitchells, six RNZAF Venturas, and 24 USN F4U Corsairs; two B-24 Liberators bomb the same targets later in the day. Nineteen B-24 Liberators hit Bonis airfield and Buka airfield on Buka Island while four B-25 Mitchells on a shipping sweep bomb and strafe villages along the coast between Mabiri and Luluai.

GILBERT and ELLICE ISLANDS,TARAWA: With this US troops have seized control of the Gilbert Islands, in the central Pacific, after three days of fighting and appalling casualties on both sides.

The fighting was heaviest at the island air base of Betio, on Tarawa, where 1,009 US Marines died and 2,101 were wounded. Of Betio's 4,836-strong Japanese and Korean garrison only 146 survived (all but 17 of them Korean labourers), with many of the dead having committed seppuku. Among the dead is Tarawa's last Japanese commander, Rear-Admiral Keiji Shibasaki. He was responsible for fortifying Betio, which measures only 3,800 yards long by 300 yards wide, with scores of concrete bunkers, 20 coastal defence guns and 25 artillery pieces. Before the attack he had exhorted his men to "make sure than a million men in a hundred years cannot take it".

The turning point came on day two after Major-General Julian Smith managed to get two more 8th Marines battalions ashore to rout a counter-attack and reinforce the costly attacks on Tarawa's 500 beach-head concrete and coconut-log pillboxes.

The US has also taken Japan's two other Gilbert Island bases. On Makin only one of the 800-strong Japanese garrison survived; US losses were 66 dead. At Apamama the garrison of 22 committed suicide rather than surrender.

The US escort carrier Liscombe Bay is sunk supporting these operations in the Gilberts with an additional loss of 600 sailors.

From Glen Boren's diary:

23 November 1943. We moved out to about 200 miles to refuel. Later, the USS KIDD came along side for gedunk and turkey for the 25th. Next, the USS CHANCHEY came along side for the same and to give us mail and put a pilot on board that they had picked up the day before after he had made a bad landing and gone over the side.

In Makin Atoll, organized resistance on Butaritari Island ends at 1030 hours when advance elements of 3d Battalion, 165th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division, reach the tip of the island. Re-embarkation of the assault forces begins. U.S. casualties are 66 killed and 152 wounded; the Japanese lose 395 men.

In Tarawa Atoll, the 3d Battalion of the 6th Marine Regiment, attacking through the 1st Battalion, reaches the end of Betio Island shortly after 1300 hours, and Major General Julian C. Smith, Commanding General 2d Marine Division, reports the end of organized resistance on Betio at 1330 hours. The 8th Marine Regiment, less the 1st Battalion, moves to Bairiki Island. The 2d Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, moves from Bairiki to Betio and is given the task of securing the rest of islands in Tarawa Atoll. The 3d Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, moves to the village of Eita Island, where the 3d Platoon of Company D, 2d Tank Battalion, is attached to it. U.S. casualties are 961 killed, 2,296 wounded and 27 missing; of the original 4,836 Japanese on the island, all but 17 wounded POWs and 129 Korean laborers are killed.

USN F6F-3 Hellcat fighter pilots of Fighting Squadron Sixteen (VF-16) in the aircraft carrier USS Lexington (CV-16) shoot down 17 Japanese "Zeke" fighters (Mitsubishi A6M, Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighters) near Makin Atoll at about 1005 hours.

MARSHALL ISLANDS: Six USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators based in the Ellice Islands bomb Emidj and Jabor Islands, Jaluit Atoll.

PACIFIC OCEAN: Submarine USS Capelin sunk by the Japanese off Kaoe Bay, Halmahera.

CANADA: Corvette HMCS Merrittonia (ex-HMCS Pointe Claire) laid down Quebec City, Province of Quebec.

Tug HMCS Glenada commissioned and assigned to Liverpool, Nova Scotia.

Trawler HMS Ironbound arrived Halifax as escort for Quebec-Sydney, Nova Scotia. convoys.

Beach Commando, the largest Commando Operation of WWII was Neptune, the naval portion of Operation Overlord. Beach Commando groups (F, J, L, P, Q, R, S, T, W.) were formed and trained, 'W' was mostly Canadians. The Commando's went in the first waves in order to judge whether landing craft of subsequent waves could land at the same point or had to go elsewhere.

Heavy casualties at Normandy, were incurred.

U.S.A.: Northern New Hampshire is in the grip of a record snowstorm which leaves a total of 55 inches (140 centimeters) at Berlin, and 56 inches (142 centimeters) at Randolph. The 56 inch (142 centimeter) total at Randolph establishes a 24 hour snowfall record for the state. In Maine, Middle Dam receives a record 35 inches (89 centimeters) of snow in 24 hours.

Escort carrier USS Sitkoh Bay laid down.

Destroyer escorts USS Lloyd and De Long launched.

ATLANTIC OCEAN:

U-516 sank SS Elizabeth Kellogg.

U-648 sunk NE of the Azores, in position 42.40N, 20.37W, by depth charges from frigates HMS Bazely, Blackwood, and Drury. 50 dead (all hands lost).

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23 November 1944

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November 23rd, 1944 (THURSDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: Submarine HMS Sidon commissioned.

Submarine HMS L-27 paid off.

Western Front: The German 15th Army withdraws deeper into Holland. The German 7th army begins a series of attacks against the US 9th Army. In the south, French units attached to the US 7th Army reach Strasbourg.

FRANCE: Strasburg: The first French troops entered Strasburg today after a two pronged drive by LeClerc's 2nd Armoured Division and de Tassigny's First French Army. The Germans were apparently taken by surprise by the speed of the French advance, which was backed by units of Patch's US Seventh Army. Some 3,000 prisoners were taken. In the Reich Anatomical Institute, set up by Himmler after 1940, the Americans found scores of headless bodies.

An estimated 50,000 Germans remain in the "Colmar pocket" - an enemy salient projecting into the Allied lines below Strasburg as far south as Mulhouse. French artillery on the Rhine in Alsace, a few miles west if Basle, is bombarding German positions in Baden on the east bank. Shunting yards have been demolished and all rail traffic from the Swiss border has been halted. Fires have been started in the foothills if the Black Forest. With ferries on the Rhine either sunk or halted, some German units trapped on the west bank have fled into Switzerland.

When the capture of Strasburg was announced to the French Consultative Assembly in Paris, members cheered and stood up to sing the Marseillaise.

In the U.S. Third Army's XII Corps area, elements of the 137th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, push into Hilsprich, which is needed for the armored attack, but are forced back to St Jean-Rohrbach. the 104th Infantry Regiment, 26th Infantry Division, reoccupies Albestroff but is too disorganized to continue the attack: the 328th Infantry Regiment takes over its sector and attacks toward line the Vittersbourg- Honskirch-Altwiller. A Combat Command B column of the 4th Armored Division, driving east from Mittersheim, reaches the west bank of the Saar River at Fenetran

In U.S. Seventh Army's XV Corps area, the French 2 Armored Division drives into Strasbourg and clears the city, but the Germans retain a small bridgehead at the Kehl bridge. The Germans abandon Phalsbourg, at the western end of the Saverne Gap. As infantry is being shifted through the gap toward Haguenau and Soufflenheim, the Germans begin series of counterattacks N of Sarrebourg, forcing the corps to regroup to meet the threat. Most of the 44th and 45th Infantry Divisions as well as 106th Cavalry Group are disposed at the western side of the Saverne Gap. In the VI Corps area, the 3d Infantry Division takes Saulxures and Saales; in conjunction with the 100th Infantry Division to the left, they overrun St Blaise. Two regiments of the 103d Infantry Division are moving to outflank the Steige pass, while the third, on the southern flank, attacks in conjunction with the 36th Infantry Division in the region west of Ste Marie. The 143d and 141st Infantry Regiments, 36th Infantr y Division, are closing in on Fraize, the 143d taking Mandray.

In the French First Army area, the II Corps takes Chateau-Lambert but progress elsewhere is negligible. The corps is ordered to open the route of advance for Combat Command 6, which, with the 2d Moroccan Division, has been placed under corps command. In the I Corps area, the Germans for the second time cut the route to the Rhine River in the vicinity of Seppois.

GERMANY:

In the British Second Army area, XXX Corps goes on the defensive and releases. Further efforts earlier in the day to take Wurm and Beeck have failed.

In the U.S. Ninth Army's XIX Corps area, Combat Command A of the 2d Armored Division takes about half of Merzenhausen and halts to consolidate. Elements of the 175th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division, takes Bourheim in strenuous fighting; the Germans soon begin counterattacks, which continue for the next three days. Elements of the 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, take Lohn and hold it against a counterattacks; elements of the 119th Infantry Regiment, assisted by diversionary fire from Erberich, clear Pattern; and the 30th Infantry Division then halts their attack to await clearance of Kirchberg and Inden.

On Thanksgiving Day with the US First Army, in the 104th Division sector, the Germans strongly defended Petzlohn near the army boundary and the 413th Infantry lost and then recaptured Hill 272. The 414th Infantry on the right flank made substantial progress along the north bank of the Inde River. The 1st Division made progress on the left flank of the division zone, where the 47th progressed one half mile towards Hucheln. The 4th Division's 8th Infantry fought forward 700 yards through the forest along the Schevenhtte-Dren road and the 12th Infantry progressed about 500 yards through minefields and artillery fire northeast towards Grosshau. In the 8th Division zone, the 121st Infantry was temporarily checked by a German counterattack that was repulsed in the afternoon. (Robert Rush)

In the U.S. Third Army's XX Corps area, the 358th Infantry Regiment of the 90th Infantry Division takes over the attack from Combat Command A of the 10th Armored Division, attempting to push through the Orscholz line to the villages of Sinz and Muenzingen with the 3d and 2d Battalions: the 3d Battalion clears the Ampholz Woods east of Tettingen; the 2d is disorganized by friendly fire which is falling short.

The USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 722: In Germany, 146 B-17 Flying Fortresses and 73 P-51 Mustangs make a GH attack on the Norstern benzol manufacturing plant near Gelsenkirchen and 13 bomb the marshalling yard at Duisburg with the loss of 1 P-51.

During the day, RAF Bomber Command dispatches 168 Lancasters to carry out a G-H raid through cloud on the Nordstern synthetic oil plant at Gelsenkirchen; 162 bomb the target with the loss of one aircraft. The bombing appears to be accurate.

During the night of 23/24 November, RAF Bomber Command Mosquitos bomb five targets: 61 hit Hannover with the loss of one; nine attack an aircraft engine factory at Eisenach; six bomb a marshalling yard at Gottingen; four bomb Hagen and one bombs Dortmund.

U-3519, U-3520 launched.

HUNGARY: The Russians capture Tokay in southern HUNGARYand the rail junction of Cop (Csap), which has changed hands several times during the last few weeks, falls to the Red Army.

U.S.S.R.: The government announces that with the help of the Finns, they have cleared Lapland of Germans.

ESTONIA: With the elimination of the German pocket on southern Oesd Island., Soviet forces now control the entrance to the Gulf of Riga.

ITALY: In the British Eighth Army area, the Polish II Corps secures Mt. Ricci. The V Corps consolidates the bridgeheads across the Cosina River. The Germans begin a withdrawal toward the next water barrier, the Lamonc River. The Indian 10th Division is strongly opposed, however, on the right flank of the corps along the Montone River north of Highway 9.

Bad weather restricts operations by the USAAF"> USAAF Twelfth Air Force. Medium bombers over the Faenza area abort due to overcast and P-47 Thunderbolts hampered by low clouds over the Apennines Mountains, fly only 16 sorties, against rail lines south of Bologna, but succeed in cutting the lines in six places.

YUGOSLAVIA: USAAF"> USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-24 Liberators attack four transportation targets: 126 bomb a railroad bridge at Zenicca while seven bomb a highway bridge; 19 hit a railroad bridge at Doboj; and seven bomb the Sava highway bridges at Brod.

During the day, RAF bombers of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group bomb two cities: 40 hit Rogetica and 33 bomb Uzice with the loss of one aircraft.

CHINA: Over 120 USAAF Fourteenth Air Force P-40s, P-51 Mustangs and P-38 Lightnings hit targets of opportunity throughout southeast and southwest China while 32 of the fighter-bombers support ground forces in the Chefang area.

HONG KONG: Two USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb Kowloon Docks.

BURMA: Over 50 USAAF Tenth Air Force P-47 Thunderbolts support ground forces in the Pinwe and Bhamo areas; 16 sweep and strafe airfields and many targets of opportunity from Anisakan to Nawnghkio; and three hit an ammunition dump at Man Naung. Twenty one P-47s sweep roads in the Ye-U area and strafe rail installations at Kanbalu while ten B-25 Mitchells knock out the Tantabin main bridge and Tangon and Thegyaung bypass bridges, and blast approaches to the Tangon main bridge and Tantabin bypass bridge.

Twelve USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells bomb a storage area near Lashio and eight hit Kutkai and Wanling.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES: Eleven RAAF (P-40) Kittyhawks dive bomb Lolobato and Hatetabako Aerodromes on Halmahera Island and 12 others dive bomb Galela Airfield on Galela Island 20 miles (32 kilometers) from Morotai Island.

COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: In the U.S. Sixth Army's X Corps area on Leyte, the 128th Infantry Regiment of the 32d Infantry Division improves and consolidates positions south of Limon and for the next few days patrols actively. The 112th Cavalry Regiment, which has been patrolling the Mt. Minoro area, is ordered southwest toward Highway 2 to relieve pressure on the 32d Infantry Division. In the XXIV Corps area, the 77th Infantry Division begins unloading on Leyte and is assigned to the corps. The Battle of Shoestring Ridge opens as the Japanese attack the sector of thinly spread 32d Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, along the Palanas River, forcing a limited withdrawal.

USAAF Far East Air Forces B-24 Liberators bomb Matina Aerodrome on Mindanao Island.

The USN submarine USS Gar (SS-206) lands men and supplies on west coast of Luzon.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: The RAAF's No. 6 Squadron resumes their attack on Rabaul, New Britain Island, with Beauforts. The town will be attacked three more times before the end of the month.

BONIN ISLANDS: Seventeen USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators from Guam hit shipping at Chichi Jima and Haha Jima and bomb the town of Okimura.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: Australian troops of the 9th Battalion, 7th Brigade, 3rd Division, relieve the U.S. 2d Battalion, 132d Infantry Regiment, Americal Division, at Cape Torokina, Bougainville. The Australian arrival opens the campaign on Bougainville that cost over 500 Australian lives by the war's end.

CANADA: The government through Order-in-council at Parliament votes to send 16,000 conscripted men to overseas areas to join the hitherto voluntary Canadian Army. Riots follow in Montreal and Quebec City. (Dave Hornford)

U.S.A.: Coast Guard-manned Army FS-405 was commissioned at San Francisco with ENS F. D. Statts, USCGR, as her first commanding officer. He was succeeded on 12 September 1945, by LTJG David Mitter, USCGR. She was assigned to and operated in the Southwest Pacific area.

Minesweeper USS Eager commissioned.

Destroyers USS Alfred A Cunningham and Gainard commissioned.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-978 torpedoed SS William D Burnham in Convoy TMC-44. Total loss.

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23 November 1945

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November 23rd, 1945 (FRIDAY)

CANADA: Patrol vessel HMCS Cougar paid off Esquimalt, British Columbia.

U.S.A.: Ernest Evans gets the Medal of Honor

Most U.S. wartime rationing of foods, including meat and butter, ends.

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