30 November 1939

Main forces of the Soviet 163rd Rifle Division cross the Fenno-Soviet border east of the hamlet of Juntusranta (about 30 km/20 miles north-northeast of Suomussalmi) at 9 am Finnish time. Their mission is to advance to Palovaara, some 30 km further west, and then turn south and advance 20 km to Suomussalmi. This northern force consists of 81st Mountain Rifle Regiment (on loan from 54th Mountain Rifle Division) and 662nd Rifle Regiment, altogether almost 4400 men supported by 30 76 mm field guns and 12 122 mm field howitzers. The only Finnish troops in their way are 2Lt. M. Elo's roughly platoon-sized Border Guard Detachment II, who withdraw before the enemy and observe it. 2Lt. Elo's reports are met with incredulity -- his superiors can't believe the Soviets are attacking with so much force this north. By the end of the day the Red Army reaches Juntusranta, less than 10km from the border.

There they surprise the hamlet's civilian population, who are fated to endure seven months of Soviet hospitality.

Roughly 40 km south of Juntusranta, the reinforced Soviet 759th Rifle Regiment crosses the border at 8.30 with 3000 men supported by six 76 mm field guns. Their mission is to advance 30 km west along the Raate Road to Suomussalmi. Small Finnish border guard groups delay the advancing Soviets, giving the civilian population time to hastily evacuate their homes. Lt. Col. Leo Kyander's Finnish Detached Battalion 15 starts to move towards the border, preparing to act according to its original orders and attack across the border into Soviet territory. However, it's soon evident that these orders have been rendered obsolete by the events. The battalion's 2nd company settles into defense along the Purasjoki river, some 10 km west of the border, where it stops the advancing 759th Rifle Regiment in early evening. That evening Detached Battalion 15 receives orders from North Finland Group to attack and defeat the enemy on the next day (the 1st of December).

GIBRALTAR: U.S. freighter SS Extavia, with cargo destined for Istanbul, Turkey, and the Piraeus, Greece, is detained by British authorities.

Southampton: Following severe night attacks by the Luftwaffe, the King visits to see the damage. The business centre of the city bears the brunt of the attack with churches, shops, houses, a cinema and a newspaper office all destroyed. Some 137 people are feared to have died and nearly 500 injured in an attack lasting more than seven hours.

The style of the attack - using thousands of small incendiary devices to start fires, followed by heavy high-explosive bombs - followed the pattern of the raid on Coventry earlier this month. The HEs fractured 74 water mains cutting water pressure sharply and hampering fire fighting efforts. Many fires had to be left to burn themselves out while water was concentrated on the town centre and the docks. The local fire brigades were reinforced by 200 men from other authorities which sent 160 pumps from London, Newbury, even Newport, Monmouthshire and Nottingham. But many of them could not be used because their hose couplings did not fit Southampton's hydrants.

Pressure is growing to evacuate all women and children, although some of the bravest ambulance drivers here are female.

FRANCE: The Germans annex Lorraine. The Germans state, "Lorraine's return to the Reich has closed an historical chapter which liberated age-old German land and righted a political wrong. The century-long battle for the Rhine has now been ended. Within this territory the complete economical and political union of Lorraine and Saarpfalz will be effected."

MERCHANT SHIPPING WAR: Losses: There are no British or Allied shipping losses in November.

CHINA: Nanking: Japan has formally recognised China's breakaway Reformed Kuomintang government and its premier, Wang Ching-wei, after last minute secret peace talks with Marshal Chiang Kai-shek's Kuomintang in Chungking broke down.

Chungking is now expected to go on a diplomatic offensive against what it calls Wang Ching-wei's puppet government and warn foreign governments that it will break off relations with any power that recognises the new regime.

BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC: Outward bound OB244 and UK-bound SC11 are attacked by two groups of U-boats west of North Channel. 15 merchant ships are sunk, including seven from SC11 by Schepke's U-100 on the night of the 22nd/23rd.

Important steps are taken in the air war when an RAF Whitley Mk VI equipped with 1.5m wavelength (approximately 200Mhz) anti-surface vessel (ASV) radar locates a U-boat. This is the first success of its kind with a system that is mainly effective by day as contact is lost within two miles of the target. It is the addition of the Leigh light that will turn it into a powerful night-time weapon as well. Now Coastal Command is using depth charges instead of its ineffective A/S bombs.

GERMANY: The German Raider "Komet" returns to Hamburg. It has been at sea for 516 days and sunk 3 ships for 31,000 tons and an additional 7 ships in company with Orion.

U.S.S.R.: Field Marshal Rundstedt has refused to cancel his orders for a withdrawal of his Army Group South in the area around Rostov. Hitler relieves him of his command.

Stalin approves Zhukov's plans for a counteroffensive in the Moscow area.

2 Pz. Div. units reach Khimki (about 5 mi Northwest of Moscow). This is the closest that any German unit will get to Moscow. (Jeff Chrisman)

WESTERN DESERT: As the Allies Operation Crusader drags on into the 13th day, Rommel has finally succeeded in driving the 6th New Zealand Brigade off the Sidi Rezegh ridge, the scene of the worst fighting yet in the desert war. He is now in an excellent position to disrupt the effective relief of Tobruk garrison - the principal aim of the operation. New Zealand troops linked up with forces from the garrison on 27 November.

Throughout the latest campaign Rommel has lived up to his reputation, with bold, offensive action in response to the Allied assault. On 24 November the German commander led his forces in a "dash for the wire", attempting to outflank the Allies heading for Tobruk. Having advanced some 60 miles in five hours, Rommel then turned back to rejoin units that were following on. Picked up by one of his senior commanders, General Cruwell, the "Desert Fox" found himself in the bizarre position of spending the night in a vehicle captured from the British, surrounded by enemy forces.

The next day Rommel discovered that further advance was impossible: the Italians bringing up the rear had been stopped by the 1st South African Brigade, and transport columns had not arrived. Delivered from this threat, the British then received the psychological boost with the replacement of Lt-Gen Cunningham, who had been urging retreat, by General Ritchie.

COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: MacArthur orders Fort Mills on Corregidor put on full alert.
17^th Pursuit Squadron pilots ferry 17 P-35A’s from 3^rd Pursuit at Iba to 21^st Pursuit at Nichols. (Marc Small)

Lieutenant General Douglas MacArthur, Commanding General U.S. Army Forces Far East, orders Fort Mills on Corregidor Island put on full alert. (Andy Etherington)

U.S. passenger liner SS President Madison arrives at Olongapo and disembarks the 2d Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment. The ship will then proceed on to Singapore.

PACIFIC OCEAN: In the South China Sea, river gunboats USS Luzon (PR-7) and Oahu (PR-6) rendezvous with submarine rescue vessel USS Pigeon (ASR-6) and minesweeper USS Finch (AM-9); they will remain in company until 3 December.

FIJI ISLANDS: Japanese submarine HIJMS I-10 launches a â€œGlenâ€ seaplane (Kugisho E14Y1, Navy Type 0 Small Reconnaissance Seaplane) to fly a reconnaissance mission over Suva Bay, Viti Levu Island.

HAWAII: Communication Intelligence Summary, November 30, 1941: "General.-Traffic volume less than for past few days. Today's traffic consisted largely of dispatches bearing old dates, some as far back as 26 November. No reason can be given for the retransmission of these messages unless the high volume of traffic for past few days has prevented the repetition of dispatches. The number of dispatches originated on the 30th is very small. The only tactical circuit heard today was one with AKAGI and several MARUs. The TOKYO Intelligence activity originated two WIWI dispatches to Major Fleet Commanders. One urgent dispatch was sent by NGS to Chiefs of Staff Combined, Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Fleets, Combined Air Force; Submarine Force and China Fleets.

- Combined Fleet.-The Chiefs of Staff of the Combined Fleet and First Fleet are in KURE. In the same message the Chief of Staff Second Fleet was nor at any location. Other traffic indications are that he is at sea. Commander in Chief Second Fleet sent one to his usual addressees of the Third Fleet and Combined Air Force but also included KONGO and HIYEI, which places them as members of his Task Force. The Commander in Chief Second Fleet is no longer adding PALAO activities and has not for past two days. The RNO PALAO today addressed two messages to TAIWAN GUNSIREIBU (TAIWAN Army Headquarters).

- Third Fleet.-Commander in Chief Third Fleet addressed two messages to COMDESRON Two, Four and Five; COMCRUDIV Five; First and Second Base Forces and Defense Division One for information to Commander in Chief Second Fleet. No information obtained as to the location of the Commander in Chief Third Fleet, which gives the strong impression that he is underway.

- Fourth Fleet.-Believed to be still in TRUK area. D. F. activity in Marshalls a little greater today than normal. JALUIT addressed Commander Submarine Force and AIRRON 24 in one dispatch. The continued association of JALUIT and Commander Submarine Force plus his known progress from the Empire to CHICHIJIMA to SAIPAN makes his destination obviously the Marshalls. Since one of his large units (SITI4) arrived in the Marshalls some time ago this unit cannot agree with Com 16 that there is not a submarine concentration in that area. Every evidence points to a concentration of not only the small Fourth Fleet submarines there but also a good portion of the Fleet submarines of the Submarine Force. AIRRON 24 plus YOKOHAMA AIR CORPS presence in that area points to intended air-submarine operations from the Marshalls. Also the presence of a unit of plane guard destroyers indicates the presence of at least one carrier in the Mandates although this has not been confirmed.

- South China.-BAKO active with dispatches to Second and Third Fleets. Combined Air Force and SAMA. Commander in Chief China Fleet becoming more and more active as an originator with dispatches to the Task Force. He made a movement report with the South China Fleet as an information addressee. The Staff Communication Officer of the South China Fleet was addressed at Shanghai today."

CANADA: Corvette HMCS Midland arrived Halifax from builder Montreal, Province of Quebec.

U.S.A.: Washington: President Roosevelt is tonight hurrying back to Washington by car and private train from Warm Springs, Georgia, where his brief holiday has been interrupted by the grave situation in the Pacific. It was only yesterday that he left Washington, saying that the policy of the United States towards Japan was one of "infinite patience."

Three days ago Roosevelt delivered a ten-point note of final terms to the Japanese, after talks with Tokyo's special envoy, Saburu Kurusu, had foundered. At the same time a Japanese fleet with five divisions of troops on board was reported sailing south of Formosa. A cabinet meeting on 28 November agreed that these and other Japanese troop movements posted a "terrific" threat to the British, Dutch and Americans in the Far East.

President Roosevelt is aware of the danger of a surprise attack. He asked top advisers "how we should manoeuvre them into firing the first shot". In an informal Thanksgiving speech he warned his friends that by next year American boys might be fighting "for the defence of American institutions." More news of Tokyo's troop movements made Roosevelt hurry back to the White House.

The first Northrop produced Vultee Vengeance dive-bomber (AN 838) flies today. It will be for service with the RAF in the Far East. (22)

The following message is sent from the Chief of Naval Operations to the Commanders-in-Chief of the Asiatic and Pacific Fleets: "Indications that Japan about to attack points on Kra Isthmus by overseas expedition. In order to ascertain destination this expedition and for security our position in the Philippines desire you cover by air the line Manila-Camranh Bay on three days commencing upon receipt this dispatch. Instruct planes to observe only. They must not approach so as to appear to be attacking but must defend themselves if attacked. Understand British air forces will search arc 180 miles (333 kilometers) from Tedta Bharu and will move troops to line across Kra Isthmus near Singora. If expedition is approaching Thailand inform MacArthur. British mission here informed." (Jack McKillop

The Army General Headquarters Maneuvers in North and South Carolina that began on 15 November conclude.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: The U-206 is sunk in the Bay of Biscay with the aid of ASV (Air to Surface Vessel) radar, by a British Whitley bomber. First, Bletchley Park intercepted an Enigma transmission and was able to locate U-206 in the Bay of Biscay, heading for the Mediterranean. A Whitley VII (Z 9190) of No. 502 Squadron, flying from Chivenor, was tasked to hunt for her. Its ASV radar located the U-boat at a range of five miles, enabling the aircraft to home in on and destroy the sub with its Mk VIII depth charges. This is the first success with ASV radar and marks the beginning of British anti-submarine efforts in the Bay of Biscay.

USN destroyer USS Decatur (DD-341), in Task Unit 4.1.4, escorting slow convoy ONS-39 (U.K. to North America), carries out depth charge attack on suspicious contact about 320 nautical miles (592 kilometers) south-southwest of Reykjavik, Iceland in position 59.24N, 27.03W.

UNITED KINGDOM: London: Rene Duchez, a French house-painter, kept his eyes open when he was set to work redecorating the office of a German officer in the Todt military construction organization in Caen, Normandy. On the desk he spotted a large map. Later he handed it to a friend in the Resistance. When the map eventually reached London, it was found to be a detailed plan of Germany's coastal defences, setting out every strong point, arms dump, booby trap and look-out point.

Duchez is just one of the many thousands of ordinary folk who work for the resistance movements of occupied Europe while carrying on with their regular jobs.

Resistance began almost as soon as the conquering Germans appeared. In the first stunned days and weeks after defeat, it might be no more than a gesture; in Amsterdam, a bar would empty of Dutch customers if a German entered. But then people took to playing tricks, putting sugar in the petrol tank of a German car or throwing tacks on the road. In Belgium, Andree de Jongh, ahed 24, the daughter of a school-master organized an escape route through occupied France and into Spain for crashed aircrew and escaped PoWs.

In July 1940, in Britain, Chamberlain set up SOE, the Special Operations Executive, with the task of training saboteurs and sending them into Europe to organize and strengthen the resistance. Burglary, safe-breaking, hand to hand combat and silent killing were skills needed. Savile Row made suits in continental styles and the Science Museum forged papers.

Despite blunders and betrayals - the whole Dutch section of SOE in the Netherlands has been penetrated by the Nazis - the resistance movement continues to flourish in occupied Europe.

Destroyer HMS Camperdown laid down.

Corvette HMCS Budleia laid down, Aberdeen, Scotland.

Frigate HMS Jed commissioned.

Destroyer HMS Relentless commissioned.

In a meeting between RAF and USAAF officers at the Air Ministry, a joint decision is made on the allocation of responsibility, with the RAF to provide aerial defense of sectors in which U.S. airfields are located while the USAAF Eighth Air Force’s VIII Fighter Command operates principally as escort for bomber strikes against the Continent.

EUROPE: Deportations of Polish Jews approach completion. Since the camps opened, 600,000 Jews have been murdered at Belzec, 360,000 at Chelmno, 250,000 at Sobibor and 840,000 at Treblinka.

FRANCE: During the night of 30 November/1 December, six RAF Bomber Command Wellingtons lay mines off La Pallice without loss.

TUNISIA: As the 11th Brigade, British 78th Division, continues a losing battle at Djedeida, the British First Army prepares for an attack on Tunis by Blade Force and Combat Command B of the U.S. 1st Armored Division on 2 December. Combat Command B is concentrated in the Medjez el Bab area and Blade Force in the vicinity of Chouigui. By this time, Axis forces have about 15,500 fighting troops in Tunisia.

USAAF Twelfth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses bomb the northern quay at Bizerte; nine B-26 Marauders hit the airfield and railroad at Gabes; DB-7 Bostons attack a bridge and railway station at Djedeida; P-38 Lightnings escort all three missions while other P-38s strafe Gabes Airfield, fly reconnaissance, and shoot down a Luftwaffe Bf 109 in an aerial battle near Tunis.

BURMA: The British 123rd Brigade's advance reaches Bawli Bazar in the Arakan Valley. The weather, which would normally clear during November, has not cooperated thus making the advance extremely difficult.

ANDAMAN ISLANDS: B-24 Liberators of the USAAF Tenth Air Force’s India Air Task Force attack shipping at Port Blair, claiming damage to one vessel by near misses; this strike begins a series of raids on this water approach to Burma. The Andaman Islands are located in the eastern part of the Bay of Bengal; Port Blair is located about 472 nautical miles (874 kilometers) west-southwest of Bangkok, Thailand.

JAPAN: The German tanker SS Uckermark, the former supply ship SS ALTMARK that had replenished the German armored ship Admiral Graf Spee, is at anchor at Yokohama when a huge explosions rips the vessel apart while the crew is having lunch. The cause of the explosion is thought to be a spark from tools used by a repair gang working near the fuel tanks. Forty-three crewmen from the Uckermark die. Anchored nearby and also sunk by the explosion is the Australian freighter SS Nankin and the German auxiliary cruiser HK Thor (Ship 10 also known as Raider E by the British) which had captured the Nankin on 5 October while she en route from Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia, to Colombo, Ceylon. During her two cruises, HK Thor had sunk or captured 20 ships totaling 152,125 tons. (85)(Alex Gordon)

Angered by slow progress in the final stages of the Papuan campaign, General MacArthur has told Lt-Gen Robert Eichelberger, the commanding general of US 1 Corps, to take charge of a force no larger than a division at Buna. "I want you to take Buna, or not come back alive," said MacArthur. He offered inducements as well. He said that if Eichelberger captured Buna he would give him a Distinguished Service Cross and "recommend him for a British decoration." Buna was believed to be "easy pickings", but the Japanese survivors of Kokoda are putting up a fanatical last-ditch stand.

U.S. Lieutenant General Eichelberger, Commanding General I Corps, flies from Australia to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The Australian 21st Brigade, Maroubra Force, having rested and reorganized after action in the Owen Stanley Range, takes over the attack on the Gona front, relieving the Australian 25th Brigade. In the Sanananda sector, the left flank elements of the 126th Infantry Regiment, U.S. 32d Infantry Division, establish a block behind the Japanese on the Soputa-Sanananda trail, but a frontal attacks along the trail in the center and flanking attacks on the right make little headway. The Urbana and Warren Forces each make concerted attacks but gain little ground. The Urbana Force fails in three attempts to take Buna Village; elements protecting the flank and rear seize a crossing over Siwori Creek and the outpost region between there and Buna Creek, but are unable to clear Coconut Grove or advance beyond the Triangle. Warren Force, attacking toward Cape

Endaiadere on the right and the northeastern edge of New Strip on the left, encounters the Japanese main line of resistance in Duropa Plantation and is unable to breach it. Bren gun carriers that are to have spearheaded assault in this sector fail to arrive.

In Papua New Guinea, USAAF Fifth Air Force B-25 Mitchells and B-26 Marauders attack the airfield, AA positions, and defenses in the Buna area.

PORTUGESE TIMOR: At about 9am and 120 miles from their objective, the three ships of the flotilla to remove the 2/2nd Company AIF from Timor are attacked by a single Japanese bomber. More follow. Captain Sullivan of HMAS Castlemaine signals Darwin requesting fighter cover. The Allied fighters arrive and manage to drive off most of the Japanese attackers, however, the corvettes will not make Timor tonight for the planned pick up. Kuru becomes detached during the night but arrives at Bentano Bay safely some hours ahead of time and embarks 77 Portugese and one AIF stretcher case: with no sign of the corvettes Kuru sails at 1am tomorrow. (William L. Howard)(188, 189, 190, 191)

SOLOMON ISLANDS: At 9:40 pm the Japanese steam past Savo Island headed for their supply drop on Guadalcanal. These 8 destroyers are loaded with supplies in drums lashed to their decks their torpedo reloads are left behind. At the same time US naval TF 67 enters the eastern end of Lengo Channel. At 2308 the US radar shows 7 - 8 ships. The Japanese spot the US ships, without radar, at 2312. The US destroyers fire torpedos at 2320 and their cruisers open fire at 2321. Japanese torpedos are fired at 2323. At 2327 the Japanese torpedos begin to strike. The losses in this battle are one Japanese destroyer, Takanami. US losses are severe damage to 3 cruisers, and the loss of the USS Northampton.

Japanese Admiral Tanaka received much of the credit for the Japanese success in the Battle of Tassafaronga. It should be noted that Captain Sato Torojiro was in command of the Japanese destroyer division that many credit with launching the successful torpedos. Capt Sato finds himself mentioned in 1990's US fiction (Tom Clancy, A Debt of Honor, Chapter 13).

As a final note to the Battle of Tassafaronga, the last of the 13 US "treaty cruisers" has been sunk or damaged around Guadalcanal. These ships will not participate in any further night battles in the Solomon Islands.

During the night of 30 November/1 December, the BATTLE OF TASSAFARONGA is fought. In an attempt to resupply the Japanese troops on Guadalcanal, the Japanese Navy has devised a scheme of loading gasoline and oil drums with food, medicine and whatever else would be needed, chaining the drums together and dump them overboard. The chain would be brought ashore by ships boat and the drums would be dragged ashore by the Army. Today, eight destroyers under Rear Admiral TANAKA Raizo, six of them carrying 440 drums, set sail from the Shortland Islands. The eight destroyers are HIJMS Kagero, Kawakaze, Kuroshio, Makinami, Naganami, Oyashio, Suzukaze and Takanami. The USN has been warned by an Australian coastwatcher on Bougainville and sends Task Group 67.2 under Rear Admiral Carleton H. Wright to intercept and sink the Japanese force. TG 67.2 consists of the heavy cruisers USS Minneapolis (CA-36), New Orleans (CA-32), Northampton (CA-26) and Pensacola (CA-24); the light cruiser USS Honolulu (CL-48); and the destroyers USS Drayton (DD-366), Flethcer (DD-445), Lamson (DD-367), Lardner (DD-487), Maury (DD-401) and Perkins (DD-377). The USN ships surprise the Japanese off Tassafaronga Point, Guadalcanal. The Japanese press on to jettison the drums to sustain the troops while Long Lance torpedoes launched from destroyers HIJMS Kagero, Kawakaze, Kuroshio, Naganami and Oyashio wreak havoc on the USN's heavy cruisers: USS Minneapolis is hit by two torpedoes, one on the port bow, the other in her number two fireroom, causing loss of power and severe damage: her bow is gone back to the chain pipes, her port side badly ruptured, and two firerooms open to the sea; USS New Orleans next astern of USS Minneapolis, is forced to sheer away to avoid collision, and runs into the track of a torpedo which rips off her bow. Bumping down the ship's port side, the severed bow punches several holes in the hull. A fifth of her length gone, the ship slows to 2 knot

s; the next ship in line, USS PENSACOLA, turns left to prevent collision with the two damaged ships ahead of her and silhouetted by the burning American cruisers, she came in the Japanese line of fire. A torpedo hits her below the mainmast on the portside. Her engine room floods, three gun turrets go out of commission, and her oil tanks rupture to make a soaked torch of her mast. The next ship in line is USS Honolulu but she escapes the trap but the last ship in the column, USS Northampton, takes two torpedoes that tore a huge hole in her port side, ripping away decks and bulkheads. Flaming diesel oil sprays over the ship, she takes on water rapidly and begins to list and the abandon ship order is given three hours later and the ship sinks about 35 nautical miles (66 kilometers) north-northwest of Henderson Field, Guadalcanal. With the sinking of Northampton, the USN has only 13 heavy cruisers in commission. The only Japanese casualty is the destroyer HIJMS Takanami which is sunk by gunfire about 28 nautical miles (51 kilometers) north-northwest of Henderson Field. There are only 33 survivors of the 212 men aboard the ship.

PACIFIC OCEAN: In the Arafura Sea between Australia and New Guinea, Australian Beaufighters drive off 14 Japanese aircraft that were attack the Australian minesweepers HMAS Armidale (J 240) and Castlemaine (J 244).

Minesweeper HMCS Quinte damaged after running aground entrance to St. Peter's Canal, Cape Breton. Quinte had just completed a 6-week refit before she went aground and was beached to prevent outright sinking. Salvage operations were conducted over the winter of '43 but her repairs were not completed until Jun 44, after which she was assigned to training duties at Cornwallis , Nova Scotia.. Qunite's loss came at a critical time in the war, when every escort was desperately needed. The extremely rapid expansion of the RCN contributed significantly to several such incidents. A total of 48 Bangor-class ships were built for the RCN and a further 6, that were built for the RN in Vancouver, British Columbia. were transferred to the RCN. Canadian Bangors were used mainly as escorts but they performed poorly in this capacity. They were wet ships due to their bluff bows making them even more unpleasant ships to sail in than the corvettes, which were horrible. The Bangor's had an endurance of 2,800 miles at 10 knots on 160 tons of fuel.

Like corvettes, the Bangor's were small enough to be built in Great Lakes shipyards and they did provide a capability that the Flower's did not. Bangors built in Canada were fitted with gyros, whereas Flower-class corvettes were not -- one of the worth instances of bureaucratic bungling in wartime naval construction. Mines were only laid in Canadian waters once during the War, in 1943. 16 Canadian Bangors were present at D-Day and played a major part in mine clearance operations prior to the landings.

Destroyer HMCS Iroquois commissioned.

Frigate HMCS Valleyfield laid down Quebec City, Province of Quebec.

Corvette HMCS Midland arrived Liverpool , Nova Scotia. for refit.

U.S.A.: The New York Times runs one of the first articles on the unfolding story of the Holocaust. That article, under the headline: "1,000,000 Jews Slain by the Nazis, Report Says" is only six paragraphs long and buried on page 7. An exhibition of the clipping in June 1996 at the New York Public Library included a caption noting that The Times was criticized for having "grossly underplayed" coverage of the Holocaust, and deemed such criticism as valid. (NY Times, June 26, 1996)

An agreement signed between the U.S. and Canada regarding postwar economic settlements. The agreement is signed "to provide appropriate national and international measures to expand production, employment, and the exchange and consumption of goods . . . ; to eliminate all forms of discriminatory treatment in international commerce; to reduce tariffs and other trade barriers; and generally, to attain the economic objectives of the Atlantic Charter."

Anti-Aircraft cruiser HMS Black Prince commissioned.

Frigate HMS Redmill commissioned.

Submarine HMS Visigoth launched.

Frigate HMS Braid launched.

WESTERN EUROPE: The USAAF Eighth Air Force's VIII Bomber Command flies Mission 144: six B-17 Flying Fortresses drop 1.4075 million leaflets over Paris, Rouen and Tours, France; and Krefeld and Opladen, Germany during the evening.

FRANCE: Twenty nine RAF Bomber Command Stirlings and 15 Wellingtons are dispatched to lay mines off Bay of Biscay ports: 11 lay mines off Gironde, eight off La Pallice, six each off Bayonne and Lorient, five off Brest, and two each off Cherbourg, Le Havre and St. Nazaire. Four other aircraft drop leaflets over Northern France.

GERMANY: The USAAF Eighth Air Force's VIII Bomber Command flies Mission 143. 349 B-17 Flying Fortresses, 29 B-24 Liberators and three Pathfinder Force B-17s are dispatched to the industrial area at Solingen; 270 B-17s, the B-24s and 2 PFF B-17s abort the mission due to cloud formations which cause assembly difficulties and require flying at altitudes not feasible for the B-24s. Seventy nine B-17s and a PFF B-17 use blind-bombing equipment to bomb Solingen plus one aircraft drops on Wermelskirchen; three B-17s are lost. This mission is escorted by 20 P-38 Lightnings and 327 P-47s Thunderbolts; they claim 0-2-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; a P-38 and fiveP-47s are lost.

During the night of 30 November/1 December, RAF Bomber Command dispatches four Mosquitos to bomb Essen: two bomb the city and two hit a Krupps armaments factory.

ITALY: The British 8th Army has cleared the ridge north of the Sangro River. The US 5th Army begins diversionary attacks on the lower Garigliano River to assist the 8th Army. These will precede an assault on Monte Camino.

In preparation for Operation RAINCOAT, the U.S. Fifth Army’s first phase of the assault against the Winter Line aimed at capture of the Camino hill mass, diversions are begun to deceive the Germans. The 3d Ranger Battalion feints toward St. Pietro and the 23d Armoured Brigade feints on the lower Garigliano River. In the VI Corps’ 45th Infantry Division sector, 1st Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment continues fruitless attempts to clear La Bandita. On Mt. Pantano, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division, retains positions against strong counterattacks and tries unsuccessfully to gain the second knob; patrols of 1st Battalion, 133d Infantry Regiment, move into Castelnuovo while the 3d Battalion advances to Mt. Ia Rocca and elements of the Nisei 100th Battalion move onto Croce Hill. (John Nicholas)

In the British Eighth Army area, V Corps finishes clearing the ridge above the Sangro River. The 4th Armored Brigade and 78th Division push toward the coast, taking Fossacesia. The Indian 8th Division, moving northwest along the coast ridge, reaches the coast heights overlooking Castelfrentano. To the west, New Zealanders, having crossed the Sangro River with difficulty, join their bridgehead with that of corps. (John Nicholas)

USAAF Twelfth Air Force A-20 Havocs, operating in conjunction with light bombers of the RAF and South African Air Force attack ground installations and defended areas around Lanciano, Fossacesia, Orsogna, Castelfrentano, and Guardiagrele. Australian, British, South African and U.S. fighter-bombers hit pre-arranged targets in the battle area, and by hitting targets of opportunity on roads between Lanciano to Mozzagrogna aid in defeating a counterattack against the U.S. 34th Infantry Division on Monte Pantano.

Twenty USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-24 Liberators, with P-38 Lightning escort, bomb Fiume through an overcast. B-26 Marauders attack the Monte Molino railroad bridge, Montalto di Castro, and areas around Bastia and Torgiano but accuracy is severely hampered by overcast.

U.S.S.R.: The Soviet Army suffers a 2nd significant setback in this offensive as they withdraw from Korosten.

IRAN: The EUREKA Conference at Tehran between British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Soviet Premier Josef Stalin, ends. Acceding to Soviet desires to make Operation OVERLORD (Normandy invasion) the main effort, Operations OVERLORD and ANVIL (southern France) have been given priority over all other operations. Stalin has agrees to commit Soviet forces against Japan after Germany is defeated. From Tehran, British and U.S. delegates go back to Cairo, where the SEXTANT Conference talks will be renewed.

INDIA: Chinese Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek again agrees to Operation CHAMPION (plan for the offensive in Burma) while inspecting Chinese troops at Ramgarh.

CHINA: Six USAAF Fourteenth Air Force P-40s bomb a fuel and ammunition dump at Luchiangpa and eight others strafe several boats on a lake southeast of Ansiang. Supplies are dropped to Chinese troops in Changte.

BURMA: During the night of November 30/1 December, RAF Wellingtons bomb Rangoon.

NEW GUINEA: Lieutenant General Walter Krueger, Commanding General U.S. Sixth Army, forms Task Force DIRECTOR, under Brigadier General Julian W. Cunningham, for the invasion of Arawe Island off the south coast of New Britain Island, Bismarck Archipelago, on 15 December, called "Z" Day to distinguish it from main "D" Day invasion at Cape Gloucester later. The task force is based on the 112th Cavalry Regiment (Special).

In Northeast New Guinea, USAAF Fifth Air Force B-25 Mitchells bomb and strafe villages along the coast from Borgen Bay to Riebeck Bay and B-24 Liberators hit Alexishafen. B-25s and A-20 Havocs attack Kalasa and hit trucks in the Waroe area.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: USAAF Fifth Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb Cape Gloucester Airfield on the western tip of New Britain's northern coast.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: Seventeen USAAF Thirteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchellss bomb Malai on Shortland Island. USAAF and USN fighter aircraft attack barges and antiaircraft guns at Tonolai on southern Bougainville Island; Ballale, a small island south of Bougainville; the NW tip of Choiseul Island southeast of Bougainville; Amun above Cape Moltke, Numa Numa, and Chabai on Bougainville. Other fighters cover SBD Dauntlesses attacking the the Jakohina Mission area, gun positions at Kangu and Malabita Hill, and in the Mosigetta area of Bougainville and a few New Zealand (PV-1) Venturas hit the Mawareka area.

U.S. destroyers bombard Japanese positions on Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville.

MARSHALL ISLANDS: Ten USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators from the Phoenix Islands bomb Maloelap Atoll. Twenty other B-24s, sent against the same target from the Ellice Islands, run into bad weather; two attack a a cargo ship and other vessels near Maloelap Atoll, the remaining 18 return to base without attacking.

PACIFIC OCEAN: Gilbert Islands: From Glen Boren's diary: Enemy sub reported on the surface being strafed. No further word on it. Day quiet otherwise. Ship radar had a boggie 8 miles out, but it never came in.

Marine 2d Tank Battalion scouts reconnoiter Abaiang and Marakei Atolls, north of Tarawa Atoll, finding but five Japanese, on the former.

U.S.A.: General AA Vandegrift, USMC is appointed as commandant of the US Marine Corps, effective January 1, 1944. General Vandegrift commanded the 1st Marine Division during the Guadalcanal Campaign.

Submarine USS Golet commissioned.

Destroyer escorts USS Borum, Brister, Henry R Kenyon and Waterman commissioned.

Frigate USS Manitowoc launched.

Submarine USS Queenfish launched.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: USN TBF Avengers of Composite Squadron Nineteen (VC-19) in the escort aircraft carrier USS Bogue (CVE-9) damage German submarine U-238 about 432 nautical miles (800 kilometers) east-northeast of Lagens Field, Azores Islands, in position 41.21N, 18.19W. Two U-boat crewmen are killed and five wounded.

NORTH SEA: Frigate HMS Duff is mined north of Ostend, but manages to return under own power to Harwich. She is laid up and never repaired. There Are 3 casualties. (Alex Gordon)(108)

NETHERLANDS: The British Second Army, 8 and 12 Corps makes small gains west of the Maas River at Blerick across from Venlo.

GERMANY: Lilo Gloeden, her husband and mother are beheaded at two minute intervals by guillotine in Plötzensee Prison, Berlin. Gloeden was a 41-year-old housewife who helped shelter those persecuted by the Nazis for weeks at a time in their flat (apartment). Among those sheltered was Dr. Carl Goerdeler, resistance leader and Lord Mayor of Leipzig. The three were arrested by the Gestapo and tortured during interrogation before being executed.

The southern units of the US 3rd Army reach the Saar River.

On the First US Army VII Corps Front: In the 104th Division sector, very heavy fighting occurred in the town of Inden and several German tanks were destroyed. Lamersdorf was completely cleared. 1st Division units experienced heavy fighting in their attempt to relieve two companies of the 26th Infantry cut off in Merode. Langerwehe and Jungersdorf are held against heavy counterattacks. The 47th Regimental Combat is relieved from attachment to the 1st Division. The 4th Division's 8th Infantry advanced along the Schevenh to Düren road and its 12th Infantry advanced through the woods towards Gey. The 22d Infantry with the attached 46th Armored Infantry Battalion cleared the area north of Kleinhau. The 8th Division's 121st Infantry along with CCA, 5th Armored Division advanced east through the woods south of Hürtgen. (Robert Rush)

In U.S. Ninth Army's XIII Corps area, the 102d Infantry Division takes over the burden of attack: while the 405th Infantry Regiment continues to fight along the Lindern- Linnich highway, the 406th drives to the edge of Linnich and the 407th clears the Germans from Welz, within a mile (1,6 kilometers) of the Roer River. The 335th Infantry Regiment, 84th Infantry Division, overcomes resistance within Beeck, but the Germans retains the heights to the northeast.

In U.S. Third Army's XX Corps area, the 10th Armored Division attacks toward the Sarre River on the northern flank of the corps, Combat Command B on the right reaching the river opposite Merzig, where bridges are down. The 359th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division, occupies Fremersdorf, on the west bank of the Sarre, without opposition; the 1st Battalion, 357th Infantry Regiment, crosses the Nied River in assault boats near Niedakdorf and pushes on to Bueren, which the Germans are defending. After consolidating positions, the 95th Infantry Division continues their attack toward the Sarre, gaining the heights commanding Saarlautern: the 377th Infantry Regiment mops up Ste Barbara on the left and advances the right wing to Felsberg; the 378th takes a hill south of Felsberg. Task Force Bell, consisting of the 5th Infantry Division’s 10th Infantry Regiment (-), 5th Reconnaissance Troop, and supporting units, is formed to cover the exposed right flank of the 95th Infantry Division and attached to that division.

The USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 731: 1,281 bombers and 972 fighters are dispatched to hit synthetic oil plants in southeastern Germany and marshalling yards (M/Ys); intense accurate flak downs 29 bombers and three fighters are lost: 181 bomb the M/Y at Neuenkirchen with the loss of one aircraft and 103 bomb the M/Y at Homburg. Synthetic oil refineries hit are Zeitz by 287 aircraft with the loss of nine; I.G. Farben refinery at Merseberg by 250 aircraft with the loss of 14; Lutzkendorf by 148 with the loss of two; Lutzkendorf by 148 with the loss of two; and the Braunkoble refinery at Bohlen by 67 with the loss of one. One hundred eighty nine other aircraft hit targets of opportunity.

Two hundred eighty eight USAAF Ninth Air Force B-26 Marauders and A-20 Havocs attack the defended villages of Vettweiss, Stockheim, Erp, and Pirmasens, an armored vehicle repair center at Gemund, a rail tunnel, a military camp at Malsbenden, and a marshalling yard at Zweibrucken; fighters escort the 9th Bombardment Division, give area support to Eighth Air Force heavy bombers at Leipzig, fly sweeps, dive bombing missions, and reconnaissance over western Germany, and support elements of the U.S. VII Corps in the Hurtgen area (especially the 104th Infantry Division at Lammersdorf and Inden).

During the night of 30 November/1 December, four USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb the West marshalling yard at Munich.

During the day, RAF Bomber Command aircraft attack three targets: 60 Lancasters bomb the Wilheim steel plant at Bottrop; 60 Lancasters attack the Osterfeld benzol plant at Bottrop with the loss of two Lancasters; 36 Mosquitos hit the Meiderich benzol plant at Duisburg; and one Mosquito bombs Munster.

During the night of 30 November/1 December, RAF Bomber Command sends 576 aircraft, 425 Halifaxes, 126 Lancasters and 25 Mosquitos, to bomb Duisburg; 553 bomb the city with the loss of three Halifaxes. The target area is completely cloud-covered and the attack is not concentrated but much fresh damage is still caused. Mosquitos bomb three targets: 53 hit Hamburg with the loss of three aircraft, six hit the Hermann Göring steel factory at Hallendorf and one bomb the city of Hallendorf.

AUSTRIA: During the night of 30 November/1 December, USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators bomb five targets:18 hit the Linz/Hermann Göring benzine refinery at Linz with the loss of one aircraft, five bomb the main marshalling yard (M/Y) at Innsbruck and one each bomb the city of Gmunden and the M/Ys at Klagenfurt and Villach.

HUNGARY: The Russian 2nd Ukraine Front launches a new offensive in northern Hungary, capturing the town of Eger.

ITALY: In the U.S. Fifth Army's British XIII Corps area, the Germans take Casa Nuovo from the 1st Division.

In the British Eighth Army's V Corps area, the Indian 10th Division renews their attack toward Casa Bettini bridge and takes Albereto, breaching the switch-line positions.

USAAF Twelfth Air Force B-25 Mitchells bomb bridges at Romano di Lombardia and Crema; fighters and fighter-bombers attack communications in the Po Valley, cutting rail lines and destroying a large number of railroad cars and motor transport; targets also include bridges, guns, and buildings.

CHINA: Chungking: Chiang Kai-shek recalls the Chinese 22nd and 38th Divisions from Burma to boost the effort to defend Kunming, now threatened by the Japanese advance.

The Chinese 14th Division is eventually substituted for the 38th, so that current operations in Burma will suffer less. Major General Albert Wederneyer, Commanding General US China Theater of Operations and Chief of Staff to Chiang Kai-shek, informs the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Admiral Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander of the South-East Asia Theatre, of the Generalissimo's decision. Chiang Kai-shek also agrees to provide 270,000 replacements for ALPHA (the plan to defend Kunming and Chungking) by 1 April 1945 but refuses a request to supply arms to the Chineses forces of the IX War Area.

Twenty three USAAF Fourteenth Air Force fighter-bombers attack targets of opportunity in the Chefang area.

BURMA: In the Northern Combat Area Command area, the British 36th Division finds Pinwe free of the Japanese.

Nine USAAF Tenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells knock out and damage bridges at Bawgyo, Namhkai, and Hsenwi; 16 P-47 Thunderbolts support ground forces at Bhamo; about 70 fighter-bombers attack troops and supply areas at several locations including Molo, Naungmo, Namun, Hkumpen, Myadaung, Kutkai, Kanbalu, Kyauk, and Natpe; 13 others attack bridges at Meza and in the Bawdwin area; and eight strafe targets of opportunity along the Kyaukme-Panglong road. .

Eleven USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-25s bomb five warehouses and several other buildings at Lashio and Wanling.

FRENCH INDOCHINA: Twelve USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells and eight P-51 Mustangs damage two railroad bridges and several buildings at Phu Lang Thuong and Phu Ly.

THAILAND: Nine USAAF Fourteenth Air Force fighter-bombers hit shipping, rail targets, and troops at various points.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: The projected Mindoro operation is postponed for ten days by General Douglas MacArthur, Commander in Chief South-West Pacific Area, in order to release shipping and naval support forces for landing in the Ormoc area on Leyte. The final target dates for Mindoro and Luzon are 15 December 1944 and 9 January 1945, respectively.

In the U.S. Sixth Army's X Corps area on Leyte, the 112th Cavalry Regiment (Special), which has been driving south to ease the pressure on the 32d Infantry Division in the Limon area, halts at a ridge east of Highway 2 about 5,000 yards (4 572 meters) southeast of Limon; unable to progress farther because of strong opposition, the cavalrymen dig in and drive off Japanese patrols. In the XXIV Corps area, the battle of Shoestring Ridge ends successfully as elements of the 184th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, clear the bamboo thicket and establish the night perimeter on the forward slope of the ridge.

USAAF Far East Air Forces B-24 Liberators bomb Legaspi Airfield on the southeastern tip of Luzon Island and Matina Aerodrome on Mindanao Island. B-25 Mitchells strike Dumaguete Airfield on Negros Island and fighter-bombers, B-24 Liberators, and B-25 Mitchells fly armed reconnaissance, harassing strikes, and light raids over various areas.

Thirty seven USAAF Seventh Air Force) B-24 Liberators from Angaur Island, Palau Islands, bomb Legaspi Airfield on the southeastern tip of Luzon Island.

EAST INDIES: In the Netherlands East Indies, USAAF Far East Air Forces B-24 Liberators in major strikes of the day hit Malimpoeng and Parepare Airfields on Celebes Island and four airfields on Halmahera Island. Fighter-bombers, B-24 Liberators, and B-25 Mitchells fly armed reconnaissance, harassing strikes, and light raids over various areas of the Netherlands East Indies.

BONIN AND VOLCANO ISLANDS: Twenty three USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators from Saipan bomb the airfield on Iwo Jima; eight Guam-based B-24 Liberators, escorting a photo reconnaissance aircraft over the Kazan and Bonin Islands, bomb Haha Jima Island.

FRANCE: The 101st Signal Company of the United States' 101st Airborne Division is inactivated. (William L. Howard)

JAPAN: The Japanese War and Navy Departments, and thus the IJA and IJN are officially abolished. Administrative activities overseeing the demobilization, disposition of real property and material, processing of records and documents were handled by the US 1st and 2nd Demobilization Bureaus. (Gordon Rottman)

Top songs on the pop music charts are: "It's Been a Long, Long Time" by The Harry James Orchestra with vocal by Kitty Kallen; "That's for Me" by Dick Haymes; "I'll Buy that Dream" by The Pied Pipers; and "Shame on You" by The Lawrence Welk Orchestra and vocal by Red Foley.