22 December 1939

UNITED STATES: The National Broadcasting Company's (NBC's) experimental TV station W2XBS, begins experimental TV transmissions from their new transmitter atop the Empire State Building in New York City.

SAAR: International troops from the Italy, The Netherlands, Sweden and the U.K. arrive in the Saar pending an upcoming plebiscite to determine whether or not this region would revert to German control or remain under French control. The 1919 Treaty of Versailles ending World War I placed the Saar under the administration of the League of Nations and the coal mines were assigned to France.

UNITED KINGDOM: Samuel Hoare is replaced by Anthony Eden as the British Foreign Secretary. Hoare is forced to resign after the infamous agreement he made with French Foreign Minister Pierre Laval becomes public knowledge. The Hoare-Laval Agreement, which would have granted Italy considerable territorial concessions in Ethiopia, and put the rump of Ethiopia under Italian hegemony, caused a public uproar against this apparent sell-out of the Ethiopians.

SWITZERLAND: The League of Nations Non-Intervention Committee agrees to study questions of volunteers and financial intervention relating to the Spanish Civil War.

JAPAN: The Government states that the extermination of the Kuomintang regime in China and a new order in East Asia are basic policy for adjusting relations between China and Japan stating, ". . . in order that their intentions may be thoroughly understood at home and abroad."

NORWAY: Norway's Defence Minister, Christian Frederik Monson is replaced by Colonel Birger Ljundberg. (Greg Kelley)

FINLAND: The Finns caught the Russian 44th Motorised Division as it approached Suomussalmi to attempt the relief of the trapped 163rd Division.

The Finns blocked the road in front of and behind the Russians and used their 'motti' tactics using Suomi sub-machine guns, very effective weapons for close range forest work, then going in with grenades and knives.

INDIA: Viceroy, Lord Linlithgow recognises the Muslim League. Jinnah celebrates by declaring today a "day of deliverance and thanksgiving" to be observed by all Muslims in gratitude for their release from the "tyranny, oppression and injustice" of Congress Raj in the provinces.

Churchill meets with the Home Secretary to discuss the continuing internment of various individuals without trial by jury or habeas corpus. These individuals include Oswald Mosley and his wife, and Pandit Nehru. He asks that in the case of Nehru the rigorous character of his imprisonment be removed.

GERMANY: U-557 launched.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA:
While escorting battleship HMS Malaya (01) destroyer HMS Hyperion (H 97) is torpedoed by Italian submarine Serpent 24 east miles of near Cape Bon at 37 40N, 11 31E. She is taken in tow by HMS JANUS but later has to be scuttled. (Alex Gordon)(108) Malaya carries on and is met by Force H.
The press report that the British Mediterranean Fleet bombarded Valona and poured a hundred tons of high explosives on the port. During this action, not an Italian vessel or plane was seen.
15 aircraft from HMS Illustrious bomb Tripoli, Libya.

U.S.S.R.: Moscow: After a week of talks between Stalin and Eden, and their military and diplomatic advisers, the two sides achieved "identity of views" on the conduct of the war against Hitlerite Germany, according to the official communiqué.

On questions relating to the postwar settlement, however, the communiqué is evasive. "An exchange of views," it says, "providing much important and useful material which will facilitate the future elaboration of concrete proposals." The talks were rounded off with a banquet in the Kremlin given by Stalin. Earlier, Eden was taken to the battlefront. He said the Russian troops were "truly magnificent". He met German PoWs who wore only thin unlined coats and poor boots, and lacked gloves; they were suffering in the bitter cold.

Eden arrived in Moscow by a roundabout route that included a 72-hour train journey. In five sessions he talked with the Russians for some 20 hours.

CHINA: At a meeting of Allied leaders in Chungking, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek offers the Chinese 5th and 6th Armies for the defense of Burma. British General Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief, India accepts the Ch 6th Army's 93d Division, elements of which are approaching the border of Burma from China. A regiment of the 49th Division is to be held in reserve on the northern Burma frontier.

HONG KONG: The Japanese capture Sugar Loaf Hill at 1200 hours, but Canadians from C Company of the Royal Rifles recapture the hill; later taken out to Stanley Fort down the peninsula, for a rest; will hold out until their ammunition, food and water are exhausted.

JAPAN: The Japanese Navy postpones the shelling of U.S. cities on the west coast by nine submarine until 27 December. The original date was 25 December.

MALAYA: As the Indian 11th Division continues their withdrawal across the Perak River, the RAF begins a regular reconnaissance of the west coast to prevent Japanese landings. The Indian 9th Division completes their planned withdrawal in eastern Malaya to positions from which to defend Kuantan airdrome and protect the Indian 11th Division from an attack from the east.

COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: The US submarine S-38 sailing from Manila sinks the Hayo Maru, a cargo ship of 445 tons during this war patrol. During the patrol she will fire torpedoes at 5 ships. (Skip Guidry)

The US Provisional Tank Group goes in support of General Wainwright (commander North Luzon Force) at Damortis on Lingayen Gulf. Wainwright sends his corps cavalry (the 26th Cavalry (PS)) forward to act as the divisional screen. 26 Cav's Scout car platoon runs into the Japanese 48th Reconnaissance and 4th Tank Regiments north of Damortis and falls back. Damortis is important because as long as it is held the Japanese invasion force is bottled-up between the landing beaches and the mountains.

26 Cav called for assistance. Wainwright requested a company of tanks from Weaver. Weaver could only send a platoon of five tanks because of shortage of fuel. They met the enemy light tanks about 6 miles north of Damortis. The lead Stuart was hit and burst into flames. Each of the other four Stuarts were hit and they all withdrew to Rosario where they were destroyed by air attack the next day.

Morton says the Stuarts were hit by 47mm "anti-tank" fire. If he means that the Japanese tanks carried a 47mm gun, then the Stuarts were badly outgunned. However, if these were infantry anti-tank guns, then the US tank-men had been 'Rommelled' - unsupported US tanks attacking an enemy mixed infantry-armour force. If so, they wouldn't be the last to make this mistake.

A further problem arose later that afternoon because of the divided command (i.e. that the tanks were not placed under Wainwright's command). At dusk the rest of C Coy 192 Tank Battalion pulled out of joint defensive positions (with 26 Cav) and fell back on Rosario, citing orders from Brig-Gen Weaver. 26 Cav stayed in position. As C Coy left, Japanese tanks attacked the 26 Cav rear guard and got among the horses, causing heavy casualties. Despite this disaster, 26 Cav maintained its cohesion and successfully covered the withdrawal from Damortis and Rosario. It was to repeat this performance several times more in the bitter weeks ahead proving the value of well-led cavalry in a withdrawal. (Michael Alexander)

The Japanese begin their main landings along the coast of Lingayen Gulf on Luzon before dawn. One assault force goes ashore near Bauang, another at Aringay, and a third near Agoo. They move forward at once without serious opposition from 11th and 21st Divisions (Philippine Army). The 71st Infantry Regiment, 71st Division (Philippine Army), and 26th Cavalry Regiment (Philippine Scouts) move out to help halt the Japanese. The Bauang assault force seizes that town, effects a junction with the Japanese Vigan force at San Fernando, La Union, and pushes inland toward Baguio, while the other forces overrun Rosario and face south toward Manila. U.S. submarines and a few aircraft attack enemy armada in Lingayen Gulf.

Nine Far East Air Forces B-17 Flying Fortresses from Batchelor Field near Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, attack shipping in Davao Bay, Mindanao Island and land at Del Monte Field on Mindanao Island. This is the first action in the Philippines by Australian-based planes.

AUSTRALIA: The USN's "Pensacola" Convoy, consisting of the heavy cruiser USS Pensacola (CA-24), the gunboat USS Niagara (PG-52), the transports USS Chaumont (AP-5) and Republic (AP-33), the Army transports USAT Meigs and Willard A. Holbrook, the U.S. freighters SS Admiral Halstead and Coast Farmer and the Dutch freighter MV Bloemfontein, arrive in Brisbane, Queensland. Brigadier General Julian F. Barnes' Task Force South Pacific is redesignated U.S. Forces in Australia (USFIA). This is the first U.S. troop detachment to arrive in Australia.

WAKE ISLAND Since the 11th the island has been regularly bombarded by the Japanese. Today the 2nd landing attempt is offshore, supported by aircraft from carriers Hiryu and Soryu yesterday and today. The first landings against fierce resistance from the defending Marines.

Task Force 14, the Wake Relief Expedition, including the USS Saratoga is recalled at 0911 hours (Hawaii Time) with the lead ships 515 miles northeast of Wake. (Gordon Rottman)

USN Task Force Fourteen (TF 14), the relief force for Wake Island, slows down to refuel. At Pearl Harbor, Vice Admiral William S. Pye, the temporary commander of the Pacific Fleet pending the arrival of Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, cannot make up his mind to risk what is left of the fleet. During the evening, a compromise is reached between Pye and Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher, commander of TF 14. Tomorrow, the F2A Buffalos of Marine Fighting Squadron Two Hundred Twenty One (VMF-221) in aircraft carrier USS Saratoga (CV-3), would be flown off at maximum range. The seaplane tender USS Tangier (AV-8) is carrying 300 marines of the 4th Defense Battalion, including two batteries and detachment of to other batteries, plus ground elements of VMF-221, a radar set, and 21,000 rounds of 3-inch (7,62 centimeter) and 5-inch (12,7 centimeter) ammunition and 3 million rounds of machine gun ammunition, would make a speed run to Wake while the remainder of Task Force 14 retired with Task Force 11 built around the aircraft carrier USS Lexington (CV-2).

Major James P. S. Devereux, the commander of the Wake Island Detachment, 1st defence Battalion, spends a lot of time in consultation with First Lieutenant William W. Lewis, the commander of Battery E. Battery E was the closest 3-inch antiaircraft battery to Wake's south beach, the most probable scene of a Japanese landing. Devereux and Lewis compute the distances, azimuths, and fuse settings required for Battery E to shower the shoreline with accurate airbursts. (Gregory J. W. Urwin, Temple University)

PACIFIC OCEAN: Japanese submarine HIJMS I-19 surfaces and shells an unarmed 10,763-ton U.S. tanker off the coast of California about 15 nautical miles (28 kilometers) west-southwest of Lompoc, California. The submarine breaks off the attack when a USN aircraft arrives and drops a depth charge allowing the tanker to escape.

U.S.A.: The Arcadia Conference, in Washington DC, between the British and the US begins. They confirm the policy from Placentia Bay in August of Germany first. They also establish the Combined Chiefs of Staff for the entire Allied military effort. A general strategic program is approved of a US buildup in Britain and continuing the bombing offensive. The concept of further losses in the Pacific is accepted with the understanding that a stiff defence will hold these to a minimum. This conference will last through the 7th of January.

Richard G. Casey, Australian Minister to the U.S., reports to his government that President Roosevelt might press to have an American accepted as the commander-in-chief of a Pacific and Far East theater and that Lieutenant General Douglas MacArthur, commanding the US Army Forces Far East in the Philippines, might be nominated. Casey suggests that it might be advantageous for the Australian government to suggest an American as commander-in-chief.

Submarine HMS Sturdy laid down.

Destroyer HMS Vigilant launched.

Frigate HMS Ness commissioned.

FRANCE: The Vichy French government appoints Admiral Henri DeCoux as Governor General of Indochina and High Commissioner for French territories in the Pacific. The Marshal Petain regime hopes that once Japan occupies the islands it will be allowed to exercise sovereignty over them. DeCoux makes a number of broadcasts over Saigon Radio urging New Caledonians to revolt against Free France.

GERMANY: During the day, six RAF Bomber Command Wellingtons are dispatched on a cloud-cover raid to Emden; four aircraft bomb the estimated positions through cloud.

U-294 laid down.

U-200 commissioned.

POLAND: Cracow: Bomb blasts in two of the city's cafes have killed at least 20 German officers. The explosions, the work of a group of young Zionists led by Adolf Liebeskind, mark the climax of a resistance campaign which has included arson attacks on Nazi targets and the theft of weapons from German soldiers and police. Increasing numbers of younger Jews have joined the underground resistance movements, often under the umbrella of Soviet and Polish communist partisans. They want to show that the Jewish people will not go to their deaths without putting up a fight.

U.S.S.R.: In the Caucasus, Soviet forces begin strong attacks southeast of Naichik as the Germans start a withdrawal of the spearhead in the area. The Red Army offensive continues to gain ground on the Stalingrad front and in the middle Don sector. Sharp Soviet thrusts toward Velikie Luki, on the central front, are gaining ground.

TUNISIA: The British First Army's V Corps renews their drive on Tunis, during the night of 22/23 December. The 2d Coldstream Guards of the 1st Guards Brigade attacks Djebel el Ahmera hill (later known as Longstop Hill), 6 miles (9,6 kilometers) northeast of Medjez el Bab, and partially occupies it. The heavy rain does not slow the advance or the heavy fighting around Longstop Hill, which they are trying to take.

USAAF Ninth Air Force B-24 Liberators and RAF (B-24) Liberators are dispatched to bomb the harbor at Sousse; only two bombers reach the target, the others are forced to return to base due to weather, but a few manage to bomb Monastir and the railroads at Mahdia.

A solid overcast prevents USAAF Twelfth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses from bombing Bizerte or alternate targets of Sousse and Sfax. P-40s shoot up a train in Kairouan and destroy trucks on the Sfax-Faid road. F-4 Lightnings continue reconnaissance between Bizerte and the Gabes-Medenine area.

BURMA: The British 47th Brigade advances down both sides of the Mayu Peninsula. Major-General Wilfrid Lewis Lloyd (GOC 10th Indian Division) has his troops dispersed in this deployment with the 123rd Brigade moving off toward Rathedaung. (Steen Ammentorp)

A small detachment is to move farther inland in the direction of Kyauktaw. These dispositions are less than ideal because of the dispersions they bring about.

NEW GUINEA: In Papua New Guinea, Japanese Major General ODA Kensuku, commander of the 5th South Seas Detachment, takes responsibility for the Japanese beachhead from Colonel Yokoyama and personally directs operations on the Sanananda front. In the Australian 7th Division area, reinforcements (21st Brigade Headquarters and the 39th Battalion of the 30th Brigade) reach Soputa from Gona; and relieve the U.S. 126th Infantry Regiment, 32d Infantry Division, forces of the roadblock on the Soputa-Sanananda trail. The Australian 21st Brigade takes command of the 49th Battalion, 2/7th Cavalry Regiment, and U.S. forces from the roadblock. The 30th Brigade, which is responsible for clearing the pockets at the track junction, retains command of the 36th and 55/53d Battalions and the rest of U.S. forces on this front. Firm opposition by seasoned Japanese troops limits efforts to advance north along the track and to clear the track junction. On the Urbana Force front, Company I, 127th Infa ntry Regiment follows Company K across Entrance Creek, strengthening the bridgehead. Other elements of the 127th Infantry Regiment begin to clear Musita Island after engineers repair a bridge to it. On the Warren front, the Australian 2/10th Battalion (less Company C), 18th Brigade, continues to cross Simemi Creek near Old Strip, while the 2/9th Battalion plus Company C of the 2/10th Battalion mops up east of the creek.

In Papua New Guinea, USAAF Fifth Air Force B-25 Mitchells bomb Maimba mission and the village near Buna where Japanese ground forces continue to resist stubbornly.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: On New Britain Islands, a single USAAF Fifth Air Force B-24 Liberator sinks a Japanese merchant cargo ship off Gasmata on the south coast and B-17 Flying Fortresses hit a ship in the harbor at Arawe.

PACIFIC OCEAN: On board submarine USS Silversides (SS-236), submerged in the shipping channel off Rabaul, New Britain Island, Bismarck Archipelago, Pharmacist's Mate First Class Thomas A. Moore performs a successful appendectomy on Fireman Second Class George M. Platter. This is the third of three such procedures that will be performed on board U.S. submarines during the war.

CANADA: Minesweeper HMCS Transcona commenced refit Halifax, Nova Scotia for engine repairs.

U.S.A.: Sue Dauser takes oath of office as Superintendent of Navy Nurse Corps, becoming first woman with the relative rank of captain in US Navy. She was promoted to the rank of captain on 26 February 1944.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-653 loses a man washed overboard at 0810hrs. [Bootsmaat Heinz Wendler] (Alex Gordon)

Pharmacist's Mate First Class Thomas A. Moore performs appendectomy on Fireman Second Class George M. Platter on board USS Silversides.

UNITED KINGDOM: USAAF Lieutenant General Carl Spaatz, deputy commander of the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF), is ordered to take command of the U.S. Strategic Air Forces in Europe in the U.K. at once. Lieutenant General Ira Eaker, Commanding General USAAF Eighth Air Force, is to command Allied air forces in the Mediterranean upon relief by RAF Air Chief Marshal (U.S. General) Tedder, Air Commander-in-Chief MAAF, who is to become Air Commander-in-Chief and Deputy Supreme Allied Commander, Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force. General Eaker is subsequently given permission to remain in the European Theater of Operations until he can advise Generals Spaatz and Major General James H. Doolittle, who will assume command of the USAAF Eighth Air Force, in England and does not reach the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) until mid-January. A North African Theater of Operations, U.S. Army, directive results in reorganization of USAAF elements in the Mediterran ean Theater of Operations (MTO).

Escort carrier Thetis Bay laid down.

Frigate HMS Hotham launched.

Minesweeper HMS Elfreda commissioned

Frigate HMS Rowley commissioned.

Escort carrier HMS Ruler commissioned

FRANCE: The USAAF Eighth Air Force's VIII Bomber Command flies Mission 162: six B-17 Flying Fortresses drop 1.212 million leaflets on Paris, Amiens, Chartres, Orleans and Rennes, France at 1942-2018 hours.

During the day, RAF light bombers attack numerous NOBALL (V-weapons) targets in conjunction with the USAAF Eighth Air Force raids on Osnabruck and Munster, Germany.

During the night of 22/23 December, RAF Bomber Command dispatches 51 aircraft, 29 Stirlings, 11 Lancasters, eight Mosquitos and three Halifaxes, to attack two flying-bomb sites between Abbeville and Amiens; Thirty aircraft hit the site at Ailly-Le-Haut-Clocher but the second site cannot be located and two aircraft bomb the site at Freval. Twenty one bombers drop leaflets over the country during the night. Finally, bombers lay mines off ports on the Bay of Biscay: six lay mines off La Pallice, five off Lorient, two off Cherbourg and one off Le Havre.

GERMANY: The USAAF Eighth Air Force's VIII Bomber Command flies Mission 161: marshalling yards (M/Ys) are targeted; 22 US bombers are lost. Heavy cloud conditions along with a malfunction of Pathfinder equipment result in a large number of heavy bombers failing to attack targets: 218 B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators bomb the M/Y at Osnabruck at 1356-1434 hours with the loss of five B-17s and 12 B-24s; 197 B-17s and B-24s bomb the M/Y at Munster at 1353-1417 hours with the loss of three B-17s and two B-24s; 23 other aircraft hit targets of opportunity. The bombers are escorted by 40 P-38 Lightnings, 448 P-47 Thunderbolts and 28 Ninth Air Force P-51 Mustangs; the fighter pilots claim 15-1-6 Luftwaffe aircraft; two P-38s and two P-47s are lost

During the USAAF Eighth Air Force's VIII Bomber Command Mission 163, a B-17 Flying Fortress drops two 2,000 pound (907 kilogram) general purpose bombs and a Photoflash on Cologne, at 2020 hours.

During the night of 22/23 December, 11 RAF Bomber Command Mosquitos are dispatched to attack two cities: nine bomb Frankfurt-am-Main and one hits Bonn.

U-483, U-1228 commissioned.

U-1301 launched.

POLAND: Warsaw: Gestapo police discover and execute 62 Jews hiding in a basement.

ITALY: In the British Eighth Army's V Corps area, Villa Grandi falls to the Indian 8th Division. The 2nd Canadian Brigade has entered Ortona and is heavily engaged in fighting, the German 1st Paratroop Division, from house to house.

P-40s and Spitfires of the USAAF Twelfth Air Force and Australian, British and South African aircraft hit strong points in the Tollo-Miglianico-Chieti areas. P-40s attack bridges, locomotives, trucks, and railroad tracks at and near Tortoreto and Benedello.

YUGOSLAVIA: Marshal Tito, Yugoslavia's partisan leader has told the country's exiled King Peter that his services will not be required after the war. The young king has angered the partisans by living in comfort in London - and by awarding a medal to a Chetnik commander who was living in Italian headquarters at the time. The Chetnik guerrillas, led by the royalist Drazha Mihailovich, are accused of switching sides since the Allies put their money on Tito as likely to cause Hitler most trouble.

USAAF Twelfth Air Force P-47 Thunderbolts strafe targets of opportunity in the area around Zara.

U.S.S.R.: 14,284 Spanish soldiers are repatriated to Spain; 3,000 volunteer to continue fighting with the Nazis in the Legion Azul [Blue Legion].

NEW GUINEA: In Northeast New Guinea, nearly 40 USAAF Fifth Air Force B-25 Mitchells, with P-38 Lightning escort, bomb Wewak and Boram. The P-38 Lightnings, B-25s and some P-47 Thunderbolts on a sweep claim at least 13 aircraft shot down. B-25s and P-39 Airacobras bomb airfield and barges at Madang and the town of Alexishafen; and A-20 Havocs and B-26 Marauders attack the occupied area north of Finschhafen.

CHINA: Seven USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells, with fighter escort, bomb Hwajung while two others claim three direct hits on a freighter 105 miles (168 kilometers) south of Hong Kong. Sixty five Japanese bombers and fighters attack Kunming Airfield ten P-40s and a P-38 Lightning from Kunming and several fighters from Yunnani engage the enemy force in a 50-minute running battle, claiming 12 Japanese airplanes shot down; two US aircraft are destroyed on the ground; damage to airfield is not serious. Seven P-40s intercept a force of 58 airplanes heading toward Chengkung, shooting down three of them and preventing an attack on the airfield.

GILBERT ISLANDS: 47th and 48th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) with B-25's moved from Hawaii to Abemama and then to Makin on 21 Apr 44.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: On New Britain Island, over 30 USAAF Fifth Air Force B-24 Liberators, B-25 Mitchells, and A-20 Havocs continue the bombardment of Cape Gloucester while a Japanese air raid on Arawe causes minor damage.

PACIFIC: From Glen Boren's diary: In the morning, our air group flew in and landed. One fighter pulled out his tailhook and ended up in the barriers. No other accidents.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: On Bougainville, USAAF Thirteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells carry out strikes against Numa Numa, the Kahili supply area, the Chinatown area on Buka Island, and scattered targets of opportunity; fighter aircraft. B-24 Liberators attack barge concentrations and hide-outs at Sohano Island, the Chabai-Porton area, Anewa Bay, and Ambitle Island, and several targets of opportunity throughout Bougainville while B-24s, operating individually and in pairs, attack targets of opportunity near Bonis, near Porton, and at Sohano Island.

MARSHALL ISLANDS: Eleven USAAF Seventh Air Force A-24 Dauntlesses from the Gilbert Islands dive-bomb cargo ships in Mili Atoll lagoon and sink a transport; escort is provided by 32 P-39 Airacobras and USN F6F Hellcats. The P-39s strafe the ships and antiaircraft guns and gasoline dumps on the island and the vessel is left burning.

U.S.A.: Orders are issued for General Carl Spaatz to take command of the US Strategic Air Forces in Europe (USSAFE). Lieutenant General Ira C Eaker, Commanding General USAAF Eighth Air Force, is to Command Allied Air Forces in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, after remaining in the UK until mid-January to advise Spaatz and Lieutenant General James H Doolittle, the new Commanding General Eighth Air Force.

The USN escort aircraft carrier St Joseph (CVE-50) is transferred to the British Navy under Lend Lease and commissioned as HMS Ruler (D 72). She is the 32nd escort aircraft carrier transferred to the Royal Navy and will be returned to the USN on 29 January 1946.

Sporting goods manufacturers receive permission to use synthetic rubber for the core of baseballs. The move, of course, produces livelier baseballs.

Destroyer escorts USS Maurice J Manuel laid down.

Destroyer USS Purdy laid down.

Destroyer escort USS Dale W Peterson launched.

Escort carrier USS Savo Island launched.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Convoy JW.55B is discovered by Luftwaffe Reconnaissance aircraft.

Three USAAF Ninth Air Force fighter groups (nine squadrons) of the IX Tactical Air Command are transferred to the XIX Tactical Air Command to concentrate air power for cooperation with the U.S. Third Army to which the main effort against the Bulge has been assigned; the groups return to control of the IX Tactical Air Command on 25 December. Fighters fly a few strafing, weather reconnaissance, intruder patrol, and alert missions; bad weather cancels all other missions.

BELGIUM: A German demand for surrender is delivered to the US 101st Airborne at Bastogne. General McAuliffe is reported to have said "Nuts!".

St. Vith is evacuated by the Allies and falls to the German offensive, behind schedule.

Rundstedt, Model and Guderian recommend that the offensive be halted. This is due to Allied resistance, the arrival of reserve units, and the clearing weather.

Another factor which greatly worried Generaloberst Guderian [as Chef des Generalstabes], was the precarious situation in the _tenatively_ dormant northern sector of the Eastern front, which [excluding Kurland] ran roughly from the Baltic in East Prussia following the Weichsel [Vistula] south over the Carpathians into the SE theater, where the Soviets were in the process of encircling Budapest, and because of Romania and Bulgaria's defection from the Axis camp earlier in the year, were making deep strides into the Balkans. Guderian, through Gen.Maj. Reinhard Gehlen, Chief of the OKH intelligence section known as 'Fremde Heere Ost' [Foreign Armies East] , expected the Russian winter offensive to commence at any moment from the deep Soviet bridegheads over the Weichsel at Magnusew, Sandomierz, and the largest, at Baranow, south of Warsaw, all captured and exploited by the Red Army in the fierce rearguard fighting of fall 1944. Earlier in December, the fighting in the southeast prompted Hitler to take Guderian's most potent mobile reserve from around Warsaw, the IV.SS-Panzerkorps, which included the top-rate 5.SS 'Wiking' and 3.SS-'Totenkopf' Panzer divisions, and send them south to the Budapest salient. Despite a feeble attempt at creating a defensive line 'in depth' across Poland and into the eastern apporoaches of the Reich by creating a number of interlocking 'Festungsta(e)dte' or 'Fortress Cities', with which to anchor a defensive withdrawl, the actuality of the situation at this point in the East was bluntly surmised by Guderian in a conference at the FHQ just before the Ardennes offensive where he told Hitler that:, "The Eastern Front is like a House of Cards, one push, and it will collapse." Hitler said that they had faced serious setbacks in the East before, and that they had always survived them, pronouncing, "the East will have to take care of itself, as in the past." [The blow actually came on January 12, 1945, and there was indeed very little between the Vistuala and the Oder with which to stop the advance of the Red Army. By the end of February 1945 they would be on the Oder, at the gates of the Reichshauptstadt - Berlin.]

See Tony LeTissier's new book: ZHUKOV ON THE ODER, available through Frank Cass Publ.

Trapped here in a network of road links are several thousand lightly-armed men of the 28th Infantry and 10th and 101st US Airborne Divisions. The Germans with one infantry and two Panzer divisions around the town, this morning sent a courier with a message calling on the Americans to surrender. Brig-Gen Anthony C McAuliffe took the paper and scrawled: "To the German commander: NUTS! The American Commander."

Despite McAuliffe's relaxed defiance the American position remains precarious, both here and elsewhere. A Panzer force passing north of Bastogne is headed for Ourtheville and Celle, within striking distance of Dinant and Namur. Further north the Americans, having lost 8,000 of some 22,000 men at St. Vith are pulling back.

Three days ago in his headquarters at Versailles, Eisenhower met his field commanders, Bradley, Patton and Devers, of the US 6th Army Group in Lorraine. He told them he expected only cheerful faces - and then gave them the bad news. Part of Bradley's 12th Army Group, cut off north of the Ardennes bulge, is being transferred to Montgomery's command. Bradley took it badly, especially when told of Monty's swaggering into a US operational HQ and refusing a lunch invitation.

The tide of battle may be about to shift though. The German thrusts have repeatedly been stalled by fuel shortages and pockets of American resistance. Better still the days of sleet and low cloud, which have protected the Germans from Allied air power, are about to end, according to the forecasters.

Meanwhile, Patton's Third Army is on the move. Eisenhower did not believe Patton when he promised that he would be at Bastogne by today; he had to disengage his men from battle on the Saar front, execute a 90 degree change of course and move over 130,000 vehicles 75 miles to the north. And he has done just that.

General der Infanterie Heinz Kokott, Commanding General 26 Volks Grenadier Division:

"The elements of the division surrounding Bastogne in a wide arc - from Recogne to almost Mande-St. Etienne - could be supplied only with difficulty. This not only because the units were widely separated from each other but especially due to the fact that, owing to enemy air activity, supply movements had to be confined to the hours of darkness and nighttime. Movements by the horse-drawn supply columns, the regimental columns and the supply platoons of the battalions were carried out with untiring efforts, and the loading space of the motorized columns was utilized to thee limit of its capacity. (Jay Stone)

7th U.S. Army had repositioned to cover ground formerly held by Patton's 35d Army. Germans realized that this was a serious weakness in the U.S. force.

Plans for "Operation Nordwind" were finalized with massing of the "lost German Divisions" (that Allied intelligence could not account for) along the Rhine for an assault against U.S. 7th Army in Alsace-Lorraine. Hitler wanted to drive to Paris. German generals were more realistic and wanted to recapture Strasburg, now held by the Free French First Army.

[Strasburg was considered politically critical by both the French and the Germans since they had been fighting over it for 100 years.]

To the dismay of German General Staff, Heinrich Himmler was given command of the Army of the Upper Rhine. (Joe Brott)

FRANCE: The Canadians reportedly capture Tilly before dawn, but they only control half the village, and the German panzers counter-attack, destroying most Canadian tanks and cutting off the North Nova Scotia Highlanders.

In the U.S. Third Army's XII Corps area, the 35th Infantry Division moves from Puttelange to Metz. The 2d Cavalry Group (Mechanized) assembles near Vatimont.

LUXEMBOURG: In the U.S. Third Army's III Corps area, the 26th Infantry Division, to the right of the corps, marches about 16 miles (26 kilometers) before making contact with the Germans in the Rambrouch-Grosbous area. After a 5-mile (8 kilometer) advance, the 80th Infantry Division runs into stiff resistance at Merzig and Ettelbruck but clears most of Merzig. In XX Corps area, the 90th Infantry Division completes a withdrawal of the Dillingen bridgehead.

In the U.S. Ninth Army's XIX Corps area, the 5th Armored Division clears Untermaubach and Schneidhausen before being relieved in the line by the 8th and 83d Infantry Divisions. The 8th Infantry Division attack on Obermaubach fails.

During the night of 22/23 December, RAF Bomber Command flies two missions: in the first mission, 166 Lancasters and two Mosquitos, but with some Pathfinders, are sent to bomb the Mosel marshalling yard (M/Y) at Koblenz; 162 aircraft bomb the target without loss. The aiming point is the Mosel railway yards. There is some cloud in the target area and the local report says that the main weight of the attack falls in the farming areas between 2 and 4 kilometers (1.2 and 2.5 miles) to the west where the villages of GÃ¼ls and RÃ¼benach are badly hit. But the fringes of the bombing falls on the railway yards, several main lines and two important road bridges. In the second mission, 106 aircraft, 90 Halifaxes, 14 Lancasters and two Mosquitos, are dispatched to bomb the Bingerbruck M/Y at Bingen; two Halifaxes and a Lancaster are lost. The attack is extremely accurate and all bombs fall into the yards or into the nearby Rhine River, where two barges are sunk. All movement of supp lies by rail through Bingen to the Ardennes battle front cease.

HUNGARY: A provisional Hungarian government, under Soviet protection, is formed at Debrecen.

ITALY: Clearing weather during the day enables USAAF Twelfth Air Force medium bombers to hit bridges at Torre Beretti, Pontetidone, and Chiari; fighter-bombers concentrate on railway targets, destroying five bridges in northern Italy and making numerous cuts in rail lines, several on the important Brenner Pass line. Motor transport and guns north of the battle area are also successfully attacked. During the night of 22/23 December, A-20 Havocs on intruder patrols hit Po River crossings and targets of opportunity.

YUGOSLAVIA: Eleven RAF bombers of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group fly supplies to partisans.

SWEDEN: A secret OSS report originating in Stockholm stated that U-boats armed with V-1s would shortly sail on a patrol against New York; this was the fourth such report in 8 weeks.

BURMA: In the Northern Combat Area Command area, the 29th Brigade, British 36th Division, moving down the Irrawaddy River, gets patrols to Tigyaing, from which the Japanese have withdrawn. From Tigyaing the brigade is to cross the river for a drive on Mongmit while the rest of the division closes in on Mongmit from the north.

Twelve USAAF Tenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells bomb a supply area at Magyidon; eight P-47 Thunderbolts knock out the Namhkai bypass bridge and damage two bridges at Kinu and 16 hit targets of opportunity along the Irrawaddy River from Tagaung to Thabeikkyin and along the road east and north to Mongmit and 12 P-47 Thunderbolts bomb and strafe a personnel area at Onbauk and bridge at Na-lang.

USAAF Fourteenth Air Force aircraft strafe Heho Airfield and targets of opportunity at Wanling.

CHINA: Two USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells bomb Yungning. Over 80 P-51 Mustangs and P-40s on armed reconnaissance over wide reaches of southern China, eastern Burma, and northern French Indochina hit numerous targets of opportunity. The Tien Ho Airfield in Canton is strafed and several aircraft are destroyed in battles over Canton and Kai Tek Airfield in Hong Kong. Rail facilities, river and road traffic, and other targets of opportunity are hit at Chinchengehiang and the Pingsiang-Yungning area.

JAPAN: The USAAF Twentieth Air Force's XXI Bomber Command flies Mission 14: 78 B-29 Superfortresses from the Mariana Islands are dispatched to hit the Mitsubishi aircraft industrial complex in Nagoya; 48 hit the primary target and 14 hit alternate targets. Total cloud cover prevents accuracy, and damage is light. B-29 gunners claim 9-17-15 Japanese aircraft; three B-29s are lost.

FRENCH INDOCHINA: Four USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells damage a bridge at Song Hoa. Rail facilities, river and road traffic, and other targets of opportunity are hit by fighter-bombers at Gia Lam.

COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: In the U.S. Sixth Army's X Corps area on Leyte Island, the 127th Infantry Regiment, 32d Infantry Division reaches Lonoy. The 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, aided by a mortar platoon brought forward by sea, clears Tuktuk. In the XXIV Corps area, the 2d and 3d Battalions, 305th Infantry Regiment, 77th Infantry Division, start west from Valencia toward the coast at Palompon, passing through the 1st Battalion, the 306th Infantry Regiment at the Togbong River and continuing across the Pagsangahan River toward Matagob. Engineers follow closely to work on the bridges.

On Luzon, USAAF Far East Air Forces (FEAF) B-24 Liberators, with P-47 Thunderbolt support, bomb Clark Field while P-47 Thunderbolts bomb and strafe Lipa Airfield. On Negros Island, B-24s bomb Carolina Airfield while B-25 Mitchells, with P-47 cover, hit Fabrica Aerodrome. On Mindanao Island, B-24s bomb storage and personnel areas while B-25s hit the waterfront at Zamboanga. FEAF aircraft fly numerous shipping searches, armed reconnaissance, and sweeps over Mindanao and throughout the Netherlands East Indies.

EAST INDIES: In the Moluccas Islands of the Netherlands East Indies, numerous fighter-bombers pound the Wasile Bay and Goeroea areas on Galela Island and Hate Tabako Aerodrome on Halmahera Island. USAAF and Australian B-24 Liberators, B-25 Mitchells, and fighter-bombers bomb Lolobato and Hate Tabako Aerodromes on Halmahera Island and the Goeroea area. The Australian First Tactical Air Force beings a four-day blitz on Japanese installations. A total of 384 Kittyhawk and 129 Beaufighter sorties are made in the four days.

VOLCANO ISLANDS: During the night of 22/23 December, two USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators based in the Mariana Islands make harassing strikes on Iwo Jima.

U.S.A.: Washington: Henry Arnold is promoted to the rank of General of the Army.

Commissioning of first 2 African-American WAVES officers, Harriet Ida Pickens and Frances F. Wills.

CANADA: Frigates HMCS Antigonish and Beacon Hill departed Halifax and Shelburne respectively for Esquimalt.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Operation Deadlight: Former Kriegsmarine U-boats U-143, U-145, U-1194 and U-2354 are sunk by the Royal Navy.