What happened today?

30th November 1939

Russia attacks Finland.

After the failure of two months of verbal bullying by Molotov, and facing ongoing defiance by the Finnish leaders Paassikivi and Tanner, the Soviet Union breaks off negotiations, and attacks Finland through the Karelian Isthmus. The Soviets had been pressuring Finland to allow Russian forces to establish garrisons and bases within her borders.

Despite their shortage of artillery, communications equipment, and transport, and despite the total lack of tanks, the Finnish forces held back the Russian infantry and tanks, inflicting enormous casualties on the invaders, almost annihilating some of the Russian units.

By late December the Russians were in full retreat from the Finns.

The Russians would return in January 1940, under the leadership of General Timoshenko. This time they set about the systematic destruction of the Manneheim Line, through which they had failed to penetrate in 1939.

By March 1940, the Russians had driven the Finns back to Viipuri, and the end of their valiant defence was in sight.

On the 13th of March, bowing to the inevitable, Prime Minister Ryti signed the Treaty of Moscow, which returned the Russo-Finnish border to where Peter the Great had drawn it in 1721.

1st December 1944

German forces evacuate Suda Bay, Cannae and Maleme on Crete.

US forces drive into Germany on a 30 mile front.

_________________________

This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But, it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning. - Winston Churchill

 

As a matter of fact Stalin et co always referred this as DEFENSIVE measures on part of Finland, never as attacking Finland. This would make it look like Russia only defended herself like the city of Leningrad from possible artillery fire from Finland....( yeah right... )

The reason for Russians to start the war was "the Mainila shots" in which several Russian soldiers died and Russia claimed Finnish artillery did this. Finns told they did not have any artillery in Karelia but it would not matter;Russia had decided to attack no matter what.

"In the end of November -39 Soviet Union (SU) accused Finnish gunnery shooting over the border in Mainila, a village in Karelian Isthmus and started "defensive measures". Later it has been found out that those "Mainila shots" were shot by Soviets themselves.

I think Russia admitted in 1992 that their own artillery shot the "Mainila shots"...

http://www.wargamer.com/rtm/wintwar.htm

 

Here´s something you want to see if interested in Winter War and the Finnish part altogether in WW2:



http://www.wargamesdirectory.com/html/reviews/review16.asp

 

From the night over the Reich.....nothing much happening with the German night fighter crews. A change of almost all Ju 88G-1's to G-6's. NJG 4 being a bit slow to receive the new mounts. December 2/3 1944 Oblt. Briegleb, now a retired Doctor, of III./NJG 2 shoots down 1 Wellington? 6 km north of Baltrum as his 19th victory.
Many practice flights for the inevitable operation coming mid December......over the Ardenne. The whole month of December for the German night fighter force is one of trials and dissappointments. Many new crews will fall due to the unfamiliarity of flying in bad weather, and everything imaginable is dumped on the Reich and in Belgium. Non-ace crews are ordered to fly almost suicidal night ground attack missions bombing forward and rearward centers of communications and disposal points, many falling to Allied AA and Mossie intruders, landing an taking off accidents and just plain getting lost and running out of fuel or smashing into the rugged peaks of the region. In fact around 146 German night fighters are lost for the whole month, the most lost in all it's career as a fighting force. 90 Allied a/c are claimed with 35 of these being Soviet machines......

E

 

KP, thanks for the Winter War info. I kind of figured you might have a little bit more info than me. Must admit I didn't know about the "Mainila Shots" "defensive" maneuver by the Russians. Do you think they learned that one after the Polish attack on the German radio station that started WW2??
_____________

"Chamberlain seemed such a nice old gentleman that I thought I would give him my autograph."
Adolf Hitler.

 

2nd December 1939

The 1940 Winter Olympic Games, scheduled to be held in Finland, are cancelled. (Probably had something to do with the fact all the Finnish competitors were out fighting the Russians )

_____________________

"Chamberlain seemed such a nice old gentleman that I thought I would give him my autograph."
Adolf Hitler.

 

Except for Biathlon....

 

Anyway, this is history as the olympic games were not held in 1940 due to the war:

 

Pearl Harbor

Look out World, here comes the US War Machine!

 

5th December1941

Great Britain declares war on Finland, Hungary, and Roumania.

Several Consolidated B-24 Liberators arrive in Hawaii in preparation for the photo-reconnaissance of Japanese military installations in the Marshall and Caroline Island groups.

5th December 1943

The US 9th Air Force begins "Operation Crossbow", the destruction of German secret weapon installations.

6th December 1940

Marshall Badoglio, Duke of Addis Ababa, and chief of the Italian General Staff, resigns.

7th December 1939

In the Winter War, the Russian 163rd Division approaches Suomussali village in eastern Finland, is halted by the freezing conditions. The division is then attacked by the Finnish 9th Division, which severs it's supply lines. The Russian 44th Division, sent to relieve the 163rd, is also blocked by Finnish attacks. Both Russian divisions attempt to break out of the Finnish trap. By the end of December both Russian divisions are forced to capitulate, after having lost 27,500 men to Finnish attacks and the freezing weather.

7th December 1941

The Imperial Japanese Empire makes the biggest mistake in it's history....

7th December 1944

In Berlin, the Nazi women's leader, Gertrud Scholtz-Klink, appeals to all women over the age of 18, to volunteer for service in the Wehrmacht and the Luftwaffe, to release more men for the front.

8th December 1941

The United States of America, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Holland, the Free French, Yugoslavia, and several South American countries, formally declare war on the Japanese Empire.

The first Japanese attack on Wake Island takes place. Japanese aircraft also attack Hong Kong, Guam, and Midway.

In Berlin, Adolf Hitler reluctantly agrees to issue Directive No.39, suspending the advance on Moscow, for the duration of the winter. Army Group Centre begins to withdraw to less exposed positions farther west, much to Hitler's anger.

8th December 1944

In the Pacific, the US Air Force begins a 72 day bombardment of Iwo Jima, the longest and heaviest in the Pacific Theatre, to pave the way for an amphibious assault by US Marines.

9th December 1940

General Wavell, C. in C. Middle East, launches "Operation Compass" against the Italian positions in Egypt. Two divisons under General Richard O'Connor attack the Italian 10th Army, consisting of 10 Divisions.

9th December 1941

First US bombing mission in the Orient takes place. Boeing B-17 bombers belonging to the 19th Bombardment Group, attack Japanese ships off the east coast of Vigan, Luzon, in the Phillipines.

______________

"In the first six to twelve months of a war with the United States and Great Britain I will run wild and win victory upon victory. But then, if the war continues after that, I have no expectation of success."
Admiral Yamamoto in an interview with Shigeharu Matsumoto,
a member of the Japanese Cabinet, 1940

 

Hehe, let me add this

December 7th 1941 (8th in the Philippines)
What happened to the Army Air Corps in the Philippines During December 1941

Monday 8 December 1941
The first word of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor is received on Luzon, Philip-pine Islands by commercial radio between 0300-0330 hours local. Within 30 minutes radar at Iba Field, Luzon plots a formation of airplanes 75-miles (120-km) offshore, heading for Corregidor Island. P-40's are sent out to intercept but make no contact. Shortly before 0930 hours, after Japanese aircraft are detected over Lingayen Gulf heading toward Manila, B-17's at Clark Field, Luzon are ordered airborne to prevent being caught on the ground. Fighters from Clark and Nichols Fields are sent to intercept the enemy but do not make contact. The Japanese airplanes swing East and bomb military installations at Baguio, Tarlac, Tuguegarao, and airfields at Cabantuan are also attacked. By 1130 hours, the B-17's and fighters sent into the air earlier have landed at Clark and Iba Fields for refueling, and radar has disclosed another flight of Japanese aircraft 70-miles (112-km) West of Lingayen Gulf, headed South. Fighters from Iba Field make a fruitless search over the South China Sea. Fighters from Nichols Field are dispatched to patrol over Bataan and Manila. Around 1145 hours a formation is reported headed South over Lingayen Gulf. Fighters are ordered from Del Carmen Field to cover Clark Field but fail to arrive before the Japanese hit Clark shortly after 1200 hours. B-17's and many fighters at Clark Field are caught on the ground, but a few P-4O's manage to get airborne. 2d Lieutenant Randall B. Keator of the 20th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 24th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), shoots down the first Japanese aircraft over the Philippines. The P-40's earlier sent on patrol of the South China Sea return to Iba Field with fuel running low at the beginning of a Japanese attack on that airfield. The P-40's fail to prevent bombing but manage to prevent low-level strafing of the sort which proved so destructive at Clark Field. At the end of the day's action it is apparent that the Japanese have won a major victory. The effective striking power of Far East Air Force has been destroyed, the fighter strength has been seriously reduced, most B-17 maintenance facilities have been demolished, and about 90 men have been killed.

Tuesday 9 December 1941
Shortly after 0300 hours, Japanese aircraft attack Nichols Field. This attack, added to the previous day's raids on Clark and Iba Fields, leaves the Far East Air Force strength reduced by half. Only 17 of 35 B-17's remain in commission; about 55 P-40's, 3 P-35's, and close to 30 other aircraft (B-10's, B-18's, and observation airplanes) have been lost in aerial combat or destroyed on the ground. During the morning and afternoon, B-17's from Mindanao Island fly reconnaissance missions and land on Clark and San Marcelino Fields on Luzon. Several more B-17's are flown from Mindanao Island to these Luzon bases for resistance against a possible invasion attempt. The 3d Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 24th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), transfers from Iba Airfield to Nichols Field, Luzon with P-40's. The 17th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 24th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), based at Nichols Field begins operating from Clark Field, Luzon with P-40's.


Wednesday 10 December 1941
B-17's, P-40's, and P-35's attack a convoy landing troops and equipment at Vigan and at Aparri in N.Luzon. 1 transport at Vigan is destroyed. The strikes include the much publicized attack of Captain Colin P Kelly Jr of the 14th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on a warship off Aparri. Captain Kelly, who is killed when his B-17 is shot down by fighters as he is returning to Clark Field, is later posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) for destroying a battleship. However, later information reveals that he attacked the heavy cruiser ASHIGARA, probably scoring near misses.

Thursday 11 December 1941
Italy and Germany declare war on the United States.

Friday 12 December 1941
More than 100 Japanese aircraft hit targets at Clark Field, Batangas, and Olongapo on Luzon Island. No hits are scored by the single B-17 that is sent against Japanese transports at Vigan. The 3d Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 24th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), transfers from Nichols Field to Ternate, Luzon and operating from Del Carmon, Luzon with P-40's.


Yes, this really is a P-26. And yes, the Really did fight with this.
Saturday 13 December 1941
1st Lieutenant Boyd D Wagner of the 17th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 24th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), shoots down 4 Japanese airplanes near Aparri while on a reconnaissance mission over North Luzon. In another action, Captain Jesus Villamor of the Philippine Air Force leads 6 P-26's in an interception of 54 Japanese bombers attacking Batangas Field, Luzon; their harassing tactics minimized the damage to the field.


Sunday 14 December 1941
B-17's are sent against the Japanese beachhead at Legaspi, Luzon. 1st Lieutenant Hewitt T Wheless is later awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) for bringing his bullet-riddled B-17 back from the mission to an emergency crashlanding at Cagayan, Mindanao Island.

Tuesday 16 December 1941
1st Lieutenant Boyd D. Wagner of the 17th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 24th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), leads a dive-bombing raid on the airfield at Vigan and shoots down his fifth aircraft, thereby becoming the first Army Air Forces "Ace" in World War II.

Wednesday 17 December 1941
B-17's, evacuating Luzon, begin arriving at Batchelor Field near Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. Captain Floyd J Pell arrives in Australia to begin arrangements for the use of Australian facilities by the Far East Air Force.

Friday 19 December 1941
The air echelon of the 93d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy) transfers from Clark Field, Luzon to Batchelor Field near Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia with B-17's. The ground echelon is attached to the 5th Interceptor Command (Provisional) and will fight as infantry on Luzon and Mindanao Islands in the Philippines.

Saturday 20 December 1941
The air echelon of the 30th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy), transfers from Clark Field, Luzon to Batchelor Field near Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia with B-17's. The ground echelon is reassigned to the 5th Interceptor Command (Provisional) and will fight as infantry in the Philippines.

Monday 22 December 1941
9 B-17's from Batchelor Field near Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, attack shipping in Davao Bay, Mindanao Island and land at Del Monte on Mindanao Island. HQ 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and the ground echelon of it's 9th, 11th and 22d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) and attached 88th Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy) arrive at Brisbane, Australia from the US. The air echelons of the 9th and 11th are enroute from the US to Australia with B-17's; the air echelons of the 22d and 88th are operating from Hickam Field, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii until 5 January 1942 and 10 February 1942 respectively with B-17's. The 16th, 17th and 91st Bombardment Squadrons (Light), 27th Bombardment Group (Light) transfer from Ft William McKinley to Lipa Airfield, San Fernando and San Marceleno, Luzon respectively without aircraft.

Tuesday 23 December 1941
4 B-17's take off from Del Monte on Mindanao Island after midnight during the night of 22/23 Dec and bomb shipping in Lingayen Gulf, Luzon. 12 P-4O's and 6 P-35's strafe forces landing in San Miguel Bay on Luzon. The Far East Air Force comes under control of the newly-created US Forces in Australia (USFIA). Major General Lewis H. Brereton, Commanding General Far East Air Force, receives orders establishing HQ Far East Air Force at Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.

Wednesday 24 December 1941
3 B-17's fly from Del Monte, Mindanao Island during the night of 24/25 Dec, bomb the airfield and shipping at Davao on Mindanao Island and land at Batchelor Field near Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. 2 airplanes leave Manila, Luzon for Darwin with personnel of HQ Far East Air Force. Army Air Force units on Luzon, as well as ground forces, begin moving to Bataan Peninsula. HQ 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and the air echelon of the 28th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) transfer from Clark Field, Luzon to Batchelor Field with B-17's. The ground echelon of the 28th will fight as infantry on Luzon and Mindanao. The air echelon of the 14th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy) begins operating from Batchelor Field with B-17's. The ground echelon is still at Clark Field, Luzon. The air echelons of the 16th, 17th and 91st Bombardment Squadrons (Light), 27th Bombardment Group (Light) begin operating from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia with A-24's. The ground echelons will fight as infantry on Luzon. The 17th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 24th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) ceases operating from Clark Field, Luzon with P-40's.

Thursday 25 December 1941
Lieutenant Colonel Charles H. Caldwell sets up HQ Far East Air Force on the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) airfield at Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. HQ V Bomber Command is also established at Darwin. The 3d, 17th, 20th, 21st and 34th Pursuit Squadrons (Interceptor), 24th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), transfer from Ternate, Nichols Field, Clark Field, Nichols Field and Del Carmen respectively to Bataan, Luzon with P-35's and P-40's. The 17th and 20th begin operating from Lubao, Luzon with P-40's HQ 27th Bombardment Group (Light) and the ground echelon of it's 16th, 17th and 91st Bombardment Squadrons (Light) transfer from Lipa Airfield, San Fernando and San Marceleno respectively to Cabcaben, Luzon. The air echelons are operating from Brisbane, Australia; the ground echelons will fight as infantry on Luzon.

Sunday 28 December 1941
The ground echelon of the 17th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 27th Bombardment Group (Light) transfers from Cabcaben to Limay, Luzon. The air echelon is operating from Brisbane, Australia.

Monday 29 December 1941
Major General Lewis H. Brereton, Commanding General Far East Air Force, arrives at his new HQ at Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. Colonel Harold H. George remains at Manila in command of the air elements left in the Philippines, the chief center of Army Air Force activity in the South Philippines being Del Monte on Mindanao Island where air personnel are under the command of Major Ray T. Ellsmore. The ground echelon of the 16th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 27th Bombardment Group (Light), transfers from Cabcaben to Bataan, Luzon. The air echelon is operating from Brisbane, Australia.

Tuesday 30 December 1941
HQ 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and the air echelon of it's 28th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) transfer from Batchelor Field near Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia to Singosari, Java, Netherlands East Indies with B-17's. The ground echelon of the 28th is on Luzon and Mindanao Islands. The air echelon of the 14th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy), transfers from Batchelor Field to Singosari, Java with B-17's. The ground echelon is on Luzon Island.

Wednesday 31 December 1941
The 17th and 20th Pursuit Squadrons (Interceptor), 24th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), cease operating from Lubao with P-40's and return to their base on Bataan, Luzon. The air echelon of the 30th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy) transfers from Batchelor Field near Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia to Singosari, Java, Netherlands East Indies with B-17's. The ground echelon is on Luzon and Mindanao Islands in the Philippines.


They Fought with What They Had

 

Great stuff Carl. S'funny how you get the idea that all went quiet after Pearl Harbor until the Doolittle raid, but it was actually quite a busy time for the US Air Force in Asia.

And now for todays happenings...

10th December 1941

The British battleships, HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse, are attacked and sunk by 88 Japanese torpedo planes and bombers, 50 miles off the coast of Malaya, 840 officers and men are killed in the attack. The attack was a ground breaking achievement for the Japanese, being the first time Capital Ships had been sunk by aircraft while having the freedom to maneuver in the open sea.



10th December 1942

On Guadalcanal, the Japanese have managed to establish a well defended front 6 miles west of Henderson Field. The Japanese force consists of over 20,000 men, however, the opposing 58,000 soldiers of the US forces, are better supplied and equipped and Japanese prospects of a victory are poor.

11th December 1937

Italy decides to leave the League of Nations.

11th December 1942

In France, a unit of Royal Marines in two-man canoes paddle 75 miles up the Gironde and Garonne rivers, to place Limpet mines on German transport ships in Bordeaux harbour. Of the 10 Marines taking part, two are drowned, six are caught and executed by the Germans, with only two managing to escape safely back to England. Five ships were damaged in the raid. Operation "Frankton" becomes a British military legend, commonly referred to as the "Cockleshell Heroes Raid".

11th December 1943

Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten integrates the US 10th Air Force and the RAF "Bengal Command" into a single Eastern Air Command. All Allied air forces are put under the command of Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Peirse.

_________________

"When you say you agree to a thing in principle you mean that you have not the slightest intention of carrying it out in practice."
Otto Von Bismark.

 

11 December 1943 Us bombers over Emden. The third Air division runs into heavy resistance from ZG 26 armed with the twin engine Bf 110G-2/rockets. 14 B-17's are lost in the action.
1 I./ZG 26 Bf 110G is lost in combat with a B-17 it was attacking. III. gruppe lose 7 Bf 110G's as they form up on the B-17's, to Allied fighter escorts, and the Allied fighters claim a total of 14 Bf 110G-2's in this action and are given credit for them.
Other German units are involved as well including JG 1, 4./JG 3, JG 11 and 4. and 5./JG 27.

E

 

12th December 1941

British forces begin a withdrawal from their defensive positions on the mainland near Hong Kong.

12th December 1943

Erwin Rommel is appointed Commander in Chief Fortress Europe. His main task is to assess and evaluate the defences of the Atlantic Wall, and to strengthen the defences were necessary.

13th December 1940

Battle of the River Plate.

The German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee is sighted by the British cruiser Exeter, and the light cruisers Ajax and Achilles, off the coast of South America.

Commodore Henry Harwood, commanding the British force, divides his ships according to a pre-arranged plan. While the Exeter takes one side, the two light cruisers take the other in order to split the German raiders fire power. Initally concentrating on the two smaller vessels, the Admiral Graf Spee's commander, Lansdorff, soon switches the attack to the Exeter, and using his ships' radar advantage, manages to knock out one of the cruisers turrets and her steering. Despite this the Exeter valianty fights on, launching first her starboard torpedoes and then turning to fire her port torpedoes at the German, but without effect.

Eventually, having been struck twice more by the German's 11-inch guns, the Exeter turns away to the south, having lost another gun turret and burning severely. The Ajax and Achilles maneuver towards the German, trying to deter her from persuing the crippled cruiser.

Following her orders from Germany, which stated she should avoid action with warships that could cause her injury requiring dockyard facilities, the Admiral Graf Spee also breaks off and heads westward, with the two light cruisers shadowing her every move.

The Admiral Graf Spee sails into Montevideo harbour, where after much political wrangling, and, with superior British forces supposedly awaiting her exit, and subsequently without any hope of safely returning to Germany, she is scuttled by her crew. Her commander commits suicide a few days later.

13th December 1941

Off Sicily, three British, and one Dutch destroyer, sink the Italian fast Cruisers, Alberico da Barbiano, and the Albertto di Giussano. The Italian warships are caught carrying fuel to North Africa.

Off Messina, the British submarine Urge sinks two Italian transports, and damages the Italian battleship Vittorio Veneto, carrying supplies to Libya.

______________

"There is no cannibalism in the British navy, absolutely none, and when I say none, I mean there is a certain amount."

- Sir John Cunningham

 

December 12, 1944,

German night fighters performing pre Ardenne ground attack missions and having all sort of problems with landings and taking off.

December 12/13, 1944,

more of the smae type of problems as well as losses to Mossie night fighters. 12 losses this particular night with 3 losses going to the wooden wonder, 2 of these losses alone of Bf 110G-4's of 9./NJG 1 which was a heavy blow. A bad sign of things yet to come. Luftwaffe claims of 4 Lancasters and 1 Mosquito.

 

14th December 1941

The British convoy HG-76 leaves Gibraltar for England. The convoy consists of 32 merchantment, 9 escorts, 3 destroyers, and the escort carrier HMS Audacity.



HMS Audacity is the first British escort carrier to be introduced for service with Allied convoys, to provide constant air cover against enemy aircraft and U-Boats, while the convoy is beyond land-based aircraft protection. Audacity began life as the German passenger line MV Hannover, which underwent major reffiting after her capture in March 1940, to eventually become HMS Audacity in June 1941.

During the voyage to England, HG-76 is attacked by 12 U-Boats, but the convoys escorts supported by Audacity's aircraft manage to destroy 5 of the subs. Audacity herself is sunk by 3 torpedoes from U-751 on the 21st of December.

The convoy finally reaches England on the 23rd, having lost Audacity, one destoyers and two merchantmen.

15th December 1944

In the Pacific, the US 24th Division begins landing on the island of Mindoro, starting the commencement of the 2nd phase of General MacArthur's invasion of the Phillipines.

In Burma, the British 19th and 36th Divisions meet up at Indaw, and begin to establish a continuous fighting front agaainst the Japanese forces in northern Burma.

16th December 1941

The Japanese 19th Division makes three landings along the coast of Borneo. The British and Dutch forces defending the island are forced to withdraw, destroying vital oil installations in the retreat.

16th December 1944

Operation Wacht am Rhein (Watch on the Rhine) begins. This offensive through the Ardennes is so named in the hope that the Allies will suspect that this operation is meerly a defensive re-inforcement of the Rhine, rather than an attack in force into the Belgium and Luxembourg Ardenne forests.

The operation's goal is to create an opening from Germany to Antwerp in Belgium. Reaching Antwerp through the Ardennes, the plan is for the German forces to divide the Allies and hopefully encircle and destroy about 30 divisions.

Hitler theorised that if the British 21st Army and the US 1st and 9th Armies were encircled in a new "Dunkirk" without access to supplies and re-inforcements from Antwerp, the British would have to negotiate for a separate peace.

A limited offensive proposed by Generals von Rundstedt, Model and Jodl, which involved only the destruction of the Allied forces concentrated in the Aachen-Maastricht-Liege triangle, was rejected by Hitler, in favour of the full offensive.

_________________________

"Living on Earth may be expensive, but it includes an annual free trip around the sun."
Ashleigh Brilliant.

 

16 December 1944

Battle of the Bulge as we Ami's call it. Massed German artillery commences the battle in one of the stupidest wastes of manpower and equipment that the mighty Wehrmacht has ever gone through. The seizing of Antwerp in a most ridiculous manner, through the Ardenne and without sufficent air power for protection. The assaults of the German night fighter force came to naught as many of them crash due to lack of fuel, fog, inexperienced crews and the sharp shooting of Allied ground AA gunners. Way to go Adolf !

E

 

Not WW2 but...

Thursday 17th December 1903

Orville and Wilbur Wright make the first successfull sustained powered flight in history.



17th December 1935

First flight of the prototype Douglas C-47 (DC-3) "Skytrain/Dakota. The first aircraft is fitted out for night journeys across the US, having up to 14 sleeping berths for passengers. This aircraft is soon to be followed by others fitted for daylight journeys, having only seats. Eventually the aircraft is accepted as a military transport, being used by countries throughout the world. During WW2 the aircraft does stirling service in all theatres of the war, from Europe to the Pacific.



17th December 1941

Admiral Chester Nimitz replaces Admiral Husband Kimmel as Commander of the US Pacific Fleet, following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

18th December 1940

Adolf Hitler issues a secret memoranda on Operation Barbarossa. The projected commencement date for the invasion of Russia is set for May 1941.

18th December 1941

In the Mediterranean, the Royal Navy's Force K, operating out of Malta, runs into a large minefield off Tripoli. The cruiser Neptune and destroyer Kandabahar are both sunk, while the other two cruisers comprising the force are damaged.

In Asia, Japanese forces land on Hong Kong.

18th December 1944

Almost 300 aircraft, including 77 B-29's, of the 14th Air Force carry out a major air radi on the chinese city of Hankow, a large industrial centre and major supply base for the Japanese Army.

______________

"Chamberlain seemed such a nice old gentleman that I thought I would give him my autograph."
Adolf Hitler.

 

Hah,

I managed to forget all about the "battle of the Bulge"! Argh! Thanx Erich....

 

it continues. December 17/18 1944

The Luftwaffe night fighters are starting to feel these night missions. Losses by 11./NJG 6 1 Bf 110G-4 shot down by RAF bombers.
6./NJG 1 1 Bf 110G-4 shot down in combat and crashed into an RAF bomber, both exploding.
12./NJG 1 1 Bf 110G-4 crashed after being hit by Allied AA.
3./NJG 2 1 Ju 88G-6 crashed after engine failure.
4./NJG 5 1 Bf 110G-4 crashed after air combat with RAF bombers
6./NJG 5 1 Bf 110G-4 crashed into the ground, all KIA.
2./NJG 6 1 Bf 110G-4 MIA after night ground attack mission and hit by Allied AA.
2./NJG 11 1 Bf 109G-6 crashed after combat with RAF bombers.
4./NJG 11 1 Bf 109G-6 crashed during a training flight, the pilot killed.....

it gets uglier.....