 Dirty, tired, hungry and undefeated - 1st Marine Division marches to the rear as they are relieved on Guadalcanal |
Project 60: A Day-by-Day Diary of WWII
Remembering the First Fight Against Fascism |
 The new Red Army soldier - Well equipped, proud, and victorious |
Axis convoys between
Italy and Tunisia continue to be interdicted by British naval forces. Four
supply convoys set off from Italy. Three were turned back and the fourth had
four transports and one escort sunk. The British lost a destroyer in the action. Australian forces
capture parts of the Japanese defenses at Gona. Admiral Darlan takes command of French forces in North Africa indicating that Marshal Petain was virtually a prisoner of the Germans Enrico Fermi, an
Italian physicist, along with Arthur Compton, working in a small lab under the
racket courts at the University of Chicago, successfully completes the first
controlled nuclear reaction at Chicago Pile 1 (CP-1). Use of the power of the
atom was now a reality. After completing the last rod extraction, Fermi said,
“Put the rods back down. That’s all for now, put the rods down, let’s go
to lunch.” The Stalingrad and
Don Fronts launch massed attacks against the Germans encircled in Stalingrad.
Fighting was very heavy and losses high on both sides, little progress was made
in reducing the perimeter. German units,
previously stationed in France, begin arriving in Army Group South, in
preparation for the attack to relieve Stalingrad. In Tunisia, the 10th
Panzer Division launches limited attacks capturing Djedeida and Tebourba. French
and American forces captured the Faid Pass in southern Tunisia. British and American
bombers continue to strike Italian ports. On this day, the Italian light cruiser
Muzio Attendolo was sunk. Strong attacks by US forces at Buna are bloodily repulsed.
Malaria and heat prostration also take a heavy toll. The German hospital ship Graz hit a mine off Bizerta, Libya. In Tunisia, German
forces hit British forces, inflicting heavy losses, destroying 25 tanks and
taking 400 prisoners. After five days of
heavy fighting and suffering serious losses, the Soviets suspend the attacks by
the Don and Stalingrad Fronts against the German in the Stalingrad pocket.
Outside the pocket, the Soviets launch probing attacks against the Germans along
the Chir River which are repulsed by counterattacks from the 11th
Panzer Division. Further north, German
attacks on the west face of the Rzhev salient intensified as 30 and 41st
Panzer Corps (5 Panzer divisions in all) hit the Soviet 41st Army
nier Belyi. Fighting was intense. The Italians launched
three manned “Chariot” torpedoes into Gibraltar harbor. No losses were
reported. To commemorate the
anniversary of the attack at Pearl Harbor, the United States launches the new
battleship New Jersey, along with 11 other ships. The Australian 21st
Brigade makes concerted effort to take Gona. The attack fails. In Tunisia, German
counter-attacks hit the American forces at El Guettrar. In this first major
contact between the Germans and Americans, the US forces fought with great
confusion and retreated in disorder. The
Germans also occupy the port of Bizerte in Tunisia. After months of poor and short rations, and living in the jungle nightmare, the 1st Marine Division is relieved by fresh troops from the 14th Corps at Guadalcanal. The Italians launched
another “Chariot” (manned torpedo) raid into the port of Algiers. This
attack succeeded in sinking four supply ships. Australian troops
finally dislodge the Japanese from Gona. The Germans finally
realize that their attempt to take Baku and the rich oil fields of the Caucasus
had failed and began to withdraw from Elista and Mozdok. Montgomery’s 8th
Army starts to advance through Libya again after its leisurely rest and refit. The
Germans launch their attacks to relieve the Stalingrad pocket. General von
Manstein commences Operation “Winter Storm”, sending Battle Group Hoth (a
mere 13 divisions with 230 tanks) forward in the area around Kotelnikovo.
Initial attacks hit the Soviet 51st Army which gives ground but
remains intact. The
wizards at Bletchly Park succeeded in breaking the “Shark” Enigma key. This
code was the one used by Germna U-boats and had been unreadable for over a year.
This came none too soon as the previous month had been one of the most
successful for the Germans as they sunk 83 ships (721,700 tons), their highest
total of the war. Rommel
begins to retreat from his positions El Agheila, as the Eighth Army closes once
again. Hoth’s tanks continue to make headway against the 51st Army as the German drive to relieve Stalingrad continues. The “Desert Rats”
of the British 7th Armored Division hit the German rearguards at El
Agheila while elements of the New Zealand Division attempt a flank move to cut
them off. US forces capture
most of Buna but diehard Japanese forces still occupy strongholds. Japanese forces land a battalion of infantry (800 men) 30 miles west of Gona and advance threatening the Australian’s flank. 1941 Archive: 1942 Archive: Special Editions: Editor's Corner Archive: Hitler's Angle "The story of Prescott Bush and his association with the Nazis begins just before the end of World War I..." The Past Through Tomorrow "It is quite frightening to realize just how similar our nation’s actions have been and appear to be heading when compared this way..." Afghanistan and Vietnam: When the “war against terrorism” began, many knowledgeable people warned that our operations in Afghanistan would turn into another Vietnam. Want to Win - Think Before You Lash Out - "If we are serious about taking the war to the enemy, it is time to look ..." The First Fight Against Fascism - We must remember the Spanish Civil War also. Arguing Victory - "... Each nation who fought against fascist tyranny in WWII brought with it part of whole needed to defeat that evil..." War, Glory, Honor and Remembrance - "War is a brutal and savage insult on human society..." The First
Casualty... in time of war, those in power are even more inclined to
hide the truth, since that truth is often manifest in the most gruesome and
terrible acts. Those wishing to contribute items. stories or comments should contact D.A. Friedrichs |