Project 60 - "The First Fight Against Fascism" - Archives
December 1943
The Teheran Conference ends between
Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill. The “big three” agree to the invasion of
northern France in May 1944, a second invasion in southern France some time
later, and Russia joining the war against Japan once Germany was defeated.
The German attacks in the Zhitomir area
intensify forcing the Soviets to withdraw from Korosten.
The Teheran Conference ends between
Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill. The “big three” agree to the invasion of
northern France in May 1944, a second invasion in southern France some time
later, and Russia joining the war against Japan once Germany was defeated.
The German attacks in the Zhitomir area
intensify forcing the Soviets to withdraw from Korosten.
The Teheran Conference ends between
Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill. The “big three” agree to the invasion of
northern France in May 1944, a second invasion in southern France some time
later, and Russia joining the war against Japan once Germany was defeated.
The German attacks in the Zhitomir area
intensify forcing the Soviets to withdraw from Korosten.
German positions in the Gomel area
crumble as Red Army forces capture Dovsk and move toward Rogachev.
The German 17th Army,
isolated on the Crimean peninsula, launch desperate attacks against Soviet
beachheads around Kerch.
Tito’s sets up a provisional
government in Yugoslavia.
The US submarine Sailfish,
patrolling in the Japanese home waters, sinks the escort carrier Chuyo.
Operation Crossbow, the effort to bomb
the V-1 launch sites along the French coast, begins.
The British 10th Corps (US 5th
Army) is engaged in heavy fighting around the summit of Monte Camino.
December 6, 1943
Konev’s forces continue to advance in
the Ukraine as the Red Army takes Znamenka, cutting the rail line to Smela.
December 7,
1943
December 8, 1943
Australian forces capture Wareo in New
Guinea
A US Naval force consisting of 5
battleships and 12 destroyers bombards Kwajalein Island.
December 9, 1942
Soviet forces capture Znamenka and Mederovo.
Chinese forces retake Changteh in Hunan.
The British 8th Army crosses the Moro River in Italy.December 11, 1943
US bombers hit Emden, Germany killing 1000 civilians and leaving 12,000 homeless.
December 12, 1943
Erwin Rommel is appointed to command
Army Group B. He is now responsible for organizing the “Atlantic Wall”
defenses from Holland to the Bay of Biscay.
December 13, 1943
The P-51D makes its escort combat debut, escorting American bombers on a raid to Kiel.
Soviet forces from the 1st (Vatutin) and 2nd (Konev) Ukrainian Fronts launch fresh attacks on the Russian front, capturing Cherkassy and advancing to Bitebsk. The Germans are also active attacking anc capturing Radomyshl (near Malin). Meanwhile, to the north, Yeremenko’s Baltic Front opens attacks against Nevel.
The US 112the Cavalry Regiment (US 6th
Army) lands on the Arawe Peninsula in New Britain. The new position is only 280
miles from Rabul.
483 heavy Lancaster bombers hit Berlin.
The raid hit housing and rail yards. Of the 700 dead civilians, 186 were women
and 26 children forced laborers from the east. The bombing to date has destroyed
nearly 25% of Berlin’s housing.
After 10 days of bitter and bloody fighting, the US 2nd Corps (5th Army) captures San Pietro in Italy. The battle was the topic of a famous documentary film by John Huston. Upon review of the film, military authorities of the day criticized it for its harsh realism and the release was cut by 40%. The full length film survives intact today and is one of the best films of its kind available today
The Germans launch a counter attack at San Pietro, hitting the 36th Infantry Division. The attack is stopped cold.
Four SS troopers (three Germans and one
Russian) were hung for atrocities committed during the occupation of Kharkov.
They were accused and guilty of taking part in the murder of thousands of
Russian citizens in “gas vans”. 50,000
Russians turn out to witness the execution.
Spanish dictator Francisco Franco
orders the “Blue Division” disbanded and returned from the Russian front to
Spain. Over 40,000 Falangists (Spanish Fascists) fought beside their German
comrades during their two years in the Soviet Union.
Allied counter-intelligence forces
arrest 28 Nazi spies in Italy including the ringleader “Grammatico”.
RAF Bomber command hit Frankfurt with
650 bombers. The raid was detected early and 41 aircraft were lost in the raid
which did little damage to the city.
The US 5th Army is heavily
engaged at Monte Sammucro.
Heavy street fighting breaks out in Ortona, Italy between the German 1st Parachute Division and the 1st Canadian Division.
RAF Bomber command sent 379 planes to
hit Berlin again. Bad weather and equipment failures resulted in few losses and
minimal damage to the city.
The 1st Ukrainian Front (Vatutin)
opens a fresh set of attacks on the German lines west of Kiev. Berdichev is
captured.
US fighter bombers hit the V-1 launch
sites in France. Of the 24 sites hit, 7 were completely destroyed. Regretably,
30 French workers were killed in one raid.
Soviet forces cut the rail line between
Vitebsk and Polotsk.
US naval aircraft from two carriers
raid Kavieng but succeed in sinking only one Japanese transport.
Death of the Scharnorst: First
contact was made between Scharnorst and the British heavy cruiser Norfolk
at 0834 hours. Within an hour, the light cruisers Belfast and Sheffield
had also made contact with the German forces. By 0930 hours, Belfast and
Norfolk had engaged the Scharnhorst. After being hit twice, Scharnorst
broke contact, but by noon had once again turned back to the north. Contact with
the British cruisers is made shortly thereafter and a second gun battle begins. Norfolk
and Scharnhorst are both damaged and Scharnhorst once again turns
away and breaks contact. Late in the afternoon, the British battleship Duke
of York makes contact with Scharnhorst. Duke of York opens
fire at 1648 and scores several hits. Within 10 minutes the cruisers join in the
battle. The German attempts to retreat and does succeed in opening the range of
the battle. However, at 1820 hours, British destroyers hit the Scharnorst
with a torpedo, cutting her top speed to 20 knots. The British force is joined
by cruisers Jamaica and Belfast along with three destroyers. They let
loose a salvo of torpedoes which cripples the German. Scharnhorst capsized
and sank at 1945 taking all of her 1900 member crew less 36, with here to the
bottom.
Elements of the US 1st
Marine Division land at Cape Cloucester on New Britain.
Little resistance was met.
1st Ukrainian Front captures Radomyshl.
December 27, 1943
Allied aircraft sink the German blockade runner Alsterufer in the Bay of Biscay.
December 28,
1943
Allied overtures to Turkey collapse as that country makes additional demands that cannot be met.
A German destroyer group encounters two British cruisers (Enterprise and Glasgow) while attempting to rendezvous with the blockade runner Alsterufer (sunk the previous day). Three of the German destroyers were sunk in the encounter.
First Ukrainian Front continues its
advance capturing Korostyshev and Kateyvka.
December 29, 1943
The 1st Ukrainian Front offensive continues as Korosten, Chernakov and Skvira are captured.
Chinese forces, spearheaded by the elite 38th Infantry Division, in cooperation with Merrill's Marauders, begin offensive operations in the Hukawng Valley in northern Burma. Their goal is to reestablish a land supply route between India and China along the "Burma Road
December 30, 1942
Vatutin's forces smash German defenses south of Kiev advancing 30-60 miles along a 180-mile front.
US Marines secure Cape Gloucester airfield on New Britain.
The Battle for Razabil in the Arakan begins between British and Japanese forces.
December 31,
1943
Vatutin's 1st Ukrainian Front retakes Zhitomir, 80 miles west of Kiev.