"It may seem strange to combine the alliance with Russia with the claim that we are contending for Christian civilization, but such misgivings are really misplaced, for the one, first, and essential aim of the whole widespread struggle is the overthrow of the tyranny of evil embodied in the rulers of Germany and all who are engaged in the cause must needs be our allies."

FRANCE: Paris: The German-controlled radio here announced that the Vichy government had decided to deport all British subjects from its territory.

Members of the sizeable British expatriate community on the Cote d'Azur were told to leave a month ago. Many of them are elderly and cut off from their incomes by the speed of the French collapse last year.

Nov Vichy has decided to deport British subjects from France and "to regulate the position of Britons in France". In part, the decision reflects increasing German pressure on the Vichy rulers. "After getting rid of the Free French parasites and the enemies of France as well as of the communists and the Jews," Paris radio said, "it is now the turn of the British."

The decision also reflects the bitter anti-British resentment of Admiral Darlan, the Vichy vice-premier, over what the radio called "the numberless British aggression" against Dakar, Syria and the French fleet.

VICHY FRANCE: The risk of war in the Far East escalated today with the surrender by the Petain regime of its military bases in Indochina to Japan. Britain and America have both denounced the French surrender.

By gaining access to airfields in western Indochina, Japan can now launch more frequent bombing raids against the Burma Road. Occupation of Indochina's east coast ports constitutes a threat to the Philippines (800 miles) and Singapore (750 miles).

FINLAND: Seven Soviet MO boats, carrying 60 Border Guards under the command of Lt. P. Kurilov and Commissar A.I. Rumjantsev set out from the Soviet-held port of Hanko to seize the Finnish island of Bengtskär, which is held by less than 30 men. (Cris Wetton)
The advance of Finnish Karelian Army is stopped north of Lake Ladoga after Col. Lagus' 5th Div. reaches Tuulos, about 20 miles east of pre-1939 border. After beating back Soviet counter-attacks the Finnish troops regroup into defence. More to north (in northern Karelia) the Finnish advance is slowed down by heavy Soviet resistance in well-prepared positions.

U.S.S.R.: The Spanish Volunteer Division of the Wehrmacht is designated the 250th ("Azul/Blue") Infantry Division. It is called the "Blue Division"  because the original uniform includes the dark blue shirts of the Spanish Fascists (the Falange). (Raymond Merriam)

MALTA: With the Grand Harbour unusually filled with merchant ships from the newly-arrived convoy - Operation Substance - high-speed Italian motor boats, their bow packed with high explosive, made a daredevil attack here tonight. Only one freighter had been damaged in this successful attempt to beat the Axis in "bomb alley" - although the cruiser HMS Manchester was damaged and the destroyer HMS Fearless sunk. Fifteen brave young Italians died when their MTLs (literally "tourist motor boats") came under fire from harbour defences manned by the Royal Malta Artillery. The attack had been planned for months.

One group of "frogmen" would blow up a hindrance net suspended from a bridge to all the MTLs access to the harbour. The MTL pilots would race down the huge harbour and aim their exploding boats at ships before ejecting themselves over their sterns.

The plan almost worked, except that one of the Italians, Major Tesei, blew up the bridgre and himself, blocking access to the MTLs, which found themselves helpless, floodlit by harbour searchlights.

ICELAND: The air echelon of the USAAF's 33d Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), consisting of 30 P-40s and 3 primary training aircraft (Stearman PT-13 Kaydets), was loaded aboard the aircraft carrier USS Wasp (CV-7) at Naval Operating Base Norfolk, Virginia, yesterday, for transport to Reykjavik, Iceland.

CANADA: Corvette HMCS Dundas launched Victoria, British Columbia.

U.S.A.: Reports come over the radio that "five bombing planes made for England have crashed at different places in Ohio. All these accidents have taken place within 24 hours."

War and Naval Departments send a message to the Pacific commanders advising them that Roosevelt was going to close the Panama Canal to Japanese shipping and would freeze all Japanese assets in the US, and those of banks situated in Japanese occupied China.  These commanders were advised to “guard against possible eventualities”.

Bureau of Ordnance issues first Navy "E" certificates (for excellence) for industry.

Baseball, 41-year old Boston Red Sox pitcher Lefty Grove joins Cy Young, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Grover Cleveland Alexander, and Eddie Plank to achieve 300 career wins. The lefthander gave up 12 hits beating the Cleveland Indians, 10-6. In 17 years in major league ball, he accumulated a 300-141 record.

The motion picture "Blossoms In the Dust" is released in the U.S. The film, directed by Mervyn LeRoy, stars Greer Garson, Walter Pidegeon and Marsha Hunt. This tear-jerker, set in Texas, has Garson opening an orphanage and fighting to get equal rights for illegitimate kids. The film is nominated for four Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actress (Garson); it wins one technical award.

SOUTH ATLANTIC OCEAN: The British cruiser HMS Newcastle intercepts the German ship 'Erlangen', which scuttles herself.