December 20th, 1941 (FRIDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: A renewed appeal for salvaged waste paper was made yesterday by Sir Charles Portal, the chief of the air staff in a broadcast. "You have all got munitions of war in your homes," he told people. Old magazines and newspapers, Christmas cards and decorations, food cartons and cigarette packets are all needed to make parts of shell cases, mines, machine-gun bullets and radio sets for tanks and aircraft.
Scrap metal is also urgently required, although 5,000 tons of iron railings have already been collected. Some people have put up stiff resistance to the removal of their railings. Some have connected them to the mains electricity. One man even drew a revolver and warned that if anyone touched his railings he would fire.
Minesweeping trawler HMS Rousay launched.
GERMANY: An appeal for winter clothing, intended for German troops on the Eastern Front, is broadcast by Nazi Propaganda Minister Josef Göbbels.
He made no admission that Hitler had expected Russia to crumble to defeat before the snows came in and had therefore not issued winter kit to the army. Instead, he insisted that winter had come early and was more than normally severe.
The authorities had done everything possible to provide ample equipment", he said, "using the last available transport to send enormous quantities of equipment even to the front line. But despite all these preparations the troops still needed a lot more things."
He added: "Those at home will not deserve a single peaceful hour if even one soldier is exposed to the rigours of winter without adequate clothing."
Göbbels's appeal is widely discussed in the German press today. One newspaper says: "The strict clothes rationing of the past few years has not made it possible for us to have any clothing to spare. We have no surplus and we must therefore give away what we ourselves need. We must expect to shiver because of the soldiers' needs." The Nazi Party newspaper Volkischer Beobachter argues: "Hitler does not make it easy for us; but we do not ask why you should surrender what you so badly need yourself. Be grateful you are not at Smolensk, Minsk or Vyazma."
All this does little for the German soldier in those places. Propaganda pictures show him healthy and smiling in a steam bath. The reality is that he is infested with lice because it is too cold for him to wash. Sentries who fall asleep freeze to death. The roads are littered with frozen horses.
In order to try to correct this shambles brought about by Hitler's overweening confidence, the Germans have placed huge orders for wooden huts, fur-lined overcoats, skis and snow-shoes.
Skis, sweaters and blankets have been seized in Norway, and the Baltic states. Soon a soldier somewhere in Russia's frozen wastes will be wearing a fur coat that once belonged to a Berlin Hausfrau.
With the retirement of Field Marshal Walther von Brauchitsch as Commander in Chief of the Army yesterday, Chancellor Adolf Hitler himself assumes personal command of the Army, especially of its operations on the Eastern front. Initial success leads Hitler to a hypnotic belief in his ability. When the success turns, Hitler remains convinced and therefore believes that the efforts of others is at fault.
U.S.S.R.: The Soviet winter offensive continues to advance retaking Volokolamsk to the northwest of Moscow. The Germans continue their attack on Sevastopol, while the Soviets bring 14,000 men and supplies into the area as reinforcements.
ITALY: Dictator Benito Mussolini requests German assistance for his hard-pressed troops in the Cyrenaica region of Libya in the form of a Panzer Division and various logistical support.
MEDITERRANEAN SEA: While on their way to intercept an Italian convoy bound for Tripoli the British Force K [light cruisers HMS Neptune (20), Aurora (12), Penelope (97) and the destroyers HMS KANDAHAR (F 28), Lance (G 87), Lively (G 40) and Havock (H 43)] run into a newly laid Italian minefield. HMS Neptune sinks while HMS Aurora and Kandahar are badly and HMS Penelope is lightly damaged. HMS Aurora is patched up at Malta before returning home for repairs at Liverpool from April to June 1942. HMS Penelope is repaired at Malta but is bombed on 26 March 1942 while still under repair. She leaves Malta on 8 April 1942 for full repairs at the New York Navy Yard in the U.S. These repairs are completed in September 1942. ((Alex Gordon)(108) & Jack McKillop)
EGYPT: During the night of 18/19 December, the Italian submarine R.Smg. Scir launches three SLC (Slow Moving Torpedo) human torpedoes off the British naval base at Alexandria. The SLCs are a 21-inch (53 centimeter) torpedo fitted with an electric motor powered by batteries with an explosive charge in the detachable head. The weapon is manned by two operators using breathing apparatus. After release the SLCs, the submarine returns to La Spezia, Italy. Anticipating the return of the British Force B to Alexandria, the harbor nets are left open allowing the three SLCs to slip in and direct their weapons toward the designated targets. Since the expected aircraft carrier HMS Eagle (94) is no longer in the harbor, the three attach their explosive charges to the battleships HMS Valiant (02) and Queen Elizabeth (00) and the large tanker SS Sagona. Two Italian frogmen are captured, Lieutenants Luigi Durand de la Penne and Bianchi. They refuse to divulge any information until moments before the explosion (because they are being interrogated right above the area of the keel where the explosion is to occur). At 0600 hours local, the first charge detonates under the tanker SS Sagona and badly damages both the tanker and the destroyer HMS Jervis (F 00), which is moored alongside for refueling. The charge under HMS Valiant detonates at 0620 hours, and the one under HMS Queen Elizabeth at 0624 hours. The depth of water is 15 to 50 feet (4,6 to 15 meters) and the charges weighed about 300 kilograms (661 pounds). Both battleships were severely damaged and remained out of the war for a period of time. The Italians are interned in a POW camp for the rest of the war. This attack, which neutralizes the ability of the British to oppose the Italian Regia Marina with its battleships, allows deeply needed convoys to supply Axis forces in Africa. Additionally, de la Penne and Bianchi are awarded the Gold Medal for Military Valour in 1945 by Vice-Admiral Charles Morgan, the Valiant's skipper at the time. (John Nicholas, Tom Hickcox and Jack McKillop)
LIBYA: Axis forces continue their retreat in Cyrenaica. The XIII Corps, British Eighth Army, continues to follow the withdrawing Axis forces, the Indian 4th Division advancing along the coast to Derna and the British 7th Armoured Division across the desert. (John Nicholas and Jack McKillop)
BURMA: The Japanese overrun Bokpyin, a village about 100 miles (161 kilometers) north of Victoria Point. A controversy known as the Tulsa Incident, arises as a U.S. officer asks the Government of Burma to impound Lend-Lease material at Rangoon (a valuable part of which is loaded on the SS Tulsa in the harbor), pending a decision on its use. At the suggestion of the senior Chinese representative in Burma, a committee is subsequently formed to determine the division of supplies.
General Claire L. Chennault and his "Flying Tigers," a group of "volunteer" pilots, set up headquarters 150 miles (241 kilometers) from Rangoon. From today until 4 July 1942, they destroy 297 Japanese planes and kill some 500 of the enemy. (Tom Hickcox)
CHINA: The 1st and 2nd Squadrons from the Flying Tigers of The American Volunteer Group had their first air combat, shooting down 3 Japanese bombers plus 2 unconfirmed. (Chuck Baisden)
HONG KONG: Japanese troops surround the headquarters of Canadian Brigadier John Lawson, Commanding Officer West Brigade, at Wong Nei Chong Gap. Lawson is killed in an attempted breakout becoming the first Canadian General killed in WWII.
Canadian Sergeant Major John Robert Osborn of the 1st Battalion, Winnipeg Grenadiers, dies during an attempt to recapture Mount Butler. Osborn falls on a grenade to save others in the company and is posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.
Five British naval ships are scuttled to prevent capture by the Japanese: (1) the barrage/gate vessels HMS Aldgate (Z 68) and Watergate (Z 56), (2) the tugs HMS Alliance (W 77) and Poet Chaucer and (3) the boom defense vessel HMS Barlight (Z 57). Barlight is raised by the Japanese and commissioned on 20 September 1942 as Netlayer 101. She is sunk on 15 June 1944 in Tanapag Harbor Saipan Island, Mariana Islands by USN destroyer USS Halsey Powell (DD-686).
COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: The Japanese 56th Division lands on Mindanao near Davao during the night.
This is the more southerly of the Philippines two largest islands. The next stage of Japan's pincer attack on the US territory has begun. The Japanese have moved swiftly since they landed on the islands on 10 December. By 14 December around 6,500 troops had disembarked on the northern island of Luzon, the largest of the Philippines.
But as the imperial army has advanced the beleaguered US defenders have put up a brave fight. On 14 December the Japanese took Tuguegarao in northern Luzon, and US bombers attacked their troop convoys. One pilot, Captain Hewitt T Wheless, was delayed by engine trouble and reached his target only after the other bombers had gone. Suddenly 18 Japanese fighters descended on him like a swarm of wasps, but he dropped his bombs and headed home, pursued by fighters for 75 miles. His radio operator died and a gunner was wounded, but he made it, downing, so it is said, 11 fighters on the way.
SINGAPORE: The authorities here have made an urgent request to London for more troops and aircraft to counter the growing threat of a Japanese invasion. In north-west Malaya, British troops yesterday abandoned the island of Penang following the loss days before of the state of Kedah and the province of Wellesley. Penang's mainland neighbour, the tin-mining state of Perak, is under attack as the Japanese move south. In Wellesley the Japanese captured Butterworth airfield, 360 miles from Singapore, giving them control of five of Malaya's 11 airfields. British troops are being pulled back to the river Krian, thought to provide better defences. Further south at Port Swettenham, a 6pm curfew has been imposed.
MALAYA: The Japanese are active against the right flank of the Krian River line; on the Grik road, the Japanese frustrate the efforts of the Indian III Corps to recover lost ground. RAF fighters based at Ipoh are forced to withdraw to Kuala Lumpur. The Indian 9th Division continues their withdrawal southward in eastern Malaya and abandons the Kuala Krai railhead.
WAKE ISLAND "The Japanese are occupying all the islands," Hitler declared two days ago. "They will get Australia. The white race will disappear from those regions." He has mixed feelings about his ally's success.
One island Japan has so far failed to occupy is Wake, a treeless atoll halfway between Manila and Pearl Harbor, defended by 400 US marines, 1,000 construction workers, a dozen planes and six 5-inch guns. The Japanese fleet arrived off Wake on 11 December, after three days of bombing. Major Devereux, the marine commander, waited until the ships were in range of his guns, the fired. Two destroyers were sunk and a cruiser damaged. The defenders fight on.
Japanese "Nell" bombers (Mitsubishi G3M2, Navy Type 96 Attack Bombers) based on Roi Island, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands, bomb the islands, targeting installations on Wake and Peale islets.
PACIFIC OCEAN: Japanese submarine HIJMS I-172 torpedoes and sinks a 5,113 ton unarmed U.S. freighter about 296 nautical miles (549 kilometers) south-southeast of Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii. Twenty five crewmen survive and are rescued.
In the South China Sea, the Dutch submarine HNMS O2 is scuttled by her own crew, about 22 nautical miles (40 kilometers) east of Kota Bharu, Malaya, to prevent her capture by the Japanese. The sub was damaged by depth charges from two Japanese destroyers earlier in the day.
CANADA: Minesweeper HMCS Kenora launched.
Patrol vessel HMCS Adversus ran aground in blizzard McNutt's Island, Nova Scotia. All 16 crewmembers recovered.
U.S.A.: The US Selective Service (draft) Act is amended requiring the registration of all males 18-64. The age for those subject to military service is 20-44. (John Nicholas)
Lieutenant General John DeWitt, Commanding General of the Fourth Army and the Western Defense Command, recommends to the War Department to round up "all alien subjects 14 years of age or over, of enemy nations and remove them to the Zone of the Interior (ZI)," because the West Coast had become a wartime Theater of Operations. DeWitt also writes, "...that there are approximately 40,000 of such enemy aliens and it is believed that they constitute an immediate and potential menace to vital measures of defense."
Admiral Ernest J. King is appointed as Commander in Chief of the US Fleet.
The previous Commander in Chief of the US Fleet, Admiral J.O. Richardson, sported the acronym CINCUS. Admiral King didn't like the sound of this under the circumstances of Dec. 7, and declared himself COMINCH, which slightly annoyed FDR because that was rightly his acronym. But he let it go. (Matt Clark)
Vice Admiral Randall Jacobs relieves Rear Admiral Chester W. Nimitz as Chief of the Bureau of Navigation.
The U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1942 is graduated early, due to the National Emergency.
"Elmer's Tune" by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra with vocals by Ray Eberle and The Modernaires reaches Number 1 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in the U.S. This song, which debuted on the charts on 8 November 1941, was charted for 15 weeks, was Number 1 for 1 week and was ranked Number 8 for the year 1941.
Destroyers USS Beatty and Tillman launched.
NICARAGUA declares war on Rumania, Hungary, Bulgaria.
COLOMBIA: Bogota breaks off diplomatic relations with Berlin. (Mike Yared)
ATLANTIC OCEAN: The British destroyer HMS Stanley [I 73, ex-USN USS McCalla (DD-253)] is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-574 about 336 nautical miles (622 kilometers) north of the Madeira Islands in position 38.12N, 17.23W. Stanley is escorting about 30 ships in convoy HG76 (Gibraltar to the U.K.); only 25 of her 161 man crew survive. Within 12-minutes, U-574 is sunk by ramming and depth charges from another escort, the British sloop HMS Stork (U 81); 16 of the 44 crewmen on the sub survive.