December 28th, 1941 (SUNDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM:
Submarine HMS Templar laid down.
GERMANY: The final RAF Bomber Command bombing raids of the year are made during the night of 28th/29th December when 217 sorties were flown with Wilhelmshaven, Hüls and Emden the main targets.
CZECHOSLOVAKIA: The British commence Operation ANTHROPOID, the assassination of SS-Obergruppenfuhrer (U.S. Lieutenant General) Reinhard Heydrich, the German Protector of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.†During the night of 28/29 December, two Czech resistance fighters, Jozef Gabčík and Jan Kubiš, are dropped by parachute into Czechoslovakia landing near Pilsen. They are to get in touch with the Czech underground and help them plan acts of resistance.
U.S.S.R.: The Germans make some gains in the Fort Stalin area during their attacks on Sevastopol with the 22nd and 24th Divisions.
MEDITERRANEAN SEA:
U-83 attacked by an escort in the Mediterranean that damaged her so severely that she was forced to return to base.
LIBYA: XIII Corps, British Eighth Army, continues the assault on Agedabia with the 22d Armoured Brigade, 7th Armoured Division, whose tank strength by this time has been greatly reduced because of mechanical failure. After a futile effort to get behind the Axis position, the 22d Armoured Brigade falls back to El Haseiat. Both sides suffer heavy tank losses. The Italian Trieste Division captures key documents in a British Command Tank.
COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: US forces on Luzon are under attack on the line Tarlac-Cabanatuan.
The Japanese begin a drive from the Agno River toward Cabanatuan. In southern Luzon, the Japanese force the 52d Infantry Regiment [Philippine Army (PA)], 51st Division (PA), back to Tiaong. Brigadier General Albert Jones, Commanding General 51st Division (PA), receives orders to withdraw speedily to Bataan. The 53d Infantry Regiment (PA) moves to Bataan for rest and reorganization. The Japanese seize Luisiana, on Route 1, and the 1st Infantry Regiment (PA), 1st Division (PA) withdraws westward.
MALAYA: The Japanese are attacking British forces as they withdraw from Ipoh toward Kampar and the River Slim.
BURMA: General Hutton is now in command of British forces.
AUSTRALIA: Convoy ZK.5 consisting of the transports SS AQUITANIA, British freighter SS SARPEDON and Norwegian freighter MS HERSTEIN carrying 4,250 Australian troops of the 39th and 53rd (Militia) Battalions and 10,000 tons of equipment departs Sydney for Port Moresby in Papua escorted by three cruisers HMAS CANBERRA (H 30), AUSTRALIA (D 84), PERTH (D 29) and HMNZS ACHILLES (70). This is the first substantial build up of Allied forces in New Guinea. (Peter Beeston)
At a meeting between Australians and U.S. officials, the Australians agree (1) to prepare several bases and refueling sites in the interior to permit flying from Brisbane, Queensland, and Darwin, Northern Territory; and (2) to provide Royal Australian Air Force pilots to assist in training raw USAAF pilots.
NEW ZEALAND: The government scrapes the bottom of the manpower barrel and comes up with three battalions to defend the country. There are no tanks, very few guns, and almost no vehicles. However, the New Zealand 2nd Division is regrouping in Egypt to continue battling the Axis forces.
BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: Australian National Airlines (ANA) aircraft begins the evacuation of civilians from Rabaul on New Britain Island.
MIDWAY ISLANDS: Over 850 civilian construction workers are evacuated by two USN ships.
PACIFIC OCEAN: USN destroyer USS Peary (DD-226) is damaged when mistakenly bombed and strafed by three Australian Hudsons of No. 32 Squadron off Kina, Celebes, Netherlands East Indies (NEI). The destroyer’s steering gear is damaged and she has to put into Ternate in the Halmahera Islands, NEI, for repairs.
CANADA:
Corvette HMCS Rosthern returned to Halifax from refit on the Clyde.
U.S.A.:
159 Message of Support to the Philippines
December 28, 1941
The People of the COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES:
News of your gallant struggle against the Japanese aggressor has elicited the
profound admiration of every American. As President of the United States, I know
that I speak for all our people on this solemn occasion.
The resources of the United States, of the British Empire, of the Netherlands East Indies, and of the Chinese Republic have been dedicated by their people to the utter and complete defeat of the Japanese war lords. In this great struggle of the Pacific the loyal Americans of the Philippine Islands are called upon to play a crucial role.
They have played, and they are playing tonight, their part with the greatest gallantry.
As President I wish to express to them my feeling of sincere admiration for the fight they are now making.
The people of the United States will never forget what the people of the Philippine Islands are doing this day and will do in the days to come. I give to the people of the Philippines my solemn pledge that their freedom will be redeemed and their independence established and protected. The entire resources, in men and in material, of the United States stand behind that pledge.
It is not for me or for the people of this country to tell you where your duty lies. We are engaged in a great and common cause. I count on every Philippine man, woman, and child to do his duty. We will do ours.
(Tim Lanzendörfer and Marc James Small)
The USN Chief of Bureau of Yards and Docks, Vice Admiral Ben Moreell, requests authority from the Bureau of Navigation to create a contingent of construction units able to build everything from airfields to roads under battlefield conditions. These units will be known as the "Seabees" for the first letters of Construction Battalion. (Dave Shirlaw & Jack McKillop)