25 January 1942

U.S.S.R.: The recommendation for Fegelein's Knight's Cross that was submitted by GdI Albrecht Schubert, commanding General XXII A.K.. The SS-Kavallerie-Brigade was located on the southeast front of 23.Armeekorps in the sector north of Nikulino-Polowinino-Saizewo-Dmitrowo-Sokolomo. The Brigade was assigned the task of preventing the advance of strong enemy forces that had breached the gap west of Rshev, towards the south against the rear of the 206.Division.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: U-453 and U-372 were attacked in the Mediterranean by aircraft and damaged so heavily that they had to return to base.

LIBYA: Speeding eastward again, the forces of General Erwin Rommel, General Officer Commanding Panzer Army Africa, capture Msus. The weakened British 1st Armoured Division of 13 Corps, Eighth Army, is ordered to fall back on Mechili, leaving a detachment to protect the withdrawal of the Indian 4th Division from Benghazi and Barce. General Claude Auchinleck, Commander in Chief Middle East Command, visits Eighth Army HQ, where he remains until 1 February. General Neal Ritchie, General Officer Commanding Eighth Army, revokes the order for a general withdrawal of 13 Corps and orders the Indian 4th Division, over which he takes direct control, and the British 1st Armoured Division to counterattack in the Msus area.

THAILAND: The government declares war on the U.S. and the U.K. The government of Great Britain, New Zealand and the Union of South Africa respond in kind.

AUSTRALIA: The government orders full mobilization. The War Cabinet orders that “all able-bodied white male British subjects” between 18- and 45-years-old should be called up immediately for service. The central government also assumes control of all state budgets.
By this date, the USAAF has received 112 P-40s from the U.S. with another 160 due by 4 February.

The USAAF Far East Air Force’s 20th Pursuit Squadron (Provisional), which is preparing to depart Brisbane, Queensland for Port Moresby, New Guinea, is ordered to fly to Darwin, Northern Territory, as quickly as possible for duty in Java.

MALAYA: Since Batu Pahat must be abandoned at once, Lieutenant General Arthur Percival, General Officer Commanding Malaya Command, orders the entire line in central Johore State withdrawn. The Indian 3 Corps is responsible for the withdrawal operation, which begins after nightfall. Meanwhile, the Batu Pahat defence force fights a losing battle for that town throughout the day. The Indian 11th Division commander sends the British 53d Brigade Group to the relief of the Batu Pahat defence force, but most of the column is unable to get through. To the east, Japanese attacks in the Ayer Hitam-Kluang area are beaten off.

BORNEO: By dawn, the Japanese Assault Unit that landed near Balikpapan have occupied the airfield. Their advance southward, however, is slow as the bridges on the coastal road have been destroyed and the unit did not reach the northern outskirts of Balikpapan City until the night of the 25th. The Dutch garrison troops had been withdrawn and the unit entered the city without a fight. Guided by the lights placed by two traitorous native policemen, who had proceeded them, the Japanese Surprise Attack Unit lands just south of the reservoir at 0430 hours and sails up the river in camouflaged boats. No Dutch troops are encountered and while part of the unit occupies the area around the reservoir, the main body proceeds to the village of Banoeabaroe, arriving there at 1440 hours, thus cutting off the Dutch line of retreat. While the main body of the unit was advancing along the road to Balikpapan City, it ran into a Dutch military column attempting to escape from Balikpapan. After defeating this Dutch column, the Surprise Attack Unit proceeded to Balikpapan City. The city was completely occupied during the night of the 25th.

BURMA: General Archibald Lord Wavell, Commander in Chief Australian-British-Dutch-American (ABDA) Command, South West Pacific, visiting Rangoon, orders Moulmein held. The 16th Brigade, Indian 17th Division, is disposed west of the Salween River, opposite Moulmein. The Indian 46th Brigade is ordered to the Bilin area. A lull ensues as the Japanese bring up reinforcements to the vicinity of Paan and Moulmein, on the Salween River.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES: The advance flight echelon of the USAAF Far East Air Force 17th Pursuit Squadron (Provisional) arrives at Soerabaja, Java with 13 P-40s. They will undergo five days of theater training by RNAF pilots.
Twenty five Japanese fighter aircraft land on Kendari Airdrome that was captured two days ago.

COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: On Bataan, the responsibility for the defence of beach area of southern Bataan passes from the Service Command Area to commanders of the I and II Corps. II Corps continues their withdrawal under air attack and with the Japanese in full pursuit. I Corps abandons the Mauban main line of resistance. The withdrawal of the 1st Division, Philippine Army, southward begins during the morning and continues through the night of 25/26 January. Diverting the enemy’s attention, other elements of I Corps press in on the roadblock on West Road from the west. In the South Sector, operations against Japanese at Quinauan and Longoskawayan Points remain indecisive.

MIDWAY ISLAND: The island is shelled by Japanese submarine HIJMS-73. The submarine uses its 3.9 inch (100mm) deck gun. I-18 and I-24 surface off Midway Island to shell U.S. Marine positions. I-24 fires six shells, but the Marines return the fire and force I-24 to abandon shelling and submerge. I-18 is taken under fire before she can open fire and forced to submerge.

NEWFOUNDLAND: Corvettes HMCS Summerside and Shawinigan departed St John's to escort Convoy SC-66 to Londonderry.

U.S.A.: Marshall directs Deputy Chief of Staff, Major General Joseph Narney, to draft a reorganisation plan for US War Department. (Marc James Small)

URUGUAY: The government breaks diplomatic relations with Germany, Italy and Japan.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: The German submarine U-125 attacks unarmed U.S. tanker SS Olney, forcing the latter aground off Cape Lookout, North Carolina. Olney is subsequently removed from her predicament, however, repaired, and returned to service.

During bad weather in the North Atlantic a lookout on U-575 broke his arm.

SS Culebra, dispersed from Convoy ON-53, was sunk by gunfire by U-123 ENE of Bermuda. The master, 38 crewmembers and six gunners were lost

Tanker SS Varanger sunk by U-130 at 38.58N, 74.06W - Grid CA 5435

At 0925, SS Mount Kitheron was torpedoed by U-754 and sunk by a coup de grâce at 0938 hours at 47.32N, 52.31W - Grid BB 6359 .