30 November 1944

Destroyer HMS Gravelines launched.

Sloop HMS Opossum is launched.

WESTERN EUROPE: The USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 732: seven B-17 Flying Fortresses and six B-24 Liberators drop leaflets in the Netherlands and Germany during the night.

NORTH SEA: Frigate HMS Duff is mined north of Ostend, but manages to return under own power to Harwich. She is laid up and never repaired. There Are 3 casualties. (Alex Gordon)(108)

NETHERLANDS: The British Second Army, 8 and 12 Corps makes small gains west of the Maas River at Blerick across from Venlo.

GERMANY: Lilo Gloeden, her husband and mother are beheaded at two minute intervals by guillotine in Plötzensee Prison, Berlin. Gloeden was a 41-year-old housewife who helped shelter those persecuted by the Nazis for weeks at a time in their flat (apartment). Among those sheltered was Dr. Carl Goerdeler, resistance leader and Lord Mayor of Leipzig. The three were arrested by the Gestapo and tortured during interrogation before being executed.

The southern units of the US 3rd Army reach the Saar River.

On the First US Army VII Corps Front: In the 104th Division sector, very heavy fighting occurred in the town of Inden and several German tanks were destroyed. Lamersdorf was completely cleared. 1st Division units experienced heavy fighting in their attempt to relieve two companies of the 26th Infantry cut off in Merode. Langerwehe and Jungersdorf are held against heavy counterattacks. The 47th Regimental Combat is relieved from attachment to the 1st Division. The 4th Division's 8th Infantry advanced along the Schevenh to Düren road and its 12th Infantry advanced through the woods towards Gey. The 22d Infantry with the attached 46th Armored Infantry Battalion cleared the area north of Kleinhau. The 8th Division's 121st Infantry along with CCA, 5th Armored Division advanced east through the woods south of Hürtgen. (Robert Rush)

In U.S. Ninth Army's XIII Corps area, the 102d Infantry Division takes over the burden of attack: while the 405th Infantry Regiment continues to fight along the Lindern- Linnich highway, the 406th drives to the edge of Linnich and the 407th clears the Germans from Welz, within a mile (1,6 kilometers) of the Roer River. The 335th Infantry Regiment, 84th Infantry Division, overcomes resistance within Beeck, but the Germans retains the heights to the northeast.

In U.S. Third Army's XX Corps area, the 10th Armored Division attacks toward the Sarre River on the northern flank of the corps, Combat Command B on the right reaching the river opposite Merzig, where bridges are down. The 359th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division, occupies Fremersdorf, on the west bank of the Sarre, without opposition; the 1st Battalion, 357th Infantry Regiment, crosses the Nied River in assault boats near Niedakdorf and pushes on to Bueren, which the Germans are defending. After consolidating positions, the 95th Infantry Division continues their attack toward the Sarre, gaining the heights commanding Saarlautern: the 377th Infantry Regiment mops up Ste Barbara on the left and advances the right wing to Felsberg; the 378th takes a hill south of Felsberg. Task Force Bell, consisting of the 5th Infantry Division’s 10th Infantry Regiment (-), 5th Reconnaissance Troop, and supporting units, is formed to cover the exposed right flank of the 95th Infantry Division and attached to that division.

The USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 731: 1,281 bombers and 972 fighters are dispatched to hit synthetic oil plants in southeastern Germany and marshalling yards (M/Ys); intense accurate flak downs 29 bombers and three fighters are lost: 181 bomb the M/Y at Neuenkirchen with the loss of one aircraft and 103 bomb the M/Y at Homburg. Synthetic oil refineries hit are Zeitz by 287 aircraft with the loss of nine; I.G. Farben refinery at Merseberg by 250 aircraft with the loss of 14; Lutzkendorf by 148 with the loss of two; Lutzkendorf by 148 with the loss of two; and the Braunkoble refinery at Bohlen by 67 with the loss of one. One hundred eighty nine other aircraft hit targets of opportunity.

Two hundred eighty eight USAAF Ninth Air Force B-26 Marauders and A-20 Havocs attack the defended villages of Vettweiss, Stockheim, Erp, and Pirmasens, an armored vehicle repair center at Gemund, a rail tunnel, a military camp at Malsbenden, and a marshalling yard at Zweibrucken; fighters escort the 9th Bombardment Division, give area support to Eighth Air Force heavy bombers at Leipzig, fly sweeps, dive bombing missions, and reconnaissance over western Germany, and support elements of the U.S. VII Corps in the Hurtgen area (especially the 104th Infantry Division at Lammersdorf and Inden).

During the night of 30 November/1 December, four USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb the West marshalling yard at Munich.

During the day, RAF Bomber Command aircraft attack three targets: 60 Lancasters bomb the Wilheim steel plant at Bottrop; 60 Lancasters attack the Osterfeld benzol plant at Bottrop with the loss of two Lancasters; 36 Mosquitos hit the Meiderich benzol plant at Duisburg; and one Mosquito bombs Munster.

During the night of 30 November/1 December, RAF Bomber Command sends 576 aircraft, 425 Halifaxes, 126 Lancasters and 25 Mosquitos, to bomb Duisburg; 553 bomb the city with the loss of three Halifaxes. The target area is completely cloud-covered and the attack is not concentrated but much fresh damage is still caused. Mosquitos bomb three targets: 53 hit Hamburg with the loss of three aircraft, six hit the Hermann Göring steel factory at Hallendorf and one bomb the city of Hallendorf.

AUSTRIA: During the night of 30 November/1 December, USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators bomb five targets:18 hit the Linz/Hermann Göring benzine refinery at Linz with the loss of one aircraft, five bomb the main marshalling yard (M/Y) at Innsbruck and one each bomb the city of Gmunden and the M/Ys at Klagenfurt and Villach.

HUNGARY: The Russian 2nd Ukraine Front launches a new offensive in northern Hungary, capturing the town of Eger.

ITALY: In the U.S. Fifth Army's British XIII Corps area, the Germans take Casa Nuovo from the 1st Division.

In the British Eighth Army's V Corps area, the Indian 10th Division renews their attack toward Casa Bettini bridge and takes Albereto, breaching the switch-line positions.

USAAF Twelfth Air Force B-25 Mitchells bomb bridges at Romano di Lombardia and Crema; fighters and fighter-bombers attack communications in the Po Valley, cutting rail lines and destroying a large number of railroad cars and motor transport; targets also include bridges, guns, and buildings.

CHINA: Chungking: Chiang Kai-shek recalls the Chinese 22nd and 38th Divisions from Burma to boost the effort to defend Kunming, now threatened by the Japanese advance.

The Chinese 14th Division is eventually substituted for the 38th, so that current operations in Burma will suffer less. Major General Albert Wederneyer, Commanding General US China Theater of Operations and Chief of Staff to Chiang Kai-shek, informs the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Admiral Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander of the South-East Asia Theatre, of the Generalissimo's decision. Chiang Kai-shek also agrees to provide 270,000 replacements for ALPHA (the plan to defend Kunming and Chungking) by 1 April 1945 but refuses a request to supply arms to the Chineses forces of the IX War Area.

Twenty three USAAF Fourteenth Air Force fighter-bombers attack targets of opportunity in the Chefang area.

BURMA: In the Northern Combat Area Command area, the British 36th Division finds Pinwe free of the Japanese.

Nine USAAF Tenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells knock out and damage bridges at Bawgyo, Namhkai, and Hsenwi; 16 P-47 Thunderbolts support ground forces at Bhamo; about 70 fighter-bombers attack troops and supply areas at several locations including Molo, Naungmo, Namun, Hkumpen, Myadaung, Kutkai, Kanbalu, Kyauk, and Natpe; 13 others attack bridges at Meza and in the Bawdwin area; and eight strafe targets of opportunity along the Kyaukme-Panglong road. .

Eleven USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-25s bomb five warehouses and several other buildings at Lashio and Wanling.

FRENCH INDOCHINA: Twelve USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells and eight P-51 Mustangs damage two railroad bridges and several buildings at Phu Lang Thuong and Phu Ly.

THAILAND: Nine USAAF Fourteenth Air Force fighter-bombers hit shipping, rail targets, and troops at various points.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: The projected Mindoro operation is postponed for ten days by General Douglas MacArthur, Commander in Chief South-West Pacific Area, in order to release shipping and naval support forces for landing in the Ormoc area on Leyte. The final target dates for Mindoro and Luzon are 15 December 1944 and 9 January 1945, respectively.

In the U.S. Sixth Army's X Corps area on Leyte, the 112th Cavalry Regiment (Special), which has been driving south to ease the pressure on the 32d Infantry Division in the Limon area, halts at a ridge east of Highway 2 about 5,000 yards (4 572 meters) southeast of Limon; unable to progress farther because of strong opposition, the cavalrymen dig in and drive off Japanese patrols. In the XXIV Corps area, the battle of Shoestring Ridge ends successfully as elements of the 184th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, clear the bamboo thicket and establish the night perimeter on the forward slope of the ridge.

USAAF Far East Air Forces B-24 Liberators bomb Legaspi Airfield on the southeastern tip of Luzon Island and Matina Aerodrome on Mindanao Island. B-25 Mitchells strike Dumaguete Airfield on Negros Island and fighter-bombers, B-24 Liberators, and B-25 Mitchells fly armed reconnaissance, harassing strikes, and light raids over various areas.

Thirty seven USAAF Seventh Air Force) B-24 Liberators from Angaur Island, Palau Islands, bomb Legaspi Airfield on the southeastern tip of Luzon Island.

EAST INDIES: In the Netherlands East Indies, USAAF Far East Air Forces B-24 Liberators in major strikes of the day hit Malimpoeng and Parepare Airfields on Celebes Island and four airfields on Halmahera Island. Fighter-bombers, B-24 Liberators, and B-25 Mitchells fly armed reconnaissance, harassing strikes, and light raids over various areas of the Netherlands East Indies.

BONIN AND VOLCANO ISLANDS: Twenty three USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators from Saipan bomb the airfield on Iwo Jima; eight Guam-based B-24 Liberators, escorting a photo reconnaissance aircraft over the Kazan and Bonin Islands, bomb Haha Jima Island.

Frigate HMCS Outremont departed UK for tropicalization refit Sydney , Nova Scotia.

Corvette HMCS Beauharnois departed Bermuda for St John's to join EG C-4.

Frigate HMCS Lauzon arrived St John's to join EG C-6.

Destroyer USS Beatty and Benner launched.

Heavy cruiser USS Columbus launched.

Escort carrier USS Puget Sound launched.

Destroyer USS Cone laid down.