23 December 1944

UNITED KINGDOM: The USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 758: five B-17 Flying Fortresses and seven B-24 Liberators are dispatched to drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night; only ten aircraft drop leaflets.

In Germany, about 500 USAAF Ninth Air Force B-26 Marauders and A-20 Havocs attack rail bridges, communications targets, villages, a rail junction and targets of opportunity losing 31 bombers; fighters fly bomber escort, armed reconnaissance, and patrols (claiming over 100 German aircraft downed and three airfields bombed), and support ground forces between Werbomont, Belgium and Butgenbach, Germany along the northern battleline of the Bulge and the U.S. III, VIII, and XII Corps forces along the southern battleline of the Bulge.

FRANCE: Eisenhower ends an 80-year practice of commutation of the death sentence for desertion. He affirmed the decision of a general court-martial to execute Eddie Slovik for desertion. This would be the first execution of an American soldier for a battlefield offence since the American Civil War. Since June 6th there had been 40,000 cases of desertion and 2,800 had been tried by general court-martial. Slovik had written to Eisenhower asking for another chance to "continue to be a good soldier," though he had not asked to be returned to his unit, the 109th Infantry of the 28th Infantry Division. (149) (William J. Stone)

General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force and Commanding General, European Theater of Operations U.S. Army, endorses the finding of a court-martial in the case of Eddie Slovik, who was tried for desertion, and authorizes his execution, the first such sentence against a U.S. Army soldier since the Civil War, and the only man so punished during World War II. Private Eddie Slovik was a draftee. Originally classified 4-F because of a prison record (grand theft auto), he was bumped up to a 1-A classification when draft standards were lowered to meet growing personnel needs. In January 1944, he was trained to be a rifleman, which was not to his liking, as he hated guns. In August 1944, Slovik was shipped to France to fight with the 28th Infantry Division, which had already suffered massive casualties in the fighting there and in Germany. As he and a companion were on the way to the front lines, they became lost in the chaos of battle, only to stumble upon a Canadian unit that took them in. Slovik stayed on with the Canadians until 5 October, when they turned him and his buddy over to the American military police, who reunited them with the 28th Division, now in Elsenborn, Belgium. No charges were brought; replacements getting lost early on in their tours of duty were not unusual. But exactly one day after Slovik returned to his unit, he claimed he was "too scared and too nervous" to be a rifleman and threatened to run away if forced into combat. His admission was ignored-and Slovik took off. One day after that he returned, and Slovik signed a confession of desertion, claiming he would run away again if forced to fight, and submitted it to an officer of the 28th. The officer advised Slovik to take the confession back, as the consequences would be serious. Slovik refused, and he was confined to the stockade. So a legal officer of the 28th offered Slovik a deal: return to combat immediately and avoid the court-martial. Slovik refused. He was tried on 11 November for desertion and was convicted in less than two hours. The nine-officer court-martial panel passed a unanimous sentence: execution-"to be shot to death with musketry." Slovik's appeal failed. It was held that he "directly challenged the authority" of the United States and that "future discipline depends upon a resolute reply to this challenge." Slovik was to pay for his recalcitrant attitude-and he was to be made an example. One last appeal was made-to Eisenhower but the timing was bad for mercy. The Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes forest was issuing in literally thousands of American casualties, not to mention the second largest surrender of an American Army unit during the war. Eisenhower upheld the sentence. Slovik is executed by a 12-man firing squad in eastern France in January 1945. None of the rifleman so much as flinched, believing Slovik had gotten what he deserved.

In Antwerp at 1339 hours local, a German A4 (V2) rocket impacts at Hoboken in Windmolenstraat. There are 130 people injured, ten houses destroyed and 80 houses damaged.

In U.S. First Army's V Corps area, the 1st Infantry Division restores the line at Butgenbach, as does the 9th Infantry Division in the Monschau Forest. Regimental Combat Team 60 reverts to the 9th Infantry Division and the 5th Armored Division is attached to corps. In the XVIII Corps (Airborne) area, the 7th Armored Division, remnants of the 106th Infantry Division, Regimental Combat Team 112 of the 28th Infantry Division, and Combat Command B of the 9th Armored Division, withdraw from the St Vith area as planned, moving through the lines of the 82d Airborne Infantry Division. The assault on La Gleize by the 30th Infantry Division is unsuccessful. The 3d Armored Division passes to the control of VII Corps in place. In the VII Corps area, 3the d Armored Division attempts to clear the Hotton-Soy road but makes little headway; loses a key road junction southeast of Manhay. The Germans penetrate the 84th Infantry Division positions between Hargimont and Rochefort. The 4th Cavalry Group (Mechanized), with the mission of screening along the Lesse River, organizes defensive positions between Ciney and Marche. Combat Command A, 2d Armored Division, organizes Ciney for defense and starts toward Buissonville. The 75th Infantry Division, in corps reserve, establishes outposts along the Ourthe River.

In the U.S. Third Army area, improving weather conditions permit extensive air support, particularly in the Bastogne area, where 260 USAAF IX Troop Carrier Command C-47 Skytrains drop 334 tons (303 metric tonnes) of supplies in parapacks on several drop zones inside the besieged American positions at Bastogne. In the VIII Corps area, the Germans continues to press in slowly on Bastogne. In the III Corps area, Combat Command A of 4th Armored Division clears Martelange and continues 2 miles (3,2 kilometers) up the Arlon-Bastogne highway while Combat Command B, on a secondary road, drives to Chaumont, from which it is ousted in a counterattack.

The German forces that have bypassed Bastogne do not have the strength or supplies because of the growing effectiveness of Allied air support. The US 101st in Bastogne holds out.
Montgomery writes: "Personally I am enjoying a very interesting battle, but we ought to be in tears at the tragedy of the whole thing."

General der Infanterie Heinz Kokott, Commanding General 26 Volks Grenadier Division:

By 23 December the circumference of the ring around Bastogne would be approximately 25 kilometres

"The entire southern sector, which now had become the point of the main effort, could be supplied solely by way of the Doncols - Lutremange road. It had to be shared by: Panzer Lehr Division, 5th Parachute Infantry Division and the 26th Volks Grenadier Division. It can well be imagined what congestion this was bound to bring about, since the supply elements for three divisions could be carried out only during the hours of darkness: And this on a poor, rundown and narrow road! It was fortunate that at first there was little enemy fire - and this only on certain points - directed against this artery."

"On late evening of 21 December, the orders for 22 December had arrived from corps. They stated:

"1. . . . the overall command for the encirclement front around Bastogne is being passed on to the commander of the 26th Volks Grenadier Division.

"2.. For that purpose, Regiment 901 of the Panzer Lehr Division and the 2nd Artillery Battalion of the Volks Artillery Corps are being subordinated to the 26th Division.

"3. The (reinforced) 26th Division on 22 December relieves the security detachments of the 2nd Panzer Division which are still located between Recogne and Champs [in the north, southwest of Noville], closes the encirclement between Champs and Senonchamps [on the western side of the encirclement, a distance of 4.8 kilometres] and continues the attack for the capture of Bastogne.

"The 5th Parachute Infantry Division (left neighbour) had reported that it had formed flank protection between Hollange and Remichampagne and that a sizeable advance section of the division had reached the Neufchateau highway near Vaux-les-Rosieres and had crossed the highway far to the west. No enemy resistance.

"The division was now inclined to judge the situation in a more favourable light - based on the more than reassuring description by corps - both with regard to enemy strength inside Bastogne and also regarding the steady drive by the Panzer divisions [to the west] and the advance of the 5th parachute Infantry Division.

"The: When the corps charged a single infantry division with the encirclement of Bastogne and at the same time with the capture of Bastogne - in other words: it took the success of the attack for granted -, then such an order could only be based on the knowledge of the enemy's inferiority in numbers and in his shattered morale."

"The confidence, placed by both leaders and men into the precise and realistic workings of the staffs of corps and army, excluded right from the start any doubts as to a tactically faulty, thoughtless or unfeasible order to any of its subordinate commands.

Regiments 77 and 78 in the east were so thin on the ground that they were maintaining only security forces in some locations. In the south losses in Reconnaissance Battalion 26 and Rifle Regiment 39 had been considerable. Infantry companies were down to 40 men. The Replacement Training Battalion sent reinforcements to the 26th and 39th.

The attack would continue in the southwest with Reconnaissance Battalion 26 was to attack along the axis Senonchamps - Isle-la-Hesse.

"The initial mission of Rifle Regiment 39 was the capture of Villeroux. Then the immediate objective or Isle-la-Pre was to be aimed for, with the main effort on both sides of the railroad line and road (Neufchateau - Bastogne). The eastern [right] section of the regiment, after capture of the northern part of Assenois, was to flow up staggered rearwards to the right and to fight its way forward to the northern edges of the Bois d'Hazy Forest.

"Regiment 901 was ordered to join with most of its forces to the left of the attack by the eastern section of Rifle Regiment 39."

The division was concerned that forces in the north might be brought to the southern sectors to reinforce the defenders there. However, it did not have the resources to prevent this.

"The regiments had finished their preparations and arrangements - as per orders issued - by the morning hours of 22 December."

"It was a bitter, cold day. There was every indication that the weather would be clear - i.e. fir for commitment of the air force.

The ground was frozen solidly. An icy wind was blowing over the snow-covered countryside."

"Between 0700 and 0800 hours, the reinforced Rifle Regiment 39 and Reconnaissance Battalion 26 began the attack. Heavy fighting for the village of Villeroux flared up Despite the fact that the village was being covered intensively by fire, thus causing considerable losses to the defender, almost every house and every cellar had to be fought for.

"After 0900 hours - the day had been clear - the first fighter-bombers of the day appeared; they were more numerous than on the previous day. While not intervening in the closely knit battles in the village, they all the more swooped down on the villages immediately behind the firing line, where the reserves, staffs, supply dumps, advanced message centers and similar installations were located, with the result that all normal movements from rear to front were, at least, greatly handicapped.

"Similar to those at Villeroux, there were fierce engagements in Assenois (north) and the wooded section north west of Assenois. Everywhere the enemy fought with great tenacity, stubbornness and skill against Rifle Regiment 39.

"Reconnaissance Battalion 26 had been attacking since 0800 hours from the Bois de Fragotte Forest towards Senonchanps. There also the enemy opposed the assault with all its strength."

Artillery of both sides was effective in assisting in the enemy defence and aiding the advance of German riflemen.

"The enemy's defence was strong. Everywhere the attacker was met by furious, well directed and sharply concentrated fire. The enemy artillery fire always lay at the decisive points in dense concentrations. As always, the enemy did not spare ammunition. . .The attacking infantry suffered heavily by the numerous anti-tank and tank guns and the wide angle salvos of the numerous enemy mortars. To judge by the messages coming in from the front, the enemy was having a great number of tanks at his disposal. For, in addition to the unmistakable fire of tank guns, all the messages also reported 'the noise of tank motors.'

"All in all, however, there evolved on the German side in the course of the morning the overall picture that the attack, though slowly, was making steady progress towards Bastogne.

"In the course of the morning, news arrived from corps to the effect that the commander in charge of the Bastogne forces had declined a surrender with remarkable brevity. "This response was fully in accord with the stubborn tenacity displayed by the defending forces. During the morning, the reconnaissance battalion reported that 'it had penetrated Senonchamps, had put several tanks out of commission and made prisoners. Fierce fighting in the village.'

"At Villeroux enemy resistance had also been broken through [by] Rifle Regiment 39 and towards noon Assenois (north) was taken as well. Rifle Regiment 39 also reported the capture of prisoners and the destruction of tanks.

"The reconnaissance battalion and rifle regiment continued their slowly advancing attack. There were sizable losses on our side. It was also apparent that the enemy had suffered heavy losses"

Shortly after mid-day reports were received of formations of large aircraft approaching Bastogne. Some aircraft were shot down by anti aircraft weapons surrounding Bastogne. Soon large supply aircraft were seen landing at Bastogne. The cargoes in aircraft shot down consisted of ammunition and medical supplies. These would strengthen the enemy.

The supply by air did not disrupt the land battle. However, German ammunition was becoming in short supply and artillery and mortar fire had to be lessened. Because of air attacks transportation of supplies had become barely possible. Only ambulances with their red cross markings were able to move on the roads.

"Rifle Regiment 39 by afternoon reached the area 'Halte' (2 kilometres northeast of Villeroux) and the road crossing 1100 meters northeast of Assenois, when the enemy began to stage powerful counterthrusts between the Bastogne - Mortelange road and the railroad line to Neufchateau [via Sibert]. The attacks were supported by heavy fire and accompanied by tanks.

"While the left wing of Regiment 39 stalled the enemy thrust between the 'road cross' and 'Halte' and lost only little ground, the enemy thrust east of the Bastogne - Assenois road split up the front of the Replacement Training and the Engineers Battalions (subordinated to Regiment 39) located there. The German combat groups were forced back to the southern edge of the Bois Bechu Forest. Enemy assault troops penetrated Assenois from the east. An armored group even drove via La Lune towards the German artillery position near Salvacourt. The situation was critical. The guns were firing from open firing positions, with direct fire; with machine guns and assault rifles the artillerymen of the first Anti-tank Battalion of Artillery Regiment 26 were defending their firing portions. Located immediately in the range of the enemy fire, a battery had to change positions. It lost two or three guns through direct fire hits from tanks, but had finished the change of positions cold-bloodedly. "Several enemy tanks near La Lune were put out of action. The enemy thrust came to a standstill in the last minute.

"Although itself gravely endangered, the western wing of Rifle Regiment 39 had branched off to the east all the forces it could spare and with these elements conducted a thrust from the northwest to Assenois into the Bois Bechu Forest.

"The division had brought up its last reserves and committed them for the defence along the heights west of Salvacourt. "An armored group of Regiment 901 was ordered for commitment from south of Renoifosse towards the Bois d'Hazy Forest. "Disregarding the scarcity of ammunition and the blocked reserves of ammunition, the artillery was committed in the area Bois Bechu Forest - Assenois - La Lune from where to smash the enemy's attack wedge.

"Assenois was recaptured and the forward enemy assault group was forced back into the Bois Bechu Forest. An improvised coherent line was formed in the southern third of the Bois Bechu Forest and Bois d'Hazy Forest.

"It was beginning to get dark. To continue our own attack at the Rifle Regiment 39 was for the time being out of the question. The units first had to be reorganized, a new line had to be formed and, above all, ammunition had to be brought up."

"Reconnaissance Battalion 26 had taken Senonchamps, but had, during its further advance towards Isle-la-Hesse in the afternoon, also run into strong enemy armored attacks; it had withdrawn into the village of Senonchamps where now - towards evening - it put up a successful defence against enemy attacks."

"During the late evening of 22 December the following picture of the situation was arrived at: Sketch 11 [not available] "Regiment 78 had taken over its sector from Recogne (inclusive) to the road bridge (800 meters southeast of Mont). . . . "Regiment 77 was in the process of relieving the security detachments of the 2nd Panzer Division near Longchamps and Champs.

The regiment reported that it would have completed the movement by the morning of 23 December."

"Throughout the day the enemy forces in the northern and eastern sectors had again been entirely passive. To judge, however, by the fire concentration of mortar and artillery as well as the machine gun and rifle fire which had been encountered by advancing German reconnaissance detachments, no noticeable shifting of forces had aken place there.

"Only Panzer Grenadier Regiment 901 in its report expressed the opinion that the enemy in the southeastern sector, i.e. in the Marvie sector, apparently could not be considered as being particularly strong.

"Largely wornout and fatigued, the reinforced Rifle Regiment 39 was located in the southern part of the Bois Bechu Forest via the northern edge of Assenois - 'Halter' (1500 meters east of Villeroux) - along the country road 1000 meters east of Villeroux. The enemy was - roughly speaking - facing the regiment more or less closely about the south and southeast of the Remoifosse - Isle - la - Hesse road. The changeable and fluctuating battles of the day had brought considerable suffering to the enemy as well.

"Reconnaissance Battalion 26 - in lose contact with Rifle Regiment 39 - was located in a position extending from about the heights [Hill] 500 (1000 meters south of Senonchamps) via the eastern edge of Senonchamps) via the eastern edge of Senonchamps - then falling back along the northern edge of the Bois de Fragotte - and Bois de Valet Forests.

"During the afternoon the enemy made several attempts for an attack from the area east of mande-St. Etienne to the south. These, however, had always been either repulsed or had been stopped right at the start by well directed German fire. "On the highway leading from Bastogne via Mande-St. Etienne to the northwest and along a parallel road in the north (probably via Flamizoule - Flamierge?), some vehicle traffic had still been observed, despite the German barrage.

"The surprise of the day had been the strong and forceful counterthrusts of the enemy. After the initial German successes, they had necessitated a transition from attack to defence and, in addition to some critical moments, had in some cases led to the surrender of ground gained. Even though heavy fighting as well as enemy counterthrusts had been anticipated, such enemy pressure had not been expected.

"Could it have been the desperate attempt of the enemy to break out of the encirclement at all costs?

"There were indications which seemed to confirm such an assumption. "Civilian refugees from Bastogne mentioned excitement, unrest and signs of excessive haste among the occupying forces inside Bastogne. Billets were evacuated, vehicles were loaded with equipment, motor vehicles drove off towards the west and congested the streets as well as a bridge at the western entrance.

"At corps headquarters it was noted that interviews with prisoners revealed a discouraged outlook.

"The flying in of supplies led to the conclusion that certain things were lacking.

"The fact that the enemy was using the highways and roads to the west which, after all, were under fire, could possibly be interpreted as an attempt to save all that could be saved.

"The curt and terse rejection by the American commander in Bastogne of the surrender proposal also did not exclude the possibility that the enemy was trying his utmost to break out of the encirclement.

"Whether these breakout attempts of 22 December had any connection with the feelers being put out by the enemy forces in the south, was questionable."

"The intention of the division for 23 December was to close the belt surrounding Bastogne between Senonchamps and Champs. To accomplish this, Reconnaissance Battalion 26 was to attack via Mande-St. Etienne towards the north and Grenadier Regiment 77 from the area west of Champs towards the south. The corps approved of this plan and promised the assistance of an armored group of the 2nd Panzer Division for the attack against Flamierge from the west.

"The corps still seemed to be of the opinion that the enemy inside Bastogne could not be very strong. The division was inclined to be of the same opinion.

"After the failure of his breakout attempts on22 December, the enemy was expected again to try on the following day to fight his way out of the encirclement in a general southwestern direction. It was quite possible that he would choose the weakest point of the ring - e.e. via Mande-St. Etienne - for that attempt.

"As a precautionary measure it was therefore necessary for the division to seal off the western sector as soon as possible, to close the existing gap and also to move between Senonchamps and Champs as close as possible towards Bastogne.

"While this closing of the ring was to be of immediate primary importance, the division did not give up its plan for the attack on Bastogne."

For this attack the commander 26th VG Division decided that Rifle Regiment 39 would be granted "a certain breathing spell.' The attack would be conducted by Panzer Grenadier Regiment 901. It would originate in the eastern sector - between Marvie and Remoifosse during the dark hours of 23 December. He felt that the dark hours of the day would restrict the use of fighter-bombers and that the ring in the west between Senonchamps and Champs would be closed and the units involved in that effort would then be faced to the east - towards Bastogne.

Reconnaissance Battalion 26 assembles in the Bois de Valet Forest and attacks over the highway to the north.

Grenadier Regiment 77 attacks from the area south of Givry to the south and captures Flamizoulle and the wooded area to the east. An armored group from 2nd Panzer Division attacks from the area Macravivier - Fronle, takes Flamerge and drives to the road Hubermont - Flamizoule. Rifle Regiment 39 holds present positions while conducting local attacks to improve them.

Panzer Grenadier Regiment 901 attacks on order after 1700 hours to capture Marvie and breakthrough to the southeastern edge of Bastogne.

"The losses of the division for 22 December amounted to 400 men killed, wounded, and missing. The losses of officers, subordinate commanders and forward observers were high. The losses of arms and equipment - destroyed through enemy fire - could, with the exception of guns, be replaced out of the division's reserves. There was a shortage of ammunition for heavy mortars and heavy howitzers. The high requirements for infantry ammunition could be covered. "The men suffered greatly from the cold weather. They had no winter clothing and on top of their uniforms were only thin lines coats for camouflage in snow. The supply of bread had been handicapped for days. Up to ten men temporarily had to share a loaf of bread per day.

"To increase the combat strength, Regiment 39 and Reconnaissance Battalion 26 were compelled to fall back on their own resources by incorporating all possible administrative and supply personnel into their combat units.

"In order to form a stronger division reserve, division ordered the organization of three 'emergency companies' of about 40 men each, drawn from the division Supply Regiment, the Replacement Training battalion and the Artillery regiment." (Jay Stone)

LUXEMBOURG: In the U.S. Third Army's III Corps area, Combat Command R of the 4th Armored Division begins a drive toward Bigonville. The 26th Infantry Division's 104th Infantry Regiment clears Grosbous and pushes on to Dellen and Buschrodt and the 328th Infantry Regiment occupies Wahl. The 80th Infantry Division seizes Heiderscheid and holds it against counterattacks, finishes clearing Merzig, takes Kehmen and continues to battle the Germans at Ettelbruck. Roadblocks on the division's southern flank are turned over to XII Corps. In the XII Corps area, an attack southwest of Echternach still gains little ground. The 10th Armored Division continues action to shorten and improve its line. The 35th Infantry Division passes to Third Army control.

GERMANY: In the U.S. Ninth Army's XIX Corps area, the 83d Infantry Division, whose relief in line is begun, drives to the edge of Winden in a limited attack.

The USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 757: 423 bombers and 636 fighters are dispatched to hit marshalling yards, communication centers and a rail junction in the rear of the battle area; 75-150 Luftwaffe aircraft are encountered and the USAAF claims 75-5-23; seven fighter are lost. The targets attacked are: 146 B-17 Flying Fortresses bomb the Ehrang marshalling yard (M/Y) at Trier, 73 B-17s bomb the Homburg M/Y and 37 hit the M/Y at Kaiserslautern; 49 B-24 Liberatorss bomb the communications center at Arhweiler, 30 B-24s attack the communications center at Junkerath and 27 B-24 hit the communications center at Dahlem.

During the day, 153 RAF Bomber Command Lancasters attempt to attack the Trier railway yards through cloud. The bombing appears to be accurate and concentrated but Trier could only report that it was the town's worst raid of the war. One Lancaster is lost. In a second mission, 27 Lancasters and three Mosquitos are sent to attack the Gremberg railway yards at Cologne. The raid went very badly. The force is split into three formations, each led by an Oboe-equipped Lancaster with an Oboe Mosquito as reserve leader. During the outward flight, two Lancasters collide over the French coast and their crews are all killed. On approaching the target, it is found that the cloud which had been forecast has cleared and it is decided to allow the bombers to break formation and bomb visually; this move is made because the formations would have been very vulnerable to Cologne's flak defences during the long, straight Oboe approach. Unfortunately the order to abandon the Oboe run does not

reach the leading Lancaster, an aircraft piloted by Squadron Leader RAM Palmer, DFC, who continues on with his designated role, even though his aircraft is already damaged by flak. German fighters, who are being directed to intercept an American bomber force, also appear and attack. The bombs from Squadron Leader Palmer's aircraft are eventually released and hit the target but his plane goes down out of control and only the tail gunner escapes, by parachute. Squadron Leader Palmer, on his 110th operation, is awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross, the only Oboe VC of the war. The formation suffers further losses when another Lancaster and a Mosquito are shot down by flak and fighters and a further Lancaster has to be abandoned by its crew over Belgium. The losses are thus 6 aircraft out of the 30 dispatched.

During the night of 23/24 December, 50 RAF Bomber Command Mosquitos attack the Limburg marshalling yard (M/Y) while 39 others bomb the M/Y at Sieburg and one bombs Cologne.

Germany's bomb-shattered overloaded transport system is in danger of grinding to a halt. The railway network is struggling to move vast numbers of troops, refugees fleeing the Russians in the east and thousands of people being imported as forced labour, or deported to death camps.

During the early stages of the war the Allies concentrated their bombing raids on transport networks in occupied France and Belgium. In September of this year they turned their attention to Germany, and systematically destroyed roads, bridges, waterways, railway junctions and airfields. Civilians are now required to have special authorization for train journeys, which can only be made for business or very pressing personal reasons.

Meanwhile in the cities frenetic commuters are travelling to work on tram running-boards, and bicycles used for anything other than war-related journeys are being confiscated.

Sqn-Ldr Robert Anthony Palmer (b.1920), RAFVR, pressed on to mark the target of a raid despite severe flak damage to his Lancaster, which then went down in flames. (Victoria Cross)

U-2359, U-3525, U-3526 launched.

U-2350, U-2527, U-3019, U-3020 commissioned.

HUNGARY: Soviet forces succeed in encircling about three fourths of Budapest. Moscow confirms reports that the Third Ukrainian Front is on the offensive in vicinity of Szekesfehervar, southwest of Budapest.

ITALY: In the U.S. Fifth Army area, because of indications of a German build-up in the western sector during past few days, the 92d Infantry Division in the Lucca area will be reinforced with two brigades of the Indian 8th Division and two regimental combat teams of the 85th Infantry Division plus chemical, tank, and artillery battalions. In the British XIII Corps area, the Indian 8th Division seizes Mt. della Volpe and M. Tondo with ease and, less the 17th Brigade, is ordered to the Fifth Armyâ€™s western flank to avert the threat of a German attack there.

Bad weather during the day grounds USAAF Twelfth Air Force medium bombers; fighter-bombers operate in the western Po Valley, mainly against railway communications. An airfield near Milan is attacked, and several German airplanes destroyed.

CHINA: Three USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells and five P-40s damage about 50 railroad cars in the area south of the Yellow River. Sixteen P-51 Mustangs over Wuchang and Hankow damage two ferry ramps and blast three oil dumps .while 12 P-51s attack railroad shops at Chenghsien and bomb Houmachen with napalm.

BURMA: In the British Fourteenth Army's XXXIII Corps area, the Indian 19th Division takes Kokoggon.

Fifteen USAAF Tenth Air Force P-47 Thunderbolts knock out and damage bridges at Mong Long, Pa-mao, and Man Pwe. Twelve B-25 Mitchells destroy bridges at Tonbo, Saye, Ketka, and Nampawng, and damage several others. Over 40 fighter-bombers attack storage areas, bivouacs, and enemy-held points at Namhkam, Nyaunggyin, Hseing-hkai, Mongyin, and Kutkai.

Twelve USAAF Fourteenth Air Force P-51 Mustangs and P-38 Lightnings damage two hangars at Heho Airfield.

FRENCH INDOCHINA: Tonking: Reports indicate that military units of the Viet Minh have been organized by Vo Nguyen Giap in areas close to the Chinese border. Giap, a former Hanoi schoolmaster, was earlier chosen to organize guerrilla bands and soon revealed outstanding ability, energy and audacity. Yesterday Giap formed a "People's Army" and, seeking an early success, plans to strike against French military posts in Indochina. Giap claims to have equipped his army with sub-machine guns, modern rifles and grenades.

Thirteen USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells hit town areas, trains, and other targets of opportunity at Vinh, from Dap Cau to Lungchow, China, and from Lang Son to Yungning, China.

VOLCANO ISLANDS: Twelve USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators from Saipan and 14 from Guam bomb Iwo Jima. During the night of 23/24 December, two B-24s from Guam and Saipan fly harassing strikes against Iwo Jima.

COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: In Pampanga Province on Luzon, 15 American POWs, who are too sick to work, are taken from their prison cells and driven to the outskirts of San Fernando. There, in a small cemetery, a hole 15 square feet (1,4 square meters) is dug. Guards from the truck then take up positions around the hole. One by one, the POWs are brought to the edge of the hole and ordered to kneel. They are then bayoneted and decapitated. After the war, the guard commander, Lieutenant TOSHINO Junsabura , is tried, sentenced to death and hanged.

In the U.S. Sixth Army's X Corps area on Leyte Island, the corps begins an advance west toward the coast from Highway 2. The 1st Cavalry Division, on the southern flank, leads off, moving slowly over difficult terrain unopposed by the Japanese. The 32d Infantry Division reconnoiters with the 127th and 128th Infantry Regiments in preparation for a drive westward. In the XXIV Corps area, in preparation for an assault on Palompon by land and sea, 77th Infantry Division artillery and USAAF Fifth Air Force planes pound the town. The reinforced 1st Battalion, 305th Infantry Regiment, which is to make the amphibious assault, moves to Ormoc. The 305th Infantry Regiment (less 1st Battalion) continues an overland drive toward Palompon, pushing through Matagob under heavy fire. Japanese efforts to penetrate U.S. lines, during the night of 23/24 December, fail.

On Mindoro Island, a new airfield, called Ellmore Field, on the south bank of the Bugsanga River, is ready for limited use.

USAAF Far East Air Forces B-24 Liberators bomb Fabrica and Silay Airfields on Negros Island while P-38 Lightnings and P-47 Thunderbolts provide cover. B-24s bomb Grace Park Airfield in the suburbs of Manila on Luzon. On Mindanao Island, B-25 Mitchells attack San Roque Airfield and the Davao and Zamboanga areas. Numerous FEAF aircraft fly various small strikes, armed reconnaissance, and sweeps over the Philippine Islands and fighter-bombers are especially active against targets in the central Philippines.

EAST INDIES: In the Netherlands East Indies, USAAF Far East Air Forces B-25 Mitchells and fighter-bombers blast Lolobata and Hate Tabako Aerodromes, and the Goeroea area on Halmahara Island.. Numerous FEAF aircraft fly various small strikes, armed reconnaissance, and sweeps over the Netherlands East Indies while fighter-bombers are especially active against targets on Halmahera Island.

CAROLINE ISLANDS: Three USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24s from Guam, flying armed reconnaissance mission, bomb Woleai Atoll.

U.S.A.: Light cruiser USS Topeka commissioned at the Boston, Massachusetts Navy Yard. There are now 41 light cruisers in commission.

The top songs on the pop music charts today are: "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby; "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" by Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters: "Don't Fence Me In" by Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters; and "I'm Wastin' My Tears on You" by Tex Ritter.

25 German prisoners of war break out of an Arizona prison camp not far from the Mexican border by crawling along a 178-foot tunnel. (Charles Gregory)