1932 — , January 26

• CBI - China: Day 131 of 154 of the Japanese Invasion of Manchuria.
• CBI - China: Day 1 of 10 of the Battle of Harbin, Manchuria.

1933 — , January 26

• CBI - China: Day 26 of 142 of the 1st Battle of Hebei.

1934 — , January 26

• Germany: Hitler reveals to a shocked Europe a 10-year non-aggression pact with Poland.

1937 — , January 26

• Spain: Day 194 of 985 of the Spanish Civil War.

1938 — , January 26

• Spain: Day 559 of 985 of the Spanish Civil War.
• CBI - China: Day 204 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
  • Day 49 of 54 of the Battle of Nanking.
  • Day 45 of 50 of the Rape of Nanking.
  • Consul at the American embassy in Nanking, John M Allison, is struck in the face by a Japanese soldier. The US is outraged and demands a formal apology, which Japan will give on 30 Jan 38. This "Allison Incident" further strains relations between Japan and the USA following the 12 Dec 37 sinking of the USS PANAY on the Yangtze River by Japanese planes.

1939 — , January 26

• Spain: Day 924 of 985 of the Spanish Civil War.
• CBI - China: Day 569 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.

1940 — , January 26

• Finland: Day 58 of 105 of the Russo-Finnish War.
• CBI - China: Day 934 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
  • Day 73 of 381 of the Battle of South Guangxi.

1941 — , January 26

• ETO - UK: Day 143 of 258 of the Blitz.
• MTO - North Africa: Day 49 of 63 of the UK's Operation COMPASS, their campaign in North Africa against the Italians in Egypt and Libya. The Italians evacuate Mechili, Libya, during the night.
• East Africa: Day 231 of 537 of Italy's East African campaign in the lands south of Egypt.
• CBI - China: Day 1,300 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
• CBI - Thailand: Day 118 of 221 of the Franco-Thai War (Vichy France vs Thailand).

1942 — , January 26

• ETO - UK: The first American troops arrive in Northern Ireland.
• Atlantic: Day 13 of 169 of Germany's Second "Happy Time," during which U-boats sink 609 Allied ships with little risk.
• Russian Front - North: Day 141 of 872 of the Siege of Leningrad.
• Russian Front - North: Day 18 of 29 of the Battle of Toropets, Russia. A failed attempt to break the siege at Leningrad.
• Russian Front - North: Day 4 of 103 of the Battle of the Kholm Pocket. Another attempt to break the siege at Leningrad.
• Russian Front - Center: Day 19 of 103 of the Battle of Vyazma, Russia.
• Russian Front - Center: Day 19 of 103 of the Battle of Sychevsk, Russia.
• Russian Front - South: Day 89 of 248 of the Siege of Sevastopol, Crimean Peninsula. All German attacks against Sevastopol are stopped for the winter.
• MTO - Libya: German troops quickly capture Msus, which causes confusion for the leadership of the British 8th Army.
• CBI - Burma: Day 44 of 164 of Japan's Invasion of Burma.
• CBI - China: Day 1,665 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
  • Day 34 of 99 of the 3rd Battle of Changsha.
• CBI - Malaya: Day 50 of 55 of the Battle of British Malaya.
• PTO - Borneo: Day 42 of 107 of the Battle of Borneo.
• PTO - New Guinea: Day 4 of 18 of the Battle of Rabaul, New Britain Island. Japanese will drive out the few Australian defenders.
• PTO - Philippines: Day 50 of 152 of the 1st Battle of the Philippines. The US-Filipino withdrawal to the Bagac-Orion line is successfully completed. US 5th Air Force fighters attack Nichols and Nielson Fields on Luzon Island during the night.

1943 — , January 26

• Germany: Manpower shortages on the fighting fronts throughout Europe force the use of Hitler Youth boys on flak crews, many as young as 15 years of age.
  Spotlight...

  

  13 year old Hitler Youth captured near Nartinzell in 1945

  By the beginning of 1943, Hitler's armies were stretched to the limit, battling the combined forces of the Soviet Union, the United States, England and other Allies. By this time, most able-bodied German men were in the armed services. As a result, starting on January 26, 1943, anti-aircraft batteries were officially manned solely by Hitler Youth boys.

  At first they were stationed at flak guns near their homes, but as the overall situation deteriorated, they were transferred all over Germany. The younger boys were assigned to operate search lights and assist with communications, often riding their bicycles as dispatch riders. In October 1943, a search light battery received a direct bomb hit, killing the entire crew of boys, all aged 14 and under.

  Following each bombing raid, Hitler Youths assisted in neighborhood cleanup and helped relocate bombed out civilians. They knocked on doors looking for unused rooms in undamaged houses or apartments. Occupants refusing to let in the new "tenants" were reported to the local police and could likely expect a visit from Gestapo.

  

  Hitler Youth Propaganda poster

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• Russian Front - North: Day 506 of 872 of the Siege of Leningrad.
• Russian Front - North: Day 15 of 19 of USSR's Operation ISKRA (Operation SPARK) on the southern shore of Lake Ladoga, north of Leningrad. This Soviet victory will help ease the siege at Leningrad a little bit more.
• Russian Front - North: Day 267 of 658 of the Siege of the Kholm Pocket, USSR lays siege to the Kholm Pocket but the Germans hold out for a about a year and a half.
• Russian Front - South: Day 158 of 165 of the Battle of Stalingrad, bloodiest battle in human history. The German pocket at Stalingrad is split into two and Voronezh is liberated by the Russians.
• Russian Front - South: Day 46 of 69 of the USSR's Operation LITTLE SATURN. A successful drive into the Northern Caucasus and the Donets Basin pushing the Axis troops out.
• MTO - Tunisia: Day 71 of 178 of the Battle of Tunisia. RAF and US Air Forces provide Allied air support.
• MTO - Libya: The British 8th Army takes Zaula, less than 100 miles from Tunisian frontier.
• CBI - Burma: Day 37 of 104 of the 1st Battle of Arakan. US 10th Air Force provides air support.
• CBI - China: Day 2,030 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
• PTO - Alaska: Day 234 of 435 of the Battle of Kiska, Aleutian Islands. Japanese aircraft strafe Constantine Harbor on Amchitka Island.
• PTO - Gilbert Islands: US 7th Air Force heavy bombers attack merchant vessels in the lagoon at Tarawa.
• PTO - Malaya: Day 342 of 357 of the Battle of Timor Island, a long guerrilla war ending in Japanese victory.
• PTO - New Guinea: US 5th Air Force B-17s bomb shipping and the Rapopo airstrip in the Rabaul area on New Britain Island.
• PTO - Solomon Islands: Day 173 of 187 of the Battle of Guadalcanal. US troops begin pushing the enemy back along the northwestern coast toward Cape Esperance. US 13th Air Force provides air support.

1944 — , January 26

• Russian Front - North: Day 871 of 872 of the Siege of Leningrad.
• Russian Front - North: Day 632 of 658 of the Siege of the Kholm Pocket. USSR lays siege to the Kholm Pocket but the Germans hold out for a about a year and a half.
• Russian Front - North: Day 13 of 48 of the Battle toward the Narva River, Estonia. This drive helps lift the Leningrad siege and liberate Narva.
• Russian Front - North: Day 13 of 17 of the Battle of Krasnoye Selo-Ropsha, Russia (Operation JANUARY THUNDER). This victory will push the German line west of Leningrad back far enough so the Russians can reopen the Moscow-Leningrad railroad.
• Russian Front - North: Day 13 of 33 of the Battle of Luga, Russia. Taking this town west of Leningrad will open the door toward Estonia.
• Russian Front - South: Day 34 of 113 of the USSR's Dnieper-Carpathian Offensive in southwestern Ukraine.
• Russian Front - South: Day 3 of 25 of the Battle of the Korsun Bulge in Ukraine.
• MTO - Italy: Day 10 of 123 of the Battle of Monte Cassino. RAF and US Air Forces provides air support for the Allied ground troops.
• MTO - Italy: Day 5 of 136 of the Battle of Anzio. RAF and US Air Forces provides air support for the Allied ground troops
• CBI - Burma: Day 28 of 99 of the 2nd Battle of Arakan.
• CBI - Burma: British troops launch their main attack on the Japanese Golden Fortress at Arakan.
• CBI - China: Day 2,395 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
  • US 14th Air Force P-40s bomb the airfield and barracks at Kengtung.
• PTO - Marshall Islands: US 7th Air Force bombs various islands in the Marshalls.
• PTO - New Guinea: Day 130 of 219 of the Battle of Shaggy Ridge. 5th Air Force provides air support.
• PTO - New Guinea: Day 127 of 162 of the Battle of the Huon Peninsula. 5th Air Force provides air support.
• PTO - New Guinea: Day 43 of 597 of the Battle of New Britain. US 10th Air Force provides air support.
• PTO - Solomon Islands: Day 87 of 295 of the Battle of the Bougainville Islands. US 13th Air Force provides air support.

1945 — , January 26

• USA: Lt Audie Murphy is awarded the Medal of Honor, the first of what will lead to his becoming America's most decorated combat soldiers of WWII.
• ETO - France: Day 179 of 284 of the Battle of Brittany.
• ETO - France: Day 134 of 236 of the Siege of Dunkirk.
• ETO - Germany: Day 130 of 145 of the Battle of Hürtgen Forest.
• ETO: Day 7 of 66 of the Battle to the Rhine. US 9th Air Force provides air support.
• Russian Front - Finland: Day 134 of 223 of the Lapland War. Finland and Russia have joined forces to kick the Germans out of Finland's most northern province.
• Russian Front - Center: Day 104 of 206 of the Battle of the Courland Pocket in Latvia.
• Russian Front - Center: Day 97 of 99 of the Siege of Memel, a border town of Lithuania and East Prussia.
• Russian Front - Center: Day 2 of 75 of the Battle of Königsberg, East Prussia (now Kaliningrad, Russia).
• Russian Front - Center: Day 1 of 63 of the Battle of the Heiligenbeil Pocket in East Prussia.
• Russian Front - Center: Day 15 of 23 of the Battle along the Vistula and Oder Rivers in central Poland and eastern Germany. Soviets capture Kattowitz in upper Silesia and liberate the Auschwitz concentration camp, finding fewer than 3,000 survivors.
• Russian Front - Center: Day 13 of 21 of the Battle of Warsaw, Poland. The Soviets capture Oppeln and Gleiwitz in upper Silesia.
• Russian Front - South: Day 90 of 108 of the Battle of Budapest, Hungary.
• MTO - Italy: US and Royal Air Forces provides air support for the Allied ground units.
• CBI: US 20th Air Force B-29s bomb Saigon and mine Camranh Bay, French Indochina. B-29s also mine the Singapore harbor, the Penang harbor in Malaya, and waters in Thailand.
• CBI - Burma: Day 301 of 302 of the Chinese Salween Offensive. US 10th Air Force provides air support.
• CBI - Burma: Day 8 of 61 of the Battles of Meiktila and Mandalay. The US 10th Air Force provides air support,
• CBI - Burma: Day 6 of 39 of the Battle of Ramree Island. The US 10th Air Force provides air support
• CBI - China: Day 2,761 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
  • US 14th Air Force planes attack the Chenghsien Airfield and targets at Nanking and Sinsiang.
• PTO - Indonesia: Day 3 of 6 of British Operation MERIDIAN. The Royal Navy's carrier planes destroy the Japanese oil refinery near Palembang, on Sumatra Island.
• PTO - Japan: US 7th Force bombs Iwo Jima during the day and night.
• PTO - New Guinea: Day 396 of 597 of the Battle of New Britain.
• PTO - New Guinea: Day 280 of 481 of the Battle of Western New Guinea.
• PTO - Philippines: Day 99 of 299 of the 2nd Battle of the Philippines, aka the Liberation of the Philippines or the Philippines Campaign.
• PTO - Philippines: Day 43 of 244 of the Battle of Luzon. 5th Air Force provides air support.