CBI - China: Day 69 of 154 of the Japanese Invasion of Manchuria.
1936 — , November 25
Germany: To form alliances between themselves under the guise of a united front against international communism, the Anti-Comintern Pact is signed between Germany, Japan, Spain, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Denmark, Finland, Manchukuo, and Japan's puppet government in Nanking.
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25 Nov 36: Japanese signatory, Ambassador Viscount Kintomo Mushakoji (left), looks on as Hitler's foreign affairs adviser Joachim von Ribbentrop (right) signs the Anti-Comintern Pact
In August 1939, Germany broke the terms of the Anti-Comintern Pact when the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was signed between the Soviet Union and Germany. However, by 1940, Hitler began to plan for a potential invasion (planned to start in 1941) of the Soviet Union.
The German foreign minister, Joachim von Ribbentrop, was sent to negotiate a new treaty with Japan. On September 25, 1940, Ribbentrop sent a telegram to Vyacheslav Molotov, the Soviet foreign minister, informing him that Germany, Italy and Japan were about to sign a military alliance. Ribbentrop tried to reassure Molotov by claiming that this alliance was to be directed toward the United States and not the Soviet Union:
"Its exclusive purpose is to bring the elements pressing for America's entry into the war to their senses by conclusively demonstrating to them if they enter the present struggle they will automatically have to deal with the three great powers as adversaries."
This was welcomed by the Soviet Union, which went as far as to propose two months later to join Axis. The preliminary condition, unacceptable for Germany, was to greatly extend Soviet sphere of influence to include Bulgaria, the Bosphorus, the Dardanelles, and further south toward the Persian Gulf.
Related dates...
25 Nov 36: Anti-Comintern Pact signed by 10 nations against communism
06 Nov 37: Italy signs the Anti-Comintern Pact, joining Germany and Japan
27 Sep 40: Germany, Italy and Japan sign Tripartite (Axis) Pact
Related WWII Store items...
The Comintern History of the Communist (Third) International
The Clash: US - Japanese Relations Throughout History
Spain: Day 132 of 985 of the Spanish Civil War.
1937 — , November 25
Spain: Day 497 of 985 of the Spanish Civil War.
CBI - China: Day 142 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
Day 105 of 106 of the 2nd Battle of Shanghai. The Japanese troops at Hangshow Bay are heading toward Shanghai.
1938 — , November 25
Spain: Day 862 of 985 of the Spanish Civil War.
CBI - China: Day 507 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
Day 45 of 81 of Japan's Operation GUANGDONG.
1939 — , November 25
CBI - China: Day 872 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
Day 11 of 381 of the Battle of South Guangxi.
1940 — , November 25
USA: The B-26 Marauder twin-engine medium bomber makes its first flight.
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The Martin B-26 Marauder
The B-26 Marauder was used mostly in Europe but also saw action in the Mediterranean and the Pacific.
After entering service with the US Army, the aircraft received the reputation of a "Widowmaker" due to the early models' high rate of accidents during takeoff and landings. The Marauder had to be flown at exact airspeeds, particularly on final runway approach and when one engine was out. The 150 mph (241 km/h) speed on short final runway approach was intimidating to pilots who were used to much slower speeds, and whenever they slowed down below what the manual stated, the aircraft would stall and crash
The B-26 became a safer aircraft once crews were re-trained, and after aerodynamics modifications (an increase of wingspan and wing angle-of-incidence to give better takeoff performance, and a larger vertical stabilizer and rudder). After aerodynamic and design changes, the aircraft distinguished itself as "the chief bombardment weapon on the Western Front" according to a United States Army Air Forces dispatch from 1946. The Marauder ended World War II with the lowest loss rate of any USAAF bomber.
The first B-26 Marauder mission flown was by the 22nd Bomb Group on 05 Apr 42 from Garbutt Field, Australia, to strike a Japanese base at Rabaul, New Britain.
The last bombing mission by a B-26 Marauder Group was flown on 01 May 45 by the 17th Bomb Group 1st Tactical Air Force, bombing gun positions on the Isle d'Oleron, France.
Over 5,000 B-26 Marauders were produced between February 1941 and March 1945; 522 of these were flown by the Royal Air Force and the South African Air Force.
Closeup view of a B-26C Marauder in flight
Martin B-26B-20-MA Marauder 41-31765 "Fightin' Cock" [ER-X] of the 450th BS, 322nd BG, 9th AF. Aircraft was later lost to a landing accident at RAF Great Dunmow on 12 Aug 44.
B-26 Marauder featured in a USAAF recruiting poster
US Bomber Production in WWII
B-24
(H)
Liberator
18,256
B-17
(H)
Flying Fortress
12,692
B-25
(M)
Mitchell
9,816
A-20
(L)
Havoc
7,385
B-26
(M)
Marauder
5,157
B-29
(VH)
Superfortress
3,970
A-26
(L)
Invader
2,449
*
*Part of 9,831 Douglas bombers of similar design built
East Africa: Day 169 of 537 of Italy's East African campaign in the lands south of Egypt.
CBI - China: Day 1,238 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
Day 376 of 381 of the Battle of South Guangxi.
Day 1 of 6 of the Battle of Han River.
CBI - Thailand: Day 56 of 221 of the Franco-Thai War (Vichy France vs Thailand).
1941 — , November 25
MTO: Nearly 860 sailors are killed when the British battleship HMS BARHAM sinks off the coast of Crete after being torpedoed by Nazi German U-boat U-331.
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HMS BARHAM four minutes after being torpedoed by U-331
HMS BARHAM was hit by three torpedoes from German submarine U-311 at the close range of 750 yards. Her 15-inch magazine exploded, causing her to sink quickly with the loss of 861 men.
Because U-331 had to dive to evade the other Royal Navy ships nearby, her captain was unable to confirm his kill and when the U-boat finally resurfaced he assumed that the BARHAM had steamed out of sight, thus the German High Command was unaware of the ship having been destroyed. The British Admiralty realized that German intelligence had not yet learned the sinking of the ship and seized upon the opportunity to generate false intelligence. The announcement of the loss would not be made by the Admiralty until 27 Jan 42.
Russian Front - Finland: Day 157 of 164 of the Battle of Hanko. The Soviets will be forced off their leased naval base.
Russian Front: Day 157 of 167 of Germany's Operation BARBAROSSA.
Russian Front - North: Day 79 of 872 of the Siege of Leningrad.
Russian Front - Center: Day 55 of 98 of the Battle of Moscow. German ground troops actually reach Moscow but cannot sustain their attack.
Russian Front - South: Day 27 of 248 of the Siege of Sevastopol, Crimean Peninsula.
MTO - Libya: Day 230 of 256 of the Siege of Tobruk. Rommel continues his attacks at the rear of the British 8th Army. The Indian forces destroy the 5th Panzer Division at Sidi Omar.
East Africa: Day 534 of 537 of Italy's East African campaign in the lands south of Egypt.
CBI - China: Day 1,603 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
1942 — , November 25
Russian Front - North: Day 444 of 872 of the Siege of Leningrad.
Russian Front - North: Day 7 of 59 of the Battle of Velikiye Luki, near Leningrad. This stalemate does help ease the siege a little, but mostly it keeps German troops from being sent to other fronts.
Russian Front - North: Day 205 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 - Center: Day 2 of 21 of the Battle of Sychevka, Russia.
Russian Front - Center: Day 1 of 26 of the 2nd Battle of Rzhev-Sychevka, Russia, launched by the Soviets as Operation MARS.
Russian Front - Center: Day 1 of 22 of the Battle of Belyi, Russia. It will end in a stalemate, but will keep German troops from going to Stalingrad.
Russian Front - Center: Day 1 of 17 of the Battle of Luchesa (Vitebsk), Russia. It will end in a stalemate, but will keep German troops from going to Stalingrad.
Russian Front - Center: Day 1 of 29 of the Battle of Molodoi Tud River, Russia. It will end in a stalemate, but will keep German troops from going to Stalingrad.
Russian Front - South: Day 96 of 165 of the Battle of Stalingrad, bloodiest battle in human history.
MTO - Tunisia: Day 9 of 178 of the Battle of Tunisia. US 9th and 12th Air Forces provide air support.
MTO - Libya: US 9th and 12th Air Forces provide air support.
CBI - China: Day 1,968 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
PTO - Alaska: Day 172 of 435 of the Battle of Kiska, Aleutian Islands. The US and Canada will defeat the Japanese invaders.
PTO - Malaya: Day 280 of 357 of the Battle of Timor Island, a long guerrilla war ending in Japanese victory.
PTO - New Guinea: Day 7 of 66 of the Battle of Buna-Gona.
PTO - Solomon Islands: Day 111 of 187 of the Battle of Guadalcanal.
1943 — , November 25
USA: The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is suspended for a second year in support of the war's need for rubber and helium.
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26 Nov 42: Macy's Parade is suspended for the duration of the war
25 Nov 43: Macy's Parade is canceled for a second year
23 Nov 44: Macy's Parade is canceled for a third year
22 Nov 45: War has ended, Macy's Parade is resumed
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ETO - Germany: Day 8 of 135 of the Battle of Berlin (RAF bombing campaign). Frankfurt is the main target.
ETO - France: US 8th Air Force P-47s attack the Saint-Omer airfield while P-38s and P-47s carry out offensive sweeps in the Lille area.
Russian Front - North: Day 809 of 872 of the Siege of Leningrad.
Russian Front - North: Day 570 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 94 of 122 of the Battle of the Lower Dnieper River, USSR.
MTO: US 1st Air Force: The 2nd Antisubmarine Squadron of the 480th Antisubmarine Group, begins a movement from Port Lyautey, French Morocco, back to the US with their B-24s.
MTO - Italy: The US and Royal Air Forces provides air support for the ground troops.
CBI - China: Day 2,333 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
Day 24 of 49 of the Battle of West Changde.
PTO - Gilbert Islands: US Navy announces that there are very few Japanese left alive in the Gilbert Islands.
PTO - New Guinea: The US defeats the Japanese in the Naval Battle of Cape St George. The Japanese lose five destroyers.
PTO - New Guinea: Day 68 of 219 of the Battle of Shaggy Ridge.
PTO - New Guinea: Day 65 of 162 of the Battle of the Huon Peninsula.
PTO - Solomon Islands: Day 25 of 295 of the Battle of the Bougainville Islands.
1944 — , November 25
UK: A German V-2 rocket hits Woolworth department store in London, killing 168 people.
ETO - France: Day 117 of 284 of the Battle of Brittany.
ETO - France: Day 72 of 236 of the Siege of Dunkirk.
ETO - France: French troops take Belfort.
ETO - Germany: Day 68 of 145 of the Battle of Hürtgen Forest.
ETO - Germany: US 8th Air Force heavy bombers attack the synthetic oil plant at Merseburg and a marshalling yard at Bingen.
Russian Front - Finland: Day 72 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 42 of 206 of the Battle of the Courland Pocket in Latvia.
Russian Front - Center: Day 35 of 99 of the Siege of Memel, a border town of Lithuania and East Prussia.
Russian Front - South: Day 28 of 108 of the Battle of Budapest, Hungary.
MTO: US 15th Air Force bomb targets in Austria and near Munich.
MTO - Italy: US and Royal Air Forces provides air support for the Allied ground units.
CBI - Burma: Day 239 of 302 of the Chinese Salween Offensive.
CBI - Burma: Day 12 of 31 of the Battle of Bhamo.
CBI - China: Day 2,699 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
Day 223 of 259 of Japan's Operation ICHI-GO.
PTO - New Guinea: Day 334 of 597 of the Battle of New Britain.
PTO - New Guinea: Day 218 of 481 of the Battle of Western New Guinea.
PTO - Palau Islands: Day 72 of 74 of the Battle of Peleliu (Operation STALEMATE II).
PTO - Philippines: Day 37 of 299 of the 2nd Battle of the Philippines, aka the Liberation of the Philippines or the Philippines Campaign.
PTO - Philippines: Day 37 of 73 of the Battle of Leyte.
PTO - Philippines: Day 15 of 41 of the Naval Battle of Ormoc Bay.
Day-By-Day listings for November 25 were last modified on Wednesday, January 27, 2016
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