CBI - China: Day 83 of 154 of the Japanese Invasion of Manchuria.
1936 — , December 9
Spain: Day 146 of 985 of the Spanish Civil War.
1937 — , December 9
Spain: Day 511 of 985 of the Spanish Civil War.
CBI - China: Day 156 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
Day 1 of 54 of the Battle of Nanking.
1938 — , December 9
Spain: Day 876 of 985 of the Spanish Civil War.
CBI - China: Day 521 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
Day 59 of 81 of Japan's Operation GUANGDONG.
1939 — , December 9
Finland: Day 10 of 105 of the Russo-Finnish War.
CBI - China: Day 886 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
Day 25 of 381 of the Battle of South Guangxi.
1940 — , December 9
ETO - UK: Day 95 of 258 of the Blitz.
MTO - North Africa: Day 1 of 63 of the UK's Operation COMPASS, their campaign in North Africa against the Italian troops in Egypt and Libya. In Egypt, British warships bombard both Maktila and Sidi Barrani. The 4th Indian Division overrun the Italians at Nibeiwa and at the Tummars, kicking off what later becomes known as the Battle of Camps.
East Africa: Day 183 of 537 of Italy's East African campaign in the lands south of Egypt.
CBI - China: Day 1,252 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
CBI - Thailand: Day 70 of 221 of the Franco-Thai War (Vichy France vs Thailand).
1941 — , December 9
Atlantic: Two days before declaring war on the US, Hitler lifts his ban on U-boats operating in US waters and deploys 5 U-boats along the US eastern seaboard available for immediate action as soon as he declares war.
Spotlight...
An enthusiastic crew aboard the German U-boat U-203, ready for action
After the attack on Pearl Harbor and the near-unanimous declaration of war against Japan by Congress the following day, President Franklin D Roosevelt found himself facing the problem of how to justify going to war against the other Axis powers as well; Germany in particular.
The bombing of Pearl Harbor had surprised Germany as well as the United States. The terms of the Tripartite Pact promised that Germany would help Japan if it were attacked, but stated nothing in the event that Japan should be the aggressor. Germany was therefore under no obligation to take any action at all and the United States could only justify a response to Japan's action.
But, convinced that the United States would soon beat him to the punch and declare war on Germany, Hitler made a major blunder (second only to invading the Soviet Union) by preparing to declare was on the US, which both Germany and Italy will do on December 11, 1941.
Russian Front - North: Day 93 of 872 of the Siege of Leningrad. The Soviet Army recaptures Tikhivinin in northern Russia.
Russian Front - Center: Day 69 of 98 of the Battle of Moscow.
Russian Front - South: Day 41 of 248 of the Siege of Sevastopol, Crimean Peninsula.
MTO - Libya: Day 244 of 256 of the Siege of Tobruk.
CBI - China: Day 1,617 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
Day 2 of 18 of the Battle of Hong Kong.
China declares war on the Axis Powers.
CBI - Malaya: Day 2 of 55 of the Battle of British Malaya. The HMS PEINCE OF WALES and HMS REPULSE are attacked and sunk by Japanese air attacks off Malayan coast.
CBI - Thailand: Bangkok is occupied by Japanese troops as they push through Thailand toward the Burmese border.
PTO - Marshall Islands: Day 2 of 17 of the Battle of Wake Island, aka the Alamo of the Pacific. The US troops surprise the Japanese invaders with their determination and hold off the landing forces.
PTO - Mariana Islands: Day 2 of 3 of the 1st Battle of Guam. The Japanese are quickly overrunning the US defenses.
PTO - Gilbert Islands: Japanese troops land on Tarawa and Makin.
PTO - Philippines: Day 2 of 152 of the 1st Battle of the Philippines.
1942 — , December 9
Russian Front - North: Day 458 of 872 of the Siege of Leningrad.
Russian Front - North: Day 21 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 219 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 16 of 21 of the Battle of Sychevka, Russia.
Russian Front - Center: Day 15 of 26 of the 2nd Battle of Rzhev-Sychevka, Russia, launched by the Soviets as Operation MARS.
Russian Front - Center: Day 15 of 22 of the Battle of Belyi, Russia.
Russian Front - Center: Day 15 of 17 of the Battle of Luchesa (Vitebsk), Russia.
Russian Front - Center: Day 15 of 29 of the Battle of Molodoi Tud River, Russia.
Russian Front - South: Day 110 of 165 of the Battle of Stalingrad, bloodiest battle in human history.
MTO - Tunisia: Day 23 of 178 of the Battle of Tunisia. US 12th Air Force provides Allied air support.
MTO - Libya: US 9th Air Force P-40s fly fighter-bomber missions in the battle area of El Agheila.
CBI - China: Day 1,982 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
PTO - Alaska: Day 186 of 435 of the Battle of Kiska, Aleutian Islands.
PTO - Malaya: Day 294 of 357 of the Battle of Timor Island, a long guerrilla war ending in Japanese victory.
PTO - New Guinea: Day 21 of 66 of the Battle of Buna-Gona.
PTO - Solomon Islands: Day 125 of 187 of the Battle of Guadalcanal. Fresh US troops relieve the besieged US 1st Marine Division.
1943 — , December 9
USA: Official word arrives from the PTO that Lt Edward "Butch" O'Hare, America's first fighter Ace of the war, has been missing in action since 26 Nov 43 and that an extensive search for either O'Hare or his plane has been unsuccessful.
[+] show related dates
Butch O'Hare related dates...
20 Feb 42: O'Hare becomes the first US fighter Ace of the war
26 Mar 42: O'Hare greeted as celebrity by reporters in Hawaii
21 Apr 42: O'Hare receives the Medal of Honor at White the House
25 Apr 42: O'Hare given a hero's parade in his hometown St Louis
19 Jun 42: O'Hare is relocated to Maui to instruct other pilots
31 Aug 43: O'Hare is awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
05 Oct 43: O'Hare is awarded a Gold Star in lieu of another DFC
26 Nov 43: O'Hare is shot down in combat, never to be found
09 Dec 43: Official word arrives from the PTO that O'Hare is MIA
27 Jan 45: US Navy launches the destroyer USS O'Hare in his honor
19 Sep 49: Chicago's airport is renamed O'Hare International
Related WWII Store items (Fighter Aces of WWII)...
Douglas Bader Reach for the Sky: The Story of Douglas Bader, Legless Ace of the Battle of Britain
George Beurling Malta Spitfire: The Diary of an Ace Fighter Pilot
Dick Bong Ace of Aces: The Story of Fighter Pilot Dick Bong
ETO - Denmark: The Establishment of the Council of Freedom in Denmark is announced in Britain.
Russian Front - North: Day 823 of 872 of the Siege of Leningrad.
Russian Front - North: Day 584 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 108 of 122 of the Battle of the Lower Dnieper River, USSR. The Soviets clear the Aleksandriia-Znamenka region in Ukraine.
MTO - Italy: RAF and US Air Forces provide air support for the Allied ground units.
CBI - China: Day 2,347 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
Day 38 of 49 of the Battle of West Changde. Chinese troops retake Changteh in the Hunan province in south-central China.
PTO - New Guinea: Day 82 of 219 of the Battle of Shaggy Ridge.
PTO - New Guinea: Day 79 of 162 of the Battle of the Huon Peninsula.
PTO - Solomon Islands: Day 39 of 295 of the Battle of the Bougainville Islands.
1944 — , December 9
ETO: Written by the Chief Chaplain of the Third Army, US General George S Patton circulates to every man in the Third Army what will come to be known as Patton's Weather Prayer.
Spotlight...
Recreation of Patton's Weather Prayer
While the US Third Army was headquartered near Nancy, France, "immoderate" weather was playing havoc with their advance. Rain and snow clouds grounded the air forces and impeded movement of troops and vehicles. General George S Patton felt it was time for the entire Third Army to call upon the Almighty to intervene.
Patton was foul mouthed even by the standards of an army known for profanity, yet he took time to read the Bible and pray every day. Some may view a prayer for success in war as blasphemous. However, as the old saying goes, "there are no atheists in foxholes."
Patton said to his Chaplain, Colonel James H O'Neill, words that included, "I am a strong believer in Prayer. There are three ways that men get what they want; by planning, by working, and by praying. God has His part in everything, That's where prayer comes in. We were lucky in Africa, in Sicily and in Italy, simply because people prayed. But we have to pray for ourselves, too."
Upon reading it, Patton gave the casual directive, "Have 250,000 copies printed and see to it that every man in the Third Army gets one." The prayer cards reached the troops Dec 12-14, two days before the Battle of the Bulge erupted. On Dec 20 the skies cleared and Allied air power was unleashed on the attacking Germans. Patton gave full credit to the weather prayer.
Brigadier General and Monsignor James Hugh O'Neill
On Christmas Eve when Chaplain O'Neill walked into Patton's office the general rose, came from behind his desk with hand outstretched, and said, "Chaplain, you're the most popular man in this Headquarters. You sure stand in good with the Lord and the soldiers."
Patton then pinned a Bronze Star Medal on O'Neill.
Patton related dates...
04 Apr 41: Promoted to Major General (shows full promotions table)
06 Mar 43: Named the commanding officer of the US II Corps
ETO - France: Day 131 of 284 of the Battle of Brittany.
ETO - France: Day 86 of 236 of the Siege of Dunkirk.
ETO - Germany: Day 82 of 145 of the Battle of Hürtgen Forest.
ETO - Germany: US 8th Air Force B-17s hit Unterturkheim, Boblingen and Stuttgart.
Russian Front - Finland: Day 86 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 56 of 206 of the Battle of the Courland Pocket in Latvia.
Russian Front - Center: Day 49 of 99 of the Siege of Memel, a border town of Lithuania and East Prussia.
Russian Front - South: Day 42 of 108 of the Battle of Budapest, Hungary. The Russian main army reaches the Danube north of Budapest.
MTO: US 15th Air Force B-17s and B-24s attack targets in Austria, Germany, and Czechoslovakia.
MTO - Italy: US and Royal Air Forces provides air support for the Allied ground units.
CBI - Burma: Day 253 of 302 of the Chinese Salween Offensive.
CBI - Burma: Day 26 of 31 of the Battle of Bhamo.
CBI - China: Day 2,713 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
Day 237 of 259 of Japan's Operation ICHI-GO.
PTO - New Guinea: Day 348 of 597 of the Battle of New Britain.
PTO - New Guinea: Day 232 of 481 of the Battle of Western New Guinea.
PTO - Philippines: Day 51 of 299 of the 2nd Battle of the Philippines, aka the Liberation of the Philippines or the Philippines Campaign.
PTO - Philippines: Day 51 of 73 of the Battle of Leyte.
PTO - Philippines: Day 29 of 41 of the Naval Battle of Ormoc Bay.
1945 — , December 9
Germany: Famed US General George S Patton is seriously injured in an automobile accident, from which he will die in twelve days.
Spotlight...
Headline of the San Francisco Examiner announces the auto accident in post-war Germany from which General Patton will die 12 days later.
Patton related dates...
04 Apr 41: Promoted to Major General (shows full promotions table)
06 Mar 43: Named the commanding officer of the US II Corps
Spotlight...
