Soviet marine raises flag over the newly liberated town of Kerch
- Project 60: A Day-by-Day Diary of WWII -
Remembering the First Fight Against Fascism
Rommel retreats in North Africa
This Week (two actually)
December 21, 1941
Japanese troops begin
major landings at Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines.
December 22, 1941
The main body of the
Japanese invasion force completes its landings. The 14th Army,
consisting of some 43,000 men are 130 miles north of Manila.
December 23, 1941
return in strength to Wake Island, this time, they overwhelm the US forces on
December 24, 1941
Japanese forces make
more landings in Luzon. Pressure by the Japanese 16 Division toward Manila force
MacArthur to order the withdrawal to Bataan.
December 25, 1941
11,000-man garrison at Hong Kong is surrendered. More than 2000 Commonwealth
troops were killed or MIA while 2300 were wounded in the seven-day siege.
British forces enter
Benghazi as the Afrika Korp continues its retreat to El Agheila
Hitler removes one of
his most capable generals, Heintz Guderian from command of the 2nd
December 26, 1941
Soviet marines make a
landing on the Kerch peninsula in order to relieve the pressure on the Soviet
forced defending the besieged city of Sevastopol.
Churchill addresses a
joint session of the US congress and receives a warm and heartfelt reception.
December 27, 1941
The British launched Operation Archery, a major commando raid on Vaago and Lofoten Islands off the Norwegian coast. In the attack, the commandos killed 200 Germans and destroyed five German merchant ships totaling 16,000 tons.
Japanese bombers hit
Manila despite the public declaration that the US/Phillipine forces had
December 29, 1941
Soviet marines make a
second landing on the Kerch peninsula, this time near Feodosrya. Both Kerch and
Feodosiya were captured by the Soviet marines.
threatened with encirclement, hurriedly evacuate the Kerch peninsula.
December 31, 1941
advancing from the north, are 30 miles from Manila. The last Allied forces in
the area are withdrawn.
Sevastopol are suspended for the winter in order to stabilize the situation in
January 1, 1942
sign on to the Atlantic Charter. In documents drafted for the occasion, the term
"United Nations" is used for the first time. The signatories agreed to fight
to "ensure life, liberty, independence and religious freedom, and to preserve
the rights of mean and justice."
British forces blow
up and abandon the oil fields in Sarawak as Japanese forces press their advance.
Jean Moulin, the
former mayor of Chartres, France, was parachuted back into France after spending
four months in Britain organizing support for the resistance.
British forces attack
Bardia in a daring night attack. The Libyan city would fall the next day.
January 2, 1942
Japanese forces enter
Manila and begin massive air and artillery attacks on Corregidor.
Chinese forces enter
Burma to assist the British in defending their supply lines through that
cause heavy damage in raids on Singapore.
planners were directed to begin planning for a "second front" in northwest
Europe. This was the genesis of the Normandy invasion.
January 3, 1942
Chinese forces begin
a major attack against Japanese forces at Changsha, Hunan.
Those wishing to contribute items. stories or comments should contact D.A. Friedrichs
The items found in this section are comments from the editors of Project 60 and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of bartcop.
War, Glory, Honor and Remembrance
War is a brutal and savage insult on human society. For nations it is the destruction of the resources needed for the enrichment of its citizens. For families, it is the loss of loved ones and the horrors held by the survivors. For the individual, it is the loss of precious time and ultimately, life itself.
There is no honor or glory in war. The sacrifice of a generation of humans cannot be seen in anyway to be glorious. Platitudes like "just cause" and "noble purpose" are meaningless to the person whose body has been blown to bits. If there is honor, it is in survival. If there is glory it is returning to your families, friends and community.
What we, the people who did not have to experience war, must do, is remember those who gave so much for our freedom. We must redouble our efforts so that their sacrifice is not in vane, so tyranny will not threaten our world again, so no more young men and women of any nation, need be surrendered to the insanity of war again.
D. A. Friedrichs
Want to Win - Think Before You Lash Out - "If we are serious about taking the war to the enemy, it is time to look ..."
The First Fight Against Fascism - We must remember the Spanish Civil War also.
Arguing Victory - "... Each nation who fought against fascist tyranny in WWII brought with it part of whole needed to defeat that evil..."
War, Glory, Honor and Remembrance - "War is a brutal and savage insult on human society..."
First Casualty... in time of war, those in power are even more inclined to hide the truth,
since that truth is often manifest in the most gruesome and terrible