http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1942/nov42/f05nov42.htm
Advance of Germans in Caucasus slowing
Thursday, November 5, 1942 www.onwar.com
On the Eastern Front... In the Caucasus, the German advances are slowing, but they have almost reached Ordzhonikidze.
In the Solomon Islands... Admiral Tanaka takes command of the “Toyko Express,” the destroyer flotilla supplying Japanese forces on Guadalcanal.
From Gibraltar... American General Eisenhower arrives to set up his headquarters for Operation Torch, the invasion of French North Africa. American General Doolittle and British Air Marshall Welsh will command the air forces. British General Anderson will lead the British 1st Army which comprises the main ground force.
On Madagascar... The Vichy French forces ask for an armistice.
In New Guinea... The Australians attack Oivi. The Japanese decided to fight a rear guard action here to enable the rest of their forces to retire across the Kumusi River.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/frame.htm
November 5th, 1942
UNITED KINGDOM: Submarine HMS Truncheon laid down (Dave Shirlaw)
GERMANY: In a camp in Bavaria British officer prisoners are rehearsing the production of The Mikado. They have an orchestra of 72 performers and the cast with chorus is a pretty big one. The camp has two tennis courts and a football pitch.
These details were given to me in a letter written considerably after the reprisals order was put into effect.
Commander Beattie failed to get away after the commando raid on St. Nazaire, and for his gallant conduct was awarded the V.C.
One morning a little later a special parade of all prisoners was ordered at which the camp commandant appeared in full dress uniform. Calling out Commander Beattie the commandant read out the official citation of the award and then saluted, joining in the cheers that broke out from the other British officers on parade.
A similar urge to honour gallantry which had cost the enemy dear was displayed only a few days later, this time at another prisoner-of-war camp. Here the commander ordered a special parade at which he read out the record of the award of the V.C. to Sergeant John Hinton, a New Zealander, who had fought in Greece, handed him the ribbon of the decoration and looked on sympathetically while the Sergeant was carried shoulder high around the camp.
Yorkshire Post
[From an article by Sir Herbert Russell.]
U.S.S.R.: The German attacks begin to loose steam south of Terek in the Causasus, but nevertheless continue already nearing Ordzhonikidze.
Polar Fleet and White Sea Flotilla: Shipping loss.SKR-25 “Smena” (ex RT-57 “Smena”) by surface ships, SW to Novaya Zemla after 22 - DD “Sokrushitelnii” - at storm, in a central part of Barentz Sea.
Baltic Fleet, Ladoga and Onega Flotillas: Submarine “Sch-305” is rammed and sunk off Gisslan in Gulf of Finland by Finnish submarine /Vetehinen/ (kapteeniluutnantti Antti Leino). Despite being damaged, /Vetehinen/ suffered no casualties and managed to return port. (Sergey Anisimov and Mikko Härmeinen)(69)
GIBRALTAR: General Eisenhower arrives. His HQ includes Admiral Cunningham for Naval, General Doolittle and Air Marshal Welsh for Air. General Anderson will command the British 1st Army, the main ground formation.
A senior American general nearly drowned after a clandestine meeting with French leaders in Algeria, it was revealed today. Lieutenant-General Mark Clark, the deputy commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, was landed by canvas canoe from the British submarine HMS SERAPH on 22 October.
British commandos stood guard with Tommy guns as he held discussions with the French General Charles Mast, the deputy commander in North Africa. Mast was anxious for details of the coming invasion. Clark gave none, not even the fact that the fleet was on its way. With the local police suspicious, Clark and the Commandos prepared to shoot their way out. When they reached the beach, a heavy Atlantic swell was creating huge waves. It was then that a canoe capsized, throwing the general into the water. Clark claims someone shouted: “Never mind the general, get the paddles!”
NORTH AFRICA: Rommel retreats from Fuka. While the Italian Infantry takes heavy losses, the main British pursuit is held up by a shortage of fuel and a minefield. The minefield is a dummy field laid out previously by the British themselves.
MADAGASCAR: Vichy forces ask the British for an armistice.
NEW GUINEA: Australian troops advancing on the Kokoda Trail today launched a strong attack on the retreating Japanese in a bid to capture the town of Oivi in the foothills of the Owen Stanley Mountains.
After the fall of Kokoda on 2 November, a brigade of Australians encountered strongly-manned Japanese defences some three miles long near Oivi. The Japanese have dug themselves in and are resisting fiercely. To try and break the impasse another Australian brigade is to move round the southern flank to cut Japanese communications in the rear.
If Oivi can be taken, the road will be open to Gona and Buna on the north coast, although more tough fighting is inevitable.
SOLOMON ISLANDS: The 164th crosses the Nalimbiu, east of the Lunga perimeter, on Guadalcanal. They envelop the inland flank of the Japanese opposite the 7th Marines.
The Tenryu and 5 Destroyers of the Otsu Detachment of the Tokyo Express lands part of the 228th Regiment at Cape Esperance. The Ko Detachment with 10 Destroyers of the Tokyo Express lands Major General Ito, CO of the 38th Infantry Group, his HQ and with the balance of the regiment is landed at Tassafaronga. Among those evacuated is General Kawaguchi,141 soldiers and 206 construction workers.
The US opposition tonight consists of PT-39 engaging destroyer Murasame. The other 3 US PT boats do not detect the Express.
CANADA:
Minesweeper HMCS St Boniface launched Port Arthur, Ontario.
Trawler HMS Bowell renamed HMS Miscou at Montreal, Province of Quebec. (Dave Shirlaw)
U.S.A.: Destroyer USS Jeffers commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)