The Pacific. January 11th... 1942

World War II Almanac | 1981 | Robert Goralski

[johnny7]

-Japan formally declared war on the Netherlands.

-Japanese forces invaded the Celebes in the Dutch East Indies. There was only token resistance by the small defending garrisons.

-Kuala Lampur was captured by the Japanese 5th Division. Japanese troops were 150 miles from Singapore.

-The U.S. carrier Saratoga was hit by a torpedo from a Japanese submarine 500 miles southwest of Oahu but suffered no major damage.

-The rail line between Rahav and Bryansk was cut as Soviet forces continued their westward push on the Orel front.

-A Japanese attempt to outflank the Bataan defense line failed. U.S. and Filipino forces on Bataan were put on half rations. Efforts to resupply were frustrated by the Japanese blockade. 15 blockade runners totaling 40,000 tons, were sunk trying to carry in supplies from Cebu.

[johnny7]

This was only one of the many sad days in early 1942. Hong Kong, Guam, Wake Island, the Philippines and Singapore would be enveloped by the Japanese juggernaut. While the losses in territory were substantial, the actual combat losses were only just beginning. The real butcher yards of Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Bouganville, Peleliu, Saipan, Iwo Jima and Okinawa were waiting down the road.

This book is great reading for any kid/adult who wants to view a day-by-day chronology of WWII. Great reasons to thank God we developed the a-bomb first... and had the common sense to use it!

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