Posted on 12/18/2012 4:24:37 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson
Considering how few of our armoured divisions are going to be in action, we ought not to send 2-pounder Crusaders [with the next armoured division going to North Africa]. It is only laying ourselves open to the kind of criticism we had in the Gazala battle to put these under-gunned tanks on to the backs of our harassed shipping. It is only worth while sending the best. There seems to be time enough to make a change. Pray let me have a plan to replace the 2-pounders by 6-pounders.
Winston S. Churchill, The Hinge of Fate
http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1942/dec42/f18dec42.htm
Australian armor supports attacks
Friday, December 18, 1942 www.onwar.com
Australian tank advances in New Guinea jungle [photo at link]
In New Guinea... Cape Endiadere is taken by the Allies. Australian troops have newly arrived tank support against the Japanese positions.
In North Africa... There is an brisk engagement at Nofilia.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/frame.htm
December 18th, 1942
UNITED KINGDOM: Destroyer HMS Brecon commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)
GERMANY:
U-361 commissioned.
U-1000 laid down.
U-540 launched. (Dave Shirlaw)
LIBYA: The German rearguard stops to fight at Nogilia then moves on.
MEDITERRANEAN SEA: Whilst screening Force H, destroyer HMS Partridge is attacked and sunk by U-565 (Kapitanleutnant Wilhelm Franken) 50 miles West of Oran at 35 50N 01 35E. HMS Penn rescues 173 survivors. (Alex Gordon)(108)
NEW GUINEA: The Allies capture Cape Endiadere, east of Buna. The Australians use tanks with good effect in the advance. They also attack Japanese positions at Napapo and Sanananda.
AUSTRALIA: Minesweeper HMAS Wagga commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)
GUADALCANAL: US infantry meet stiff Japanese resistance at Mount Austen.
CANADA: Minesweepers HMS MMS 1050, 1051, 1052, 1053, 1054, 1055, 1056, 1057, 1058, 1059, 1060, 1061 ordered in Canada. (Dave Shirlaw)
U.S.A.: [Msg, WD to Eisenhower OPD Msg files, CM-OUT 6349] Following message under date of December 15 furnished you from the President:
“I am today appointing Mr. Murphy to be my personal representative in North Africa with the rank of Minister. He will continue on General Eisenhower’s staff in his present capacity as Civil Affairs Officer until such a time as consultation with the War Department suggests a change.”
Destroyer escort USS Harold C Thomas launched. (Dave Shirlaw)
ATLANTIC OCEAN:
U-563 sank SS Bretwalda in Convoy MKS-3Y.
U-621 sank SS Oropos in Convoy ONS-152. (Dave Shirlaw)
"Even as conditions worsened within the Warsaw Ghetto, its intellectuals and artists, some seeking to perpetuate Hebrew and others Yiddish, struggled to keep culture alive.
Writer, poet, and publisher Aaron Luboshitzki was a leader in the effort to further Hebrew literature.
During a prolific career, he wrote textbooks, articles, poems, and plays, and established several publishing houses.
He was killed by the Nazis in Warsaw in 1942."
"A scene from the Nazi documentary film Between Vistula and Rhine shows members of the SS engaged in a deportation operation in Warsaw.
Notice that the image portrays the soldiers going about their duties calmly.
The tremendous brutality that accompanied the roundups was not part of the propaganda films produced by the Nazis.
The elimination of Polish Jewry was presented as a relocation operation, not programmatic genocide."
* This is a historical starting point for any discussions of alllegations about "Hitler's Pope".
From here scholars look backwards and forwards for other evidence that the Pope was "soft on Nazism."
In reality, the Pope faced Sophie's Choice times millions, and judged that public silence was necessary to save lives.
The Desert Fox, finally out-foxed.
Rommel and Patton — ancient warriors in a modern struggle.
Did they ever battle directly? I can’t seem to find definitive references...
I don’t think Rommel and Patton ever battled directly although it is certainly true they each had a healthy respect for each other. Patton was not at the Kasserine Pass when Rommel’s troops ambushed the Americans. Hitler shortly after that recalled Rommel back to Germany and Rommel was also facing health issues at the time and needed hospitalization. Rommel wanted to withdraw German forces out of Tunisia, but Hitler would have none it. As with Stalingrad, Hitler just let them stew there. When the Afrika Corp finally surrendered, the Allies netted even more German POWs than the Soviets did at Stalingrad.
Page one, bottom left:
“New Plan Suspends Liberal Education”
What I’ve give to see that headline today.
Nice one on the Brits in Africa. Couldn’t happen to a better German enemy ;P
So... they discovered a new comet? Should I ping SunkenCiv? I mean..er... send him a telegram? heh
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