Eighth Army presses north in harsh winter fighting
Allied forces driven forward through rain and snow in Italy as the Eighth Army seizes Vezzani near Ortona and retains ground along the Ortona front. Canadian, British, and American units press the line while German resistance holds pockets around Ortona, with rail targets hit on the Riviera and near Antheor in France.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Eighth Army
Vezzani
Ortona
15Th U. S. Air Force
Riviera
Sir Bernard Montgomery
Therezzani
Orsogna
Nde
Acquafondala
Villa
Italy
Imperia
Passo
Antheor
France
Cannes
Soviet Seizes Initiative On Bulge At Kiev
Moscow reports Soviet forces regained the initiative west of Kiev as German units retreat on a broad front. Russian artillery, mobile guns, and anti-tank squads have crippled German armor in a weeks-long bulge, with gains toward Korosten and Zhitomir while German counterstrokes west of Kiev falter.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Kiev
Moscow
Korosten
Malin
Zhitomir' Selient
Zhitomir
Odessa-Leningrad
Zhlobin
Three Rail Unions Agree to Arbitration Step
At the White House on December 24, leaders of the rail road trainmen and locomotive engineers announced they would withdraw their December 30 strike call for their two unions. They acted on Roosevelt's proposal to arbitrate the wage dispute involving operating and non operating brotherhoods.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Brotherhoods of Railroad
White House
Roosevelt
A. F. Whitney
Alvanley Johnston
James F. Byrnes
Fred M. Vinson
Whitney
Pope Prays for Last Christmas of War World Peace
Pope Pius XII in a Christmas message from the Vatican called for a future peace based on justice and honesty. He urged planning for a world reconciliation and warned against peace imposed by force, noting the shadow of Nazi occupation surrounds Rome and affects the faithful.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
London
World Today
Vatican
Rome
Associated Press
Soviet Troops Press on Vitebsk as German Offensive Stalls
Baltic army forces under Gen. Ivan Bagramian storm the outer defenses of Vitebsk amid reports that a major German two day offensive along a 400 mile front has been halted. Berlin acknowledged breaches north and southeast of Vitebsk as Red Army units moved within 12 miles of the fortified base after crossing a water obstacle and killing 800 enemy soldiers.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
London
Ivan C. Bagramian
Vitebsk
Berlin
Moscow
Red Army
Eighty Hostages Shot At Milan By Germans
Kaetek hostages were shot at Milan Italy after an anti Fascist assault on the funeral cortege of Fascist Commissar Aldo Resega. The procession was attacked December 21 with rifles and grenades from Cardusio place as Fascists and Nazi troops fought back, leaving more than twenty dead and around fifty wounded.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bern
Switzerland
Kaetek
Milan
Italy
Aldo Resega
Lugano
Libera Stampa
Cardusio Place
Allied daylight raid joins Christmas Eve Berlin bombardment
Allied air forces launch a coordinated Christmas Eve attack over Pas de Calais and Berlin with Liberators and escort fighters, following RAF night bombing. The daylight barrage, described as the allies' heaviest, targets a coastal area and signals continued large scale pressure on German defense, as Berlin endures its seventh major bombardment in five weeks.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
RAF I
U. S
Berlin
RAF
Mara
England
Pas de Calais
Cel
Wallet swap leads to arrest after holdup
Daniel Feldman asked three holdup men to return his wallet only to learn the recovered item was the robber's own wallet with identification papers. Police arrived and made an arrest shortly afterward.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York
Daniel Feldman
Feldman
Leaves From War Correspondent's Notebook
Honolulu dispatch details two sailors on liberty in Aleutians towns seeking meals and entertainment while noting crowds, bars, and cinema. Civilians describe local scenes from Adak to Ketchikan with sailors in white uniforms filling sidewalks and gutters as they consider dating options. Page 11-A.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Honolulu
Aleutians
Kodiak
Ketchikan
Adak
War on the Eastern Front Sees German Retreat Readies
Amid fierce counterattacks on the eastern front, German planners hedge on surrender of initiative to Soviet forces. Analysts expect attrition and withdrawals aimed at delaying a major Soviet breakthrough while keeping reserves ready for possible counterblows. The tempo of Russian advances toward the Vitebsk Polotsk rail line persists, with spring withdrawals anticipated along the front.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Russia
Red Army
Vitebsk-Polotsk
Berlin
Pianesa
Cer
Riga
Nazis Staging Mini Stalingrad in Ortona Defense
British Army in Italy report heavy fighting as Canadian troops seize most of Ortona, Germany stalls with tanks and snipers in barricaded streets. Detachment expects German withdrawal to high ground near the Foro river south of Pescara.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Italy
Stalingrad
Ortona
RAF
Foro River
Pescara
American Planes Inflict Heavy Damage on Japs
Heavy air strikes by American planes damaged Japanese supply bases and airfields along New Britain New Guinea and nearby waters. At least 14 enemy aircraft were shot down. Kwajalein and Wewak were hit with direct bomb hits on ships and air facilities. Allied fighters downed 14 interceptors and destroyed a bomber on the ground. Cape Gloucester received 153 tons of bombs.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Wewak
New Guinea
Cape Gloucester
New Britain
Solomon Islands
Arawe
Italian Drive Furnished Air Bases
General Eisenhower said the Italian campaign proved worth while by giving the Allies air bases for bombing central Europe and tying up German divisions. He noted seven German divisions in Italy before the invasion and 12 more after Sicily’s fall, with French and Balkan troops also engaged.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Don Whitehead
Italy
Dwight Eisenhower
Europe
Sicily
France
Balkans
Eisenhower
Japan lowers conscription age to nineteen amid war push
Gen Takao Suzuki, director of the Imperial Japanese youth corps, says in a broadcast that Japan's conscription age drop to 19 is an urgent necessity due to the worsening war situation. He adds the move seeks both equality and spiritual strength for the nation.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York
Japan
Takao Suzuki
Imperial Japanese Youth Corps
U. S
Suzuki
Allied leaders forecast decisive victories before Christmas
Reports from Eisenhower MacArthur Devers Clark Carton De Wiart praise Allied advances and predict victory in 1944. Eisenhower salutes troops in Italy and the Mediterranean. MacArthur wishes divine blessing for Southwest Pacific forces. Clark foresees ongoing momentum in Italy. De Wiart vows China support as war nears decisive end.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
U.S
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Mediterranean
Italy
New Guinea
Douglas MacArthur
Southwest Pacific
Lord
Jesus Christ
Chungking
Adrian Carton de Wart
Churchill
Wrrace
Carton de Wiart
China
Briton To Top Southern Operations
President Roosevelt announced Eisenhower would take supreme command of Anglo American forces opening a second front against Germany. A British officer will assume Eisenhower's Mediterranean role, with Spaatz commanding the U S strategic bombing force. Churchill to reveal the British appointee.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Hyde Park
N. Y
Nell
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Germany
Panthwey Boenge Aay
George C. Marshall
Churchill
Britain
Eisenhower
Mediterranean
Roosevelt
Middle East
Stalin
Russia
Teheran
Italy
Africa
Sicily
Carl D. Spaatz
German shore batteries shell Dover Deal and Folkestone
Berlin announces naval shore batteries shelled targets across the channel from Nazi France. Translation confusion over rocket shells: leucht granate means flare shells. No damage reported. Dover Folkestone area affected by shelling with British long range guns returning fire after 8 p.m.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
London
Dover
Deal
Folkestone
France
Berlin
Dover-Folkstone
Associated Press
Carl Crowehurst
Also Mentioned on This Page
Fifth Army
By Oseph A. Loftus
Carol
Gladwin Hill
Hal V. Boyle
By Lynn Heinzerling
The
Jacobs L. Devers
Mark W. Clark
Fifth
Clark
Bey
Big Three
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