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• Hartwig von Ludwiger was awarded Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. ww2dbase [Hartwig von Ludwiger | CPC]
• Battleships USS Washington, USS North Carolina, and USS Indiana escorted by destroyers USS Nicholas, USS Farragut, and USS Clarke, joined by USS Fanning and Maury, returned to Nouméa, New Caledonia. ww2dbase [Nicholas | Washington | Maury | North Carolina | Farragut | Indiana | DS]

• Bob Hope agreed to entertain US airmen in Alaska; it was the first of the traditional Christmas shows. ww2dbase [CPC]

• Satoru Anabuki, flying Ki-43 fighter "Fubuki", shot down an aircraft over Burma, his eighth victory. After dark, he shot down a Blenheim aircraft over Magwe, Burma, increasing his score to nine. ww2dbase [Satoru Anabuki | CPC]

• Comandante Cappellini departed La Pallice, La Rochelle, France at 0815 hours for trials, returning at 1400 hours. ww2dbase [Comandante Cappellini | La Rochelle, Poitou-Charentes | CPC]

• Hubert Lanz was awarded Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. ww2dbase [Hubert Lanz | CPC]

• Gato-class submarine USS Silversides came under a depth charge attack off Rabaul causing no damage but then was depth bombed from an airplane that caused moderate damage including locking the diving planes in full-dive position. Silversides' Executive Officer Lt Roy Davenport managed to restore control just before the submarine reached her crush depth. ww2dbase [Silversides | DS]

• Auxiliary Aircraft Carrier USS Bogue transited the Panama Canal from the Pacific to the Atlantic. ww2dbase [Panama Canal | Bogue | Panama Canal | DS]

• Tatsuta Maru arrived at Manila, Philippine Islands. ww2dbase [Tatsuta Maru | Manila | CPC]

• Erich von Manstein's troops began to withdraw to Kotelnikovo, Russia where they started their offensive. ww2dbase [Battle of Stalingrad | Kotelnikovo, Stalingrad | TH]

• German 10th Panzer Division took back American and British territorial gains in Tunisia made on the previous day. ww2dbase [Advance into Tunisia | CPC]

• Submarine Rock was laid down by the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company in Wisconsin, United States. ww2dbase [Rock | Manitowoc, Wisconsin | CPC]

23 Dec 1942 Interactive Map