29 Dec in WW2 History | World War II Database

29 Dec 1934

Japan renounced the Naval Treaties of 1922 and 1930.
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29 Dec 1937

Spanish General Franco ordered Generals José Varela and Antonio Aranda to mount a counter-attack to relieve the defenders at Teruel, who were surrounded by Spanish Republican forces. Appalling winter weather, however, hampered their advance, although this move nearly placed the Republicans in a siege situation themselves.
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Soryu was commissioned into service.
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29 Dec 1939

Soviet 163rd Division, trapped in the Finnish village of Suomussalmi for the past 22 days, began evacuating on an ice road over Lake Kiantajärvi; troops of the Finnish 9th Division attacked the rearguard. Meanwhile, in Moscow, Russia, Stalin endorsed Chief of Staff Shaposhnikov's plan for a major attack on Finnish forces on the Karelian Isthmus; Semyon Timoshenko volunteered to lead the offensive as the disgraced Kirill Meretskov was demoted to the commander of the Soviet 7th Army.
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29 Dec 1940

244 German Luftwaffe bombers dropped 30,000 incendaries on the historic city center of London, England, United Kingdom, destroying the London Guildhall and eight Wren churches. St. Paul's Cathedral, however, was saved by clergymen who successfully prevented the flames on the roof from spreading. In the aftermath the Government ordered that "fire-watchers" be stationed on all factories, offices, and shops to act as spotters to provide early warning. This order proved to be very unpopular with Trade Unions.
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Greek submarine Proteus attacked Italian ships Sardegna, Italia, and Piemonte 40 miles east of Brindisi, Italy, sinking Sardegna. Escort torpedo boat Antares dropped 11 depth charges, forcing Proteus to the surface, which was then rammed and sunk by Antares, killing the entire crew of 48.
In Libya, British aircraft bombed Bardia and airfields at Tobruk, Derna, and Benina. Meanwhile, troops of Australian 6th Division rehearsed attacks on defensive positions similar to those at Bardia.
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US President Roosevelt broadcasted a fireside chat, urging the country to increase production in preparation for war, but also promising to keep the United States out of the fighting.
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Photos dated 29 Dec 1940

29 Dec 1941

The Soviet 44th Army landed 23,000 men and a battalion of tanks at Feodosiya to reinforce Sevastopol, Ukraine at 0350 hours. In response, General Hans von Sponeck ordered the German 46th Infantry Division to fall back, losing much heavy equipment in the process and against Adolf Hitler's "no retreat" order.
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40 land-based bombers of the Japanese Navy 5th Air Group attacked Corregidor in the Philippine Islands for the first time. On Luzon island, Japanese Lingayen Force captured Cabanatuan, but American and Filipino forces held on to Tarlac to the west.
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Japanese and Chinese troops clashed in northern Hunan Province, China.
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Japanese bombers struck Rangoon, Burma, destroying the railway station and dock facilities.
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British troops, Indian troops, and civilians from Kuching, British Borneo arrived at Singkawang II airfield in Dutch Borneo. The British and Indian troops were incorporated under Dutch command to bolster the airfield's defenses, while the civilians were sent further south to Pontianak to await further evacuation.
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The German Navy decided to send battleship Tirpitz to Norway on 10 Jan 1942 to tie down Allied naval resources in the North Atlantic.
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USS Pennsylvania arrived at San Francisco, California, United States for repairs.
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While offloading troops at Sevastopol, Ukraine, Russian cruiser Molotov was damaged in the stern by German artillery.
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USS Arizona was placed in ordinary status as she was inoperable.
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USS Astoria arrived at Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii.
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29 Dec 1942

In the afternoon, prisoners Otto Küsel, Jan Baras, Mieczyslaw Januszewski, and Dr. Boleslaw Kuczbara escaped from Auschwitz Concentration Camp. Otto Küsel, a German Jew with horse cart driving responsibilities, loaded up four cabinets for transport with the other three hidden inside, reaching an open field in the production area without being checked by SS guards due to the appearance of his usual duty. Mieczyslaw Januszewski came out, wearing a SS uniform and wielding a rifle, and sat next to Küsel. They left the camp after Januszewski produced a false SS identification. They made contact shortly after with the resistance group Polish Home Army.
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Onami was commissioned into service.
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USS S-35 arrived at Dutch Harbor, US Territory of Alaska, ending her fifth war patrol.
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29 Dec 1943

The RAF dropped 2,000 tons of bombs on Berlin, Germany.
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Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Indian Ocean were nominally returned under Indian control, though the Japanese retained heavy influence.
Yahagi was commissioned into service.
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USS Scorpion departed Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii for her fourth war patrol.
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Light carrier Ryuho arrived at Saipan, Mariana Islands. Later on the same day she departed for Japan.
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29 Dec 1944

German V-2 rocket hit a house on Croham Valley Road, Croydon, London, England, United Kingdom, killing all occupants.
The Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds to the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross award was established in Germany.
USS Mingo arrived at Fremantle, Australia, ending her sixth war patrol.
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U-869 received the order to head to American waters southeast of New York City, New York, United States.
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Destroyer Yukikaze departed Moji, Japan to escort a troop convoy to Taiwan.
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USS Gabilan departed Fremantle, Australia for her fourth war patrol.
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29 Dec 1945

Gilmore was decommissioned from service.
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29 Dec 1949

Khabarovsk War Crime Trials concluded with all 12 accused members of the Japanese Kwantung Army found guilty and given prison sentences.
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29 Dec 2010