24 Dec 1943
  • Sir Henry Maitland Wilson was designated Supreme Allied Commander Mediterranean, with General Harold Alexander as the Commander-in-Chief of Allied Armies in Italy under him. ww2dbase [Main Article | TH]
Australian New Guinea
  • 50 Allied aircraft (Australian Kittyhawk fighters and US F6F fighters) conducted a fighters sweep over Rabaul, New Britain. A raid by heavy bombers followed the fighter sweep. ww2dbase [Main Article | CPC]
China
  • 18 B-24 bombers of US 14th Air Force, escorted by fighters, attacked Tianhe Airfield in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, claiming 20 Japanese fighters shot down; one B-24 bomber was shot down. ww2dbase [Main Article | CPC]
Italy
  • New Zealand 5th Infantry Brigade engaged in combat along the Gustav Line in Italy. In Ortona, Italy, German troops counterattacked against Canadian positions and caused heavy casualties. ww2dbase [Main Article | CPC]
Ukraine
  • General Nikolai Vatutin launched another winter offensive, starting with the capture of Berdychiv, Ukraine. ww2dbase [Main Article | TH]
United Kingdom
  • US Army General Dwight Eisenhower was named the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe. ww2dbase [Main Article | CPC]
  • While in Britain, Oliver Leese received orders to take command of British Eighth Army in Italy. ww2dbase [Main Article | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 24 Dec 1943
US Coast Guard-manned LST delivered Marines and supplies to New Britain, 24 Dec 1943Cruiser USS Phoenix firing her 6-inch guns during the invasion of Cape Gloucester, New Britain, Bismarck Archipelago, circa 24-26 Dec 1943; note photo was taken from fantail, looking forwardUS Army Medical Corps doctor Colonel Gordon Seagraves speaking to US and Chinese officers, Ningam Sakan, northern Burma, 24 Dec 1943

24 Dec 1943 Interactive Map

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis




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Map depicting the Allied breakthrough at Saint-Lô, France, 25-31 Jul 1944




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"With Germany arming at breakneck speed, England lost in a pacifist dream, France corrupt and torn by dissension, America remote and indifferent... do you not tremble for your children?"

Winston Churchill, 1935