1942- The Second World War- Chronology Day by Day

DECEMBER- 1941

1st- Japan: Emperor Hirohito approves the war plan against the United States and England. The American ambassador in Tokyo warns Roosevelt about the imminent Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor; the White House shows no reaction. In Russia, Guderian continues the march towards Moscow. For his part, Hitler does not allow Marshal Rundstedt to withdraw into the Rostov sector; the marshal presents his resignation, being replaced by General Reichenau. Three Russian armies, coming from Asia, reinforce the front of Moscow. Soviets counterattack in Tula, south of the capital. Lithuania: Einsatzgruppen 3 announces that since June of this year, it has deported 136,442 Jews. In Saint-Florentin, France: interview Pétain-Göring.

2- Rommel evacuates part of his troops from Tobruk and organizes a defensive line east of El Agheila, while trying to organize the shipment of supplies to Bardia. Russia: Guderian breaks through Moscow's defensive belt, capturing Khimki, and marches toward Kalinin; low temperatures and heavy snowfall prevent the Luftwaffe from providing air support. Finland declares the territories ceded to the USSR in 1940 recovered. In the Pacific, Japanese admiral Nagumo receives the order to attack.

3- Churchill appoints General Brooke as British Chief of Staff. Germany: approval of the "Night and Fog" decree, eliminating all rights of political prisoners and authorizing summary executions. Russia: Guderian captures Kalinin after a bloody struggle.