Sea War Mediterranean - Tobruk Ferry: British Mediterranean Fleet has delivered 32,667 troops and 34,000 t. of supplies; 34,115 troops, 7,516 wounded and 7,097 POWs evacuated (April 13 - December 8, 1941). Losses: 1 cruiser-minelayer, 2 destroyers and 24 other vessels.

China - Battle of Hong Kong: Japanese 38 Inf. Div. supported by heavy artillery and aircraft, attacks 12,000-strong British-Canadian-Indian garrison.

Picture: Japanese infantry in Hong Kong.

Philippines: Japanese land on Batan Island, south of Formosa.

Air War: Japanese destroy 100 aircraft in raids on Philippines.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1941

Russian Front - Siege of Leningrad: Russians restore railway supply line to Lake Ladoga by the recapturing of Tikhwin.

Diplomacy: Nationalist China declares war on Japan (an unofficial 'state of war' had existed since 1937), Germany and Italy.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1941

Sea War : PRINCE OF WALES AND REPULSE SUNK 322 KM NORTHEAST OF SINGAPORE by 88 Japanese bombers and torpedo planes (4 lost) operating from bases near Saigon. British casualties: 730 killed, including Admiral Phillips.

Picture: Battleship Prince of Wales and battlecruiser Repulse under attack from Japanese bombers.

Sea War Pacific: JAPANESE LAND IN NORTHERN PHILIPPINES. Japanese capture Guam Island (USA) and Tarawa and Makin Island (GB).

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1941

Sea War Pacific: Defence of Wake Island: small garrison of US Marines, with coastal battery and 12 fighters, repulses Japanese invasion force, sinking destroyer and damaging cruiser. Japanese bombers and carrier planes make repeated raids and second invasion attempt (December 23-24) finally crushes all resistance. US Pacific Fleet races towards Wake but is too late to intervene.

Diplomacy: (MAIN EVENT) GERMANY AND ITALY DECLARE WAR ON USA. USA declares war on Germany and Italy.

Picture: Hitler declares war on USA in the German Reichstag.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1941

Diplomacy: Rumania declares war on USA.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1941

Sea War Mediterranean: Italian fast cruisers Alberico da Barbiano and Alberto di Giussano, loaded with petrol drums for Italian forces in North Africa, sunk by 3 British destroyers and Dutch destroyer Isaac Sweers south of Sicily (900 killed).

Russian Front: STALIN ORDERS GENERAL OFFENSIVE.

Picture: Assault of Siberian infantry in December 1941.

China: Japanese cross from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island (night December 13-14).

Diplomacy: Bulgaria declares war on Britain and USA. Hungary declares war on USA.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1941

Sea War Mediterranean: Battleship Vittorio Veneto torpedoed by British submarine Urge off Straits of Messina.