- November 3
- The south shore of the Scheldt River is freed of German forces. [1.30]
- (0950 hours) Operation Switchback is completed. [120.39]
- (evening) British bombers attack Düsseldorf, Germany. A special group of 38 bombers equipped with GH radar navigation attack a tubular steel factory. They score several hits, and use of this technology is considered encouraging. [84.255]
- November 4
- A rubberized silk balloon is recovered from the Pacific Ocean near the California coast. (Similar silk or paper balloons of inflated diameter 33 feet are subsequently found along the coast from Mexico to Alaska, up to April 1945. 9000 in total were launched from Japan, resulting in six deaths in Oregon, and two small grass fires. The rough cost to Japan is US$18 million.) [580.6]
- British Bomber Command makes an air raid on Solingen, Germany. Four bombers are shot down. [638.34]
- Soviet lead tanks reach the outskirts of Budapest, Hungary. [383.40]
- (evening) 749 British bombers attack Bochum, Germany. [84.348]
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- (evening) 174 British aircraft attack the Dortmund-Ems Canal, breaching it. [84.348]
- November 5
- British Bomber Command makes a second air raid on Solingen, Germany. 1300 houses and 16 industrial buildings are destroyed; 1600 buildings are damaged; 1882 are killed. [638.34]
- In Canada, newly appointed Minister of Defence Andrew McNaughton makes his first public speech, favoring voluntary enlistment over forced conscription. His audience is unimpressed with his stand. [5.148] [50.100]
- November 6
- Middelburg, capital of Walcheren island, is freed from German occupation. [1.30]
- 731 British bombers attack the Nordstern oil plant near Gelsenkirchen, Germany, causing great damage. Five bombers are shot down. [84.266] [638.34]
- November 7
- In Japan, Richard Sorge and Hotzumi Ozaki are executed. Sorge was head of a Soviet spy ring in Tokyo, and Ozaki was part of the ring, delivering secret Japanese documents to Sorge. [444.503]
- In the Hürtgen Forest, a casual truce in German-American fighting allows extraction of wounded. [712.19]
- November 8
- Allied forces secure the entire island of Walcheren. [1.30] (November 9 [84.348])
- British Bomber Command launches a third raid on Homberg. [638.33]
- In Canada, Prime Minister William King makes a national appeal on radio to soldiers to volunteer for overseas duty. Public reaction is negative. [5.150,162] [50.100]
- November 10
- British Prime Minster Winston Churchill first publicly admits to the V-2 rocket threat in England. [463.10]
- November 12
- The Japanese army Kamikaze unit Banda attacks and damages the repair ships Egeria and Achilles near Leyte. [53.19]
- Twelve British Lancaster bombers from Lossiemouth, Scotland, carrying special 12,000-pound bombs, attack German battleship Tirpitz. They score three hits, causing a great explosion, sinking the ship near Tromsö, Norway, off Hakey Island. [29.107] [84.252] [243.37]
- November
- Adolf Hitler authorizes the formation of the first jet-fighter wing. [54.31]
- November 16
- 4000 planes of the British RAF and US 8th Air Force drop 10,000 tons of bombs on the German Siegfried defences. [698.4]
- November 20
- British Bomber Command launches a fourth raid on Homberg oil targets. [638.33]
- November 21
- 160 British bombers attack Homberg-Meerbeck, Germany. [84.266] [638.34]
- 273 British bombers attack oil plants at Castrop Rauxel, Germany. [84.266]
- November 22
- In Canada, the Army High Command threatens to resign if the government does not impose conscription to send soldiers into overseas battle. [5.151,162]
- (evening) In Canada, at a cabinet meeting, Prime Minister King announces that the request for volunteers for overseas duty had failed. With a risk of District Officers Commanding threatening to resign, the only option left was mandatory conscription. The cabinet agrees to set a limit of 16,000 troops. [50.102]
- (evening) In Canada, Defence Minister Andrew McNaughton recommends to Cabinet that 16,000 conscripted soldiers be sent to fight in Europe. [5.152]
- November 23
- French troops capture Strasbourg. [159.451]
- British Bomber Command makes an air raid on the Nordstern synthetic oil plant at Gelsenkirchen, Germany, using G-H to aid in targeting. [638.34]
- To date, about 200 V-2 rockets have landed in England, about 100 in the London Region, killing about 500. [339.204]
- (1500 hours) In Canada, an Order-in-council approved by the governor-general is read in the House of Commons, imposing conscription of 16,000 soldiers for overseas duty. [5.152,162] [50.102] [116.77]
- November 24
- In the Cabot Strait, Canada, German submarine U-1228 torpedoes and sinks Canadian corvette HMCS Shawnigan. All 90 on board die. [27.22] [66.36] [452.42]
- 110 B-29 bombers from the Mariana islands attack Nakajima aircraft factory near Tokyo, Japan. [362.17]
- November 25
- (1225 hours) A German V-2 rocket strikes the crowded Woolworths store on New Cross Road, in Deptford, central London, England, killing 160, seriously injuring 77, and injuring 122 others. [339.207] [449.42]
- November 28
- The first Allied convoy enters the port of Antwerp since its liberation in September. [1.30] [572.22]
- November
- With the opening of Antwerp port, the Mulberry artificial harbor in Normandy is closed. [572.22]
- (month unknown)
- The Provisional Government of France joins the European Advisory Committee. [145.35]
- December 1
- Canadian forces join the 8th British Army in a battle for the Lombardy Plain in Italy. [1.24]
- December 2
- In Italy, Canadian forces begin an attack to capture Ravenna on the Adriatic sea. [442.19]
- Charles de Gaulle meets with Josef Stalin in Moscow, over nine days. A military alliance is signed, against Germany now, and after the war. [409.20] [485.10]
- December 4
- In Greece, the National People's Liberation Army of the National Liberation Front begins armed fighting against British troops and Greek government forces. [31.717]
- British Bomber Command makes an air raid on Oberhausen, Germany. One bomber is shot down; large damage is inflicted. [638.34]
- In Italy, Canadian forces capture Ravenna. [442.19]
- December 5
- British Bomber Command launches 94 Lancaster bombers against Hamm, Germany, destroying 39% of the built-up area. No planes are shot down. [638.34]
- Assault battalions of the Royal Canadian regiment and the Hastings and Prince Edward regiment attempt to establish a bridgehead on the Lamone river in Italy. [4.44]
- The Special Service Force, an elite unit made of Canadian and American troops, is disbanded. [28.375]
- December 6
- (evening) 475 British Lancaster and 12 Mosquito bombers attack an oil plant at Leuna, near Leipzig and Merseburg, Germany. [84.259,266,348]
- December 7
- The Allies hold a conference at Maastricht. General Dwight Eisenhower announces the decision for the main land effort into Germany to be led by British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery with ten US divisions serving directly under him. [698.15]
- December 8
- In France, the US 4th Armored Division is pulled back from heavy fighting after reaching the Maginot Line. [712.34]
- December 10
- France and the Soviet Union sign a mutual assistance pact. [529.2020]
- December 11
- British Bomber Command makes an air raid by Mosquito aircraft against Duiburg, Germany. [638.34]
- British Bomber Command makes an air raid against Osterfeld, Germany. [638.35]
- December 13
- The US 3rd Army captures Metz, France. [277.278]
- The New York Times reports American Air Force airmen have encountered silver-colored spheres in the air over German territory. [802.54]
- December 14
- A US government report "Reports on the Atom-splitting Bomb" includes a decoded message intercept from Japanese embassy in Stockholm, Sweden, to headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, noting that the "atom-splitting bomb" was first used by the German Army in 1943 against the 19th Infantry Regiment of Russians, 150km southeast of Kursk, a few 5kg bombs wiped them out, and were also previously used versus Russians in the Crimea. [802.63]
- December 15
- (evening) 341 British bombers attack Ludwigshafen, Germany, inflicting great damage. [84.260]
- December
- Canadian merchant ship SS Cornwallis is torpedoed off the New England coast. [117.15]
- In the US, Executive Order 9066 is lifted. This order had been given in 1942, to remove persons that poses potential security risks on the West Coast. (While the order was in effect, 120,000 Japanese-Americans were interned.) [428.A12]
- The Battle of Huertgen Forest ends. Total US casualties: 33,000 of 120,000 soldiers. 24,000 killed, wounded, missing, or captured, and 9,000 respiratory disease, exhaustion, or trench foot. [698.2]
- December 16
- British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery compains to SHAEF chief of operations General Sir John Whitely that unless the Supreme Commander makes up his mind and issue definitive orders, they were likely to "drift into an unfavorable situation, vis-a-vis the enemy." [698.15]
- (0530 hours) Adolf Hitler launches Operation Autumn Mist (Herbstnebel). A short (30 minutes) artillery burst commences prior to troop movement. [277.279]
- (0600) A German force of 20-22 divisions attacks along a 60-mile front from Monschau to Echternach through the Ardennes, in a surprise attack on the west. 200,000 German tank and infantry troops take part in the offensive versus 83,000 along the American line. [78.2] [84.348] [149.289] [166.348] [277.279] [698.15]
- A German V-2 rocket hits the Rex Theatre in Antwerp, Belgium, killing 492-567, the worst missile attack of the war. [449.42] [454.20]
- December 17
- German forces make a small attack on St. Vith, France. [277.286]
- December 18
- German panzers bypass resistance at St. Vith, France, advancing around the town on the north and south. [277.286]
- (evening) The German battleship Schleswig-Holstein is sunk. [84.285]
- December 19
- (morning) US 101st Airborne Division under Anthony McAuliffe reaches Bastogne, France. [277.286]
- 32 British Lancaster bombers attack the rail centre at Trier. [84.261]
- December 20
- Dwight Eisenhower places British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery in charge of all Allied forces north of the German bulge, including US 1st and 9th Armies. [277.287]
- In Germany, Lieutenant Colonel Caesar von Hofacker is executed, at age 48. [691.207]
- Two German panzer divisions bypass resistance at Bastogne, France, advancing around the town on the north and south. [25.10] [277.286]
- December 21
- 94 British Lancaster bombers attack the rail centre at Trier. [84.261]
- (evening) Over 100 British Lancaster bombers attack the Cologne-Nippes railway yard and Bonn, Germany. [84.261]
- (evening) British bombers attack an oil plant at Pölitz near Stettin, Germany. [84.266]
- December 22
- American forces in Bastogne, Belgium, are told by a German commanding officer to surrender or be annihilated. US General Anthony McAuliffe replies "NUTS!". [25.10] [277.]
- (evening) Over 100 British Lancaster bombers attack Coblenz and Bingen rail yards. [84.261]
- December 23
- (morning) American C47 transport planes begin dropping supplies in Bastogne. [100.76]
- With clear skies returning, Allied fighters and bombers begin attacks on German ground forces. [277.287]
- 153 British Lancaster bombers attack the rail centre at Trier. [84.261]
- December 24
- German General Manteuffel's force gets to within four miles of the Meuse River in France, the furthest reach of the German assault. [277.288]
- German General Joachim Peiper's battle group in France begins a retreat on foot. [277.286]
- Off Halifax harbor, Canada, German submarine U-806 torpedoes and sinks Canadian minesweeper Clayoquot. [27.22]
- December 25
- German forces launch an all-out attack on Bastogne, France. [277.288]
- US forces complete the capture of Leyte Island in the Philippines. [522.2005]
- US General George Patton shifts his main attack in France to the Neufchâteau-Bastogne road. [277.287]
- US 7th Corps recaptures Celles, France. [277.288]
- December 26
- 294 British Lancaster bombers attack German troops at St. Vith. [84.262]
- (1630 hours) US 4th Armored Division of the US 3rd Army makes contact with the 101st Division defending Bastogne. [712.35]
- (1645 hours) US 4th Armored Division enters Bastogne, lifting the siege. [277.288]
- About 25 American CG-4A gliders land near Bastogne, delivering vital ammunition and medical supplies to American troops pinned there. [25.22]
- December 27
- Soviet forces complete encircling Budapest, Hungary. [383.40]
- British Bomber Command makes an air raid against Rheydt, Germany. [638.35]
- In the North Atlantic, Canadian corvette St. Thomas sinks German submarine U-877. [27.22]
- December 29
- British Bomber Command makes an air raid against Koblenz, Germany. [638.35]
- December 30
- German forces begin attacks on the Neufchâteau-Bastogne corridor. [277.288]
- December 31
- British Mosquito bombers attack the Gestapo headquarters at Oslo, Norway. [84.348]
- Adolf Hitler launches Operation Nordwind, the second surprise offensive at the southern flank of the Allied line in Germany. [237.36] [569.95] (January 1 [166.348])
- (2340 hours) a German V-2 rocket lands in Crouch Hill, Islington, England, killing 15, seriously injuring 34. This is the last rocket of the year, the 382nd to hit England. [339.220]
- Year
- Japanese merchant shipping losses during the year: 4.12 million tons. [518.1916]
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