SprueStack Zero Hour: WW2 day by day

15 December 1943

What happened on this day in the Second World War, from 1939 to 1945, with a source for every entry.

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Each day we list events from the Second World War that happened on that date, from 1939 to 1945. Every entry names its source and links to it, so you can read further. Entries are sourced and machine-screened before they go up, a subset is human-reviewed, and we add more over time.

8 of 12 sourced entries for this date, chosen by the editor.

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Entries

CBI

Gen Stratemeyer takes command of EAC. Troop Carrier Command is activated. First infantry class completes 6-weeks’ course at Kweilin Infantry Training Center for ZEBRA Force.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
ETO

AEAF takes operational control of U.S. Ninth Air Force.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Italy

15th Army Group: U.S. Fifth Army renews offensive against Winter Line before dawn. On II Corps’ S flank, 142d Inf of 36th Div opens attack on M. Lungo from S at dusk and advances rapidly.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Australian and American forces (pictured) began the Battle of Arawe against Japanese forces on New Britain as a diversion before a larger landing at Cape Gloucester.

Source Wikipedia (opens external site)
The Battle of Arawe begins during the New Britain campaign.

Source Wikipedia (opens external site)
UK Parliament

War Situation and Foreign Affairs (House of Commons)

Official record of proceedings in the House of Commons, sitting of 1943-12-15: "War Situation and Foreign Affairs." Dr. Haden Guest (Islington, North) on a Point of Order.

Source Hansard (UK Parliament) (opens external site)
China-Burma-India Theater

THOR mission records show at least 43 Allied sorties (6 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1943-12-15, flown by USAAF 10th Air Force, RAF. Targets included BURMA.

Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

THOR is a secondary compilation with known gaps, not a complete record.
Mediterranean Theater

THOR mission records show at least 529 Allied sorties (31 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1943-12-15, flown by USAAF 12th Air Force, USAAF 15th Air Force. Targets included ITALY, YUGOSLAVIA.

Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

THOR is a secondary compilation with known gaps, not a complete record.

The full list for this date is being cleaned and will return soon.

Sources listed with each entry. Spotted an error? Tell us.

15 December in other years 1939 1940 1941 1942 1944

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15 December 1943

Entries

Gen Stratemeyer takes command of EAC. Troop Carrier Command is activated. First infantry class completes 6-weeks’ course at Kweilin Infantry Training Center for ZEBRA Force.

AEAF takes operational control of U.S. Ninth Air Force.

15th Army Group: U.S. Fifth Army renews offensive against Winter Line before dawn. On II Corps’ S flank, 142d Inf of 36th Div opens attack on M. Lungo from S at dusk and advances rapidly.

Australian and American forces (pictured) began the Battle of Arawe against Japanese forces on New Britain as a diversion before a larger landing at Cape Gloucester.

The Battle of Arawe begins during the New Britain campaign.

War Situation and Foreign Affairs (House of Commons)

THOR mission records show at least 43 Allied sorties (6 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1943-12-15, flown by USAAF 10th Air Force, RAF. Targets included BURMA.

THOR mission records show at least 529 Allied sorties (31 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1943-12-15, flown by USAAF 12th Air Force, USAAF 15th Air Force. Targets included ITALY, YUGOSLAVIA.

Talk about it