SprueStack Zero Hour: WW2 day by day

23 December 1944

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

About this page

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.

6 of 9 sourced entries for this date, chosen by the editor.

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Entries

Eastern Europe

Soviet forces succeed in encircling about three fourths of Budapest. Moscow confirms reports that Third Ukrainian Front is on the offensive in vicinity of Szekesfehervar, SW of Budapest.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Italy

15th Army Group: In U.S. Fifth Army area, because of indications of enemy build-up in W sector during past few days, 92d Div in Lucca area will be reinf with 2 brigs of Ind 8th Div and 2 RCT’s of 85th Div plus chemical, tank, and arty bns.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Leyte

U.S. Sixth Army: X Corps begins advance W toward coast from Highway 2. 1st Cav Div, on S flank, leads off, moving slowly over difficult terrain unopposed by enemy.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
China-Burma-India Theater

THOR mission records show at least 104 Allied sorties (22 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1944-12-23, flown by USAAF 10th Air Force, USAAF 14th Air Force. Targets included BURMA, CHINA.

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 94 Allied sorties (10 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1944-12-23, flown by USAAF 12th Air Force. Targets included ITALY.

Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

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

THOR mission records show at least 0 Allied sorties (2 recorded unit missions) in the Theater not recorded on 1944-12-23, flown by RAF. Targets included UNKNOWN OR NOT INDICATED.

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.

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23 December in other years 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943

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23 December 1944

Entries

Soviet forces succeed in encircling about three fourths of Budapest. Moscow confirms reports that Third Ukrainian Front is on the offensive in vicinity of Szekesfehervar, SW of Budapest.

15th Army Group: In U.S. Fifth Army area, because of indications of enemy build-up in W sector during past few days, 92d Div in Lucca area will be reinf with 2 brigs of Ind 8th Div and 2 RCT’s of 85th Div plus chemical, tank, and arty bns.

U.S. Sixth Army: X Corps begins advance W toward coast from Highway 2. 1st Cav Div, on S flank, leads off, moving slowly over difficult terrain unopposed by enemy.

THOR mission records show at least 104 Allied sorties (22 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1944-12-23, flown by USAAF 10th Air Force, USAAF 14th Air Force. Targets included BURMA, CHINA.

THOR mission records show at least 94 Allied sorties (10 recorded unit missions) in the Mediterranean Theater on 1944-12-23, flown by USAAF 12th Air Force. Targets included ITALY.

THOR mission records show at least 0 Allied sorties (2 recorded unit missions) in the Theater not recorded on 1944-12-23, flown by RAF. Targets included UNKNOWN OR NOT INDICATED.

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