Natalia
Author
(823)1942
January
- 21
- Rommel's second offensiveOn 21 January 1942, without informing Rome or Berlin, Rommel struck from Mersa Brega, took Agedabia, routed the British 1st Armoured Division and reached Msus.
- The founding of the FPO in the Wilno GhettoOn 21 January 1942 the United Partisan Organisation (FPO) was founded in the Wilno Ghetto, one of the first Jewish armed resistance organisations in Europe.
February
- 01
- Quisling becomes Prime Minister of NorwayOn 1 February 1942 Vidkun Quisling became “Prime Minister” of Norway's collaborationist government. Real power stayed with Reich Commissioner Terboven.
- The Marshalls–Gilberts raidsOn 1 February 1942 aircraft from Enterprise and Yorktown struck Japanese bases in the Marshall and Gilbert Islands, the first US offensive of the war.
- 09
- The Japanese land on SingaporeOn the night of 8–9 February 1942 two divisions of the 25th Army crossed the Johor Strait to the north-west shore of Singapore, held by the Australians.
- The first meeting of the Joint Chiefs of StaffOn 9 February 1942 Marshall, Stark, King and Arnold held the first formal meeting of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a new US high command body.
March
April
- 01
- The Bucket BrigadeFrom 1 April 1942 ships off the US east coast sailed only by day, from anchorage to anchorage. Dönitz then moved his U-boats further south.
- The Pacific War CouncilOn 1 April 1942 the Pacific War Council met at the White House. Roosevelt heard out the allies fighting Japan there, but decisions were taken elsewhere.
- 09
- The attack on TrincomaleeOn 9 April 1942 Nagumo's aircraft bombed the base at Trincomalee, then sank the carrier Hermes and the destroyer HMAS Vampire off the coast of Ceylon.
- Key eventThe fall of BataanOn 9 April 1942 General Edward King surrendered the forces on Bataan against orders. Some 75,000 men went into captivity; only Corregidor still held out.
May
June
- 03
- State control of coal miningOn 3 June 1942 Churchill's government published a White Paper on coal. The state took over the running of the mines; private companies still owned them.
- The attack on Dutch HarborOn 3 and 4 June 1942 aircraft from Ryūjō and Jun'yō bombed Dutch Harbor in the Aleutians, opening the Aleutian campaign alongside Midway.
- 04
- Key eventThe sinking of Nagumo's carriersOn 4 June 1942 at Midway American dive-bombers set Akagi, Kaga and Sōryū ablaze, and Hiryū that evening. The Japanese managed to hit Yorktown first.
- The death of HeydrichOn 4 June 1942 Reinhard Heydrich, wounded eight days earlier, died in a Prague hospital. The Germans gave him two funerals and stepped up the terror.
July
August
September
October
November
December
- 22
- The retreat from the Caucasus beginsIn late December 1942 defeats at Stalingrad and on the Don threatened to cut off Army Group A. On 28 December Hitler agreed to a withdrawal from the Terek.
- The Battle of Longstop HillOn 22–25 December 1942 British and US troops fought for Longstop Hill near Tunis. The Germans retook it on Christmas Day; Eisenhower postponed his offensive.