President Franklin D. Roosevelt announces that the U.S. Coast Guard will now be under the direction of the U.S. Navy, a transition of authority usually reserved only for wartime

Germans forces take Kursk.

In the Vilna Ghetto, German Gelbschein III Aktion group kill 1,200 Jews

Japanese Emporer Hirohito approves the attack on Pearl Harbor

Soviet leader Joseph Stalin addresses the Soviet Union for only the second time during his three-decade rule. He states that even though 350,000 troops were killed in German attacks so far, that the Germans have lost 4.5 million soldiers (a gross exaggeration) and that Soviet victory was near.

The Annual Red Square military parade held in Moscow. Troops left parade and went straight into the defence of Moscow

The Bomber Offensive: Major nighttime British air raid, 160+ aircraft attack on Berlin

British warship Ark Royal delivers a squadron of Hurricane fighter planes to Malta

Battle of Moscow – Temperatures around Moscow drop to minus 12 °C and the Soviet Union launches ski troops for the first time against the freezing German forces near the city

Germans forces start a new offensive against Moscow as the muddy ground freezes again

Disputed World Light-Heavyweight Boxing Title Gus Lesnevich (USA) beat Tami Mauriello (USA) pts 15, Madison Square Garden, New York City.

Football International: Germany 1-1 Denmark, Heinz-Steyer-Stadion, Dresden

Football International: Switzerland 1-2 Hungary, Letzigrund Stadium, Zurich

United States ambassador to Japan Joseph Grew, cables the US State Department that Japan had plans to launch an attack against Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (his cable was ignored).

Luftwaffe officer & Battle of Britain leader Ernst Udet, head of the Luftwaffe's Production and Development, commits suicide over his perceived inability to properly perform his mission

British Commonwealth & Allied troops launch Operation Crusader cross into Libya and at least temporarily relieve the Siege of Tobruk.

Battle of Rostov – Rostov-on-Don, an important hub on the southern front, is taken by the Germans forces

Britain issues an ultimatum to Finland to end the war with the Soviet Union or face war with the Allies

German & Italian forces, led by Erwin Rommel, starts a counteroffensive, retaking Sidi Rezegh (south of Tobruk) which the Allies had taken a few days earlier. British tank losses are heavy

The United States reaches an agreement with the Dutch government in exile whereby the Americans occupy Suriname to protect the bauxite mines there

The United States grants Lend-Lease to the Free French.

German occupation authorities in occupied Belgium, close the Free University of Brussels

Japanese Pearl Harbor attack fleet of 33 warships and auxiliary craft, including six aircraft carriers, sails from northern Japan for the Hawaiian Islands.

After his brief dash into Egypt, Rommel retreats to Bardia for refuelling; it is during this brief withdrawal that Tobruk is temporarily relieved when the 8th Army meets with the besieged.

Battle of Rostov – Rostov-on-Don is recaptured by the Soviet Red Army.

Battle of Moscow – German Panzers are on the outskirts of Moscow, near the Moscow-Volga Canal.

Italian armed forces in East Africa surrender to the British at Gondar.

World Middleweight Boxing Title Tony Zale (USA) beat Georgie Abrams (USA) Pts 15, Madison Square Garden, New York City.

Annual American Army-Navy Game: Navy 14-6 Army, Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia