Desert fighters from Germany's Afrika Korps
make use of a captured truck during Rommel's
second offensive against the British Army

January 12
Politics, Yugoslavia
General Dusan Simovic resigns as prime minister of the Yugoslavian government-in-exile. Professor Yovanovic replaces him.

Africa, Libya
General Erwin Rommel agrees to a plan proposed by his officers to counterattack the Allies. British naval strength in the Mediterranean has been eroded, which has enabled new German supplies to arrive. At the same time, Allied forces have suffered the departure of the 7th Armored Brigade plus two Australian divisions, which have been sent to the Far East.

January 12-31
Far East, Burma
The Japanese Fifteenth Army's two reinforced divisions, plus air support, move northwestward into Burma from neighboring Thailand. A small group under Burmese nationalist Aung Sang supports Japan and encourages uprisings. British, Burmese, and Indian troops around the town of Moulmein unsuccessfully engage the invaders and withdraw. Already in the previous month the Japanese have taken a key southern air base at Mergui, forming part of the air route between India and Malaya, which they have now blocked. Such airfields are then used for bombing missions. Burma has the only viable supply route to sustain the Chinese fight against Japan. The Allied possession of Burma also keeps India's northeast region secure from attack.

January 13
Politics, Allies
At a London meeting, the Allies agree to punish Axis leaders responsible for war crimes.

Sea War, Atlantic
Germany's U-boats launch attacks, code-named Operation Drum Roll, on shipping off the east coast of the United States. Approximately 20 ships are sunk in the first month of operations as a result of the US Navy's failure to take proper antisubmarine measures, despite British warnings. U-boats begin hunting in the Caribbean the following month.

January 16-19
Politics, Germany
Field Marshal Walther von Reichenau, commander of the German Army Group South on the Eastern Front, dies in a plane crash. Field Marshal Fedor von Bock replaces him on the 19th. Adolf Hitler removes Field Marshal Wilhelm von Leeb and replaces him with General George von Küchler as Army Group North's commander. Since December, the Führer has removed over 30 senior officers, including two army group and two panzer group commanders, due to his impatience with their constant appeals to make withdrawals in the face of Soviet offensives.

Politics, United States
Donald Nelson becomes head of the new centralized War Production Board.

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