Admiral Karl Doenitz (third from left), replace
Erich Raeder as commander-in-chief of the
German naval forces

January 6
Politics, Germany
Admiral Erich Raeder resigns as commander-in-chief of naval forces following the blunders made at the Battle of the Barents Sea in December. Admiral Karl Doenitz replaces him.

January 6-9
Sea War, Pacific
At the Battle of Huon Gulf, the Allies gather aircraft from across the southwest Pacific to launch repeated attacks on Japanese convoys carrying troops to Papua New Guinea. Three transports and some 80 Japanese aircraft are lost. Allied casualties during the action are comparatively light.

January 9
Politics, China
The Japanese puppet government declares war on both Britain and the United States.

January 10
Eastern Front, Caucasus
Soviet attacks from the north, south, and east of Stalingrad split Germany's Sixth Army into pockets and isolate them from any sort of relief. Axis forces across southern Russia are under intense pressure.

January 10-31
Pacific, Guadalcanal
A force of 50,000 US troops launches a westward offensive to destroy strong Japanese jungle positions. A disease-ridden and starving force of 15,000 Japanese troops mounts fierce resistance and fights a rearguard action at Tassafaronga Point. The Japanese have decided to evacuate Guadalcanal.

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