Australian troops in typical jungle terrain near Lae,
Papua New Guines, during the offensive against
the Japanese

The British batleship HMS Duke of York,
photographed after participating in
the sinking of the Scharnhorst

December 9-26
Pacific, Solomons
US advances on Bougainville ensure that air bases can now be opened and missions launched.

December 20
Pacific, Papua New Guinea
The Allies achieve supremacy on the Huon Peninsula, although Japanese resistance persists.

December 24-29
Politics, Allies
The commanders for the liberation of Europe are announced: General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander; Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder, Deputy Supreme Commander; General Sir Henry Maitland Wilson, Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean; Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay, Allied Naval Commander-in-Chief; Air Chief Marshal Sir Trafford Leigh Mallory, Allied Air Commander-in-Chief; and General Sir Bernard Montgomery, Commander-in-Chief of British Armies.

December 25
Pacific, Solomons
Allied forces land on New Britain and begin advancing to isolate the base of Rabaul from the west.

December 26
Sea War, Arctic
At the Battle of the North Cape, the German battleship Scharnhorst is sunk duWring an ill-planned operation against convoys JW-55B and RA-55A, which are escorted by the British Home Fleet's battle squadron. The battleship first has its radar and fire control damaged. A running battle follows until the Scharnhorst begins to lose speed and is finally sunk by torpedo strikes. Only 36 of Scharnhorst's 1800-strong crew survive.