World war II chronology - December 1943

1 December 1943	The Canadian 1st Division begins replacing the British 78th Division along the Moro River, Italy. The German program of long-range weapons, flying bombs and rockets is complete. Adolf Hitler approves orders to prepare and carry out their use against England.
2 December 1943	Several German JU-88 bombers attack the Italian seaport of Bari. After 20 minutes, four ships have been damaged. One, a gasoline ship, explodes. Then an ammunition ship explodes. Sixteen cargo ships sink, with 1000 men killed. One ship containing a secret cargo of 100 tons of mustard gas in 100-pound bombs sinks. 559 men suffer greatly from the gas poisoning, with a further 69 dying within two weeks. Allied Operation Bluecoat begins in Italy. Over 900 guns open fire on Monte Sammucro. On the left is British X Corps, with objective Camino. On the right is the US II Corps, with objective La Difensa. Over two days, 200,000 shells are fired. Two battalions of the 2nd Regiment of the American/Canadian First Special Service Force begin climbing the north-east face of Monte la Difensa in Italy. Their objective is to clear German positions there and on Mount Remetanea. 458 British bombers attack Berlin, Germany. Little damage is done, due to high winds. 40 planes are shot down. British bombers mount a heavy assault on Leipzig, Germany.
3 December 1943	Three battalions of the First Special Service Force clear Germans from positions on the summit of Mount la Difensa in Italy.
6 December 1943	A British division takes Mount Camino in Italy. Canadian forces in Italy begin an assault across the Moro River on three fronts. The main force is centered across from San Leonardo, with two smaller diversionary assaults near Villa Rogatti, and near the coast of the Adriatic sea. In Italy, the First Special Service Force captures Hill 907 below Monte Camino.
7 December 1943	In Italy, American artillery fire on San Pietro commences. In Italy, the 2nd and 3rd battalions of US 143rd Infantry Division approach San Pietro, but are thrown back by intense German fire. US President Franklin Roosevelt tells Dwight Eisenhower that he would command Operation Overlord, as Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary Force. Canadians across the Moro river near the Adriatic Sea commence south-west toward San Leonardo. In Italy, the last German defender leaves the area of Mount La Difensa. The First Special Service Force suffered 511 casualties of a force of about 1500. In Italy, a company of the US 143rd Infantry climbs the east face of Sammucro, reaching the top by first light.
8 December 1943	In Italy, the 2nd and 3rd battalions of US 143rd Infantry Division approach San Pietro again, but are thrown back again. Over a 36-hour period, losses are 60 percent. Nicaragua issues two postage stamps marking the 2nd anniversary of the country's declaration of war against the Axis powers. Canadian artillery begin a barrage of the Moro Valley in Italy, in preparation for infantry of the 1st Division to assault it in the morning.
9 December 1943	In Italy, the Canadian 1st Division infantry launches an attack on the Moro Valley, to clear out German forces while engineers build a bridge across the Moro River at San Leonardo. In Italy, Canadian engineers complete a bridge across the Moro River at San Leonardo.   The Canadian 1st Division completes crossing the Moro River in Italy.
10 December 1943	Canadians encounter stubborn German defence at "The Gully" crossing of the Old Highway 16 en route to the "Cider" crossroads with Highway 538, south of Ortona in Italy.
11 December 1943	Louis Mountbatten establishes the Eastern Bomber Command in south-east Asia.
14 December 1943	In Italy, the Canadian Royal 22nd Regiment begins a one-hour artillery barrage of German positions, in preparation for an attack toward Casa Berardi. In Italy, south of Ortona, C Company of the Canadian Royal 22nd Regiment captures Casa Berardi overlooking The Gully at the south-west end, allowing firing on German positions in The Gully.
15 December 1943	In Italy, sixteen American tanks attempt to advance into San Pietro. A few hours later, four surviving tanks withdraw. Seven were destroyed, five immobilized. A joint British-American-Canadian board overseeing the Habbakuk ice ship project decides to drop the project. Adolf Hitler witnesses a demonstration of the capabilities of the ME-262 twin-jet fighter plane. Hitler is impressed, but wants a jet bomber built instead of a fighter. Japanese forces in Burma attack Indian Army positions in the coastal region of Arakan, as a diversion from a later main thrust at Imphal in Assam. Rebellious officers of the Slovak army form the Slovak National Council (Slovenská Národná Rada), to prepare for a revolution against the Slovak fascist government of Jósef Tito. The Australian chemical warfare effort begins experiments with humans in steel chambers.
16 December 1943	In Italy, American foot soldiers attempt to advance into San Pietro. They fail. In Italy, American foot soldiers attempt again to advance into San Pietro. They fail. In Italy, two battalions of the US 142nd Infantry Division overrun Monte Lungo, threatening encirclement of San Pietro.  British bombers attack Berlin, Germany
17 December 1943	In Italy, German troops withdraw from San Pietro. The US 36th Division incurred 1200 casualties, and 2000 non-battle losses. One in ten villagers died.
18 December 1943	Winston Churchill informs President Franklin Roosevelt that the British War Cabinet favors Bernard Montgomery for commander of the land forces in the invasion of Europe.
21 December 1943	In Italy, the battle for Ortona begins, with the Canadian Seaforth Highlanders and Loyal Edmonton Regiment moving into the outskirts of the town.
23 December 1943	American General Dwight Eisenhower is appointed Allied Commander-in-Chief for operation Overlord.
24 December 1943	British General Sir Bernard Montgomery learns he will become Commander-in-Chief of 21st Army Group, the British and Canadian forces invading North-West Europe. The first successful flight of the German V-1 weapon is made.
25 December 1943	German battle cruiser Scharnhorst sails to attack convoy JW-55B.
26 December 1943	American Marines begin landing at Cape Gloucester, New Britain.
27 December 1943	German forces retreat from Ortona, Italy, as Canadian forces complete taking the town. Adolf Hitler orders troops to concentrate on the Cotentin peninsula in Normandy, expecting the main Allied attack in mid-February. Canadian General Andrew McNaughton is removed from command of the 1st Canadian Army in Europe.
28 December 1943	Adolf Hitler issues orders forbidding withdrawal of personnel or material from France, Belgium, or Holland areas. With the Canadian 1st Division close to Highway 16 northwest of Ortona, Italy, German defenders withdraw from the city.   Oliver Leese replaces Bernard Montgomery as commander of British forces in Italy. Montgomery returns to England to command the 21st Army Group. British battleship Duke of York sinks German battle cruiser Scharnhorst.
31 December 1943	Soviet forces capture Zhitomir. Winston Churchill shows Bernard Montgomery plans for the invasion of Europe. Montgomery argues that three divisions on 25 miles of Normandy is too small, and too restricted in area. (Soon, the plan is changed to five divisions on a 50-mile front.) On the beach at the seaside village of Luc-sur-Mer (France), British No. 1 Combined Operation Pilotage and Beach Reconnaissance Party emerges from midget submarine to take samples of the sand, to determine if it could support trucks and tanks of an invasion.