World war II timeline - November 1941

1 November 1941	The US extends a lend-lease loan of US$1 billion to the Soviet Union.
5 November 1941	The Japanese government sends a secret coded message to its diplomats in Washington, D.C., urging an agreement with the American government be signed by November 25. The Japanese Emperor makes the final commitment to war.   A large Japanese fleet leaves Japanese ports destined for an attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
6 November 1941	Josef Stalin makes a public speech in Moscow, lamenting a second front in Europe, claiming to be fighting a war of liberation single-handedly.
7 November 1941	169 British planes are sent to attack Berlin. Due to bad weather, about half reach their target, and little damage is done. 21 planes do not return. 55 British planes are sent to attack Mannheim. Seven planes do not return. [84.99] 43 British planes are sent to attack the Ruhr and to mine waterways. Nine planes do not return.
13 November 1941	A directive is given to Bomber Command to begin a period of conservative bombing raids, to build up strength for a more effective offensive in the following spring. In the Mediterranean, German submarine U-81 fires three torpedoes at British aircraft carrier Ark Royal. One hits the ship below the superstructure, cutting off all communication from the bridge. One crewman dies in the blast. (Twelve hours later the ship sinks.) In Canada, the M-1000 Committee for researching biological warfare discusses anthrax, plague, typhoid, and cholera as possible directions for offensive weapons. They even discuss the feasibility of dropping infected rats with parachutes on enemy territory.
14 November 1941	British carrier Ark Royal rolls over, and sinks. In England, authority is given for the establishment of an Airborne Division. German submarines are all moved to the Mediterranean Sea in support of Erwin Rommel in North Africa. Denmark joins the Anti-Comintern Pact. Adolf Hitler meets grand mufti of Jerusalem Haj Amin al-Husseini in Berlin. They agree that German occupation of Palestine and other mandated territories would result in annihilation of their Jewish population of about 500,000.
15 November 1941	German forces in Russia make a final push for Moscow before winter sets in. The German 4th Army makes a frontal assault, while Panzer groups attack toward the north and south-east.
16 November 1941	Canada's Winnipeg Grenadiers and Royal Rifles of Canada arrive in Hong Kong to aid in the defence of the island. Royal Canadian Navy armed merchant cruiser Prince Robert escorted the troop ship Awatea.
18 November 1941	British forces in North Africa launch Operation Crusader, a major effort to take Libya.
19 November 1941	Tokyo sends a message to its Washington embassy, advising it to listen for a special code radio broadcast on international short-wave news broadcasts. The code "east wind rain" would mean cutting off diplomatic relations with the US. The code "west wind clear" would mean cutting off relations with the British Empire.
20 November 1941	Japanese Ambassador to the US Nomura, and Suburu Kurusu deliver a diplomatic compromise to Cordell Hull, US Secretary of State in Washington, D.C. The proposal is to not advance by arms into any more regions, withdraw from French Indo-China following peace with China, the US would supply oil to Japan, and the US would restore relations as of prior to the July asset freeze.
21 November 1941	German Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt's army group seizes Rostov on the Don river.
22 November 1941	The Japanese government sends a secret coded message to its diplomats in Washington, D.C., saying Japanese-American relations must be settled by November 29, "after that things are automatically going to happen".
24 November 1941	The Soviet Red Army begins a counteroffensive in the Rostov sector.
26 November 1941	A Japanese task force of six aircraft carriers, two battleships, and several destroyers and cruisers begins sailing from northern Japan to Hawaii. British General Sir Claude Auchinleck replaces Lieutenant General Sir Alan Cunningham with Lieutenant General Sir Neil Ritchie to command the British 8th Army in North Africa. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill sends a message to US President Franklin Roosevelt, reminding him of American responsibility for Chinese interests, and to stiffen his resolve in talks with Japan. In Washington, D.C., the Secretary of State hands to Japanese Ambassador Nomura a draft proposed agreement between Japan and the US. It proposes both countries agree to have no intention to threaten other countries or use military force agressively against any neighbor, Japan will leave China and Indochina, and several statements about ensuring fair equal trade.
27 November 1941	The German Panzer group attacking to the north of Moscow advances within 18 miles of the city. The southern group advances to within 32 miles of Kolomna, sixty miles south-east of Moscow. The offensive is halted by winter weather and Russian counterattacks. US Secretary of War Stimson, acting for President Franklin Roosevelt, sends a general war warning to all US commands. US Chief of Naval Operations signals to Atlantic and Pacific fleet commanders "an aggressive move by Japan is expected within the next few days".
28 November 1941	The US War Cabinet meets, deciding to go to war with Japan if Japan attacks British Malaya, as the Philippines and other US interests would be threatened. The Japanese government sends a secret coded message to its ambassadors in Washington, D.C., replying that the US proposed agreement cannot be accepted, but to give the impression of no change in negotiations. Quote by Joachim von Ribbentrop to General Oshima, Japanese Ambassador to Berlin: "Should Japan become engaged in a war against the United States, Germany, of course, would join the war immediately." In the Soviet Union, German forces begin withdrawing from Rostov. (This is the first major defeat to Soviet forces.)
29 November 1941	Soviet forces begin major counterattacks in the Moscow area. The Soviet Red Army launches the first general offensive in the Ukraine. The Soviet Red Army recaptures Rostov. In Germany, Reinhard Heydrich sends out invitations to a conference in Wannsee, to formulate a plan to deal with Jews.