World war II chronology - November 1942

1 November 1942	Romania issues three postage stamps marking the 1st anniversary of the liberation of Bucovina from Russia. The German 23rd Panzer Division captures Alagir in Russia, blocking the Ossetian road. The British 8th Army in North Africa commences Operation Supercharge, a massive infantry attack on German defenders outside El Alamein.
2 November 1942	Off Bell Island, Newfoundland, German submarine U-518 torpedoes and sinks Canadian merchant ship Rose Castle. German 13th Panzer captures Gizel, five miles from objective Ordzhonikidze, in Russia.
3 November 1942	British Bomber Command makes its first operational use of the Ventura bomber. [84.344] German 13th Panzer Division reaches 2km from objective Ordzhonikidze, Russia. (Over the next two days, they will advance only hundreds of metres before Russian counterattacks.)
4 November 1942	In North Africa, Erwin Rommel orders his army to retreat.
5 November 1942	The British 8th Army renews its offensive against German forces in North Africa.
6 November 1942	Soviet forces at Ordzhonikidze counterattack with infantry and T-34 tanks against the overextended 13th Panzer Division, 23rd Panzer Division, and Romanian 2nd Mountain Division. Heavy rains in North Africa put an end to the British 8th Army chase of Erwin Rommel's forces.
8 November 1942	North of Casablanca, US battleship Massachussetts battles with two French heavy cruisers, battleship Jean Bart, and coastal batteries. Operation Torch begins, as Allied forces land in Northern Africa. The Western Task Force with 24,500 Americans under Major General George Patton land at Fedala (15 miles north of Casablanca), Mehdia (55 miles south of Casablanca), and Safi (140 miles south of Casablanca). The Center Task Force with 18,500 Americans under Major General Lloyd Fredenall land near Oran. The Eastern Task Force with 9000 British and 9000 Americans and 2000 British Commandos under American Major General Charles Ryder land at Algiers.
9 November 1942	Adolf Hitler gives German commander in the Mediterranean Albert Kesselring freedom to conduct the defence of Tunisia. German forces outside Ordzhonikidze are ordered to retreat west to avoid encirclement. The 64th Troop Carrier Group departs from England headed for North Africa, carrying British paratroopers.
11 November 1942	Admiral François Darlan, senior French officer in North Africa, signs a cease-fire ending French fighting in the area. Adolf Hitler launches Operation Anton, with German forces occupying the remainder of France and the island of Corsica. (The operation is complete in three days.) Spain mobilizes its army along the French border. British General Anderson sends a force to capture Bougie port, 110 miles east of Algiers.
12 November 1942	The 64th Troop Carrier Group drops its British paratroopers at Bône airfield. The airfield and Bougie harbor are captured, 60 miles from the Tunisian border.
13 November 1942	In North Africa, the British 8th Army takes Tobruk. US light cruiser USS Juneau is torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-26 off Guadalcanal with the loss of about 600. About 100 survivors are left behind by other US ships fearing further submarine attacks. (Only ten survive to be picked up on an island a week later.)
15 November 1942	German General Walther Nehring takes command of the 90th Corps, in charge of Tunisia. British forces destroy German submarine U-517 in eastern Atlantic and capture captain Paul Hartwig.  During the month, British bombers make four raids on Genoa, Italy, and Four on Turin. Heavy damage is done to the Fiat works, the Lancia works, the State Railway works, and the Royal Arsenal.
17 November 1942	The Stoneage convoy leaves Alexandria for Malta.
19 November 1942	Soviet counteroffensives with one million soldiers north and south of Stalingrad break through the German and Romanian armies. During the night, the Stoneage convoy arrives undamaged at Malta from Alexandria.
20 November 1942	Adolf Hitler appoints Field Marshal Erich von Manstein to head Army Group Don, ordering him to restore positions along the Don River, and relieve forces in Stalingrad.
22 November 1942	Adolf Hitler orders the Germany 6th Army to stay in Stalingrad, despite commander Friedrich Paulus insisting they do have the strength or supplies to defend their position.
23 November 1942	Soviet forces complete encircling German forces in Stalingrad, holding 250,000 Germans and Romanians in 22 divisions in a 25 by 30 mile oval.
24 November 1942	Adolf Hitler repeats his order for the German 6th Army to remain in Stalingrad, after assurances from Hermann Göring that the Luftwaffe could supply them adequately.
25 November 1942	British General Anderson begins an offensive on Tunis, with three columns of tanks and motorized infantry. German General Walther Nehring orders his forces pulled back to a small bridgehead around Tunis.
27 November 1942	As part of Operation Anton, eight German armored columns move out from Aix to take Toulon and the French navy ships anchored there. French naval fleet commander Admiral Jean de Laborde in Toulon orders the fleet scuttled and destroyed. (Battleship Marseillaise burns for seven days Cruiser Colbert burns for ten days.)
28 November 1942	Albert Kesselring arrives in Tunis, and orders the German withdrawal reversed. German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel flies to meet with Adolf Hitler in Rastenburg. He suggests a complete withdrawl from North Africa. German Field Marshal Erich von Manstein reports to Adolf Hitler with a plan to cut a path to the 6th Army in Stalingrad, resupply it, and get it out. The 60th and 64th Troop Carrier Groups drop British paratroops near the airfield at Oudra, in north Africa. (This is the last major airborne operation in north Africa.)