December 1941: the widening of the war
In the face of the retreats in Klintsy and Finland the
Wehrmacht was able to take consolation in repulsing Soviet attacks in Porkhov and Vitebsk as well as sinking parts of their submarine force.
Meanwhile the situation between Japan and the USA had burst into war on 6th December 1941 with Hitler taking the decision to declare war on America a day later. This effect was felt a mere 9 hours later with American bombers being spotted over occupied Belgium. It became clear the next day the US had a significant air force based in Britain, sending fighters into the foray in large numbers. The
Luftwaffe concluded the US must have sent these aircraft before war with Japan had broken out, clearly suggesting America intended to go to war regardless of Japan's actions. The attacks by the American airforce were relentless but resistible for the time being.
During this extension of the war, Italian incompetence was again demonstrated with German forces having to retake Libya once again. With such defeats being inflicted by the UK alone there are growing questions over whether Italy can hold Libya with America now joining the war.
Soviet winter attacks continued, with German units ahead of the Dnieper river either being forced or voluntarily abandoning their positions.
Our first naval success against America took the form of convoy sinking in the mid-Atlantic. This was due to the
Kreigsmarine ordering a concerted effort to target America's maritime trade and supply routes. However the US navy did make itself known to German U-boats. Near the end of December an epic battle emerged off the Canadian coast with all available U-boats being sent into the battle.
On the Eastern front Red Army attacks in the north and south were again repulsed by German units. But the situation in Finland was continuing to deteriorate.
Also a collosal battle over Smolensk emerged on 20th December, with Hitler ordering no total retreat from the city. It's defence involved over 20 divisions of the
Heer and lasted over a week. Ultimately it cost around 25,000 casualties for both sides, with consternation within the German military as to the city's value.
The situation in the Mediterranean was continually unsettling for the German leadership with the UK being able to repeatedly launch amphibious attacks not only all along the Libyan coast but also on Sardinia. Germany was also surprised by Italy's failure to take all of the UK's territory in the southern Middle East, especially with Yemen staying neutral in the war and the UK failing to supply its units there doubt is increasing on Italy's resolve.
Germany was able to end 1941 on a particularly high note with the conclusion of the epic naval battle off the Canadian coast. Even with it ending in the retreat of all U-boats, it involved the sinking of 11 capital and 6 screens of the US navy. This included 3 battleships, a carrier and an escort carrier. All of this at the expense of 3 submarines! The
Kreigsmarine took pride in this strategic victory as America has been shocked by such devastating losses so close to home. Even the loss of the
Lutzow could not undermine the confidence of the German navy.
With such a rapidly changing situation in the space of a month, Germany has showed it's resolve in fighting the war by adapting these changes with great success. However worry is growing over whether this war can be ultimately won with so many determined enemies facing Germany. The leadership hopes to overcome these worries with another grand offensive against the USSR in the spring of 1942 ultimately aiming to force Stalin into surrender, with the High Command still debating the best place to strike once the winter weather has gone.