Timeline of World War II (1942) - December 1942

December 1942

1: Gasoline rationing begins in the United States.
: The US cruiser Northampton is sunk as Japanese destroyers attempt to come down "the Slot" to Guadalcanal.

2: Heavy fighting in Tunisia, as German forces are pushed into the final North African corner.
: Below the bleachers of Stagg Field at the University of Chicago, a team led by Enrico Fermi initiate the first nuclear chain reaction. A coded message, "The Italian navigator has landed in the new world" is sent to President Roosevelt.

4: The first US bombing of mainland Italy --Naples.
: Carlson's patrol ends

6: RAF bombs Eindhoven, the Netherlands.

7: On the anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack, the USS New Jersey, America's largest battleship is launched (commissioned five months later).
: British commandos conduct Operation Frankton a raid on shipping in Bordeaux harbour.

9: The Marines turn over Guadalcanal to the American army.

12: Rommel abandons El Agheila and retreats to Tripoli; the final stand will be at the Mareth line in southern Tunisia.
: In a large operation named "Winter Storm", the Germans attempt to break through to forces trapped in Stalingrad.

13: The Luftwaffe flies in meagre supplies to the beleaguered Stalingrad troops.

15: American troops finally push Japanese out of Buna, New Guinea.
: Allies clash with Japanese troops in the Battle of the Gifu

22: The Germans begin a retreat from the Caucasus.
: The battle for "Longstop Hill" begins; a key position outside Tunis, the Germans eventually take it and hold it until April.
: The remainder of the United States 1st Armored Division arrived at North Africa for Operation Husky.

24: French Admiral Darlan, the former Vichy leader who had switched over to the Allies following the Torch landings, is assassinated in Algiers.
: The United States reorganizes its Combat Arms Regiments with their Organic Battalions into Separate Groups and Battalions

25: American bombers hit Rabaul.

26: Heavy fighting continues on Guadalcanal, now focused on Mount Austen in the west.

31: In the Battle of the Barents Sea, the British win a strategic victory, leading Hitler to largely abandon the use of surface raiders in favor of U boats.
: As the year comes to an end, things look bright for the Allies: Rommel is trapped in Tunisia, the Germans are encircled at Stalingrad, and the Japanese appear ready to abandon Guadalcanal.