1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 5–9 FEBRUARY 1942 ]
longed period of intensive patrolling ensues as
Kanga Force attempts to intercept and destroy enemy
groups, remnants of which eventually reach
Mubo.
TUNISIA—Br Eighth Army has completed the
conquest of Tripolitania and crossed into Tunisia,
where Rommel is hastily preparing for stand at
Mareth Line. Enemy rear guards are imposing maximum
delay as British approach Mareth.
ALGERIA—Hq, North African Theater of Operations
(NATOUSA) is established as a separate command
under Gen Eisenhower at Algiers. ETO
boundary is altered to give Spain, Italy, and several
Mediterranean islands to NATOUSA. Gen Andrews
becomes head of ETOUSA.
USSR—Red Army spearheads continue to close
in rapidly on Rostov, Kharkov, and Kursk. Soviet
commandos land on Black Sea coast near
Novorossisk and are being engaged by German Army
Group A, which is almost isolated in Novorossisk–
Krasnodar region.
5 February
GUADALCANAL—147th Inf activity is limited to
patrolling. No organized enemy forces are found E
of the Umasani. 2d Bn, 132d Inf, patrols northward
from Titi.
TUNISIA—In Br First Army area, 2d Bn of RCT
16, Fr 19th Corps, joins U.S. 1st Div, to which it
reverts from attachment to 36th Brig of Br 78th
Div.
USSR—St Oskol, on rail line SE of Kursk, falls
to Soviet troops, as does Izyum, on rail line SE of
Kharkov.
6 February
GUADALCANAL—161st Inf, 25th Div, passes
through 147th Inf to continue pursuit of enemy (3d
Bn moving along beach and 2d Bn to S) and reaches
Umasani R; patrols cross the river. 147th Inf, which
moves to rear, is brought to full strength with arrival
of 2d Bn from Fiji Is.
NEW GUINEA—Japanese planes make belated and
unsuccessful attack on Wau airdrome. In air battles
during day, 24 enemy planes are destroyed and many
more damaged. No Allied planes are lost.
TUNISIA—In Br First Army area, U.S. 34th Div
( — RCT 168) is attached to Fr 19th Corps.
USSR—On southern front, one Soviet spearhead
is about 5 miles S of Rostov; another takes
Yeisk, on Sea of Azov, completing isolation of German
Army Group A in triangle Yeisk–Krasnodar–
Novorossisk. Deepening salient in the Ukraine below
Kharkov, Soviet forces take Lisichansk, on the
Donets.
[ 91 ]
7 February
GUADALCANAL—161st Inf, 25th Div, crosses
Umasani R and advances NW to Bunina Pt; patrols
reach Tambalego R. Moving forward from
Titi, 2d Bn of 132d Inf, Americal Div, arrives at
Marovovo. Night 7–8, Japanese destroyers make
final run down the Slot to Cape Esperance to
evacuate troops.
CHINA—Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, in
letter to President Roosevelt, presents enlarged
version of the 3 demands and agrees to take part in
Burma offensive.
TUNISIA—In Br First Army area, 1st Ranger Bn
arrives at Gafsa by air and is attached to U.S. II
Corps. RCT 168 ( — 1st Bn), 34th Div, is attached
to 1st Armd Div.
USSR—Continuing toward Rostov, Soviet
troops take Azov, on Sea of Azov. In the Ukraine,
Kramatorsk, SE of Kharkov, falls to Red Army. Russians
cut main highway between Kursk and Orel.
8 February
GUADALCANAL—161st Inf, 25th Div, overcomes
light delaying opposition at the Tambalego and proceeds
to Doma Cove. Pushing northward from
Marovovo, 2d Bn of 132d Inf, Americal Div, reaches
Kamimbo Bay.
AUSTRALIA—162d Inf, U.S. 41st Div, sails for
New Guinea.
BURMA—Ind 77th Brig (called Chindits) under
Brig Orde Charles Wingate begins guerrilla warfare
program behind enemy lines: entering Burma
through 4 Corps front, Chindits advance in 7 columns
toward Mandalay–Myitkyina railway line.
TUNISIA—In Br First Army’s U.S. II Corps area,
enemy orders attack against Gafsa area with primary
purpose of destroying allied forces. 1st Div’s
RCT 26 ( — 2d and 3d Bns) is released by CCA, 1st
Armd Div, to corps and moves from Sidi Bou Zid
to Fériana.
USSR—Soviet columns converge on Kursk and
overrun this important enemy base.
9 February
G UADALCANAL—Organized resistance on
Guadalcanal ceases at 1625 with junction of 1st Bn
of 161st Inf, 25th Div, and 2d Bn of 132d Inf,
Americal Div, at village of Tenaro. About 13,000
Japanese (12,000 from 17th Army and the rest naval
personnel) have made good their escape to Buin and
Rabaul.
TUNISIA—Kesselring, Rommel, and von Arnim
modify attack plan because Americans are withdrawing
from Gafsa; von Arnim is to attack Sidi