Thursday, December 28, 1944. The German staff says Rückzug, Hitler says Angriff.

"Under conditions of snow and fog which makes visibility impossible, a 155mm howitzer is fired on German positions in Conzen from a location near Roetgen. 28 December, 1944." Battery C, 309th Field Artillery Battalion, 78th Infantry Division.

Hitler, faced with American advances in the Ardennes, ignored the advice of his senior generals and ordered renewed offensives in the Ardennes and an offensive in Alsace.

General Eisenhower met with British 21st Army Group command Field Marshal Montgomery to coordinate the counteroffensive.

Outnumbered Germans and fascist Italians retook Northern Tuscany in the Battle of Garfagnana.

Soldier of the Italian Social Republic opening the action of a German K98k.

The Infantry Landing Ship Empire Javelin sank in the English Channel with 1,483 troops aboard. Around twenty soldiers drowned. It's unknown is she was sunk by a U-boat or a mine.  The U-735 was sunk by British aircraft off Horten, Norway.

1200 B-17s escorted by 700 fighters bombed Coblenz and other targets. The RAF bombed Cologne.

Churchill agreed to recommend the establishment of a regency to the King of Greece.

Today In Wyoming's History: December 28: 1944  Governor Lester Hunt proclaimed the day to be Seabee Day.  The Seabees are the Navy's Construction Battalions, hence "CB", or Seabees.  While all of the armed services have always had engineers, the Seabees were an early World War Two creation that proved critical in the construction of airfields and other facilities during the U.S. campaigns in the Pacific during the war.  Attribution:  Wyoming State Historical Society.

Maurice Richard of the Montreal Canadiens scored eight points (five goals and three assists) during a 9–2 win over the Detroit Red Wings.  It was a record that stood until 1976.  Richard had spent the day prior to the game helping his family move from one Montreal apartment to another, and was exhausted when he showed up for the game.

Montreal born Richard was the first player in NHL history to score 50 goals in one season, accomplishing the feat in 50 games in 1944–45, and the first to reach 500 career goals.  He played professional hockey from 1942 until 1960.  He lived in Montreal  his entire life.

Last edition:

Wednesday, December 27, 1944. End of the Siege of Bastogne and the beginning of the Siege of Budapest. The execution of Sára Salkaházi.

Labels: 1940s, 1944, Army, Battle of the Bulge, boats and ships, British Army, Budapest Offensive, Catholic, David Lloyd George, Heroes, Hungary, Red Army, religion, Siege of Bastogne, The Holocaust, World War Two