End of the Siege of Bastogne which was an American victory. Beginning of the Siege of Budapest by the Red Army.
Germans forces were forced out of Celles by 30 Corps.
The US 8th Air Force bombs Coblenz, Bonn and Kaiserslautern (nominally railway targets) and the RAF Munchen-Gladbach and Bonn.
Sára Salkaházi, a Hungarian religious sister was executed by the Arrow Cross Party for working to save Jews. She was 45 years old.
The U-877 was sunk northwest of the Azores by Canadian corvette HMCS St. Thomas.
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor, announced his retirement from Parliament.
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The unofficial truce between German and British troops was widely observed with the troops mingling between the lines and playing soccer.
Elsewhere the war raged on.
Ottoman forces besieged Ardahan, held by the Russians. The Russians were ordered to withdraw from Sarikamish.
The Russians pushed the Polish Legion back at Łowczówek, Galicia, but their defense caused the Russians to halt further advances.
Aircraft of the Royal Navy raided Cuxhaven.
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John Muir died in Los Angeles at age 76.
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"Troops of 10th Armored Division preparing for attack on German spearhead headed toward Bastogne, Belgium, await order to move out. Note refugees in foreground. 19 December, 1944. 10th Armored Division."
The Germans took about 9,000 surrounded U.S. troops prisoner in the Schnee Eifel region on the Belgian-German border. US forces were pushed out of German territory. The 6th SS Panzer Army reached Stavelot and 5th Panzer Army approached Houffalize. US forces in-between these advances continue to hold Gouvy and St. Vith.
Eisenhower appoints Field Marshal Montgomery, commanding British 21st Army Group, to lead all Allied forces to the north of " the Bulge" and General Bradley, all Allied forces to the south reflecting the tactical situation.
Chester Nimitz was promoted to five star rank.
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Japan determined to cease reenforceing the Japanese 35th Army on Leyte.
The Japanese aircraft carrier Unryū was sunk in the East China Sea by the Redfish. The German submarine U-737 sank in a collision with depot ship MRS 25 in Vestfjorden, Norway.
The French newspaper Le Monde published for the first time.
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Typhoon Cobra struck the Pacific Fleet doing severe damage to the ships of Task Force 28. The destroyers Hull, Monaghan and Spence all foundered in the storm. Other ships were damaged.
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The British lost 1,097 men at Colenso, the their such serious loss in one week.
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Paul Revere made a 60-mile gallop from Boston along the Old Bay Road to warn the citizens of Portsmouth that British troops may be landing to secure British munitions at Fort William and Mary at New Castle.
It proved to be a false rumor, but local patriots stormed Fort William and Mary, New Hampshire, guarding the mouth of the seaport.
The fort had a six man garrison.
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The 3d Army captured the V-rocket factory at Wittring in eastern France.
Harold Alexander was promoted to Field Marshal and made Supreme Commander of Allied Force Headquarters in the Mediterranean.
The British commenced an offensive towards Akyab, Burma.
The RAF attacked Witten in a daylight raid. They were escorted by American P-51s. The city was the last industrial city in the Ruhr to have escaped bombing.
Greek communists asked for cease fire terms.
The U-416 collided with a German minesweeper and sank. The Z35 and Z36 destroyers were sunk by mines in the Gulf of Finland. Japanese destroyer sYūzuki and Uzuki were sunk by the U.S. Navy.
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The Dekemvriana (Δεκεμβριανά) began with British troops and Greek police opening fire on a massive left wing demonstration in Athens. This effectively commenced the Greek Civil War.
The Red Army took Miskolc, Hungary.
The USS Cooper was sunk in Ormoc Bay by the Japanese destroyer Take.
The British Home Guard stood down.
The US 20th Corps crossed the Saar in assault boats and secured the main bridge of the Saar. The 13th Corps reached the Roer.
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