Wednesday, December 16, 1942. The Tatsinskaya Raid.

The Red Army's armored Tatsinskaya Raid commenced on this day.

Reminiscent of Russian cavalry deep raids of World War One, the objective was to draw off German Army forces seeking to breakthrough to Stalingrad by taking the Luftwaffe field at Tatsinskaya.  That goal was achieved, but ultimately at the loss of raiding force.

Saturday, December 12, 1942. Winter Operations.

The Germans launched Operation Winter Storm, an offensive that aimed to break through to trapped forces at Stalingrad.

Red Army T-34s in Operation Little Saturn.

The Soviets launched Operation Little Saturn on south of the Don.

The Knights of Columbus Hostel fire occurred in St. John's Newfoundland.  The fact that many suspicious items are associated with the fire, that other fire attempts happened in the same locality within a proximate time frame, and that the Catholic hostel housed many military and shipping personnel at the time have caused it to be suspected that the fire arose due to a Nazi act of sabotage.  99 people died as a result of the fire.

Sarah Sundin notes:

Today in World War II History—December 12, 1942: M3 submachine gun enters service with US Army. UCLA football team beats USC for the first time, 14-7; a war bond drive at the game raises $2 million.

The M3 was a wartime design that made use of stamping technology. The goal was to produce a reliable submachine gun at a much lower cost than the competing machined examples that then existed, a goal which was largely achieved.

The U.S. used submachine guns in a much different way than depicted in films and different from the way it was used in many other armies.  Generally they never showed up in the TO&E's of infantry units of any kind, including airborne units.  They did end up in those units, but through unofficial routes.  Submachine guns really served as defensive weapons for armored vehicle crews, for the most part, in the U.S. Army.  The M3 occupied that role into the 1990s.

Solider armed with M3 guarding German prisoners during Operation Overlord.  The jeep is unusual in that it's had a back deck extension afixed to it.

The M3 was nicknamed the "Grease Gun" due to its resemblance to that tool by U.S. troops.

As it was a Saturday, the Saturday weekly magazines were out.

The Saturday Evening Post had an illustration of a hunting dog by tools of the trade and a photo of its owner, now in the service.

Colliers had an illustration by Polish artist Arthur Szyk in his unique style depicting the Japanese allegorically as a bat over Pearl Harbor.