December 1941

Monday 01:

World War II: Mayor of New York City, Fiorello LaGuardia, and the director of the Office of Civilian Defense, sign an order creating the Civil Air Patrol.

Friday 05:

The nonfiction book Sea of Cortez by John Steinbeck is published (Steinbeck used knowledge gained writing this book to develop the marine biologist character Doc in Cannery Row).

Sunday 07:

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor officially brings the United States into World War II.

Monday 08:

Holocaust: First Nazi use of gas vans on Jews, at the Chelmno camp near Lodz.

Tuesday 09:

China and Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea declares war on Japan, Germany, and Italy.

Wednesday 10:

Japanese forces land in the Philippines, capture Guam and sink the British ships HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse

Thursday 11:

Germany and Italy declare war on the United States

Friday 12:

United States seizes French ship Normandie.

Wednesday 17:

German siege of Sevastopol begins

Wednesday 24:

Wake Island is conquered by Japanese forces.

Thursday 25:

Hong Kong surrenders to the Japanese.