November 1942

Tuesday 03:

German forces under Erwin Rommel are forced to retreat during the night.

Wednesday 04:

Disobeying a direct order by Adolf Hitler, General Field Marshal Erwin Rommel leads his forces on a five-month retreat.

Sunday 08:

World War II: French resistance coup in Algiers, by which 400 Civil French patriots neutralized Vichyst XIXth Army Corps during 15 hours, arrested vichyst generals (Juin, Darlan, etc.), and so allowed the immediate success of Operation Torch in Algiers, then, from there, to the whole French North Africa.

Tuesday 10:

World War II: Germany invades Vichy France following French Admiral François Darlan agreement to an armistice with the Allies in North Africa.

Wednesday 11:

Road to Morocco, starring Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, and Dorothy Lamour, premieres.

Thursday 12:

World War II: The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal between Japanese and American forces begins near Guadalcanal, will last for three days.

Friday 13:

Aviators from the USS Enterprise sink the Japanese heavy cruiser BB- Hiei.

Sunday 15:

World War II: Battle of Guadalcanal ends.

Thursday 19:

Soviet Union forces under General Georgy Zhukov launch the Operation Uranus counterattacks at Stalingrad, turning the tide of the battle in the USSR's favor.

Saturday 21:

The completion of the Alaska Highway (also known as the Alcan Highway) is celebrated (the highway was not usable by general vehicles until 1943, however).

Sunday 22:

The situation for the German attackers of Stalingrad seems desperate during the Soviet counter-attack Operation Uranus and General Friedrich von Paulus sends Adolf Hitler a telegram saying that the German 6th army is surrounded.

Thursday 26:

The film Casablanca premieres at the Hollywood Theater in New York City.

Saturday 28:

In Boston, Massachusetts, a fire in the Cocoanut Grove night club kills 491 people.