World War II Today: November 29

A day marked by occupation, collapsing offensives, warnings from Allied leaders, and dramatic gains across the global battlefield.

1939 – Soviet Control Tightens Over Occupied Poland

In the eastern half of Poland—occupied by the Soviet Union since September—Moscow imposed a sweeping decree: all residents within
the Soviet-controlled territories were now to be considered Soviet citizens.

The move stripped hundreds of thousands of Poles, Ukrainians, Belarusians, and Jews of their national identity, forcing them into
a foreign system and paving the way for mass deportations to Siberia and Central Asia. It was one more step in the Soviet Union’s
effort to erase the former Polish state east of the Curzon Line.

1940 – Planning for a New Invasion & Securing Crete

Germany Drafts Its Plan for Russia

The German High Command finalized a draft outline for its proposed invasion of the Soviet Union—a plan that would eventually evolve
into Operation Barbarossa. The document envisioned a lightning campaign to shatter the Red Army and seize key economic regions
before winter. Few within the German leadership imagined the scale of the conflict to come.

Allied Forces Secure Crete

In the Mediterranean, British and New Zealand troops under General Bernard Freyberg completed the occupation of the Greek island
of Crete. The island’s position made it a critical defensive and staging point for operations throughout the eastern
Mediterranean. Within months, Crete would become the site of one of the most dramatic airborne invasions of the war.

1941 – Winter Brings Germany’s Eastern Offensive to a Standstill

Army Group Centre Stalls

After months of relentless fighting, the German drive toward Moscow was faltering.
Savage combat, blizzards, and plunging temperatures slowed Army Group Centre to a crawl. Exhausted units could no longer make
significant progress, and supply routes froze under the weight of winter.

The Russians Counterattack at Rostov

At Rostov-on-Don, Soviet forces launched a sharp counter-attack, forcing German troops to evacuate the city and withdraw westward
toward the Mius River. Rostov became the first major city retaken by the Red Army—an early sign of growing Soviet resilience.

Italian Forces Strike Back in Libya

Near Sidi Rezegh, in North Africa, Italian troops mounted a counterattack that nearly destroyed a New Zealand unit fighting
as part of the Commonwealth offensive. The fighting in the desert remained chaotic, fluid, and brutally costly.

1942 – Churchill Issues a Warning & Operations Expand in North Africa

Churchill Addresses Italy

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill issued a stark warning to Italy:
RAF bombing of Italian cities would continue until Rome abandoned its alliance with Germany. Italy was already weary from defeats
in North Africa and the pressure of the air war at home.

British Paratroops Land Near Tunis

In Tunisia, British paratroopers dropped south of Tunis as part of the expanding Allied effort to block German reinforcements
and secure key entry points into the country.

Coffee Rationing Begins in the United States

On the American home front, coffee rationing officially began. The measure ensured adequate supplies for U.S. troops overseas
and reflected how deeply wartime logistics affected daily life across the nation.

1943 – Advances in New Guinea and Italy

In New Guinea, Australian troops pushed the retreating Japanese toward Wareo, gaining ground in the rugged and unforgiving terrain
north of Lae.

In Italy, the U.S. VI Corps launched an assault north of the Mignano Gap—pressuring German defensive positions in the mountains
and contributing to the long, grinding Italian campaign.

1944 – Breakthroughs by the Allies, Spies in Maine, and a Carrier Lost

The Red Army Crosses the Danube

Soviet troops crossed the Danube River into southwestern Hungary, securing major gains and tightening the strategic encirclement
of Axis forces in the Balkans.

USS Archerfish Sinks Shinano

In the Pacific, the submarine USS Archerfish sank the massive Japanese aircraft carrier Shinano—the largest warship ever sunk
by a submarine. The Shinano had been at sea for barely 10 hours on her maiden voyage.

German Spies Land in Maine

Off the coast of Maine, the German submarine U-1230 put ashore two spies: William Colepaugh, an American defector, and German agent
Erich Gimpel. Their mission was short-lived; both were arrested within five weeks.

1945 – The World Confronts Nazi Crimes

At the Nuremberg Trials, prosecutors presented film evidence of concentration camp atrocities. The footage—shocking and undeniable—
documented mass murder, starvation, and the systematic brutality of the Nazi regime. It became one of the most powerful moments of the trials.

Meanwhile, the U.S. War Department initiated the demobilization of enlisted men with three or more children under 18, as the nation
began the long transition from war to peace.

Remembering November 29

From Soviet domination in Poland to Allied victories in the Pacific, from winter battles near Moscow to the courtroom reckoning at
Nuremberg, November 29 reveals the vast and interconnected landscape of a world at war. Each event—military, political, and human—
shaped the path toward the war’s final outcome.

Lest we forget.