Gallipoli Evacuation. Photo: gallipoli-association.org/education
World War I: 1914-1919
1914: Stalemate in the West
By the end of 1914, trench warfare had gripped Europe. On 28 December, near Ypres, British and German forces exchanged sporadic fire. Units like the 2nd Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, held precarious positions, enduring freezing temperatures and ceaseless artillery barrages. The war’s initial illusions of a quick resolution had shattered; soldiers faced the grim realization that this was a war of attrition.
1915: Gallipoli Evacuation Underway
As the ill-fated Gallipoli campaign faltered, Allied forces began their withdrawal. By 28 December 1915, the evacuation of Suvla Bay was nearing completion. Soldiers from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) executed a well-orchestrated retreat, leaving behind makeshift rifles rigged to fire autonomously—an ingenious ruse to fool Ottoman forces. Private William Scurry, one of the inventors, would later earn recognition for this clever tactic.
1916: Verdun’s Lingering Shadows
The Battle of Verdun had officially ended weeks earlier, yet its reverberations lingered. On 28 December, the French 151st Infantry Regiment was tasked with fortifying positions around reclaimed forts like Douaumont. Veterans recounted seeing the ground littered with fragments of uniforms, equipment, and human lives—a grim testament to Verdun’s savagery.
1917: Eastern Front Dissolves
The Russian withdrawal from the war reshaped Europe’s battlefield dynamics. On 28 December 1917, peace talks between Bolshevik representatives and the Central Powers progressed at Brest-Litovsk. Meanwhile, on the Western Front, American Expeditionary Forces began integrating with French units. The 1st Infantry Division, later known as “The Big Red One,” saw its first combat drills under harsh winter conditions.
1918: Uneasy Armistice
Though the guns had fallen silent, the transition from war to peace was fraught. On 28 December 1918, riots broke out in Kiel, where demobilized German sailors protested dire economic conditions. The British 4th Hussars, stationed nearby, monitored the unrest while preparing for occupation duties in Berlin.
1919: Versailles’ Shadows
Post-war negotiations dragged on. On 28 December 1919, French and British diplomats debated territorial adjustments. The seeds of future strife were evident as ethnic groups’ aspirations clashed with geopolitical interests. Delegates’ diaries from the day describe heated arguments, underscoring the fragility of the peace to come.
World War II: 1939-1945
1939: The Atlantic’s First Skirmishes
The early months of World War II were dominated by naval engagements. On 28 December 1939, the HMS Hyperion, a British destroyer, intercepted a German blockade runner in the North Atlantic. The capture was emblematic of Britain’s strategy to choke Germany’s supply lines while preparing for larger confrontations.
1940: Desert Warfare Emerges
Photo: warlordgames.com/operation-sand-dune
The North African Campaign took center stage. On 28 December 1940, British forces under General Richard O’Connorlaunched raids against Italian positions near Sidi Barrani. Units like the 4th Indian Infantry Division played pivotal roles, demonstrating coordination and tenacity despite harsh desert conditions.
1941: Aftermath of Pearl Harbor
The war’s global scale expanded dramatically after Pearl Harbor. On 28 December 1941, Japanese forces consolidated their control over Manila, advancing toward American defensive positions in Bataan. Meanwhile, in Europe, Soviet forces counterattacked near Moscow, exploiting the German Wehrmacht’s vulnerability to winter.
1942: Guadalcanal’s Struggle
By 28 December 1942, the Battle of Guadalcanal raged fiercely. The 1st Marine Division, reinforced by Army units, fought to repel Japanese attempts to retake Henderson Field. Captured diaries from Japanese officers reveal the desperation of their forces, while American accounts highlight the jungle’s unforgiving conditions.
1943: Ortona’s Bloodshed
In Italy, the Canadian 1st Infantry Division faced intense urban combat in Ortona, a strategically vital town. On 28 December 1943, soldiers engaged in house-to-house fighting against entrenched German troops. The battle earned the nickname “Little Stalingrad,” a grim comparison to the Eastern Front’s brutality.
1944: Bastogne Holds
101 Airborne Division displaying captured Nazi flag. Photo: reddit.com/r/wwiipics/
The Ardennes Offensive, better known as the Battle of the Bulge, saw fierce fighting on 28 December 1944. German forces encircled Bastogne, but the 101st Airborne Division, led by Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe, famously refused to surrender. Reinforcements from Patton’s 3rd Army were en route, bringing hope to the besieged defenders.
1945: Reconstruction Begins
With hostilities over, the challenges of rebuilding loomed large. On 28 December 1945, Allied occupation forces in Tokyo dismantled remnants of Japan’s military-industrial complex. Soldiers from the 1st Cavalry Division documented the city’s transformation, capturing images of resilience amidst devastation.
The US-Vietnam War: 1955-1975
1955-1964: The Long Prelude
American involvement began subtly, with advisors training South Vietnamese forces. On 28 December 1962, members of the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) conducted joint operations with the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN), setting the stage for deeper engagement.
1965: Full-Scale Engagement
The war’s escalation brought fierce battles. On 28 December 1965, the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) launched a counteroffensive in the Ia Drang Valley. Their use of helicopters revolutionized modern warfare, providing mobility in the dense jungles of Southeast Asia.
1968: Tet’s Aftermath
As 1968 ended, the psychological scars of the Tet Offensive lingered. On 28 December, US forces from the 3rd Marine Division secured outposts near Hue, battling relentless Viet Cong attacks. The offensive had shifted public opinion, casting doubt on the war’s justifications.
1972: The Christmas Bombing
B-52 Bombers Raid over Hanoi. Photo: theaviationgeekclub.com/
Operation Linebacker II reached its crescendo. On 28 December 1972, B-52 bombers unleashed devastating raids over Hanoi, targeting supply depots and communication hubs. While the operation forced North Vietnam to the negotiating table, it also drew sharp criticism for its human cost.
1975: Endgame Approaches
By late 1975, Saigon’s fall was imminent. On 28 December, ARVN units like the 18th Division mounted desperate defenses against advancing North Vietnamese forces. These final efforts, though valiant, could not halt the inevitable collapse of South Vietnam.
