Over Britain… Some 50 specially modified German He111 bombers launch V1 flying bombs in flight, aimed at Manchester. Only 1 bomb hits the target area, 17 fall nearby. A total of 37 people are killed and 67 are injured. Steps are taken to strengthen antiaircraft defenses but no further attacks occur.

In the English Channel… German U-486 sinks the transport Leopoldville, 819 of those on board drown.

On the Eastern Front… In Hungary, Soviet forces are engaged on the outskirts of Budapest while other forces advancing past the city have almost cut it off. Soviet tanks penetrate the outskirts of the Budapest. There is a 25 mile wide corridor to the west.

On the Western Front… The German Ardennes offensive is exhausted by the end of the day. The furthest advance has been achieved by elements of the German 5th Panzer Army. The 2nd Panzer Division has reached the outskirts of Dinant with the 116th Panzer Division on the right flank near Hotten and the Panzer Lehr Division on the left flank to the west of St. Hubert. American forces in Bastogne continue to resist; some 260 Allied transports drop supplies to the defenders. Allied fighter-bombers fly over 600 sorties in the Ardennes.

In the United States… All beef products are again being rationed. New quotas are introduced for most other commodities as well.