Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, Jan 16 – 22, 1941

Jan 16, 1941: French forces launch successful counteroffensive against Thai Army in Cambodian border region

Jan 17, 1941: French naval vessel Amiral Charner forms part of small flotilla defeating Thai force in battle of Ko Chang

Jan 17, 1941: Rear Admiral Thomas Withers takes over command of US Submarine Scouting Force. Image: Naval History and Heritage Command

Jan 18, 1941: Japanese General Yamashita Tomoyuki, in Berlin to study the German way of war, presents a traditional sword to Walther von Brauchitsch, commander-in-chief of the German Army

Jan 19, 1941: General Suzuki Sosaku, former chief of staff of Japanese armed forces in Central China, says the United States will be a ‘decisive factor’ in both European and Asian conflicts

Jan 20, 1941: As war looms over the horizon, US President Franklin D. Roosevelt is inaugurated for an unprecedented third term, saying in his inaugural address: ‘In the face of great perils never before encountered, our strong purpose is to protect and to perpetuate the integrity of democracy’

Jan 21, 1941: Japanese forces seize section of coastline at Dapeng Bay northeast of Hong Kong to inhibit transportation of goods to Chinese enemy

Jan 22, 1941: To aid in its overseas expansion, Japan aims to increase its population from the current 73 million to 100 million by 1960, urging each family to have five children

Categories: War

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