World Battlefronts, THE WEEK: Interim

Western Europe. Censors passed positive statements that invasion will come early next year.

Germany. New Luftwaffe tactics again failed to halt U.S. daylight bombing or save the Germans from huge fighter losses.

The Balkans. U.S. bombers presumably from Italy followed up Turkey’s move toward war with a raid on Sofia, capital of panicky Bulgaria.

Italy. The Eighth Army gained slightly in western Italy, the Fifth in the east.

Russia. The Red Army blunted the Wehrmacht’s most serious counter-threat: its strong wedge in the Kiev sector.

Atlantic. U-boats popped up again, failed again to halt convoys building up invasion strength.

Pacific. The U.S. Navy (with some aid from Army aircraft) further softened the path into the Marshall Islands.