On the Eastern Front... The northern pocket of the German 6th Army, trapped at Stalingrad, surrenders. In total, the Red Army has taken about 90,000 prisoners. Later, the Soviets announce that 147,000 Axis, and 47,000 Soviet corpses have been removed from Stalingrad. Furthermore, an estimated 40,000 were evacuated during the air supply operations conducted by the Germans, during the siege. The Luftwaffe lost about 500 transports. Only 5000 Germans taken prisoner survive to return to Germany after the war; the last to return arrives in 1955. The Soviet success is generally attributed to General Chuikov's leadership and tactical innovation. 

In the Solomon Islands... On Guadalcanal the American coastal advance crosses the Bonegi River.

In the Mediterranean... The British submarine Turbulent sinks an Italian tanker near Palermo. The Italian naval squadron based in Sicily consequently remains short of fuel.