Western Front
First Pup Squadron (
https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...sopwith-pup.jpg) (No 54) arrives in France, now 38 active squadrons with 700 aircraft against 33 German Jagdstaffeln (establishment 14 planes each). No day flying possible.
Major Wetzel and OHL estimate that US expeditionary force on Western Front not possible before spring 1918.
Heavy artillery exchanges mark Christmas on the Somme battlefields. Aside from this, and minor raids, there is very little fighting on the Western Front due to bad weather and the approach of Christmas. Canadian artillerymen writing “Xmas Greetings from Canada” on a shell at the Somme:
http://imgur.com/vKgmjhx* © IWM (CO 1015)
British take over more French line.
Eastern Front
Romania: Field Marshal von Mackensen leaving Christmas morning church service in occupied Bucharest:
http://imgur.com/YX4kGJI* © IWM (Q 23978)
Battle of Rimnicu Sarat: German troops and other Central Power forces capture the cities of Isaccea and Tulcea, Romania.
Severe fighting west of Lower Sereth; Macin bridgehead attacked.
Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Armenia: Fighting round Lake Van, Turks driven south on December 28.
South Persia: Action of Dasht-i-Arjan: c.400 British & Persians troops forced back to Shiraz (until December 28).
Naval and Overseas Operations
East Africa: Combined offensive by Generals Northey and van Deventer begins, pushing Germans east and south.
Political, etc.
A partial solar eclipse occurs off the shore of Antarctica:
http://imgur.com/duLpgT3
Russia: Tsar replies to German Peace overtures. Tsar‘s Order to Army and Navy stresses no thought of Peace till ‘final victory’.
Germany: Kaiser Wilhelm prays: “God bless the third war Christmas of all those away in the field and of those at home in our dear fatherland!”
United Kingdom: King's Christmas message.
Premiers of self-governing Colonies and Indian representatives invited to War Conference.
Romania: Coalition Government formed in Romania, including M. Take Jonescu.
Poland: Albert Chmielowski, Polish professed religious known helping the poor, passed away (he was sainted in 1989):
http://imgur.com/vwkR8vK
United States: USS Arizona passing by New York City after initial sea trials:
http://imgur.com/9w9KX4k .
Arizona was later destroyed at Pearl Harbor.