German armies took Allied forces by surprise in the Ardennes, marking the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge.
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'Lawrence of Arabia' film directed by David Lean, was released in the United States.
The Pioneer 6 space probe was launched atop a Delta-E rocket.
The Anglo-Irish Treaty, agreed to by the British Parliament and Sinn Féin, was ratified.
The Great White Fleet began its worldwide navigation.
Vasco da Gama became the first European to sail along Africa's East Coast.