Chronology of World War II
Monday, September 1, 1941
On the Eastern Front... Advancing Germany armies are within artillery range of the city of Leningrad. To the east of the city, their attacks are nearing the shores of Lake Lagoda.
From Washington... the US Atlantic Fleet announces the formation of a Denmark Strait Patrol. Two heavy cruisers and four destroyers are allocated for to the force. The US Navy is now permitted to escort convoys in the Atlantic containing American merchant vessels.
Tuesday, September 2, 1941
In Italy... The fascist newspaper Il Popolo d'Italia reports that Hitler and Mussolini propose to unify Europe and foster "harmonious cooperation of all European peoples."
Wednesday, September 3, 1941
In Norway... The British carrier Victorious sends air attacks against German installations in and around Tromso but little damage is done.
In Tokyo... The Japanese are informed that a meeting between Prince Konoye and President Roosevelt cannot take place.
Thursday, September 4, 1941
In the North Atlantic... the US destroyer Greer, escorting a convoy, is attacked by a German U-boat. It engages and attempts to sink the U-boat with depth charges. US President Roosevelt cites the incident as an example of German aggression against the US.
Friday, September 5, 1941
In Norway... British RAF Flying Fortress bombers attack the German pocket battleship Admiral Scheer in Oslo Fiord.
Saturday, September 6, 1941
In Germany... Heydrich, head of German Security Services and the Security Police orders that all Jewish persons over the age of six are to wear a yellow badge, "Star of David" to distinguish them as Jews.
In Japan... Prime Minister Konoye bows to military pressure to agree to prepare for war by mid-October, if no agreement is reached with the Americans over the oil-embargo. The American Ambassador Grew cautions the United States that if Konoye's conciliatory proposals are not considered, the Japanese Prime Minister could well be replaced by a Military Dictatorship.
Sunday, September 7, 1941
In Norway... The British carrier Victorious sends air attacks against German installations in and around Tromso but little damage is done.
Monday, September 8, 1941
On the Eastern Front... Continuing Finnish attacks against the Soviets in the area between Lake Ladoga and Lake Onega cut the railway track south from Murmansk, the northern port vital for supplies to the USSR.
In the Mediterranean... 69 more British Hurricane fighters are flown to Malta with the help of British navy's Force H using the Ark Royal and the Furious.
In Norway... British RAF Flying Fortress bombers attack the German pocket battleship Admiral Scheer in Oslo Fiord.
Tuesday, September 9, 1941
On the Eastern Front... The Spanish Volunteer Division, "Blue Division" arrives to serve with the German Army on the Leningrad Front.
Wednesday, September 10, 1941
On the Eastern Front... German General Guderian's Panzer Group 2 attacks southward on Soviet forces east of Kiev reaches Konotop. General Kleist's Panzer Group 1 begins a breakout from their bridgehead over the Dniepr near Kremenchug.
Thursday, September 11, 1941
From Washington... As a result of public outrage over the Greer incident, the president announces that American warships will be able to "shoot on sight" to ensure the protection of waters "necessary for American defense." This formalizes a situation which has been commonly occurring.
Friday, September 12, 1941
On the Eastern Front... North of Kiev, the city of Chernigov, on the Desna River is evacuated in the face of the advancing German 2nd Army. The first snowfall of the year is reported on the Eastern Front.
In Norway... the Norwegian Government under the pro-German leadership of Quisling bans the Boys Scouts and other youth clubs. Boys are required to join youth sections of the Nasjonal Samling Party.
In North Africa... the relief operations begin for Tobruk. Approximately 6300 soldiers, from Scobie's 70th British Division, and supplies for them are transported into the city. 6000 of the Australian garrison are taken out.
Saturday, September 13, 1941
In the Pacific... The Japanese Combined Fleet completes a 4-day exercise.
Sunday, September 14, 1941
In Finland... Three German minesweepers are sabotaged while in a Helsinki dockyard.
Monday, September 15, 1941
On the Eastern Front... Near Leningrad, German forces capture Schlusselburg on the south shore of Lake Lagoda, effectively cutting the city off completely. The siege of Leningrad begins.
In the United States... The Attorney General rules that the Neutrality Act is not violated when US ships carry war material to British territories in the Near and Far East or the Western Hemisphere.
Tuesday, September 16, 1941
On the Eastern Front... The forces of German Panzer Group 2 (Guderian) and Panzer Group 1 (Kleist) link up near the town of Lokhvista, encircling 600,000 Soviet troops in a pocket which stretches west for a 100 miles to Kiev.
In Iran... The Shah abdicates in favor of the Crown Prince Mohammad Reza Pahlavi after the Allies decide that he has not co-operated in expelling Axis nationals from the country.
Wednesday, September 17, 1941
From Washington... The US Navy increases its role in escorting Atlantic convoys. It assumes responsibility for some of the Halifax to Britain convoys and the security of traffic to Iceland. It will augment the Canadian Naval escorts which travel to 22 degrees west until British ships take over.
In Iran... Allied forces occupy the capital Tehran to ensure that Axis influence is halted.
On the Eastern Front... Heavy fighting in the outlying areas of the city of Kiev between Soviet and German forces.
Thursday, September 18, 1941
In Washington... President Roosevelt requests an additional $5,985,000,000 for Lend-Lease Aid to Britain from Congress.
Friday, September 19, 1941
On the Eastern Front... The city of Kiev falls to German forces of Army Group South after almost six weeks of fighting. Soviet losses in the battle are approximately half a million; the German casualties are estimated at 100,000.
In Occupied Yugoslavia... There are meetings between the two major faction leaders, Tito and Mihajlovic to discuss resistance to the Germans. Major political differences divide the two groups and no accommodation is reached. Supporters of the respective factions soon begin fighting each other.
Saturday, September 20, 1941
In the Mediterranean... Italian midget submarines attack shipping in the harbor at Gibraltar and sink two ships.
In the North Atlantic... Heavy losses in convoys continue, but an aircraft from the British escort carrier, Audacity downs a Folfwolf Condor trying to shadow the convoy OG-74. This is the first time the carrier based aircraft have had a successful kill.
Sunday, September 21, 1941
On the Eastern Front... Near Leningrad, the German Luftwaffe begins repeated attacks on the Soviet Baltic Fleet in Kronstadt harbor.
From Britain... The British Mosquito bomber makes its first operational reconnaissance flight.
Monday, September 22, 1941
In Britain... King George of Greece arrives in London.
Tuesday, September 23, 1941
In Washington... US President Roosevelt announces the possibility of arming American merchant vessels against German attacks.
Wednesday, September 24, 1941
On the Eastern Front... Near Leningrad, after four days of Luftwaffe attacks on the Soviet Baltic Fleet, the battleship Marat is sunk, the Oktyabrskaya Revolutsiya has been hit by 6 bombs and 2 cruisers a damaged. Meanwhile, panzers from German Army Group South penetrate to within 40 miles of Kharkov.
In the Mediterranean... The first German U-boat passes Gilbraltar, entering the Mediterranean Sea. Also, Operation Halberd is launched on this day, by the Allies, to carry supplies to Malta. The initial convoy is nine transports with an escort of three battleships, one carrier, five cruisers and eighteen destroyers.
In London and Washington... Representatives from 15 Allied countries sign the Atlantic Charter, including the UK, USA and USSR, as well as several Commonwealth countries and the European governments-in-exile.
Thursday, September 25, 1941
On the Eastern Front... German armies have now isolated the Soviet forces in the Crimea. German paratroop attacks begin near Perekop.
Friday, September 26, 1941
In the Mediterranean... Italian Admiral Iachino, leads a force consisting of two battleships, six cruisers and fourteen destroyers to stop the Allied relief convoy sailing to Malta.
Saturday, September 27, 1941
In East Africa... The siege at Wolchefit ends when the Italian garrison surrenders to the 25th East African Brigade.
On the Eastern Front... German forces take Perekop on their advance to the Crimea.
In the Mediterranean... The Allied convoy to Malta is found by air reconnaissance and suffers the loss of one transport. The pursuing Italian naval force does not engage the convoy and it successfully delivers 50,000 tons of food to the isolated island.
In Occupied Czechoslovakia... The German Governor of Bohemia and Moravia, Von Neurath resigns. Heydrich replaces him.
In the United States... The first 14 Liberty ships are launched (312 are on order).
Sunday, September 28, 1941
In Moscow... An Allied planning conference begins. Harriman attends from the US, Beaverbrook, from Britain and Molotov heads the Soviet delegation.
Monday, September 29, 1941
From Iceland... The beginning of regular convoy traffic from Iceland to Archangel, with convoy PQ-1, comprised of 10 merchant ships, one cruiser and two destroyers. At the same time, convoy QP-1 starts from Archangel to Scapa Flow.
In Moscow... An Allied planning conference continues. Harriman attends from the US, Beaverbrook, from Britain and Molotov heads the Soviet delegation.
Tuesday, September 30, 1941
On the Eastern Front... German General Guderian's Panzer Group 2 is moved north to form the right wing of the planned German attack on Moscow. They begin with an advance toward Orel and Bryansk. In the south, Kleist's Panzer Group 1 attack from Dnepropetrocvsk. Soviet resistance is minimal.
In Moscow... An Allied planning conference continues. Harriman attends from the US, Beaverbrook, from Britain and Molotov heads the Soviet delegation.
Copyright © 2018 Ralph Zuljan