Chronology of World War II
Tuesday, September 1, 1942
On the Eastern Front... German units reach the suburbs of Stalingrad in some areas. The Soviet 62nd Army is in danger of being surrounded. In the Crimea, elements of the German 11th Army, comprised of German and Romanian troops cross the Kerch Strait and land on the Taman Peninsula.
In North Africa... The German attack weakens. Shortages of supply begin to have an effect as one of the panzer division runs out of fuel. 15th Panzer Division makes no gains, but engages in fierce fighting against the British 8th Armored Brigade.
From Tokyo... The Japanese Foreign Minister, Togo resigns and the office is assumed by Prime Minister Tojo in the interim.
Wednesday, September 2, 1942
On the Eastern Front... German troops from the 11th and 17th Armies advance near Novorosiysk. 1st Panzer Army makes slow advances on Grozny.
In North Africa... Rommel gives the orders for his troops to withdraw to their starting points. British General Montgomery refuses to follow the Germans in their retreat.
In New Guinea... At Buna, 1000 more Japanese reinforcements land from Rabaul land.
Thursday, September 3, 1942
In North Africa... British General Montgomery orders the New Zealand Division positioned at Alam Nayil south to threaten the German retreat. They encounter heavy fighting on the way and make little progress.
Friday, September 4, 1942
On the Eastern Front... The Luftwaffe mounts a raid on the city of Stalingrad utilizing over 1,000 aircraft. To the south of the city, German forces reach the Volga River.
In the Solomon Islands... At Guadalcanal, the Japanese receive additional reinforcements. Off the coast, two older American destroyers utilized as transports are sunk by Japanese destroyers.
Saturday, September 5, 1942
In New Guinea... The Australians force the Japanese to evacuate Milne Bay.
On the Eastern Front... German forces penetrate the port of Novorossiysk on the Black Sea.
Sunday, September 6, 1942
On the Eastern Front... Elements of German Army Group A capture Novorossiysk.
In North Africa... The fighting around Alam Halfa ends. The Germans have fought their way back to their original positions. German intelligence reports that the British 8th Army is scheduled to receive large reinforcements and supplies. Rommel begins to prepare an elaborate labrinyth of boob traps and minefields as well as barbed wire defenses.
Monday, September 7, 1942
In the Solomon Islands... A force of Marine Corps Raiders, 600 in strength, attack the Japanese base at Taivu. The raid succeeds in damaging the base and disrupting the Japanese preparation for an attack on the main American position at Guadalcanal.
Tuesday, September 8, 1942
In New Guinea... Japanese advances force the Australians back over the Owen Stanley Range. Their position near Efogi is abandoned.
In Vichy France... The Vichy government fires General de St. Vincent, Military Governor of Lyons for refusing to aid in the arrest of Jewish citizens in the area.
Wednesday, September 9, 1942
From Berlin... Hitler fires General List from the command of German Army Group A, fighting in the Caucasus. He assumes command of the Army Group himself.
In the Solomon Islands... Japanese General Hyakutake, commander of the 17th Army, with elements of the 2nd Infantry Division lands at Tassafaronga as part of the Japanese build up for the attack on the main American position at Guadalcanal.
Thursday, September 10, 1942
In the Atlantic... Convoy ON-127 to Britain suffers a wolf pack attack. 13 U-boats attack with every one managing to fire upon the vessels of the convoy. The convoy escort manages to damage only 1 U-boat while 12 freighters and one destroyer are sunk.
On Madagascar... British forces make landings on the west coast of the island intending to occupy the whole of the island.
Friday, September 11, 1942
In New Guinea... The Japanese are halted in Owen Stanley Range at Ioribaiwa.
Saturday, September 12, 1942
In the Solomon Islands... On Guadalcanal, major attacks by the Japanese units, from General Kawaguchi's 35th brigade, begin. Fighting is heavy especially around the aptly named "Bloody Ridge". Reinforcements of aircraft are flown to the Americans from the USS Wasp.
In the Atlantic... German U-boat U-156 sinks the passenger liner Laconia, just south of the equator, off the coast of Africa. The passengers, service men's wives and children and Italian prisoners of war are aided by the U-boat captain, Hartenstein, who surfaces and then radios in plain language to Allied authorities for help for them. Despite this conduct, an American plane attacks the U-boat.
From Berlin... In response to the attack by the American plane, Admiral Doenitz orders that no U-boat commander may again attempt the rescue of civilians survivors. He also orders rescue boats from Dakar for the rest of the survivors of the Laconia. Of note, the "Laconia Order" forms one of the indictments against Admiral Doenitz at Nuremberg after the war.
On the Eastern Front... At Stalingrad, the German encirclement of Stalingrad continues. Soviet perimeter is now only about 30 miles long.
From Moscow... Stalin appoints General Chiuikov to command of the 62nd Army which will soon be completely besieged in Stalingrad.
Sunday, September 13, 1942
In North Africa... The airfields at Benghazi and Barce are attacked by British units of the Long Range Desert Group. The British also attempt an amphibious landing at Tobruk, it is repelled with heavy losses.
In the Solomon Islands... On Guadalcanal, the Japanese attacks intensify. The American forces hold them off with difficulty, aided by effective artillery support.
In the Arctic... Convoy PQ-18 leaves for Archangel. It is provided with a large escort including a carrier, fares much better than the last convoy (in June). It loses 13 ships in the course of the voyage (September 12-18), but the Germans will lose 20 planes and 2 U-boats.
Monday, September 14, 1942
In the Solomon Islands... At Guadalcanal, General Kawagucki's troops suffer 1200 casualties in their initial assault. The attacks trail off and stop.
In New Guinea... The Japanese take the Kokoda Trail. The Australians have been forced back to Imita Ridge. The fighting is now only 30 miles outside Port Moresby.
In the Aleutian Islands... The Japanese-held island of Kiska is bombed by American forces.
Tuesday, September 15, 1942
On the Eastern Front... In Stalingrad, fighting rages in the main railway station.
In the Solomon Islands... Offshore at Guadalcanal, the Japanese submarine, I-19 sinks the USS Wasp with three torpedoes, also damaging the battleship USS North Carolina. A destroyer is sunk as well.
Wednesday, September 16, 1942
In New Guinea... Allied prospects are brighter as they establish local air superiority over Ioribaiwa. This halts the Japanese advance. American reinforcements brought into Port Moresby to join the Australians mean that an effective offense can now be planned.
Thursday, September 17, 1942
From Washington... All atomic research is place under military control. General Groves is appointed head of the program. He has deep fears about security and a dislike of the British which leads to a policy of reluctant sharing of information concerning atomic weapon development with the British Allies.
On Madagascar... The Vichy French governor of the island rejects the armistice proposed by the invading British.
Friday, September 18, 1942
In the Solomon Islands... On Guadalcanal, six transports arrive bringing supplies and the US 7th Marine Regiment. The American base now has 23,000 men and adequate supplies.
In New Guinea... Japanese General Horii, in response to orders and supply difficulties begins to pull back some of his forces around Buna and Gona.
On Madagascar... The British land troops on the east coast of the French governed island at Tamatave.
Saturday, September 19, 1942
On the Eastern Front... General Yeremenko, commanding the Soviet Southeastern Front, reports that German forces have been consolidating their gains in the city of Stalingrad during the day. Towards evening German units pressed Soviet forces in the city center. Attacks from the south were repulsed. The Luftwaffe carried out about 300 sorties, focusing on the Red October area, the city center and Beketovka. Soviet ferries crossing the Volga were under heavy fire from artillery and mortars throughout the day.
Sunday, September 20, 1942
On the Eastern Front... In the Caucasus, German troops capture the town of Terek.
Monday, September 21, 1942
From Stockholm... In the Swedish national elections, pro-Nazi candidates fair badly.
Tuesday, September 22, 1942
In Berlin... Reichsfuhrer SS Himmler orders that "experiments on warming through body heat" must be conducted
In Occupied Poland... Most of the Jews in Opoczno were forcibly taken by cattle car from Opoczno to their deaths in Treblinka.
From Washington... The Communications Branch of the OSS is formed by General Donovan.
Wednesday, September 23, 1942
In New Guinea... The Australians go on the offensive as more American reinforcements arrive at Port Moresby. The Australian Commander in Chief, General Blamey, takes personal charge. His orders from General Douglas MacArthur are to intensify and invigorate the campaign.
On Madagascar... The British advance and capture the capital city, Tamatave.
In North Africa... German General Rommel flies home to Germany for medical treatment. In his absence, General Stumme takes command, with General Von Thoma leading the armor. As a result of the deaths of many officers in the recent months of fighting, replacement officers, some from the Eastern Front have been brought in. The new officers do not fit in well with the established camaraderie in the Afrika Korps.
On the Eastern Front... In Stalingrad, the besieged Soviets, under General Chuikov mount a minor offensive campaign near Orlovka. The attack makes some progress with very heavy fighting.
Thursday, September 24, 1942
From Berlin... Hitler dismisses General Halder after many disagreements about the managing of the campaign on the Eastern Front. General Zeitzler is appointed the new Chief of the General Staff at OKH .
In the Atlantic... The American Liberty ship Stephen Hopkins fights a mismatched battle with the German raider ship Stier. The Liberty ship with only one 4 inch gun manages to sink the Stier. Damage from the Stier however, causes the Stephen Hopkins to go down as well.
In the Solomon Islands... Off Guadalcanal, the routine re-supplying done at night by the Japanese is disrupted by the Americans as they sink two Japanese destroyers and a cruiser.
Friday, September 25, 1942
From Washington... The Maritime Trade Commission announces that 488 cargo ships have been built in the past year.
Saturday, September 26, 1942
In New Guinea... Australian troops counterattack on Imita Ridge.
Sunday, September 27, 1942
In New Guinea... The Australian offensives forces the withdrawal of Japanese troops back down the Kokado Trail.
Monday, September 28, 1942
On the Eastern Front... Soviet forces cross the Volga near Rzhev in an offensive against the German forces of Army Group Center.
Tuesday, September 29, 1942
On Madagascar... The British invasion of the island continues with the landing of forces at Tulearon in the southwest of the island.
Wednesday, September 30, 1942
In North Africa... A limited offensive is launched by the British 8th Army at El Alamein.
In Occupied Greece... The first British liaison mission arrives.
Copyright © 2018 Ralph Zuljan