Air Operations, Europe
2 British submarines are attacked by an RAF Anson reconnaissance aircraft by mistake. The conning tower of the HMS Snapper is damaged by depth charges.[
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]Battle of the Atlantic
A small steamer, the Bosnia (2407t), is the first British freighter to be sunk. It is sunk by Prien's U-47. 1 crewman is lost and the survivors are picked up by the Norwegian tanker Eidanger. Later in the day the armed merchantman Royal Sceptre (4853t) is sunk by U-48. 1 of the crew is lost and the survivors are rescued by the steamer Browning.[
| ]Britain, Home Front
The Ministry of Information is set up.
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| ]Poland
The Polish High Command realizes that the situation is critical and there is no hope without immediate help from its Allies. A general retreat order is issued behind the Vistula. The Germans force the line of the Vistula and the western Bug. Bydgoszcz is taken by the German II Corps at the southern end of the Corridor.[
| ]South Africa, Politics
After a dispute in the existing Cabinet over whether to join the war, Jan Christiaan Smuts forms a new ministry and replaces pro-German Prime Minister James Hertzog. War is declared on Nazi Germany.[
]United States, Policy
- The United States proclaims its neutrality via radio announcement by President Roosevelt. Two proclamations are issued, one according to the Neutrality Act of 1937 which forbids the shipment of arms and munitions to belligerents and the other in accordance to international law.
- The President orders the formation of a Neutrality Patrol by the Navy to report and track any belligerent air, surface or underwater naval forces approaching the Atlantic coastsof the United States or the West Indies.
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