Battle of the Atlantic

• The German steamer Konsul Hendrick Fisser (4458t) is captured by the British light cruiser Calypso attempting to pass the Iceland-Faroes Passage. She is taken to Leith and later enters British service under the name Empire Soldier.
• The British steamer Hookwood in convoy FS-40 hits a mine and sinks 3-1/2 miles ENE of Tongue Light Vessel with the loss of 2 crewmen. This is the result of the German destroyer minelaying operation in the Thames Estuary the night of the 12th. 15 survivors are picked up by the British sloop Bittern.

German Raiders

Between Iceland and the Faroes the British armed merchant cruiser Rawalpindi (16,697t), armed with only 4 6-inch guns, meets the German battlecruiser Scharnhorst and is blown out of the water with a loss of 265 lives. Scharnhorst has been sailing in the company of Gneisenau and because of this meeting they turn back from their raiding mission. They evade searches by many British ships including the battleship Warspite during the next few days and return to base safely. Their escape is made easier by the German ability to read many of the British naval codes.

Germany, Home Front

Hitler calls for a halt to rocket development at Peenemünde, believing that victory against Poland has shown that the war can be won without such weaponry.

Occupied Poland

Star of David identification badges are made compulsory for all Jews in occupied Poland.

Jewish ID Badges Various Nazi officials in different areas of occupied Poland, including both areas annexed and the General Government begin adopting regulations requiring Jews to wear identifying badges. There is no consistency about the size, color, and shape of the these early Jewish badges. This began as a local ordinance (see 14 November). There never is a single overall Nazi policy. As a result there is a great diverity of these badges. Apparently the idea originated with SD Chief Reinhard Heydrich. Frank readily accepts the idea. Govenor General Hans Frank, three months after the German invasion decrees that all Jews above 10 years of age are to wear a white badge with a Star of David on their right arm). Jews in the Reich will not be required to wear these badges until another 2 years (1941).