Air Operations, Europe

Moscow suffers its first air raid. There will be 3 other large-scale attacks during this month and a total of 73 minor raids to the end of the year.

Diplomatic Relations

Britain and the Soviet Union sign an agreement in Moscow providing for mutual assistance and forbidding the making of a separate peace. It states: 'The two governments mutually undertake to render each other assistance and support of all kinds in the present war against Hitlerite Germany. They further undertake that during this war they will neither negotiate nor conclude an armistice or treaty of peace except by mutual agreement.'

Eastern Front

Moscow is bombed by the Luftwaffe for the first time.

The X Mechanized and XLI Rifle Corps are assigned to the Luga Operational Group to reinforce the Soviet defense line along the river.

Heavy fighting rages near Novgorod Volynsky as the XXXI Rifle, IX, XIX and XXII Mechanized Corps try to free the VII Rifle Corps. Despite repeated attacks, the Soviets are repulsed with heavy losses. Mackensen's III Panzer Corps establishes strong positions over the Irpen and stands poised to strike at Kiev but is forbidden to do so by Hitler's halt order. The Soviet 5th, 26th and 37th Armies are re-deployed to protect the city in the extreme south. To the south the XIV and XLVIII Panzer Corps begin their surge toward the Bug, away from the Dniepr and into the rear of the 6th, 12th and 26th Armies.

On the other side of the lines, the Soviets move Vlassov's 37th Army up to cover the direct route into the city. Kirponos also pulls the headquarters of the 26th Army into front reserve and then assigns it control ov all forces east and northeast of Belaya Tserkov. It is ordered to link up with the 5th Army to the north.

On the extreme southern wing, Rumanian forces advancing in Moldavia capture Balti.

Mediterranean

The Greek steamer Patria (1977t) is sunk by German bombing at Port Said.

North Africa

Gen Ettore Bastico replaces Gen Italo Gariboldi as Commander-in-Chief of the Italian, and nominally the German, forces in North Africa.

Soviet Union, Home Front

The Supreme Soviet order Gulag camps to free certain categories of prisoners directly into the Red Army. Prisoners to be relesed for military service include those imprisoned for missing work, and those found guilty of ordinary and insignificant administrative and economic crimes.

Vichy France

Vichy France fails to win Turkish approval for moving military supplies across Turkey to its forces in Syria. Turkey is intent on maintaining its absolute neutrality.