Eastern Front

The Finnish attacks north of Lake Ladoga take Sortavala and reach the Lake to the southeast of the town, cutting off Soviet forces to the west. The Soviets will be able to get some of their troops away by boat.

In the central sector of the front the troops of Army Group Center, continuing their advance, begin the destruction of the enormous Soviet forces trapped in a pocket in the Uman area, as well as mopping-up operations in the Dnieper basin.

The system of political commissars is re-introduced in the Red Army. The commissars are disliked by the commanders for functional reasons, and a year later they are abolished again.

The Katyusha weapon is tested for the first time by Russian special units near Smolensk. The highly effective rocket mortar is to play a significant part in the upcoming battles. It is an area weapon that could be mounted on any kind of vehicle and shower dozens of solid-fuel rockets on an enemy more than three miles away.

The Finnisn VII Corps, advancing to the north of Lake Ladoga, captures Sortavala and reaches the shores of the lake. The threatening Finnish advance in this region causes the separation of the Soviet 7th Army between Lakes Onega and Ladoga from the 23rd Army on its left, north of Leningrad.

On the left winf of Army Group Center, the 19th Panzer Division pushes on from Nevel toward Velikiye Luki. In the center, the XLVII Panzer Corps fights its way into the center of Smolensk and captures much of the town. The very considerable Soviet forces fighting between Orsha, Smolensk and Yartsevo are in real danger of isolation, but a narrow corridor remains open to the east, through which the Soviet units begin their efforts to withdraw. Try as they might, the Germans are unable to close this gap. Inside the pocket, the 16th, 20th and 19th Armies mill around suffering terrible casualties as the German panzers, with Luftwaffe support, launch ferocious attacks upon any units that try to break free.

Germany, Planning

At an important meeting Hitler, Göring, Bormann and Rosenberg decide on plans for the exploitation of the territory being captured from the Soviets. It is Hitler's plan to divide the occupied territory into 4 Reich Commission territories and direct annexation to the 'Great Reich' of the richest provinces including the Crimea. Rosenberg is appointed head of a new ministry with the task of organizing the new lands for Germany's economic benefit and eliminating Jews and Communists.

Japan, Politics

In order to remove Matsuoka from the Foreign Ministry, Prince Konoye resigns and plans to re-form a cabinet in 2 days.

North Africa

Axis air raids continue on Tobruk and British bombers raid Benghazi and Tripoli.

Vichy, Politics

Gen Weygand is appointed Governor General of Algeria.