Air Operations, Europe

There is an RAF daylight raid on Cologne. 54 Blenheims bomb the Knapsack and Quadrath power stations. 12 aircraft are lost. Fighters escort the bombers over the eastern England to Antwerp flight path. During the night more raids hit Berlin, Cologne and 9 other German cities, airfields and shipping. 13 bombers are lost.

Raid in Progress on One of Cologne's Two Power Stations

The continued need to put pressure on the Luftwaffe and divert resources from Russia saw the RAF stepping up their attacks

Battle of the Atlantic

The British corvette Picotee, escorting Convoy ON-5, is sunk by U-586 south of Iceland with the loss of 66 on board.

Diplomatic Relations

After a series of meetings aboard the HMS Prince of Wales and the USS Augusta between Churchill and Roosevelt, the Atlantic Charter is signed. This is a joint statementof the war and peace aims of the two Allied powers. The eight points of the agreement are no new territories, no territorial changes without consent of the people involved, the right of self-determination, free trade, joint economic development, 'freedom from fear and want,' freedom of the seas, and the abandonment of the use of force.

Printed Copy of the Atlantic Charter Distributed as Propaganda

Eastern Front

Hitler issues Directive 34 on the conduct of the operations. Army Group North is ordered to continue its efforts in the direction of Leningrad with the aim of cutting off Leningrad and joining up with the Finns. Army Group South is to prevent the Russians from re-occupying the eastern bank of the Dnieper and begin the battle for the Crimea, the industrial district of Kharkov and the coalfields of the Donets basin. Army Group Center is to halt its intentions for Moscow for the moment and send part of its forces to support the other two army groups. Guderian pushes south towards Gomel. Hungarian bombers destroy the Nilolayev Bridge trapping 60,000 Soviet troops.

As the German offensive grinds forward, the Soviets counterattack with the 11th, 34th and 48th Armies. The 34th is ordered to trap the German X Corps against the southern shores of Lake Ladoga and annihilate it.

The XXIV Panzer Corps encircles elements of the Soviet 13th and 28th Armies near Krichev.

The Soviet 37th Army manages to stabilize the situation around Kiev following a counterattack.[MORE]

Germany, Strategy

Hitler issues a supplement to Directive No 34, laying down objectives for the various army groups. Army Group North: 'The attack which is now in progress should result in the encirclement of Leningrad and a junction with the Finnish forces.'

Army Group Center: 'The most important task her is to eliminate the enemy flanking positions, projectiong deeply to the west, with wihch he is holding down large forces of infantry on both flanks of Army Group Center. For this purpose close cooperation in timing and direction on the southern flank, between the adjoining flanks and Army Group South and Army Group Center, is particularly important. The Russian 5th Army must be deprived of any further power to operate by cutting the roads to Ovruch and Mozyr, by which it obtains supplies and reinforcements, and then finally annihilated. On the northern flank the enemy must be defeated as soon as possible by the employment of mobile forces wes to Toropets. The left flank of Army Group Center will then be moved as far northward as is necessary to relieve Army Group North of anxiety about its right flank, and to enable it to transfer infantry divisions to take part in the attack on Leningrad. Only after these threats to our flanks have been entirely overcome and armored formations have been rehabilitated will it be possible to continue the offensive, on a wide front and with echeloning of both flanks, against the strong enemy forces which have been concentrated for the defense of Moscow. Before the beginning of this attack on Moscow operations against Leningrad must be concluded.'

Army Group South: 'The largest possible portion of enemy forces must be destroyed, and bridgeheads across the Dnieper won as soon as possible. To occupy the Crimean peninsula, which is particularly dangerous as an enemy air base against the Romanian oil fields. To occupy the Donets area and the industrial area of Kharkov.

North Africa

The Australian government has been pressing for their troops in Tobruk to be relieved. Over the course of the next few nights 6,000 fresh troops from a Polish Bde are sent in and 5,000 of the Australians are brought out. The fast minelayers Abdiel and Latona are prominent in these moves. A cruiser and 2 destroyers are also employed.

United States, Home Front

The House of Representatives passes a bill extending the period of military service from 12 to 30 months by a vote of 203 to 202.

Vichy, Politics

In a broadcast Marshal Pétain says that Germany is fighting 'in defense of civilization' in the war against the Soviet Union. He announces new measures for the suppression of political parties and the creation of a stronger police force and special courts. Adm Darlan is to be appointed to the Ministry of Defense and head of the newly-formed Ministry of National and Empire Defense.