Air Operations, Europe

The Admiral Scheer is attacked in Oslo Fjord by RAF Flying Fortresses.

Battle of the Atlanric

• The British light cruisers Nigeria and Aurora, operating against German shipping off Norway, sink the German gunnery ship Bremse in an inlet east of North Cape.
• U-501 sinks the Norwegian steamer Einvik (2000t), lost from Convoy SC-41, 450 miles southwest of Iceland. All 23 of the crew survive in 2 lifeboats.

Eastern Front

The Germans complete the occupation of Estonia.

Olonets falls to the Finns as the 7th Army is pushed back toward the Svir.

Tanks Crossing a Pontoon Bridge (5 Sept 1941). (©SA-kuva.fi)

With the collapse of the defenses south of Leningrad, Popov is dismissed as commander of the Leningrad Front, Marshal Voroshilov, Stavka member and close associate of Stalin's, being appointed in his place. Voroshilov's forces consist of the battered but stil intact 8th Army in the Oranienbaum pocket, Ivanov's 42nd Army defending a line from the Gulf of Finland to Pustoshka and Lazarev's 55th Army from Pustoshka to the Neva River.

Fighting around the Elnya salient continues as the 19th Rifle Division penetrates into the town. The 100th, 103rd, 309th and 120th Rifle Divisions support the attacks, placing the Germans under intense pressure. The fighting compels Kluge to commit 4 divisions from his reserve. To the south, the XLVI Panzer Corps captures Sosnitza.

Malaya

Gurkha and Scottish troops arrive in Malaya to strengthen defenses there.

Mediterranean

The Dutch submarine O-21 sinks the Italian steamer Isarco (5738t) 28 miles southeast of Ischia. 22 survivors are picked up by the submarine and taken to Gibraltar.

Indian troops digging gun pits during the landing exercises with NZ infantry troops, probably during 4 New Zealand Infantry Brigade combined exercises at Kabrit, Egypt, 5 September 1941

Indian Troops in Landing Exercises

Red Sea

The American steamer Steel Seafarer (5718t) is sunk by German bombing about 200 miles south of Suez near Shadwan Island. 24 survivors reach Shadwan Island by boat; 12 others reach Hurghada. None of the crew is lost.

Soviet Union, Home Front

Children under 12 are to be evacuated from Moscow.