September 24
Sea War, Mediterranean
The first U-boat enters the Mediterranean (half the entire U-boat force will be operating there later in the year). The Operation Halberd convoy leaves Gibraltar bound for Malta. During the six-day trip, Italian warships attempt to intercept the convoy, but an Italian submarine is sunk. The British bombard Pantellaria, an Italian island situated between Sicily and Tunisia.

September 29
Final Solution, Ukraine
Nazi troops kill 33,771 Jews in Kiev.

September 30
Eastern Front, Ukraine
The 1st Panzer Group begins the offensive against the southern Ukraine from the Dniepr and Samara Rivers, and immediately severs a vital Soviet rail line. The advance toward Rostov moves behind three Soviet armies. General Erich von Manstein's Eleventh Army then advances to trap 106,000 Soviet troops and 212 tanks between the two German forces on October 6 in a classic encirclement operation. One Soviet force, the weakened Twelfth Army, retreats northeastward.

Eastern Front, Soviet Union
Operation Typhoon, the attack on Moscow, officially begins. Germany's Army Group Center's 73 divisions face 85 Soviet divisions plus 10-15 in reserve. General Heinz Guderian's Second Panzer Group thrusts toward Bryansk and Orel. Two days later, the 3rd and 4th Panzer Groups move to encircle Soviet forces around Vyazma.

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