 German troops on their way to the Dodecanese following the landing of British forces on the islands  A German sailor struggles to keep his footing on a U-boat during an opeartion in the Atlantic Ocean September 15
Mediterranean, Aegean Sea
British forces land on the island of Kos in the Dodecanese. The islands, off southwest Turkey, are a potential approach to southeast Europe and a base for air operations against German communications and oil resources in Romania. A victory here might also persuade Turkey to support the Allied cause as the threat of German air raids from Rhodes would be eliminated. Kos is to be a springboard for an assault against the German stronghold on Rhodes. By the end of September, British forces make contact with cooperative Italian troops on most of the neighboring islands. September 17
Eastern Front, Soviet Union
The Red Army capture Bryansk. September 19-23
Sea War, Atlantic
The German U-boat packs resume operations against Allied convoys. They are now equipped with electronic monitoring devices, improved anti-aircraft guns, and acoustic torpedoes. Twenty U-boats inflict serious losses on warships and merchant vessels in convoys ON-202 and ONS-28 from the 18th to the 23rd. September 21
Sea War, Far East
Australian commandos sink two Japanese transports after canoeing into Singapore harbor. September 22
Eastern Front, Crimea
The Soviet Thirteenth Army crosses the Dniepr River south of Kiev and bridgeheads gradually emerge along it. Pacific, Papua New Guinea
Allied land and seaborne offensives begin against the Japanese on the Huon Peninsula. Sea War, Arctic
A raid by British midget submarines to destroy the German battle squadron at Altenfiord in Norway cripples the battleship Tirpitz. The submarines, however, are unable to attack the battlecruiser Scharnhorst as it is at sea, and the pocket battleship Lützow could not be found. The three midget submarines involved in the attack on the Tirpitz are sunk. September 22-23
Mediterranean, Italy
The Eighth Army's 78th Division lands at Bari. British forces then advance to seize Foggia and its valuable airfield five days later. September 23
Politics, Italy
Benito Mussolini announces the formation of the Italian Social Republic in northwest Italy. Germany, however, is given control of some northern areas by this 'republic.' September 25
Eastern Front, Soviet Union
The Soviets recapture Smolensk in their continuing offensive. Germany's Army Group Center is now falling back in some disarray. prev | next |
