September 5 Western Front, France US Third Army spearheads cross the Meuse River. General Karl von Rundstedt is made Commander-in-Chief West by Hitler with orders to counterattack the Allies and split their armies apart. However, his resources for such an undertaking are scant. Eastern Front, Bulgaria After declaring war on the country, Red Army units invade rapidly and reach Turnu Severin. The Soviet Union's leadership is planning to occupy the entire Balkans. September 8 Politics, Bulgaria Bulgaria declares war on Germany. Air War, Manchuria China-based B-29 Superfortress bombers make their first daylight raid against Japanese industrial targets at Anshan. September 8-13 Western Front, Belgium/Holland The British 50th Division crosses the Albert Canal at Gheel. On the 10th, the British Guards Armored Division advances to De Groot. Three days later, the British 15th Division crosses the Meuse-Escaut Canal. September 8-25 Eastern Front, Slovakia The Soviet 1st and 4th Ukrainian Fronts begin their attacks on the Dukla Pass, the key to the Carpathian Mountain barrier separating the Red Army from Eastern Slovakia. It will take the Soviets until the end of November to clear the Carpathians. September 10-14 Eastern Front, Poland Despite Stalin's refusal to aid the hardpressed Warsaw insurgents, units of Marshal Konstantin Rokossovsky's 1st Belorussian Front attack Praga, the east bank quarter of the city. Fighting is savage, and it is not until the 14th that the area is freed from German control. prev | next |