August 21st, 1939 (MONDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM:
Pocket battleship Graf Spee leaves Wilhelmshaven for the South Atlantic. (Alex Gordon)
U.S.S.R.:
Drax and Doumenc decide to dispense with Polish permission and on the responsibility of
their own governments allow Soviet forces to enter Poland. Marshal Voroshilov (knowing of
Ribbentrop's impending arrival) postpones indefinitely any continuation of
Anglo-French-Soviet talks.
Khalkin-Gol: 6th Tank and 8th Motorised Armour brigades envelope the Japanese flank and
occupy the area in the rear of the Japanese forces active south of the Khailstyn-Gol
River. Southern group infantry units drive a deep wedge into the Japanese main defensive
zone, destroying his close-in tactical reserves and capturing several artillery positions.
Red Air Force bombers make 256 sorties and drop 90 tons of bombs.
VATICAN CITY: The Pope appeals for world
peace.
U.S.A.: Strong
sends memo to Chief of Staff reminding him that a final decision on Philippine
defenses needed to be made. No
action was taken.