August 25th, 1941 (MONDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: London: In his broadcast this evening, Churchill accused the
Germans of perpetrating the wholesale massacre of civilians in occupied Soviet
territories. "Whole districts are being exterminated," Churchill said.
"Since the Mongol invasions of Europe in the 16th century there has never
been methodical, merciless butchery on such a scale. We are in the presence of a
crime without a name."
Churchill made no mention of Jews beings the main victims; to have done so would
have let the Germans know that British intelligence is intercepting secret
reports to Berlin from the Nazi extermination squads in the field. These
conscientiously list the locations and numbers of those shot and thrown into
ditches, often several thousand at a time.
The production of the Handley Page Halifax heavy bomber has now been subcontracted to to a number of firms, including English Electric at Preston, Rootes at Speke, Fairey at Stockport and the London Aircraft Production Group. The first of these aircraft, a MK II (V 9976), flies today. (22)
Minelayer HMS Welshman commissioned.
Corvette HMS Loosestrife launched.
NORTH SEA: The German submarine U-452 is sunk in the southeast of Iceland, in position 61.30N, 15.30W, by depth charges from the RN antisubmarine trawler HMS Vascama and depth charges from an RAF Catalina J of No. 209 Squadron based at Reykjavik, Iceland. All hands, 42-men, on the U-boat are lost.
GERMANY: Rastenburg: In talks with Mussolini, Hitler rails against Spain's refusal to join the war. Count Galeazzo Ciano, son-in-law and Foreign Minister is also in attendance. Also today, Hitler receives Count Hiroshi Oshima, the Japanese ambassador, for consultation. Film
U-313, U-314,
U-315,
U-316,
U-367,
U-368,
U-369,
U-370,
U-399,
U-400,
U-429,
U-430,
U-681,
U-682,
U-683,
U-719,
U-720,
U-721,
U-722,
U-747,
U-748,
U-749,
U-750,
U-865,
U-866,
U-867,
U-868,
U-869,
U-870,
U-871,
U-872,
U-873,
U-874,
U-875,
U-876,
U-925,
U-926,
U-927,
U-928,
U-1059,
U-1060,
U-1061,
U-1062,
U-1131,
U-1132,
U-1161,
U-1162,
U-1191,
U-1192,
U-1193,
U-1194,
U-1195,
U-1196,
U-1197,
U-1198,
U-1221,
U-1222,
U-1223,
U-1224,
U-1225,
U-1226 ordered
U-333 commissioned.
FINLAND: A sudden counter-attack by two Soviet divisions stops the advance of Light Brigade T north-east of Viipuri. The brigade commander Col. Tiiainen is lethally wounded and the brigade is forced back. After two days of intense fighting the 12nd ID manages to stop the Soviet attack.
Saukko collides with German S 28 off Helsinki and must remain in dock for almost the rest of the sailing season.
U.S.S.R.: The Bryansk front commander, General Eremenko, tells Stalin, "I will smash this scoundrel Guderian, no doubt about it."
General Heinz Guderian commander of the 2nd Panzer Army launches his forces south to encircle Kiev. (Jeff Chrisman)
U-752 sank Soviet minesweeper T-898/No 44 (ex-RT 411).
SPITZBERGEN: Small British-Canadian force destroys radio and weather stations and coal supplies to destroy anything of use to the Germans.
IRAN: The
British land troops at Bandar Shapur, Abadan and Khoramshahr, Iran. The Soviets
move into Iran with one column advancing on Tabriz, which is bombed. Two
additional Soviet columns are advancing around the Caspian Sea.
Iran had been invaded, its prime minister, Ali Mansur, told the Mejlis
[parliament] this afternoon, by Soviet columns from the north and British ones
from the south. There are condemnations from all over the Middle East.
The attack began in the early hours of this morning. While Soviet columns under
General Novikov headed for Tabriz and Kazvin, Indian troops crowded onto
steamers and motor boats, silently approached the port of Abadan. Another force,
under Major-General Slim, crossed the border near Kermanshah. Iranian troops
have resisted, but apart from the gallant Admiral Bay Endor, who died at his
post, not much.
Since Britain and Russia divided Iran into two spheres of influence in 1908,
Iranians have looked to Germany to escape the Anglo-Russian vice. There are many
Germans in Iran, running posts, telegraphs and railways, as the Allies claim,
but most have been here for years.
As Iran is neutral the Allies have compromised that neutrality. Britain
justifies its action by its need for oil from Abadan, while the USSR needed a
supply route from the Persian Gulf.
CANADA: Corvette
HMCS Galt departed St John's with Convoy
SC-41 to Iceland.
Corvette HMCS Moose Jaw arrived St John's
to join NEF.
U.S.A.: Submarine USS Finback launched.