September 26th, 1941 (FRIDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: The Free French government in London under General de Gaulle signs an alliance with the Soviet Union.
U.S.S.R.: A few days after the occupation of Kiev, downtown buildings were blown, killing hundreds of members of the Wehrmacht. Today, SS and Wehrmacht officers meet and decide that as a reprisal the majority of the Jews in Kiev shall be killed.
In trial testimony long afterwards, a former SS officer at the meeting described the division of labor between the SS and Wehrmacht by saying that "We had to do the dirty work. I will never forget how ... [Brigadier General Kurt] Eberhard said to us in Kiev, '_You_ have to do the shooting'."[8] However, Wette continues, "not only did the general have no objections to the plan for the massacre as such, but, given the ongoing arson attacks, he was actively promoting it, as an SS report to Berlin confirms: 'The Wehrmacht welcomes the measures and requests a radical approach'" (p. 115). (246)
MEDITERRANEAN SEA: Admiral Angelo Iachino commands an Italian naval task force of 2 battleships, six cruisers and 14 destroyers to intercept the British convoy of Operation Halberd. The British convoy nine merchantmen, one aircraft carrier, three battleships, five cruisers and eighteen destroyers left Gibraltar on 24 September for Malta.
CHINA: Japanese forces encircle Changsha.
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: A Japanese diplomat in Davao, Mindanao, send the following message to Tokyo: “Upon my arrival to take up my post here, I heard the following report concerning Zamboanga: [a] Since last August American destroyer tenders, destroyers and submarines enter that port from the South Seas every Saturday. After they have lain at anchor for one or two days they leave again for the South. In summing up the statements of members of the crews of these boats, it appears that these warships ply the waters from Jolo [b] to Tawao [c] and Tarakan [d] on the island of Borneo.
U.S.A.: Washington: The U.S. Navy orders the protection
of all ships engaged in commerce in U.S. defensive waters--by patrolling,
covering, escorting, and by reporting or destroying the German and Italian naval
forces encountered.
The German Charge d'Affaires in Washington replies to the U.S. note of 19 September regarding reparations for the sinking of the US freighter SS Robin Moor. The Germans state that President Roosevelts address to Congress on 20 June and the State Department note on 19 September "are not such as to lead to an appropriate reply by my government."
The U.S. Army establishes the Military Police Corps.
Submarine USS Sunfish laid down.
Destroyers USS Hambleton and Rodman launched.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: Corvette
HMCS Brandon a Flower-class corvette, A/LCdr.
John Coldecott Littler RCNR CO, departed St. John's to join the close escort for
the 53-ship Sydney to Liverpool convoy SC-46. SC-46 arrived safely in Liverpool
on 10 Oct 41. Convoy SC-46, one of the most heavily attacked convoys of WW II,
attacked by 14 U-boats, which sank 15 ships, a total of 65,776 tons, U-boats
that scored or shared in kills were:
U-81;
U-82,
U-85,
U-98,
U-202,
U-207,
U-372,
U-432 and
U-652.
U-82 Kpt/Lt Siegried Rollmann
CO, sank 4 ships in this convoy.
U-124 sank SS Cervantes, SS
Lapwing and SS Petrel in Convoy HG-73.
U-203 sank SS Avoceta, SS
Cortes and SS Varangberg in Convoy HG-73.
U-66 sank SS IC White.
The completely ad hoc organization of the Newfoundland Escort Force led to the piecemeal generation and deployment of forces. Ships frequently sailed as singles or in small groups to join their convoys. This left dangerous windows where the escort force was depleted and disorganized. The lack of proper support facilities in St. John's was a problem that plagued the RCN throughout the war. The USN advance base at Argentia was soon supporting American, British and when space was available, Canadian escorts.