October 9th, 1941 (THURSDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM:
Destroyer HMS Onslaught launched.
Destroyer HMS Southwold commissioned.
Trawler HMS Anticosti laid down.
GERMANY: Adolf Hitler announces that the war in the East, for all intents and purposes, has already been decided in favour of the Reich. Otto Dietrich, Chancellor Adolf Hitler's press chief, announces to war correspondents: "For all military purposes Soviet Russia is done with."
U.S.S.R.: Soviet Army reserves move into defensive positions on the direct approaches to Moscow. The 1st Guard Rifle Corps is committed at Mtsensk and temporarily stops the tanks of General Heinz Guederian's 2nd Panzer Army from moving closer to Moscow.
EUROPE: Turkey signs a trade treaty with Germany to supply raw materials in exchange for manufactured goods.
AUSTRALIA: Minesweeper HMAS Toowoomba commissioned.
U.S.A.: President Roosevelt asks Congress to allow US merchant ships to be armed and to repeal various sections of the Neutrality Act.
" I recommend the repeal of section 6 of the act of 4 November 1939, which prohibits the arming of American-flag ships engaged in foreign commerce."
The Japanese ambassador to the U.S. sends the following message to the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo: " This morning, the 9th, I called on (U.S. Secretary of State Cordell) Hull and relayed the matter contained in your instructions and at the same time brought up the points discussed at the White House on 3 September. The Secretary, in reply, merely repeated that non-discriminatory treatment should extend over the entire Pacific area. He added that geographical proximity, etc., could be interpreted in many ways. He said that he would have Ballantine and others make a detailed reply to me later after the papers I submitted were carefully perused and studied. (Hamilton and Ballantine are supposed to call on me this afternoon.) Referring to the matter of evacuating or stationing of troops in China, I carefully and in detail described the political situation in China from the Japanese viewpoint and pointed out that stationing of our troops in certain parts of China was absolutely essential. I requested that this point be given a reconsideration in this light."
The motion picture "Texas" is released today. Directed by George Marshall, this western stars Claire Trevor, William Holden, Glenn Ford and Edgar Buchanan. The plot has two Virginia buddies heading for Texas and then splitting up. Years later, one has become a cattle rustler and the other a cattleman. To add romance, both compete for Claire Trevor's affections.
Submarine USS Untamed laid down.
Heavy cruiser USS Quincy laid down.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: By chance U-71 met U-204, U-83 and U-372 some 500 miles off Spain.