October 4th, 1942 (SUNDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: Channel Islands: Last night British commandos launched a raid on Sark.
GERMANY: Reichsmarschall Göring says: "This war is not the Second World War: this is the War of the Races. Whether we, the Germanic and Aryan men, or the Jew rule the world - that is the final issue."
Adolf Hitler states that occupied countries must make up the food shortage caused by the Allied blockade.
U.S.S.R.: The 4th major offensive of Paulus German forces at Stalingrad begins. Their street fighting capabilities have been strengthened with the addition of police and combat-engineer units. This will be the longest of the German offensives and will result in the fiercest fighting. The Soviets have prepared the ground better, attempting to funnel the German drives into specially prepared "killing fields". The end result of this offensive will be to seriously deplete the Germans in both morale and reserves.
NEW GUINEA: Australian forces continue to advance along the Kokoda Trail capturing Effogi; natives report that the Japanese have retreated to Kokoda. Australian troops complete the drop zone at Nauro located 7.6 miles (12,2 kilometers) south of Efogi.
Fifth Air Force P-40s strafe forces and occupied areas at Myola Lake, Kokoda, Wairopi, Yodda, and Buna; a US reconnaissance party from the 126th Infantry Regiment, 32d Infantry Division reaches Jauri, completing a reconnaissance of the Kapa Kapa-Jauri trail, which is found to be difficult but practicable for use as a route in a contemplated offensive against the Buna-Gona area.
PACIFIC OCEAN: The U.S. tanker SS Camden is sunk by Japanese submarine HIJMS I-25 about 34 nautical miles (62 kilometers) west-northwest of North Bend, Oregon, at position 43.42N, 124.52W.
TERRITORY OF ALASKA: ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: Three Eleventh Air Force B-24 Liberators abort weather, bombing and photo missions over Kiska Island due to weather and instead attack a cargo vessel; the ship's rudder is probably damaged.
U.S.A.: Baseball!Off the coast of the U.S., the American tanker SS Camden is torpedoed by Japanese submarine HIJMS I-25 off the coast of Oregon, at position 43°42'N, 124°52'W, and is abandoned.
Destroyer USS Evans launched.
Minesweeper USS Usage launched.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-175 sank SS Caribstar.