August 29th, 1943 (SUNDAY)
DENMARK: The Danish government of Prime Minister Erik Scavenius, resigns and the Danish Army is disbanded after the Danes refuse to yield to a German demand that saboteurs be executed. The majority of the Danish Navy, 1 coast defence ship, 9 submarines, a tender, 3 minesweepers and 4 minelayers, is scuttled at Copenhagen and a coast defence ship is scuttled at Isefjord. A patrol boat, 3 motor minesweepers and 9 small auxiliary vessels sortie to Sweden; the German capture 3 minesweepers and 2 patrol boats.
The Germans impose martial law and move in 50,000 troops.
At noon on 24 August a violent explosion wrecked the capital's Forum Hall, which was capable of holding 16,000 people.
Strikes and sabotage have become more and more frequent as news of Allied victories in Russia and southern Europe has spread. The Germans demanded the introduction of a curfew, press censorship and the death penalty for sabotage. The Danish government, backed by King Christian, rejected the demands.
In recent weeks, factories have been blown up, trains derailed and a power station in East Jutland wrecked. In the provincial capital of Odense, where strikes have shut factories, crowds have paraded in the streets singing patriotic songs, waving British and American flags and chanting "Long live the Allies."
U.S.S.R.: Lyubotin, just west of Kharkov, is liberated
by the Russians and Taganrog on the Sea of Azov is evacuated by German troops.
Black Sea Fleet and Azov
Flotilla: MS "Djalita"
- by U-18, at Poti area (Sergey Anisimov)(69)
ITALY: During the day, 39 Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) B-17 Flying Fortresses visually bomb the Orte marshalling yard, and B-26 Marauders bomb Torre Annunziata; Northwest African Tactical Air Force fighters escort the NASAF bombers, hit a rail junction at Bagnara, bridge and town of Angitola, gun positions in the Villa San Giovanni-Reggio di Calabria areas, and a marshalling yard at Lamezia.
During the night of 29/30 August, 73 RAF Liberators of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group visually bomb the marshalling yard at Torre Annunziata with the loss of one aircraft.
INDIAN OCEAN: Submarine HMS Trident missed training cruiser HIJMS Kashii off Sabang in the Strait of Malacca with a spread of eight torpedoes.
U.S.A.: Washington: Roosevelt warns Germany that its crimes against civilians in occupied Europe will be brought to account after the war. ("Trustworthy information has reached the United States Government regarding the crimes committed by the German invaders against the population of Poland. . . . The United States Government reaffirms its resolve to punish the instigators and perpetrators of these crimes. It further declares that so long as such atrocities continue to be committed by the representatives and in the name of Germany, they must be taken into account against the time of the final settlement with Germany." Bulletin, Vol. IX, No. 219, p. 150.)
The formation of USN combat units for the employment of assault drone aircraft began within the Training Task Force Command as the first of three Special Task Air Groups was established. The component squadrons, designated VK, began establishing on 23 October.
Destroyer escort USS Atherton commissioned.
Destroyer escorts USS Merrill and Snyder launched.
Destroyer USS Marshall launched.
Submarine USS Guavina launched.