Adolf Hitler appointed Heinrich Himmler as Reich Commissar for the protection of the German Race and issued a decree empowering Himmler to deport all Jews from Greater Germany to the east, where they would be resettled together with almost 2 million Polish Jews now under German rule. The resettlement of the population from the territories occupied by the Third Reich was closely related to the policy of Germanisation of these lands, which had been implemented on a large scale from the first days of the occupation. Its ultimate goal was to expand the so-called German living space (Lebensraum) and introduce a new ethnic order in Eastern Europe. In practice, this meant the settlement of the conquered territories of Germany.
In order to implement the expulsion campaign and to organize the settlement of Germans, numerous special offices and institutions were created. The central authority to direct and coordinate their work was the Reich Commissioner for the Consolidation of German Nationhood (Reichkommissar für die Festigung des deutschen Volkstums). The Reichsführer SS Heinrich Himmler was appointed as the Reich Commissioner for the Consolidation of German Nationhood by the decree of Adolf Hitler of 7 October 1939.
The German Army reported to Adolf Hitler that there was a general shortage of steel, ammunition, and other war materials necessary to wage war against Britain and France.
French Prime Minister Édouard Daladier rejected Adolf Hitler’s proposal for a multi-power conference for peace on the previous day.
On the Western Front, small German forces conduct raids of the French lines. There are artillery duels between the Moselle and Saar rivers.
The British Expeditionary Force completed its crossing to France. The transportation of the British Expeditionary Force is completed — without loss — under the protection of British and French naval forces. A total of about 161,000 troops, 24,000 vehicles and tanks and 140,000 tonnes of supplies have been delivered to France.
Pope Pius XII recognizes the Polish regime. He is seen as aligning the Vatican with Britain, France, and the United States against Hitler.
British actress Merle Oberon encourages all actresses to knit socks for the soldiers on the front.
The present version of the Spanish Air Force was officially established.
Agreements have been arranged between Rumania and Hungary to withdraw important contingents of troops concentrated on their mutual frontier.
It is now learned that Finland’s nervousness lest, with the approaching conclusion of a new Soviet pact with Lithuania, demands be made on her is justified. The Soviet Union has invited Finland to send a delegation to Moscow to discuss political and economic questions.
The inscrutable role that Russia is playing in the war was further emphasized today when it became known that, simultaneously with broad hints about possible action against Britain in India and Iraq, Russia is rapidly fortifying her military position along the entire Western Front from the Baltic to the Black Sea.
Operation Fish: British Royal Navy cruiser HMS Emerald set sail from Plymouth in convoy for Halifax, Nova Scotia, carrying £2M in gold bar to be used for purchase of military materiel in North America.
German armored ship Admiral Graf Spee stops and boards British freighter Ashlea in the South Atlantic at 09°00’S, 03°00’W, and after transferring her crew to Newton Beech, sinks Ashlea with demolition charges. All 35 crew were captured.
The Dutch steam merchant Binnendijk struck a mine and sank southeast of the Shambles Lightship in the English Channel. She sank one nautical mile (1.9 km; 1.2 mi) north of the lightship (50°32′N 2°20′W) early the next day. The wreck was dispersed on 10 October. Of the ship’s complement, all 42 survived. The 6,873-ton Binnendijk was carrying general cargo and oil and was bound for Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
The Dutch coaster Safe departed from Antwerp, Belgium for Riga but never arrived and was lost without a trace with all seven hands. She probably struck a mine in the North Sea around 10 October.
U.S. freighter Black Heron is detained by British authorities at Weymouth, England.
The War at Sea, Saturday, 7 October (naval-history.net)
Battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN departed Portsmouth at 0042, escorted by destroyers SALADIN and SCIMITAR and arrived at Devonport at 1240 to complete her refitting.
Destroyer ECHO departed Dover and arrived at Devonport on the 12th.
Destroyer ESKIMO arrived at Scapa Flow after repairs in the Tyne.
Battleships REVENGE, RESOLUTION and aircraft carrier HERMES, escorted by destroyers WOLVERINE, WITHERINGTON, VOLUNTEER and VERITY departed Portland at 0930, and light cruisers EMERALD, ENTERPRISE, CARADOC, escorted by destroyers INGLEFIELD and IVANHOE, departed Plymouth, all on 7th. At 1910/7th both forces rendezvoused for passage to Halifax for escort duty. CARADOC had been at Plymouth since 25 September repairing defects prior to leaving station. Her refit completed on the 6th.
HERMES and CARADOC proceeded to Brest and en route, HERMES was met by French destroyers BOURRASQUE, ORAGE, and MISTRAL, which had also departed Brest on the 7th. The French ships arrived back on the 8th.
CARADOC rejoined the force at 0735/10th, and all ships arrived safely at Halifax on the 16th escorted into port by Canadian destroyers FRASER and ST LAURENT which joined on the 15th. In addition to their convoy escort duties, REVENGE and RESOLUTION were carrying a large amount of British silver for safekeeping in Canada. The Halifax Escort Force was commanded by Rear Admiral L E Holland who was relieved by Rear Admiral Stuart S Bonham-Carter on 1 January 1940. From Halifax, the Force could offer convoy protection in the Western Atlantic.
French battleship STRASBOURG and destroyers LE FANTASQUE, LE TERRIBLE and L’AUDACIEUX left Brest, still on the 7th, to join HERMES for operations as Hunter Group N and set out that evening for Dakar. Heavy cruisers ALGÉRIE and DUPLEIX joined en route and Group N arrived at Dakar on the 14th, where after refueling, the Force was due to proceed to the West Indies.
Anti-aircraft cruiser CALCUTTA departed Grimsby on escort duties and arrived back the same day.
Destroyer WREN attacked a submarine contact in 50 36N, 00 14W, off Brighton.
Convoy OA.16G of 27 ships departed Southend, escorted by destroyer ECHO from the 7th to 9th, and merged with OB.16G escorted by destroyer VIMY and patrol ship/minesweeper GLEANER to the 10th, on the 11th to form OG.2. This convoy reached Gibraltar on the 17th.
French patrol vessel BELFORT attacked a submarine six miles 100° from Cape Barfleur, Cherbourg.
Minesweepers SELKIRK and NIGER sweeping mines 35 miles ENE of Cromer were strafed by German flying boats, but were not damaged.
Dutch steamer BINNENDIJK (6873grt) was badly damaged two miles SE of Shambles Light Vessel on a mine laid by U-26 on 8 September. She sank one mile north of the Light Vessel at 0200/8th.
On the 7th, the Admiralty ordered the 4th Destroyer Flotilla, anti-aircraft cruiser COVENTRY, and sloops FLEETWOOD and GRIMSBY, now serving in the Mediterranean to sail for Portland with moderate dispatch.
Meanwhile, light cruiser GALATEA and destroyers MOHAWK, AFRIDI, GURKHA, SIKH had departed Alexandria on the 1st on patrol. The destroyers called at Malta in turn to refuel, in order AFRIDI, SIKH, MOHAWK, GURKHA. In addition, SIKH entered the dockyard at Malta on the 5th for turbine repairs. MOHAWK departed Malta on the 7th and Gibraltar on the 9th to return to England, reached Portland on the 11th, refueled at Harwich and arrived at Humber on the 12th to join Rosyth Command.
GALATEA departed Malta on the 7th for Alexandria, arriving on the 10th. AFRIDI and GURKHA reached Malta on the 7th, left next day en route to England, departed Gibraltar on the 10th and arrived at Portland on the 13th for duty with the Home Fleet.
COSSACK, MAORI, ZULU, NUBIAN arrived at Alexandria on the 2nd from escorting convoy Green 2, and after refueling left Alexandria on the 7th for Malta. COVENTRY left Alexandria on the 7th and arrived at Malta on the 9th. All five ships then sailed from Malta on the 9th, arrived at Gibraltar on the 11th and left the same day, arriving at Portland on the 14th without NUBIAN which reached Portsmouth the same day.
COVENTRY departed Portland on the 14th, and arrived at Portsmouth that night, left on the 19th for the Humber and reached Immingham on the 20th. COSSACK, MAORI, ZULU departed Portland immediately after refueling and proceeded to the North Sea for escort duties.
FLEETWOOD departed Gibraltar on the 7th and arrived at Portland on the 11th. GRIMSBY was with convoy Blue 3, arrived at Gibraltar on the 11th and departed that day for Portland. In 36-02N, 6-50W, she attacked a submarine contact.
German pocket battleship ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE sank steamer ASHLEA (4222grt) in the South Atlantic in 09S, 03W after the crew was put aboard captured steamer NEWTON BEECH.
Heavy cruiser BERWICK called at Bermuda, departed again the same day, and arrived back on the 18th.
Light cruiser LIVERPOOL departed Colombo and arrived at Bombay on the 9th.
Convoy SL.4 departed Freetown escorted by light cruiser NEPTUNE, and on the 23rd was joined by destroyers MACKAY, VENETIA, VESPER and VIMY.
VESPER was relieved by destroyer WIVERN on the 25th and the convoy arrived on the 26th, still with four destroyers.
Light cruiser DANAE departed Capetown on escort duties.
French submarines FRESNEL, LE GLORIEUX and REDOUTABLE departed Toulon and arrived at Gibraltar on the 10th escorted by destroyer LA RAILLEUSE. They departed that day, escorted by destroyer LYNX and arrived at Casablanca on the 13th. LA RAILLEUSE left Gibraltar on the 11th to return to Toulon.
German trawler SKOLPENBANK (381grt) was lost.
A survey of opinion by Administration leaders in the Senate during today’s lull in sessions devoted to the Neutrality Bill led Senator Pittman, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, to predict that the bill would be passed without amendment and on its way to the House by the end of next week. “Of course, there is not, and will not be, any disposition to limit any Senator who desires to discuss the bill,” he said. “But the indication is that the desire by Senators to discuss it is not very intense. In the circumstances, I should think there would be a final vote not later than the end of next week.
“It seems to me that the votes of those in favor of the bill having increased instead of decreased during debate, it must be obvious not only to those opposing the bill but also to the people of the country, that it is inevitable the bill will be carried by at least a 2-to-1 vote. Therefore, there can be no good reason why there should be any delay.” Neither a prospect of peace nor an armistice would affect the program, he added, speaking in relation to Chancellor Hitler’s speech yesterday. A halt in the war “would not have the slightest effect on the bill one way or the other,” he told reporters, adding, “I do not see how the termination of war could stop it; the existence of war only makes it urgent.”
Senator Pittman, who also is acting majority leader of the Senate, talked with news reporters after a two-hour closed session in which a few members of the Foreign Relations Committee met informally with Rear Admiral Emory S. Land, retired chairman of the Maritime Commission, to discuss the probable effect on American merchant shipping of that provision of the Neutrality Bill forbidding them to trade with belligerent nations or operate in danger zones. This meeting was prompted by a request by a group of Senators led by Senator Bailey, chairman of the Commerce Committee. According to Senator Pittman, who was sole spokesman for the group, Admiral Land stated that the new measure would mean “quite a loss” in tonnage, a loss which Senator Pittman contended would be largely counterbalanced by increases in South American and Pacific shipping.
Those who attended the meeting, in addition to the chairman and the Maritime Commission head, were Senators Thomas of Utah, Connally, George, Pepper, Wagner and Green, as well as Senator Bailey, who was present by courtesy. “Certain Senators, not members of this committee, are rather taking issue,” Senator Pittman said, “with a statement I made in my speech that while, of course, there would be sacrifices of our merchant marine, in my opinion it would not be as great as anticipated by some.”
Indications of official coolness toward Chancellor Hitler’s armistice proposal were increased in Washington today when President Roosevelt authorized the announcement that he had nothing whatever to say about Berlin suggestions that Germany would be agreeable to a truce if the President called it.
The U.S. State Department announces that the United States government will continue to recognize the Polish government-in-exile, presently located at Angers in France.
Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating reports of sabotage aboard the 32,600-ton battleship USS Arizona, flagship of Rear Admiral Russell Willson, commander of Battleship Division One, it was disclosed today by J. Edgar Hoover, head of the FBI. Navy officials here refused to comment on persistent rumors that some of the Arizona’s machinery and water tanks had been damaged and that there had been a “casualty” among her crew of 1,350 while the vessel, with eight other battleships, was on a gunnery training run this week in the San Clemente Island drill area.
Amid the virtual wartime secrecy surrounding the case, Mr. Hoover was the first government official to admit that his staff was under orders to determine if there had been any sabotage, but he declined to go into details, explaining that whatever had happened aboard the Arizona was “one of those things I can’t discuss.” In connection with the investigation, shore leave to all members of the ship’s crew was canceled today and all of her men ashore at the time were ordered back to the Arizona.
Commanded by Captain Isaac C. Kidd, the battleship left the harbor last Monday on the training run, on which there was no firing, and returned to her anchorage at San Pedro yesterday on schedule. When asked about the sabotage rumors, Captain Kidd said that he knew nothing of any trouble aboard. The two navy mortuaries in the harbor area, one at San Pedro and the other at Long Beach, reported that they had not received a fatality from any service ship. The only comment coming from Admiral Claude C. Bloch, Commander in Chief of the United States Fleet, was that the navy’s general policy is not to discuss such matters as sabotage or espionage in advance of a thorough investigation.
The largest peacetime concentration of the regular army in history was ordered today by Harry H. Woodring, Secretary of War, in setting in motion a plan which will put all the mobile combat troops of the regular forces in the field for intensive training over a period of months in the South and West.
The government would make progress toward becoming a model employer if it would enact the five-day and thirty-five-hour week for government employees and pay them a minimum of $35 a week, William Green, president of the American Federation of Labor, told the Allied Council of Federal Employes tonight. Speaking at a dinner in his honor, Mr. Green outlined his reasons why government employees should organize but asserted that they could not strike “because a strike of government employees would be a strike against the people of the United States and that would be intolerable.”
A sweeping drive to “purge” the American Labor party organization in New York County of all Communists, Communist sympathizers and Communist elements was ordered yesterday by the official party organization.
The House committee investigating un-Americanism began an inquiry today into the Spanish Refugee Relief Campaign, of which Secretary Ickes was described as honorary chairman. Officials said the committee was trying to determine whether the campaign was part of the “Communist Front.”
Officials at Fort Dix test chemical warfare. Three hundred officers see demonstrations of smoke screens and gases.
Fritz Kuhn, leader of the German-American Bund, a prisoner in the Tombs in New York since September 29, was released at 3:50 o’clock this afternoon, after his lawyer had posted $50,000 cash bail.
Anticipating a prolonged European war, the French Line has prepared for the possibility of keeping the Normandie, the largest and costliest luxury liner afloat, in the neutral port of New York for two or three years, it was learned during an inspection tour of the $50,000,000 vessel.
Fighting to retain her pilot’s license, Miss Laura Ingalls today told the Civil Aeronautics Authority that she did not know she was violating regulations when she flew over the Capitol recently to drop anti-war leaflets from her plane.
An Ansonia, Connecticut man trapped for nine hours at the bottom of a forty-foot well when its walls collapsed, was pulled from the debris tonight by firemen and other rescue workers.
Selected College football scores:
Alabama 7, Fordham 6
Arkansas 14, Texas Christian 13
Army 9, Centre 6
Brown 20, Amherst 14
Carnegie Tech 6, Temple 0
C.C.N.Y. 19, Buffalo 0
Cornell 19, Syracuse 6
Dartmouth34, Hampden-Sydney 6
Duke 37, Colgate 0
Harvard 20, Bates 0
Iowa 32, Indiana 29
Kentucky 21, Vanderbilt 13
Louisiana State 26, Holy Cross 7
Manhattan 6, St. Bonaventure 0
Michigan 26, Michigan State 13
Navy 14, Virginia 12
Nebraska 6, Minnesota 0
N.Y.U. 43, Penn M.C. 0
Notre Dame 17, Georgia Tech 14
Ohio State 19, Missouri 0
Oklahoma 23, Northwestern 0
Oregon 10, Stanford 0
Pennsylvania 6, Lafayette 0
Penn State 13, Bucknell 3
Pittsburgh 20, West Virginia 0
Princeton 26, Williams 6
St. Mary’s 7, California 3
Southern California 27, Washington State 0
Texas 17, Wisconsin 7
Tulane 12, Auburn 0
UCLA 14, Washington 7
Yale 10, Columbia 7
In Chicago’s City Series, Hank Lieber belts a two-on, 2-out 9th inning homer to lead the Cubs to a 5–3 win, and give the Cubs a 3–1 series edge. The Sox win the next 3 to take the Windy City bragging rights.
The World Series resumes with Game Three at Crosley Field in Cincinnati, and Yankee power proves too much for the Reds, who collect ten singles. Bump Hadley pitches well enough in relief of Lefty Gomez to wrap up a 7–3 victory. Yankees outfielder Charlie Keller hits 2 homers, and DiMaggio and Dickey also connect. Keller becomes the first rookie to hit two home runs in the same World Series game. Junior Thompson is the loser. Charlie Keller’s two-run home run the first off of Gene “Junior” Thompson put the Yankees up 2–0. In the bottom half, three consecutive two-out singles, the last an RBI one by Ernie Lombardi, cut the lead to 2–1. Yankees’ starter Lefty Gomez left after that inning. In the second, Bump Hadley allowed four singles, the last two of which to Billy Werber and Ival Goodman scoring a run each, but in the third, Joe DiMaggio’s two-run home run after a two-out walk to Keller put the Yankees back in front 4–3. They added to their lead in the fifth on Keller’s two-run home run and Bill Dickey’s home run to knock Thompson out of the game. Their 7–3 win left them one win away from the championship.
China celebrates the Changsha victory. The biggest single gain of war is considered to be won against the Japanese. The Chinese today reported that they were completing the mopping up of Japanese forces at all points south of the Hsinchiang River, seventy-five miles north of Changsha. It is maintained that the Chinese will soon have regained all the territory occupied by the Japanese in the recent offensive against Changsha. Chungking continues its celebrations of the Hunan victory. Banners and slogans bedeck the city and huge parades and mass gatherings are planned for the national holiday on Tuesday.
The Japanese Army announced today that it had captured Chungshan, birthplace of Sun Yat-sen, Father of the Chinese Republic, which has great sentimental value in the eyes of the Chinese. Similar efforts a year ago were repulsed.
The Japanese reported today a victory over Chinese forces at Siushui in Kiangsi Province. They said that they defeated ten Chinese divisions commanded by Generals Fan Sung-wu and Wang Ling-chi. The Chinese, the Domei agency said, left 6,800 bodies on the battlefield and lost 1,019 prisoners. The Japanese said they had captured six trench mortars, seven heavy machine guns, fifty-two light machine guns and 994 rifles.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 149.6 (-1.01)
Born:
John O’Donoghue, MLB pitcher (All-Star, 1965; Kansas City A’s, Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Pilots-Milwaukee Brewers, Montreal Expos), in Kansas City, Missouri.
Phil Ortega, MLB pitcher (Los Angeles Dodgers, Washington Senators, California Angels), in Gilbert, Arizona.
Don Thompson, NFL defensive end (Baltimore Colts, Philadelphia Eagles), in Danville, Virginia.
Colin Cooper, British vocalist and harmonica player (Climax Blues Band – “Couldn’t Get It Right”), in Stafford, England, United Kingdom (d. 2008).
Mel Brown, American-Canadian blues guitarist and singer (Eighteen Pounds of Unclean Chitlings), in Jackson, Mississippi (d. 2009).
Joel Brodsky, American photographer, created over 400 album covers (The Doors; Isaac Hayes; Ohio Players), in Brooklyn, New York, New Yrok (d. 2007).
Clive James, writer and television personality, in Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia (d. 2019).
John Hopcroft, computer scientist, in Seattle, Washington.
Harry Kroto, chemist and Nobel laureate, in Wisbech, England, United Kingdom (d. 2016).
Died:
Harvey Cushing, 70, American neurosurgeon.
Naval Construction:
The Sjøforsvaret (Royal Norwegian Navy) minesweeping trawler HNoMS Nordhav II (FY 1906) is commissioned.
The Royal Indian Navy auxiliary patrol vessel HMIS Rukmavati (FY 075) is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is T/Lieutenant Guy William Patrick O’Donoghue, RINR.
The Royal Indian Navy auxiliary patrol vessel HMIS Sophie Marie is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is T/Lieutenant Harold James Gahan, RINR.
[After years scorned in the political wilderness, Churchill has been proven right about Hitler, and has become one of the most popular figures in Parliament.]
History Diaries 