CBI - China: Day 15 of 154 of the Japanese Invasion of Manchuria.
1936 — , October 2
Spain: Day 78 of 985 of the Spanish Civil War.
1937 — , October 2
Spain: Day 443 of 985 of the Spanish Civil War.
CBI - China: Day 88 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
Day 51 of 106 of the 2nd Battle of Shanghai.
Day 32 of 70 of the Battle of Taiyuan.
1938 — , October 2
Spain: Day 808 of 985 of the Spanish Civil War.
CBI - China: Day 453 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
Day 114 of 139 of the Battle of Wuhan.
1939 — , October 2
US: Contrary to its formal state of neutrality, the US issues the "Declaration of Panama" which creates a 300 mile "safety belt" around the Americas.
Spotlight...
The 300 mile "safety belt" declared by the US
More than two years prior to the US entering the war, many actions, such as the creation of this 300 mile safety zone, were clearly made to Britain's advantage, as United States naval ships escorted convoys bound for Europe within it.
On 18 Apr 41, Roosevelt extended the Pan-American Security Zone even further east to 2,300 miles east of New York and just 58 miles short of Iceland. Germany certainly didn't like this "cheating" but instructed the Kriegsmarine to avoid hostile acts against US ships so as not to give cause for a declaration of war.
Poland: Day 32 of 36 of Germany's Invasion of Poland. The first Poles are imprisoned in Warsaw. Some 100,000 people will undergo Nazi interrogations here, of whom 37,000 will be executed and 60,000 sent to concentration camps.
Poland: Day 16 of 20 of the USSR's Invasion of Poland.
CBI - China: Day 818 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
Day 20 of 26 of the 1st Battle of Changsha. Results in a Chinese victory.
1940 — , October 2
ETO - UK: Day 27 of 258 of the Blitz.
ETO - UK: Day 85 of 114 of the Battle of Britain.
East Africa: Day 115 of 537 of Italy's East African campaign in the lands south of Egypt.
CBI - China: Day 1,184 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
Day 323 of 381 of the Battle of South Guangxi.
CBI - Thailand: Day 2 of 221 of the Franco-Thai War (Vichy France vs Thailand).
1941 — , October 2
Russian Front - Finland: Day 96 of 142 of Operation SILVER FOX, a joint German-Finnish campaign to capture the Russian port of Murmansk in the Arctic.
Russian Front - Finland: Day 94 of 140 of Operation ARCTIC FOX, a joint German-Finnish campaign against Soviet Northern Front defenses at Salla, Finland.
Russian Front - Finland: Day 103 of 164 of the Battle of Hanko. The Soviets will be forced off their leased naval base.
Russian Front: Day 103 of 167 of Germany's Operation BARBAROSSA.
Russian Front - North: Day 25 of 872 of the Siege of Leningrad.
Russian Front - Center: Day 1 of 98 of the Battle of Moscow. As part of Operation TYPHOON, Panzer Group 2 continues its offensive against Moscow ahead of the rest of Army Group Centre and advances toward Orel.
[+] show related dates
Battle of Moscow related dates...
02 Oct 41: Day 1 of 98
Panzer Group 2 advances toward Moscow ahead of rest of Army Group Centre
Russian Front - South: Day 56 of 70 of the Siege of Odessa, Ukraine.
Russian Front - South: Day 7 of 12 of the Battle of the Sea of Azov (north of Black Sea).
MTO - Libya: Day 176 of 256 of the Siege of Tobruk.
East Africa: Day 480 of 537 of Italy's East African campaign in the lands south of Egypt.
CBI - China: Day 1,549 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
Day 27 of 33 of the 2nd Battle of Changsha.
1942 — , October 2
ETO: US 8th Air Force bombers attack airfields in France.
Russian Front - North: Day 390 of 872 of the Siege of Leningrad.
Russian Front - North: Day 151 of 658 of the Siege of the Kholm Pocket, USSR lays siege to the Kholm Pocket but the Germans hold out for a about a year and a half.
Russian Front - South: Day 97 of 150 of Germany's CASE BLUE, the failed offensive to take the Caucasus oil fields.
Russian Front - South: Day 41 of 165 of the Battle of Stalingrad, bloodiest battle in human history.
East Africa: Day 151 of 186 of the Battle of Madagascar.
CBI - China: Day 1,914 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
PTO - Alaska: Day 118 of 435 of the Battle of Kiska, Aleutian Islands. The US and Canada will defeat the Japanese invaders.
PTO - Malaya: Day 226 of 357 of the Battle of Timor Island, a long guerrilla war ending in Japanese victory.
PTO - New Guinea: Day 74 of 119 of the Battle of the Kokoda Track. The Australians continue pushing back the Japanese troops.
PTO - Solomon Islands: Day 57 of 187 of the Battle of Guadalcanal.
1943 — , October 2
USA: Having lost many players to military service, two National Football League teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Philadelphia Eagles, temporarily merge their teams as the "Steagles" for the 1943 season.
Spotlight...
Program cover for the 0ct 9, 1943, Steagles vs Giants game
The NFL's official record book refers to the team as "Phil-Pitt Combine," but the unofficial name "Steagles," despite never being registered by the National Football League, has become the enduring moniker.
Most of the young men who were of the age to play professional football were also of the age to fight for their country. 600 NFL players joined the armed forces. The 1943 NFL Draft didn't go well, as most players drafted went off to the war instead of joining NFL teams.
Feeling that the country at war still needed entertainment and sports were a much-needed diversion, President Franklin D Roosevelt issued an inspirational message focused on the importance of Major League Baseball to Americans' morale. He made no mention of football, during that 15 Jan 42 address, as baseball far surpassed football in popularity at the time.
However, at its 1943 annual spring meeting, the NFL decided to follow baseball's lead and continue play. Other football leagues, such as the 1940-41 American Football League, Dixie League and the American Association, decided to suspend operations instead, leaving the NFL and its West Coast counterpart, the Pacific Coast Professional Football League, as the only leagues playing professional football at the time.
The next season, 1944, the NFL was back on solid footing. The Army had declared that it had enough soldiers and men over 26 years of age would not be drafted.
Dates related to sports...
22 Jun 38: Joe Louis defeats Max Schmeling with TKO in the first round
01 Jan 42: Attack fears moves Rose Bowl game to the east coast
15 Jan 42: FDR writes "Green Light Letter" to Baseball Commissioner
18 May 42: New York City suspends night baseball games for rest of the war
02 Oct 43: Steelers and Eagles merge as the "Steagles" for 1943 season
ETO: RAF launches a very heavy air raid on Munich, which lasts 25 minutes.
ETO: US 8th Air Force: B-17s bomb Emden, Germany while B-24s hit airfields in France.
Russian Front - North: Day 755 of 872 of the Siege of Leningrad.
Russian Front - North: Day 516 of 658 of the Siege of the Kholm Pocket. USSR lays siege to the Kholm Pocket but the Germans hold out for a about a year and a half.
Russian Front - North: Day 7 of 15 of the USSR Kremenchug Offensive into Estonia.
Russian Front - Center: Day 57 of 57 of the 2nd Battle of Smolensk, Russia. The Soviets have liberated Smolensk, Roslavl and Dukhovshchina. The Axis has been completely cleared from the Moscow region.
Russian Front - Center: Day 47 of 48 of the Battle of Bryansk, Russia. Soviet victory as the Germans continue to retreat.
Russian Front - South: Day 40 of 122 of the Battle of the Lower Dnieper River, USSR.
MTO - Italy: British 2nd Special Service Brigade lands at Termoli on east coast and links up with troops moving north from Foggia. US 12th Air Force provides air support.
CBI - China: Day 2,279 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
PTO - New Guinea: Day 14 of 219 of the Battle of Shaggy Ridge. Australian 9th Division captures Finschhafen.
PTO - New Guinea: Day 11 of 162 of the Battle of the Huon Peninsula. Will result in an Allied victory.
PTO - Solomon Islands: Day 49 of 56 of the Battle of Vella Lavella.
1944 — , October 2
ETO - France: Day 63 of 284 of the Battle of Brittany.
ETO - Belgium: Day 31 of 62 of the liberation of Belgium.
ETO - Belgium: Day 1 of 38 of the Battle of the Scheldt Estuary.
ETO - France: Day 18 of 236 of the Siege of Dunkirk.
ETO - Germany: Day 14 of 145 of the Battle of Hürtgen Forest.
Russian Front - Finland: Day 18 of 223 of the Lapland War. Finland and Russia have joined forces to kick the Germans out of Finland's most northern province.
Russian Front - North: Day 19 of 41 of the Battle of Riga, Latvia.
Russian Front - Center: Day 19 of 72 of the Battle into East Prussia and northern Poland.
Russian Front - Center: After 63-day siege, the Polish Home Army surrenders Warsaw to the Germans who, in recognizing their valor, treat the survivors as regular POWs.
Russian Front - South: Day 19 of 72 of the Battle of Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
MTO - Italy: US 12th Air Force: A-20s bomb targets of opportunity in the Po Valley.
CBI - Burma: Day 185 of 302 of the Chinese Salween Offensive in Burma.
CBI - China: Day 2,645 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
Day 169 of 259 of Japan's Operation ICHI-GO.
PTO - New Guinea: Day 293 of 597 of the Battle of New Britain.
PTO - New Guinea: Day 164 of 481 of the Battle of Western New Guinea.
PTO - Palau Islands: Day 18 of 74 of the Battle of Peleliu (Operation STALEMATE II).
PTO - Palau Islands: Day 16 of 36 of the Battle of Angaur.
1945 — , October 2
Germany: General Patton is removed from command for remarks that were allegedly sympathetic to former Nazis.
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Patton related dates...
04 Apr 41: Promoted to Major General (shows full promotions table)
06 Mar 43: Named the commanding officer of the US II Corps
Spotlight...
