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Major Events of September 1942: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from September 1942 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of September 1942: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Sep 1942 Battle for Stalingrad Intensifies: The German 4th Panzer Army launched a significant attack against the Soviet 64th Army in the southern suburbs of Stalingrad, marking an escalation in one of World War II's most critical battles.
  • 02 Sep 1942 German Invasion of Stalingrad Begins: German troops entered the strategically crucial city of Stalingrad, marking the start of one of the most significant and brutal battles of World War II. This moment would become a turning point in the Eastern Front, ultimately leading to a decisive Soviet victory.
  • 03 Sep 1942 Lakhva Ghetto Uprising: During World War II, Dov Lopatyn led a courageous Jewish resistance uprising in the Lakhva Ghetto in Belarus, in response to the impending Nazi liquidation of the Jewish population.
  • 04 Sep 1942 Holocaust Transport to Nazi Germany: Transport #28 departed from France, carrying Jewish civilians to concentration camps in Nazi Germany as part of the systematic deportation and persecution of Jewish people during the Holocaust. This event represents a tragic moment in the systematic genocide conducted by the Nazi regime.
  • 05 Sep 1942 Tragic Liquidation of Wolbrom's Jewish Community: In a horrific act of Nazi persecution, the Jewish community of Wolbrom, Poland was forcibly rounded up by German forces and local collaborators. This devastating event marked the complete destruction of a once-thriving Jewish community, representing one of the many tragic episodes of the Holocaust. The community, which had a rich cultural and social history, was systematically erased, leaving behind only memories and historical records.
  • 06 Sep 1942 Czech Marathon Runner Deported to Auschwitz: Oskar Hêks, a Czech marathon runner, was tragically transported to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, representing the brutal persecution of individuals during the Holocaust.
  • 07 Sep 1942 Holocaust Atrocity in Kolomyia: The German Gestapo deported 8,700 Jews from Kolomyia, western Ukraine, to the Belzec death camp, representing another tragic episode of the Holocaust.
  • 08 Sep 1942 German Submarine U-222 Sinking: In a tragic maritime incident during World War II, the German submarine U-222 sank in the Baltic Sea near Pillau after a collision with another German submarine, U-626. The accident resulted in the loss of 42 crew members, with only three survivors, highlighting the perilous conditions of submarine warfare.
  • 09 Sep 1942 First Japanese Bombing of Continental US Soil: During World War II, a Japanese Yokosuka E14Y floatplane launched from a submarine dropped two incendiary bombs near Mount Emily, Oregon. This was the first bombing on continental United States soil, marking a significant and shocking moment in American wartime history.
  • 10 Sep 1942 German Advance at Stalingrad: German forces of the 29th Motorized Division achieved a critical breakthrough, reaching the Volga River on the southern side of Stalingrad. The Soviet 62nd Army was severely pressured, with its defensive lines reduced to just 2 kilometers from the city center, signaling an intense phase of the Battle of Stalingrad.
  • 11 Sep 1942 Operation Musketoon: Anglo-Norwegian Raid on German Power Plant: An Anglo-Norwegian special forces raiding party launched Operation Musketoon, a daring attack targeting the strategically important Glomfjord hydroelectric power plant in Nazi-occupied Norway. This covert operation was part of the Allied efforts to disrupt German industrial infrastructure during World War II.
  • 12 Sep 1942 Battle of Edson's Ridge Begins: The first day of the Battle of Edson's Ridge during the Guadalcanal campaign commenced, with U.S. Marines defending Henderson Field against Imperial Japanese Army forces in a critical Pacific theater engagement.
  • 13 Sep 1942 German Assault on Stalingrad Begins: The Wehrmacht launched a massive ground assault to capture the strategically critical city of Stalingrad, initiating what would become one of the most brutal and pivotal battles of World War II. This marked the beginning of intense house-to-house urban warfare that would ultimately define the battle's brutal character.
  • 14 Sep 1942 German Occupation of Stalingrad Train Station: German troops successfully occupied the train station Stalingrad-1, marking a significant tactical advancement in their offensive against Soviet forces during the Battle of Stalingrad, a turning point in World War II's Eastern Front.
  • 15 Sep 1942 Japanese Submarine I-19 Devastating Torpedo Attack: On September 15, 1942, Japanese submarine I-19 executed one of the most effective torpedo attacks of World War II. The submarine fired a salvo that mortally damaged the aircraft carrier USS Wasp and destroyer USS O'Brien, and also damaged the battleship North Carolina. The destroyer Lansdowne was dispatched to rescue 447 crew members from the Wasp before the carrier was scuttled.
  • 16 Sep 1942 Japanese Repulsion from Port Moresby: During World War II, the Imperial Japanese forces attempted to capture Port Moresby, a strategic location in Papua New Guinea, but were successfully repelled by Allied defensive forces. This battle was a critical moment in the Pacific Theater, preventing the Japanese from gaining a significant foothold that could have threatened Australia's northern territories.
  • 17 Sep 1942 Japanese Invasion of New Guinea During World War II: During World War II, Japanese Imperial forces launched a major offensive in New Guinea, strategically targeting the key location of Hollandia. This assault was part of Japan's broader Pacific campaign aimed at expanding their territorial control and disrupting Allied military positions in the Southwest Pacific region. The invasion represented a critical moment in the Pacific Theater, as New Guinea was a strategically important island with potential implications for future military operations.
  • 18 Sep 1942 Nazi Extermination Order Approved: On September 18, 1942, Nazi Minister of Justice Otto Thierack approved a horrific order for the 'extermination of asocials through labour', representing a deeply disturbing escalation of Nazi genocidal policies during World War II.
  • 19 Sep 1942 Death of Condé Nast, Influential Magazine Publisher: Condé Nast, the pioneering American magazine publisher who revolutionized the publishing industry, passed away. Known for founding Condé Nast Publications, he transformed magazines like Vogue and Vanity Fair into cultural institutions that significantly influenced fashion, lifestyle, and media in the early 20th century.
  • 20 Sep 1942 Holocaust Atrocity in Letychiv: During a horrific two-day period, the Nazi SS systematically murdered at least 3,000 Jewish civilians in Letychiv, Ukraine, as part of the broader Holocaust genocide campaign targeting Jewish populations during World War II.
  • 21 Sep 1942 Mass Murder in Dunaivtsi: In Dunaivtsi, Ukraine, Nazi forces murdered 2,588 Jewish residents, continuing their brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing and genocide during World War II.
  • 22 Sep 1942 Mexico Enters World War II: On September 22, 1942, Mexico officially declared war on the Axis powers, joining the Allied forces in World War II. This decision significantly impacted the geopolitical landscape of the Americas during the conflict.
  • 23 Sep 1942 Auschwitz Begins Mass Executions: At the Auschwitz concentration camp, Nazi Germany commenced systematic gas chamber executions, marking an escalation of the Holocaust's most horrific phase of mass murder.
  • 24 Sep 1942 German Forces Break Through in Stalingrad: During the Battle of Stalingrad, German forces successfully broke through to the Volga River and strategically divided the Soviet 62nd Army, marking a critical moment in the intense urban warfare of the Eastern Front.
  • 25 Sep 1942 Swiss Border Policy Restricts Jewish Refugees During World War II: On September 25, 1942, Swiss authorities issued a discriminatory police instruction that effectively denied entry to Jewish refugees seeking sanctuary from Nazi persecution. This policy reflected Switzerland's restrictive stance towards Jewish refugees during the Holocaust, contributing to the tragic limitation of escape routes for those fleeing genocide.
  • 26 Sep 1942 Holocaust: Nazi Deportation Planning Memorandum: Senior SS official August Frank issued a detailed memorandum outlining the systematic process for the 'evacuation' of Jewish populations, which was a euphemistic term for deportation to concentration camps and eventual genocide. This document represents a chilling bureaucratic record of the Nazi regime's methodical planning of the Holocaust.
  • 27 Sep 1942 Battle of Stalingrad: Intense German Offensive: A critical moment in World War II as German forces launch a heavy assault on Stalingrad, a pivotal battle that would ultimately become a turning point in the war against the Soviet Union.
  • 28 Sep 1942 Luftwaffe Bombing of Stalingrad: During World War II, the German Luftwaffe conducted strategic bombing raids on the city of Stalingrad, intensifying the military campaign to capture this crucial Soviet industrial and strategic center. These bombing raids were part of the larger Battle of Stalingrad, a pivotal conflict that would ultimately become a turning point in World War II.
  • 29 Sep 1942 Launch of Booker T. Washington Liberty Ship: The Liberty ship Booker T. Washington was launched in Wilmington, Delaware, marking a significant milestone in maritime and civil rights history. It was the first US merchant ship named after an African-American and notably was commanded by Hugh Mulzac, the first Black captain, with an integrated crew.
  • 30 Sep 1942 Holocaust Atrocity in Zelov Lodz: In a horrific act of Nazi persecution, SS units systematically murdered 3,500 Jewish residents in the Zelov district of Lodz, Poland, over a six-week period ending September 30, 1942. This event represents one of many tragic genocidal actions during the Holocaust, highlighting the systematic extermination of Jewish populations by Nazi forces.