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• Weather data for 1 Oct 1939

• Kurt Fricke was awarded Clasp 2nd Class to his Iron Cross. ww2dbase [Main Article | CPC]

• The 2,239-ton Belgian merchant steamer Suzon was sailing to Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom loaded with 2,400 tons of pit props for the Welsh mines. The ship had been built in Sunderland, England, United Kingdom by S. P. Austin & Sons, and was owned by a London shipping Company and then named Portwood. In 1930 she was sold to the Belgians and renamed. At 1845 hours German submarine U-35 (Kapitänleutnant Werner Lott) attempted to stop the neutral and unarmed steamer with light signals about 42 miles 330 degrees from the French island of Ushant but the Belgians put on steam and tried to escape. Warning shots were fired which actually hit the ship forcing the Belgian Captain, R. Lejeune, to stop and abandon the ship, knowing that the cargo would be classed as contraband. After the crew were clear the submarine fired a torpedo that struck on the port side of the Suzon abreast the funnel which broke the vessel's back, the two halves sinking almost immediately. The Belgian crew were picked up by HMS Acheron (H 45) commanded by Lieutenant Commander R. F. W. Northcott RN which was escorting the nearby convoy MB-10. ww2dbase [Main Article | HM]

• Japanese 6th Division began to fall back from Changsha, Hunan Province, China across the Laodao River. ww2dbase [Main Article | CPC]

• The German euthanasia program began on the ill and feeble. ww2dbase [Main Article | TH]
• Georg von Bismarck was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class. ww2dbase [Main Article | CPC]
• Adolf Galland was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class medal and was promoted to the rank of Hauptmann. ww2dbase [Main Article | AC, CPC]
• Galeazzo Ciano met with Adolf Hitler in Berlin, Germany. ww2dbase [Main Article | CPC]

• Rawalpindi was commissioned into British Royal Navy service. ww2dbase [Main Article | AC]
• British men between the ages of 20-22 became eligible for conscription. ww2dbase [TH]

1 Oct 1939 Interactive Map