World War II Database

• Home
• » Events
• » WW2 Timeline
• » 1 Oct 1939

• Kurt Fricke was awarded Clasp 2nd Class to his Iron Cross. ww2dbase [Kurt Frike | 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 (Kapit?nleutnant 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 [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | HM]

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

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

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

1 Oct 1939 Interactive Map