On the Eastern Front… At Stalingrad, vicious fighting again is concentrated in small areas. The Germans are attacking the Barricades Factory and a housing estate. The attacks will continue over the next two days. The Germans make some gains in the Red October Factory area.
In the Solomon Islands… On Guadalcanal, the Japanese forces, mainly 2nd Infantry Division, under General Maruyama now number 20,000. The plan for the attack on the main American position involves simultaneous attacks to be made northward in the area between the Lunga and Tenaru Rivers, while secondary attacks are made on the American western outposts along the Matanika River. The Japanese lack accurate intelligence concerning the numbers and dispositions of the American troops.
In New Guinea… The Australian troops fighting on Kokoda Trail advance to the main Japanese positions in Eora. General MacArthur orders them to speed up their advance.
From Britain… The transports and escorts in support of Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of French North Africa, sail. Despite the presence of 21 German U-boats in the waters off Gibraltar and the Moroccan coast, the transports are only mentioned vaguely in dispatches to Italy and Germany.
In the Atlantic… Convoy SL-125 comes under attack from U-Boat forces.