On the Eastern Front… The forces of German Panzer Group 2 (Guderian) and Panzer Group 1 (Kleist) link up near the town of Lokhvista, encircling 600,000 Soviet troops in a pocket which stretches west for a 100 miles to Kiev.

In Iran… The Shah abdicates in favor of the Crown Prince Mohammad Reza Pahlavi after the Allies decide that he has not co-operated in expelling Axis nationals from the country.