The Japanese, grossly underestimating Marine Corps strength at Henderson Field, sends 100 troops across the Tenaru who are met and wiped out by 2,500 Marines supported by 37mm anti tank rifles and artillery. When the first attempt fails, he sends another group of slightly larger size, which meat the same result. Even a third attempt was tried.
Given the Japanese losses, the Marines follow up with a counterattack inland and surround the Japanese force on the coast, advancing on it with M3 Stuart tanks and supported by fighter aircraft. Nearly the entire force of Japanese troops, over 700, are killed, to the loss of 44 Marines. The battle demonstrated the casual disregard of the life common to the Japanese military, and was frankly ineptly fought on their part.
The Japanese land additional forces at Buna.
The Germans crossed the Don in inflatable rafts at Luchinsky.
The Germans sent an expedition of Gebirgsjäger, their mountain troops ("mountain hunters") to the summit of Mount Elbrus in the Caucuses. The 18,500-foot peak is the highest in Europe.
The effort was clearly a stunt, resulting only in the planting of the Nazi era German flag at the summit. When Hitler learned of it, he was enraged.
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