The Germans executed Plan Asche, evacuating 25,800 German troops from Sardinia to Corsica.
This yielded the island's important airfields to the Allies.
The Germans began mass deportation of Jews from Paris and the liquidation of Jews in Minsk commenced.
The British occupied the Aegean islands of Simi, Stampalia and Icaria.
The Red Army took Soviet forces capture Priluki, Lubny and Romodan Pavlograd, Krasnograd, Pologi and Nogaysk.
Sarah Sundin, on her blog, notes:
Today in World War II History—September 18, 1943: US opens Central Pacific offensive as Seventh Air Force Navy Task Force 15 aircraft begin bombing Tarawa, Makin, and Apemama in the Gilbert Islands.
