World War II in real time

Day 492 of World War II, January 4th 1941

YouTube (t's 1941 - A World at War)



Italian/Greek Campaign

The Greeks and Italians continue fighting for control of the Klisura Pass on 4 January 1941.

The RAF raids Elbasan.

North Africa Campaign: Operation Compass

Amid heavy fighting all day in the Italian defensive perimeter posts to the North and South, a mixed force of Allied infantry plus Bren gun carriers and a few tanks pushes forward the final mile to the town of Bardia at 1600 hours, splitting the Italian defenders into two groups, shaking Italian morale, and causing large numbers of Italian troops to surrender. Although it was progressing well the 6th Australian Division still sustained over 500 casualties in the assault. While the Italians were poorly led and lacked a coherent strategy, the front line troops were capable of putting up fierce resistance. General Wavell had to juggle limited resources around a wide theatre. He was building up troops in Sudan for an assault on Italian occupied East Africa. He was already deploying troops to Crete, along with a strong RAF contingent in Greece itself. Lieutenant General Richard O’Connor was masterminding the fast moving Operation Compass, pushing the Italians out of Egypt and pursuing them into Libya. He had already had to contend with the diversion of the experienced 4th Indian Division to Sudan just as soon as the ‘important raid’ looked like becoming something more significant. The Australian troops who replaced them were under equipped and lacked experience in the desert, although this did not seem to affect their performance. There was a lack of good transport to sustain the momentum but improvisation and the capture of Italian motor transport allowed him to continue to exploit his successes. Advanced tank units were already beginning the siege of the next Italian garrison along the coast, Tobruk. Jokingly emulating Winston Churchill, British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden said "…never has so much been surrendered by so many, to so few." On the same day, Italian General Bergonzoli and his staff withdrew from Bardia toward Tobruk.

Photo: Troops from the Australian 2/2nd Infantry Battalion rush through the streets of Bardia



Far to the west, the recently renamed British Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) under Colonel Bagnold is approaching Murzuk, the Italian District Headquarters in the Fezzan Province. They intend to raid the oasis town - which had been 1300 miles from any other British forces when they set out, but now, after Operation Compass, only 700 miles away - to stir up Libyans against their Italian occupiers. This also is a good chance for cooperation with Free French in the area, who help out the LRDC men with supplies, and local Tuareg and Tibesti tribesmen. Today, the British camp out near some lava beds southwest of Tazerbo, where they will stay for three days. The Italians have no idea they are there, of course.

Photo: An early LRDG patrol, a year or so after the unit was first brought together, consisting of two Ford 01 V8 15-cwt in the foreground and several Chevrolet WBs in the background, and more vehicles farther away. This picture was probably taken in the Fezzan region in 1941



Off Cape Bon, Tunisia, British torpedo bombers unsuccessfully attack Italian supply convoy returning from Tripoli (freighters “Ezilda Croce” and “Pallade”, escorted by torpedo boat “Pegaso”).


The Royal Navy's Mediterranean Fleet, led by battleships HMS Warspite, Barham, and Valiant, returns to Alexandria. Shockingly, the Italian fleet has not bothered to put in an appearance despite the fact that, at least on paper, it has at least parity with the British naval forces.


European Air Operations

RAF Bomber Command targets Brest during the night, where German cruiser Admiral Hipper is anchored between voyages. No major damage reported, and the air lights up with German flak. Other bombers visit Hamburg. The weather is brutal, and not much is accomplished by either side today.

The Luftwaffe once again bombs Dublin. This has become a diplomatic incident, with the Irish government complaining to the German government. It also is leading to the suspicion that these attacks on Irish soil may not all be accidental. The other Luftwaffe raids of the night are in the western part of England, so it is quite possible that the Luftwaffe planes were off course.

Battle of the Atlantic

A RAF Lockheed Hudson bombs and sinks Norwegian 1326 ton freighter Snyg near Hadyret southeast of Haugesund, Norway. As with many European ships, this one - built in 1918 - was named after another freighter which had just been sunk during World War I. The crew is rescued by a German patrol boat, M-1103.

Convoy FN 375 departs from Southend, Convoy FS 379 departs from Methil, Convoy FS 380 is canceled, Convoy BN 12A departs from Suez bound for Port Sudan.

U-72 (Korvettenkapitän Hans-Werner Neumann) is commissioned.

Royal Navy corvette HMS Larkspur is commissioned.

U-203 is launched, U-595 and U-596 are laid down.

The German Admiralty states: “To enable our naval command centers to prosecute the war in the Atlantic systematic reconnaissance is essential.”

Battle of the Pacific

Royal Navy destroyer HMS Stronghold begins a prolonged series of minelaying around Singapore. This process will continue into March.

German/Bulgarian Relations

Hitler meets with Bulgarian Prime Minister Bogdan Filov in Berlin and continues his campaign of trying to coerce an alliance with Bulgaria. Adopting a threatening tone (recently used by Hitler with Admiral Darlan in France, too), Hitler broadly hints that the Wehrmacht troops already taking positions for Operation Marita in Romania would be enough to take care of themselves against all comers. Hitler wants Filov to sign the Tripartite Pact, but Filov demurs and returns to Sofia to discuss the brewing crisis with his ministers.

Soviet Military

The Soviet war games that began on 2 January continue. General Zhukov, in command of the "Western" or "Blue" forces, opposes General D.G. Pavlov. While Pavlov is given a numerical advantage, Zhukov is doing quite well with his (paper) forces.

Indochina

French Indochina is granted dominion status and tariff autonomy by decree (Times, January 4, 1941, p. 2). This sounds like it is a major step toward independence, but many disagree with this interpretation. Dominion status grants Marshal Petain ultimate control over the colony rather than Parliament. He is an autocrat, as opposed to the fairly liberal Parliament, so some consider this a step backward for local rule. Dominion status also does nothing with regard to the continuing conflict with Thailand, which, among other things, has its eye on major portions of the Mekong Delta. It also does nothing to mollify Vietnamese nationalists/communists such as Ho Chi Minh, who continue strategizing some kind of revolt to achieve independence.

China

The Communist New Fourth Army departs from Yunling, Anhui Province.

Day 494 of World War II, January 6th 1941

Italian/Greek Campaign

Greek destroyers shelled the Albanian port of Vlorë. 20 miles south, Italian destroyers “Alfieri”, “Carducci”, “Fulmine”, and “Gioberti”, and torpedo boats “Partenope”, “Pallade”, “Romeda”, and “Altair” shelled Greek positions at Porto Palmermo. The Greek offensive against Italian positions in the mountains of Albania reached the strategically important Klisura Pass on the river Vjosë, which, if captured, would allow Greek forces in the center of the front to link up with troops on the coast. They meet stiff Italian resistance, including the new Fiat-Ansaldo M13/40 tanks which are devastated by Greek artillery.

North Africa Campaign: Operation Compass

British 4th Armoured Brigade advanced 50 miles from Bardia, Libya to capture Belhamed to the east of Tobruk and the airfield at El Adem 8 miles to the south. Patrols were now conducted 10 miles west of Tobruk at Acroma. Churchill demanded that troops be released from Wavell's offensive and sent to Greece.

Photo: Italian soldiers captured during the Battle of Bardia



In southwest Libya, the British Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) is camped near Tazerbo and continues patrolling to learn as much as possible about its objective, regional center Murzuk and its airfield. The men hear today that Bardia, about 700 miles to the east, has fallen via special poles they construct to aid communications. This is no small force; there are 23 vehicles and 76 men. Included in the group are Coldstream Guards and New Zealanders. They are all under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Bagnold, with Major Pat Clayton leading the raid itself.

The Indian 11th Infantry Division transfers from Egypt to the Sudan.

Battle of the Mediterranean

The “Illustrious” Blitz: Convoy MC 4 left Gibraltar feinting toward the Atlantic before turning toward Malta after darkness concealed them from the view of Axis agents near Gibraltar. Force B containing British cruisers HMS “Gloucester” and HMS “Southampton”, escorted by destroyers HMS “Ilex” and HMS “Janus”, departed Alexandria, Egypt, at 1315 hours to carry 510 Army and RAF personnel to Malta and to meet Excess convoy which had departed from Gibraltar on the same day. The Luftwaffe launches its first attacks against the British convoys bound for Malta.
Air War over Europe

Deciding the question of air support in the Battle of the Atlantic, Hitler orders that I./KG 40, with its Fw 200s, will be under the command of the Commander in Chief of the Navy. To appease Reichsmarschall Göring with this change, Hitler also orders Kampfgruppe 806 with its Ju 88s, be removed from Naval command and brought back to Sperrle’s Luftflotte 3 for the bomber raids on England. Now that Admiral Dönitz has gained control of KG 40 he is soon disappointed with its compliment. Although carrying a full establishment of from twenty to twenty-five aircraft only about eight serviceable aircraft are ever available for duty.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-124 (Kapitänleutnant Georg-Wilhelm Schulz), on her third patrol operating out of Lorient, torpedoes and sinks 5965 ton British freighter Empire Thunder (on her maiden voyage) northeast of Rockall/west of the Hebrides in the Western Approaches. There are nine deaths and 30 survivors. The Empire Thunder was a straggler from Convoy OB 269 because of engine issues, and convoys wait for no ship.

German Hilfskreuzer (Auxiliary Cruiser) Kormoran (Korvettenkapitän Theodore Detmers) sinks 3729 ton Greek collier Antonis in the mid-Atlantic. The 29 men (and 7 sheep) on board are taken prisoner. This incident sends Royal Navy heavy cruisers HMS Norfolk and Devonshire searching fruitlessly for the Kormoran, which of course quickly departs the scene. This is another incidence where the exaggerated value of surface raiders is demonstrated, as the Royal Navy expends huge amounts of effort trying to track the Kormoran down, while the much more effective U-boats attract little attention except at the times of sinkings.

British 87 ton tug Lion hits a mine and sinks in the River Medway. Everyone on board perishes.

British 219 ton trawler Gadra hits a mine (laid by the British) off Myling Head, Faroe Islands. There are three survivors, 7 deaths.

Royal Navy destroyer HMS Mashona collides with destroyer HMS Sikh while departing Scapa Flow on a convoy mission. The Mashona is taken to West Hartlepool for repairs. The Sikh also is damaged which put it out of action for just short of two weeks.

Convoy FN 377 departs from Southend, Convoy HX 101 departs from Halifax, Convoy BHX 101 departs from Bermuda.

Royal Navy corvette HMS Dianella is commissioned, while destroyers HMS Fitch and Forrest are laid down.

US battleship USS Missouri (BB 63) is laid down at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

Battle of the Pacific

British 16810 ton transport Empress of Russia departs from Auckland, New Zealand with an escort of HMNZS Achilles. With known German raiders in the area following the shelling of Nauru in December, the Royal Navy is becoming much more security conscious about its assets in the Pacific.

Irish/German Relations

The Irish government sends the Germans an official note of protest regarding recent air attacks on Dublin and the Irish coast to the south. The Luftwaffe bombed Ireland for three straight nights and killed several people. Many in Ireland and Great Britain do not think these bombings were accidental at all, but an intimidation tactic.

Soviet Military

The war games that began on January 2nd conclude today. General Zhukov, in charge of the "Western" or "Blue" forces, has achieved a victory over Colonel General D.G. Pavlov commanding the "Eastern" or "Red" forces. The precise outcome is somewhat murky, as the accounts of this exercise rely upon memoirs from those involved (some of whom did not survive the war). Another exercise is planned to begin on January 8th, with Zhukov commanding the "Red" side and General Kulik commanding the "Blue" side.

British Government

Winston Churchill sets the ultimate objective in North Africa as the capture of Benghazi. This he sees happening in March 1941, after which troops can be shifted to Greece and North Africa become basically a static front. He gives this appreciation both to General Wavell and to the Defence Committee for discussion.

US Government

YouTube (Four Freedoms Speech)



In his State of the Union address, US President Franklin Roosevelt enunciated the Four Freedoms. Roosevelt recognized the need to support Britain and other countries in the war. At this time he sought to persuade many Americans that it was in their interests to align themselves against Nazism and dictatorship. Earlier he had argued the case for Lend Lease, which would allow military aid to foreign nations. In his fireside chat of the 29th December 1940 he had declared that America would become the ‘Arsenal of Democracy’. Now he went further with his vision of what America stood for. The Four Freedoms include two values that went beyond the United States’ constitution – freedom from want and freedom from fear. The ideas expressed here were to become the cornerstone of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the establishment of the United Nations. They assert a moral purpose that was in direct contradiction Hitler's rambling war aims:

"In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expression – everywhere in the world. The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way – everywhere in the world. The third is freedom from want – which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants – everywhere in the world. The fourth is freedom from fear – which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor – anywhere in the world. That is no vision of a distant millennium. It is a definite basis for a kind of world attainable in our own time and generation. That kind of world is the very antithesis of the so-called new order of tyranny which the dictators seek to create with the crash of a bomb".

This was not a call to war but it was an unmistakable declaration of which side the United States stood by.

Netherlands East Indies

Local Dutch authorities arrest Nationalist leaders.

China

The Nationalist Chinese 3rd War Area attacks the retreating Communist New 4th Army near Maolin on the Yangtze.

The Nationalist (Kuomintang) government purchases 100 H81A-2 Curtiss Tomahawks (P-40Bs). These are intended for use by the American Volunteer Group (AVG), which Claire Chennault is still forming. Their armament is 2 x 0.5 in. and 4 x 0.3 in. machine guns, which is fairly substantial for this period of time, though 20 mm cannon would be better.

Day 496 of World War II, January 8th 1941

Italian/Greek Campaign

Greek Commander-in-chief Papagos launches a major attack on the Italian Julia division defending Klisura Pass. The Greek II Corps leads the attack, with the 1st Division on the left and the 15th and 11th Divisions on the right. The Greeks make good progress in very hard fighting, putting themselves in a position to finally capture the pass.

The Klisura Pass is considered necessary for the Greeks to press on and take the critical Italian port of Valona and free troops for the defense of eastern Greece against an anticipated German invasion from Bulgaria. The Italian commander in Albania, Cavallero, immediately begins transferring troops from other sectors with which he intended to launch his own offensive.

North Africa Campaign: Operation Compass

The Australian 6th Division begins active patrols around the Tobruk perimeter, probing Italian defenses. They find a similar layout to the one at Bardia, two defensive lines with antitank ditches, barbed wire, and concrete pillboxes.

General Archibald Wavell, British Middle East Commander, replies diplomatically to Prime Minister Churchill's insinuations of the past couple of days that his army has become a haven for slackers:

I can assure you that I have always had question of rearward services constantly in mind and have been as anxious as anyone to cut down on non-fighting units. Except for anti-aircraft.... But the more I see of War, especially present-day War, the more I am impressed by the part that administration plays.

This dispute about the "Tooth-to-tail Ratio" will continue on both sides, though it really has not begun yet on the German side. As much as anything, such concerns are a sure sign of a military that is overstretched and unable to meet all of the threats that are popping up. Wavell, incidentally, is absolutely correct that modern wars are won not by valor in combat (alone), but by logistics and weaponry. This is a lesson that is and will be hammered home brutally to some participants during the course of the conflict.

The Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) approaches the Italian administration center of Murzuk, in the southwest corner of Libya and hundreds of miles distant from other British forces. They are aided by local French and tribesmen. Their intent is to attack the Italian airfield and headquarters at Murzuk both to disrupt Italian administration and to incite violence throughout Libya.

Battle of the Mediterranean

The “Illustrious” Blitz: British cruisers HMS “Gloucester” and HMS “Southampton” arrived at Malta to disembark 510 Army and RAF personnel, escorted by destroyers HMS “Ilex” and HMS “Janus”. HMS “Gloucester”, HMS “Southampton”, and HMS “Ilex” continued west to meet the Excess convoy from Gibraltar.

Photo: HMS Gloucester enters Malta



Convoy AS 10 departs from Piraeus for Suda Bay.

Battle of the Atlantic

The Luftwaffe (Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condors of I,/KG 40) bombs and sinks 6278-ton British freighter Clytoneus in the Western Approaches. Everybody survives. KG 40 has just been turned over to Admiral Doenitz's forces to assist with U-boat operations.

British 683 ton Trinity House tender Strathearn hits a mine and sinks in the North Sea. There are 15 deaths.

Royal Navy minelayers HMS Adventure and Teviotbank lay minefields ZME 12 and BS 48, respectively. These are in the St. Georges Channel and off the east coast.

Convoy OB 271 departs from Liverpool, Convoy FN 378 departs from Southend, Convoy FN 379 is postponed, Convoy HG 50 departs from Gibraltar.

Royal Navy destroyer HMAS Nizam commissioned.

U-559 launched.

Air War over Europe

The RAF air command on Malta launches a night raid against Naples. The Italians have dispersed their fleet to Naples and other points, but the RAF is tracking them down. Battleship Giulio Cesare is damaged slightly by three near misses and must be moved to La Spezia for repairs. It is not as significant a blow as it might be, because the Italians are not using their capital ships anyway - though they have plenty of fuel to do so if they wished.

Another benefit of the mission for the British is that it induces the Italians to move their battleship Vittorio Veneto to La Spezia as well, to get it out of harm's way - a rather incongruous way to handle what should be your mightiest offensive weapon. The Italian naval command at this point appears obsessed with keeping a "fleet in being," a strategy that in a calculated fashion uses the threat of warships to draw enemy airpower away from on-shore targets. There are pros and cons to this strategy, which certainly appears to fit with the overall Italian mindset during the conflict, but essentially removes these warships from active operations where they might actually be of strategic use (such as off North Africa or Albania).

RAF Bomber Command also sends seven Wellington bombers to raid Wilhelmshaven. The target is German battleship Tirpitz, still under construction but almost finished. The RAF does not score any hits, though some near misses scuff up the paint a bit. This is another example of Axis warships drawing fire away from other, arguably more productive, targets. It is the one area in which the Axis navies constantly excel.

For its part, the Luftwaffe sends a few scattered raiders across during the day but stays on the ground after dark.

Battle of the Pacific

Contract workers arrive on Wake Island onboard the USS William Ward Burrows. They are to construct a naval air station (NAS) there.

Anglo/Free French Relations

The British release Vice Admiral Muselier, imprisoned since New Year's day on espionage and treason charges. The British MI5 intelligence branch concludes that Muselier has been set up with fake documents planted by two security people (Commandant Howard and Adjutant Colin) hired on their own recommendation. The reasons for the smear are murky, apparently, Muselier offended Howard in some way and he had Colin draw up the phony documents which, among other things, suggested that Muselier compromised Operation Menace (the failed attack on Dakar). Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Anthony Eden tenders a note of abject apology.

This decision avoids a very sharp rupture in Anglo/French relations. Charles de Gaulle views the entire affair as a plot by MI5 to discredit him personally, and had been on the brink of turning his back on the British - to the extent possible, as he essentially is a British client ruler - had the charges not been dropped.

This is a much better outcome politically than if Winston Churchill had followed his initial inclinations and had Muselier shot outright. However, de Gaulle forever after holds a grudge against the British intelligence service due to this incident. Muselier, for his part, returns to his duties in charge of Free French naval forces.

US/Vichy French Relations

Admiral William D. Leahy presents his credentials to the Petain government in Vichy. This comes one day after Roosevelt accepted former ambassador Bullitt's resignation.

Anglo/US Relations

Roosevelt observer "Wild Bill" Donovan arrives in Cairo for talks with British Middle East Commander General Wavell.

German Military

Adolf Hitler hosted a two-day military conference at his Berghof residence in southern Germany, where he stated that Germany would continue to support Italian efforts in North Africa despite it being a secondary theater, the Soviet Union must be brought down, southern France might need to be occupied, and, for the first time, told the military leaders to prepare Germany for the possibility of American entry into the war.

British Military

Winston Churchill holds a meeting at Whitehall. The Defence Committee is studying the Balkan situation. Anthony Eden, having a busy day, strongly advocates sending British troops to Greece immediately in order to induce Turkey to join the Allied side and form a "Balkan bloc." Churchill himself says that "there was no other course open to us but to make certain that we had spared no effort to help the Greeks who had shown themselves so worthy." Thus, the matter basically is decided, although it must be ascertained whether it is possible.

The Chiefs of Staff thus cable Commander-in-Chief of the RAF's Middle East Command Air Marshal Sir Arthur Murray Longmore and ask him if air units are available for immediate transfer to Greece. Longmore replies that he wants to keep his units supporting General Wavell's advance, but he does not have the final say. Discussions of the Defence Committee on this key strategic question continue into the 9th.

Japanese Military

Army Minister Tojo Hideki issues a military decree, "Instructions For the Battlefield," which essentially commands Japanese soldiers to fight to the death rather than be captured.

Soviet Military

The second round of war games begins. This time, General Zhukov commands the Soviet forces, and General Kulik commands the invading "Blue" forces.

US Military

The USAAC orders the first prototype of the Vultee XP-54.

Due to lingering disagreements about whether the US Pacific fleet should be based at Hawaii (among other things), President Roosevelt decides to replace Admiral James Richardson as Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet (CinCPac) and CinCUS (should the Pacific and Atlantic fleets ever merge). Admiral Husband E. Kimmel will replace him effective 1 February 1941. In addition, Admiral Ernest J. King, an advocate of a strong US naval presence in the Pacific, will become Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet (CinCLant). Richardson will hold no further active commands.

US Government

Following President Roosevelt's State of the Union address, his administration releases a proposed budget of $17.5 billion for the Fiscal Year 1942 (beginning 1 July 1941). This budget includes a massive $10.8 billion war (defense) budget. With military expenditures exceeding 50% of all government spending, this is a record peacetime commitment, the highest in US history.

Canadian Government

Accepting the recommendation of its subcommittee, the Canadian war council excludes Japanese-Canadians from military service.

Indochina

The conflict between Thailand and the Vichy French continues to sizzle. The Royal Thai Air Force attacks the French at Siem Reap and Battambang.

German occupied Norway

It has taken the better part of a year, but the port facilities at Narvik, Norway have been repaired. It is the key port for the shipment of Swedish iron ore to German war factories. Today, the first freighter departs for Germany carrying ore.

Day 498 of World War II, January 10th 1941

Italian/Greek Campaign

The Italians pull out of Klisura Pass, handing it to the Greeks. Well, not all of the Italians; some of them are encircled and will become Greek POWs. The Toscana Division, which marched 24-hours straight to run into the battle without preparation or rest, is devastated. The Julia Division which has been holding the pass, however, retreats in reasonably good order. The Cretan 5th Division of II Corps leads the Greek victory.

Capture of the pass has been a Greek priority due to the access it provides to the key Italian port of Valona. Expectations soar that the Greeks can now storm down and take the port. British Middle East Commander in Chief Archibald Wavell sends Greek Commander in Chief a congratulatory telegram. The Italians do not retreat very far, however, and the Greeks experience great difficulty in exploiting this success.

Air War over Europe

The "Circus" operations begin. The British launch a large daylight raid over the Pas de Calais. The tables now have turned: rather than the Luftwaffe trying to entice the RAF fighters into battle, now the RAF tries to entice the Bf 109s into the air. About 72 RAF fighters and a tiny force of six Blenheim bombers target an ammunition dump south of Calais. After dark, Bomber Command hits Brest, where Kriegsmarine cruiser Admiral Hipper continues to linger.

After dark, the Luftwaffe sends 150 bombers against Portsmouth. They drop 50,000 incendiaries, and despite increased British efforts to extinguish them quickly, over two dozen large fires destroy large swathes of the working class sections of the city and six churches. The historic Guildhall is hit and the fires melt its copper cupola. Aside from the bomb damage, there are 171 deaths and 430 injured.

Battle of the Atlantic

The Luftwaffe (Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor of KG 40) attacks Convoy SL 62 in the Atlantic 240 km west of County Galway. They sinks 3677 ton Norwegian iron ore freighter Austvard. There are 23 deaths and only 5 survivors.

Royal Navy patrol ship HMS Maron intercepts Vichy French 3178 ton freighter Cantal. The Maron sends the captured ship to Gibraltar.

British 9683 ton freighter Middlesex hits a mine just off Flat Holm Island (south of Cardiff in the Bristol Channel) and sinks. Everybody survives.

Royal Navy cruiser HMS Adventure lays minefield ZME 14 in St. George's Channel.

In Operation Monsoon, Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Furious flies off 39 Hurricanes and 9 Fulmars to Takoradi, Ghana.

German tanker Nordmark and supply ship Eurofeld rendezvous in the Atlantic.

Convoy OB 272 departs from Liverpool, Convoy FN 380 departs from Southend, Convoy FS 385 departs from Methil, Convoy SL 62 and SLS 62 depart from Freetown, Convoy BS 12B departs from Suez.

U-560 is launched.

Battle of the Mediterranean

The “Illustrious” Blitz: The Luftwaffe announced their arrival in the Mediterranean with a vengeance as German and Italian planes continued to attack the Allied convoy Excess in the Mediterranean. Italian ships from La Spezia searched unsuccessfully for Force H. Italian submarine “Settimo” and torpedo boats “Circe” and “Vega” launched torpedoes unsuccessfully against convoy MC 4. HMS “Bonaventure” and “Hereward” sank “Vega” six miles south of Pantellaria at 0830. “Circe” escaped undamaged. “Bonaventure” sustained some damage and two of her complement were killed. Two of “Vega 's” crew survived.

Drawing: HMS Illustrious wore this MS4a pattern applied over the previous overall B6 at the time of the January 10 1941 attack. While the pattern was very similar on both sides, the port side appears to have incorporated more curves. The deck was 507a and the markings dull yellow. By January 10th the broken flight deck centre line had been painted into a solid stripe



At 0815 hours, the convoy made rendezvous with the Mediterranean Fleet (with two battleships, one carrier, and seven destroyers). Shortly after, destroyer HMS “Gallant” hit a mine, killing 58 and wounding 25. She was towed to Malta for repairs.

The air battle began at 0930 hours that morning when one of HMS “Illustrious’” Fulmars shot down an Italian reconnaissance aircraft. Most of the early radar contacts turned out to be aircraft attempting to shadow the fleet. Five Fulmars were on air patrol at 1120 hours (three in Red Section, two in White Section) when a single contact was detected at 12,000ft. It was found to be a SM79, which was promptly shot down. One Fulmar of Red Section lost its cockpit’s sliding hood during this engagement and was forced to land on “Illustrious” at 1145 hours. This left four fighters on the air patrol. “Valiant” avoided torpedoes launched by two SM.79s approaching under the radar horizon at 1230 hours. The bombers dropped their torpedoes some 2500 yards distant from “Illustrious” which took urgent evasive action by swinging to port. Both torpedoes passed astern, but went on to only narrowly miss the nearby HMS “Valiant”. HMS “Illustrious’” Fulmars had dived from 14,000ft to chase the low-level Savoias. Red Section engaged as the SM79s fled the fleet, expending all their ammunition in the effort. As the combat air patrol Fulmars dropped altitude to engage the SM.79s, Force A was attacked at 1235 hours by 18 He111s of KG 26 and 43 Ju87s of StG 1 and StG 2 escorted by 10 Bf110s of ZG 26.

Painting: Smoke begins to bellow from HMS ILLUSTRIOUS' aft deck as the opening moves of X Fliegercorp's attack take place.



The air patrol was out of position and low on ammunition. The enemy formation was only 28 miles away, to the north. The fleet was itself about 85 miles west of Malta. Four Fulmars and three Swordfish were already in position on HMS “Illustrious’” deck for a scheduled 1235 hours rotation in air patrol. The Fighter Direction Officer requested the relief flight be flown off as fast as possible. Several more Fulmars were rapidly hoisted onto the flight deck to supplement the defense. “Illustrious” completed launching relief Fulmar and Swordfish patrollers as the attack developed.

A group of about 30 Stukas headed towards “Illustrious”. Another 10 went after the battleships as a diversion to split the anti-aircraft fire. “Illustrious” was the main target and was soon enveloped in waterspouts and mist of exploding bombs. Some bombers diving from an altitude of 12,000 feet delayed bomb release until their pullout altitude was lower than the height of “Illustrious '” funnel. The five air patrol Fulmars had not returned from chasing the SM.79s which attacked “Valiant” and the four recently launched Fulmars were unable to gain altitude rapidly enough to break up the attack. Despite having no ammunition, Red Section’s Fulmars made dummy attack runs in an effort to disrupt the enemy’s aim.

Photo: Illustrious under attack



The Fulmars claimed eight enemy aircraft downed during the continuing air strikes against Force A as they shuttled to Malta airfields to refuel and re-arm. “Warspite” was lightly damaged by a single bomb. “Illustrious” was hit by five bombs, including one which failed to explode; and a near miss disabled her rudder mechanism. A bomb striking a lowered elevator caused extensive hangar damage with many casualties among aircraft maintenance personnel and destroyed nine Swordfish and five Fulmars.

The fleet claimed two Stukas shot down by anti-aircraft fire. The seven remaining airborne Fulmars, without another carrier to land-on, were ordered to fly to Malta to refuel and rearm. Captain Boyd ordered the flag signal “I AM NOT UNDER CONTROL” raised as the engines were urgently altered to keep the carrier on course.

Map: Course of action ... a map showing the proximity of the convoys to Sicily and HMS Illustrious' track back to Malta after being damaged on January 10th



The bombing attacks continued. A raid by seven Italian high-altitude SM.79 bombers began at 1329 hours. The bomber formation at 14,000ft was engaged before their payloads could be released accurately. Splashes were observed scattered around the fleet. But the attack had some effect. As “Illustrious” manoeuvred to evade the bombs – some of which fell near - her steam steering gear failed. The carrier was again out of control, steaming slowly in circles to port. 11 Swordfish and five Fulmars stowed in the hangar had been destroyed. HMS “Illustrious” eventually regained steerage at 1434 hours through alternating the revolutions to her three screws. This was only possible once the rudder had been jammed into an amidships position. At 1530 hours “Illustrious” headed for Malta steering with engines.

Late that afternoon, at 1604 hours, another strike was reported on radar by HMS “Valiant” – this time of about 15 Italian Ju87s from 237a Squadriglia with an escort of about five Italian single-seat fighters. Three Ju88s of LG 1 also appear to have taken part in a raid about this time, only to be chased off by Malta's Hurricanes. Fortunately the attack was nowhere near as well synchronized as the first. Only two bombs fell near the ship. A near-miss also killed one man and wounded three aboard HMS “Valiant”. HMS “Valiant’s” radar again demonstrated its worth at 1656 hours when enemy aircraft were detected at 52 miles. Seventeen aircraft came into view at 1710 hours and then proceeded to circle the fleet to make an approach from up-sun and astern. Several Ju88's of LG 3 reportedly took part in this raid. The combined high-level and dive-bombing attacks appear mainly to have been directed at the battleships. None came close. Fourteen German Ju87s missed “Valiant” and “Janus” and a later attack by 14 He111s was similarly ineffective. “Illustrious” reached Malta at 2130 hours with 126 dead and 91 wounded. HMS “Illustrious” being out of service meant the Axis now had air superiority in the theater.

Though they succeed in severely damaging HMS ‘Illustrious’, they failed to seriously hinder British naval strength in the Mediterranean region. Some repairs were carried out at Malta (where there were further air attacks) before HMS “Illustrious” returned to Alexandria.

There she was sufficiently patched up to make the journey, via the Suez Canal and round Africa, to U.S. shipyards in Norfolk, Virginia. She was out of the war for the remainder of the year.

OPERATION EXCESS, Fight for survival, Malta, January 10, 1941

Battle of the Pacific

German raider Orion begins a refit at Maug Island.

Soviet/German Relations

The two nations, still operating under the Ribbentrop/Molotov Pact of August 1939, agree to population exchanges in the Baltic States. They also agree to a new economic pact, in which the Soviets supply raw materials in exchange for German machine tools. As part of the agreement, the Soviets "buy" a slice of Lithuania for 1.5 million reichsmarks, or roughly US $7.5 million.

The Soviets are quite happy with the agreement, announcing:

This new economic agreement marks a great step forward.

With perfect hindsight, we can agree that it does, but not quite in the manner the Soviets intend.

Soviet Military

The second round of war games continues. General Zhukov is doing quite well in command of the "Red" or Soviet forces, which heartens the Stavka.

British Military

After days of deliberation, the Chiefs of Staff and the Defence Committee have made their decision regarding priorities in the Mediterranean sector. They cable Wavell that:

Assistance to Greece must now take priority over all operations in the Middle East once Tobruk is taken, because help for the Greeks must, in the first instance at least, come almost entirely from you.

General Wavell and his RAF chief, Air Marshal Arthur Longmore, are aghast. Wavell is not convinced of the need to switch focus immediately to Greece. He reasons that this would interrupt a successful campaign in favor of one of much more doubtful profit. He claims that the German troop movements are just another:

...move in a war of nerves designed with object of helping Italy by upsetting Greek nerves, inducing us to disperse our forces in Middle East and to stop our advance in Libya. Nothing (repeat nothing) we can do from here is likely to be in time to stop German advance if really intended...

The Chiefs of Staff, however, are firm. They base their decision not just on a strategical assessment, but on Ultra decryptions. They instruct Wavell to begin preparing strong ground and air forces to Greece, including three Hurricane squadrons, a squadron of tanks, and anti-aircraft troops and guns.

Churchill, of course, is behind all this. Somewhat incongruously, though, he tells visiting Roosevelt crony Harry Hopkins today that he does not really believe anything can be accomplished in Greece. Hopkins cables Roosevelt that Churchill:

thinks Greece is lost - although he is now reinforcing the Greeks - and weakening his African Army - he believes Hitler will permit Mussolini to go only so far downhill - and is now preparing for the attack which must bring its inevitable result.

Thus, for some reason, Churchill is supporting a shift in priorities that he knows must be a failure. It is an odd posture, presumably based upon high-level geopolitical calculations upon which subsequent events shed no light.

US Military

First flight of the Vought SB2U-3 Vindicator, which is an extended-range version of the dive bomber with floats.

US Government

Roosevelt introduces his 'Lend Lease' bill to the House of Representatives as House Resolution 1776 (H.R. 1776), after recognizing that neither Britain nor China could continue paying indefinitely for material supplied. This allowed the fighting allies to pay the USA back in kind, but after the war. He likened this to 'lending a neighbor a garden hose to put out a fire'.

Indochina

The Thais attack in their quest to wrest control of portions of the Mekong Delta from the French. Thailand considers these "lost provinces" that it thinks the French stole late in the 19th Century. The Thai infantry is supported by tanks and advances toward Battambang.

China

The Nationalist (Kuomintang) forces continue to attack the encircled portions of the Communist Chinese New 4th Army near Maoling on the Yangtze.

Day 500 of World War II, January 12th 1941

Italian/Greek Campaign

The Greeks continue to consolidate their capture of the Klisura Pass. They beat off weak Italian counterattacks and continue to subdue the trapped battalion of the Italian Lupi di Toscana Division. The Italian Julia Division remains in good shape and, along with the remnants of the Toscana Division, continues to bar the way to the key Italian supply port of Valona.

Photo: After the capture of Kleisoura Pass, Greek soldiers next to a captured Italian tank



North Africa Campaign: Operation Compass

As the Italian defenses at Tobruk are the same as Bardia, Australian 6th Division plans to use the same tactics to pierce the wire and anti-tank ditches at a weak point and peel back the lines of gun pits from the inside. However, they have to wait while British 7th Armoured Division repairs as many Matilda tanks as possible and for fuel and ammunition to be brought up. Matildas are moved forward on heavy artillery tractors to preserve their tracks and engines. Long Range Desert Group raids the Italian outpost at Murzuk oasis. Meanwhile, HMS “Protector” departed Bardia, Libya with 1,058 Italian prisoners of war, sailing for Alexandria, Egypt.

Air War over Europe

RAF Bomber Command raids the factories at Regensburg and other targets in Germany and Belgium, including various invasion ports. Other raids target Venice and drop leaflets on Padua.

The RAF continues its Operation Circus activities, which are heavily escorted bomber raids intended to draw Luftwaffe fighters up for destruction. Today it begins Operation Rhubarb, a subset of Circus. In Operation Rhubarb, fighters without accompanying bombers operate over occupied Europe and basically strafe any worthwhile targets. Just for clarity, there are several subsets of Operation Circus:

- Operation Rhubarb: fighter strafing runs at random.

- Operation Roadstead: fighter attacks on coastal shipping.

- Operation Ranger: large-scale fighter intrusions.

- Operation Ramrod: Fighter intrusions with specific targets.

This is a mirror image of similar operations that the Luftwaffe performed in late 1940. At this time, however, the Luftwaffe appears to have largely given up on daylight missions and is focusing instead on night-time operations and missions in other theaters, i.e., the Mediterranean.

These RAF Circus Operations do not come without a cost. Today, for instance, Fw. Helmut Brügelmann of 8./JG 26 and Oblt. Kinzinger of I./JG 54 together shoot down RAF fighters over Boulogne and Texel, respectively.

The Luftwaffe is quiet during the day, then sends a desultory raid of 141 bombers against London and the nearby Thames Estuary region after dark.

Battle of the Atlantic

British 212 ton trawler Strathrye hits a mine near Plymouth and sinks. Everybody survives. British 340-ton trawler Oyama sinks in the North Atlantic from unknown causes.

Norwegian 5498 ton freighter Tijuca hits a mine south of Cardiff in the Bristol Channel - one of several ships caught in this minefield recently - and is damaged. It makes it to the port of Barry, nine miles to the west of Cardiff.

Royal Navy minelayer HMS Teviotbank lays minefield BS 49 in the English Channel.

Some sources place today as the date of grounding of liner SS Manhattan nine miles north of Palm Beach, Florida, others a few days before this. It takes three weeks to refloat the liner. Both the captain and the first officer are disciplined with suspensions.

Convoy WS 5B (Winston Special) departs from Avonmouth. This is a major convoy of 21 troop transport ships heading to the Middle East and the Far East (including Singapore). They carry 40,000 fighting men. The escort includes battleship HMS Ramillies for the first five days. This convoy will be on the high seas until March.

Convoy SC 19 departs from Halifax, Convoy OB 273 departs from Liverpool, Convoy FN 382 departs from Southend, Convoy FS 386 departs from Methil, Convoy BS 12C departs from the Port of Sudan.

Royal Navy minesweeping trawler HMS Celia is commissioned.

Battle of the Mediterranean

British aircraft based on Malta attacked the Axis airbase at Catania, Sicily to prevent German and Italian bombers from attacking British shipping in the Mediterranean and the island of Malta. They are trying to protect damaged British aircraft carrier HMS “Illustrious” which limped into Valletta, Malta, for repairs due to Stuka attack. Photographic reconnaissance disclosed that thirty or forty aircraft on the ground were burned out or severely damaged. In addition, one hangar was destroyed, another severely damaged, and administrative buildings hit. Five RAF Wellingtons attacked the oil refineries at Venice. One large building was seen to collapse and another was hit by a heavy bomb. The last aircraft reported the target area to be a mass of flames. During these operations a large liner in the vicinity of Venice and hangars and workshops at Padua were machine-gunned.

Force A was reinforced west of Crete by Force B, the cruisers of Force D, and HMS “Barham” and “Eagle” from Alexandria.

British Middle East Command orders RAF No. 33 Squadron, equipped with Hurricanes based in Egypt, to begin transferring to Greece pursuant to recent decisions reached by the Chiefs of Staff. This transfer begins slowly and will take over a month to complete.

German Military

The SS begins recruiting in Norway for the Nordland Regiment of the 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking (Brigadeführer Felix Steiner). This is the first SS unit to
recruit outside the territory of the Reich. The Wiking Division is composed of three infantry regiments: Germania, Westland, and Nordland. The Norwegians are destined primarily for the Nordland Regiment, at least at first. Recruiting in Norway - a complex and somewhat controversial topic in itself - is relatively successful (how successful is the controversial part).

None of the units actually is Norwegian in totality, and all remain firmly under German control by German officers and NCOs. The Norwegians wish to fight as a group, but Steiner is leery about that and splits the Norwegians into small groups in every company.

Italian occupied Ethiopia

The British troops in Sudan stage successful raids along the border around Metemma, Ethiopia. The Duke of Aosta, in charge of Italian forces in Abyssinia (Ethiopia), deploys the Savoia Grenadiers - elite troops - to defend Keren (Cheren) in Italian Somaliland.

Indochina

The Thai ground troops continue advancing toward Pakse. The French have problems with their own Indochinese native troops, who are mutinying in Annam.

China

The Nationalist Chinese (Kuomintang) continue squeezing the encircled Chinese Communist New 4th Army troops at Maolin along the Yangtze River.