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lordroel
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World War II in real time Nov 7, 2020 7:46:22 GMT stevep, Zyobot, and 2 more like this

Post by lordroel on Nov 7, 2020 7:46:22 GMT

Day 799 of World War II, November 7th 1941

YouTube (The Red Army must double in size... and now!)

Eastern Front - Operation Barbarossa

In Moscow, Stalin pulls off a public relations masterpiece. 7 November was the Anniversary of the October Revolution. To commemorate this, there would be a parade on Red Square. Stalin had withdrawn the equivalent of two divisions from Moscow’s defensive line to conduct the parade.

Photo: The parade in Kuybyshev Square, Samara, November 7th 1941

At 0700 hours a special train drew up on the platform. The ﬁrst person to step out was Stalin, followed by members of the Politburo, the Government, and the Moscow city authorities. The applause went on for nearly ten minutes. Kolosova thought Stalin looked thinner and greyer than when she had last seen him at the May Day Parade: the strain of the war was beginning to tell. Despite the risk of German air attack, the annual October revolution parade begins at 0800 hours. Troops, artillery and tanks (mainly new T-34 and KV tanks) rumble through Red Square past Lenin’s Mausoleum (empty) and St. Basil’s Cathedral. They then turn west towards the front lines, going straight into action against the Germans. Then it was Stalin’s turn. The audience in the station sat in complete silence as Stalin spoke simply, deliberately, and with his habitual Georgian accent. He spoke with his usual relentless logic – crude, forceful, and difficult to resist. He began by claiming that in four months of war the Germans had lost four and a half million people, against Soviet losses of 350,000 dead, 378,000 missing and just over one million wounded. These ﬁgures were of course wildly misleading, and even among his listeners there were skeptics who found them hard to believe. But he went on to analyze – objectively enough – why the German blitzkrieg was doomed to eventual defeat in Russia. The Germans, Stalin went on, had grossly overestimated their own strength and underestimated that of the Red Army.

Photo: The 331st Rifle Division of the Red Army marches in Red Square, 7 November 1941

The German Army High Command (OKH) was determined to continue the advance on Moscow in spite of up to 80 Soviet Army divisions in front of them and the weather. Heinz Guderian noted in his diary that his troops were beginning to suffer severe frostbite. German 3.Panzergruppe redeploys between 9.Armee and 4.Panzergruppe. There was heavy fighting around Tikhvin and repeated Luftwaffe attacks against targets in Leningrad.

In one of the great maritime tragedies of the war, Soviet hospital ship “Armenia” sinks with over 7000 civilians and wounded soldiers on board. “Armenia” leaves Yalta at 0800 hours, against orders forbidding daylight sailing from the Crimea. At 1129 hours, a single Heinkel He111 from KG 26 torpedoes “Armenia” (despite Red Cross insignia painted on the deck and sides) which rolls over and sinks in 4 minutes. There are 8 survivors.

In Minsk, about thirteen thousand Jews were taken into Tuchinki and brutally killed there. Thousands of bodies were laid out in trenches that had been prepared in advance. The Jews themselves dug the trenches as part of their forced labor.

Air War over Europe

British Bomber Command conducts nighttime raids on Berlin, Cologne and Mannheim with a total of 380 bombers in the heaviest bombing so far in a single night. The Germans reported minimal damage. 160 British RAF bombers attacked Berlin, Germany. Poor weather contributes to the number of aircraft losses. The Berlin raid suffered not only from cloud obscuring the target, but also at the hands of flak and fighters. 21 aircraft (12.4%) were lost (10 Wellingtons, 9 Whitleys and 2 Stirlings). 55 British planes are sent to attack Mannheim. Seven planes do not return. 43 British planes are sent to attack the Ruhr and to mine waterways. Nine planes do not return. RAF Bomber Command sent 75 aircraft to attack Cologne. RAF Bomber Command also sent 30 aircraft on Rover patrols. Overall, 37 aircraft failed to return, a rate of 9.4%. These losses were rapidly swinging the balance against Bomber Command - indeed, no air force could sustain this amount of losses for any length of time and, in an attempt to rebuild the Command's confidence, less well-defended targets were chosen for future attacks. The RAF is radically reviewing its bombing strategy after German air defenses took a heavy toll of RAF bombers and aircrew. In four months, Bomber Command had lost the equivalent of its entire frontline strength, 526 aircraft, and morale on the squadrons was low. The Kammhüber Line, as it is known to the RAF, is responsible. This is a series of ground-controlled interception “boxes” along the most frequently-used routes; in each “box” a night-fighter waits to pounce, so far with great effect. As a result of the ineffectiveness of raids like this, Sir Richard Peirse will be replaced as head of RAF Bomber Command by Sir Arthur Harris in January 1942.

RAF Bomber Command sends 13 aircraft on minelaying operations overnight off Norway.

A moderate Luftwaffe force of long-range bombers with a small number of reconnaissance and dive-bomber aircraft, operated on Fri/Sat night over England. More attention was paid to land targets than of late, the Tyne-Tees area receiving the main weight of attack. Many incidents were reported from coastal districts of Northumberland and Durham, but there was some concentration on Sunderland. In Sunderland there was slight damage to the railway and a quay in the dock area, and a temporary suspension of local traffic on the LNER line owing to a UXB. Houses were demolished at Horden, where five people lost their lives, and at Newbiggin by the Sea, where five people were killed. For the first time since the war began, mixed teams of men and women manned anti-aircraft batteries this night.

RAF Fighter Command Rodeo and Rhubarb operations. RAF Bomber Command sends 28 aircraft to attack Ostend overnight. RAF Bomber Command sends 22 aircraft to attack Boulogne overnight.

Battle of the Mediterranean

Convoy "Beta" departs Naples for Tripoli with seven vessels (German freighters “Duisburg” and “San Marco”; Italian freighters “Maria”, “Sagitta”, and “Rina Corrado”; and Italian tankers “Conte di Misurata” and “Minatitlan”) escorted by the Regia Marina 3rd Division commanded by Bruno Brivonesi comprising heavy cruisers “Trieste” and “Trento” and Italian destroyers “Maestrale”, “Fulmine”, “Euro”, “Gracale”, “Libeccio”, and “Oriani” supported by two cruisers and four more destroyers.

RAF bombers attack Brindisi.

United States

After a month of debate, the US Congress amends the Neutrality act to allow the arming of merchants. The United States Senate voted 50 to 37 to amend the Act to allow merchantmen to be armed and permit U.S. ships to enter combat zones.

Dr. Henry Field was summoned to the office of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt's secretary, Grace Tully, who "told Field that the President was ordering him to produce, in the shortest time possible the full names and addresses of each American-born and foreign-born Japanese listed by locality within each state" and that "it was to be done by using the 1930 and 1940 censuses."

Battle of the Pacific

In the Philippines MacArthur informs Hart that he will not accept Navy control of patrol flights. Hart requests guidance from Navy Department on mobilization and deployment plans. No answer was received.

Japan

Japanese Navy conducted a carrier exercise. Yamamoto issued his second secret order setting the tentative date to start hostilities as December 8. Two factors had determined the choice: there would be a full moon, which would facilitate launching from carriers, and it would be Sunday [December 7] in Hawaii. From Yoshikawa’s reports, it had been established that the Pacific Fleet usually entered Pearl Harbor on a Friday and left the following Monday. IJN aircraft carrier “Akagi” arrives at Kagoshima Bay. IJN aircraft carrier “Shokaku” arrives at Oita Bay.

The Japanese government communicates a proposal to the US for negotiations for a full settlement of all issues, with deadline of 30 November.

Last Edit: Nov 7, 2020 14:32:23 GMT by lordroel

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World War II in real time Nov 8, 2020 7:46:15 GMT stevep, Zyobot, and 1 more like this

Post by lordroel on Nov 8, 2020 7:46:15 GMT

Day 800 of World War II, November 8th 1941

Eastern Front - Operation Barbarossa

German Army Group North finally captures Tikhvin south of Finnish positions along Svir, taking 10,032 casualties in the offensive since October 16. At Tikhvin, Soviet 4th Army was on the verge of collapse. With the last reserves of its supplies, XXXIX.Panzerkorps (Generaloberst Rudolf Schmidt) battles into and captures the city. Tikhvin is the road and rail junction thru which flows the meager supply of food and ammunition for Leningrad (then carried 50 miles North by road to the small town of Syas'stroy on Lake Ladoga and by barge across the Lake to the besieged city, a hazardous journey under Luftwaffe attack). Leningrad Military District orders a ‘corduroy’ road of logs to be cut through the forest for 200 miles, around Tikhvin to a railhead further East at Zabor’ye. Finns make no attempt to achieve contact with Germans since it would have meant surrender of Leningrad. Winter suddenly arrives during the day and overnight temperatures hit –40F.

Photo: German troops by a knocked out Soviet T-34 tank in Tikhvin after taking the town on 8 November 1941

The Soviet 49th and 50th Armies launch counter-attacks against Guderian’s forces north and south of Tula.

In order to have a clearer picture of the situation in the Crimea, General der Jägdflieger Werner Mölders borrows a Bf 109 from III./JG 77 and unofficially shoots down a Russian aircraft. Of the Russian Front Geschwaders, JG 53 loses Fritz Muschter, who is shot down and killed. He had five victories.

Battle of the Atlantic

USAAF 12th Bombardment Squadron began anti-submarine operations from St. Croix Airfield in the US Virgin Islands.

US Naval Operating Base established in Iceland. Rear Admiral James L. Kauffman was the first commandant.

Martlet airplanes from HMS “Audacity” shoot down two Focke-Wulf FW200s during an attack on Convoy ON-76.

The German commerce raider “Atlantis” was given orders to rendezvous first with the submarines U-68 and later with the U-126. These orders would prove to be the undoing of the “Atlantis” as the British Intelligence services had begun to reap the benefits of the equipment and code-books from the captured U-110, plus the fact that with their detailed knowledge of the characteristics of the South Atlantic, they had a fairly good idea where supply-ships were most likely to rendezvous with the U-boats.

Air War over Europe

RAF Bomber Command sends 54 aircraft to attack Essen overnight.

Several operations are flown by RAF Fighter Command including a Ramrod operation, a Circus operation (RAF 11 Group Circus 110) and a Roadstead operation. RAF Fighter Command suffers loss of eighteen fighters. Circus 110 was an attack on the Atéliers d'Hellemes works at Lille with 13 squadrons of Fighters taking part escorting 12 Blenheim IVs from RAF 2 Group. The Luftwaffe claimed 24 Spitfires shot down by the Bf 109s of JG 2 and JG 26. Despite the over-claiming, Obstlt. Adolf Galland from Stab/JG 26 reached 95 kills, Hptm. Joachim Müncheberg of Stab II./JG 26 reached 58 kills as did Hptm. Josef Priller of 1./JG 26. It appears no pilot of JG 2 was awarded a kill.

RAF Bomber Command sends 18 aircraft to attack Dunkirk overnight.

Battle of the Mediterranean

British cruisers HMS “Aurora” and HMS “Penelope” and destroyers HMS “Lance” and HMS “Lively” (Task Force ‘K’), were dispatched from Malta to intercept the Axis convoy ‘Beta’ that had just departed from Italy. This convoy , known as the “Duisburg” convoy to the Germans (because the German merchant ship of that name was included in it) and the “Beta” convoy to the Italians, carried 145 Italian and 78 German troops, 389 vehicles, 34,473 tons of supplies, and 17,281 tons of fuel. Regia Marina provides an escort by the 3rd Division commanded by Bruno Brivonesi comprising heavy cruisers “Trieste” and “Trento” and 7 Italian destroyers. In addition, 64 Italian aircraft (including six seaplanes) plus eight German planes allowed an escort of eight aircraft overhead from dawn to dusk. The British though, attacked at night with the advantages of radar (which the Italians didn’t have) and prior intelligence from Ultra (the British code breaking efforts had cracked the Italian C38m code, which was used for communications between Italian forces at sea and their land-based HQ). Ultra had provided the British with the position and route of the convoy. 200 miles East of Malta, RAF Martin Maryland (RAF No. 69 Squadron), on reconnaissance from Malta, deliberately locates Beta as a cover for Ultra.

Delegates from Communist-led resistance groups form unified Communist Party of Albania, with Enver Hoxha elected Secretary of the Provisional Central Committee.

Malta is subjected to several attacks during the day. At 1155 hours four Italian Cant 1007s escorted by approximately eighteen Macchi’s dropped bombs from Rinella in a long line to just short of Luqa village. No damage or casualties. RAF Hurricanes engaged the Macchi’s with results as follows: 3 Macchi’s destroyed, 1 probably destroyed, 1 damaged. During the attack Macchi 202 fighter pilot Captain Mario Pluda, in command of 73a Squadriglia, 9o Gruppo, 4o Stormo, and fighter pilot Sergeant Major Luigi Taroni were shot down and killed. The RAF lost 1 Hurricane destroyed and one damaged. At 1941 hours three alerts were sounded when a total of sixteen enemy aircraft approached the Island. Practically all bombs were dropped in the sea. One enemy aircraft dropped anti-personnel bombs in the Rabat area.

From Luqa airfield one Blenheim of RAF No. 18 Squadron and one from RAF No. 107 Squadron flew a recce over Kerkennah, Zuara, and Tripoli. Six Blenheims of RAF No. 107 Squadron and six of RAF No. 18 Squadron attacked a convoy off Cape Spartivento. Sgt Hopkinson of RAF No. 18 Squadron and F/Lt Pryor of RAF No. 107 Squadron failed to return. Eleven Wellingtons of RAF No. 40 Squadron and six Wellingtons of RAF No. 104 Squadron attacked Naples, Palermo, Catania, Syracuse and other targets.

Four Wellingtons of RAF No. 104 Squadron attacked Brindisi and Messina.

Battle for the Pacific

In the Philippines USAAF 3rd Pursuit Squadron receives 25 P-40E’s.

Photo: The first "Women Guerrilla" corps had just been formed in the Philippines. Filipino women are seen here practicing at a rifle range in Manila on November 8, 1941

Japan military

Per the Great Army Instruction No. 992, the Japanese Army and Navy were ordered to coordinate their plans for the opening phases of the Pacific War. The Combined Fleet staff worked hard preparing the Army-Navy agreement and Combined Fleet Operational Order No. 1. The Naval General Staff would issue Navy Order No. 1 with implementing Navy Directive No. 1 the same day. Navy Order No. 1 was brief and to the point:

“By Imperial Order, the Chief of the Naval General Staff orders Yamamoto Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet as follows:

1. Expecting to go to war with the United States, Britain and The Netherlands early in December for self-preservation and self-defense, the Empire has decided to complete war preparations.

2. The Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet will carry out the necessary operational preparations.

3. Its details will be directed by the Chief of the Naval General Staff.”
Navy Directive No. 1 from the Naval General Staff was more detailed and ordered Yamamoto to take various measures prepatory to combat. He did. While every branch of the Naval Ministry were working hard and aggressively on the Orders, Yamamoto issued his “Combined Fleet Top Secret Operation Order No. 1”, a bulky 151-page document. It outlined naval strategy for the first phase of hostilities covering not only Pearl Harbor but more or less simultaneous assaults on Malaya, the Philippines, Guam, Wake, Hong Kong and the South Seas. Combined Fleet Operational Order No. 1 was more than a directive for tactical employment of Japan’s naval forces; it presented a long-range strategic plan. The 151-page order also covered thousands of details. In brief, Japan’s territorial ambitions demanded simultaneous action in virtually every corner of the Pacific, including the USSR’s Maritime Provinces. The Combined Fleet document astonished the Operations Section in Tokyo. It went far beyond anything that group had anticipated in case Japan went to war. The Combined Fleet Staff had virtually completed the order before the First Bureau found out how greatly it differed in scope from the Naval General staff’s initial instructions. Nevertheless, the Operations Section did not object strenuously to Yamamoto’s Combined Fleet Order. The conference between the Operations Section and Yamamoto’s staff officers lasted only one day and publication of the order began immediately thereafter. The Naval General Staff printed it, running off 700 copies – an astounding number for a top secret document – with yeomen from the Combined Fleet doing the job.

IJN aircraft carrier “Akagi” departs Kagoshima Bay.

Japanese Army Air Force 1st Air Brigade (the 1st Hikodan) was ordered to prepare for operations against Hong Kong. PO1c Masayuki Mitsumasa (Otsu 5) and PO1c Ei-ichi Nakasawa (Pilot 48) from the 3rd Kokutai were killed in an accident over China.

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lordroel
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World War II in real time Nov 9, 2020 3:42:39 GMT Zyobot and gillan1220 like this

Post by lordroel on Nov 9, 2020 3:42:39 GMT

Day 801 of World War II, November 9th 1941

Eastern Front - Operation Barbarossa

The 19,894-strong Soviet Independent Coastal Army, with 10 T-26 tanks and 152 guns, arrived in Sevastopol, Russia from Odessa, Ukraine, bringing the total defense of the city to 52,000 troops, 170 guns and 100 aircraft. 40 kilometers east of Sevastopol, the 11.Armee captures Yalta as it clears the bulk of the Crimean Peninsula.

Soviet armies conduct localized counterattacks at multiple points along the front of German Army Group Center. In the Rostov sector, Timoshenko prepares counteroffensive against exposed northern flank of German 1.Panzerarmee. Meretskov takes command of Soviet 4th Army.

Hungarian freighter “Ungvar” struck a mine (previously laid by Soviet submarine L-4) and sank in the Black Sea. Nearby Romanian torpedo boats “Viforul” and “Vijelia” were also destroyed in the explosion. Soviet cruiser “Molotov” bombards German positions around Feodosia.

Heinrich Müller ordered that all Soviet prisoners of war bound to be executed who were not fit to travel to the places of execution were to be killed at their places of imprisonment. This was to avoid allowing civilians the see these malnourished and diseased prisoners as it could damage morale.

The Leningrad Radio Symphony Orchestra performed Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in a live concert broadcast to London. Near the end of the performance, air raid sirens could be heard over the music. Shortly thereafter, bombs could be heard detonating outside the concert hall along with the rapid fire of AA guns. The orchestra completed the performance without a break.

Mihailovich’s Chetnik partisans continue their attack on Tito’s communist group, weakening organized resistance to the Nazis.

Battle of the Atlantic

Convoy PQ 3 departs Hvalfjord for Archangel.

U.S. Navy Task Unit 4.1.4, under command of Captain Alan G. Kirk, departed Argentia, Newfoundland, to screen the 31-ship Convoy HX-159. This was the first escort task unit that included in its composition a Coast Guard cutter - the USCG “Campbell”. The convoy would not be attacked by U-boats although the presence of whales and blackfish resulted in attacks on sound contacts on five occasions through November 13.

Air War over Europe

RAF Bomber Command sends 103 aircraft to attack Hamburg overnight.

Battle of the Mediterranean

Force K made radar contact on Convoy Beta at a range of 8 miles, and maneuvered unseen into perfect attack position (not only down-moon, meaning the convoy was silhouetted by moonlight, but also waiting until Brivonesi’s big ships were on the opposite tack, ten miles away and with the convoy between them and the British). Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, the British press home their attacks. At 0100 hours, British cruiser HMS “Aurora”, cruiser HMS “Penelope”, destroyer HMS “Lance”, and destroyer HMS “Lively”, intercepted their target and opened fire at point-blank naval range, a mile and half to a mile and three-quarters— on the three nearest destroyers of the close escort.. All five freighters (German freighters “Duisburg” and “San Marco”; Italian freighters “Maria”, “Sagitta”, and “Rina Corrado”; and Italian tankers “Conte di Misurata” and “Minatitlan”) and Italian destroyer “Fulmine” were sunk with radar gunnery, while damaging destroyers “Grecale” and “Maestrale”. All were sunk before Brivonesi could come to the rescue. The Italian admiral chased the departing raiders, straddling enemy ships twice at ranges of five-and-a-half to ten miles, but eventually giving up a stern chase against faster vessels. At 0640 hours, British submarine HMS “Upholder” attacked Italian destroyer “Libeccio”, which was busy rescuing survivors of the night time battle. 704 survivors from the convoy are rescued. An attempt was made to tow her back to port for repairs, but “Libeccio” would sink en route. HMS “Upholder” also unsuccessfully attacks Italian cruisers “Trento” and “Trieste”. Count Ciano writes in his diary of the effect of Malta based aircraft:

“Since September 19 we had given up trying to get convoys through to Libya; every attempt had been paid for at a high price ... Tonight we tried it again. A convoy of 7 ships left, accompanied by two ten-thousand-ton cruisers and ten destroyers....All - I mean all - our ships were sunk."

Exactly a week after the first cluster bomb attack on Valletta, Malta, the hilltop community of Rabat awoke to the same terrifying sight of Thermos bombs scattered throughout the narrow streets. Superintendent Philip Pullicino of the Special Constabulary and his men worked alongside local police and ARP volunteers in a co-ordinated operation to find and guard every single bomb, until Bomb Disposal Officer Lt George Carroll and his Section arrived to deal with them. Working in teams of three, by the end of the day the Bomb Disposal men had dealt with over 80 Thermos bombs in the town.

Overnight five Albacore aircraft from Malta, FAA No. 828 Squadron were dispatched to attack the submarine base at Augusta with good results. A large fire was started amongst the oil tanks. Light Ack Ack was very intense and accurate. Six Blenheims from RAF No. 107 Squadron, five Blenheims from RAF No. 18 Squadron flew a shipping sweep Gulf of Sirte. Nothing was sighted. Three Wellingtons from RAF No. 104 Squadron made a nuisance raid on Naples. Two Wellingtons from RAF No. 104 Squadron made a nuisance raid on Messina. Three Swordfish carried out submarine patrol. Nothing was sighted.

Six air raid alarms were sounded in Malta through Sunday night: at 1941, 2211, 2309, 0027, 0122 and 0210 hours. A total of twenty five enemy aircraft approached the Island but they dropped the majority of their bombs in the sea, mainly thanks to excellent work of the searchlight operators. During the first raid they illuminated a BR 20 Italian bomber, which was promptly engaged by a RAF Hurricane and damaged. In the second raid another enemy aircraft was reported ‘probably destroyed’ by Hurricanes. Just before the second alarm a Hurricane crashed soon after taking off, near Wardia Ridge: the pilot successfully bailed out at 500 feet.

Japan military

IJN aircraft carrier “Akagi” arrived at Sasebo, Japan. IJN aircraft carriers “Shokaku” and “Zuikaku” arrived at Kure, Japan.

Last Edit: Nov 9, 2020 16:06:26 GMT by lordroel

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World War II in real time Nov 10, 2020 3:50:41 GMT stevep, Zyobot, and 1 more like this

Post by lordroel on Nov 10, 2020 3:50:41 GMT

Day 802 of World War II, November 10th 1941

Eastern Front - Operation Barbarossa

German General Erich von Manstein finally felt he was prepared enough to begin a formal assault against Sevastopol, Russia. The 50.Infanterie-Divisionen (Lieutenant General K. Hollidt) attacked first, capturing Uppa near the Chernaya River, southeast of Sevastopol, followed by the 132.Infanterie-Division (Generalleutnant Rudolf Sintzenich) on the next day. On the Soviet side, Vice Admiral F. S. Oktyabrsky (with Major General I. A. Petrov as his deputy) mobilized 52,000 men, of whom 21,000 were sailors, together with 170 guns (some were in modern steel and concrete emplacements), for the defense of Sevastopol.

The Bryansk Front was dissolved. Kalinin Front (Koniev) protected Moscow from the northern flank and Western Front (Zhukov) from the west. Reserves from the Far East joined Zhukov. Rokossovski’s 16th Army was deployed in depth with carefully placed anti-tank defenses.

Battle of the Atlantic

A troop convoy designated WS-124 sails from Halifax, consisting mainly of U.S. transports carrying 22,000 British troops, with a U.S. escort as far as South Africa. Among the transports are the three premier liners of the American merchant marine (“America”, “Manhattan” and “Washington”), now in Navy service as USS “West Point”, “Wakefield” and “Mount Vernon”, respectively. The convoy is initially destined for Basra. Escort was provided by the aircraft carrier USS “Ranger”, 2 cruisers and seven destroyers (and the United States was still technically neutral).

Photo: Long Island in sea camouflage, November 1941. Seven SOC Seagull floatplanes and one F2A3 Buffalo fighter are on deck

American destroyer “Ericsson”, escorting convoy HX 157, depth charged sound contact.

In the North Atlantic, U-109 met the “Silva Plana”, a German capture, and escorted it to safe French waters.

Air War over Europe

There were daylight Luftwaffe attacks on Saltburn on Sea, Durham and Bampton (Bempton), where the Bridlington to Scarborough train was hit. Just before dark, the Flying Scotsman was machine-gunned by enemy aircraft at Berwick. Edinburgh reported that the fireman of the train passing Marshall Meadows at the time received a slight machine-gun bullet wound in the arm. A German plane dropped two HEs then machine-gunned the train. Numerous bullets struck the train and several glass panels were smashed in the carriages. None of the passengers injured but the fireman of the second engine was grazed on the left arm by a machine-gun bullet.

A Junkers Ju 88 was hit by AA fire from HMS ‘Quantock' and it crashed into the cliffs at Ravenscar near Whitby at 1740 hours. Two of the crew were killed and two were listed as missing. The two dead were buried at Thornaby on Tees, together with a third airman, presumably one of the remaining crew members whose body was washed ashore at Ravenscar on November 18th.

Battle of the Mediterranean

British submarines HMS “Torbay” (carrying Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Keyes' group of 28 men) and HMS “Talisman” (carrying Lieutenant Colonel Robert Laycock's group of 28 men) depart Alexandria, Egypt, on an audacious mission to kill Rommel. Faulty intelligence leads them to believe that his HQ is at Beda Littoria, 250 miles inside German-held Libya. In any case, Rommel is vacationing in Italy with his wife Lucie to celebrate his 50th birthday.

Photo: HMS TORBAY secured to a buoy in Plymouth Sound fitted with an external stern tube, 20mm Oerliken and radar

The Operation Perpetual convoy, escorted by battleship HMS “Malaya”, cruiser HMS “Hermione”, and seven destroyers, departed from Gibraltar. At the center of the convoy, British carriers HMS “Ark Royal” and HMS “Argus” were tasked with delivering 37 Hurricane fighters for Malta.

British submarine HMS “Proteus” sank German ship “Ithaka” off the island of Milos, Greece. Greek submarine “Glaukos” damaged German ship “Norburg” north of Crete, Greece.

The Italian "San Marco" naval infantry regiment formed a 3rd battalion by drawing three companies from the two existing battalions.

Overnight the Regia Aeronautica showered more anti-personnel bombs on a civilian area on Malta. This time it was Birkirkara, a town now heavily populated with refugees from the Grand Harbour area who had fled there for safety. Yet again, hundreds of Thermos bombs lay in narrow streets and lanes: 142 them were reported as high priority and dealt with by the Royal Engineers Bomb Disposal Section the same day.

Overnight from Malta, five Albacores of Fleet Air Arm (FAA) No. 828 Squadron were again dispatched to attack Augusta. Bombs were dropped near Nafta tank causing small fire and others on the north end of the submarine base. Weather was good and all aircraft returned safely. One Fulmar made a night intruder patrol over Cape Passero but the weather was unsuitable for locating aerodrome. Four Albacores of FAA No. 828 Squadron were dispatched to attack Catania aerodrome. Results were unobserved owing to bad weather conditions. All aircraft returned safely. Six Blenheims from RAF No. 107 Squadron flew a shipping sweep over the Gulf of Sirte. Three Wellingtons of RAF No. 40 Squadron made a nuisance raid on Brindisi. Two Wellingtons of RAF No. 40 Squadron flew a nuisance raid on Naples.

Photo: "Men of the Leicestershire Regiment man a Bren gun near Tobruk, 10 November 1941"

China

US Navy Asiatic Fleet issued orders to withdraw Yangtze River gunboats and US Marines from China.

Japan military

Japanese Admiral Chūichi Nagumo put Yamamoto’s plan into effect by issuing his first operational order. There was an understanding that if diplomatic negotiations with America were successfully concluded even at the very last moment, the attack on Pearl Harbor would be called off and the Striking Force returned to a rendezvous point at Latitude 42 degrees north by Longitude 170 degrees east, where it would stay in a state of readiness until further instructions. The Japanese were already weaving a cloak of secrecy around Nagumo’s Strike Force. Every day false communications emanated from Kyushu at the same time and on the same wavelength as during the training period. Moreover, the Navy broadcast daily messages to Nagumo as intended during the cruise to Hawaii. Nagumo issued Striking Force Operations Order No. 1, directing his forces to complete battle preparations by 20th November and to assemble at Hitokappu Bay. Elements of Nagumo's Pearl Harbor Striking Force began departing Kure naval base.

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World War II in real time Nov 11, 2020 3:47:29 GMT stevep, Zyobot, and 1 more like this

Post by lordroel on Nov 11, 2020 3:47:29 GMT

Day 803 of World War II, November 11th 1941

Eastern Front - Operation Barbarossa

Soviet forces prepare counteroffensive against German Army Group North in the Tikhvin sector. Soviet armies conduct localized counterattacks at multiple points along the front of German Army Group Center. The Soviet 49th and 50th Armies launch an attack on the German XXXXIII.Armeekorps at Tula. Fighting is very heavy. The Soviet 49th Army's divisions mount a concentric attack and thwart an attempt to envelope Soviet forces around Tula. German 1.Panzerarmee forced to halt its advance toward Rostov. Soviet cruisers and destroyers bombard attacking German forces at Sevastopol.

Continuation War

Red Army launched an unsuccessful counterattack in the Kestenga sector to reach their encircled comrades, but without result. Finnish General Siilasvuo ordered his forces to start preparing defensive positions. Soviet resistance was stiffening, and the Finnish GHQ was worried about the heavy losses Finnish troops were taking. Attack in Kestenga is halted by secret order of Finnish GHQ, because it is considered not wise to irritate Western allies by cutting the Murmansk railroad.

After dark, Soviet destroyers “Stoiki” and “Leningrad”, minelayer “Ural”, troop transport “Andrei Zhdanov”, and three minesweepers departed the island of Gogland (known in Finnish as Suursaari) in the Gulf of Finland for the Hanko Peninsula in southern Finland. After “Andrei Zhdanov” was sunk by a mine (7 were killed, 66 survived) and “Leningrad” damaged by a mine, the convoy abandoned its mission to evacuate Soviet troops from Hanko and sailed back to Gogland.

German submarine U-580, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Günther Kuhlmann, collided with target ship “Angelburg” and sank 33 miles west of Klaipeda, Lithuania by accident. Of the ship’s complement, 12 died and 32 survived. During its career the U-580 sank or damaged no ships.

Air War over Europe

RAF Circus No. 110, the last such operation for the British of the year, is mounted with twelve Blenheims with an escort of Spitfires sent to raid railroad facilities near Lille. Intercepted by the brand new Fw 190s of JG 26, fourteen British aircraft are shot down while the "Abbeville Boys" lose only three of the new radial engined fighters with one pilot killed. Adding to their scores are Obstlt. Adolf Galland for his ninety-second and ninety-third kills, Hptm. Seifert for his twenty-third, Hptm. Josef Priller for his fifty-seventh and fifty-eighth victories, Hptm. Müncheberg for his fifty-eighth and fifty-ninth, the Staffelkapitän of 4./JG 26 Oblt. Kurt Ebersberger got his sixteenth and Fw. Addi Glunz for his eighth.

Battle of the Atlantic

American destroyer “Edison”, en route to escort Atlantic convoy ON 34, depth charged sound contact. American destroyer “Decatur”, escorting Atlantic convoy HX 159, depth charged sound contact off the Grand Banks, Newfoundland. The incident was later evaluated as a "doubtful" submarine.

British Hudson aircraft of No. 53 Squadron RAF damaged German submarine U-203 with four depth charges in the Bay of Biscay at 1415 hours.

A straggler from Convoy SC-53, the Panamanian steam merchant “Meridian” was torpedoed and sunk by the U-561, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Robert Bartels, in the northern Atlantic Ocean. All of the ship’s complement of 26 died. The 5,592 ton “Meridian” was carrying government stores and general cargo and was bound for Archangel, Soviet Union.

Battle of the Mediterranean

Three RN Albacores were dispatched to Catania but returned with engine trouble without reaching target. Seven Swordfish left to attack a convoy westwards. Three returned early with engine trouble and four failed to return at all.

From Malta Six Blenheims RAF No. 18 Squadron attacked two M/Vs. Two Blenheims from RAF No. 18 Squadron searched for shipping. Ten Wellingtons from RAF No.40 Squadron and nine of No.104 Squadron attacked Naples. Squadron Leader Greer failed to return.

East African campaign

The battle to push the Italians out of east Africa begins. Allied forces with support from local guerillas attack Chilga to the west and Kulkaber to the south east of the main Italian position at Gondar. The Italians repel the attacks.

North African campaign

Major Ernst Duellberg's BF109F-4 (Trop) is damaged in combat by the Tomahawk of Flt-Lt A. C. Rawlinson of 3 Sqn. RAAF. Duellberg nurses his aircraft back to Ain-el Gazala where it belly-lands and is written off.

2nd New Zealand Division moves from Baggush to assembly point near Matruh - Siwa. This is the first time the entire New Zealand force has been together (20,000 all ranks).

Japan military

Japanese submarine I-68 joined the Advance Expeditionary Force for the Pearl Harbor attack. She departed Saeki, Japan for Kwajalein, Marshall Islands. Ten Japanese submarines of the Third Submarine Squadron departed from Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan for Kwajalein of the Marshall Islands, where they would proceed for US Territory of Hawaii. They sailed at 1111 hours – the eleventh minute after the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

Photo: Japanese submarine I-68 underway in 1934. The photo was probably taken during her trials

IJN aircraft carrier “Kaga” entered the drydocks at Sasebo Naval Shipyard, Japan.

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World War II in real time Nov 12, 2020 3:47:32 GMT stevep and Zyobot like this

Post by lordroel on Nov 12, 2020 3:47:32 GMT

Day 804 of World War II, November 12th 1941

Eastern Front - Operation Barbarossa

Winter comes to the Russian Front as no German units anywhere on the East front record a temperature higher than 5 degrees Fahrenheit. After sundown, the temperature in the Moscow region of Russia dropped to 5 degrees Fahrenheit or -15 degrees Celsius, which was harsh on the troops on either side, but particularly to the Germans who were less prepared to deal with the weather. Impassable mud freezes enough to allow movement of trucks and tracked vehicles. German Army Group Centre prepares to drive 3.Panzerarmee and 4.Panzerarmee in a massive armored punch North of Moscow while Guderian’s 2.Panzerarmee comes from the South. Meanwhile, Soviet General Zhukov has rebuilt the Western Front to defend Moscow, gaining 22 infantry divisions, 14 cavalry divisions, and 11 ski battalions to reinforce the Soviet capital. The Red Army uses its ski troops in combat for the first time. The Soviet 52nd Army counterattacked at Volkhov.

Photo: A German photograph in Kharkov taken on 12 November 1941. The city had been captured a couple of weeks previously. Written on the back in German was the inscription, "This is the way street fights have wrecked conquered Kharkiv! As of today, there has not yet been time to clean everywhere"

Italian expeditionary corps begins withdrawing from Eastern front lines, ending its combat operations.

Stuka dive bombers of German StG 77 damaged Soviet cruiser “Chervona Ukraina” with 3 bombs at Sevastopol, Russia. Destroyers “Sovershenny” and “Besposhchadny” were also damaged, with the former capsizing at the naval shipyard.

Photo: Chervona Ukraina before her 1939–1941 refit

Continuation War

Finnish vessels laid mines in the Gulf of Finland to disrupt the Soviet attempts to evacuate personnel from Hanko in southern Finland. Third Soviet evacuation convoy abandons its mission to Hanko.

Finland rejects yet another request from the United States to make peace with the Soviet Union. Finland states that her war is defensive in nature, and the Finnish military efforts don’t threaten the US interests. Finland can't fulfill the US demand to retreat behind the pre-1939 border, because such an act would undermine Finnish security. After giving this official answer, the Finnish FM Witting pays an unofficial visit to the US ambassador Schoenfeld. Witting states that Finland won't cut the Murmansk railway or advance to Archangel. All Finnish military operations from now on will be modest in nature.

Battle of the Atlantic

German submarine U-203, with one engine and aft diving planes damaged by a British air attack on the previous day, arrived in Brest, France.

U.S. Navy Task Unit 4.1.3, under command of Commander Richard E. Webb, assumed escort duty for convoy ON 34.

The destroyer USS “Decatur” (DD-341), screening Convoy HX-159, twice depth charged sound contacts that were later evaluated as "non-submarine." The destroyer USS “Badger” (DD-126), depth charged a sound contact that was later evaluated as perhaps the USS “Decatur's” wake. The U.S. Coast Guard cutter USCG “Campbell” reported a sound contact and conducted a search which was joined by the destroyer USS “Livermore” (DD-429).

Battle of the Mediterranean

British aircraft carriers HMS “Ark Royal” and HMS “Argus” from the Operation Perpetual convoy launched 37 Hurricane fighters to reinforce Malta. In the early morning RAF Blenheims from Malta set out on a special mission, to guide in the delivery of Hurricane aircraft flying off the aircraft carriers. Their mission successfully completed, the aircraft carriers turned westwards along with the rest of the convoy, Force “H”.

U-331 left Salamis with eight members of a special service team on board for the African front in Tobruk.

Overnight, seven Swordfish from No. 830 Squadron Fleet Air Arm at Hal Far were dispatched to attack a convoy consisting of two merchant vessels west of Pantelleria. Three aircraft returned to base owing to engine trouble; the remaining four failed to return to base.

From Malta five Blenheims from No.107 Squadron (Sqdn) attacked Mellaha aerodrome. Three Blenheims from No.107 Sqdn made a special search for a dinghy. Three Blenheims from No.18 Sqdn flew a special search for dinghies near Malta-Maritimo. One Blenheim of No.107 Sqdn SF 11 was on patrol. One Blenheim from No.18 Sqdn flew a shipping search off Pantelleria.

Japan military

Yamamoto and his entourage, including Ugaki left Tokyo by train for Yokosuka whence they flew to the Iwakuni Air Group, landing shortly after 1330 hours. They immediately sailed to the “Nagato” which had sailed there to meet them.

Vichy France

General Huntziger, the Vichy war minister, was killed 50 miles north of Nimes, France in a plane accident. He was returning from a mission to North Africa, to consult General Weygand on a possible German bid to use French North Africa. Though Huntziger signed the armistice with the Germans in June last year, he was a staunch defender of French interests against German encroachment and the strongest opponent of Laval’s efforts to open French ports to Germany.

Photo: the Potez 662 aircraft that crashed killing General Huntziger

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World War II in real time Nov 13, 2020 8:02:32 GMT stevep, Zyobot, and 1 more like this

Post by lordroel on Nov 13, 2020 8:02:32 GMT

Day 805 of World War II, November 13th 1941

Eastern Front - Operation Barbarossa

At a conference held at Orsha in the occupied Soviet Union, German field commanders meet to hear General Halder’s (the OKH Chief of the General Staff) plans to continue the attack on Moscow. The plan involves three infantry armies and three panzer groups. The plan is for Guderian’s 2.Panzerarmee to take Tula, to the south of the Russian capital, and then sweep up behind Moscow to Kolemna. Hoth’s 3.Panzerarmee is to form the northern arm of the pincer with the task of driving eastwards to the Volga Canal and then wheeling towards Moscow while Hopner’s 4.Panzerarmee attacks in the centre. Despite some reservations the plan is agreed upon. German troops fighting near Moscow, were fighting temperatures as low as -8° F (-22° C). Army Group South reports that the heavy frost has set in. Guderian reported that ice was causing a lot of trouble. The cold made telescopic sights useless. Fuel was freezing and oil became viscous. Each regiment of the 112.Infanterie-Division had already lost 500 men from frostbite. The result, said Guderian was a panic which reached as far back as Bogorodsk. Winter in Russia had begun. As the mud freezes, however, the Germans prepared for a new offensive amidst increasing casualties due to weather. Taking advantage of the frost-hardened ground, they launched one of their customary pincer movements in a final attempt to capture the city before the winter strikes the exposed German army with all its severity. The Germans are happy that the frost has made the ground hard enough for their tanks and horses and men to operate, but if they cannot reach the shelter of Moscow within the next few weeks they will be forced to go onto the defensive. The initial reports of the fighting show that it is going to be much harder for them to take Moscow than seemed possible last month when panic gripped the city. Tula has been turned into a strongpoint, and unless the Germans take this communications centre and its airfield they cannot complete their pincer movement. Stalin has put heart into the people of Moscow, and Zhukov has created an effective defence. Further south, German and Romanian troops make an unsuccessful attempt to seize Sevastopol. General Kirill Meretskov attacked German troops at Tikhvin, Russia. German 12.Panzer-Divisionen (Major General J. Harpe) cannot reinforce or supply Tikhvin so General von Arnim organizes his tired troops into a hedgehog defense (small, mutually-defending strongpoints, often hidden, designed to frustrate the movements of a larger army). Soviet General Kirill Meretskov (reinstated after his poor performance against Finland in the Winter War and subsequent interrogation by NKVD) begins an attack with 4th, 52nd and 54th Armies including 3 fresh divisions brought in from Siberia and the Far East.

Soviet cruiser “Chervona Ukraina”, damaged by German aircraft on the previous day, sank at Sevastopol, Russia. Her guns would be salvaged to be used on shore.

After sundown, Soviet destroyers “Gordy” and “Surovy” departed Gogland, Russia for Hanko, Finland, escorted by minelayer “Ural”, four T-class minesweepers, and four MO-class submarine chasers. En route, “Surovy”, T-206, and MO-301 struck Finnish naval mines and were sunk. The remaining ships arrive at Hanko and wait, eventually return to Kronstadt on November 25.

Battle of the Atlantic

The unescorted British motor merchant “Peru” was torpedoed and sunk by the U-126, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Ernst Bauer, southwest of Cape Palmas, Liberia in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, all 50 survived and were picked up by the South African whale factory ship “Uniwaleco”. The 6,961 ton “Peru” was carrying pig iron, groundnuts, and general cargo and was bound for the United Kingdom.

The German commerce raider “Atlantis” rendezvoused with the submarine U-68 southwest of the island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic in order for the “Atlantis” to transfer fuel oil to the submarine as the “Atlantis” was now scheduled to return to Germany.

Battle of the Mediterranean

Force K, returning to Gibraltar from Malta is attacked by two German U-boats, U-81 and U-205. German submarine U-81 hit and badly damaged British aircraft carrier HMS “Ark Royal” in the Mediterranean Sea 150 miles east of Gibraltar; 1 was killed, 1,487 survived. At 1540 hours, the sonar operator aboard the destroyer “Legion” detected an unidentified sound, but assumed it was the propellers of a nearby destroyer. One minute later, “Ark Royal” was struck amidships by a torpedo, between the fuel bunkers and bomb store, and directly below the bridge island. The explosion caused “Ark Royal” to shake, hurled loaded torpedo-bombers into the air, and killed Able Seaman Edward Mitchell. A 130-by-30-foot hole was created on the starboard side and bottom by the torpedo. The hit caused flooding of the starboard boiler room, main switchboard, oil tanks, and over 106 feet (32 m) of the ship's starboard bilge. The starboard power train was knocked out, causing the rear half of the ship to lose power, while communications were severed shipwide. The hole in the hull was enlarged by the ship's motion, and by the time “Ark Royal” stopped she had taken on water and begun to list to starboard. The tug “Thames” arrived from Gibraltar at 20:00 and attached a tow line to “Ark Royal”, but flooding caused the angle of list to increase rapidly. “Ark Royal's” complement had been evacuated to “Legion” by 04:30 hours and the 1,487 officers and crew were transported to Gibraltar.

Photo: HMS Legion moving alongside the damaged and listing Ark Royal to take off survivors

Despite the delivery, and the arrival of Monday’s convoy, shortages of essential commodities were becoming a serious problem, with the inevitable increase in prices of both local and imported goods. Even in peacetime, Malta was unable to feed itself from its limited farmland. With thousands of extra military personnel on the Island much-needed supplies could only come by sea – which meant passing through hostile enemy territory. It was decided that special measures were needed and a new government advisory body, with Regional Protection Officers given the job of monitoring fair trading by local businesses. The price of essential commodities was fixed at or near pre-war levels.

From Malta 3 Blenheims of No.107 Sqdn were dispatched to attack barracks and M/T park at Mellaha. All aircraft turned back owing to bad weather.

On the night of the 13th Rommel ordered another withdrawal, and now the animosity between German and Italian broke into conflict. In several cases Germans who had no vehicles stole Italian vehicles at gunpoint, and some German battalions stealthily crept out of the line without bothering to notify let alone coordinate with, the Italians on the flank. The sun had risen before some Italians learned of the retreat. This meant that much heavy equipment was left behind, including precious anti-tank guns, and tens of thousands of Italians began walking across a flat desert swept by a cold wind under the eyes of every pilot in the Allied air force.

United States

Both houses of the US Congress narrowly (the house vote was 212 to 194) repeal the Neutrality Act. The roll was called in tense silence. As soon as it was over, the Speaker, Sam Rayburn of Texas, who immediately before the vote went on to the floor and read a letter from the president urging passage, happily signed it. The president will sign it on Monday. The bill’s history was a notable demonstration not only of the declining, though still formidable, power of the isolationists but also of President Roosevelt’s political skill. Realizing that he did not at first have the votes for revising the Neutrality Act so drastically as to allow American ships to enter war zones, he first sent a bill allowing US merchantmen to be armed to the House. Polls suggested that most Americans were in favour, and the bill was passed by the House by almost two votes to one on 17 October. Then, after making a speech in which he claimed that the Nazis were planning to subjugate Central and South America, he sent the more ambitious bill allowing ships to go into war zones to the Senate, where it passed by 50 to 37. That was close. U.S. merchant ships were now allowed to be armed and enter war zones.

Battle of the Pacific

Allied troops established a new defensive line from the mouth of the Muar River to Gemas in British Malaya.

Photo: Indian troops embark onto boats during an invasion exercise in southern Johore, 13 November 1941

Japan military

Japanese Admiral Yamamoto gathered his commanders at Iwakuni air base at Yamaguchi, Japan to discuss Pearl Harbor tactics. The commanders in chief of all fleets except the Southern Expeditionary Fleet, with their chiefs of staff and senior staff officers, arrived by sea and land to participate. These included Nagumo, Kusaka, and Oishi as well as Shimizu.

Aboard IJN aircraft carrier “Akagi”, testing was complete on new torpedo modification and drop techniques, with 82% effective hits. Genda believed that the last obstacle to successful attack had been removed. “Akagi” departed Sasebo and arrives later that day at Kagoshima.

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World War II in real time Nov 14, 2020 14:33:44 GMT stevep, Zyobot, and 1 more like this

Post by lordroel on Nov 14, 2020 14:33:44 GMT

Day 806 of World War II, November 14th 1941

YouTube (Night Vision Brings Triumph to the British!)

Eastern Front - Operation Barbarossa

Stalin ordered Zhukov to launch two spoiling attacks. Rokossovski was ordered to attack at Volokolamsk. Both Zhukov and Rokossovski protested – to no avail. Armies of Soviet Western Front conduct localized counterattacks at multiple points along the front of German Army Group Center. The Soviet 49th Army hits the German XII.Armeekorps and XIII.Armeekorps in the Tula area. Fighting is very heavy.

Elements of 11.Armee close on Sevastopol, cutting the city off from landward communications. On the other side of the peninsula, Kerch is occupied.

Photo: A German truck stuck in the mud outside Moscow, November 1941

Soviet destroyer “Gordy” struck a mine and sank en route to Hanko, Finland. Soviet submarine M-98 struck a mine and sank in the Gulf of Finland, killing all aboard. Soviet submarine L-2 struck three mines in a minefield off Keri, Estonia in the Baltic Sea between 0107 and 0617 hours, eventually sinking, killing 50 of 53 aboard. Moscow announced sinking of five Kriegsmarine transports two in the Barents Sea and three in the Baltic.

Photo: Soviet destroyers Gordy

A Focke Wulf Fw 200C-4 from 3./KG 40 failed to return from its mission and was believed lost in the sea off Norway. All crew listed as missing in action.

Battle of the Atlantic

The destroyers USS “Benson” (DD-421) and USS “Niblack” (DD-424), screening Convoy ON-34, depth charged a sound contacts. The destroyer USS “Edison” (DD-439), en route to the Mid-Atlantic Ocean Meeting Point in U.S. Navy Task Unit 4.1.1 to screen Convoy ON-35, attacked a sound contact southwest of Iceland.

Battle of the Mediterranean

British carrier “Ark Royal”, within 25 miles of Gibraltar, succumbs to damage done in the earlier U-boat attack and is abandoned to sink. The list of damaged British carrier HMS “Ark Royal” reached 45° before the carrier capsized and sank at 0619 hours. Witnesses reported the carrier rolling to 90°, where she remained for three minutes before inverting. “Ark Royal” broke in two, the aft sinking within a couple of minutes, followed by the bow. With HMS “Illustrious” and HMS “Formidable” both under repair in the USA, the Mediterranean Fleet is left without a carrier - a parlous situation since Hitler, desperate to supply Rommel, is preparing to order one Fliegerkorps of bombers from Russia to Sicily - a serious threat to Malta and the Royal Navy.

Photo: HMS Ark Royal sinks near Gibraltar on 14 November 1941 after being torpedoed by U-81 (Kptlt. Friedrich Guggenberger) on 13 November (colorized)

Operation Astrologer: The British launched unescorted freighters disguised as French, Italian, and Spanish ships with supplies for Malta. Operation Astrologer comprises 2 ships, SS “Empire Defender” and SS “Empire Pelican”, traveling independently. “Empire Pelican” was found and sunk by Italian SM.79 torpedo bombers near the Galite Islands off Tunisia, killing 1. “Empire Defender” is believed to have met the same fate. The convoy attempt was the latest in a series of clandestine missions to run supply ships along the North African coast disguised as local tramp vessels. However, with German U boats also known to be operating in the Western Mediterranean, the operation of future such convoys from the British mainland is now in doubt.

Night attack by the British Royal Air Force (RAF) on Brindisi as well as Catania, in Sicily. One Wellington flew a shipping search off Taranto Bay and Straits of Otranto. Two Wellingtons of RAF No. 104 Squadron flew nuisance raid on Brindisi. Twelve Wellingtons of RAF No. 40 Squadron and seven Wellingtons of RAF No. 104 Squadron attacked Catania.

Axis Convoy departs Taranto for Tripoli with two vessels escorted by Italian destroyers “Pigafetta” and “Da Verazzano”.

There were no air raid alarms or attacks on Malta today.

After dark, submarines HMS “Torbay” and HMS “Talisman” delivered Layforce - 36 (of planned total of 59) British commandos of No. 11 (Scottish) Group under Colonels Robert Laycock and Geoffrey Keyes (son of Admiral of the Fleet Sir Roger Keyes) behind enemy lines in Libya. Their goal is to destroy Rommel’s HQ and “get” the Desert Fox. A large part of the force is unable to land due to horrible weather, but the mission goes forward without them. The commandos get ashore 12 miles from the target at Beda Littoria. Layforce commandos begin moving inland.

Night attacks by the British Royal Air Force (RAF) on objectives at Benghazi, Berka; Bardia and Derna. Aerodromes at Barce and Murtuba also attacked by South African Air Force (SAAF).

Battle of the Pacific

750 US Marines in China (Shanghai, Beiping, and Tianjin) were ordered to evacuate to the Philippine Islands. 183 had transportation difficulties and would be imprisoned by the Japanese when hostilities began. In Shanghai, the 4th Marines had been making plans in the event of hostilities breaking out. Colonel Samuel L. Howard, commanding officer since May 14, 1941, gained permission for withdrawal of the regiment. The liners “President Harrison” and “President Madison” were charted for this purpose. Thousands of cheering people waving Chinese and American flags lined the streets to see the regiment, which had played such an intimate part in community life for over 14 years, parade through the Settlement for the last time. At the dock, members of the Municipal Council, the foreign consuls and diplomatic representatives, the commanding officers of all military units, including the Japanese, and the heads of many civic organizations gathered to bid the Marines farewell. The 4th Marines were finished with Shanghai, their ships bound for the Philippines.

Hart was informed by Navy Department that deployment of the Asiatic Fleet was to be made by him as its commander.

Canadian C Force infantry brigade reaches Manila en route to Hong Kong from Vancouver.

Photo: One of Singapore's 15-inch coast defense guns firing, 14 November 1941

Japan military

IJN aircraft carrier “Kaga” exited the drydocks at Sasebo Naval Shipyard, Japan. IJN aircraft carrier “Shokaku” was relieved of her status as the flagship of Carrier Division 5. That responsibility was passed to IJN aircraft carrier “Zuikaku”.

Japanese liner “Tatsuta Maru” arrives at Yokohama with hundreds of Japanese repatriates from Allied nations and Admiral Kondo, former naval attache in London. “Tatsuta Maru” then departed Yokohama, Japan.

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World War II in real time Nov 15, 2020 7:48:05 GMT stevep and gillan1220 like this

Post by lordroel on Nov 15, 2020 7:48:05 GMT

Day 807 of World War II, November 15th 1941

Eastern Front - Operation Barbarossa

Germans begin phase 2 of attack on Moscow (Operation Typhoon) after a three-week lull. The plan is to involve tank forces which are to drive with converging attacks from the north and south of the capital. General Guderian’s 2.Panzerarmee begins advancing from Tula, while the 3.Panzerarmee and 4.Panzergruppe will advance from the north toward the Moscow Canal. The infantry armies on the flanks are to make supporting attacks. Infantry with tanks from 1.Panzer-Division push Soviet 30th Army back from around the Volga Reservoir and Moscow Sea Reservoir, 75 miles North of Moscow. Stalin orders Zhukov to mount spoiling attacks along the entire defensive line, which will only serve to weaken the Soviet defenses but do little to disrupt the German preparations. The Soviets have built up reserves and brought forces from Siberia. They will allow the Germans to advance while building up forces on the outer flanks. Across the Eastern Front, the temperature fell to -20 degrees Celsius, freezing both men and machines. The German offensive was generally slowed to a yard-by-yard advance from this date on.

Photo: A Soviet Red Army bayonet attack on the outskirts of Moscow on 15 November 1941

German Army Group North captures Volkhov while in the south German forces capture Maloarchangelsk south of Orel. Soviet warships bombard German positions around Sevastopol.

Erich Mußfeldt was transferred from Auschwitz Concentration Camp to Majdanek Concentration Camp as the chief of the crematorium.

Luftwaffe opens new series of raids against Moscow, continuing through 5 December. Listed as missing in action against the Russians is JG 51's Walter Schick, with ten victories against the Soviets.

German Luftwaffe III./KG 4 arrived at Pskov (German: Pleskau), Russia.

Moscow announced failure of a German landing attempt on Murmansk coast. 20 boats sunk by Russian fire and two companies of Wehrmacht troops destroyed.

Photo: Civilians digging ditches in Moscow, 15 November 1941

Continuation War

The majority of the encircled Soviet troops in the Kestenga sector managed to infiltrate to safety in small groups — claims that Finns destroyed two Soviet regiments appear to be over-optimistic.

German submarine U-752 attempted to attack Soviet minelayer ZM-93 “Jushar” southeast of Murmansk, Russia at 1700 hours, but escorting minesweeping trawler T-889 forced U-752 to dive. At 1849 hours, U-752 fired a torpedo at T-889, sinking her and killing all 43 aboard.

The U-583, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Ratsch, was sunk near Danzig, East Prussia after a collision with the U-153. All of the ship’s complement of 45 died. During its career the U-583 sank or damaged no ships.

Battle of the Atlantic

British vessel “Corhampton” was heavily damaged by Luftwaffe aircraft and subsequently sinks.

U.S. Navy Task Unit 4.1.1, under command of Captain Marion Y. Cohen, assumed escort duty for Convoy ON-35 at the Mid-Atlantic Ocean Meeting Point. There would be no U-boat attacks on the convoy, but nearly continuous heavy weather between November 16 and November 25 resulted in 16 of the 26 ships straggling.

Air War over Europe

The British Royal Air Force (RAF) carried out and offensive sweep over Occupied France by Hurricane bombers and Spitfires. RAF Fighter Command flew a Ramrod operation and a Rhubarb operation.

North East Coast town raided during day. Slight Luftwaffe activity at night. In Yorkshire, a single Luftwaffe aircraft penetrated inland and dropped bombs on Redcar and Scarborough. At the first place slight damage was done to a Works. Gas mains supplying Redcar town were also damaged, and ten people lost their lives here. The only damage reported from Scarborough was to house property. There were no fatal casualties. Two Luftwaffe bombers shot down off East Coast.

RAF Bomber Command sends 49 aircraft to attack Emden and 47 aircraft to attack Kiel overnight.

Free French Air Force pilots formed the Paris and Versailles squadrons. They operated out of Britain, flying Blenheim and Hurricane aircraft.

The de Havilland Mosquito B.Mk.IV light bomber entered service with RAF No. 105 Squadron at RAF Swanton Morley, Norfolk. It wasn’t until May 31, 1942 that the Mosquito took part in its first operational raid - a raid on Cologne, France.

Battle of the Mediterranean

Operation Astrologer: Italian SM.79 torpedo bombers sank British freighter “Empire Defender” of the Operation Astrologer convoy near the Galite Islands off the Tunisian coast, killing 4.

Still reeling from the successful Force “K” attack on their convoy, Italian commanders seem to be intensifying their efforts to subdue Malta. The Regia Aeronautica have concentrated almost entirely on night raids since September – and often approached only close enough to trigger the Island’s air raid alarm. Now it seems Italian pilots are ready to attack during daylight hours. At 0612 hours three enemy bombers approached the Island from the East. Bombs were dropped in sea ten miles east of Delimara and anti-personnel bombs at Island Bay Searchlight Station. One enemy aircraft illuminated. No engagement by Hurricanes or Ack Ack. At 1045 hours, a Recce raid by 2 Macchis had the Ack Ack guns fired a barrage.

Units of the 3rd Battalion of the Island’s territorial unit, the Kings Own Malta Regiment, are on the move. A Coy transferred from Qrendi to Pawla and B Coy from Pawla to Qrendi. Armed with machine guns, their task is to defend the shoreline of Malta and Gozo, including manning beach posts. The 3rd Battalion covers the southern area of Malta 1st and 2ndBattalions the north.

A “Special Air Service Brigade” which was formed in the summer has lost 32 out of 55 men in an attempted para-drop in a sandstorm. The targets - Rommel’s airfields - are untouched. The leader - Captain David Stirling, who proposed the idea of the SAS Brigade in July, was retrieved by another special force, the Long Range Desert Group. The LRDG, formed 14 months ago, comprises pre-war desert explorers practicing deep reconnaissance with special vehicles. Stirling wants a partnership with it after this debacle.

Operation Flipper: Colonel Keyes’s commandos shelter during the day. Overnight, they hike 18 miles inland to a cave 1 mile from the target at Beda Littoria.

RAF aircraft attack Gambut, Tmimi, Gazala, and other targets while Luftwaffe aircraft attack RAF airfield at Jarabub oasis in southern Libya.

East African campaign

East African 25th Infantry Brigade advancing south from Wolchefit toward Dancaz east of Gondar.

United States

US 22nd and 23rd Fighter Squadrons, both operating P-40 Warhawk fighters, were assigned to Losey Field in Puerto Rico.

Franklin Roosevelt had lunch with Princess Märtha of Sweden (Crown Princess of Norway) at the White House in Washington DC, United States, followed by a private showing of the film ‘Dumbo’.

U.S. Army GHQ maneuvers began in North and South Carolina. Two U.S. Navy and two Marine Corps squadrons took part in the large-scale war games.

Battle of the Pacific

The converted passenger liner “Awatea” arrived in Hong Kong, carrying 2,000 Canadian troops (the Winnipeg Grenadiers and Royal Rifles of Canada under Brigadier J Lawson) to aid in the defence of the island. Royal Canadian Navy armed merchant cruiser “Prince Robert” escorted the troop ship “Awatea”. The Canadians will boost the garrison in Hong Kong, but, as Churchill himself has pointed out, two semi-trained battalions are unlikely to deter Japan from war, but will merely increase the numbers of prisoners the Japanese can take. The Canadians seem only too aware of this. “Oh God, another Dunkirk,” Signalman William Allister said when he heard where he was going. “No fella,” another voice added, “at Dunkirk they had somewhere to go.”

Marshall holds a press conference at which he stated that V Bomber Command constituted the “greatest concentration of heavy bomber strength anywhere in the world”; when queried over the inability of the B-17’s in the Philippines to bomb Japan and to return to Clark AAF, Marshall stated that the USSR would allow the airplanes to refuel at Vladivostok.

Codebreakers read message ordering Japanese consul in Hawaii to report USN movements at Pearl Harbor.

HMAS “Canberra” was damaged in a collision with the transport “Katoomba”, at Fremantle, WA. HMAS “Vampire”, (destroyer), was damaged in a collision with the steamer “Perak”, off Keppel Harbour, Singapore. “Vampire”, which had just completed a long refit, returned to the dockyard for repairs.

Netherlands Suriname

US Army dispatched troops to Netherlands Suriname to protect bauxite mines. This was agreed upon by the Netherlands government-in-exile.

Japan military

Prime Minister Tojo reviews the final military plan for going to war. General Homma, commanding 14th Army, finalizes plans for invasion of Philippines with air and naval commanders.

"As relations between Japan and the United States are most critical, make your 'ship in harbor report' irregular, but at a rate of twice a week. Although you already are no doubt aware, please take extra care to maintain secrecy" - Message from Togo in Tokyo to Riyoji in Washington, intercept was translated on December 3rd.

Last Edit: Nov 15, 2020 7:48:40 GMT by lordroel

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World War II in real time Nov 16, 2020 3:46:10 GMT stevep and gillan1220 like this

Post by lordroel on Nov 16, 2020 3:46:10 GMT

Day 808 of World War II, November 16th 1941

Eastern Front - Operation Barbarossa

Soviet 30th Army and remnants of 16th Army began crumbling under attacks by German 3.Panzerarmee and 4.Panzergruppe and 9.Armee. Soviet 16th Army was mostly destroyed in an unsuccessful counterattack against German 3.Panzerarmee. As the Russian attacks faltered the Germans launched their own offensive. The German 16.Armee launches a new attack south of Leningrad in the Volokolamsk area. The attack would stall in less than 24 hours due to extremely heavy losses, very stiff resistance and poor weather. At the northern flank of the German line the 9.Armee (Strauss) committed three divisions to clear the area between the Ivankovo Reservoir (aka Moscow Sea) and the Volga Reservoir. Strauss didn’t support the offensive so limited his contribution; he thought he should focus on consolidating the area he already held. 4.Panzergruppe (Hoepner) used fresh forces to attack the boundary between the Soviet 5th and 30th Armies. They outflanked many defenders and got onto the Volokolamsk-Moscow highway. One Russian tank brigade was reduced to two operable tanks. The Germans attacked the left flank of Soviet 16th Army held by Panfilov’s 316th Division and a cadet regiment. German heavy artillery and planes bombarded the defenders. Then the panzers began to roll over the frozen ground. The 1075th Infantry Regiment, 316th Division, held the division’s left flank at a small railway crossing called Dubosekovo. Their job was to stop the Germans reaching the Volokolamsk Highway. The regiment destroyed some tanks and suffered significant casualties themselves before withdrawing, without orders, towards evening. Amongst the defenders was an anti-tank platoon equipped with one machine gun, two anti-tank rifles, and some Molotov cocktails. This incident subsequently got talked up as ‘The Testimony of the 28 Fallen Heroes’. In the PR version the 28 men of the anti-tank platoon, under Commissar Vasili Klochkov, had held off 50 German tanks; one man has fled and been shot by his comrades and the other 27 had died fighting. The truth was somewhat different. The regimental commander had heard nothing of these exploits until told by journalists, several of the men survived: one died in a Soviet hospital, two saw out the war as German prisoners of war, one joined a partisan group formed by soldiers but was subsequent arrested by the NKVD as a deserter, and one returned to the Ukraine and arrested as a collaborator after liberation. 70 miles West of Moscow, General Georg-Hans Reinhardt’s 3.Panzerarmee establishes a crossing over the Lama River along the highway to Klin. Elements of the Soviet 49th and 50th Armies stop an attack by the German XXXXIII.Armeekorps directed at the Moscow-Tula highway.

German forces continue their almost unimpeded advance through the Crimea. Further South in the Crimean, German 11.Armee captured the town of Kerch on the Kerch peninsula linking to the Caucasus.. Soviet Deputy Navy Commissar Admiral Gordei Levchenko was arrested after being deemed responsible for this defeat.

Battle of the Atlantic

Allied convoy PQ-3 departed Hvalfjörður, Iceland in stormy weather.

RN battleship “Prince of Wales” arrives at Simonstown naval base, South Africa en route to Singapore.

U.S. Navy Task Unit 4.1.5, under command of Commander William K. Phillips, cleared Argentia, Newfoundland, to assume escort duty for Convoy HX-160 in the northern Atlantic Ocean between November17 and 28. Heavy seas would cause varying degrees of damage to the destroyers USS “Mayo” (DD -422), USS “Nicholson” (DD 424), USS “Babbitt” (DD 128), USS “Leary” (DD 158) and USS “Schenck” (DD 159). The convoy would not be attacked by U-boats.

Battle of the Mediterranean

British corvette HMS “Marigold” damaged German submarine U-433 commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Hans Ey, with depth charges 50 miles east of Gibraltar at 2255 hours. After U-433 surfaced, “Marigold” continued to attack her with guns. U-433's crew scuttled the boat after suffering 6 killed; the 38 survivors were captured. During its career the U-433 damaged 1 ship for a total of 2,215 tons.

Two Albacores, 828 Squadron Fleet Air Arm (FAA) set out from Hal Far, Malta in a desperate search for the crew of a missing Wellington bomber. The aircraft was one of five Wellingtons which left Gibraltar yesterday for delivery to Malta. They were attacked within 100 miles of their destination and one was shot down. The returning FAA search aircraft brought good news. The crew’s dinghy was located and they were picked up by rescue launch.

Colonel Keyes’s commandos shelter in a cave 1 mile from the target at Beda Littoria. Their attempt to kill Rommel must be timed to coincide with the launch of a combined infantry and armored attack from Egypt in 2 days (Operation Crusader).

Two Italian supply vessels arrive at Benghazi.

Battle of the Pacific

Air Force USAFFE is redesignated the FEAF.

Brereton dispatched by MacArthur on a three-week, 11,500-mile jaunt to Rabaul, Port Moresby, Townsville, and Melbourne, to comply with Marshall’s directive of 30 SEP 41 regarding use of airfields in British Empire areas.

Photo: Infantrymen of "C" Company, Royal Rifles of Canada, disembarking from H.M.C.S. PRINCE ROBERT, Hong Kong, 16 November 1941 - Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-114820. Another 1825 men arrive on the same day aboard troopship Awatea from Vancouver. Together, the men march to the Shamshuipo Barracks in Kowloon as cheering crowds lined the streets waving Union Jacks. The troops are mostly members of The Royal Rifles of Canada, a unit made up mainly of soldiers from Quebec and New Brunswick, and Western Canada's Winnipeg Grenadiers.

Japan military

The Japanese carrier fleet exercised in the Kurile Islands. Obsolete Japanese battleship “Settsu” began to sail around the Inland Sea in Japan to generate fake radio communication messages at different ports.

Crown Prince Yi Un was attached to the training department of the Japanese Army.

The newly established 54th Sentai arrived from Kashiwa, Tokyo, to Hankou.

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World War II in real time Nov 17, 2020 3:46:28 GMT stevep, Zyobot, and 2 more like this

Post by lordroel on Nov 17, 2020 3:46:28 GMT

Day 809 of World War II, November 17th 1941

Eastern Front - Operation Barbarossa

The 1.Panzerarmee continues its advances near Rostov. Soviet 9th Army and 37th Army counterattacked the 1.Panzerarmee. The German 106.Infanterie-Divisionen (General der Infanterie Ernst Dehner) along with the rest of V.Armeekorps (General of the Infantry R. Ruoff) attacked towards Moscow. This was some 24hrs earlier than it's neighboring Korps, XLVI.Armeekorps (mot.) (General of the Panzer Troops H. von Vietinghoff). However, the Soviet 9th and 37th Armies under General Timoshenko, begin a counterattack on the flank of the German drive. The Germans continued to push the 316th Division back. Stalin partially relented to pleas from Zhukov for reinforcements and the 78th Siberian Rifle Division (General Beloborodov) joined 16th Army in the line. The Siberians stabilized the line for three days before 16th Army was forced back again. Soviet attacks by massed T-34s strike the 112.Infanterie-division (General der Infanterie Friedrich Mieth). The Germans break in panic, losing most of a regiment, the first time this has occurred in World War II. At Musino near Volokolamsk, 70 miles West of Moscow, Soviet 44th Cavalry Division (recently arrived from Central Asia) charges German 106.Infanterie-Divisionen (3.Panzerarmee) in broad daylight. 105mm howitzers supporting the German infantry decimate the Russian horsemen (claiming 2000 killed).

Photo: Troops in winter camouflage on the march in Russia, 17 November 1941

Further north, air reconnaissance indicates Lake Ladoga is frozen over. At 0800 hours, teams set out to confirm and mark routes from Kokorevo (on the Western shore near Leningrad) via various tiny islands to the small port of Kobona on the ‘mainland’ side of Lake Ladoga, 18 miles away. Due back at 1700 hours, they finally return at 0400 hours next morning to report the ice on the lake is 10cm thick (half the thickness needed to support a laden 1 ton truck).

German Luftwaffe III./KG 55 received orders to relocate from Kirovograd, Ukraine to Saint-André-de-l'Eure, France for rest and refitting after spending only seven weeks at Kirovograd.

Continuation War

In northern Finland, Maj. Gen. Hjalmar Siilasvuo, CO of the III Corps, orders his corps to halt all offensive operations. Siilasvuo’s corps is subordinated to the German 20th Mountain Army, and had been involved in successful offensive operations, advancing towards Louhi. However, political considerations came to play. Despite Siilasvuo’s formal subordination to Germans, he always verifies his orders with Mannerheim. Lately the Western Allies had put lot of pressure on Finland not to cut the Murmansk railway. Capturing Louhi would achieve just that. On 6 Nov Mannerheim confidentially told Siilasvuo that it is better Louhi is not captured. Siilasvuo naturally could not let the Germans know the true reasons for calling the advance to halt, thus the decision is justified by stiffening Soviet resistance.

Operation Silver Fox ended in a Soviet defensive victory. Operation Silver Fox (German: Silberfuchs) was a joint German–Finnish military operation offensive during World War II. Its main goal was to cut off and ultimately capture the key Soviet port at Murmansk through attacks from Finnish and Norwegian territory. The initial attack went badly, as the German troops were untrained for Arctic warfare and especially the SS division, merely a former police force, could not deal with the organized Soviet defense. US diplomats warned Finland that a disruption of US deliveries to the Soviet Union would have serious implications. Therefore, Finland was no longer interested in spearheading such an offensive. With the Finnish refusal to be involved in further offensive operations, Arctic Fox came to an end in November and both sides dug in at their current positions. Overall the operation failed in terms of its strategic intentions, as neither Murmansk nor the Murmansk railway at Kandalaksha were captured. The closest the German-Finnish force came to disrupting the Murmansk railway was east of Kestenga, where they were about 30 km (19 mi) away from it, while Dietl's force in the north did not even come close to approaching Murmansk. The German forces, especially the SS-troops, were unsuited, ill-trained, and unprepared for Arctic warfare and therefore made little progress while suffering heavy casualties. On the other hand, Finnish units, especially the 6th Division of the III Finnish Corps, made good progress and inflicted heavy casualties on the Soviet forces.

Battle of the Atlantic

The destroyers USS “Benson” (DD 421) and USS “Edison” (DD 439), screening Convoy ON-34, depth charged submarine contacts in the northern Atlantic Ocean.

The United States delivered escort carrier “Archer” to the United Kingdom, the first of 38 escort carriers that would be delivered during the war under Lend-Lease.

Battle of the Mediterranean

Night attack on Naples by the British Royal Air Force (RAF). From Malta Six Blenheims RAF No. 107 Squadron attacked an Axis convoy with good results. Three Blenheims of RAF No. 18 Squadron made a shipping search SF11 patrol. One Blenheim of RAF No. 18 Squadron flew a special search for merchant vessel(s). Three Wellingtons from RAF No. 104 squadron made a nuisance raid on Brindisi. Four Wellingtons from RAF No. 104 Squadron flew a nuisance raid on Naples.

Lt General Dobbie replies to a query from the War Office checking the number of tanks currently on the Island of Malta. He confirms the present holding as six. Four of them are Matildas Mk II, British infantry tanks and the other two are MKIVB Light Tanks. The Matildas were named by their operators after the naval escort destroyers which accompanied them to Malta: Faulknor, Gallant, Greyhound and Griffin.

Operation Flipper: British Lieut-Colonel Geoffrey Charles Tasker Keyes’ commandos again shelter during the day. At midnight, they attack Afrika Korps quartermasters HQ at Beda Littoria, which they have mistaken for Rommel’s HQ. As they approached the villa, a sentry who tackled the colonel had to be shot. All surprise was lost. Opening one door they found 12 Germans preparing for a fight. Keyes opened it again to throw in a grenade. He was shot dead. They kill 4 Germans but Keyes is killed and another commando is wounded and captured. Most of the survivors were taken prisoner. Another group of commandos on a diversionary raid a few miles away are nearly all killed or captured. Only 3 commandos are able to reboard British submarines to return to Alexandria. Colonel Robert Laycock and Sergeant Terry walk for 34 days through the desert, returning to British lines on Christmas Day. Keyes would be awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross even though the raid was doomed from the start - Rommel was not even at Sidi-Rafa. The daring raid destroys the facility, but Rommel was not present (he was in Athens at the time).

Early on during their 3rd patrol, German submarine U-331 landed eight commandos on the Egyptian coast to mine the railway line near Daba, 60 miles west of Alexandria. Their mission was to blow up a railway near the coast, but they did not succeed. They would soon be captured before they completed their mission.

Germany

Following twelve months of illness, depression and strain at the Luftwaffe's increasing losses on the Eastern Front, Generalluftzeugmeister Generaloberst Ernst Udet, German Director General of Air Armament, committed suicide by shooting himself in the head while on the phone with his girlfriend. Evidence indicated that his unhappy relationship with Göring, Erhard Milch, and the Nazi Party in general was the cause of his mental breakdown. The book The Luftwaffe War Diaries states something similar, that Udet wrote “Reichsmarshal, why have you deserted me?” in red on the headboard of his bed. Udet, Germany's second highest fighter ace of the First World War (behind the Red Baron) with 62 kills, had already lost favour with Hitler after the air force's performance in the Battle of Britain. The official version was that he had died whilst testing a "new weapon" and Jagdgeschwader 3 was named in his honour. Udet was accorded a state funeral at which he was eulogized by Hermann Göring, who described him as his "best friend". Generalfeldmarschall Erhard Milch is promoted to Generalluftzeugmeister in his place.

United States

US Congress amended the Neutrality Act of 1939, thus allowing American merchant ships to be armed and allowing them to enter war zones. Navy’s Bureau of Navigation directs Navy personnel with Armed Guard training to be assigned for further training before going to Armed Guard Centers for assignment to merchant ships.

Japanese special envoy Kurusu Saburo arrived in Washington DC and met with US Secretary of State Cordell Hull. Ambassador Kurusu told President Roosevelt Germany had not requested Japan to fight.

The German blockade runner “Odenwald”, captured by the light cruiser USS “Omaha” (CL 4) and destroyer USS “Somers” (DD 381) on November 6, was escorted into San Juan, Puerto Rico, by the USS “Somers” and turned over to U.S. authorities.

The U.S. Navy's Bureau of Navigation directed Navy personnel with Armed Guard training to be assigned to Little Creek, Virginia or San Diego, California for further instruction. They would then be transferred to Armed Guard Centers at New York, New York and Treasure Island (San Francisco), California for assignment to merchant ships.

Japan military

Japanese Navy Admiral Yamamoto revealed the Pearl Harbor attack plan to the naval leadership. On the flight deck of IJN aircraft carrier “Akagi”, flagship of the IJN Pearl Harbor Striking Force in Saeki Bay, about 100 officers assembled: Nagumo and his staff, all commanders, their staffs and the flight officers. As Yamamoto spoke, it became evident that he had not come to deliver a pep talk.

“Although we hope to achieve surprise, everyone should be prepared for terrific American resistance in the operation.” He told his listeners. “Japan has faced many worthy opponents in her glorious history – Mongols, Chinese, Russians – but in this operation we will meet the strongest and most resourceful opponent of all….I wish you Godspeed and pray for your success.”

The crews receive a strict order not to go ashore. All present then adjourned to the wardroom for a farewell party. After sunset, IJN aircraft carrier “Akagi” departs Saeki Bay for the Kuriles.

Foreign Minister Togo said relations between Japan and the US could be salvaged so long as the Americans understand “Japan’s national requirements and her position in East Asia … There is naturally a limit to our conciliatory attitude.” US Ambassador Grew warns that the embassy in Japan is not in a position to warn of an impending Japanese attack and that the government should,

“… take into account the probability of the Japanese exploiting every possible tactical advantage, such as surprise and initiative."

The Pearl Harbor Carrier Striking Force (Kido Butai) gathered at the mouth of the Inland Sea. It was a formidable armada: six carriers, two fast battleships with 14-inch guns, “Hiei” and “Kirishima”, two heavy cruisers “Tone” and ”Chikuma”, a light cruiser, eight destroyers and a train of three oilers and a supply ship. The six carriers held 360 planes: 81 fighters, 135 dive bombers, 104 high-level (horizontal) bombers and 40 torpedo bombers, which had only 30 torpedoes fitted with the new fins. Late in the evening, one by one at irregular intervals, the ships of the Striking Force weighed anchor and headed on separate course for a rendezvous some thousand miles north of Tokyo. IJN aircraft carrier “Kaga” was the last ship still in the Inland Sea and embarked 100 aerial torpedoes. Those Type 91 Model 2 torpedoes have just been modified by Mitsubishi at Nagasaki to enable them to be used in Pearl Harbor anchorage’s shallow waters. Once the ship got underway the captain gathered the entire crew on deck to announce their mission.

China

Nationalist Chinese leader Ciang Kai-shek urges the western democracies to take action against Japanese aggression.

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World War II in real time Nov 18, 2020 3:47:25 GMT stevep, Zyobot, and 2 more like this

Post by lordroel on Nov 18, 2020 3:47:25 GMT

Day 810 of World War II, November 18th 1941

Eastern Front - Operation Barbarossa

A Soviet counterattack using the Siberian reservists, near Venev causes heavy losses to one of General Guderian’s infantry divisions. Soviet 52nd Army counterattacks at Malaya Vyshera. Guderian commits additional 2.Panzerarmee forces to recover ground lost yesterday when his 112.Infanterie-division panicked and broke. The new attacks captured Epifan and Dedilovo south of Moscow. The XXXXVII Motorized Corps captures Epifan' and the XXIV Motorized Corps' 4.Panzer-Divisionen takes Dedilovo. 70 miles West of Moscow, General Erich Hoepner’s 4.Panzerarmee attacks with 3 Panzer divisions (over 400 tanks) and 3 infantry divisions from Volokolamsk into the junction between Soviet 30th and 16th Armies. Soviet 30th Army fell back northward to Klin, while Soviet 16th Army was pushed south to Istra, opening a yawning gap between the two. 120 miles south of Moscow, German 3.Panzerarmee was held up at Tula, with its latest attempt to surround the Soviet garrison there foiled by the newly-arrived Soviet 413th Rifle Division (one of the fresh units moved from Siberia for the defense of Moscow). In an act of tremendous heroism, 11 Red Army engineers hold up 20 German tanks near Strokovo.

The teams dispatched on the previous day out of Leningrad, Russia to Lake Ladoga returned to the besieged city at 0400 hours, reporting that the ice on the lake was about 10 centimeters thick, which made light travel possible, but not for heavy equipment such as 1-ton trucks.

Battle of the Atlantic

Corvettes HMCS “Dunvegan” and “Sorel” departed St John’s to escort the 46-ship Sydney to Liverpool convoy SC-55 as far as Iceland. Convoy arrived safely in Liverpool on 05 Dec intact.

Battle of the Mediterranean

After several months of relative quiet on the North African front, the war erupts again into a hail of gunfire on 18 November 1944 when the British launch Operation Crusader. This is an attempt by the British Eighth Army, led by General Sir Alan Gordon Cunningham, to relieve the besieged garrison of Tobruk and, most optimistically, push the Afrika Korps led by General Erwin Rommel back across Cyrenaica.

Photo: British Matilda tanks on a sortie outside the Tobruk perimeter on 18 November 1941

Operation Crusader is launched by the British 30 Corps under Lieutenant-General Willoughby Norrie and XIII Corps under Lieutenant-General Reade Godwin-Austen. Their forces will be augmented if they can free the Tobruk garrison, composed of 32nd Army Tank Brigade, and the Australian 9th Division which (in late 1941), was in the process of being replaced by the British 70th Infantry Division and the Polish Carpathian Brigade (commanded by Major-General Stanisław Kopański). British Major General Ronald Scobie commands at Tobruk, which has been supplied by nightly runs of fast destroyers and minelayers based at Alexandria.

Photo: Matilda tanks on the move outside Tobruk, 18 November 1941

Opposing the British is Panzergroup Afrika. Its main force is Afrika Korps under the command of Lieutenant General Ludwig Cruwell. Cruwell has at his disposal the 15th Panzer Division, 21st Panzer Division (total of 260 tanks ), the Division z.b.V Afrika which had been formed in Africa as a composite formation, and was renamed the 90th Light Africa Division in late November, and the Italian 55th Infantry Division Savona. While General Rommel is under the command of the Italian High Command and is subject to the orders of General Ettore Bastico, Rommel exercises a completely free hand in operations and treats Cruwell almost as his chief of staff. Everybody understands that this is a German show and that the Italian soldiers are of limited value, though they are necessary and useful when handled properly (i.e., given static tasks and "corsetted" by always keeping German units nearby).

The main limitation of Rommel's forces has been resupply issues. Panzer Group Africa depends almost entirely on convoys from Naples (via Palermo) to Benghazi and Tripoli. Supply also depends upon transport from the ports to the front, which very often is lacking. About 75% of convoys get through, though there are some instances when none of the ships arrive at all, such as the 9 November Duisburg Convoy. The main problem is the fuel for the panzers because as much as half of the gasoline that arrives in North Africa is used up by transporting the remainder to the front. Convoys that might be sent are often delayed or eliminated entirely by the sinkings in the Sicilian Strait. The land convoys to the front also are vulnerable to RAF attacks both from Malta and Egypt. The Luftwaffe is much weaker in North Africa late in 1941 than it was in the spring due to the demands of the Eastern Front, which has sucked up resources that otherwise could have supported Afrika Korps. Hitler appoints Air Field Marshal Albert Kesselring as Luftwaffe Commander in Chief South as his effort to improve the convoy situation. Kesselring immediately transfers his Luftlotte 2 headquarters (but not its forces) from Russia to Rome.

The British are in much better shape than the Germans in North Africa. General Cunningham has built up an armada of 770 tanks (including many of the new Crusader Cruiser tanks, after which the operation was named, and many new American M3 Stuart light tanks supplied by Lend Lease via Suez). The British forces include South African, New Zealand, Indian, Australian, and Polish troops in discrete units. The RAF has over 700 combat aircraft under the command of Air HQ Western Desert. The Royal Navy is a constant factor because much of the action takes place along coastal roads and in ports that are easily shelled during night-time sorties from Alexandria. While the Italian Navy on paper is superior to the ships of the Royal Navy's Mediterranean Station, it is well known to prefer to stay in port as a "fleet in being" both through timidity induced by early war losses and fuel issues. While the Kriegsmarine does have a presence in the Mediterranean, it is a minimal one which is disguised by some flashy successes such as the sinking of Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal on 13-14 November 1941.

Photo: "The crew of a 25-pounder gun in Tobruk, 18 November 1941. They are members of the Royal Horse Artillery"

The British Eighth Army attacks before dawn from its base at Mersa Matruh and crosses the border near Fort Maddalena. From there, about 50 miles (80 km) south of Sidi Omar, 7th Armored Division's 7th Armored Brigade heads northwest toward Tobruk with 22nd Armored Brigade screening its left (western) flank. This attack is made through "no man's land" and there is virtually no fighting on 18 November. However, due to rain late on the 17th, the RAF Desert Air Force was unable to launch raids on Luftwaffe fields and Wehrmacht troop concentrations, so General Rommel begins the battle with his forces basically intact. He immediately orders 21st Panzer Division to move south from Gambut. The panzers are supported by powerful 88 mm gun batteries which can be used as both ground artillery and anti-aircraft fire. The initial flashpoint will be Sidi Rezegh airfield, which both sides need to support ground operations around Tobruk.

Japan

Japanese Ambassador to the U.S., Admiral Nomura Kichisaburo sends the following message to Tokyo:

“On the evening of the 17th, both of us (Nomura and special envoy Kurusu) went to call on a certain cabinet member and this is what he told us: “The President is very desirous of an understanding between Japan and the United States. In his latest speech he showed that he entertained no ill will towards Japan. I would call that to your attention. Now the great majority of the cabinet members, with two exceptions, in principle approve of a Japanese American understanding. If Japan would now do something real, such as evacuating French Indo-China, showing her peaceful intentions, the way would be open for us to furnish you with oil and it would probably lead to the re-establishment of normal trade relations. The Secretary of State cannot bring public opinion in line so long as you do not take some real and definite steps to reassure the Americans.” Nomura and special envoy Kurusu meet with Secretary of State Cordell Hull at 1030 hours and then sent the following in a message to Tokyo: “In our conversations of today, as a practical means of alleviating the ever worsening front with which we are faced and to quiet the fearful situation, as well as, to bring about a return to the situation existing before the application of the freezing legislation, we suggested the evacuation of Japanese troops stationed in the southern part of French Indochina. During this meeting, Hull brought up the question of the Tripartite Pact between Germany, Italy and Japan, and Kurusu said “. . . he could not say that Japan would abrogate the Tripartite Pact . . . he desires to emphasize that Japan would not be a cat’s-paw for Germany, that Japan’s purpose in entering into the Tripartite alliance was to use it for Japan’s own purposes, that Japan entered the Tripartite Pact because Japan felt isolated.”

Japan military

Japanese luxury ocean liner “Hikawa Maru” arrived at Yokohama, completing her 74th and last round trip across the Pacific.

IJN Pearl Harbor Striking Force departs Saeki Bay for Hittokappu (Tankan) Bay. Five large Japanese carrier submarines, HIJMS I-16, I-18, I-20, I-22 and I-24, each with a midget sub lashed to the deck, departed from Kure Naval Base, Japan for Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii. A further nine Japanese vessels sail for Hawaii from Kwajalein. Meanwhile, Joseph Rochefort's US Navy cryptanalytic team reported no Japanese carrier movement.

Photo: Crewmembers gather on the flight deck of the Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft carrier Akagi at Hitokappu Bay, Kuriles in November 1941 prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. The other carriers in the background are, from left to right: Kaga, Shōkaku, Zuikaku, Hiryū, and Sōryū

Japan requested Germany to not conclude a separate peace with any common enemies of the two countries, but did not share its plans to attack the United States. The Japanese Diet secretly approves a “resolution of hostility” against the United States.

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World War II in real time Nov 19, 2020 3:51:23 GMT stevep and gillan1220 like this

Post by lordroel on Nov 19, 2020 3:51:23 GMT

Day 811 of World War II, November 19th 1941

Eastern Front - Operation Barbarossa

German reinforcements drove the Russians back another 16 km. 70 miles west of Moscow, German 4.Panzerarmee attempted to penetrate the gap between the Soviet 30th and 16th Armies which were pushed back on the previous day, but stubborn Soviet resistance slowed the German advance in the area of Istra. 16th Army was at risk from encirclement. Zhukov denied Rokossovski’s request to withdraw to the Istra River thus allowing the Germans to take the river at a rush. Soviet General Dmitry Lelyushenko is ordered by Zhukov to take command of 30th Army and hold Klin at all costs – they will delay German advance for 5 days. Istra is defended by 78th Rifle Division from Siberia (fresh troops with a full complement of artillery) and will be held until November 27. The Germans captured Solnechnogorsk, and got to the Leningrad Highway. 16th Army was again nearly encircled. Rokossovski was nearly captured at his headquarters at Kriukovo. The T-34 troop guarding the headquarters went to refuel thus leaving the staff exposed as Germans entered the village. Rokossovski and his staff quickly evacuated. The Germans kept pushing against the 78th Siberian Rifle Division and 18th (Leningrad) Volunteer Division, attacked the Sheremeievo airport, captured the Yakhroma bridge over the Moscow-Volga canal, and reached Krasnaya Polyana. The Russians were offering increasingly stubborn resistance and using fortifications more effectively. They were starting to make use of profuse numbers of mines in their defense, including laying them on potential German lanes of approach. One incident involved tanks of 5.Panzer-Division attacking a Russian stronghold at Denikovo. The Russians had fortified the station building, damaged the road leading to the village and destroyed a bridge, and mined the likely route the panzers would have to take once they left the road. The attacking panzers were ordered to bypass the station, thus cutting off the defenders, and capture the railway line as fast as possible. It didn’t quite play out like that. When the panzers moved ahead of their infantry to positions near the village the Russian artillery began ranging shots. At 1500 hours the Germans were ordered to attack. The German tanks turned off the road when they found the destroyed bridge and ran straight into the Russian minefield. The Soviet artillery also found its range and began shelling the attackers. The Germans then tried to get round the village by driving their tanks and half tracks along a gully. At the end of the day the Russians were still defending the station. Stalin relented again and committed 20th Army, General Vlasov with fresh Siberian divisions, on the right of 16th Army. And by this time Russian aircraft were challenging the German air superiority. The Siberians pushed the Germans back across the canal.

In northern Russia, Soviet 4th and 52nd Armies almost surround Tikhvin, attacking simultaneously from North and South, but German General von Arnim moves up 61.Infanterie-Divisionen (Lieutenant General Siegfried Hanicke) and the Germans hang on to the town, 120 kilometers east of Leningrad. Frustrated by his army's slow advance, General Hoepner (3.Panzerarmee) commits the last of his reserves in the Kalinin area. Soviet 37th Army attacks northern flank of 1.Panzerarmee and defeats XIV.Armeekorps (mot.) (General of the Infantry G. von Wietersheim). Meanwhile, near Leningrad, General Feofan Nikolaevich Lagunov drove an American-built M1 Scout Car across the frozen Lake Ladoga and declared it safe to use as a truck route.

Battle of the Atlantic

German 2nd Motor Torpedo Boat Flotilla attacked Allied convoy FS.650 (59 ships), 10 miles east of Lowestoft, England, sinking tanker “War Mehtar” and transports “Aruba” and “Waldinge”. German torpedo boat S.41 collided with a convoy escort and sank. British destroyer HMS “Garth” was damaged by friendly fire during the engagement.

Cruiser HMS “Dunedin” is torpedoed and sunk by U-124 in the Atlantic 900 miles off of Freetown. There are 420 casualties, but 72 survivors are found by the US “Nishama” on 6 Carley floats.

Battle of the Mediterranean

Axis Convoy departs Naples for Tripoli with two vessels escorted by Italian destroyers “Maestrale” and “Gioberti”. A second Axis Convoy departs Taranto for Tripoli with two vessels escorted by Italian destroyers “Zeno” and “Malocello”. Six Blenheims from RAF No. 18 Squadron based at Luqa, Malta carried out a bold attack on one of the Italian convoys attempting to run supplies to Tripoli. This time Malta’s losses were heavy: Flight Sergeant Chester Newsome and Sergeant Harold Macaulay of the Royal Canadian Air Force and Sergeant Roland Walker, Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve, all flying with RAF No. 18 Squadron were shot down. Sergeant Harold Hanson from the Isle of Man was reported missing, along with Sergeant John Woolman and Sergeant William Buck. All three were members of the Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve flying with RAF No. 18 Squadron.

The air raids on Malta intensified. At 0545 hours eight enemy aircraft were plotted from Sicily, with only three crossing coast. Bombs were dropped on land near Anchor Bay and the TKM searchlights. No casualties. At 1902 hours five enemy aircraft crossed coast, two of which were barraged twice by Ack Ack. Small High Explosives and incendiaries were dropped on the Madalena and Naxxar area. At 2132 hours a single enemy aircraft approached from south west of Island. Barraged by Ack Ack three times, it dropped bombs in the sea and near Attard.

Naples and Brindisi raided by the British Royal Air Force.

Western Desert Campaign

British General Cunningham is confused by the lack of German response to his incursion into Libya, so 7th Armored Division tanks begin to spread out to secondary objectives. Caught by surprise, the Germans misread the British intent and think that the enemy is attempting to encircle Bardia and send the bulk of the Africa Korps deeper into the trap. British 7th Armored Brigade heads north to attack the Italian airfield at Gambut where Rommel has his HQ. Units of the British 7th Armoured Brigade easily reach Sidi Rezegh, while other units are held up by stiff German defenses. They capture the Sidi Rezegh airfield in the process. This forces Rommel to abandon his own attack on Tobruk to head-off the British threat. The 4th Armoured Brigade engages part of the German 21.Panzer Division and loses heavily. The 22nd Armoured Brigade engages the Italian Ariete Division at Bir el Gubi and also suffers heavy losses. 'Ariete' blunts the British offensive with the 102mm naval guns from a RM warship now mounted on FIAT trucks. 40 British Crusader tanks were destroyed or disabled. While the Afrika Korps and Italian armour clash with British armour in the attack on Tobruk, the skies are empty of warplanes as heavy rains turn the airfields into mud quagmires. But RAF aircraft attack airfields as well as attacking Axis AFVs and trucks. RN destroyers “Kipling” and “Jackal” bombard targets around Halfaya Pass. HMA Ships “Hobart”, (cruiser), “Napier” and “Nizam”, (destroyers), supported the Battle Fleet in the bombardment of key German and Italian defences in the Halfaya Pass.

Battle of the Pacific

Modified Leander class light cruiser HMAS “Sydney” (D 48) was intercepted by German auxiliary cruiser, HK “Kormoran” 140 miles west of Shark Bay, Australia, with “Kormoran” firing the first shot at 1730 hours. Both ships were heavily damaged after the 20-minute battle. The “Kormoran” was flying the Dutch flag and going under the name Streat Malakka. It was not until the ships were within a mile of each other that the “Kormoran” hoisted the Swastika ensign and opened fire. The “Sydney” was hit, her bridge and gunnery director tower badly damaged with the result that (possibly from flooding magazines in response to the turret penetration) “Sydney’s” firepower was reduced to half. “Kormoran” also hit “Sydney” with a torpedo. Both ships are crippled and on fire. HMAS “Sydney” steams slowly south-southeast, still ablaze, and is never seen again; all 645 crewmen are lost. German survivors later say that they saw a glow on the southern horizon followed by a bright flash around 2400 hours; this could possibly be caused by the cruiser’s magazines exploding. HK “Kormoran” drifts for approximately five hours before being scuttled by her crew with explosive charges; 85 crewmen are lost but 315 make it to Australia where they are held as POWs. Wrecks of both ships were discovered in March 2008, 11 miles apart. The engagement remains controversial to this day.

A ground echelon from US Marine Aircraft Group 21 was dispatched to Midway Island to prepare the island to receive aircraft.

Japan military

The Japanese Foreign Ministry sends the following message to their embassy in Washington, D.C.: “When our diplomatic relations are becoming dangerous, we will add the following at the beginning and end of our general intelligence broadcasts:

(1) If it is Japan-U. S. relations, “HIGASHI;”

(2) Japan-Russia relations, “KITA;”

(3) Japan-British relations, (including Thai, Malaya and N. E. I.); “NISHI.”

The above will be repeated five times and included at beginning and end. Relay to Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, San Francisco.”

IJN aircraft carrier “Kaga” departed Saeki Bay off Oita, Japan for Etorofu Island, Kurile Islands. IJN aircraft carrier “Shokaku” departed the Inland Sea with IJN aircraft carrier “Zuikaku” for Hittokappu Bay in the Kurile Islands to join the ships massing for the Hawaii Operation. One submarine of the Support Group, Advance Group, Pearl Harbor Strike Force, HIJMS I-26, departs Yokosuka.

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World War II in real time Nov 20, 2020 2:55:20 GMT stevep and gillan1220 like this

Post by lordroel on Nov 20, 2020 2:55:20 GMT

Day 812 of World War II, November 20th 1941

Eastern Front - Operation Barbarossa

German 3.Panzerarmee, 2.Panzerarmee and 4.Panzergruppe are all attacking toward Moscow. German 1.Panzerarmee and Soviet 56th Army were battling in Rostov and the city is finally captured. Soviet 37th Army continues attacking into northern flank of German 1.Panzerarmee. The 3.Panzerarmee, after extremely heavy fighting, finally breaks the stubborn Soviet resistance in the Kalinin area and advances 20 kilometers. General der Infanterie von Briesen of LII.Armeekorps is killed at Andrejkawa.

Stavka orders creation of 1st Shock Army.

The daily bread rations in besieged Leningrad, Russia were reduced to 500 grams for military personnel, 250 grams for engineers and technical workers, 125 grams for other workers and children. The situation was hoped to be improving soon, however, as the first successful crossing of the frozen Lake Ladoga was made with horse-drawn sleighs, hoping to bring back food from Kobona. In the morning, Captain Murov takes a convoy of horse-drawn sleighs from Kokorevo (20 miles from Leningrad) via Karedzhskiy Island, arriving in the evening at Kobona on the Eastern shore. Horses and drivers are fed while the sleighs are loaded up with flour, sugar and fat for the return journey.

Battle of the Atlantic

USN destroyer USS “Nicholson” (DD-424), with Task Unit 4.1.5, escorting convoy HX-160 (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, to U.K.), depth charges a sound contact about 195 nautical miles (361 kilometers) north-northeast of St. John’s, Newfoundland.

A heavy landing caused the scouting plane of the German commerce raider “Atlantis” to be put out of action. This deprived the “Atlantis” of any long range spotting, which may have been useful in avoiding the heavy cruiser HMS “Devonshire” on November 22.

Soviet submarines conduct minelaying operations off coast of northern Norway. Three Kriegsmarine transports and a tanker were sunk in the Barents Sea.

Battle of the Mediterranean

Axis Convoy departs Naples for Tripoli with two vessels escorted by Italian destroyer “Turbine” and torpedo boat “Perseo”. Another Axis Convoy departs Trapani for Tripoli with one vessel escorted by Italian destroyers “Usodimare”, “Saetta”, and “Sebenico”. The Italian ships “Trieste” and “Luigi”, while escorting an Axis convoy are torpedoed. Six Blenheims from RAF No. 107 Squadron attacked a convoy.

On Malta Coastal defenders of the 3rd Battalion, Kings Own Malta Regiment opened fire this morning on two Italian aircraft as they attempted to cross the southern coast on a reconnaissance raid over the Island. The gunners were taken by surprise as no air raid alarm had been heard to warn them of the incoming aircraft.

Western Desert Campaign - Operation Crusader

The British Operation Crusader continues. The British 7th Armoured Brigade is still advancing around Sidi Rezegh and the 22nd Armoured Brigade is moving to join up with the 4th Armoured Brigade. The British order the Tobruk garrison to break out and link up with XXX Corp. Rommel, back from his visit to Rome, turns the Africa Korps back to the west to meet the real threat and orders an attack at Sidi Rezegh. The British 7th Armoured Brigade repulsed a counter attack launched by the German 90.Leichte-Divisionen and the Italian Bologna Division. In the afternoon, 15.Panzer-Division finally responds to the concentration of British tanks in the desert but arrives to find only 4th Armored Brigade at Gabr Saleh. The heavier German tanks decimate the thinly-armored American M3 ‘Stuart’ tanks. The Stuarts often explode when hit, due to volatile aviation fuel used to power the Continental R-670 7-cylinder radial engine. 15.Panzer-Division then withdraws back towards Tobruk, followed by the remaining tanks of 4th and 22nd Armored Brigades. After dark, British cruisers HMS “Ajax” and HMS “Neptune” and Australian cruiser HMAS “Hobart” bombarded Bardia, Libya.

The weather lessens and allows some sorties to be flown against the British. During one such sortie the fighters of I./JG 27 bounce a flight of nine SAAF No. 21 Squadron Maryland bombers in an action known as “Black Thursday” to the South Africans. The bombers try to drop their loads and close ranks but the firepower of the Messerschmitts is too much. As the bombers try to dive away, the German fighters pick off the Marylands, one by one. Before breaking off the battle, the fighters of I./JG 27 shoot down four of the bombers and seriously damage the remaining planes. By the end of the day the Luftwaffe has lost two Bf 109s and four Ju 87s with the Allies losing two Hurricanes and two P-40s.

RAF No. 80 Squadron begins using Hawker Hurricane fighter-bombers, the Hurribomber, in the Western Desert.

Reginaldo Rossi, a 24 year-old corporal of the 39th Infantry Regiment ('Bologna' Division), wins posthumously the 'Medaglia d’Argento al Valore Militare', Italy’s second-highest military decoration while fighting off tanks. His Silver Medal for Valour citation reads: "As an anti-tank gunner, he was an example to all for his discipline and the care and maintenance he took of the units weapons. In the bloody and arduous combat that took place against numerous armoured vehicles, he showed complete and total disregard to the danger present and with absolute calmness, he stuck to his gun that he refused to abandon it, even when he found himself surrounded by the enemy." In his hometown Roccagorga in Italy, a carefully maintained monument in memory of this Italian war hero survives to this day.

Six Swordfish from Malta laid mines outside Tripoli Harbour and at same time three Albacores created diversion with bombs and three other Albacores laid mines. During the night five Swordfish, FAA No. 830 Squadron, were dispatched to lay mines outside Tripoli Harbour. The operation was successfully carried out and all aircraft safely returned to base.

East African campaign

Elements of Sudan Defense Force unsuccessfully attack Italian positions at Chilga west of Gondar.

Battle of the Pacific

HMAS “Sydney” sank some time after midnight from the damage sustained in the engagement with German raider “Kormoran”; all 645 aboard were lost. “Kormoran”, likewise heavily damaged, was abandoned at 1900 hours and was scuttled three hours later; 81 were killed and 318 survived.

Transport, “President Coolidge” arrived with elements of the 27th BG (L) and the 35th PG in Manila. The 5th Air Base Group also arrived in Manila. This group has been sent to the Philippines to support the 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy), the second B-17 group ordered to the Philippines. Navy Department disapproved Admiral Thomas C. Hart’s proposal to keep the Asiatic Fleet in the Philippines but refuses to provide him with further guidance. Hart, commander of the Asiatic Fleet, protests directly to Stark but no response was made. Hart orders the destroyer tender USS “Black Hawk” (AD-9) and the destroyers USS “Alden” (DD-211), “Edsall” (DD-219), “John D. Edwards” (DD-216) and “Whipple” (DD-217) dispatched to Balikpapan, Borneo, the Netherlands East Indies.

United States/Japan relations

Talks opened in Washington, D.C. between U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull, Japanese ambassador Kichisaburō Nomura and special Japanese envoy Saburō Kurusu. The Japanese demanded that the Americans withdraw from China, lift all sanctions directed against Japan and halt the U.S. naval buildup in the Pacific. The Japanese government offer proposals for a settlement of all issues, with deadline of 30 November. American Secretary Hull rejects the proposals, but prepares a reply which will enable negotiations to continue. This response is not sent after Dutch and British authorities express concerns over the concessions offered to the Japanese in China. The British and Dutch are seen to be acting on concerns expressed by Chiang Kai-shek’s government in China.

Photo: Japanese Ambassador Admiral Kichisaburō Nomura (left) and Special Envoy Saburō Kurusu (right) meet Hull

Foreign Minister Togo Shigenori sends a message to the Japanese ambassador in Ankara, Turkey, that includes the following:

“Insofar as Japanese-American negotiations are concerned, in proceeding upon these negotiations for the adjustment of diplomatic relations on a just basis, conferences have been in progress since the 7th. However, there is great disparity between their opinions and our own. In the light of the trend of past negotiations there is considerable doubt as to whether a settlement of the negotiations will be reached. Insofar as we are concerned we have lent our maximum efforts in order to bring about a settlement of the negotiations. However, the situation not permitting any further conciliation by us, an optimistic view for the future is not permitted. In the event that negotiations are broken off, we expect that the situation in which Japan will find herself will be extremely critical. The above is for your information alone.”

Japan military

All communications are cut to Etorofu Island, Kurile Islands. Tankan Bay is the assembly point for the Japanese naval vessels that will attack Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii.

The Japanese-controlled Ryojun Military Port (previously known as Port Arthur; now Lushunkou, Liaoning Province, China), Kwantung Leased Territory in northeastern China was upgraded to the status of a Guard District.

Crown Prince Yi Un was assigned to Guangdong Province, China.

The Japanese naval base at Mako in Pescadores Islands, Taiwan was upgraded to full Guard District status.

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World War II in real time Nov 21, 2020 14:31:46 GMT stevep and gillan1220 like this

Post by lordroel on Nov 21, 2020 14:31:46 GMT

Day 813 of World War II, November 21st 1941

YouTube (Surprise Attack On Rommel! - Operation Crusader Begins)

Eastern Front - Operation Barbarossa

The news from all along the front is of furious assaults and desperate Russian resistance. In the north the siege of Leningrad is biting hard. Despite an airborne evacuation there are still too many mouths to feed, and the Germans have cut the communications centre of Tikhvin, 120 miles to the east. In the morning, Captain Murov’s horses and drivers return from Kobona on the Eastern shore of Lake Ladoga carrying much-needed flour, sugar and fat, making the 40 mile round trip across the ice in 24 hours. The ice is 18 cm thick and the Road of Life is now open for the first time since the city was surrounded. Moscow reported a serious situation at Tula, South of the capital, where the Wehrmacht launched a very heavy new offensive. German 4.Panzergruppe and 2.Panzerarmee continued attacking toward Moscow. Tula is still holding out, blocking Guderian’s way to Moscow. Although the Germans are making some progress north of the city, the Russians are fighting with great tenacity. A Siberian division armed with T-34 tanks has also joined the battle near Venev, 60 miles south of Moscow. In the south the Battle of Rostov began. Rostov-on-Don has been captured by von Kleist’s 1.Panzerarmee. However, the German lines were over-extended, and von Kleist's warnings that his left flank was vulnerable and that his tanks were ineffective in the freezing weather were ignored. The Red Army is regrouping in an attempt to reclaim the battered city. Soviet 9th Army and 37th Army continue attacking flank of German 1.Panzerarmee. The fortress of Sebastopol, the last Russian stronghold in the Crimea following the German breakthrough into the peninsula, has also fought off all attempts to penetrate its defences. It is becoming the Russian Tobruk.

Photo: German mechanized troops rest at Stariza, Russia on November 21, 1941, only just evacuated by the Russians, before continuing the fight for Kiev. The gutted buildings in the background testify to the thoroughness of the Russians “scorched earth” policy

German occupation authorities begin halting activities of Ukrainian National Movement and executing some members.

Battle of the Mediterranean

Pressed for fuel, Erwin Rommel dispatched Italian cruiser “Cardona” from Brindisi, unescorted, to bring fuel to Benghazi. Supply convoys to North Africa are increasing because of the growing supply problems there. Two of the Italian cruisers are badly damaged. British submarine HMS “Utmost” attacked and damaged Italian cruiser “Trieste” 10 miles east of Catania, Sicily, Italy at 2312 hours. British submarine HMS “Urge” returned to Malta from patrol off Cephalonia, having unsuccessfully attacked two escorted merchant vessels at long range. However most searches by British Malta naval forces do not find the unescorted convoy.

Axis Convoy departs Naples for Tripoli with two vessels escorted by Italian destroyer “Da Recco” and torpedo boat “Cozenz”.

Twelve Wellingtons from RAF No. 40 Squadron and four Wellingtons RAF No. 104 Squadron flying from Malta attacked a convoy. Four Swordfish and four Albacores from Malta attacked a convoy and escort east of Cape Spartivento. Four torpedoes were dropped and one hit claimed on a cruiser and one on a merchant vessel of 7000 tons.

Over Malta, the Italians increase the attacks against the island. At 0713 hours, two waves of six and nine Macchi’s approached the Island from the north-east. Six enemy aircraft with another six providing high cover attacked Hal Far and Ta Qali aerodromes with cannon and machine gun fire, causing very slight damage. One Swordfish was damaged. Heavy and Light Ack Ack, also light machine guns engaged claiming three Macchi 202’s damaged. Hurricanes engaged with one Macchi being shot down in sea, and three damaged. One Hurricane slightly damaged. One Hurricane crashed on Attard-Rabat road. Pilot uninjured. At 0906 hours three Italian aircraft approached the Island and shot a returning Photo Reconnaissance Unit Hurricane into the sea. Pilot was rescued. At 1714 hours seventeen Macchi’s approached the Island. Fifteen Hurricanes were airborne, four of whom intercepted with no observed results. One Hurricane went missing and 1 slightly damaged. At 1850 hours one enemy aircraft approached the Island from the north, crossed the coast at Grand Harbour and went out over Delimara. Bombs were dropped in sea East of Delimara.

Naples, Brindisi and Messina raided by the British Royal Air Force (RAF).

Western Desert Campaign - Operation Crusader

First Battle of Bir el Gubi: New Zealand troops cross the Egyptian-Libyan frontier as part of Operation Crusader, and capture Fort Capuzzo. Cunningham ordered the British 70th Division to break out of its encirclement at Tobruk, which it managed to do after a hard day's fighting. The Italian 'Bologna' defenders at the 'Tugun' strongpoint derail the advance of the British 70th Division from Tobruk. The front was a series of strongpoints and not continuous trench lines. One was the Tugun position held by the Bologna infantry division, anything but an elite formation. The New Zealand Official History states, "The more elaborate attack on Tugun went in at 1500 hours and gained perhaps half the position, together with 250 Italians and many light field guns. But the Italians in the western half could not be dislodged and the base of the break-out area remained on this account uncomfortably narrow." The Official History goes on to comment on the "...strong Italian opposition at Tugun as part of the reason for the decision to halt the sortie at this time."" Rommel orders an attack on the British 7th Armoured Brigade at Sidi Rezegh by both German panzer divisions. The British respond by moving the 4th and 22nd Armoured Brigades toward Sidi Rezegh. The Allied garrison at Tobruk attempted to link up with the main attack force coming from Egypt. A massive clash of armor begins, lasting 3 days, as German 15.Panzerdivision and British 7th Armored Division converge on the airfield at Sidi Rezegh (largest tank battle in North Africa so far). By day’s end, 20 tanks remain to the British brigade. New Zealand 2nd and Indian 4th infantry Divisions bypass German garrisons at Bardia, Sollum and Halfaya Pass and march to the guns to support the battle at Sidi Rezegh. Simultaneously, the Tobruk garrison attacks east to link up with the forces coming from Egypt. German infantry block the breakout, holding the Allied troops at the El Duda ridge. The breakout attempt at Tobruk is halted when the expected help from the 7th Armoured Brigade does not arrive. Without armoured support the northward attack by the Support Group failed and by the end of the day, 7th Armoured Brigade had lost all but 28 of its 160 tanks and were relying by that time mainly on the artillery of the Support Group to hold the enemy at arm's length. The South African brigade meanwhile were dug in southeast of Bir el Haiad but had the German armour between them and Sidi Rezegh. However, by evening, 4th Armoured was 8 miles (13 km) south east of Sidi Rezegh and 22nd Armoured Brigade were in contact with the German armour at Bir el Haiad, some 12 miles (19 km) south-west of Sidi Rezegh.

Photo: Italian military personnel in a radio truck, Bir el Gobi, November 1941

Rifleman John Beeley (b.1918), King’s Royal Rifle Corps, left his company on his own initiative and cleared three gun positions before being killed. (Victoria Cross). Brigadier John Charles Campbell (1894-1942), Royal Horse Artillery, showed brilliant leadership under heavy fire, manning guns himself and refusing evacuation when wounded. (Victoria Cross). 2nd Lt. George Ward Gunn (b.1912) Royal Horse Artillery, led four anti-tank guns facing 60 tanks. When three of his guns were knocked out he fired the fourth himself until he was killed. (Victoria Cross).

Photo: General Erwin Romel discusses the situation at Italian headquarters with Italian General Enea Navarini and liaison officer Colonel Diesener on 21 November 1941. Notice that Rommel is seated and the Italian general is standing

East African campaign

In East Africa the Allied and local forces renew their attack. In Abyssinia strong enemy positions at Kulkaber and Ferroaber, east of Lake Tana, are heavily attacked. The Italian garrisons surrendered. Prisoners numbered 1,800. Italian garrison at Cirda encircled. The Italian presence in Abyssinia is now confined to the area immediately around Gondar.

United States

Battleship USS “Indiana” is launched at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company of Newport News, Virginia, with the christening performed by Margaret Robbins, the daughter of the Governor of Indiana, Henry F. Schricker.

Photo: Battleship USS “Indiana” is launched

U.S. Lend-Lease is extended to Iceland. The United States agreed to pay Iceland for fish and oil sent to Britain.

United States/Japan relations

New proposals from Japan’s premier, Hideki Tojo, rule out the use of force by both sides and offer withdrawal from southern Indochina to the northern part of the country. In return Tokyo wants the USA to lift its oil embargo, supply Japan with one million tons of aviation fuel each month and help it to acquire whatever oil it needs from the Dutch East Indies. The Roosevelt administration has rejected the latest proposals put forward by Saburo Kurusu, Japan’s special envoy. The secretary of state, Cordell Hull, says that US acceptance would be tantamount to “aiding and abetting Japan in her efforts to create a Japanese hegemony in and over the western Pacific.” Hopes of averting war have been weakened by Japan’s warning that time for negotiations is limited.

Battle of the Pacific

Joseph Rochefort's US Navy cryptanalytic team in Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii detected the arrival of a Japanese submarine squadron in the Marshall Islands.

Marshall advises MacArthur that Rainbow-5 had been modified to “include ... strong air operations” and authorizing offensive operations; WPO-3 had been suspended. (Received in the Philippines November 22, 1941). MacArthur ordered B-17’s transferred from Clark Field near Manila to Del Monte Field in Mindanao to remove them from the striking range of Japanese aircraft. Brereton reported the aircraft will be moved but this is delayed due to construction at Del Monte and only 17 (some sources say 16 or 18) aircraft were actually moved by the time War breaks out. The FEAF plan was submitted to Sutherland, who opposed the movement of the B-17’s to Mindanao. Persistence of FEAF Chief of Staff, Colonel Francis M Brady, swayed Sutherland and he agreed to a temporary shift of these airplanes to the south. The commander of the 5th Air Base Group reports to FEAF HQ and is told that his unit will be based at Clark Field. He went up to Clark and upon returning, was told to report to Colonel George who asked him to go to Del Monte Field to get it operational. But George warned him that “there were no facilities at all – no hangars, no barrack, no supplies, no nothing.” Within three days, two small interisland steamers had been acquired and the men and supplies were sailing the 800-miles (1287 kilometres) to Mindanao. Several days later, the two steamers arrived and the men and supplies were unloaded and transferred 18 miles (29 kilometres) to the field.

The Navy Department sends the following message to the Commanders of the Asiatic and Pacific Fleets. “Have been informed by Dutch Legation that they have received a dispatch as follows: “According to information received by the Governor General of The Netherlands East Indies a Japanese expeditionary force has arrived in the vicinity of Palau. Should this force, strong enough to form a threat for The Netherlands Indies or Portuguese Timor, move beyond a line between the following points Davao (Philippine Islands) Waigeo (Island, Netherlands East Indies) Equator the Governor General will regard this as an act of aggression and will under those circumstances consider the hostilities opened and act accordingly. Inform Army authorities of foregoing. Request any information you may have concerning development of this Japanese threat against the Dutch East Indies and your evaluation of foregoing information.”

Pensacola convoy: USN reinforcement convoy for the Philippines departs San Francisco with eight vessels escorted by cruiser “Pensacola”.

Japan military

Japanese Navy acquired luxury ocean liner “Hikawa Maru” for use as a hospital ship. “Hikawa Maru” was assigned to the Yokosuka Naval District, Japan.

The four submarines of the 1st Submarine Unit, Advance Group, Pearl Harbor Strike Force, depart Kure. Each submarine is carrying a “Glen” seaplane (Kugisho E14Y1, Navy Type 0 Small Reconnaissance Seaplane). On 7 December, these four submarines will be stationed about 70 nautical miles (130 kilometers) north of Oahu, Hawaiian Islands.

Photo: Japanese aircraft carrier Zuikaku waits at Hitokappu Bay (Kasatka Bay) at Iturup, the Kuril Islands on or about 21 November 1941. The Japanese carrier strike force is waiting for final orders to proceed across the Pacific Ocean to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. All communications from Iturup have been blocked for the time being by Japanese authorities to prevent disclosure of the strike force's presence

Last Edit: Nov 21, 2020 19:21:17 GMT by lordroel

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