Chronology of World War II

November 1940

Friday, November 15th


Air Operations, Europe

The British heavily bomb Hamburg.

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Atlantic

US flying boats begin patrols from bases in Bermuda.

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Battle of the Atlantic

  • U-65 sinks the British steamer Kohinur (5168t) and the Norwegian tanker Havbor (7614t) about 250 miles north of the equator. 17 crewmen from the Kohinur are lost initially, but 31 more are lost later when the Havbor is hit while picking up survivors. 60 crewmen are lost from the Havbor. 36 survivors from the Kohinur are picked up by the British ship City of Pittsburg and 4 from the Havbor by the British ship Baron Androssan.
  • The British steamer Apapa (9333t) from Convoy SL-53 is sunk by German bombing in the North Sea with the loss of 23 of her crew. Survivors are picked up by the British steamers Mary Kingsley and New Columbia.
  • The British steamer Blue Galleon (712t) is sunk by German bombing in the North Sea with the loss of 3 crewmen.
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Damage to Shepherd Market, Mayfair


Damage to Shepherd Market, Mayfair

The Blitz

There are heavy night raids on London by 358 aircraft which last until 4:00a.m. 400 tons of high explosives and over 40,000 incendiaries are dropped. Among the places hit are Wesminster Abbey, the National Portrait Gallery and 4 hospitals. There are 142 people killed and 430 seriously injured.

Winton's worst raid was at 3.30 in the morning of November 16, 1940. Parachute landmines were dropped on the Alma Road, St Leonards Road and Malmesbury Park Road areas. More than 50 people were killed and around 150 injured in the raid which also hit other parts of the town.

Raid on Winton


Raid on Winton
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Greek-Albanian Front

The Greek counteroffensives continue with especial success for the advance from western Macedonia. The Greek III Army Corps opens a breach in the area of Mount Morova in the sector of the front held by the Italian 9th Army. The Greeks continue to take many prisoners. At Menton, the French Riviera town just beyond the Italian border, posters appear saying: 'This is French territory. Greeks, do not advance further!'

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Occupied Poland

Jews of the Warsaw ghetto are prohibited from leaving the sealed-off area.

Construction of the Ghetto Wall


Construction of the ghetto wall
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[ November 14th - November 16th]