Air Operations, East Africa

The RAF bombs Assab, Italian East Africa.

Air Operations, Europe

There are RAF daylight raids on Cologne, the oil supplies in Rotterdam, the docks at Ijmuiden and a bridge over the Rhine near Emmerich. Also bombed by the RAF is Valona, Albania.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-38 sinks the Swedish steamer Valparaiso (3760t), a straggler from Convoy HX-97, with the loss of all 35 of her crew.

Londoners passing through the ruins of collapsed buildings, the consequences of the raid by German aircraft at London on 31 December 1940.

Damage From This Day's Raid

Germany, Home Front

Hitler issues a New Year proclamation to the Nazi Party: '1941 will see the German army, navy and air force enormously stengthened and better equipped. Under these blows the last boasting of the warmongers will collapse, thus achieving the final conditions for a true understanding among the peoples.'