Air Operations, East Africa

British, South African and Rhodesian aircraft raid a power station at Massawa and other targets in East Africa.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The Dutch steamer Barneveld (5597t) is capture by the German heavy cruiser Admiral Scheer about 1200 miles from Freetown. The entire crew and passengers are made prisoners of war. The ship is sunk the next day by the German cruiser.
• U-95 sinks the British steamer Florian (3174t) in the North Atlantic west of the Faroes with the loss of the entire crew of 44.
• The Italian submarine Marcello sinks the Belgian steamer Portugal.
• The British steamer Stanpark (5103t) is sunk by the German heavy cruiser Admiral Scheer in the South Atlantic. The entire crew is taken prisoner.

The Blitz

For the second consecutive night there is a raid on Swansea.

Mediterranean

Because of the presence of the Luftwaffe in Sicily, the British chiefs of staff say it will be impossible to carry out the plan to seize the island of Pantelleria by a commando operation. Pantelleria lies between Sicily and the northeast coast of Tunisia. Even though the plan has Churchill's enthusiastic support, Adm Cunningham is against it saying that he could not accept any addition to the already immense difficulties involved in supplying the Mediterranean squadron. Malta will remain for a long time the only British strongpoint in the central Mediterranean.

North Africa

To support the Italian army in Libya Hitler has made the decision to send the German 15th Arm Div under command of Gen Erwin Rommel, the future 'Desert Fox'.

Rumania, Politics

The simmering power struggle between Ion Antonescu and the Vice-Premier of Romania and leader of the Iron Guard, Horia Sima, erupts into violence.

During 3 days of violence in the country, Antonescu suppresses the Iron Guard with the help of the army. Hitler offers German troops to help crush the rebellion, which Antonescu declines. Thereafter, German troops in Romania help to smuggle Iron Guard members, including Sima, out of the country.

United States, Politics

President Roosevelt is sworn in for an unprecedented third term in Washington.

President "Roosevelt Sworn In For Third Term