Battle of the Atlantic

• The British naval tug St Cyrus (810t) sinks on a mine off the Humber with the loss of most of the crew.
• The Greek steamer Kapetan Stratis (3574t) is sunk by German bombing in the North Sea with the loss of the entire crew.

Bulgaria

The chief of staff of the Bulgarian army, Gen Vasil Boydev, in the name of King Boris, discusses with representatives of the German high command a plan for collaboration and co-operation between the two countries.

Italian East Africa

In Eritrea the Italian forces are falling back toward Agordat in the face of Platt's attack. There is also some skirmishing along the border between Kenya and Italian Somaliland as the British advance in the Trans-Juba region and take Jalib.

Ethiopians transporting supplies by camel through vegetation, January 22, 1941

Camel Transport

German Raiders

Operation Berlin begins. Gneisenau and Scharnhorst leave Kiel in the Baltic to attack Atlantic convoys (see February 22).

Mediterranean

• Wavell is ordered to make arrangements to support the Greeks by every means available to him.
• The Italian liner Liguria (15,354t), immobilized by bombing damage since 5 July, is sunk by British bombing at Tobruk.

North Africa

The remainder of the garrison of Tobruk surrenders after demolishing some of the harbor facilities. Also destroyed is the cruiser San Giorgio. There are 27,000 prisoners. Much equipment, including 200 guns and about 70 tanks, is also captured and, in fact, it will prove possible to put the port into service fairly quickly. The Allied casualties have been less than 500 men.

By evening the British 7th Arm Bde is about 20 miles form Derna while patrols from the Australian 4th Bde are on the tracks leading west and southwest from Mechili.

The Australian 2/11th Infantry Battalion regroups on the escarpment at the south side of Tobruk harbour, after penetrating the Italian outer defences and attacking anti-aircraft positions.

Australians Regrouping Near Tobruk

British and Commonwealth forces enter the port at Tobruk, in Libya, and tens of thousands of Italian occupiers are taken prisoner.

Allied Forces Enter Tobruk