Axis Diplomacy

A Vichy France - Thailand peace conference begins in Tokyo under the auspices of the Japanese government.

Battle of the Atlantic

The British steamer Bay Fisher is sunk by German bombing 3-1/2 miles northeast of Bell Rock with the loss of 8 of her crew.

North Africa

Large-scale surrenders begin at Beda Fomm after the Italian 10th Army is surrounded and makes fruitless attempts to break through to continue their retreat. Eventually about 25,000 more Italians will be taken, along with 216 guns, 112 tanks and 1,500 trucks.

Italian tanks captured at Beda Fomm

Italian POWs at the Battle of Beda Fomm

Since the start of the campaign 2 months previously a force of no more than 2 divisions has destroyed 10 Italian divisions and taken 130,000 prisoners for the loss of 555 dead and 1,400 wounded. Many of the British vehicles now desperately need repairs. This will have an important effect later. In the evening Agedabia falls to the British forces who now control all of Cyrenaica.

Free French forces under Gen Jacques-Philippe Leclerc with air support besiege Kufra Oasis, an important Italian garrison town and air base in southern Libya.