Axis Diplomacy

Göring meets with Rumanian dictator Gen Antonescu in Vienna about securing Rumanian participation in Operation Barbarossa.

Antonescu and Göring at the Belvedere Palace, Vienna, Austria, 5 Mar 1941

Antonescu and Göring

Battle of the Atlantic

U-95 sinks the Swedish steamer Murjek (5070t) west-northwest of Rockall with the loss of her entire crew of 31.

Diplomatic Relations

Britain severs diplomatic relations with Bulgaria noting that 'from the nature of the German military movements in Bulgaria it is clear that the German aim is to menace and, if necessary, attack Great Britain's ally, Greece.'

Mediterranean

• Beginning this day and continuing until April 2 is Operation LUSTER. 58,000 British troops are transported from Alexandria to Greece. Italian submarines carry out numerous patrols along the convoy route but without success.
• The British submarine Triumph sinks the Italian steamers Marzamemi (958t) and Colombo Lo Faro (897t) off Calabria.

Secret War

Italian soldiers captured by Greeks in Albania report that 1,500 Alpini troops have recently been drowned when the transport Liguria was torpedoed and that Allied bombing raids have caused heavy casualties and great confusion behind Italian lines.

Operation LUSTER: British troops board ships in Alexandria for transport to Greece.

British Troops Board Ships in Alexandria