Axis Diplomacy

Germany repeats its demand that Yugoslavia join the Axis. It becomes increasingly apparent to Berlin that German troops will be needed in Greece and access through Yugoslavia is essential.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British steamer Tacoma City (4738t) sinks on a mine east of Rock Ferry Light, Mersey with the loss of 4 of her crew. Also sinking by a mine is the British steamer Ullapool (4891t) off Princess Stage, Mersey with the loss of 15.
• The Norwegian steamer Samlanes (842t) 2 miles south of the Lizard with the loss of the entire crew.
• During the night German bombing sinks the British steamer Trevarrack (5270t) in the Dalmuir Basin, Clyde and the British collier Belhaven (1498t) at the Clyde. The Dutch steamer Perseus (1307t) is sunk 12 miles northwest of Bardsey Island. The entire crew is rescued.

Sections of Glasgow were devastated in a 2-day bombing raid March 13 - 14, 1941 by 250 enemy planes. The city lost 528 killed, 617 wounded and 48,000 residents were forced from their bombed-out homes. This is a street in downtown Glasgow.

Bombing of Glasgow

The Blitz

Clydeside experiences its first heavy night attack. Led by KG100 some 200 aircraft drop 272 tons of high explosives and 60,000 incendiaries. The targets are the Bowling Shipyards, the oil tanks at Old Kilpatrick and the ammo depot at Dalmuir. There is widespread destruction at Clydebank especially in districts close to the river. Large fires are started at Singer's Timber Yard, Rothesay Dock and a distillery at Yoker. A bomb makes a direct hit on a shelter at Yarrow's Shipyard killing 80 workers. About 35,000 of the 47,000 people who live there are left homeless.

There is another heavy attack on Merseyside where the raids of the last two nights have killed about 500 and seriously wounded 500 more. Night fighters are active over Britain flying 261 sorties. They destroy 5 bombers, 4 of which were in the Merseyside raid.

Baxter Street in Glasgow after the relentless bombing of the German Luftwaffe on March 13, 1941.

Glasgow Damage

Germany, Planning

Hitler issues a directive for the invasion of the Soviet Union which gives administrative control of any captured territory to the SS. This and later orders concerning the treatment of commissars and ordinary prisoners will lead to many dreadful atrocities. It also ruins the previously quite good chance that the Germans will receive worthwhile support from those who have reason to bear Stalin's government no love.

Greek-Albanian Front

Fierce fighting continues between the attacking Italians and the defending Greeks, involving 32 Italian infantry regiments and 34 Greek regiments. The Italian attacks toward Klisura continue but are now being held comfortably by the Greek defense. The fighting will continue until the end of the month. The intention of the Italian command is less to gain territory than to wear down the enemy.