Chronology of World War II

March 1941

Monday, March 17th


Battle of the Atlantic

  • In attacks on Convoy SL-68 U-106 sinks the British steamer Andalusian (3082t) and the Dutch steamer Tapanoeli (7031t) east of the Cape Verde Islands. The entire crews of both ships are rescued.
  • The Norwegian steamer Einar Jarl (1858t) sinks on a mine southeast of Dundee with the loss of 1 of her crew.
[larr2larr | rarrrarr2]

Britain, Home Front

Jam and marmalade are rationed: 8 oz (225 g) per person per month.


American pilots of No 71 'Eagle' Squadron rush to their Hurricanes at Kirton-in-Lindsey March 17, 1941. (Photo - Imperial War Museum)

American Pilots of No 71 Squadron


American Pilots
[larr2larr | rarrrarr2]

Italian East Africa

Gen Cunningham's troops, the 11th and 12th East African Divs and the 1st South African Div, cross the Ethiopian border from British Somaliland in their northward advance and reach Jijiga which has been evacuated by the Italians. The British have now reached a point about a thousand miles from the Kenyan border in just 5 weeks. The Italians launch an unsuccessful counterattack in Eritrea.

[larrlarr | rarrrarr2]

[March 16th - March 18th]