Balkans, Politics

There is a coup in Yugoslavia. The pro-Axis Prime Minister Cvetkovic and Foreign Minister Cincar-Markovich are arrested. The council of Regency and Prince Paul are deposed and the 17-year-old King Peter takes over nominal charge of the government. The rising is led by air force officers and their Chief of Staff, Gen Dusan Simovic, who becomes the new head of government. British agents have had a hand in bringing the rising about. The change is very popular among the Serbian sections of the population (almost all the leaders of the armed forces are Serbian) but less so among the Croats. One of Simovic's first acts is to sign a non-agression pact with Moscow.

Demonstrations in Belgrade

In an immediate angry response to the change of government Hitler issues Directive 25 which orders planning for the invasion of Yugoslavia to begin. Since the military coup d'etat, Yugoslavia 'must be regarded as an enemy and therefore completely crushed as soon as possible'. It is to be mounted as soon as possible and the invasion of Greece is to take place at the same time. Hitler accepts that it may be necessary to defer Barbarossa to allow these new operations to take place.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-98 sinks the British steamer Koranton (6695t), a straggler from Convoy SC-25, 320 miles south of Reyjavik, Iceland with the loss of her entire crew of 41.

The attack on Greece (Unternehmen MARITA) was planned months in advance, with the intent to salvage the inept Italian attack launched in November 1940 that ended up being thrown back into Albania. Yugoslavia was added to the list on March 27, when the Army overthrew the regency regime that had signed a pact with Hitler two days prior. The attack on Yugoslavia was named “CRIMINAL COURT” (STRAFGERICHT), reflecting Hitler’s belief that the March 27 coup was a criminal insult to Germany and him personally.

Yugoslav Tank with Hand-Written Slogan “For King and Fatherland”, March 27, 1941

Diplomatic Relations

Britain and the US reach an agreement for the transfer of British naval and air bases in Newfoundland, Bermuda, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Antigua, Trinidad, British Guiana and the Bahamas to the US.

Germany, Home Front

Hitler issues a directive on Yugoslavia, which is to be 'beaten down as quickly as possible ... Belgrade will be destroyed from the air.' At the same time Salonika and eastern Greece are to be occupied in Operation Marita. Operation Barbarossa is postponed for 'up to 4 weeks', from mid-May to mid-June.

Italian East Africa

In Eritrea, after 12 days of bitter fighting, the Allied advance clears the Italian road blocks in the Keren position. The Italian force begins to withdraw toward Asmara as Italian resistance seems to be rapidly crumbling. The Indian divs have lost 536 killed and 3,229 wounded in the Keren battles and the Italians 3,000 dead as well as 4,500 wounded.

Mediterranean

The Battle of Cape Matapan, Prelude. The British forces set out on this day. Adm Pridham-Wippell leads 4 light cruisers and 4 destroyers from the Piraeus and Adm Cunningham the main body of 3 battleships, 1 carrier and 9 destroyers from Alexandria.

Secret War

British Signals Intelligence intercepts radio traffic suggesting that a major Italian naval operation is in progress.

United States, Politics

Congress approves an appropriation of $7 billion for the US Lend-Lease program.