Air Operations, Europe

The RAF again attacks the 2 German battlecruisers in Brest harbor. The Gneisenau is hit above the waterline.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-52 sinks the Dutch steamer Saleier (6563t) from dispersed Convoy OB-306 southwest of Iceland. All 63 of her crew are picked up by the American destroyer Niblack (DD-424).
• The first hostile action by the Americans against Germany occurs off Iceland. During an operation to pick up survivors from a Dutch freighter sunk there, the American destroyer Niblack (DD-424) detects a submarine in the area and drops depth charges on it. The u-boat manages to leave the area apparently undamaged.

The Blitz

There is a minor raid on Coventry. (See April 8 for casualty summation.)

Greece

The Germans begin their attacks through the Monastir Gap. Gen Sir Henry Maitland Wilson, haunted by the specter of a second Dunkirk, orders the British expeditionary force to retire.

Japan, Politics

Military and conservative factions gain greater influence in a cabinet reshuffle. Musatsume Ogura, Adm Teijiro(Soemu?) Toyoda and Lt-Gen Teichi Suzuki, all considered pro-expansion, are added to the cabinet. In another move strengthening the 'war hawk' point of view, Adm Asami Nagano replaces Prince Hiroyasu Fushimi as chief of the Naval General Staff.

Japan, Preparations

Yamamoto forms the First Air Fleet consisting of 4 carriers and 200 planes.

North Africa

The Australian 9th Div withdraws to Tobruk. The Libyan strongpoint, in which the British have taken refuge under the battering of the German and Italian forces led by Rommel, is soon completely cut off. The Axis forces, advancing in echelon, literally besiege it. Every inch of the defensive perimeter is within range of German and Italian artillery.

United States, Policy

• As the US extends is security zone, Greenland, a Danish possession, will receive US protection. This move is made to prevent Greenland from falling into German hands. There are valuable weather-observation points for Britain located there. The Azores are also included in the extended security zone.
• The US Navy changes its Atlantic policy from convoy protection to patrol work.

Yugoslavia

The advance of the German 2nd Army gathers speed. Zagreb in Croatia is captured as well as Monastir in southern Yugoslavia. The German advance is helped by the desertion of many Croat troops from the Yugoslav army. During the day Pavelic and Kvaternik, leaders of the Croat terrorist organization, the Ustachi, announce on Zagreb radio the establishment of an independent Croatian republic. The Croatian nationalist leader, Pavelic, is in Rome.

Hungary and Italy join in the attack on Yugoslavia. The Italian 2nd Army crosses the Julian Alps and proceed to drive down the Adriatic coast. Hungary occupies the Yugoslav territory north of the Danube which it had lost after the last war.

German troops captured Zagreb on Thursday, April 10, 1941. The population of the city welcomed and celebrated the arrival of the Nazi forces. The Wehrmacht soldiers were seen as liberators and Adolf Hitler was idolized and emulated. The German troops that captured the city encountered massive crowds of jubilant and cheering throngs as German occupation forces entered the city. The euphoria and adulation expressed for Adolf Hitler, Germany, and the New Order in Europe were clearly evident.

Crowds in Zagreb Cheer the German Troops