Air Operations, Europe

RAF bombers attack Sofia, Bulgaria.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

Aircraft of the 10th Fliegercorps carry out heavy bombing raids on the island of Malta.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The armed merchant cruiser Rajputana (16,400t) is sunk by U-108 in the Denmark Strait with the loss of 40 on board. 283 survivors are picked up by the British destroyer Legion.
• U-124 sinks the British steamer Corinthic (4823t) southwest of Freetown with the loss of 2 crewmen. 39 survivors are picked up by the Dutch tanker Malvina.

Diplomatic Relations

Japanese Foreign Minister Matsuoka signing Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact

Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact

• The USSR and Japan sign a 5-year Neutrality Agreement. For Stalin this is an invaluable piece of diplomacy which, backed by secret information from Soviet spies in Tokyo, will allow him to transfer forces from Siberia to face a possible German attack. These moves begin now and will be particularly important during the final German advance on Moscow later in the year.

  The agreement represents a complete change in Japanese policy and marks the growing concern of the Japanese military leaders and statesmen to look south to the resources of the East Indies. The agreement has been negotiated almost alone by Foreign Minister Matsuoka, in Moscow on the way back from a European visit. Although it conforms well to the other Japanese leaders' ideas, they are upset at Matsuoka's brash and independent attitude.

• Churchill assures Roosevelt that the British will not abandon North Africa but says that US supplies can be crucial to the outcome.

Greece

Although the withdrawal to the Mount Olympus position is not yet complete the British and Greeks decide that they must retreat farther to shorter lines near Thermopylae. Veroia and Katerini, points on the original British defense line in Greece, fall to the Germans. In their offensive the Italians take Korcë, Permet, Gjirokaster and Portë e Palermos are recaptured, and some divisions advance into the Epirus.

North Africa

Rommel says he wants to follow up his advance at least to Mersa Matruh, regardless of what happens in the Tobruk sector. Berlin, however, recommends that he consolidate on a line at Sollum, on the Libyan-Egyptian frontier, and it is emphasized that he should use any possible means to eliminate the resistance of the British garrison in Tobruk. The first seige of Tobruk begins. The Australian 9th Div under Gen Morshead repels Rommel's tanks this day as well as assaults on April 14, 17, 19 and 24. German and Italian aircraft carry out 437 raids dropping 350 tons of bombs during the period from now until July. The Germans also carry out numerous long-range artillery barrages.