Battle of the Atlantic

U-52 sinks the Belgian steamer Ville de Liege (7430t) about 700 miles east of Cape Farewell with the loss of 40 of her crew. There are 12 survivors.

Diplomatic Relations

• There are secret talks in New York between the Americans and the Icelandic consul. The Icelandic officials agree to do nothing to resist and American occupation to replace the present British force.
• King Farouk of Egypt sends a secret message to Hitler, via the Egyptian Minister in Iran, expressing hope that Germany will 'soon liberate Egypt from the British yoke'.

Greece

The Allied forces on the Olympus position are attacked by the advancing Germans. In the Monastir Gap the rearguards are also under pressure throughout this time as they try to retire through Kozani.

Mediterranean

The Australian destroyer Waterhen attempts to take the damaged hospital ship Vita in tow off Tobruk, April 14, 1941

Australian Destroyer To Tow Hospital Ship

• The British steamer Clan Cumming (7264t) sinks on a mine in Eleusis Bay south of Athens. 77 of her crew are taken prisoner, 36 are rescued.
• The Turkish steamer Trabzon (2485t) is sunk by German bombing at Laurium while heading to Piraeus for repairs.

North Africa

Rommel launches an attack on Tobruk from the south, using the 5th Light Motorized Div, and succeeds in breaking through the outer defenses. By the afternoon, however, a heavy artillery barrage and a strong counterattack by the British infantry, compel the German forces to withdraw. Tobruk will be a tough nut to crack. For the moment all the Italo-German forces can do is to reinforce their seige of the fortress.

A huge Panzer IV German tank, part of the German expeditionary force in North Africa, halts in the Libyan Desert on April 14, 1941. (AP Photo)

German Tank in the Libyan Desert

Street scene in Antwerp during the pogrom of 14 April 1941

Antwerp Street Scene

Yugoslavia, Politics

King Peter leaves Yugoslavia and flies to Athens. The Simovic government joins him there on the 15th.