Battle of the Atlantic
- Roosevelt announces that 'neutrality patrols' by the US Navy are to be vastly extended.
- U-103 sinks the Norwegian steamer Polyana (2267t) from dispersed Convoy OG-58 west of Freetown with the loss of all 25 of her crew.
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]The Blitz
Sunderland is the target as 60 planes from Luftflotten and drop 80 tons of high explosives and 9,000 incendiaries. All towns in the area are hit including South Shields, Hebburn, Tynemouth, Wallsend, and Jarrow. A lot of parachute mines are used and large areas are affected from the blasts of these. In one such incident in Newcastle, several houses are destroyed and 35 people are killed, including 6 from 1 family. A number of small fires are started, but they are quickly dealt with.
[ | ]German Raiders
The German raider Pinguin sinks the British steamer Empire Light (6828t) north of the Seychelles.
[ | ]Germany, Planning
Hitler issues Directive 28 giving the order for Operation Merkur (Mercury), the airborne attack on Crete.
The German naval attaché in Moscow cables Berlin that there are many rumors going around concerning the German-Russian war. He quotes the British ambassador as stating that it would begin on June 22.
[ | ]Greece
The Australians and New Zealanders, who have fallen back from Thermopylae to Thebes, are forced to continue their retreat under pressure by the Germans towards the small ports of Rafina, Magara and Porto Rafti, in mainland Greece, to re-embark.
Germans Drive Farther into Greece |
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German airborne troops drop beyond the Corinth Canal in an attempt to take a vital canal bridge but the bridge is blown before they can do so. The SS Adolf Hitler Div is successful in crossing the western outlet of the canal to Patras. German troops spread out over the whole of the Peloponnese.
[ | ] New Zealand Troops Disembarking in Crete. |
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Italian East Africa
The situation grows more difficult for the Italians at Amba Alagi.
[ | ]Mediterranean
- The British submarine Upholder sinks the German troopship Antoinette Lauro (5428t) 2-1/2 miles from Kerkanah.
- German air attacks sink more Greek ships. Lost are the steamer Sofia (1722t) at Megara, the steamers Anna Maria (128t) and Marious (602t) at Vostizza, the steamer George A. Dracoulis (1570t) at Chakis, the steamer Thraki (982t) at Port Kheli, and the steamer Dimitrios Nomikos (1171t) at Karystos, Euboea.
| ]North Africa
The Germans attack Halfaya Pass, the key to the eastern approach to Egypt, and succeed in driving the British back to the line Buq Buq-Sofafi.
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