Battle of the Atlantic

• U-103 sinks the British steamer Wray Castle (4253t) 110 miles south-southwest of Freetown with the loss of 1 crewman. 56 survivors are picked up by the Portuguese steamer Angola.
• U-95 sinks the Norwegian steamer Taranger 150 miles southwest of Reykjavik with the loss of 1 of her crew. 32 survivors are picked up by the British corvette Begonia.
• In a German bombing attack on Liverpool the Norwegian steamer Bra-Kar (3778t) is sunk along with several smaller ships. The British steamer Malakind (7649t) in port was loaded with ammunition. A partially deflated barrage balloon falls on deck and catches fire. The ship is abandoned shortly after midnight. It blows up about 0730 on the 4th. Several ships are lost in the explosion including the British steamer Elstree Grange (6598t), the British steamer Domino (1453t), the British steamer Europa (10,224t), and the British steamer Tacoma Star (7924t).
• The Norwegian steamer Sitona (1143t) is badly damaged in a German air attack north of Norwich. The entire crew is rescued. The ship sinks on the 4th. The Norwegian steamer Trajan (1347t) is sunk in the same attack. Her entire crew is also rescued.

The Blitz

Liverpool and Merseyside are hit in the third of seven consecutive night raids. (See May 7 for summary).

Castle Street at Cook Street after the May 3rd air raid

Castle Street at Cook Street

The Adelphi Hotel also survived the Blitz which wreaked havoc in the area around it. On Saturday May 3, 1941, more than 300 tons of high explosives were dropped on the city and surrounding areas, as Merseyside, most notably Liverpool and Bootle, became the most bombed area outside London. Lewis’s, Liverpool’s landmark department store with its roof menagerie was gutted after taking a direct hit but the Adelphi Hotel, just across the road survived with little damage.

The Adelphi Hotel

Greece

There is an imposing German-Italian parade in Athens to celebrate the Axis victory.

A squad of German soldiers pass through a Greek village, during the occupation of Greece, in May 1941. (AP Photo)

German Soldiers in a Greek Village

Iraq

There are British attacks on the Iraqi positions around Habbaniyah and by air on the Iraqi Rashid airfield.

An RAF officer investigates wrecked artillery on the plateau above Habbaniya.

Damaged Artillery

Italian East Africa

The British forces begin attacks from the north against the Italian positions at Amba Alagi. This is the last important stand for the Italian forces. These positions guard passes in the road between Asmara and Addis Ababa. They are based on a number of steep and rugged hills and there are numerous caves. The position is very strong. The Italians repulse the initial two-pronged British attack.

Mediterranean

• In a British bombing attack at Tripoli the Italian steamer Birminia (5305t) is set on fire and then explodes. The Italian steamer Citta d'Bari (3339t) is lost in the explosion.
• The Italian coastal steamer Giuseppe Orland (838t) is lost on a mine at Tripoli.

Secret War

Radio equipment recovered from 3 Heinkels shot down during the Liverpool raid enables the RAF to jam the new Y-Gerät blind-bombing system.