Air Operations, Middle East

The British Government authorizes counter-measures against German aircraft refuelling on Syrian airfields en route to Iraq.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The Swedish steamer Ossian is sunk by British aircraft off the north German coast. 3 of her crew are lost.
• U-105 sinks the British steamer Benvenue (5920t) 420 miles southwest of Freetown with the loss of 2 crewmen. 55 survivors are picked up by the British steamer Empire Trader.

Britain, Home Front

The first British jet aircraft, the Gloster E-28/39 Pioneer, is tested at Cranwell, Lincolnshire.

Crete

In accordance with Hitler's directive the Germans begin a series of aerial bombardments on Crete in preparation for a landing. These are, of course, designed to subdue the garrison and compel the RAF to withdraw its few aircraft from Crete. The formations detailed to take part in this operation, directed by Gen Kurt Student, are the 7th Parachute Div and the 5th Mtn Div, supported by 6 infantry regiments and the VIII Air Corps under Gen Wolfram von Richtofen. The Fliegerkorps has 280 high-level bombers, 150 dive-bombers, 239 fighters and 50 reconaissance aircraft. Transport for the first wave of the invasion is to be supplied by 500 three-engined Junkers Ju-52s and 72 gliders. The mountain troops, who are to cross to the island by sea, are provided by the Italians with an escort of 2 destroyers and 12 torpedo boats.

Iraq and Syria

The British government announces that German planes are arriving in Syria and using Syrian bases to move on to Iraq. The RAF, therefore, bombs Palmyra and Damascus airfields. These attacks continue over the next few days. (DUPLICATE - WHEN???)

Mediterranean

The Italian steamer San Giusto (816t) sinks on a mine off Tripoli.

North Africa

In preparation for the major offensive which the tanks from the Tiger convoy (see May 6-12) will allow, Wavell begins an operation code named Brevity. This will be the first British offensive against the Afrika Korps. It is designed to capture Halfaya Pass and gain ground leading to the more open areas of the Cyrenaica Plateau. Churchill's habit of describing the recently arrived tanks as 'Tiger Cubs' indicates the importance which he attaches to the coming offensive and foreshadows the rigor with which he will punish failure. The information which has been received from the interception of German signals, especially from the recent reports of Gen Friedrich von Paulus on the situation in Africa, has convinced Churchill that the German forces are weak and overextended.

Brig-Gen W.H.E. Gott commands the Brevity operation. His plan calls for mixed columns to advance to Halfaya Pass and Fort Capuzzo and for a tank force to move to Sidi Aziz. On the first day the forces on the coast reach and capture Halfaya, but the 22nd Guards Bde is held up in heavy fighting at Capuzzo. The tank force on the left makes good ground initially.

Convinced that he is faced with an attack on a large scale, Rommel launches an immediate counterattack, carried out by 3 armored regiments, the 2nd, 5th and 8th, and the 54th Inf Regt.

United States, Home Front

Roosevelt orders the US Coast Guard board every French merchant ship in American ports including the liner Normandie placing them under U.S. jurisdiction.

In a broadcast to the people of France, Roosevelt criticizes the Vichy government for its collaborationist policies toward Germany. 'The people of the United States can hardly believe that the present Government of France could be brought to lend itself to a plan of voluntary alliance, implied or otherwise, which would apparently deliver up France and its colonial empire, including French African colonies and their Atlantic coasts, with the menace which that involves to the peace and safety of the Western Hemisphere.'

Yugoslavia, Politics

An independent Kingdom of Croatia, which also includes the Serbian provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is established with Italian backing. On May 18 the Duke of Spoleto is proclaimed king. He will never visit his kingdom.