Battle of the Atlantic
- At 8:15am the cruiser Norfolk signals the exact position of the Bismarck to the Rodney and King George V who have come upon the scene. At 8:47am Rodney opens fire followed immediately afterward by King George V. A short time later the Norfolk and the Dorsetshire also join in. The Bismarck replies with very precise salvos, but the hail of shells now striking her steadily reduces her offensive power. In a gun battle lasting less than 2 hours, the Bismarck is reduced to a silent wreck. At 10:15am the cruiser Dorsetshire is ordered to approach the Bismarck and finish her off with torpedoes. At 10:40am the Bismarck capsizes and sinks. Of about 2,300 in her complement only 110 are picked up by the Dorsetshire and the destroyer Maori. Among the casualties are Adm Lütjens and the captain of the ship, Capt Lindemann.
A direct hit blasts the Bismarck shortly before it sank Bismarck Receives a Direct Hit
- U-107 sinks the British steamer Colonial (5108t) 200 miles west-northwest of Freetown. All 100 survivors are picked up by the British target ship Centurion.
- The Norwegian steamer Royksund (695t) is sunk by German bombing in the Irish sea with the loss of 6 of her crew. 10 survivors are picked up by the British destroyer Cleveland.
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]Crete
The Germans take Canea and Suda. The Allied forces are now largely split up and moving in a disorganized manner in the direction of Sfakia to be evacuated. The evacuation is authorized by Wavell after he has consulted with London. Gen Freyberg draws up the plans for the withdrawal. It will be carried out over several nights on board ships provided by Adm Cunningham, from the small ports of Ierapetra and Sfakia. The commando units and the Royal Marines will protect the withdrawal and embarkation of other forces.
Waiting for a Signal |
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German Troops Enter Canea |
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Meanwhile the Germans attack in the area of Pirgos. The Australians and New Zealanders are taken by surprise, but they fight back courageously and for a time succeed in driving the enemy back. However, Freyberg has to withdraw all the forces he can in order to establish a defensive line north of the ports chosen for re-embarkation. This enables the Germans to cut off 1 battalion from the rest of the British forces in the area of Stilos. The forces defending Retimo and Haraklion begin to run short of ammunition. The Germans also attack at Canea and at the end of the day they occupy Suda Bay.
The battleship Barham is damaged by air attack.
[ | ]Iraq
British forces begin to advance from their positions around Habbaniyah and Fallujah toward the capital, Baghdad.
[ | ]Mediterranean
German bombing sinks the Greek steamers Antonios (1187t) and Julia (4352t) in Suda Bay. The crews land safely in Crete.
[ | ]North Africa
Rommel has reinforced his troops on the Egyptian border and his 2 panzer regts re-take Halfaya Pass in a converging attack. The Germans begin work to fortify their new position, especially by digging in their 88mm guns.
[ | ]United States, Politics
Pres Roosevelt declares that 'an unlimited national emergency now exists.' The government now assumes wide-ranging powers over the economy and vows to resist any German act of aggression. The President also asks for a vigorous shipbuilding program to replace the growing losses.
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