Prime Minister Sees Flying Fortresses, June 6, 1941

This photograph taken in the summer of 1941, shows Churchill's recognizable figure as he watches the arrival of the first B-17 "Flying Fortress." Even though the U.S. was desperately trying to build up its military forces throughout 1941, Roosevelt decided to give the British models of the United States' most advanced weapons. Military aid to Britain was greatly facilitated by the Lend-Lease Act of March 11, 1941, in which Congress authorized the sale, lease, transfer, or exchange of arms and supplies to "any country whose defense the president deems vital to the defense of the United States."

Battle of the Atlantic

• The German blockade runner Elbe (9179t) is sunk by a Swordfish from the British aircraft carrier Eagle in the South Atlantic. The British ocean boarding vessel Hilary rescues 19 survivors from the ship on the 21st.
• The Italian submarine Marconi sinks the British steamer Baron Lovat (3395t) and the Swedish steamer Taberg (1392t) from convoy OG-63. There are no losses on the British ship, 19 are lost from the Taberg.
• U-106 sinks the British steamer Sacramento Valley (4573t) 250 miles northwest of the Cape Verde Islands with the loss of 3 crewmen.
• U-43 sinks the Dutch steamer Yselhaven (4802t) 600 miles east of Newfoundland. Only 10 of the 34 crewmen survive.
• U-48 sinks the British steamer Tregarthen (5201t) north northwest of the Azores. The entire crew of 45 is lost.
• The British steamer Glen Head (2011t) is sunk by German bombing southwest of Cape Vincent. 27 crewmen are lost.

Germany, Strategy

Hitler's Directive for the Treatment of Political Commissars is issued by the High Command of the Armed Forces under Field Marshal Keitel's signature. Every Soviet military unit has a political officer, a commissar, who has as much power as the commander. This 'dual command' structure is militarily disastrous, as most commissars are uneducated and have little or no military knowledge.

'In the struggle against Bolshevism, we must not assume that the enemy's conduct will be based on principles of humanity or international law. Political commissars have initiated barbaric, Asiatic methods of warfare. Consequently, they will be dealt with immediately and with maximum severity. As a matter of principle they will be shot at once, whether captured during operations or otherwise showing resistance. The following regulations will apply: on capture they will be immediately separated from other prisoners on the field of battle. After they have been separated they will be liquidated.'

The directive sets the tone for the conduct of the war against the USSR: 'The war against Russia cannot be fought in a knightly fashion. The struggle is one of ideologies and racial differences and will have to be waged with unprecedented, unmerciful and unrelenting hardness. All officers will have to get rid of any old-fashioned ideas they may have. I realize that the necessity for conducting such warfare is beyond the comprehension of you generals, but I must insist that my orderes be followed without complaint. The commissars hold views directly opposite to those of National Socialism. Hence these commissars must be eliminated. Any German soldier who breaks international law will be pardoned. Russia did not take part in the Hague Convention and, therefore, has no rights under it.

Italian East Africa

Commonwealth forces cross the Omo River and capture 2,000 Italians and 16 guns.

Mediterranean

The carriers Ark Royal and Furious again carry a cargo of Hurricanes from Gibraltar to within flying distance of Malta.

United States, Politics

A new law comes into force allowing the government to requisition foreign merchant ships laid up in the United States. 80 are immediately commandeered for lend-lease convoys, including the French liner Normandie.