Air Operations, North Africa

German aircraft bomb the British troops pulling back from Halfaya Pass while British aircraft hit Benghazi.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-552 sinks the British steamer Norfolk (10,948t) 175 miles northwest of Malin Head with the loss of 1 crewman. 70 survivors are picked up by the British destroyer Skate.
• British destroyers Faulknor, Fearless, Foresight, Forester, and Foxhound, returning to Gibraltar after escorting the British aircraft carrier Victorious away, attack a submarine contact. U-138 is sunk by destroyers Faulknor and Forester 70 miles off Cape Trafalgar. The entire crew of 27 is picked up by the Fearless.

Diplomatic Relations

A German-Turkish treaty of friendship for 10 years is concluded by the Turkish government and the German ambassador in Ankara, Von Papen. President Inönü has always been of the opinion that the Axis powers cannot win the war.

And despite German pressure, Turkey will at no time permit the future passage of Axis troops, ships or aircraft through or over Turkey and its territorial waters. This warns the Soviets off Turkish territory, saves the occupation of Turkey by the Germans and provides a lucrative war materials trade with Germany, especially the export of chrome.

Alliance Between Germany and Turkey

An official document confirming the alliance between Berlin and Ankara was signed on June 18, 1941, just days before Germany invaded the USSR. On that day Franz von Papen, the former German chancellor and Fuhrer’s envoy on special assignment, signed the non-aggression and friendship treaty with the Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Sukri Saracoglu in Ankara. The treaty was clearly within the context of Germany’s impending invasion of the Soviet Union. Many historians claim that this agreement – just like the Soviet-German Pact of 1939 – included secret protocols containing timelines for the Turkish invasion of the USSR and ensuing division of the Transcaucasus.

Secret War

British radar development, under Watson-Watt, is revealed in the Press as 'Detection of Enemy Aircraft by Ether Waves'.

Syria

Damascus is encircled. Gen Wilson appeals to Gen Dentz to evacuate the Vichy forces.