Air Operations, Europe

here is another minelaying operation in the Frisians carried out by 32 Hampdens. German fighters attack and 3 Hampdens are shot down.

Air Operations, Pacific

• 34 British aircraft are destroyed as the Japanese bomb Palembang.
• 9 5th Air Force B-17s based at Java/Singosari Airdrome attempt to attack Japanese shipping at Balikapan, Borneo but are turned back by Japanese fighers.

Battle of the Atlantic

• German submarines end their first big 'hunt' off the east coast of the United States that began January 7th.
• U-751 sinks the British steamer Empire Sun south of Halifax, Nova Scotia with the loss of 11 crewmen. 54 survivors land at Liverpool, Nova Scotia.

Eastern Front

The Soviet forces attack Rzhev in the battles west of Moscow. Rzhev is 209 km northwest of Moscow. In the Ukraine, Timoshenko recaptures Trosna, southwest of Orel and Krasnograd, southwest of Kharkov. There is heavy fighting on the Leningrad front.

Soviet forces smash through the base of the Demyansk salient and penetrate into the rear of the 16th Army. Elements of the 3rd Shock Army, 11th and 34th Armies draw closer together, and the encirclement of the II Corps and part of the X Corps becomes imminent.

The LIX Corps attempts to relieve the encircled battle groups at Velizh and Demidov, elements of the 4th Shock Army fighting fiercely near Dukhovschina. The 3rd Panzer Army is unable to support the LIX Corps. Further bitter fighting rages around Rzhev as the Soviets try to overrun the town. The 9th Army beats off each attempt, inflicting heavy casualties upon Koniev's tired armies.

Minister Todt, in charge of war production and munitions, is killed in a flying accident. Albert Speer is appointed his successor. Formerly Hitler's personal architect, Speer overhauls the German war industry and increases production substantially, particularly in the latter years of the war. It is under his auspices that German industry is placed on a war footing, leading to total war.

Egypt, Politics

Parliament is dissolved.

Germany, Production

(Feb 8?)The German minister of munitions, Todt, is killed in an air crash. Dr Albert Speer, Hitler's architect, is appointed to replace him. The German war industries have been fairly inefficiently run until Todt's brief appointment when more sensible priorities were established. At this time, when compared with Britain or the USSR, Germany is not well mobilized for war. As yet the German people have had no real cuts in their standard of living when compared with peace-time conditions. This is gradually changing under the impetus of Todt's measures and the effect of the first defeats in the USSR. Speer will prove to be brilliant at continuing and extending the process.

North Africa

Rommel's forces stop their advance near Gazala, on a line of strongpoints and minefields that runs from Derna on the coast to Bir Hacheim inland. The Axis forces stop here, having learned like the British, not to overstretch their supply lines. In a lightning campaign they have recovered almost all of the ground so dearly won by the British at the end of 1941. They have completely disrupted the British 1st Arm Div and severely damaged 8th Army morale.

Command Vehicles Captured by the Germans

Among the vehicles captured by the DAK on the outskirts of Mechili during 7 - 8 April, 1941, were three Armored Command Vehicles. These originally belonged to Maj.-Gen. Gambier-Parry, commander of 2nd Armoured Division; Lt.-Gen. Sir Phillip Neame V.C., commander of 8th Army; and Lt.-Gen. Sir Richard O'Connor, Assistant Commander 8th Army. Two were captured when their drivers made a wrong turn and ran right into advance elements of the German 3rd Recce Unit. The Germans named one Moritz and another Max. This is Moritz.

During advances Rommel was determined to stay as mobile as possible and kept up with his forward troops.

Rommel Advances with his Forward Troops

Pacific

I-55 sinks the Dutch steamer Van Cloon (4519t) south of Bawean Island in the Java Sea. Survivors are rescued by the American patrol yacht Isabel.

Philippines

In the Bataan peninsula the Americans attack two salients established by the Japanese in the central sector, and continue mopping up the Point Quinauan bridgehead. Japanese reinforcements trying to land in the area are driven off by artillery fire.

Singapore

The Japanese bombard the island with artillery and begin a diversionary landing on the extreme eastern end of Singapore. The Japanese Guards Division makes a feint attack against the island of Pulau Ubin off Singapore's northeastern coast. Lt-Gen A. E. Percival, commanding Singapore, declares the city will resist to the last man.

Spanish Morocco

There are anti-British riots in Tangier. The British Consulate is wrecked.

United States, Politics

A Congressional resolution authorizing up to $500 million in financial aid to China is approved by Roosevelt.