Axis Diplomacy

Quisling and Terboven, Reichskommissar in Norway, visit Hitler.

Hitler and Quisling in the Reich Chancellery

On 13 February 1942, Hitler received Quisling in the Reich Chancellery in Berlin. Quisling, one week away from being installed as Norway’s minister president, is shown in the company of civilian Reichskommissar for Norway Josef Terboven (to his rear), who was the real power in Norway. Mostly ignoring Quisling’s collaborationist government, Terboven established a regime of terror in Norway, personally commanding a force of roughly 6,000 goons, of whom 800 were part of the secret police. Terboven’s men operated outside the 400,000 regular German armed forces stationed in Norway. On 8 May 1945, the day of Germany’s capitulation, Terboven and the commander of the Norwegian SS committed suicide, Terboven by blowing himself up in a bunker at his official residence.

Quisling and Terboven Inspect Hirden

Quisling and Terboven are seen inspecting a detachment of Hirden, the ideological and paramilitary organization of Quisling’s Nasjonal Samling. (“Hirden,” from old Norse, referred to a bodyguard in service to Norwegian and Danish kings and lords.) The Hirden were equivalent to Hitler’s Sturmabteilung, or SA. Membership in the Hirden was mandatory for all NS members in the course of the war. Estimates of their numbers range from 8,500 to 20,000.

Rumanian Premier Antonescu meets with Hitler. Hitler calls for more Rumanian troops for service in Russia.

Eastern Front

The Russian offensives continue in all sectors against increasing German resistance. Despite this Russian spearheads have now reached Byelorussia or White Russia.

The Soviets throw the 1st Shock Army into new attacks west toward the Polist River, the intention being the annihilation of German units deployed on the southern shores of Lake Ilmen, preventing the relief of the Demyansk pocket.

Germany, Planning

Operation Sea Lion, the invasion of Britain, is formally cancelled by the German High Command. Until now it had merely been postponed numerous times.

Vice-Admiral Otto Ciliax addresses the crew after Operation CERBERUS" in Wilhelmshaven 13 February 1942.

Vice-Admiral Ciliax Addresses the Crew

Mediterranean

The British submarine Tempest is sunk by the Italian torpedo boat Circe in the Gulf of Taranto with the loss of 38 of her crew. 24 survivors are made prisoners of war.

Pacific

• The British gunboat Scorpion is sunk by Japanese destroyers in the Banka Strait with the loss of 115 of her crew. 26 survivors are made prisoners of war.
• Japanese bombing sinks the British auxiliary patrol ship Kuala in the Banka Strait off Pompong Island with the loss of 3 crewmen. She was carrying over 100 nursing sisters, women and children. 150 passengers are rescued and taken aboard the steamer Tandjong Pinang.
• The British examination ship Giang Bee is sunk by Japanese aircraft 160 miles south of Singapore near Berhala Island. Out of a crew of 48 and 225 passengers, 223 are lost. The British auxiliary patrol ship Hung Gao rescues 70 survivors and lands them at Rangat.
• The Dutch tanker Merula (8228t) is badly damaged in Banka Strait by Japanese bombing. The Norwegian tanker Herborg takes her in tow, but abandons when fire on board the damaged ship spreads. There are 8 survivors of 50 on board. Japanese bombing sinks the British steamer Subadar (5424t) also in the Banka Strait. 5 of the crew of 83 are lost.
• I-55 sinks the British steamer Derrymore (4799t) north of the Sunda Strait with the loss of 9 of 245 on board. Survivors are picked up by the Dutch minesweeper Cheribon and the Australian minesweeper Ballarat.

Philippines

In the Bataan peninsula the Americans have eliminated the larger Japanese salient and are now attacking the smaller. In the southern sector a Japanese landing in the area of Silaiim near Anyasan is wiped out.

Singapore

Under incessant Japanese pressure the British defensive perimeter must contract. During the evening hours all ships leave the harbor. Japanese bombers and submarines sink or damage many of these ships which are carrying military personnel and refugees. The 15-in coastal defense guns, which were to have made the island impregnable, are destroyed without a single shot being fired. The Japanese cut off the water supply to the island.

South China Sea

The Panamanian steamer Santa Fe (1543t) is seized by Japanese forces at Saigon. It is later renamed Rizyo Maru for Japanese use.