Atomic Research

Following a memorandum presented by Professor Rudolf Peierls and Dr Otto Frisch, the British government establishes the Maud committee to supervise further nuclear work (see June 1941).

Battle of the Atlantic

This month U-boats only sink 7 ships at a cost of 5 of their number. This poor return is because they are heavily involved in the Norwegian campaign. Allied shipping losses are still considerable, however. 58 ships of 158,200 tons are sunk. (Allied Ships Lost to U-boats)

France, Home Front

A government decree authorizes the construction of 53 warships: 2 battleships, 1 carrier, 3 cruisers, 27 destroyers and 20 submarines.

Germany, Planning

Hitler approves the plans for Operation Weserübung, the invasion of Norway. On the 2nd he fixes the date for the operation as April 9.

Air Operations, Europe

German aircraft raid Scapa Flow. On the return flight they attac the lighthouses at Duncansby Head and Stroma Island.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-38 sinks the Finnish steamer Signe (1540t), a straggler from convoy HN-23A, in the North Sea with the loss of the entire crew of 19.

Air Operations, Europe

• A Sunderland flying boat disperses a formation of 6 Ju-88s attacking a convoy in the North Sea. 1 Ju-88 is shot down and a second crash lands in Norway where the crew are interned.
• While shooting down an He-111 of the Yorkshire coast, a Spitfire is lost. This is the first one lost on home defense duty.

Allied Planning

Intelligence reports received in London advise of a concentration of German troops and vessels in northern German ports, suggesting readiness for a Scandinavian invasion. For this first amphibious operation of the war, the Germans will deploy 30 warships and the same number of U-boats plus many support vessels. As a consequence, the Allies choose to delay their Norwegian operation, leaving Hitler to land in Norway first.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British trawler Gorspen (208t) is badly damaged by German bombing and abandoned 31 miles northeast of the Outer Skerries. The entire crew is rescued.
• The British trawler Sansonnet (212t) is sunk by German bombing 18 miles southeast of Muckle Flugga.

Britain, Politics

Lord Chatfield resigns his post as Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence. Although he has had a distinguished naval career, he has not been a success in this job. Churchill is appointed Chairman of the Ministerial Defense Committee-a significant increase in his responsibilities. The decision-making machinery is still clumsy, however, and there is need for an even stronger directing hand and for more provision for interservice cooperation.

One of Churchill's first acts in his new post is to obtain Cabinet consent for the mining of the Norwegian Leads, in line with the decision of the Allied Supreme War Council of March 28.

In the same Cabinet reshuffle Lord Woolton becomes Minister of Food. Perhaps his most famous initiative in this office is the invention of the 'Woolton Pie'-intended to be a nourishing and appetizing use of ration materials. It will not be widely liked. Also, Gen Sir Hugh Elles is appointed National Air Raid Precaution Controller.

Air Operations, Europe

RAF bombers attack German destroyers off Wilhelmshaven.

Germany, Home Front

In a broadcast aimed at Germany's young people Hitler says that Germany will strike a decisive blow against Britain and France and create the world's greatest empire. Germany youth must behave with decency and morality 'not only in the light of day but also in the blackout'.

North Sea

The Norwegian passenger ship Mira reaches its home port after surviving numerous German air attacks on a tortuous 6-day journey across the North Sea. None of the 107 passengers and crew are seriously injured.

Atlantic

The first captured German merchant ship, the Uhenfels, is brought up the River Thames. It is renamed the Empire Ablility.

Britain, Politics

• In a major public speech Chamberlain proclaims that Hitler has 'missed the bus' by not taking maximum advantage of Germany's military superiority over Britain in September 1939. This turns out to be a most unfortunately timed remark.

• In an attempt to combat German economic penetration in the Balkans, a new trade corporation is formed to foster British trade there.

Diplomatic Relations

Britain and France send a note to Norway announcing that they reserve the right to act to deprive Germany of Norwegian resources.

The first contingents of the Allied expeditionary force to be sent to Norway is postponed until April 8 because of technical reasons.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-59 sinks the Norwegian steamer Navarra (2118t) in the North Sea with the loss of 10 crewmen and 2 passengers. Survivors are picked up by the Finnish steamer Atlas.
• U-50 sinks on a mine northeast of the Shetlands with the loss of her entire crew.

  U-50

  Class	Type VIIB
  CO	Kapitänleutnant Max Bauer
  Location	NE of Shetlands
  Cause	Mine
  Casualties	44
  Survivors	None

Air Operations, Europe

RAF Bomber Command ends it leaflet ('Nickel') raids on Germany. Since Septembere 3, 1939 65,000,000 leaflets and 'newspapers' have been dropped.

German Raiders

The Orion under the command of Kapitän zur See Weyher, becomes the second auxiliary cruiser to leave Germany.

Atlantic

The British Home Fleet leaves Scapa Flow for the Norwegian Sea.

Battle of the Atlantic

The Estonian steamer Mare (1217t) is seized by German forces and rename the Bug for German use. The Estonian crew is returned to Estonia via Stockholm.

Norway

In the early hours of the morning, the German warships begin to leave their home ports for the invasion of Norway. The British have detected the concentration of shipping in Kiel, but because they have no previous information to compare this with, they fail to appreciate the significance. Some of the German units are sighted and attacked by British aircraft, however.

Independently, British units are preparing to sail for their own mining operations. In the evening the main forces of the British fleet leave Scapa Flow to intercept the German naval formation. During the night three minefields are laid in Norwegian territorial waters by British destroyers. The whole of the German surface fleet is committed to this operation, sailing at different times in 6 groups. They plan to land at Narvik, Trondheim, Bergen, Kristiansand, Oslo and a small detachment at Egersund. The battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau sail with the Narvik group but are to go on to operate against shipping in the Arctic. A large part of the U-boat fleet is also involved in the campaign but they achieve very little, partly because they use torpedoes with magnetic exploders which do not function properly in high latitudes. This error is discovered during the campaign and is later rectified.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British steamer Adelaide Star (11,000) is seized in Copenhagen and renamed Seeburg for German use. Also seized in Copenhagen at the same time is the Icelandic steamer Gullfoss (1414t).
• The British destroyer Glowworm engages in indecisive action with the German destroyer Arnim 80 miles west of Fro Havet. The German heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper, answering Arnim's call for assistance, mortally damages the Glowworm. 9 officers and 110 sailors are lost while 38 of the crew are rescued and taken prisoner.

  British Destroyer Glowworm Under Fire

• The Polish submarine Orzel intercept the German transport Rio De Janeiro (5261t) Lillesand. The crew is ordered into lifeboats and the transport is sunk. The crew is picked up by the Norwegian destroyers Odin and Gyller.
• The British submarine Trident stops the German tanker Posidonia (8036t) in the Northern Skagerrak. The crew scuttles the tanker as they abandon ship. The tanker is salvage in June, however, and renamed Stedingen.
• The Greek steamer Okeania (4843t) sinks on a mine in the North Sea with the loss of 1 crewmen. The British destroyer Boadicea picks up 20 survivors and the Dutch steamer Beverland picks up the rest.

Norway

British destroyers begin laying mines in Norwegian territorial waters southwest of Narvik (Operation WILFRED). This action is taken to prevent the passage of German ships and the transit of Swedish iron orre to Germany. Right away Norway protests this operation.

Early in the morning the British destroyer Glowworm, after separating from her group searching for a man overboard, meets part of the German force bound for Narvik off Trondheim Fiord. After ramming the heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper, Glowworm is sunk. About midday the German transport Rio de Janeiro is torpedoed by the Polish submarine Orzel in the Skaggerak off Lillesand, southern Norway. Some 80 horses and 150 men, including 97 Luftwaffe Flak troops, drown. There are 183 survivors as many German soldiers are rescued by Norwegian fishing boats. Although this makes it clear that the German invasion force is already at sea the Norwegian authorities only alert the coastal forces in the evening.

Denmark

The German XXXI Corps of 2 German divisions under the command of Gen Leonard Kaupisch invade Denmark. The landings are made at Copenhagen, Aalborg Airfield, Esbjerg and other towns. The Jutland-Funen Bridge is seized. Danish troops offer some resistance in southern Jutland and the Royal Guard makes a brief stand at Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen. Copenhagen is taken within 12 hours. Me-110s strafe Vaerlose Airfield, HQ of the Danish Air Force, destroying many planes on the ground. There is no resistance from the Danish Navy. The casualties for the Danish army are 13 dead and 23 wounded. The Germans suffer 20 casualties.

German Anti-aircraft Gun

German Transport Planes

Some Danish Soldiers on Bicycles

Norway

The German landings begin. Germany extends the war claiming it has 'documentary proof that England and France has jointly decided to carry out their action through the territory of the Northern States against the will of the latter. . . .Germany has thus preserved the Scandanavian countries and peoples from destruction, and will until the end of the war defend true neutrality in the North'.

German occupation forces are embraced by Norwegian pro-Nazis led by Vidkun Quisling, whose name from here on becomes synonymous with traitor. Quisling proclaims himself prime minister, although even he is surprised by the swiftness of the German actions. The landings occur at Oslo, Kristiansand, Stavanger, Bergen, Trondheim and Narvik. The group of ships intended for Oslo meet increasing resistance as they sail up the Oslo Fiord. At the Oscarsborg Narrows the brand-new heavy cruiser Blücher is sunk by Norwegian coastal batteries claiming 1,600 lives. The troops are compelled to land below this point but are, however, soon in the town. Airborne units take some casualties in a simultaneous landing at Oslo's Fornebu Airport. King Haakon VII and most of the cabinet and parliament (together with the country's gold reserves) escape by train to Hamar, 70 miles north of Oslo. Fog disrupts the German landings at Kristiansand but eventually the troops get ashore. At Stavanger the vital Stavanger-Sola airfield is quickly taken by airborne attack but much of the airborne force's equipment is sunk offshore by a Norwegian destroyer.

Blücher Sinking in Oslofjord near Drøbak, Norway

German Tanks in Denmark

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British submarine Tarpon is lost in a battle with a German Q ship, the trawler Arthur Duncker in the North Sea. The entire crew of 53 is lost.
• U-37 sinks the Swedish steamer Sveaborg (9076t) off Fair Isles with the loss of 5 of her crew. Coming to rescue survivors of the Sveaborg, the Norwegian steamer Tosca is also sunk by the German submarine with the loss of 2 crewmen. 61 survivors from the 2 ships are rescued by the British armed boarding vessel Northern Chief.

Denmark

Denmark is occupied and capitulates within 24 hours. King Christian X orders the cease-fire. Denmark remains neutral with its government and constitution intact, although Danish bases will be used for the attack on Norway.

Iceland

The Icelandic Parliament (the Althing) severs constitutional links with Denmark and declares that the Icelandic government will conduct its own affairs.

Norway

1st Battle of Narvik. Capt Bernard Warburton-Lee leads 5 destroyers in a surprise attack up Narvik Fiord. There are 10 German destroyers in various inlets off the main fiord but in series of quick, confused actions both sides lose 2 ships. The British lose Hardy and Hunter, the Germans Anton Schmitt and Wilhelm Heidkamp. The British Hotspur is seriously damaged while the Germans have 4 vessels hit-2 very badly. Both Capt Warburton-Lee and Commodore Friedrich Bonte, commanding the German destroyers involved here, are killed in the battle.

Devastation Caused by British Destroyers in Narvik Harbor

German merchant ships from a convoy for Oslo are also sunk. The British submarine Thistle is sunk off Stavanger by U-4.

Air Operations, Europe

6 Wellingtons attack Stavanger-Sola airfield. 1 is lost in the first daylight raid on a continental target.

Norway

A new Commander in Chief, Gen Otto Ruge, is appointed for the Norwegian Army. He replaces Gen Krisian Laake, who has resigned.

The German pocket battleship Lutzow is badly damaged by an attack from the British submarine Spearfish while homeward bound.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-37 sinks the British steamer Stancliffe (4511t) northeast of Unst Island, Shetlands, with the loss of 21 crewmen. 16 survivors make to the northern coast of Scotland in their lifeboats.
• The Dutch coastal steamer Velocitas (197t) is lost on a mine in the North Sea. 3 of her crew are lost and 2 are rescued by the British steamer Mavis.

Norway

Gneisenau, Scharnhorst and Admiral Hipper are located by air reconnaissance southwest of Stavanger on their way home. 90 British land-based and carrier aircraft are sent to attack but they fail to make contact. Despite this escape the German navy has lost heavily in the campaign so far and will lose more ships at Narvik on April 13.

On land the German forces are pushing out from Oslo in all directions. They take Konigsberg to the southwest of the capital.

Air Operations, Europe

15 Hampdens drop parachute mines off the Danish coast. This is the first British aerial mining.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British submarine Narwhal lays 50 mines north of Laeso Island near Cape Skagen. 3 German minesweepers will be lost in this minefield.
• U-64 is attacked and bombed by the Swordfish from the battleship HMS Warspite off Bjerkvik, Norway.

  U-64

  Class	Type IXB
  CO	Kapitänleutnant Georg-Wilhelm Schultz
  Location	Norwegian coastal waters
  Cause	Mine
  Casualties	8
  Survivors	38

Norway

2nd Battle of Narvik. The British force includes 9 destroyers along with the battleship Warspite under the command of Adm William Whitworth. The Germans has 8 destroyers under the command of Capt Erich Bey. The German destroyer Kunne was escorting the damaged destroyer Koellner towards Lindstrand when they are spotted by the British force. The Kunne retires up the fiord and the Koellner heads for Bjervik Bay. The Kunne is spotted by Warspite's amphibious plane and is sunk by torpedoes and gunfire from the destroyers Bedouin and Eskimo as well as 15-inch salvos from Warspite.

Warspite in the 2nd Naval Battle of Narvik

Erich Koellner Hit for the First Time

The Walrus amphibious aircraft of the Warspite then spots U-64 and sinks the U-boat with a 350-lb bomb.

Further up Fiord Whitworth's force spots the German destroyers Kunne, Ludemann, Zenker and Armin. Eskimo pursues Kunne into Herjangs Fiord where she is beached and is sunk by a torpedo. Zenker and Armin retire up Rombaks Fiord.

Whitworth's force now enters Narvik's harbor where Giese is quickly reduced to a hulk. Roeder comes under fire from Warspite and the Cossack before blowing up.

Air Operations, Europe

The RAF bombs Stavanger-Sola airfield and seaplanes in Hafrs Fjord. Norwegian Fokker biplanes bomb Ju-52 seaplane transports on Lake Harting.

2nd Naval Battle of Narvik

Battle of the Atlantic

• The German auxiliary minesweeper M.1101 (the trawler Foch & Hubert (518t) is lost north of Laeso Island on a mine in the minefield laid by the British submarine Narwhal on the 12th.
• The British submarine Snapper sinks the German steamer Florida (6148t) in convoy off Skagen.
• The British submarine Sunfish sinks the German naval auxiliary Schiff 35, the steamer Oldenburg (2312t), east of Laeso Island near Skagen.
• The British heavy cruiser Suffolk intercepts the German tanker Skagerrak (6044t) northwest of Vaagso. She scuttlers herself rather than be captured.

Air Operations, Europe

15 RAF Bomber Command Blenheims attack the Stavanger-Sola area. Shipping at Bergen is raided by the Fleet Air Arm.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-49 is sunk by destroyers Brazen and Fearless off Harstad. A chart is recovered showing U-Boat dispositions.

  U-49

  Class	Type VIIB
  CO	Kapitänleutnant Kurt von Goszler
  Location	Vaagsfjord, Norway
  Cause	Depth charge
  Casualties	1
  Survivors	41

• U-14 sinks the Danish steamers Rhone (1064t) Sleipner (1066t) in the North Sea. 9 of the crew are lost from the Rhone with the rest of the crew and all the crew from the Sleipner are picked up by the British destroyer Kipling and the Swedish fishing boat Standard.
• U-26 sinks the Norwegian steamer Steinstad (2476t) 50 miles off the Clare, Ireland coast with the loss of 13 crewmen.
• U-37 sinks the Danish steamer Aase (1206t) south of Ireland. 15 of her crew are lost with 1 survivor being picket up by the British destroyer Verity on the 17th.
• U-48 sinks the Dutch tanker Den Haag (8971t) south of Ireland with the loss of 26 crewmen. Her 13 survivors are picked up by the British steamer Glen Orchy.
• U-50 sinks the Danish steamer Maryland (4895t) west of Scotland with the loss of her entire crew of 34.

• The British steamers Salerno (870t) and Salmon Pool (4803t) are seized by German forces at Saudafjord north of Stavanger. The vessels are named Markirch and Putzig, respectively, for German service.
• The British submarine Snapper sinks the German auxiliary minesweepers M.1701, trawler H. M. Behrens (525t) and M.1702, trawler Carsten Janssen (472t), north of Laeso Island.
• The British steamers North Cornwall (4304t) and Mersington Court (5141t) are scuttled by their German prize crews at Narvik. 17 crewmen from the North Cornwall arrive in England while 4 of the crew are interned in Sweden. 28 of the crew from the Mersington Court are interned in Sweden with 8 later arriving in England.
• The Dutch steamer Bernisse (951t) is scuttled by her prize crew at Narvik. All of the crew are rescued.

Denmark

The demobilization of the Danish Army begins.

Secret War

At Bletchley Park in England cryptographers decipher the Enigma code used during the invasion of Norway.

Western Front

The Anglo-French 'Plan D' is amended to include a drive by the French mechanized 7th Army, led by Gen Giraud, into southern Holland.

Battle for the Atlantic

• U-1 sinks on a mine off Heligoland.

  U-1

  Class	Type IIA
  CO	Kapitänleutnant Jurgen Deeke
  Location	North Sea, off Heligoland
  Cause	Mine
  Casualties	24
  Survivors	None

• The German auxiliary minesweeper M.1703 (the trawler Midlum (341t) is lost north of Laeso Island on a mine in the minefield laid by the British submarine Narwhal on the 12th.
• U-14 sinks the Swedish steamers Osmed (1526t) and Liana (1664t) 24 miles north of Kinnaird Head. 13 crewmen are lost on the Osmed and 10 from the Liana. Survivors are picked up by the Swedish steamer Santos and the British trawler Loch Hope.

• The Swedish steamer Mertainen (4531t) is sunk by German bombing off Trondheim. The crew is rescued and landed at Kristiansund.

Diplomatic Relations

A Norwegian White Paper on the German invasion lists 13 demands made by the German Minister in Oslo on April 9. These were made several hours after the commencement of the German invasion.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-10 sinks the Norwegian steamer Kvernaas (1819t) 4 miles northwest of Schouwen Bank. The crew of 20 is rescued by the Dutch steamer Oranjepolder.
• U-48 sinks the Finnish steamer Wilja (3396t) southwest of the Scilly Isles. 27 survivors are rescued by the British destroyer Vanessa and the Dutch steamer Maasdam.
• German aircraft drop mines in the Edinburgh Channel and off the Downs. 2 merchant ships of 6417 tons are sunk as a result.
• U-13 sinks the British steamer Swainby (4935t) 25 miles northeast of Muckle Flugga, but the entire crew is rescued.
• The Swedish steamer Balticia (1986t) is arrested at sea by a German torpedo boat Haugesand. She is later renamed Gothia for German service.

• U-37 torpedoes the British steamer Pyrrhus (7418t) off Portugal. She breaks in two and the aft section sinks immediately, the fore stays afloat for 2 days. 8 crewmen are lost with the survivors being rescued by the British steamers Uskside and Sinnington Court.

Norway

The British heavy cruiser Suffolk carries out a fairly effective bombardment of the German-held Sola airfield near Stavanger and the seaplane base. While retiring the cruiser is severely damaged by air attacks from Ju-88s. Late in the day, as part of Operation Sickle, the first British forces land at Andalnses. The German troops isolated at Narvik are ordered to 'hold out as long as possible'.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-37 sinks the Greek steamer Ellin (4917t) 25 miles northwest of Cape Finisterre. The crew is picked up by the Spanish fishing vessel Manin. U-37 also sinks the French steamer PLM 15 (3754t) from convoy 10-RS with the loss of her entire crew.
• U-53 sinks the Spanish steamer Banderas (2140t) 8 miles northwest of Cape Velano with the loss of 22 of her crew. 6 survivors are rescued by the Spanish fishing vessel Tritonia.
• The British submarine Seawolf sinks the German steamer Hamm (5874t) off the Skaw.
• The Swedish steamer Edda (1587t) is seized by German forces outside Larvik and renamed Axel for German service.

• The Swedish steamer Kare (1203t) is attacked by German bombers. The crew abandons ship and makes it ashore. The ship is seized by the Germans and renamed Hela for German service.

Norway

The British 148th Bde lands at Andalsnes. Gen Bernard Paget is in command. During the night part of the 5th 'Demi-brigade Chasseurs Alpins' land at Namsos. There has, however, been a mistake made with the equipment for this force and they lack some of the bindings necessary for their skis. This sort of elementary error is typical of the muddled way the whole Norwegian campaign has been conducted and will go on being conducted on the Allied side.

Air Operations, Europe

The destruction of Namsos begins. German bombers make repeated raids on this Allied base in central Norway until May 13. During these raids, the town and harbor are completely destroyed and the civilian population is evacuated.

Norway

The units of the British 146th Bde which have advanced from Namsos to Steinkjer are forced to retreat by German troops who have outflanked them. The Germans have support from the warships in Trondheim Fiord.

A British brigade, advancing south from Namsos, reaches Verdal, 80 km from Trondheim. Another British brigade joins up with the Norwegians at Lillehammer.

Air Operations, Europe

German bombers attack British naval units off Norway. 3 aircraft are lost.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British steamers Hawnby (5380t) and Mersey (1037t) are sunk in the Downs by mines as the result of a German minelaying operation by aircraft on the 17th. The entire crew of the Hawnby is rescued by MTB.4 while 14 are lost from the Mersey with 7 being brought to Ramsgate.
• The British anti-submarine trawler Rutlandshire (458t) is badly damaged by German bombing at Namsos and is run aground to prevent sinking. The entire crew is rescued.
• The British aircraft carrier Furious intercepts the German trawler Rhein (254t) off North Cape and is taken in prize and escorted to Harstad by the British destroyer Imogen.

Norway

Namsos is heavily bombed by the Germans and the harbor installations, such as they are, are severely damaged. The port is ruined as a landing place. There is no natural cover from air attacks and, of course, the Germans have complete air superiority. The German forces advancing from Oslo reach the Norwegian positions at Lillehammer and Rena.

The Harbor at Namsos

Air Operations, Europe

RAF bombers raid Aalborg airfield in northern Denmark and the Stavanger-Sola area. 1 bomber is lost.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-26 sinks the German steamer Cedarbank (5159t) northwest of Bergen with the loss of 15 of her crew. 30 survivors are picked up by the British destroyer Javelin and taken to Aalesund.
• In a minelaying operation, German aircraft drop mines off Ramsgate and North Foreland and in King's Channel. 3 merchant ships of 5540 tons are lost to this operation.
• The British trawlers Penn (179t) and Hercules II (165t) are sunk by German bombers in the North Sea.

Norway

The British 148th Bde is attacked north of Lillehammer by the superior German force advancing up the Gudbrandsdal. The British troops are forced to retreat.

Air Operations, Europe

German bombers raid Scapa Flow.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The German auxiliary minesweeper M.1302 (the trawler Schwaben (436t) is lost north of Laeso Island on a mine in the minefield laid by the British submarine Narwhal on the 12th.
• The British steamer Lolworth (1969t) sinks on a mine 1/2 mile northwest of Elbow Buoy near North Foreland. This is a result of a German minelaying operation on the 21st. 2 of the crew are lost and 22 survivors are rescued.
• The Norwegian steamer Sigurd Jarl (924t) sinks at Moldefjord after being hit and set afire by German bombing the previous day.
• The German steamer Sayn (2321t) sinks on a mine in Hubert Bay near Borkum.

Britain, Home Front

The Second War Budget is presented by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir John Simon. Income tax is raised to 7s 6d in the pound. There are also higher duties on beer, spirits and tobacco and increased postal charges. A new 'Purchase Tax' is planned.

Germans in Combat

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British steamer Rydal Force (1101t) sinks on a mine south of Gulf Light Vessel with the loss of 11 crewmen. This is a result of a German minelaying operation on the 21st. 2 survivors are rescued by the British minesweeping trawler Sarah Hide.
• The British trawler Leonard (217t) is sunk in the North Sea by German bombing.
• The German steamer Cronshagen (1787t) is sunk and the Latvian steamer Gundega (3583t) is badly damaged on mines off Drogden near Copenhagen.
• The German armed merchant cruiser Orion sinks the British steamer Haxby (5207t) in the South Atlantic with the loss of 17 crewmen.

Norway

The German forces in the Osterdal reach Rendal. In the north Narvik is bombarded in an attempt to bring about the surrender of the German garrison. If this looks likely, a landing is to be made. The battleship Warspite, a heavy cruiser and 3 light cruisers are used but despite this concentration of force the commanding general decides that the naval guns will not have sufficiently disrupted the German positions because of their unsuitable, flat trajectory of fire. The naval commander is Adm of the Fleet Lord Cork. This officer has been brought back to active service at Churchill's request and his position is somewhat anomolous. He is senior in the service to even the commander of the Home Fleet but is using ships from that fleet for his mission. His seniority poses problems in his relations with the military commanders who are at times reluctant to insist on measures which their military knowledge makes them believe essential. Churchill and his political colleagues have done little to clarify this situation.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British steamer Margam Abbey (2470t) sinks on a mine due north of East Knob Buoy. This is a result of a German minelaying operation on the 21st. The entire crew is rescued.
• It is believed U-22 sinks on a mine of Skagerrak with the loss of the entire crew.

  U-22

  Class	Type IIB
  CO	Kapitänleutnant Karl-Heinz Jenisch
  Location	Skagerrak, Jammer Bay
  Cause	Mine
  Casualties	27
  Survivors	None

Norway

The fighting in the Gudbrandsdal continues. The British 15th Bde and the Norwegian units put up a fierce resistance but are repeatedly forced back. The Germans advance even more rapidly in the Osterdal. In the north the Norwegian forces begin attacks toward Narvik.

British armed trawlers Bradman, Hammond and Larwood are sunk by German aircraft off Andalsnes. These are subsequently raised by the Germans and are operated as patrol boats Friese, Salier and Franke.

Battle of the Atlantic

A British naval force encounter 2 German U-boat supply ships off Moldefjord, both flying Dutch flags. The first, Schiff 26, the trawler Julius Pickenpack (394t), is captured by the British destroyer Griffin. The British destroyer Arrow attempts to capture the second, Schiff 37, the trawler Schleswig (433t). The Schleswig rams the Arrow causing slight damage when the trawler is sunk by fire from the cruiser Birmingham. There are no survivors.

Norway

The Norwegians and the British halt the German advance along the Gudbrandsdal Valley at Kvam.

Battle of the Atlantic

The Norwegians steamer Nyhaug (4044t) is sunk by German bombing at Lepsoy.

Norway

The British decide to evacuate their forces from Namsos and Andalsnes, giving up any attempt to reach Trondheim. Andalsnes is heavily attacked from the air.

Battle of the Atlantic

The liner Queen Mary arrives at Cape Town after a record-breaking 12-day voyage from New York.

Diplomatic Relations

Germany official declares war with Norway. Ribbentrop attempts to justify the German invasion of Norway by describing a vast, carefully prepared Anglo-French-Norwegian 'conspiracy'.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-50 is sunk by HM destroyers Amazon and Witherington off the Shetlands. The British submarine Unity is rammed and sunk by SS Atle Jarl off the Tyne.
• The British anti-submarine trawler Cape Chelyuskin (494t) is sunk by German bombing at Aandalsnes.
• The British submarine Unity is sunk in an accidental collision with the Norwegian steamer Atle Jarl near Blyth. 4 of the crew are lost and 23 are rescued.
• The Norwegian steamer Orland (1899t) is sunk by German bombing at Midsund.

Norway

King Haakon and his government are evacuated from Molde on the British cruiser Glasgow and taken to Tromso where they arrive on May 1. The Norwegian gold reserves go with them. The German units which have moved up the Osterdal link with their Trondheim force at Dragset. The British and French forces in the Gudbrandsdal are fighting south of Dombas when the order to retire reaches them. The Norwegian troops in this area will be forced to surrender when their Allies leave.

Air Operations, Europe

An He-111 carrying magnetic mines is damaged by AA fire and crashes in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex. The 4-man crew and 2 civilians are killed, 156 people are injured and 50 houses are damaged.

First British Casualties of German Bombing

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British anti-submarine trawlers Jardine (452t) and Warwickshire (466t) are sunk by German bombing at Aandalsnes. They are later salvaged by German forces and renamed Cherusker and Alame respectively for German service.
• The British trawler Athelstan is sunk in the North Sea by German bombing.

Occupied Poland

The first enclosed and guarded ghetto is established by the Germans in Lodz.