Air Operations, Europe

Among the targets for the R.A.F.this month are Düsseldorf, Wilhelmshaven, Brest and Cologne. Only 1,400 tons of bombs are dropped in these operations - a mere fraction of later efforts.

Battle of the Atlantic

Although the operational U-boat strength is at its lowest mark of the war at 22 vessels, the sinkings increase this month to 39 ships of 196,800 tons.(Allied Ships Lost to U-boats) Aircraft are also more effective, sinking 27 vessels. The total Allied shipping loss is 403,400 tons. More than half of the U-boat successes are stragglers from convoys or independents. This reflects the growing strength and deterrent effect of the convoy escorts.

On 6 February Hitler issues orders confirming the aims of the offensive. There are changes in the British organization. On 7 February the Western Approaches Command HQ is moved to Liverpool where it will be in closer touch with the organization controlling merchant shipping and better able to supervise the training of the escort forces. On the 17th Adm Sir Percy Noble takes over the command.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-48 sinks the Greek steamer Nicolaos Angelos (4351t) about 130 miles northwest of Rockall. The crew abandon the ship in lifeboats, but they are never found.

German Raiders

Beginning this day the heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper goes on a commerce-destroying raid in the north Atlantic from Brest. The raid lasts until 14 February when the Admiral Hipper returns to Brest.

Italian East Africa

In Eritrea Agordat falls to Gen Sir William Platt's forces after a vigorous 3-day battle. Gen Luigi Frusci's troops are falling back to the mountain positions around Keren after suffering some losses. To the south Barentu has also been captured by the Indian troops.

Japan, Home Front

Japan announces that it will be necessary to introduce rice rationing.

North Africa

The Benghazi area is abandoned by the Italians. The Italian government officially asks Germany for reinforcements for the North African campaign.

Gen Sir Richard O'Connor, commander of the British troops operating in Libya, seeks Wavell's approval to cut the route of the Italian troops retreating into Tripolitania. He sends Brig Eric Dorman-Smith to Wavell's headquarters on this task.

Infantry Advancing Outside Derna

Battle of the Atlantic

The British steamer The Sultan is sunk by German bombing just south of Clacton-on-Sea with the loss of 2 crewmen. 12 survivors are rescued by the British trawler Lord St Vincent.

Italian East Africa

The British carrier Formidable, on her way to the Mediterranean to replace the damaged Illustrious, sends its planes to attack the harbor installations at Mogadishu.

South Africans Celebrating

German Raiders

The Norwegian tanker Ketty Brovig (7031t) is captured by the German raider Atlantis north of Madagascar.

Mediterranean

Swordfish from the carrier Ark Royal make an unsuccessful attack on the Tirso Dam in Sardinia.

British Carrier Ark Royal

Battle of the Atlantic

U-107 sinks the British steamer Empire Citizen (4683t) from Convoy OB-279 southwest of Ireland with the loss of 78 on board. 5 survivors are picked up by the British corvette Clarkia. U-107 badly damages the British armed boarding vessel Crispin (5051t) after being detached from Convoy OB-280 north-northwest of Rockall with the loss of 20 of her crew. 8 survivors are picked up by the British rescue ship Copeland, 113 by the British destroyer Harvester. The Crispin sinks on the 4th.

France, Policy

Adm François Darlan, the French Minister of Marine, and Pierre Laval, Vice-President of the French Council of Ministers, meet with the German ambassador Otto Agetz in Paris. They return to Vichy with proposals for ways in which France can be fitted into Hitler's 'new order' in Europe, leading to still closer collaboration with the Germans.

German Raiders

The German battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau go on a commerce-destroying expedition in the Atlantic under the command of Adm Lutjens. This night they pass through the Denmark Strait.

Germany, Planning

At a meeting at the Berghof, Halder informs Hitler of increased military activity in the Ukraine and Baltic. He states that, according to German intelligence estimates, there are 155 Red Army divisions deployed in the western USSR against just 116 German and Axis divisions.

The Führer insists that Red Army forces must be destroyed and not driven back during the German attack. He believes the best way to achieve this is by placing strong German forces on the flanks. In this way once the flanks are secure, Soviet forces in the center can then be destroyed.

Air Operations, Europe

After a lull of almost 2 weeks because of bad weather the R.A.F.make a heavy bombing raid on Düsseldorf.

Battle of the Atlantic

• About 40 Focke Wulf FW-200 Condor long-range bombers come under the direct control of the U-boat arm to be used for reconnaissance purposes in the Atlantic.
• The British steamer Gwynwood (1177t) is sunk by a parachute mine in the Humber anchorage with the loss of 11 crewmen.
• U-52 sinks the Norwegian steamer Ringhorn (1298t) west of Ireland with the loss of 14 of her crew. 5 survivors are picked up by the British corvette Camellia.

• U-93 sinks the British steamer Dione II (2660t), straggling behind Convoy SC-20, northwest of Ireland with the loss of 28 crewmen. 5 survivors are picked up by the British steamer Flowergate.
• U-123 sinks the British steamer Empire Engineer (5358t), also straggling behind Convoy SC-20, west of Ireland with the loss of all 40 of her crew.
• The Greek steamer Calatatis (4443t) is sunk by German bombing northwest of Ireland. 18 crewmen are lost.

Italian East Africa

The British forces begin to attack the strong Italian positions around Keren. There are 30,000 Italian troops in this area. In the first phase of the battle, which lasts until 7 February, the 11th Indian Brigade manages to take Cameron Ridge but is thrown back from other positions by Italian counterattacks.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British submarine Sealion sinks the Norwegian steamer Ryfylke (1151t) 2 miles north of Kvitenaes Point near Stadlandet.
• The British anti-submarine trawler Tourmaline (641t) is sunk by German bombing off North Foreland.
• The Greek steamer Ioannis M. Embiricos (3734t) is sunk by German bombing northwest of Ireland. The entire crew is rescued.

Mediterranean

The British steamer Ranee sinks on a mine in the Suez Canal with the loss of 9 crewmen.

North Africa

The 4th Armored Brigade and armored cars of the 11th Hussars reach the coast road near Beda Fomm after their drive across Cyrenaica. Heavier tank units are following rapidly. They succeed in cutting off the Italian column heading for Agedabia from Benghazi. The retreating Italian columns are engaged and about 5,000 men, Italian gunners and civilians, are captured southeast of Beda Fomm. In the north the Australians take Barce.

Italian Prisoners Leaving Bardia

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-107 sinks the Canadian steamer Maplecourt (3388t) 120 miles west of Rockall with the loss of her entire crew of 38.
• The British steamer Angularity (501t) is sunk by German motor torpedo boat S-30 off the east coast between Ipswitch and Newcastle with the loss of 2 crewmen.

R.A.F.Wellington Bomber

Germany, Command

Hitler receives Gen Erwin Rommel in Berlin, who is to command the Afrika Korps, which is being sent to support the Italian army in Libya. Rommel is technically under the command of Gen Albert Kesselring, commander of the southern operational sector which includes Italy and the Mediterranean, but he will have direct access to Hitler.

North Africa

Benghazi is taken by Australian units following the Italian retreat. The Italian forces are streaming back along the coast road to Beda Fomm and during the day they make desperate attacks on the British blocking force there. These attacks are repulsed with heavy loss but the small British force is compelled to give some ground. In this day's action more than 80 Italian tanks are destroyed. Annibale Bergonzoli and 6 senior generals are among many thousands of prisoners taken.

Axis Diplomacy

A Vichy France - Thailand peace conference begins in Tokyo under the auspices of the Japanese government.

Battle of the Atlantic

The British steamer Bay Fisher is sunk by German bombing 3-1/2 miles northeast of Bell Rock with the loss of 8 of her crew.

North Africa

Large-scale surrenders begin at Beda Fomm after the Italian 10th Army is surrounded and makes fruitless attempts to break through to continue their retreat. Eventually about 25,000 more Italians will be taken, along with 216 guns, 112 tanks and 1,500 trucks.

Since the start of the campaign 2 months previously a force of no more than 2 divisions has destroyed 10 Italian divisions and taken 130,000 prisoners for the loss of 555 dead and 1,400 wounded. Many of the British vehicles now desperately need repairs. This will have an important effect later. In the evening Agedabia falls to the British forces who now control all of Cyrenaica.

Free French forces under Gen Jacques-Philippe Leclerc with air support besiege Kufra Oasis, an important Italian garrison town and air base in southern Libya.

Balkans, Politics

The German and Bulgarian staffs agree on the detailed arrangements for German troops to enter Bulgaria.

Britain, Home Front

Lord Walter Moyne is appointed Colonial Secretary and Ernest Brown, Minister of Health.

Diplomatic Relations

The new Greek Prime Minister Alexander Koryzis re-opens talks with the British about aid in the event of German intervention against his country. Churchill sends him an assurance that he has ordered the formation of the nucleus of an army for speedy intervention in Greece.

German Raiders

The battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau approach the convoy HX-106 but do not attack because the escort includes the old battleship Ramillies. Hitler has ordered that no risk of damage to the ships is to be run if this can be avoided.

Battle of the Atlantic

• Focke-Wulf Condors sink 5 ships in large convoy, HG-53, off the Azores. The ships sunk are the British steamers Jura (1759t), Dagmar I (2471t), Varna (1514t), Brittanic (2490t) and the Norwegian steamer Tejo. 17 crew are lost from the Jura, 5 from the Dagmar I, 1 from the Brittanic and 4 from the Tejo. The British submarine Velox picks up 26 survivors from these ships.
• U-37 sinks the British steamers Courland (1325t) and Estrellano (1983t) east of the Azores. 3 crewman are lost from the Courland, 30 are rescued by the British steamer Brandenburgh. 6 crewmen are lost from the Estrellano, 21 are picked up by the British sloop Deptford.

Britain, Home Front

Churchill in a major broadcast urges Bulgaria not to join the Axis and tells the Americans: 'Give us the tools and we will finish the job.'

Mediterranean

In an audacious attack the battleship Malaya and the battlecruiser Renown from Force H bombard the harbor at Genoa with 300 tons of shells. The carrier Ark Royal also takes part in the operation, sending aircraft to attack Leghorn and La Spezia. 5 Ships in Genoa are sunk and 18 damaged. This surprise attack highlights the inefficiency of the Italian defenses which identified the force as a Vichy French convoy. An Italian naval squadron and air reconnaissance fail to spot the British ships.

Air Operations, Europe

• During the night 189 R.A.F.bombers raid Hanover. 4-engined Stirling bombers are used for the first time in an attack on oil tanks at Rotterdam.
• In Operation COLOSSUS British paratroops destroy the Tragino Aqueduct in southern Italy after being dropped from Malta-based Whitleys.

Axis Diplomacy

An agreement is reached between Germany and Spain by which Spain pledges to resist any attack by the forces of the Western Allies.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-37 sinks the British steamer Brandenburg (1473t) from Convoy HG-53 west of Gibraltar with the loss of 23 of her crew. 27 survivors from the Courland, sunk the day before, are also lost.
• U-52 sinks the British steamer Canford Chine (3364t), straggling behind Convoy OG-52, 165 southwest of Rockall with the loss of all 36 of her crew.

Britain, Strategy

Churchill formally instructs Wavell to regard help for Greece as having a higher priority that exploiting the success in Africa. He mentions the important effect on American opinion of being seen to fulfill promises to smaller nations. Col Bill Donovan has recently been on a tour of the Balkans on Roosevelt's behalf and is known to value the idea of fighting the Germans there. Churchill says: 'The destruction of Greece would overshadow the victories won by British forces in Libya and our indifference to the fate of our allies might induce Turkey to change its attitude.' The British hope to make a good impression on Turkey and perhaps even establish a Balkan coalition against Hitler.

Diplomatic Relations

Britain breaks off diplomatic relations with Rumania because its territory is 'being used by Germany as a military base in furtherance of her plans for prosecuting the war. These measures are being taken without a word of dissent from the Rumanian Government.' About 680,000 German troops will soon be stationed in Rumania.

Indian Ocean

8 Italian and 2 German merchant ships leave Kismayo, Italian Somaliland in an attempt to reach Diego Suarez, Madagascar. The British heavy cruiser Hawkins captures the Italian steamers Adria (3809t), Savoia (5490t), Erminia Mazzella (5644t), Manon (5594t) and Leonardo da Vinci (7515t). The German steamer Uckermark scuttles herself on the 12th when intercepted by aircraft from the British carrier Eagle. The Italian steamer Pensilvania (6861t) and the German steamer Askari (590t) are sunk on the 13th by aircraft from the Eagle. Only 2 Italian ships, the steamers Duca Degli Abruzzo and Somalia, are successful.

Atlantic

The Ostend docks are bombarded by British destroyers.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British submarine Snapper is sunk by German minesweepers M-2, M-13 and M-25 southwest of Ushant after firing torpedoes at the mineweepers. 41 of the crew are lost.
• The British steamer Iceland (1236t), straggling from Convoy HG-53, is sunk by the German heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper west of Portugal. The crew is taken prisoner.

France, Politics

Darlan is nominated to be successor and deputy to Pétain. He is to hold office as Foreign Minister, Minister of the Interior and Minister of Information as well as his rank as Commander-in-Chief of the Navy.

Axis Diplomacy

Mussolini meets with Gen Francisco Franco, the Spanish head of state, at Bondighera. There is talk of an 'indentity of viewpoints' between the two rulers, but the meeting actually accomplishes nothing at all.

Diplomatic Relations

Over the next few days the British Foreign Minister, Anthony Eden, along with the Chief of the Imperial General Staff, Sir John Dill, and Wavell visit Athens, Ankara and Belgrade for a series of talks for the purpose of forming a coalition against the Axis reaching from the Aegean to the Danube. The Yugoslav government, however refuses to meet with the British delegates while the Turks meet with them but say they cannot go along with their proposals.

German Raiders

The German cruiser Admiral Hipper attacks Cconvoy SLS-64 of 19 ships near the Azores. 7 of the ships are sunk. Their names of the ships lost: the Norwegian steamer Borgestad (3924t) with a loss of 30 men and 1 woman; the Greek steamer Perseus (5172t), 14 are lost; the British steamers Derrynane (4896t), 36 are lost; Shrewsbury (4542t), 20 are lost; Oswestry Grange (4684t), 5 are lost; Warlaby (4876t), 36 are lost; and Westbury (4712t) with 5 lost.

North Africa

Gen Rommel arrives in Tripoli. Nominally more important is the appointment of the new Italian Commander-in-Chief for Libya, Gen Italo Gariboldi. Field Marshal Kesselring is in Rome as the German representative.

Rommel Arrives in Africa

Deutsches Afrika Korps Symbol

In a telegram Churchill congratulates Wavell on the speedy capture of Benghazi, but orders him to hold up the advance and prepare to send all forces not absolutely indispensable to Greece.

Only one squadron of fighters remain available to the British in Libya. Wavell orders O'Connor to return to Cairo and only the lightest defenses are left to cover the territory captured from the Italians.

Axis Planning

Adm Arturo Riccardi, Chief of Staff of the Italian navy, and Adm Erich Raeder, Commander-in-Chief of the German Navy, meet at Merano with their respective staffs to discuss further naval collaboration.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-96 sinks the British motor tanker Clea (8074t), straggling behind Convoy HX-106, southeast of Iceland. All 59 of the crew are lost.

• U-103 damages the British motor tanker Arthur F. Corwin (10,516t), also straggling behind Convoy HX-106. U-96 comes upon the burning ship about 3 hours later and finishes her off with the loss of the entire crew of 46.

Diplomatic Relations

Gen Franco meets Pétain at Montpellier.

Balkans, Politics

Hitler meets the Yugoslav Premier Mirko Cvetkovic and his foreign minister at Berchtesgaden to urge them to join the Tripartite Pact. They still refuse to commit their country, in the hope that Hitler will soon be preoccupied with relations with the Soviet Union and that they can get aid from Britain and the USA.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British steamer Elisabeth Marie (616t) is sunk by German bombing northwest of Ireland with the loss of 1 crewman. The Canadian destroyer Ottawa rescues the survivors.
• The Italian submarine Bianchi sinks the British steamer Belcrest (4517t) straggling behind Convoy SC-21 west of Ireland.
• U-101 sinks the British steamer Holystone (5462t) in the North Atlantic west of Ireland with the loss of her entire crew of 40.

Bulgaria, Politics

Germany is granted access to Bulgaria's border with Greece. This allows Germany to increase its power in the Balkans and provides a route to move troops for an invasion into Greece.

Diplomatic Relations

• Britain severs diplomatic relations with Rumania.
• While Yugoslav leaders are meeting with Hitler in Germany, Roosevelt sends a personal message to the Yugoslav regent, Prince Paul, warning against participation in the Axis.
• Eugene Dooman delivers President Roosevelt's ultimatum to Japan to Foreign Minister Ohashi in Tokyo. A Japanese attack on Singapore would be interpreted as an act of war and Japan would find itself at war with the US.

Italian East Africa

The 22nd East African Brigade takes Kismayu with fire support from the cruiser Shropshire and other smaller vessels. Elsewhere in Somaliland the British advance is also rapid.

Greek-Albanian Front

The Greeks seize Hill 1178 in the Scindeli area after fierce fighting.

Air Operations, Europe

During the night R.A.F.aircraft drop leaflets over Cracow and Katowice in southern Poland.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-123 sinks the British steamer Alnmoor (6573t), straggling behind Convoy SC-21, about 400 miles south-southwest of Rockall. All 42 of the crew are lost.

The Blitz

Hull is the target of 130 aircraft, many of them minelayers. They operate along the coast from St Abbs Head to Flamborough Head. Many houses are severely damaged. 7 people are killed and 24 injured.

Diplomatic Relations

• Britain breaks off diplomatic relations with Rumania, which has become a satellite of the Axis powers.
• Pres Roosevelt send James B. Conant, President of Harvard University, to Britain to exchange views on war technology.

Air Operations, East Africa

South African aircraft attack Italian positions on the east bank of the Juba River in southern Italian Somaliland.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British auxiliary minesweeper Southsea (825t) is badly damaged by a mine west of North Tyne Pier Light. She is run aground and declared a total loss. 7 of the crew are lost.

• The British tanker Empire Otter (4670t) sinks on a British mine 25 miles southwest of Hartland Point. The entire crew is rescued.

Italian East Africa

In Italian Somaliland the 1st South African Brigade begins an important battle to seize crossings over the lower reaches of the Juba River. Kismayu falls to the South Africans.

Axis Diplomacy

Japan offers its services as mediator to end all current wars and blames Britain and the US for prolongation of the European war.

Balkans, Politics

Under German pressure Turkey and Bulgaria sign a friendship agreement by which Turkey accepts that the movement of German troops through Bulgaria is not an act of war. This more or less confirms that there is no possibility of Turkey being persuaded to ally with Britain.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-101 sinks the British steamer Gairsoppa (5237t), a straggler behind Convoy SL-64, 300 miles southwest of Galway with the loss of all but 1 of her 86-man crew.
• U-103 sinks the British motor tanker Edwy R. Brown (10,455t) straggling behind Convoy HX-107 southeast of Ireland. Her entire crew of 50 are lost.
• U-69 sinks the British steamer Siamese Prince (8456t) southwest of the Faroe Islands. All 57 of the crew are lost.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-96 sinks the British steamer Black Osprey (5589t), a straggler behind Convoy HX-107, 130 miles south of Iceland. 26 of her crew are lost, 11 survivors are picked up by the Norwegian steamer Mosdale.
• U-103 sinks the British steamer Seaforth (5459t) south of Iceland with the loss of all 59 of her crew.

Diplomatic Relations

There is an amicable settlement of a dispute between the Swiss and the British over alleged British bombing raids on Basel and Zurich in December 1940.

Italian East Africa

In Abyssinia South African forces advancing from Kenya attack the town of Mega. It is quickly captured along with 1000 prisoners.

Mega Fort, Prior to the Attack

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British submarine Tigris sinks the French steamers Jacobsen (523t) off Bayonne and Guilvenic (3181t) 60 miles west of St Nazaire.
• U-69 sinks the British steamer Empire Blanda (5693t), straggling behind Convoy HX-107, south of Iceland with the loss of the entire crew of 40.
• U-103 sinks the Norwegian steamer Benjamin Franklin (7034t), also straggling behind Convoy HX-107, south of Iceland. The crew of 36 is picked up by the Egyptian steamer Memphis.
• The German 1st MTB Flotilla sorties against the British east coast and S-102 sinks the British steamer Algarve (1355t) near the Sheringham Light Float with the loss of the entire crew.
• The British steamer Gracia (5642t) and the British tanker Housantonic (5559t) are sunk by German bombing south of the Faroe Islands. The entire crew of the Gracia is rescued. 3 are lost from the Housantonic.

The Blitz

This night is the first of 3 consecutive night raids on Swansea.

Italian East Africa

Emperor Haile Selassie, who was brought back to Abyssinia in January to help organize resistance to the Italians, arrives at Dangilla along with Wingate's Gideon Force. During the next two weeks they harass the Italian troops around Bahrdar Giorgis and Burye with considerable success. The Italians have four brigades in the area and the Gideon Force is only 1,700 strong.

Exiled Emperor of Ethiopia Haile Selassie

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British steamer Fort Medine (5261t) sinks on a mine near Swansea with the loss of 1 crewman.
• The British steamer Rigmor is sunk by German bombing southeast of Falmouth. The entire crew is rescued.

U-47 Leaving Lorient

German Raiders

The German heavy cruiser Admiral Scheer captures the British tanker British Advocate (6994t) and the Greek steamer Grigorios C II (2546t) west of the Seychelles. The Greek ship is sunk and her 27-man crew is taken prisoner.

Italian East Africa

The British cross the Juba River.

South African Troops Crossing the Juba

German Raiders

The German heavy cruiser Admiral Scheer sinks the British steamer Canadian Cruiser (7148t) east of Zanzibar. The entire crew is take prisoner.

Italian East Africa

The carrier Formidable again attacks Massawa.

Italy, Home Front

There is a 50 per cent cut in rations of olive oil, cooking fats and butter.

Air Operations, North Africa

German Stukas damage the British monitor Terror in the Benghazi harbor. She sinks in tow the next day.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-96 sinks the British tanker Scottish Standard (6999t), straggling behind Convoy OB-287 after being damage by a German air attack on the 20th, south of Iceland. 5 of her crew are lost; 39 survivors are picked up by the British destroyer Montgomery.
• The Italian submarine Marcello is sunk by the British destroyer Montgomery west of the Hebrides.
• U-108 sinks the Dutch steamer Texelstroom (1617t) 25 miles off Iceland with the loss of her entire crew of 25.

South African Troops After Occupying Moyale

Greece

The British leaders Eden, Dill, Wavell and Cunningham are in Athens to meet King George and Premier Koryzis in regards to sending aid to the Greeks.

Axis Diplomacy

German Foreign Minister Ribbentrop advises the Japanese ambassador in Berlin that Japan should enter the war against Britain 'as soon as possible - in its own interest.'

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-107 and the Italian submarine Bianchi sink the British ocean boarding vessel Manistee (5360t) south of Iceland with the loss of all 141 on board.
• U-96 sinks the British steamer Huntingdon (10,946t) from Convoy OB-288 south of Iceland. The entire crew is rescued by the Greek steamer Papalemos.
• U-95 sinks the British steamers Cape Nelson (3807t) and Anglo-Peruvian (5457t) from Convoy OB-288 south of Iceland. 4 crewmen are lost from the Cape Nelson and 29 from the Anglo-Peruvian. 34 survivors from the former and 17 from the latter are picked up by the British steamer Harberton.

• U-69 sinks the British steamer Temple Moat (4427t), straggling behind Convoy OB-288, with the loss of all 42 of her crew.
• The British steamer Shoal Fisher (698t) sinks on a mine off Falmouth. The entire crew is rescued.

Italian East Africa

In Somaliland the main Italian forces defending the line of the Juba River have been defeated. Gen Cunningham's troops are now advancing very rapidly toward Mogadishu. There is a small Free French landing in Eritrea.

Italy, Home Front

In a speech at a Fascist rally in Adriano Theatre, Rome, Mussolini says: 'We shall fight to the last drop of our blood.' He attempts to minimize the disastrous campaigns in Greece and North Africa. He also lists 10 reasons why Britain cannot win the war and promises 'victory and peace with justice'.

Air Operations, Europe

The R.A.F. raid Brest. Manchester 2-engined bombers are used for the first time. These aircraft will be withdrawn in June 1942 because of repeated engine failures.

R.A.F. Raid on Boulogne - Playing 'Tit-For-Tat'

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-123 sinks the Dutch steamer Grootekerk (8685t) 330 miles west of Rockall with the loss of her entire crew of 52.
• U-96 sinks the Norwegian steamer Svein Jarl (1908t) from the dispersed Convoy OB-288 with the loss of all 22 of her crew. The u-boat also sinks the British steamer Sirikishna (5458t) south of Iceland with the loss of her entire crew of 43.
• U-95 sinks the British steamer Marslew (4542t) also from the dispersed Convoy OB-288 300 miles north-northwest of Rockall with the loss of 13 of her crew. 23 survivors are picked up by the British steamer Empire Cheetah.
• U-97 sinks the British steamers Mansepool (4894t) with the loss of 2 crewmen and Jonathan Holt (4973t) with the loss of all 52 of her crew, both from Convoy OB-289, southwest of the Faroe Islands. 39 survivors from the Mansepool are picked up by the British steamer Thomas Holt. The u-boat also sinks the British tanker British Gunner (6894t) 273 miles northwest of Cape Wrath with the loss of 3 of her crew. 41 survivors are picked up by the British corvette Petunia.
• The Italian submarine Bianchi sinks the British steamer Linaria (3385t) from the dispersed Convoy OB-288 southwest of Iceland.
• U-73 sinks the British steamer Waynegate (4260t) from displersed Convoy OB-288 south of Iceland. The entire crew of 41 is picked up by the French destroyer Leopard.
• U-48 sinks the British steamer Nailsea Lass (4289t), straggling behind Convoy SLS-64, 60 miles southwest of Fastnet with the loss of 5 crewmen. 2 of the crew are taken prisoner, 29 others are rescued.

Aegean

The Admiralty and War Office announce the capture of the island of Castelrosso (now Kastellorizon) in the Dodecanese.

Atlantic

The British escort destroyer Exmoor is sunk by a German MTB off Lowestoft.

Axis Diplomacy

Foreign Minister Ribbentrop meets Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi Oshima near Salzburg. Ribbentrop says Germany will 'crush' Britain, which is hard pressed for supplies. According to Ribbentrop, Britain receives one-third of its needs from the US He says the only Americans wishing to enter the war are 'Roosevelt, the Jews who surround him, and a group of financiers.'

Battle of the Atlantic

Prien's U-47 chases and finally closes on Convoy OB-290, sinking 3 of the vessels.

Bulgaria

A pro-British plot for a coup d'etat is thwarted.

There is increasing sentiment towards full alignment with Germany.

Germany, Home Front

The battleship Tirpitz is commissioned.

Italian East Africa

Mogadishu is taken by the Nigerian troops under British command after an advance of over 230 miles in the past 3 days. Considerable stocks of fuel and other supplies are captured.

Japan, Home Front

Foreign Minister Matsuoka says the white race must cede Oceania to Asians. 'This region has sufficient resources to support from 600,000,000 to 800,000,000 people. I believe we have a right to migrate there.'

Mediterranean

The Italian light cruiser Armando Diaz is sunk by the British submarine Upright while forming part of the escort for a Naples-Tripoli convoy.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

60 German bombers and Stukas with fighter escort raid the airfields on Malta. 13 Wellingtons and 3 Hurricanes are damaged or destroyed to a loss of 7 German aircraft.

Balkans, Politics

Eden and Dill continue their Middle East mission with a visit to Ankara, but they get no real response to their efforts to interest the Turks in an alliance.

Battle of the Atlantic

Once again U-47 is active. She calls in Fw-200 attacks on OB-290 and 11 ships are sunk in the most successful air raid on Allied shipping to date.

Diplomatic Relations

Italy sends Spain a bill for 7,500 Million lire for military aid during the Spanish Civil War.

Indian Ocean

The Italian armed merchant cruiser Ramb I is sunk by the New Zealand cruiser Leander off the Maldive Islands. Ramb I sailed from Massawa on 20 February.

The Sinking of the Ramb I

Bulgaria

Bridges near Giurgiu are destroyed by the Bulgarians to forestall any German attack throught Rumania.