Air Operations, Europe

Among the targets for the R.A.F. this month are Bremen, Hamburg, Brest and Wilhelmshaven.

Battle of the Atlantic

There are now 22 operational submarines in the German fleet but there are 67 more on trials or in training. A total of 21 ships of 126,800 tons is sunk by U-boats in January. (Allied Ships Lost to U-boats) A large proportion of this success is achieved after the convoys have dispersed, usually beyond 20 degrees west. German aircraft are also very active, both in scouting of the U-boats and in their own right. They sink 15 ships themselves.

Air Operations, Europe

During the night 95 R.A.F. bombers raid Bremen to attack the Focke-Wulf factory and the shipyards.

Balkans, Politics

Joachim von Ribbentrop, the German foreign minister, meets Bogdan Filov, the Bulgarian prime minister, in Berlin to discuss arrangements for allowing the passage of German troops across Bulgaria. No agreement is reached but Bulgaria is now nearer to acquiescing to German pressure to join the Tripartite Pact.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-65 sinks the British steamer Nalgora (6579t) 350 miles north of the Cape Verde Islands. Some of the 105 survivors are picked up by the British steamers Nolisement and Umgeni. 19 survivors make it in a lifeboat to San Antonio, Cape Verde Islands.

The Blitz

Over 100 German bombers hit Cardiff dropping 14,000 incendiaries. Many fires are started. The targets are the steel works and the docks. Economic life suffers little, but residential and commercial properties receive heavy damage. A rubber works, a paint factory and transport offices are all hit. Railways are affected and over 500 houses are destroyed.

Areas of destruction include Wembley Road, Ninian Park Road and Blackstone Street in the city's west end. Llandaff Cathedral is badly damaged by a parachute mine. 160 people are killed with about the same number being injured.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British steamer Pinewood (2466t) sinks on a mine 1 and one half miles south of Pier, Southend with the loss of 6 of her crew. 18 crewmen are rescued.
• The Finnish steamer Liisa (1460t) is sunk by British bombing at Bremen. The ship is later salvaged. Also sunk by British bombing is the Finnish steamer Yrsa (2803t) in the Kiel Canal.

The Blitz

There are night raids on Bristol by 170 aircraft. Each bomber drops about a ton of high explosives and all drop a total of 53,500 incendiaries. In the city docks 8,000 tons of grain are destroyed. The Royal Exchange and the Guildhall are hit along with a number of schools and hospitals. There is a lot of damage in the city center to shops, offices, homes and the Temple Meads Station. There are about 500 casualties.

St. Paul's Area Damage

Greek-Albanian Front

The Italians launch an unsuccessful counteroffensive in Albania.

Italian Light Artillery

The First Luftwaffe units arrive in Albania to support the Italian troops.

North Africa

The Allied force, renamed XIII Corps, has been increased by the arrival of the 6th Australian Div to replace the 4th Indian Div previously withdrawn to the Sudan. The new force leads the attack on Bardia which now begins. The 16th and 17th Brigades provide the assault units. They have considerable tank and artillery support. In addition 3 battleships of the Mediterranean Fleet also shell the Italian positions. The attack goes in against the west and southwest of the fortress and progress is very rapid. Around 30,000 prisoners are taken in the first 24 hours.

Air Operations, Europe

During the night the R.A.F. raid the naval base at Brest.

The Blitz

Bristol is the target for the second night in a row. 124 aircraft from Luftflotte II and III target Avonmouth Docks. Thousands of incendiaries fall. Economically the raid is not successful because of prompt firefighting measures. There is still a lot of damage in the city, but the casualties are light.

Greek-Albanian Front

The Greeks begin a new offensive. They drive westward toward Valona from their positions in the mountains at Berat to Klisura. The Greeks are, however, outnumbered by the Italians, only 13 divisions against 16 Italian divisions, and find it difficult to make significant gains.

Battle of the Atlantic

The Italian submarine Capellini sinks the British steamer Shakespeare (5029t) between the African coast and the Canary Islands with the loss of 20 of her crew. Survivors are towed in their boats to within sight of land.

Britain, Home Front

Amy Johnson, a famous long-distance flier, dies in a crash over the Thames Estuary while working for the Air Transport Auxiliary.

China

The Communist New 4th Army is attacked by the Kuomintang.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-124 sinks the British steamer Empire Thunder (5965t) north-northeast of Rockall with the loss of 9 crewmen. 30 survivors are picked up by the British armed boarding vessel Kingston Onyx.

Britain, Planning

Churchill sends a long memorandum to the Chief of Staffs Committee which gives priority to aid Greece at the risk of sacrificing any further advance in North Africa. He argues that help for the Greeks in their attack on Valona, Albania, is essential in order to avoid any lessening of Greek resistance or even capitulation. A few days later, on receiving reports of German troop concentrations in preparation for large-scale action in the Balkans, Churchill tells Wavell that, once Tobruk is captured, all operations in Libya must be subordinated to the urgent needs of the Greek front.

German Raiders

The Greek steamer Antonis is sunk by the German raider Kormoran in the South Atlantic. The entire crew are made prisoners of war.

Mediterranean

4 British merchant ships leave Gibraltar with vital supplies for Malta. It is the first convoy to make the dangerous Mediterranean run since November. Force H is assigned to escort the cargo ships in and provide support for their return. A number of merchantmen which have been stuck in Malta since November will also be escorted out by Force H. At this time Malta has only 15 Hurricane fighters for its many defense responsibilities.

North Africa

Advance units of the Allied force reach the outer defenses of Tobruk after taking El Adem airfield to the south. The encirclement of Tobruk will not be complete in any strength, however, until 9 January. Patrols to examine the Italian defenses begin immediately. The Tobruk garrison is 25,000 men with 220 guns and 70 tanks. Gen Pitassi Mannella is in command. There are other Italian units still in positions farther west in Libya.

Italian Prisoners

Southeast Asia

Thai troops begin attacking Cambodia and seize disputed border areas.

Battle of the Atlantic

• Condor 4-engined reconnaissance bombers, based near Bordeaux, are transferred to the operational command of Adm Dönitz.
• The British corvette Anemone sinks the large Italian submarine Nani northwest of Ireland.
• The British steamer H. H. Petersen (975t) sinks on a mine in the North Sea. The entire crew is rescued.

Japan, Planning

Yamamoto proposes Operation Z to destroy the US fleet at their Pacific base of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and to destroy British presence in the Far East by taking Hong Kong and Singapore. Other targets include the Philippines, Java, Borneo, New Guinea, the Malayan islands and the central Pacific islands.

North Africa

British and Imperial forces continue to advance from Bardia to Tobruk. The first contingents make contact with the defenses in the eastern sector of Tobruk. The fall of Bardia has reduced the number of troops available to the Italian Commander-in-Chief, Gen Graziani, by more than half. For the defense of Tobruk he can call on no more thatn 25,000 men, 220 guns and around 70 medium and light tanks. West of Tobruk the Sabratha Div is at Derna, the 17th Regiment at Benghazi and an armored group at Mechili.

Greek-Albanian Front

The Greeks attack Klisura vigorously in their continuing offensive. The Italian divisions suffering seriously at Klisura are Lupi di Toscana, Julia, Pinerola and Pusteria. The Greek progress farther north is less good, especially around Berat where they do not succeed in breaking through. Also, the Greek offensive against Valona is stopped. Fighting in this sector will continue until the end of the month.

Greek Soldiers and Captured Italian Tank

Mediterranean

There is a British air raid on Naples by Wellington bombers in which the battleship Giulio Cesare (29,000 t) is badly hit while moored in the harbor. She will be moved to La Spezia for lengthy repairs. The Vittorio Veneto is hit also but scarcely damaged.

USS Wasp (CV-7)

Axis Diplomacy

Hitler agrees to send a panzer force to Libya to support the struggling Italian forces.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-105 sinks the British steamer Bassano (4843t) northwest of Rockall with the loss of 1 crewman. 56 survivors are picked up by the British destroyer Wild Swan.

Britain, Home Front

Decision has been reached to form the Air Training Corps.

Diplomatic Relations

Roosevelt's personal representative, Harry Hopkins, arrives in London for meetings. He will depart 16 February.

Mediterranean

• Near Sicily British warships are attacked by Italian and German aircraft.
• The British submarine Pandora sinks the Italian steamers Palma (2715t) and Valdivagna (5400t) off Cape Carbonara, Sardinia.
• The British submarine Parthian sinks the Italian steamer Carlo Martinolich (4208t) off Calabria.
• The Italian coastal steamer Giovanni Mari (636t) sinks on a mine 12 miles off Bardia.

Air Operations, Europe

The first large-scale R.A.F. daylight raid over France since June 1940 occurs. 100 fighters escort Blenheim bombers in a sweep over the Pas De Calais attacking airfields and cross-Channel gun positions. There are night raids on Brest and Palermo, Sicily.

Axis Diplomacy

Soviet-German pacts on frontiers in Eastern Europe and on trade are signed in Berlin and Moscow. One pact sees Germany renouncing her claim to the 'Suwalki Strip' of Lithuanian territory. In return the USSR will pay 31.5 million Reichmarks to Germany in compensation. By the other food and raw materials are to be exchanged for industrial equipment. The economic benefits to Germany of the agreement with the Soviet Union will continue until the very day that Operation BARBAROSSA begins.

The Blitz

Portsmouth is the target. During the night 19 He-111's of KG55 drop 28 flares followed by some very heavy bombs to get the raid started. 150 aircraft drop 40,000 incendiaries along with high explosives. Damage is heavy in Portsmouth, Southsea and Gosport. Warehouses, timber yards and railways are hit, but dockyard installations suffer relatively light damage. There is a lot of damage done to houses, churches, cinemas and other commercial property. Water supplies failed and some water ends up getting pumped over 3 miles. In Southsea there is damage to shopping areas, schools, churches and 2 hospitals. 28 large fires are started for the loss of 6 planes. Casualties are put at 250 people.

Greek-Albanian Front

The Greek forces take Klisura, 22 miles from the Greek border, after the 4 Italian divisions in that sector have been pulled back.

Mediterranean

Off Pantelleria a British convoy of 14 merchantmen is attacked, first by 2 Italian torpedo boats, 1 of which, the Vega is sunk for no loss to the convoy, and then by 40 German Stuka and Ju-88 bombers. The carrier Illustrious is hit 6 times by dive bombers causing 200 casualties. Warspite dodges several attacks but other ships are also damaged. The cruiser Gloucester is damaged and the cruiser Southampton is hit so badly the British do not think they can recover her, so she is sunk intentionally. This is the first action by the German X Fliegerkorps. Illustrious retires to Malta. All the British forces from Gibraltar and Alexandria have been out covering convoys for Greece and Malta. More troops and 18 fighters are brought to Malta. The additional loss of a cruiser and a destroyer further aggravate the British problem. From this day Britain no longer commands the central Mediterranean. As a result the Germans are able to supply the Axis forces in North Africa with the equipment needed for the eventual drive into Egypt.

Illustrious Under Attack

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British convoy rescue ship Beachy (1600t) is sunk by German bombing in the North Sea with the loss of 5 crewmen. Survivors are picked up by the British anti-submarine trawler Arab.
• The Swedish steamer Bertha sinks on a mine between Saltholm and Middelgrund with the loss of 4 of her crew. 13 crewmen are rescued.

British Bombers Attack Valona

The Blitz

During bad weather London is hit with a 3-hour raid. 137 bombers drop 130 tons of high explosives and 21,000 incendiaries. There is heavy damage in the city and South London. 43 people die at Liverpool Street Station, 18 of which are on a bus which is hit directly. A high explosive bomb directly hits Bank Station in the city which causes Booking Hall and Circular Gallery to cave in. About 50 people die here and an enormous crater is left in the road. Lambeth Hospital is also hit. Over 100 civilians die in this raid.

Damage in Portsmouth

Air Operations, Europe

There are R.A.F. night raids on oil installations at Regensburg and Porto Marghera near Venice. Leaflets are dropped over Padua.

Atlantic

A 21-ship troop convoy leaves Britain for North Africa.

The Blitz

London is the target for 141 bombers dropping more tonnage than the previous night. The main targets are the dock installations along the banks of the Thames. Fires are started at Victoria and Albert Docks and Woolwich Arsenal. Also hit are the Industrial Premises at Crayford and the oil tanks at Purfleet. There are about 150 casualties in southeast London alone.

Air Operations, Europe

During the night the R.A.F. bombs the Lorient U-boat base.

Axis Diplomacy

Hitler 'invites' King Boris of Bulgaria to Germany. The Führer demands that Bulgaria sign the Tripartite Pact, open her borders to allow German troops to attack Greece and take an active part in Axis' military operations. King Boris tries stalling for more time before making the commitment.

Air Operations, East Africa

There are night raids by the R.A.F. on Benghazi.

Air Operations, North Africa

The R.A.F. continues to bomb shipping in Benghazi harbor, Libya. There are night raids by the R.A.F. on Assab, Eritrea.

Battle of the Atlantic

The Italian submarine Capellini sinks the British steamer Eumaeus (7472t) off Freetown with the loss of 27 of her crew.

German Raiders

The German disguised raider Pinguin captures a Norwegian whaling fleet consisting of 3 factory ships and 11 whale catchers in the Antarctic. Skeleton crews are put on board the ships to take them to France. They arrive in March.

Greece

Gen Wavell and Air Marshal Arthur Longmore are in Athens for 2 days worth of talks with Prime Minister Metaxas and the Greek Commander in Chief, Gen Papagos. The Greeks ask for 9 divisions and a substantial air component to be sent to support their forces. On the Albanian front the Greeks have 12 divisions and 3 brigades of infantry. 4 divisions are guarding the Bulgarian frontier, but one is to be transferred from Macedonia to Albania where the Italians are regularly receiving reinforcements.

Air Operations, Europe

During the night the R.A.F. sends 76 bombers to Wilhelmshaven.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British sludge vessel Mancunium (1286t) sinks on a mine 2 miles northeast of Bar Light Vessel, Mersey. The entire crew is rescued.
• The Italian submarine Torelli sinks the Greek steamer Nemea (5101t) and the Norwegian steamer Brask (4079t). 17 of the crew are lost from the Nemea and 12 from the Brask.

Ethiopia

The British restore Emperor Haile Selassie and help drive out the occupying Italians.

German Raiders

The German raider Pinguin captures the Norwegian oil refinery tanker Pelagos (12083t) in the South Atlantic.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-106 sinks the British steamer Zealandic (10,578t) 230 miles west-northwest of Rockall with the loss of all 73 of her crew.
• The Italian submarine Torelli sinks the Greek steamer Nicolaos Filinis (3111t) with the loss of 3 crewmen.
• U-96 sinks the British steamer Oropesa (14,118t) southeast of Rockall with the loss of 106 passengers and crew. 143 survivors are picked up by the British rescue tugs Superman and Diligent and the British destroyer Westcott.
• The Dutch tanker Onoba (6256t) is sunk by German bombing about 140 miles off Ireland. The entire crew is rescued.

The Blitz

Bristol and Avonmouth are the targets. 120 bombers are involved in the raid. Damage is caused in both the docks and the city. The raid itself is less fierce than some of the earlier attacks.

Mediterranean

Attacking from bases in Sicily, a force of about 80 Stukas attacks Valletta, Malta in an attempt to sink the carrier Illustrious and put the island's arsenal out of action. Although 10 are shot down, they hit the carrier again as well as the cruiser Perth. The harbor facilities are also badly hit in addition to several churches and a number of public and private buildings. The raid kills about 100 civilians, many of them women and children. This is the first of a long series of raids by the Germans which the Maltese refer to as the 'Illustrious Blitz'.

Attack On Malta

Battle of the Atlantic

U-96 sinks the British steamer Almeda Star (14,935t) 35 miles northeast of Rockall with the loss of all 360 passengers and crew.

The Blitz

Swansea is the target. 100 bombers of Luftflotte III make the raid. The dock area is hit by high explosives damaging the Prince of Wales Dry Dock. Numerous fires are started from the 32,000 incendiaries that are also dropped. Most of the damage is to commercial and residential areas.

China Sea

The Battle of Koh-Chang in the China Sea takes place. A Vichy French squadron defeats the Thai Navy sinking 3 ships.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British armed merchant cruiser Asturias captures the Vichy French steamer Mendoza (8199t) 60 miles east of Montevideo. The steamer is taken to Freetown arriving 1 February.
• The Norwegian tanker Sandefjord (8038t) is captured by the German heavy cruiser Admiral Scheer in the South Atlantic.
• The German steamer Godfried Bueren (4664t) sinks on a mine in the Kattegat.

German Raiders

The German raider Kormoran sinks the British tanker British Union (6987t) off the African coast with the loss of 1 of her crew. 36 of the crew are made prisoners of war. 8 crewmen are rescued.

Greece

The Greeks accept such help as is offered by the British, but are unwilling to accept it at once for fear of giving Hitler and excuse for speeding up his intervention.

German Anti-Aircraft Guns

Axis Diplomacy

Hitler and Mussolini meet at the Berghof in Berchtesgaden. Mussolini is unwilling to accept German help in Albania but is prepared to accept some aid in Africa. Hitler says that he will attack Greece if it seems that Britain is going to come in. It is agreed the 2 divisions will be sent to Africa at the earliest time and help in Greece will begin in April.

Battle of the Atlantic

The British steamer Bonnington Court (4909t) is sunk by German bombing near Sunk Light Vessel with the loss of 2 crewmen.

The Blitz

Swansea is the target of a 5-hour bombardment. Southampton is also by 62 aircraft of Luftflotte III led by 6 pathfinders of KG26. 3/4 of the town had been destroyed on previous attacks, but more damages is done to houses, shops and offices. 14 fires are started. The Southern Railway Locomotive Works at Eastleigh is hit. Little damage, however, is done to the docks and factories. Casualties are light.

London is hit by 50 bombers who follow 2 Stukas each carrying an SC1000 bomb. 50 tons of high explosives and 12,000 incendiaries are dropped altogether. There is little industrial damage done by the raid. Beckton Gas Works is hit, but supplies are barely affected.

China

The Nationalist Chinese disband the Communist New 4th Army in Yangtse Valley following a serious outbreak of fighting.

Air Operations, East Africa

British, South African and Rhodesian aircraft raid a power station at Massawa and other targets in East Africa.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The Dutch steamer Barneveld (5597t) is captured by the German heavy cruiser Admiral Scheer about 1200 miles from Freetown. The entire crew and passengers are made prisoners of war. The ship is sunk the next day by the German cruiser.
• U-95 sinks the British steamer Florian (3174t) in the North Atlantic west of the Faroes with the loss of the entire crew of 44.
• The Italian submarine Marcello sinks the Belgian steamer Portugal.
• The British steamer Stanpark (5103t) is sunk by the German heavy cruiser Admiral Scheer in the South Atlantic. The entire crew is taken prisoner.

The Blitz

For the second consecutive night there is a raid on Swansea.

Mediterranean

Because of the presence of the Luftwaffe in Sicily, the British chiefs of staff say it will be impossible to carry out the plan to seize the island of Pantelleria by a commando operation. Pantelleria lies between Sicily and the northeast coast of Tunisia. Even though the plan has Churchill's enthusiastic support, Adm Cunningham is against it saying that he could not accept any addition to the already immense difficulties involved in supplying the Mediterranean squadron. Malta will remain for a long time the only British strongpoint in the central Mediterranean.

North Africa

To support the Italian army in Libya Hitler has made the decision to send the German 15th Panzer Div under command of Gen Erwin Rommel, the future 'Desert Fox'.

Rumania, Politics

The simmering power struggle between Ion Antonescu and the Vice-Premier of Romania and leader of the Iron Guard, Horia Sima, erupts into violence.

During 3 days of violence in the country, Antonescu suppresses the Iron Guard with the help of the army. Hitler offers German troops to help crush the rebellion, which Antonescu declines. Thereafter, German troops in Romania help to smuggle Iron Guard members, including Sima, out of the country.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British steamer Temple Mead (4427t) is sunk by German bombing in the North Sea with the loss of 14 crewmen.
• The German steamer Brechsee (688t) sinks on a mine off Malmo.

The Blitz

Swansea is again the target for the third consecutive night. The bombing this night is more intense than the previous two. 160 tons of high explosives and 60,000 incendiaries are dropped in the 3-1/2 hour raid. A fire approximately one square mile in area consumes the town center and levels it to the ground. Among the areas suffering great destruction are Castle Street, High Street, College Street and Caer Street. Many churches and chapels are hit along with 14 schools. Many water, gas and sewer pipes are put out of service. Death toll from the 3 raids is 230. 6,500 people are left homeless.

Damage from Swansea Blitz

Diplomatic Relations

From Tokyo the Japanese foreign minister Yosuke Matsuoka warns the US to stay out of Far Eastern affairs.

Italian East Africa

The British take Kassala near the border between the Sudan and Eritrea. The Italians fall back to Agordat and then on to the tiny fortress of Keren.

Japan

Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka states: 'The Netherlands East Indies and French Indochina, if only for geographical reasons, should be in intimate and inseparable friendship with our country.' He basically warns the US against interfering in Asian affairs.

Mediterranean

Two urgent messages from London reach the commanders of the British land and naval forces. Admiral Cunningham is ordered to provide Malta with the air cover necessary for its defense. Gen Wavell is told that the capture of Benghazi is still given top priority and that he should make that his next objective. Maj-Gen O'Connor has already ordered the Australian 4th Brigade to press on to Mechili and the 7th Armored Brigade to continue its advance on Derna, two important centers in Cyrenaica.

Churchill's message to Malta: 'The eyes of all Britain, and indeed of the whole Empire, are watching Malta in her struggle day by day, and we are sure that success as well as glory will reward your efforts.'

North Africa

Tobruk is bombarded by HMS ships Ladybird, Gnat and Terror. The 6th Australian Div begins the attack on Tobruk. The town is already isolated by the advance of the British 7th Armored Brigade which is heading for Martuba and Mechili. The southeast corner of the Italian position is assaulted and after a heavy bombardment the Italian defense is quickly broken. Fort Palastrino is taken later in the day and Gen Mannella also captured.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British naval tug St Cyrus (810t) sinks on a mine off the Humber with the loss of most of the crew.
• The Greek steamer Kapetan Stratis (3574t) is sunk by German bombing in the North Sea with the loss of the entire crew.

Bulgaria

The chief of staff of the Bulgarian army, Gen Vasil Boydev, in the name of King Boris, discusses with representatives of the German high command a plan for collaboration and co-operation between the two countries.

German Raiders

Operation BERLIN begins. Gneisenau and Scharnhorst leave Kiel in the Baltic to attack Atlantic convoys (see February 22).

Italian East Africa

In Eritrea the Italian forces are falling back toward Agordat in the face of Platt's attack. There is also some skirmishing along the border between Kenya and Italian Somaliland as the British advance in the Trans-Juba region and take Jalib.

Camel Transport

Mediterranean

• Wavell is ordered to make arrangements to support the Greeks by every means available to him.
• The Italian liner Liguria (15,354t), immobilized by bombing damage since 5 July, is sunk by British bombing at Tobruk.

Atlantic

5 Norwegian merchant ships, interned at Gothenburg, Sweden since April 1940, elude German minefields and the Gneisenau and the Scharnhorst and rendezvous with the British Home Fleet at Skagerrak.

Balkans, Politics

The Bulgarian prime minister agrees to bring his country into the Tripartite Pact as soon as military arrangements with the Germans can be completed.

Battle of the Atlantic

German bombing sink 3 British steamers: Lurigethan (3564t) with the loss of 16 of her crew; Langlegorse (4524t) with the loss of the entire crew; and Mostyn (1859t) with the loss of 2 crewmen.

Italian East Africa

British forces advance to the Biskia railhead in Eritrea.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British steamer Corheath (1096t) sinks on a mine 1 mile west of Botany Buoy in the Thames Estuary with the loss of 3 crewmen.
• U-123 sinks the Norwegian steamer Vespasian (1570t) 290 miles west-southwest of Rockall with the loss of her entire crew of 18.

Diplomatic Relations

• Lord Halifax, the new British Ambassador to the United States, arrives aboard the new battleship King George V.
• The US government turns down the Vichy French government request to take displaced German Jews from France. It would break US immigration quotas and the US did not want to be a party to force immigration and violations of human rights.

German Raiders

The German raider Atlantis sinks the British steamer Mandasor (5144t) 300 miles east of the Seychelles with the loss of 5 of her crew. 76 are taken prisoner.

North Africa

There is a brief tank engagement near Mechili. The British 4th Armored Brigade destroys 8 Italian medium tanks and captures 1 while losing 1 heavy and 6 light tanks before the Italians retire. The Italian forces in Libya are now split, with one group around Mechili and one on the coast at Derna. These positions do not give each other any support. The 19th Australian Brigade is moving on Derna while Mechili is to be encircled by 4th and 7th Armored Brigades.

Greek-Albanian Front

Many cases of frostbite are reported on both sides in the wild mountainous areas of southern Albania. The Italians are also suffering with typhoid.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British steamer Meriones (7557t) is sunk by German bombing while at Haisborough Sands. The entire crew are rescued.
• The Dutch steamer Beemsterdijk (6869t) is badly damaged by a mine 12 miles off Smalls. 39 of the 42-man crew are lost. The ship subsequently sinks.

Italian East Africa

The British capture Biscia in Eritrea.

Greek-Albanian Front

There is an Italian counterattack near Klisura which has a slight local success.

Diplomatic Relations

In Washington a secret meeting takes place between US and British officials to work out cooperation and strategy should the US be forced to declare war on either Japan or Germany.

Greek-Albanian Front

The Italian Foreign Minister, Galeazzo Ciano, and other senior members of the Italian government arrive in Albania to take up active army commands. This bizarre measure is presumably designed to boost morale demonstrating the members of the government are not exempt from combat duty.

Italian East Africa

The British advance into Eritrea reaches Agordat and a battle gradually develops in this area.

Japan

Matsuoka tells a budget committee of the Japanese Diet that Japan must 'dominate' the western Pacific if it is to achieve its goals. He continues, "My use of the word 'dominate' may seem extreme and while we have no such designs, still in a sense we do with to dominate and there is no need to hide the fact. Has America any right to object if Japan does dominate the western Pacific? As Minister of Foreign Affairs, I hate to make such an assertion, but I wish to declare that if America does not understand Japan's rightful claims and actions, then there is not the slightest hope of improvement of Japanese-American relations."

Battle of the Atlantic

• The Italian submarine Torelli sinks the British steamer Urla (5198t), a straggler from Convoy HX-102. The entire crew is rescued.
• German bombing sinks the British steamer Pandion (1944t) and the Grelrosa (4574t) with the loss of 5 of her crew.

Mediterranean

• The British submarine Rorqual lays mines off the Adriatic coast port of Ancona.
• The German steamer Kate sinks on a mine (5197t) in Greek waters.

Air Operations, North Africa

He-111s drop mines in the Suez Canal during the night. This operation is repeated the nights of 18 February and 22 February.

Allied Planning

Beginning this day and continuing for the next three months, there are secret staff talks in Washington between British and American representatives to agree on a common strategy in the event the US enters the war. They produce conclusions code named 'ABC1' which state that Allied policy in the event of war with Germany and Japan should be to put the defeat of Germany first. In March an American mission visits Britain to select sites for bases for naval and air forces in case of war with Germany. Preliminary work to equip these bases will begin later in the year. The talks mark an important stage in the development of cooperation between the US and Britain. As well as their important decisions they accustom the staffs to working with each other.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-93 sinks the British steamer King Robert (5886t), the British tanker W. B. Walker (10,468t) and the Greek steamer Aikaterini (4929t) from Convoy SC-19 south of Rockall. The entire crew of 42 from the King Robert are picked up by the British destroyer Anthony and the British anti-submarine trawler Lady Madelaine. 4 crewmen are lost on the W. B. Walker; 43 survivors are picked up by the Anthony and the British destroyer Antelope. 1 of the crew is lost from the Greek ship with 30 survivors also being picked up by the Anthony.

• U-94 sinks the British steamer West Wales (4354t), a straggler from Convoy SC-19, south-southwest of Rockall with the loss of 16 of her crew. 21 survivors are picked up by the British destroyers Antelope and Anthony
• U-106 sinks the Egyptian steamer Sesostris (2962t), also straggling from Convoy SC-19, south-southwest of Rockall.

The Blitz

London is hit by 37 bombers. The Port of London is the main target but most of the damage occurs in several boroughs in the southeast section of the city. Little damage is done and casualties are light.

China

Nationalist soldiers and Kuomintang guerillas retake Zhenyang from the Japanese.

German Raiders

The German raider Kormoran sinks the British steamer Eurylochus (5723t) about 400 miles west of St Vincent with the loss of 15 of her crew. 38 are take prisoner. 28 survivors are picked up by the Spanish steamer Monte Teide. The Kormoran next sinks the British steamer Africa Star (11,900t) making the entire crew prisoners of war.

Italian East Africa

Allied forces cross the border from Kenya into Italian Somaliland. Gen Cunningham is in command and his forces are 11th and 12th East African Divs and 1st South African Div. The main attack will not begin until 10 February.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-94 sinks the British steamer Rushpool (5125t), straggling from Convoy SC-19, southest of Rockall. All 40 of the crew are picked up by the British destroyer Anthony.
• The Norwegian steamer Austvard (3677t) is sunk by German bombing 130 miles west of Galway Island. There are 5 survivors from the 28-man crew.

• The German steamer Konigsberg (2530t) sinks on a mine near the Elbe I lightship.

The Blitz

German 'hit and run' raiders attack London in cloudy weather. Me-109s strafe the Dover balloon barrage.

Axis Diplomacy

Vichy French authorities in Indochina sign an armistice with Thailand aboard a Japanese warship off Bangkok, ending their desultory border war.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The Italian submarine Dandolo sinks the British steamer Pizarro (1367t) off the coast of France with the loss of 23 of her 29-man crew.
• The British steamer Rowanbank (5159t) from Convoy SL-62 is sunk by German bombing in the North Sea.
• The naval collier Botusk (3091t) and the Dutch steamer Emmaplein, both in Convoy HX-103, sink on British mines 6 miles northeast of North Rona Island. 4 are lost from the British ship with the British corvette Verbena picking up 11 survivors. 34 of the crew of the Dutch ship are picked up by the British cable ship Ariel and 2 corvettes.

The Blitz

3 London hospitals are damaged by 'hit and run' raiders.

Diplomatic Relations

Churchill asks Turkey to grant permission to station 10 R.A.F. squadrons on Turkish territory. Ankara eventually refuses saying it would break its neutrality. Turkey will only join the Allies if attacked by the Germans.

Germany, Planning

After consultations with army and army group staffs, the Army High Command has now prepared the first operational plans for the German invasion of the Soviet Union. The deployment plan for the forces is also ready. Army Group Center with 'a strong portion of its mobile strength should cooperate with Army Group North in order to destroy the enemy forces along the Baltic and in the area of Leningrad'.

An assault on Moscow would take place only if 'an unexpected and total collapse of enemy resistance in northern Russia' negated the need to turn armored forces toward the north. These schemes are presented to Hitler at a conference on February 3. He again tries to draw attention away from the central drive toward Moscow which the Army planners think essential.