Air Operations, Europe

The Halifax bomber comes into service with Bomber Command. Among the targets for the R.A.F. this month are Kiel, Hamburg, Bremen and Brest, of special interest because of the entry of the German battlecruisers later in the month. Bomber command flies about 1,900 sorties, 39 aircraft fail to return and 36 more crash.

Battle of the Atlantic

The threat posed by the German attacks is formally recognized by Churchill when he issues his Battle of the Atlantic Directive on 6 March. Measures are immediately put in hand to strengthen the British forces and a high-level Battle of the Atlantic Committee begins meeting to monitor progress. It includes political, military and scientific leaders and will be important in bringing about better coordination between these specialties. Although enemy submarines and aircraft both sink 41 ships during the month and although the total of 139 ships of 529,700 tons is comparable with the worst times of the previous German offensive in 1917, there is some compensation in the sinking by the escort forces of 6 U-boats, one fifth of the operational fleet (see March 7 and 16-17).(Allied Ships Lost to U-boats)

Air Operations, Europe

During the night 100 R.A.F. bombers raid Cologne.

Balkans, Politics

Prime Minister Bogdan Filov brings Bulgaria into the Tripartite Pact. There is great concern in Yugoslavia since that country is now virtually surrounded by the Axis powers.

Bulgaria Joins the Axis

Battle of the Atlantic

U-552 sinks the British tanker Cadillac (12,062t) from Convoy HX-109 150 miles north-northeast of Rockall with the loss of 38 of her crew. 4 survivors are picked up by the British destroyer Malcolm.

China

Chiang Kai-shek tells the opening meeting of the Peoples Political Council that China will never reach a compromise with Japan. He also says any Japanese advance into the South Seas will further menace China.

Diplomatic Relations

Bulgaria signs the Tripartite Pact. The government of the country, including the German-speaking King Boris, had been worried that if Bulgaria joined the pack Soviet troops would invade. Having already profited from German friendship by being given southern Dobruja from Rumania, in the coming weeks Bulgaria will gain Greek Thrace, Yugoslav Macedonia and part of Serbia in return for allowing German troops to use Bulgarian territory as a jumping-off point for the invasion of Greece.

Greece, Home Front

An earthquake hits Larissa leaving 10,000 people homeless.

Air Operations, Europe

The BOAC begin regular, clandestine, night flights between northern Scotland and Stockholm, using modified Whitley bombers. Being transported on these flights are agents, diplomats, Swedish ball-bearings and electrical equipment.

Balkans

Following the treaty agreement on the previous day German troops begin crossing the Danube into Bulgaria in force effectively controlling the country through occupation. Remaining resistance to German domination is ruthlessly squelched. The move is explained to the Russians as a 'precautionary measure to prevent the British from gaining a foothold in Greece.' The Russians protest the move anyway.

The German units entering Bulgaria are part of List's 12th Army. Included are 5 army corps: IV, XI, XIV, XVIII and XXX; the 1st armored group of 3 divisions (5th, 9th and 11th) under von Kleist; the 2nd Panzer Div attached to XI Corps; and the 8th Airborne Corps commanded by Gen Wolfram von Richthofen.

Greece

The British mission returns from Ankara to Athens. The talks in Turkey have not achieved an anti-Axis coalition.

Eden confers with Greek officials in Athens to complete plans for the introduction of British troops into Greece. The Greek government has hesitated permitting the landing of Commonwealth forces until the Germans crossed the Danube. With the Germans in Bulgaria, the British quickly issue orders for the rapid deployment of their forces.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-95 sinks the British steamer Pacific (6034t) from Convoy HX-109 180 miles west-southwest of the Faroes with the loss of 35 of her crew. 1 survivor is picked up by the Icelandic fishing trawler Dora.
• U-147 sinks the Norwegian steamer Augvald (4811t) from Convoy HX-109 150 miles northwest of Loch Ewe with the loss of 29 of her crew. 1 survivor is rescued by the British corvette Pimpernel.
• The British steamer Castlehill (690t) is sunk by German bombing east of Mine Head with the loss of almost all of her crew. There is 1 survivor.
• The Dutch steamer Simaloer (6533t) is also sunk by German bombing northwest of Ireland with the loss of 2 of her crew.

Greek-Albanian Front

Mussolini takes a troop inspection trip to Albania.

Rumania

A series of anti-Semitic measures, similar to those in force in Germany, are passed.

Turkey

Turkey imposes tighter controls on traffic through the Dardanelles, allowing ship transits by permit only.

Air Operations, Europe

The Italians bomb the earthquake-stricken town of Larissa. R.A.F. Hurricanes destroy 5 Cant bombers, possibly returning from Larissa, over Corfu.

Battle of the Atlantic

A German air attack badly damages the British steamer Port Townsville (8661t) in St George Channel with the loss of 2 on board. The ship sinks the next day.

Diplomatic Relations

The USSR denounces the Bulgarian signature of the Axis Pact.

Greek-Albanian Front

The Greek-Albanian front is stabilized now that the Greeks have pushed the numerically superior Italian forces completely out of Greece. Greek units have advanced to the Shkumbi River, occupy about a third of Albania, and are within 25 miles of Tirana, the Albanian capital.

Axis Diplomacy

Bulgaria breaks off diplomatic relations with Poland, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Balkans

Hitler meets Prince Paul of Yugoslavia secretly at Berchtesgaden to ask him once again to join the Tripartite Pact. He also tells Paul of the planned attack on Russia and calls for Yugoslav friendship when war starts. Paul returns to Yugoslavia convinced that he must decide very soon between Britain and Germany. Some of the incentives offered by Hitler to Paul to help sway him are the port of Thessalonika and part of Greek Macedonia. Talks in the next few days convince him that Britain has little help to offer.

Gen Wilson, who is to command the British force being prepared for Greece, arrives in Athens to arrange the final details with the Greek staff. A major convoy is about to leave Alexandria with the first large contingent. The British have only just discovered that the Greek forces in Macedonia have not retired to the Aliakmon Line and will not be able to persuade them to do so because of the damage to morale that would result if territory is obviously given up without a fight after the German move into Bulgaria. Although understandable, this is not a very realistic attitude. Wilson is further hindered by the Greek insistence that he remain incognito inside the British Embassy in order not to provoke the Germans. In fact the German consulate in Piraeus overlooks the port area which will be used to land the British forces, so they are well aware what is happening.

Greece

The first convoy of British cargo ships and warships leave Alexandria with troops and supplies for Greece. The troops are from the 6th Australian Div, the 2nd New Zealand Div and a Polish brigade. 4 cruisers and 4 destroyers protect the convoy. Gen Sir Henry Maitland Wilson, named commander of the British troops in Greece on 28 February, arrives in Athens.

Indian Ocean

The Norwegian tanker Ketty Brovig (7031t), captured by the German raider Atlantis on 2 February, scuttles herself southwest of the Seychelles when intercepted by the Australian cruiser Canberra. The German supply ship Coburg (7400t), in company with the tanker, also scuttles herself before the cruiser arrives.

Occupied Norway

There is a British Commando raid, Operation CLAYMORE, on the Lofoten Islands. The 500-strong force is carried by naval units which include 2 light cruisers and 5 destroyers. British commandos and Norwegian marines destroy 6 fish-oil plants connected with explosives production, capture 215 Germans and distribute cigarettes and confectionary to the local inhabitants. 10 ships are sunk in the operation. The German steamers Eilenau (1404t), Bernhard Schulte (1058t) and Felix Heumann (2468t) are sunk by demolition charges near Solaer. The British destroyer Tartar sinks the German steamers Hamburg (5470t) and Pasajes (1996t). The German steamer Gumbrinnen (1381t) is sunk with demolition charges by the Army landing party.

The Norwegian steamer Mira (1152t) is sunk by the British destroyer Bedouin. There are also 300 Norwegian volunteers who are taken to Britain. The operation is a success but the Germans take fierce reprisals when the British force withdraws. Many members of the Norwegian resistance movement do not approve of such raids for this reason.

Axis Diplomacy

Göring meets with Rumanian dictator Gen Antonescu in Vienna about securing Rumanian participation in Operation BARBAROSSA.

Antonescu and Göring

Battle of the Atlantic

U-95 sinks the Swedish steamer Murjek (5070t) west-northwest of Rockall with the loss of her entire crew of 31.

Diplomatic Relations

Britain severs diplomatic relations with Bulgaria noting that 'from the nature of the German military movements in Bulgaria it is clear that the German aim is to menace and, if necessary, attack Great Britain's ally, Greece.'

Mediterranean

• Beginning this day and continuing until 2 April is Operation LUSTER. 58,000 British troops are transported from Alexandria to Greece. Italian submarines carry out numerous patrols along the convoy route but without success.
• The British submarine Triumph sinks the Italian steamers Marzamemi (958t) and Colombo Lo Faro (897t) off Calabria.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-70 and U-99 join Prien's U-47 in pursuit of Convoy OB-293. As they engage they are disturbed by the corvettes HMS Camelia and Arbutus. U-70 is forced to dive and is destroyed by a depth-charge.

  U-70

  Class	Type VIIC
  CO	Kapitäleutnant Joachim Matz
  Location	Atlantic, N of Rockall
  Cause	Depth charge
  Casualties	20
  Survivors	25

• The Norwegian tanker Mexico (3017t) sinks on a mine off Ipswitch with the loss of 10 of her crew. 23 crewmen are rescued.

Britain, Home Front

The Admiralty announces that the Germans in official notices claim to have destroyed 19 more battleships, 6 more aircraft carriers, 40 more cruisers, and 13 more submarines that the Royal Navy had at the beginning of the war.

An industrial dispute leads to a strike at John Brown's Shipyard, Clydeside.

Britain, Policy

Churchill issues his Battle of the Atlantic Directive, giving highest priority to measures for knocking out German U-boats and bombers blocking shipments to Britain.

Greek-Albanian Front

The Greeks launch successful counterattacks in the central sector of the Albanian front. They capture several vital mountain crags and take about 1,000 Italian prisoners. R.A.F. and Greek aircraft fly in close support.

Holland, Resistance

Following strikes during February over the arrest of Jews and attempts to send workers to jobs in Germany, the Germans condemn 18 Dutch resistance members. These are the first such victims in Holland. The Communists have played a notable part in organizing the strikes.

Mediterranean

The Italian submarine Anfitrite is sunk by the British destroyer Greyhound in the Kaso Strait. 39 of the crew are rescued.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-99 torpedoes the British whaling ship Terje Viken (20,638t) southwest of Iceland. The entire crew is rescued. The wreck of the whaling ship is sunk on the 14th by 2 destroyers and a corvette.
• U-70 is forced to surface after an attack by the British corvettes Arbutus and Camelia. 25 of her crew are taken prisoner. 20 are lost in the encounter.
• U-99 sinks the already damaged British tanker Athelbeach (6568t) southwest of Iceland with the loss of 7 of her crew. 37 survivors are picked up by the British corvette Camelia.
• U-37 sinks the Greek steamer Mentor (3050t) from dispersed Convoy OB-292 270 miles southwest of Iceland with the loss of 7 crewmen. 22 survivors are picked up by a Faroese trawler.
• The fate of U-47 is unknown. It was at first belived to have been attacked by thhe British destroyer Wolverine. The boat Wolverine attacked turned out to be UA which was damaged, but not sunk. The last reports from U-47 were from shadowing the Convoy OB-293. The U-47 is commanded by the ace captain, Günther Prien, known as the 'Bull of Scapa Flow' and one of 3 leading U-boat captains who will be killed or captured in the next few weeks. Churchill described the U-boat commander as 'the formidable, indomitable Prien'.

  U-47

  Class	Type VIIB
  CO	Kapitäleutnant Günther Prien
  Location	Atlantic, N of Rockall
  Cause	Unknown
  Casualties	45
  Survivors	None

• The British steamer Flashlight (934t) is sunk by German bombing off Grimsby. The entire crew is rescued.
• During the night German motor torpedo boats attack Convoys FN-426 and FS-429 off Yarmouth and Cromer sinking 5 ships. The British steamer Dotterel (1385t) is badly damaged by S-29 with the loss of 8. She goes ashore but the is no possibility of salvage. The British steamer Kenton (1047t) is sunk by S-31 with the loss of 4 of her crew. The British steamer Corduff (2345t) is sunk by S-28 with the loss of 7. The British steamer Boulderpool (4805t) is sunk by S-61. The entire crew is rescued. The British steamer Rye is sunk by S-27 with the loss of her entire crew of 24. The British steamer Togston is sunk by S-102 with the loss of 8. The British steamer Norman Queen is slso sunk by S-102 with the loss of 14 of her crew.

Britain, Home Front

It is announced that the Admiralty will control labor in the shipyards.

[ | ]

Battle of the Atlantic

• UA sinks the British steamer Dunaff Head (5258t) from Convoy OB-293 south of Iceland with the loss of 5 of her crew. 39 survivors are picked up by the British destroyer Verity.
• U-105 sinks the British steamer Harmodius (5229t) from Convoy SL-67 north-northeast of the Cape Verde Islands with the loss of 11 crewmen. 61 survivors are picked up by the British destroyer Faulknor.
• U-124 also attacks Convoy SL-67 sinking the British steamer Nardana (7974t), the British steamer Hindpool (4897t), the British steamer Tielbank (5084t) and the British steamer Lahore (5304t). 19 crew are lost from the Nardana, 107 survivors are picked up by the British destroyers Faulknor and Forester. 28 are lost on the Hindpool, 12 survivors are picked up by the Faulknor and the British steamer Guido. 4 are lost from the Tielbank, 62 survivors are picked up by the Forester. All 82 of the crew of the Lahore are picked up by the Forester.

• The Norwegian steamer Nurgis (700t) is sunk by German bombing 7 miles northwest of Lizard. Her entire crew are rescued.

The Blitz

During the night London suffers the heaviest air attack for some time. The Café de Paris is hit. 34 are killed and 60 injured.

Battle of the Atlantic

The British anti-submarine trawler Gulfoss (730t) sinks on a mine in the English Channel with the loss of 10 of her crew.

The Blitz

There is a heavy night bombing raid on Portsmouth. 100 tons of bombs and 16,000 incendiaries are dropped on London by planes of Luftflotte III. The northeastern districts of the city suffer the most. At St Pancras, the church and hospital are both hit.

German Raiders

The Greek steamer Marathon (7296t) is sunk by the German battlecruiser Scharnhorst north of the Cape Verde Islands. The entire crew are made prisoners.

Greek-Albanian Front

In Mussolini's presence the Italians launch an offensive along the front between the Devoli and Vijose Rivers which will last until 25 March. There are a few local successes initially in the area of Mali Arzs and Mount Trebescini, southeast of Berat.. The Italians have assembled 12 divisions for the attack and Mussolini himself has crossed to Albania to supervise its progress.

Mussolini Supervises Italian Offensive

Air Operations, Europe

During the night Halifax 4-engined bombers attack Le Havre.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British steamers Corinia (870t), Sparta (708t) and Waterland (1107t) sink on mines in the English Channel near Hastings. 14 crewmen are lost from the Corinia, 9 from the Sparta and 7 from the Waterland.
• U-552 sinks the Icelandic trawler Reykjaborg (687t) about 460 miles southeast of Iceland. Only 2 of her crew survive.

The Blitz

There is another heavy night bombing raid on Portsmouth lasting about 6 hours. 240 planes drop 193 tons of high explosives and 46,000 incendiaries. The targets are the dock basins, the shipyards and the factories. 5 naval oil tanks burn and 2 magazines explode. The electrical service for the city is badly damaged. Less than 50 people are killed in Portsmouth and Gosport, but houses, shops and public buildings suffer greatly.

Diplomatic Relations

Japan resolves a number of outstanding disputes in Southeast Asia by winning a French cession of Cambodian territory to Thailand and receiving a monopoly on the production of all the rice produced in Indochina. French authorities in Indochina also grant the Japanese full use of the Saigon airport. Previously, Japan had sought military rights only in the northern section of Vietnam.

Italian East Africa

Since taking Mogadishu Gen Platt's troops have advanced 600 miles north from there into Abyssinia and only now come into contact with any Italian forces. Their encounter is at Dagabur, only 100 miles south of Jijiga.

Mediterranean

The British submarine Unique sinks the Italian steamer Fenicia (2584t) 60 miles southeast of Kerkenah.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-106 sinks the British steamer Memnon (7506t) 200 miles west of Cape Blanco, French West Africa with the loss of 5 of her crew. There are 69 survivors, 22 of which make it to near Dakar. The rest land at Bathurst on 24 March.
• During the night the British steamer Trevethoe (5257t), from Convoy FS-32, is sunk by S-28 east of Orfordness with the loss of 1 on board.

The Blitz

There is a raid on Birmingham by 135 aircraft. They drop 120 tons of high explosives and 30,000 incendiaries. Some bombs land on industrial sites but many more land on built-up districts of civilian development. Extensive damage is prevented by quick responses from fire brigades. Casualties are comparatively light.

Diplomatic Relations

The Thai-Vichy French Frontier agreement is signed aboard a Japanese warship in the Gulf of Siam. This stems from serious border clashes back in January.

Secret War

A bomb explodes in the luggage of George Rendel, recent British Minister to Bulgaria, at a hotel in Istanbul. Rendel is unhurt, but 4 others are killed.

United States, Politics

The Lend-Lease Bill becomes law when signed by Pres Roosevelt. It passed the House on 8 February by 260 votes to 165, and passed the Senate on 8 March by 60 to 13. Important amendments have been made by Congress. A time limit has been placed on the operation of the act - until June 1943 - but a motion originally passed in the House forbidding US warships to give convoy protection to foreign ships has been defeated. Also to be allowed are transfers of ships to other countries solely on the presidential authority without reference to Congress.

Essentially the act means that Britain can continue to order American materials without necessarily having the cash to pay for them. They are to be paid for after the war. At this stage it makes little difference to the quantity of supplies going to Britain. British war production is greater than America's and will continue to be so until some time after Pearl Harbor. Most of the items supplied for the rest of 1941 will in fact be paid for in cash. There is little difference too in the quantity supplied when compared with 1940 but in some commodities, such as food and fuel oil, the United States' contributions will be of great value.

Although justly described as one of the most generous acts of any nation's history, Lend-Lease is not entirely disinterested. Britain is compelled to go on paying cash for as long as this is possible and this means that many British assets in the US must be sold at well below their true value. Britain is also forbidden to export anything containing materials supplied under Lend-Lease nor can items wholly produced in Britain if equivalent items are being supplied under Lend-Lease. These restrictions and the keenness with which they are enforced will do much to destroy the little remains of Britain's export trade. Although there will be some relaxation of the rules in 1944, a considerable barrier will have been placed against a British postwar economic recovery.

Air Operations, Europe

There is a heavy R.A.F. raid on Berlin, the first of 10 such that will occur during 1941. Halifax 4-engined bombers participate in a night raid on Hamburg.

Battle of the Atlantic

The Swedish steamer Buenos Aires (5646t) is sunk by German bombing at Liverpool. Also sunk in the bombing is the British crane Mammoth (1542t).

The Blitz

There is a heavy night raid on Merseyside. In a 4-hour raid 340 bombers of Luftflotte III drop 300 tons of explosives and 64,000 incendiaries. The raid is opened by the pathfinders of KG100 and III/KG26. Also participating in this raid are He-111's of KG27, KG51 and KG55, and the Ju-88's of KG806 and KG76. The main target areas are the docks and the Cammell Laird's Shipyard. Considerable damage is done in the dock area. 2 ships are sunk and several more damaged at their moorings.

In Liverpool the Cotton Exchange, the General Post Office, the Municipal Annex and White Star Building are all set ablaze. West of Mersey, Birkenhead suffers the heaviest casualties where 264 people are killed. 3 hospitals are hit and many civilians are made homeless. 198 people die at Wallasey and 49 more in Liverpool.

Britain, Home Front

Churchill describes the Lend-Lease Act as a 'new Magna Carta'.

Britain, Preparations

British ships start to be 'degaussed' against the new German magnetic mines.

Axis Diplomacy

Germany repeats its demand that Yugoslavia join the Axis. It becomes increasingly apparent to Berlin that German troops will be needed in Greece and access through Yugoslavia is essential.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British steamer Tacoma City (4738t) sinks on a mine east of Rock Ferry Light, Mersey with the loss of 4 of her crew. Also sinking by a mine is the British steamer Ullapool (4891t) off Princess Stage, Mersey with the loss of 15.
• The Norwegian steamer Samlanes (842t) 2 miles south of the Lizard with the loss of the entire crew.
• During the night German bombing sinks the British steamer Trevarrack (5270t) in the Dalmuir Basin, Clyde and the British collier Belhaven (1498t) at the Clyde. The Dutch steamer Perseus (1307t) is sunk 12 miles northwest of Bardsey Island. The entire crew is rescued.

The Blitz

Clydeside experiences its first heavy night attack. Led by KG100 some 200 aircraft drop 272 tons of high explosives and 60,000 incendiaries. The targets are the Bowling Shipyards, the oil tanks at Old Kilpatrick and the ammo depot at Dalmuir. There is widespread destruction at Clydebank especially in districts close to the river. Large fires are started at Singer's Timber Yard, Rothesay Dock and a distillery at Yoker. A bomb makes a direct hit on a shelter at Yarrow's Shipyard killing 80 workers. About 35,000 of the 47,000 people who live there are left homeless.

There is another heavy attack on Merseyside where the raids of the last two nights have killed about 500 and seriously wounded 500 more. Night fighters are active over Britain flying 261 sorties. They destroy 5 bombers, 4 of which were in the Merseyside raid.

Bombing of Glasgow

Glasgow Damage

Battle of the Atlantic

• The Italian submarine Emo sinks the British steamer Western Chief, straggling behind Convoy SC-24, south of Iceland with the loss of 22 crewmen.
• The British steamer Herport (2633t) sinks on a mine southeast of Grimsby with the loss of 4 of her crew.
• The British steamer Stanleigh (1802t) is sunk by German bombing 12 miles west of Bar Light Vessel, Mersey with the loss of 17 crewmen. Also sunk by German bombing is the British steamer Artemisia (6507t) off Norwich with the loss of 2 of her crew.

The Blitz

There are night raids on Glasgow and Sheffield. Clydeside is a target for the second night in a row. Many fires are still burning from the previous night. About 200 bombers drop 230 tons of high explosives and 28,000 incendiaries. Their targets are the same as the previous raid, but added is the Rolls-Royce Aero-Engine Factory at Hillington. Also hit in this raid are the oil tanks at Dalmottar and the power station at Yoker.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-105 and U-106 trail Convoy SL-68 for a week off west Africa sinking 7 ships and damaging the battleship Malaya.
• The Belgian steamer Eminent (500t) sinks on a mine off Wexford. The entire crew is rescued.

Convoy Bound for London

The Blitz

There is a sharp night attack on London. 100 tons of high explosives and 14,000 incendiaries are dropped. The southern and eastern parts of the city are hit. There is damage to the docks area. 3 hospitals are hit and many houses, shops and offices are destroyed across 30 boroughs. There are heavy casualties especially in Southgate where 42 people die.

Italian East Africa

The British attacks toward Keren, Eritrea are renewed. Both the 4th and 5th Indian Divs are now involved. The first attacks by the 4th Indian go fairly well but not all the gains can be held.

German Raiders

Once again Lütjens' battlecruiser group causes mayhem among a dispersed merchant convoy, OB-294. Over the next couple of days 16 ships are sunk. The British tanker British Strength (7139t) is sunk by the German battlecruiser Scharnhorst in the North Atlantic with the loss of 2 crewmen. The rest are taken prisoner. The British tanker Simnia (6197t) is sunk by the Gneisenau in the middle of the North Atlantic with the loss of 3 of her crew, the rest being made prisoner. The tanker San Casimiro (8046t) is captured by the Gneisenau and scuttled on the 20th. 2 of the crew are taken prisoner. Ships sunk by the Gneisenau are the steamers Royal Crown (4388t), Myson (4564t) and Rio Dorado (4507t). The entire crews are rescued from the Royal Crown and Myson while the entire crew is lost from the Rio Dorado. The tanker Athelfoam (6554t) is sunk by the Scharnhorst. 2 of her crew are lost, the rest are taken prisoner. The Norwegian tankers Polykarp (6405t) and Bianca (5688t) are captured by the Gneisenau.

The Simnia, a British Tanker, is Sunk

A Gneisenau Victim

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British anti-submarine trawler Lady Lillian is sunk by German bombing 150 miles southwest of Bloody Foreland.
• U-106 sinks the Dutch steamer Almkerk (6810t) off the coast of West Africa. The entire crew of 66 survive. Some are picked up by the British steamer Martand, the rest make it in lifeboats to French Guinea.
• In an attack on Convoy HX-112 U-99 sinks the Norwegian tankers Ferm (6593t) and Beduin (8136t) southwest of Iceland. All 35 of the crew of the Ferm are picked up by the British corvette Bluebell. 4 crewmen are lost from the Beduin; 20 survivors are picked up by the British steam trawler River Ayr, 10 by the Icelandic trawler Hilmir. Also sunk by U-99 are the British tanker Venetia (5728t), the Canadian steamer J. B. White and the Swedish steamer Korshamm (6673t). The entire crew of the Venetia is rescued by the British corvette Bluebell. 2 are lost from the Canadian steamer and 26 from the Swedish steamer.
• After attacking Convoy HX-112 Kretschmer's U-99 is depth charged by the British destroyer Walker. Damage to the ship is too great to continue so she is scuttled in the early hours of 17 March southeast of Iceland. 3 of the crew have been killed but there are 40 survivors. During the same convoy action Schepke's U-100 suffers the same fate. The ship is rammed by the destroyer Vanoc and depth charged by the Walker. 38 are killed with 6 survivors. These sinkings, combined with the loss of Prien 10 days previously, are a severe blow to the morale of U-boat crews as well as a serious military loss because of their unusual ability. The sinking of U-100 is symbolic as being achieved with the aid of new radar equipment which had located the U-boat on the surface from the Vanoc. Kretschmer is captured after his ship is sunk.

  U-99 Class Type VIIB CO Kapitäleutnant Otto Kretschmer Location Atlantic, N of Hebrides Cause Depth charge Casualties 3 Survivors 40

  U-100 Class Type VIIB CO Kapitäleutnant Joachim Schepke Location Atlantic, NW of Hebrides Cause Ramming Casualties 38 Survivors 6

• The Norwegian steamer Elna E. (1174t) sinks on a mine 18 miles southwest of Lundy Island with the loss of 1 crewman.

Greek-Albanian Front

The Italian offensive is called off. In the past few days they have incurred 12,000 casualties and taken absolutely no ground. However, the Greeks have been compelled by the Italian offensive to do nothing to strengthen their forces elsewhere which face the German threat.

The Blitz

Bristol is heavily bombed. Despite it being a foggy night over most of Britain 184 bombers of Luftflotte III make it through to Bristol. 55 tons of high explosives, numerous parachute mines and 11,000 incendiaries are dropped starting about 150 fires. Most of the damage is in the city center. Districts suffering the most damage are Eastville, Fishponds and Whitehall.

Damage in Bristol

Battle of the Atlantic

• In attacks on Convoy SL-68 U-106 sinks the British steamer Andalusian (3082t) and the Dutch steamer Tapanoeli (7031t) east of the Cape Verde Islands. The entire crews of both ships are rescued.
• The Norwegian steamer Einar Jarl (1858t) sinks on a mine southeast of Dundee with the loss of 1 of her crew.

Britain, Home Front

Jam and marmalade are rationed: 8 oz (225 g) per person per month.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-105 sinks the British steamer Medjerda (4380t) from Convoy SL-68 north of the Cape Verde Islands with the loss of all 54 of her crew.
• The German steamer Widar (5972t) is sunk by an aerial torpedo off Borkum.

The Blitz

Hull is the target of a large raid. 378 planes of both Luftflotte II and Luftflotte III drop over 300 tons of high explosives and 77,000 incendiaries. Their targets are the docks and the industrial buildings. Fog makes it hard to identify specific aiming points. Some bombs do land in the port area, but many shops, homes and commercial property are destroyed. The utilities of gas, water and electricity are affected. Most of the fires are soon under control. In the raid 62 people are killed.

Diplomatic Relations

British Foreign Minister, Anthony Eden, meets his Turkish counterpart in Cyprus for talks.

Spain

Spain annexes the Free Territory of Tangier.

Axis Diplomacy

• Hitler issues an ultimatum to Yugoslavia ot accept German terms which will place the Yugoslavs under virtual total control of Berlin.
• Adm Raeder meets with the Japanese ambassador in Berlin and expresses 'his desire for a Japanese attack on Singapore.'

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British battleship Malaya is seriously damaged by a torpedo from U-106 when with a convoy in the Atlantic. The Malaya goes to New York for repairs - the first major British warship to receive such help.
• The British steamer Benvorlich (5193t) from Convoy OB-298 is sunk by German bombing west of Ireland with the loss of 5 of her crew. Survivors are picked up by the convoy rescue ship Zamalek.
• U-106 sinks the Dutch steamer Mandalika (7750t) northeast of the Cape Verde Islands with the loss of 3 crewmen. 62 survivors are picked up by the Britih corvette Marguerite.
• The Norwegian steamer Leo is sunk by German bombing 75 miles northwest of the Butt of Lewis. The entire crew is rescued by the British destroyer Echo

The Blitz

London is hit by a very heavy night raid. In the raid by 500 He-111s and Ju-88s that lasts over 6 hours 470 tons of high explosives and 122,000 incendiaries are dropped. The main targets are the dock areas where widespread damage results. Many parachute mines are used which cause tremendous explosions. From these explosions rows of houses in Westham, Poplar and Stepney are knocked out. Several of these mines are of the SC2500 type, nicknamed 'The Max', which lead to great destruction.

Heavy Raid on London

At least 8 hospitals are hit and many public buildings as far apart as Leyton and Bromley. 2,000 fires are started, 3 of which are classified conflagrations and 60 are termed serious. The casualties are heavy as 504 people lose their lives with 1,511 being seriously injured.

Balkans, Politics

The Germans repeat their demands on Yugoslavia made on 4 March to Prince Paul. They now give the Yugoslavs 5 days to make a decision.

Mediterranean

Adm Eberhard Weichold, the German navy's representative at the Italian supreme command headquarters in Rome, sends a letter to the Chief of Staff of the Italian navy, Adm Arturo Riccardi. He suggests that the Italians should attack in force in the eastern Mediterranean; he has learned that the British naval base at Alexandria has only 1 battleship that is war-ready, the Valiant.

Air Operations, East Africa

The R.A.F. and the South African Air Force bomb Italian positions near Keren, Eritrea.

Atlantic

Vessels from Force H leave Gibraltar to intercept Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. The German ships benefit from intelligence warnings and evade the British vessels.

Battle of the Atlantic

The Polish steamer Cieszyn (1386t) is sunk by German bombing 3 miles from Manacle Point. The entire crew are rescued.

Diplomatic Relations

Under Secretary of State Welles tells Soviet Ambassador Constantine A. Oumansky that the US has confirmed information that Germany will attack the Soviet Union soon. The knowledge is acquired by methods which can not be revealed to the Russians. US Signal Intelligence Service analysts predict 'a German attack on the USSR within two months'. The estimate comes from the reading of top secret Japanese diplomatic messages, primarily the dispatches to Tokyo from Baron Oshima, the Japanese ambassador in Berlin.

Balkans, Politics

In a meeting of the Royal Council in Belgrade it becomes clear that Regent Paul is ready to agree to Hitler's demand that Yugoslavia join the Tripartite Pact and allow free passage of German troops. 4 ministers resign rather than yield to German terms.

The Blitz

During the night there are heavy and indiscriminate bombing raids on Plymouth. Led by He-111's of KG100, 125 bombers drop 160 tons of high explosives and 37,000 incendiaries. The main targets are the dock and harbor areas.

Fire at Newspaper Building in Plymouth

The Fire Damaged Press Room

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British steamer London II (1260t) is sunk by German bombing in the Bristol Channel with the loss of 4 of her crew. Also sunk in the same air attack is the British steamer Millisle (617t) with the loss of 10 crewmen.
• In an attack on Convoy SL-68 U-105 sinks the British steamers Clan Ogilvy (5802t), Benwyvis (5920t) and Jhelum (4038t) about 180 miles north of the Cape Verde Islands. 61 are lost on the Clan Ogilvy; 24 survivors are picked up by the British steamer Batna and the Spanish steamer Cabo Villano. 34 of the crew are lost from the Benwyvis; 21 survivors are picked up by the British steamer King Edgar. 8 are lost on the Jhelum; 49 survivors are landed at St Louis, Senegal and interned by Vichy French authorities.

Italian East Africa

Troops of the 11th African Div attack Italian positions in the Marda Pass west of Jijiga. After some resistance the Italians fall back despite the strength of their position.

Mediterranean

In an air attack on Convoy AS-21 German bombers sink the Greek steamer Embiricos Nicolaos (3798t) in the Aegean Sea southeast of Gavdo Island with the loss of 2 of her crew. The Norwegian tanker Solheim (8070t) is badly damaged with the loss of 1. The tanker is abandoned on the 23rd and sinks during that night.

The Blitz

Plymouth is attacked for the second night in a row. 170 bombers participate. The dock area is the target but it is the center of Plymouth that is almost destroyed. More than 20,000 incendiaries are dropped on shopping and residential areas. The City Hospital, the General Post Office, the Old Guildhall and the City Court are among the dozens of buildings wrecked. Many department stores are also hit. 6 schools and 8 churches are badly damaged. The Australian Prime Minister, Robert Menzies, happens to be in Plymouth and helps with the rescue work. In the two nights of raids 336 people are killed and 238 are seriously hurt. 18,000 homes are damaged or destroyed leaving 5,000 people homeless.

Damage in Plymouth

Balkans

Roberto Farinacci, member of the Italian Fascist Grand Council and editor of the newspaper Regima Fascista, is reported to be killed in action.

Battle of the Atlantic

The British steamer St Fintan (495t) is sunk by German bombing 10 miles south of Smalls with the loss of 9 of her crew.

German Raiders

• Gneisenau and Scharnhorst return to Brest after sinking 22 ships totalling 116,000t in Operation BERLIN.
• The German raider Kormoran sinks the British steamer Agnita (3552t) in the middle of the Atlantic. The entire crew is taken prisoner.

Air Operations, Europe

The R.A.F. make a night raid on Berlin.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

A small British relief convoy reaches Malta, but 2 of the ships are bombed by German planes while unloading.

Stukas with a fighter escort carry out a major raid on Malta. 13 Stukas are shot down for a loss of 2 R.A.F. fighters, but the British decide to immediatley withdraw all bombers and flying boats.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-97 sinks the British tanker Chama (8077t) southwest of Fastnet with the loss of the entire crew of 59.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The Italian submarine Veniero sinks the British steamer Agneta Maersk (2104t) from the dispersed Convoy OG-56 west-southwest of Ireland with the loss of the entire crew.
• U-97 sinks the Norwegian steamer Horda (4301t) west-southwest of Ireland with the loss of her entire crew of 30.
• U-551 is sunk by the British anti-submarine trawler Visenda, operating with the Northern Patrol, south of Iceland. The entire crew of 45 is lost on the u-boat.

  U-551

  Class	Type VIIC
  CO	Kapitäleutnant Karl Schrott
  Location	Atlantic, Iceland-Faroes Gap
  Cause	Depth Charge
  Casualties	45
  Survivors	None

Diplomatic Relations

• A diplomatic note form the British government warns the Yugoslav government not to align itself with the Axis powers.
• The USSR assure Turkey of neutrality in the event Turkey becomes involved in the war.

Attack in Ipswich

Mediterranean

The British submarine Rorqual lays mines west of Sicily which sink 2 merchant ships and a torpedo boat. A third merchant ship and an Italian submarine are torpedoed 28 March and 31 March respectively.

Balkans, Politics

Hitler Dealing with Yugoslavia

The Yugoslav Prime Minister Dragisa Cvetkovic and the Foreign Minister Aleksander Cincar-Markovic sign the Tripartite Pact in Vienna in the presence of Hitler, Ribbentrop and Gen Oshiona (the Japanese Ambassador in Berlin). The reality of the situation and the influence of German pressure is made only too clear by the cold tone of the occasion. A refusal to sign the agreement would have let to war with Germany. Yugoslavia has no allies, and her armed forces are in a poor state compared with those of the Wehrmacht.

To buy time, the government had proposed the substitution of a simple non-aggression pact instead of the Tripartite Pact. Berlin, however, remained adamant, insisting on outright Yugoslav adherence to the Axis camp. Som concessions were offered. For example, when objections were made to Article III of the treaty, which might have obligated Yugoslavia to fight the United States or perhaps even the Soviet Union, the Germans agreed not to insist upon this stipulation. Also, Germany agrees to respect Yugoslav sovereignty and not to demand passage for troops earmarked for the invasion of Greece. Protests take place in Belgrade when the agreement is known.

Battle of the Atlantic

The British steamer Rossmore (627t) is sunk by German bombing 12 miles northeast of Godrevy Island with the loss of 6 crewmen. A German air attack also sinks the British steamer Beaverbrae (9956t) southwest of the Faroe Islands. The entire crew of 86 is picked up by the British destroyers Tartar and Gurkha.

Battle of the Atlantic

The British cable ship Faraday (5533t) is badly damaged in a German air attack 3 miles from St Anne's Head with the loss of 8 of her crew. The ship sinks on the 27th in West Dale Bay, but all her cargo is saved.

Also damaged in a German air attack is the British steamer Somali (6809t) off Blyth with the loss of 1 of her crew. The ship sinks on the 27th 1 mile east of Snoop Head, Sutherland. German bombing damages the British steamer Empire Mermaid (6381t) northwest of Scotland with the loss of 22 on board. The British destroyer Achates rescues 19 survivors. She sinks on the 28th.

Britain, Home Front

Meat ration is reduced to 6 oz (170g) per person per week.

Italian East Africa

The British forces occupy Harar, Abyssinia.

Beginning this day a lasting for several days Italian forces and their new local allies attack Wingate's Gideon Force around Burye. They are repulsed despite their superior strength.

Mediterranean

• Reconnaissance aircraft of the X Fliegerkorps based in Sicily warn the Italian naval command that the battleships Barham and Warspite and the aircraft carrier Formidable are back in the naval base at Alexandria.
• The Battle of Cape Matapan, prelude. Following claims by German aircraft to have sunk 2 of the British Mediterranean Fleet's battleships and with the promise of German air support and reconnaissance, Adm Angelo Iachino leads the Italian Fleet in a sortie into the Aegean to disrupt the British convoys to Greece. He has 1 battleship, 6 heavy cruisers, 2 light cruisers and 13 destroyers. They sail on this day.

• A night attack by explosive boats (barchini esplosivi) of a special Italian unit penetrates Suda Bay in Crete and sinks 1 tanker and cripples the British cruiser York.
• The Italian tanker Verde (2423t) and the Italian steamer Helena (479t) sink on mines off Palermo. These mines were laid by the British submarine Rorqual on the 25th.

Italy Attacks British Fleet at Crete

Balkans, Politics

There is a coup in Yugoslavia. The pro-Axis Prime Minister Cvetkovic and Foreign Minister Cincar-Markovich are arrested. The council of Regency and Prince Paul are deposed and the 17-year-old King Peter takes over nominal charge of the government. The rising is led by air force officers and their Chief of Staff, Gen Dusan Simovic, who becomes the new head of government. British agents have had a hand in bringing the rising about. The change is very popular among the Serbian sections of the population (almost all the leaders of the armed forces are Serbian) but less so among the Croats. One of Simovic's first acts is to sign a non-agression pact with Moscow.

Demonstrations in Belgrade

In an immediate angry response to the change of government Hitler issues Directive 25 which orders planning for the invasion of Yugoslavia to begin. Since the military coup d'etat, Yugoslavia 'must be regarded as an enemy and therefore completely crushed as soon as possible'. It is to be mounted as soon as possible and the invasion of Greece is to take place at the same time. Hitler accepts that it may be necessary to defer Barbarossa to allow these new operations to take place.

Yugoslav Tank with Hand-Written Slogan 'For King and Fatherland'

Battle of the Atlantic

U-98 sinks the British steamer Koranton (6695t), a straggler from Convoy SC-25, 320 miles south of Reyjavik, Iceland with the loss of her entire crew of 41.

Diplomatic Relations

Britain and the US reach an agreement for the transfer of British naval and air bases in Newfoundland, Bermuda, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Antigua, Trinidad, British Guiana and the Bahamas to the US.

Germany, Home Front

Hitler issues a directive on Yugoslavia, which is to be 'beaten down as quickly as possible ... Belgrade will be destroyed from the air.' At the same time Salonika and eastern Greece are to be occupied in Operation MARUTA. Operation BARBAROSSA is postponed for 'up to 4 weeks', from mid-May to mid-June.

Allied Planning

The British Chief of Staff, Gen Sir John Dill, is in Belgrade for talks with the Yugoslav authorities, but there is little he can offer them and no agreements of any importance are reached.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British steamer Olivine (929t) is lost to unknown causes in the Irish Sea or Bristol Channel.
• The British steamer Staffordshire (10,683t) is damaged by German bombing northwest of Scotland with the loss of 28 on board. She is beached at Loch Ewe on the 29th and will sail for the Tyne 23 April.

Diplomatic Relations

Field Marshal Sir John Dill, Chief of the Imperial General Staff, flies to Belgrade to learn the intentions of Gen Dusan Simovic's new government. Despite their desperate situation, it seems that the Yugoslav government will send an accredited representative for talks with the Allies about their project for a 'Balkan Alliance', from the Aegean to the Danube.

Italian East Africa

The Italians abandon Diredawa, Ethiopia (northwest of Harar) and retreat towards Addis Ababa.

Mediterranean

The Battle of Cape Matapan begins. There is a long-range engagement between Pridham-Wippell's force and some of the Italian cruisers. The Italians suspect that a large British force is present and begin to retire. In the afternoon Swordfish aircraft from the Formidable attack the Italian ships, hitting the battleship Vittorio Veneto and the cruiser Pola. The Vittorio Veneto is able to proceed at reduced speed but the Pola is stopped.

Battle of Cape Matapan

HMS Valiant in Action

Battle of the Atlantic

• In attacks on Convoy HX-115 U-48 sinks the British steamer Germanic (5352t) south of Iceland with the loss of 5 crewmen, the Belgian steamer Limbourg (2483t) with the loss of 22 of her crew and the British steamer Hylton (5197t). 35 survivors from Germanic are picked up by the British corvette Dianella, 2 from the Limbourg are rescued, and the entire crew of 44 from the Hylton are also picked up by the Dianella.
• The British steamer Eastlea is sunk by U-106 130 miles west-northwest of the Cape Verde Islands. All 37 of her crew are lost.
• U-46 sinks the Swedish steamer Liguria (1751t) from Convoy OB-302 300 miles south-southwest of Reyjavik with the loss of 16 crewmen. 10 survivors are picked by the British corvette Arbutus.

Diplomatic Relations

Secret Anglo-American staff talks end after 14 meetings. A broad plan has been agreed upon. The US agrees that Europe and the defeat of Germany will be the top priority.

Italian East Africa

Cunningham's South African troops take Diredawa, Abyssinia, in their advance west to Addis Ababa. The local Italian population has appealed to the British for help because of atrocities committed by deserters from the native forces after the Italian part of the garrison has withdrawn.

Air Operations, Europe

During the night 109 R.A.F. bombers attack Gneisenau and Scharnhorst in the first of 63 raids, labeled the 'Blockade of Brest', on the battlecruisers by bombers and torpedo planes during 1941. No damage is reported.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-69 sinks the British steamer Coultarn (3759t) from Convoy OB-302 southwest of Iceland with the loss of 3 of her crew. 39 survivors are picked up by the British armed marchant cruiser California.
• U-124 sinks the British steamer Umona (3767t) 90 miles southwest of Freetown. 102 passengers and crew are lost. 5 survivors are picked up by the British destroyer Foxhound.

Germany, Planning

Hitler approves the army plans for the attack on Yugoslavia, to begin on 6 April. Hitler also speaks to a conference of 250 top commanders who will have important parts in the BARBAROSSA operation. He makes it plain to them that the war in the east is to be conducted along different lines to any previous operation. There is to be no talk of proper 'knightly' behavior and commissars and Communists are to be treated with utmost severity.

Mediterranean

• Late in the afternoon Adm Cunningham's British forces reach the Alexandria harbor where a religious service is held to celebrate the success at Cape Matapan, a battle in which the British lost only 2 aircraft.
• The British submarine Rorqual sinks the German steamer Laura Corrado (3645t) 40 miles north of Trapani.

North Africa

Correctly discerning that the British forces are weakly dispersed in positions which prevent mutual support, Rommel brings his forces forward from El Agheila toward Mersa Brega. Only part of the 2nd Armored Div is ready to oppose him. The bulk of the Australian division is near Benghazi and the remainder is back at Tobruk.

Air Operations, Europe

A 4000-lb (2800 kg) bomb, called a 'Cookie', is first used against a German target during a night raid on Emden.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-46 sinks the Swedish tanker Castor (8714t) 430 miles east-southwest of Cape Farewell with the loss of 15 of her crew. 21 survivors are picked up by the British steamer Otaio.

The Blitz

Hull is hit with a raid that hits buildings all over the city. About 200 casualties result.

Mediterranean

• The British cruiser Bonaventure is sunk by a torpedo-boat attack or the Italian submarine Ambra off Sollum in the Eastern Mediterranean.
• The Yugoslavian steamer Una (1397t) is seized by Italian authorities upon arrival at Genoa.
• The Italian submarine Pier Capponi is sunk by the British submarine Rorqual south of Stromboli.

United States, Politics

The US receives and rejects German and Italian protest notes against seizures of ships.