Air Operations, Europe

Among the R.A.F. targets are Berlin, Essen, Munich, Hamburg and Cologne. Bomber Command drops 1,300 tons of bombs.

Battle of the Atlantic

The German submarine force has now been joined in the Atlantic by 26 Italian vessels, but this strong force proves to be very inefficient. The shipping losses are 97 ships of 385,700 tons of which U-boats account for 32 ships.(Allied Ships Lost to U-boats)

It is presumed U-560 is sunk due to a collison in the Baltic Sea near Memel during November 1940.

U-560

Air Operations, Europe

• The R.A.F. hits Berlin with its heaviest raid yet. Naples is hit for the first time by the R.A.F..

  Bristol-Blenheim Twin-Engine Light Bombers

• The Italians bomb Salonika (59 killed), Piraeus, Larissa, Corfu, Corinth and Candia, Crete. The Greeks bomb the Italian HQ at Koritsa, Albania.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-124 sinks the British steamer Empire Bison (5612t), a straggler from Convoy HX-82, about 200 miles northwest of Rockall with the loss of 38 of her crew. 4 survivors are picked up by the British steamer Olga S.
• The British steamer Letchworth is sunk by German bombing south-southwest of Mouse Light Vessel with the loss of 1 crewman.
• The Norwegian steamer Hundvaag (690t) sinks on a mine west of No. 1 Buoy. 1 crewman is lost. The mine was laid by German torpedo boats the night of 29 October.

Atlantic

The Royal Navy mines the Bay of Biscay.

The Blitz

This is the first night (1 source says 3 November) since 7 September that there is no raid on London. There have been 57 consecutive nights of attack and after this night 10 more will follow. An average of 165 planes has attacked each night dropping 13,600 tons of high explosive bombs and many incendiaries.

Bomb Damage on Aston Road North

Bomb Damage at Plymouth

Air Operations, Europe

• The Italians bomb Salonika.
• In one of the more extraordinary aviation incidents of the war, Greek pilot Marinos Mitralexis, having run out of ammunition, rams his machine into a Savoia-Marchetti SM-79 bomber, lands his damaged fighter and promptly captures the crew who have parachuted to safety.

Battle of the Atlantic

The British destroyer Antelope, escorting Convoy OB-237, sinks U-31 northwest of Ireland with the loss of 2 of her crew. 43 are taken prisoner.

U-31

Air Operations, Europe

• The Italians bomb Salonika.
• An R.A.F. bomber squadron arrives in Greece to help fight the Italians.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-99 under Otto Kretschmer, torpedoes 2 British Armed Merchant Cruisers: the Laurentic (18,724t), with 2 dead, and the Patroclus (11,314t), with 76 dead. Also sunk in the northwestern approaches by U-99 is the merchant steamer Casanare (5376t) with the loss of 8 of her crew. 54 survivors are picked up by the British destroyer Beagle.

• The British steamer Kildale (3877t) is sunk in a German air attack on Convoy WN-29 with the loss of 2 crewmen.
• The British submarine Sturgeon sinks the Danish steamer Sigrun (1337t) in Oslofjord.

The Blitz

Liverpool is heavily attacked in the continuing German bombing campaign. Four ships in the port are sunk and other damage is inflicted.

Air Operations, Europe

The R.A.F. hits the Channel ports during the night. Aircraft from Crete bomb the Italian ports of Bari and Brindisi.

The Blitz

There are raiders active over southern and eastern England. A strafing attack is aimed at London streets. During the night 150 bombers hit London.

Germany, Planning

Unimpressed by the Italian forays, Hitler decides to invade Greece from Rumania, Bulgaria and Hungary. The Italians' attempt to replicate the German pace of ground advance has been found wanting; Hitler's belief in the Italians' fighting ability, never strong, if fast evaporating. The need to reinforce his numbers in Greece is obvious to Mussolini, but the logistical back-up to the invasion seems to have been the last thing in the minds of the Italian planners.

Air Operations, Europe

The British are frustated by Italian anti-aircraft guns in their second attempt to bomb Naples. They do raid Lecce and Brindisi. The Italians bomb the Yugoslav border town of Monastir.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The German pocket battleship Admiral Scheer finds the British convoy HX-84 of 38 ships while on a sortie into the Atlantic. At this point in its route the convoy is only escorted by a single AMC, the Jervis Bay, which, although totally outgunned, engages the Scheer to gain time for the convoy to scatter. Jervis Bay is, of course, sunk but only five ships of the convoy fail to get away. The British suspend Eastbound convoy sailings from Halifax to Britain until 17 November, but their pursuit fails to find the German ship which has moved toward the south Atlantic. On this day the German ship sinks the British steamer Mopan (5389t). 68 survivors are picked up by the Admiral Scheer. Also sunk by the German battleship from Convoy HX-84 are British steamers Maidan (7908t), Trewellard (5201t), Kenbane Head (5335t), Beaverford (10,042t), and Fresno City (4955t). Ships damaged by the Admiral Scheer include the British tanker San Demetrio, the British steamer Andalusia and the British troopship Rangitiki.

  The Admiral Scheer in Norway

The Swedish steamer Stureholm rescues sixty five survivors and three bodies from the Jervis Bay. The steamer arrives at Halifax on the 12th. Most of the survivors are transferred to the British armed merchant cruiser Comorin for return to England. The British steamer Gloucester City, from a dispersed OB convoy rescues 92 survivors from the steamers - 25 from the Trewellard, 23 from the San Demetrio, 20 from the Kenbane Head, and 24 from the Fresno City. On 9 November, the Greek steamer Mount Taygetus rescues a further 12 crew from the Fresno City. On the steamer Beaverford, all 77 crew are lost. On steamer Maidan, all 91 of her crew were lost. 1 crewman is killed on the steamer Fresno City. 23 crew are lost on the Kenbane Head. 2 crewmen are killed and 14 are missing on the Trewellard.

The Admiral Scheer left port on 23 October and will return on 1 April 1941 after sinking 16 ships of 99,000 tons in addition to the Jervis Bay.

• U-99 sinks the British steamer Scottish Maiden (6993t) from Convoy HX-83 about 225 miles southwest of Bloody Foreland with the loss of 16 of her crew. 28 survivors are picked up by the British destroyer Beagle.
• The British steamer Haig Rose (1117t) is lost in the Bristol Channel to an unknown cause.

Air Operations, Europe

The R.A.F. raids Italian airfields in Albania.

Atlantic

7 German torpedo boats carry out an offensive sweep towards the east coast of Scotland. The operation is abandoned when T-6 sinks on a mine.

Battle of the Atlantic

• British steamer Clan MacKinlay (6365t) from Convoy WN-31 is sunk by German bombing in the North Sea with the loss of 5 crewmen.
• The British submarine Sturgeon sinks the Norwegian steamer Delfinus (1293t) off Obrestad Light.
• The British steamer Nalon (7222t) is sunk by German bombing west of Ireland. The entire crew is rescued.

The Blitz

There is a daylight raid on Southampton. 190 aircraft hit London during the night.

Greek-Albanian Front

• The Italian advance in the coastal sector reaches Igoumenitsa.
• R.A.F. bombers begin flying combat missions out of Greece. The first mission is to the airfield at Valona, Albania.

Air Operations, Europe

The R.A.F. bomb the Krupp armaments factories at Essen in a night raid. Brindisi is again bombed by the R.A.F.. The R.A.F. make a surprise low-level attack on Valona air base, Albania.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British steamer Herland (2645t) sinks on a mine southeast of Nore Light Vessel with the loss of 18 of her crew.

• The British steamer Astrologer (1673t) from Convoy FS-28 is sunk by German bombing in Barrow Deep. The entire crew is rescued.

The Blitz

London is raided. Among the damage is the GEC Factory at Erith, St Pancras, Kensal Green and Bricklayer's Arms. A block of flats at Southware is hit by a heavy bomb.

Air Operations, Europe

Stukas attack shipping in the Straits of Dover and in the Thames Estuary, sinking 1 ship. There are driven off by a squadron of Hurricanes. The R.A.F. bombs Munich during Hitler's Putsch anniversary speech.

Damage in Leicester Square

Battle of the Atlantic

• The Dutch submarine O-22 is sunk by German auxiliary submarine chasers UJ-117 (trawler Uhlenhorst) and UJ-1102 (trawler Westfalen) off Lindesnes.
• German bombers attack Convoy FN-329 and sink the Dutch steamer Agamemnon (1930t) southwest of Swin Light Vessel with the loss of 2 of her crew. Several other ships are damaged in the raid.
• The Swedish steamer Vingaland (2734t) from Convoy HX-84 is damaged by German bombing in the North Sea. She is sunk the next day by the Italian submarine Marconi. 19 survivors are picked up by the British steamer Danae II.

Pacific

The British ship Cambridge and the first American merchant to be lost in the war, the City of Rayville, sink in a minefield laid off Cape Otway in Bass Strait, south of Australia by the German raider Passat 7-8 November. The port of Melbourne is temporarily closed.

Rumania

Heavy earthquakes damage the oil-producing facilities.

Atlantic

The liner Empress of Japan is attacked in the Atlantic by a Focke-Wulf Condor, but is able to reach port. German aircraft are now laying acoustic mines (actuated by noise from ships' propellers) along the British southern and western coasts. Counter-measures involve the use of pneumatic drills.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British steamer Baltrader (1699t) sinks on a mine 10 miles southeast of Clacton with the loss of 2 crewmen.
• The Italian submarine Marconi sinks the Swedish steamer Vingaland (2734t) from Convoy HX-84 with the loss of 6 of her crew.
• The Finnish steamer Minerva (2039t) sinks on a mine off the German North Sea coast.

• After an unsuccessful attempt to scuttle herself, the Vichy French armed merchant cruiser Cap des Palmes (3081t) is captured off Libreville by the Free French sloop Commandant Domine.

Britain, Politics

Neville Chamberlain, the former prime minister, dies at the age of 71.

German Raiders

The German armed merchant cruiser Atlantis captures the Norwegian tanker Teddy (6750t) in the Bay of Bengal. All 32 of the Norwegian crew are landed in Japan on 5 December.

Air Operations, Europe

The R.A.F. raids Danzig, Dresden, Krupps' Works, Essen and many other targets in Germany, Occupied territory and Italy despite severe storms and icing during the night. 5 aircraft are lost.

Battle of the Atlantic

The British anti-submarine trawler Kingston Alalite (550t) sinks on a mine off Plymouth. 6 crewmen are lost.

The Blitz

170 night raiders bomb London. Several Southern Railway tracks are destroyed or damaged.

German Raiders

The German armed merchant cruiser Atlantis, posing as the Antenor captures the Norwegian tanker Ole Jacob (8306t) in the Bay of Bengal. The tanker is renamed Benno for German use.

Air Operations, Europe

The R.A.F. makes night raids on the Italian supply ports of Valona and Durazzo, Albania.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British steamer Trebartha (4597t) from Convoy EN-23 is sunk by German bombing 4 miles east of Aberdeen with the loss of 4 of her crew.
• German bombing also sinks the British steamer Creemuir (3997t) from Convoy EN-23 10 miles southeast of Aberdeen. 27 of the crew are lost.
• The British steamer Balmore (1925t) is sunk by German bombing in the North Sea with the loss of her entire crew.
• The British steamer Ardmore (1023t) is lost to unknown causes on a voyage from Cork to Fishguard.
• The Norwegian steamer Ravnanger (3371t) is sunk by German bombing a mile and a half northeast of Middlesborough in Tees Bay with the loss of 1 of her crew.

The Blitz

2 large formations of fighter-bombers attempt to reach London. A few bombs are dropped in 3 London districts. Stukas make an unsuccessful raid on a convoy off Kent. In a postscript to the main actions a force of Italian bombers, protected by biplane fighters, is sent to attack Harwich. They are intercepted and lose six planes for no loss to the R.A.F.. The Italians make other attacks, mostly by night, on east-coast ports during the next month.

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Mediterranean

The British Mediterranean Fleet attacks the Italian base at Taranto. During the morning 21 Swordfish aircraft attack in two waves and gain three torpedo hits on the brand new battleship Littorio and one each on Caio Duilio and Conte di Cavour. Conte di Cavour is sunk. The damage to the battleships is sufficient enough to keep them out of action for most of the war. Two other ships are damaged. The aircraft have come from the carrier Illustrious and only two are lost. It is the first successful attack on ships by planes launched from carriers. This brilliant attack will certainly be studied by other navies and the potential for such an attack on an enemy fleet in harbor is clear to the Japanese. The Italian fleet subsequently leaves Taranto for Naples and Genoa.

Attack on Taranto

During the night the British cruisers Orion, Sydney and Ajax and the destroyers Nubian and Mohawk sink 4 Italian merchant ships in the Strait of Otranto.

Battle of the Atlantic

The British steamer Argus (661t) sinks on a mine near Oaze Buoy with the loss of 1 crewman. 34 of her crew are rescued.

The Blitz

In the raid on London a bomb penetrates the Sloane Square Tube Station causing 79 casualties.

Dutch East Indies

Agreements are concluded between the Japanese and the principal oil companies whereby the Japanese are to receive 1,800,000 tons of oil annually from the Dutch East Indies.

Diplomatic Relations

Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov arrives in Germany to discuss German and Soviet mutual spheres of interest. The trip is a disaster. The Soviet delegation is suspicious of its German hosts, and Molotov issues a series of demands to Hitler: the USSR wishes to conquer the whole of Finland, and Moscow is going to 'invite' Bulgaria to sign a non-aggression pact that will permit the establishment of a Soviet naval base near the Dardanelles.

Molotov Meets Hitler in Berlin

Hitler is unwilling to sanction the loss of Finland as he needs the country's timber and nickel supplies. In addition, the Führer requires the USSR to declare solidarity with the Tripartite Pact powers if Moscow wants a share of the spoils when the British Empire falls apart. However, it is clear that Soviet and German interests are now incompatible. Molotov returns home empty handed.

Air Operations, Europe

There are R.A.F. night raids on Berlin and the Taranto naval base.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-137 sinks the British steamer Cape St Andrew (5094t) west-northwest of Aran Island with the loss of 15 crewmen. 53 of the crew are picked up by the British tug Salvonia and landed at Greenock.
• The British steamer Empire Wind is sunk by German bombing in the North Sea. The entire crew is picked up by the British destroyer Arrow.
• The British tanker Leon Martin (1951t) sinks on a mine southeast of St Anthony Point near Falmouth with the loss of 16 crewmen.
• The Belgian steamer Anvers (4398t) from Convoy WN-35 is sunk by German bombing about 5 miles northeast of Rattray Head with the loss of 1 of her crew.

The Blitz

In the raid on London Willesden Yard is hit again. 502 wagons are shunted.

Germany, Planning

Preparations are started to begin moving troops to Italy to salvage the bogged-down Italian invasion of Greece.

Battle of the Atlantic

The British steamer St Catherine (1216t), en route to join Convoy WN-35, is sunk by German bombing just south of Outer Buoy, Aberdeen, with the loss of 15 of her crew.

The Blitz

Between the middle of August and the end of October there had been 17 attacks on Coventry. A total of 198 tons of bombs had been dropped killing 176 people and injuring 680. This night there is an especially heavy and effective German attack on Coventry (Operation MONDLICHT SONATE: 'MOONLIGHT SONATA'), the center of the British automobile industry. A total of 449 German planes, led by the He-111 pathfinders of KG100, are involved in the attack. 304 aircraft of Luftflotte III and 133 of Luftflotte II participate. The bombing begins at 7:20pm and continues until 6:00am. Arrival and departure of each formation is carefully arranged in a timetable onslaught, both steady and sustained with no respite for the victims below. 30,000 incendiaries and 503 tons of high-explosive bombs are dropped. Factories and historic buildings are badly damaged. 550 people are killed and 865 are wounded.

Coventry Raid

Coventry Damage

Although 21 factories are destroyed, but this does not seriously affect the productive capacity of the city. Some historians have since suggested that, by a combination of scientific and cryptographic intelligence, the British authorities were able to take precautions against this raid but that they did not do so in order to protect their sources. This is not the case. Warning has been received during the afternoon of the 14th and the few precautions possible at this short notice have been taken by the relevant authorities. One was an R.A.F. attempt to pre-empt the raid by bombing enemy bases, but with little success.

A Spitfire squadron routs about 30 Stukas over Dover.

Coventry Damage

Britain, Command

The new British Commander-in-Chief for the Far East, Air Marshal Henry Brooke-Popham, arrives in Singapore.

Air Operations, Europe

The British heavily bomb Hamburg.

Atlantic

US flying boats begin patrols from bases in Bermuda.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-65 sinks the British steamer Kohinur (5168t) and the Norwegian tanker Havbor (7614t) about 250 miles north of the equator. 17 crewmen from the Kohinur are lost initially, but 31 more are lost later when the Havbor is hit while picking up survivors. 60 crewmen are lost from the Havbor. 36 survivors from the Kohinur are picked up by the British ship City of Pittsburg and 4 from the Havbor by the British ship Baron Androssan.
• The British steamer Apapa (9333t) from Convoy SL-53 is sunk by German bombing in the North Sea with the loss of 23 of her crew. Survivors are picked up by the British steamers Mary Kingsley and New Columbia.
• The British steamer Blue Galleon (712t) is sunk by German bombing in the North Sea with the loss of 3 crewmen.

The Blitz

There are heavy night raids on London by 358 aircraft which last until 4:00am. 400 tons of high explosives and over 40,000 incendiaries are dropped. Among the places hit are Wesminster Abbey, the National Portrait Gallery and 4 hospitals. There are 142 people killed and 430 seriously injured.

Damage to Shepherd Market, Mayfair

Raid on Winton

Air Operations, Europe

The R.A.F. bombs Hamburg.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-65 sinks the British steamer Fabian (3059t) 350 miles south-southwest of Freetown with the loss of 6 crewmen. 33 survivors are picked up by the British tanker British Statesman.
• U-137 sinks the British steamer Planter (5887t) from Convoy OB-244 about 30 miles north-northwest of Bloody Foreland with the loss of 13 of her crew. 60 survivors are picked up by the British destroyer Clare.

The Blitz

There are heavy night raids on London.

Britain, Home Front

The King, accompanied by Herbert Morrison, visits the devastation in Coventry.

Broadgate in Coventry City Center

Air Operations, Europe

During the night the R.A.F. raid the Gelsenkirchen oil plant in the Ruhr.

Unloading Tanks in Egypt

Battle of the Atlantic

U-137 attacks Convoy OB-244 and sinks the Swedish steamer Veronica (1316t) and the British steamer Saint Germain (1044t) north-northwest of Tory Island. The Vernica loses 17 or her 20-man crew. All 18 of the Saint Germain are picked up by the British corvette Mallow.

Britain, Command

Air Marshal Hugh Dowding is replaced at Fighter Command by Air Marshal Sholto Douglas. Dowding is sent to work for the Ministry of Aircraft Production in the section dealing with orders for American planes. Later he will be denied the promotion to Marshal of the Royal Air Force which his distinguished services during the Battle of Britain more than entitle him to expect.

Air Marshal Keith Park will also be treated in a shabby fashion and will shortly be replaced at 11 Group by Leigh-Mallory. Park will receive no comparable command in the future. A new R.A.F. Command for army Cooperation is created, to be led by Air Marshal Arthur Barratt.

Axis Diplomacy

Hitler receives the Italian Foreign Minister and the Spanish Foreign Minister in Berchtesgaden for important talks. He does not conceal his anger at the failure of the Greek campaign and his anxiety about the obvious disagreement at the heart of the Italian supreme command. He argues, and repeats it in a letter to Mussolini which he hands to Ciano, that if the British acquire air bases in Greece (at Athens, Thessaloniki, Larisa and Arta) they will be able to bomb the oil wells at Ploesti. He therefore considers it necessary for Germany to intervene, but this cannont be done before 15 March. He calls on il Duce to make a radical change in his policy towards Yugoslavia, which must be attracted into the orbit of the Axis. This could possibly happen by promising the Yugoslavs the port of Thessaloniki when the Greeks are beaten.

Mussolini must not forget that the British air bases in Greece pose a threat to Albania and the whole of southern Italy. Finally, Hitler says it is necessary to close the Mediterranean, to seek an accord with Turkey, to persuade Rumania to accept a stronger German garrison and Hungary to allow the passage of German troops, to defeat the British in North Africa and to induce Spain to enter the war by attacking Gibraltar.

Battle of the Atlantic

• In an Atlantic operation a U-boat approaching a convoy is detected by a Sunderland flying boat fitted with an Air to Surface Vessel (ASVI) radar set. This is the first time such a location has been achieved by airborne radar in operational conditions.
• U-65 sinks the British tanker Congonia (5056t) west-southwest of Freetown with the loss of 1 crewman. 35 survivors are picked up by the British cruiser Devonshire.
• The Italian submarine Baracca sinks the British steamer Lillian Moller (4866t) from the dispersed Convoy SLS-53 in the North Sea with the loss of the entire crew.
• The British steamer Nestlea (4274t), a straggler from Convoy SL-53, is sunk by German bombing in the North Sea. The entire crew are rescued.

Air Operations, Europe

The R.A.F. bombs the Skoda works at Pilsen, Czechoslovakia.

Axis Diplomacy

The Spanish Foreign Minister Serrano Suñer, on instructions from Franco and the Spanish supreme command, repeats to Hitler and Ribbentrop that Spain needs 400,000 tons of grain and 2 months of preparation before it can attack Gibraltar, even though Hitler has promised help by German units (Operation FELIX). In fact, Franco has already decided to keep his country out of the conflict.

The Blitz

There are heavy night raids on Birmingham. 440 aircraft are involved in this first of 3 nights in which Birmingham is the target. 310 hit the correct targets. BSA's at Small Heath is hit where 50 workers are killed. The Lucas and GEC plants also suffer damage. Many shops, schools, churches and thousands of homes are damaged or destroyed in the raid. 450 people are killed and 840 are injured. In spite of the widespread damage the city's war production is not badly affected.

Birmingham's New Street after the Bombing

Air Operations, Europe

Air Marshal Owen T. Boyd of the R.A.F. is captured by the Italians when his plane is forced down in Sicily.

Axis Diplomacy

Hitler offers to send German troops to help the Italians provided they would be released by 1 May 1941, for the invasion of Russia.

The Blitz

Birmingham is again the target of 116 aircraft. There is not as much success as the previous night. 118 tons of high explosives and 9,500 incendiaries are dropped. Factories are hit but none seriously. The Hockley Bus Depot is hit and over 100 vehicles are damaged or destroyed.

China

Chinese Communist forces launch large-scale guerilla operations against Japanese military units and communications lines in southern Shanxi and northwest Hopei provinces. This operation is called the '100 Regiment Offensive'. The forces of the 8th Route Army inflict losses which prompt the Japanese to retaliate against Chinese villages known to be assisting the Communists.

German Raiders

The German armed merchant cruiser Pinguin sinks the British steamer Maimoa (8011t) in the Indian Ocea. The entire crew are made prisoners of war.

Greek-Albanian Front

Another 4,000 British soldiers arrive to aid the Greeks.

Air Operations, North Africa

The R.A.F. attacks on the Libyan bases of Benghazi, Berka and Benina continue.

Australia, Politics

The government presents its war budget for the coming year. Twenty percent of the national income is to be devoted to war expenditure and is to be financed by considerable increases in taxation.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-103 attacks Convoy OB-244 and sinks the British steamer Daydawn (4768t) and the Greek steamer Victoria (6085t) about 250 miles west of Bloody Foreland. 2 crewmen are lost on the Daydawn, 36 survivors are picked up by the British corvette Rhododendron. All 27 crew members of the Greek ship are picked up by the British destroyer Castleton.
• The British steamer Dakotian sinks on a mine in Dale Roads, Milford Haven. The entire crew is rescued.

German Raiders

The German armed merchant cruiser Pinguin sinks the British steamer Port Brisbane (8739t) in the Indian Ocean with the loss of 1 of her crew. 61 on board are made prisoners of war.

Funeral of Rome Police Chief Arturo Bocchini

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-123 sinks the British steamer Cree (4791t) 365 miles west of Bloody Foreland with the loss of her entire crew of 45.
• The British steamer Pikepool (3683t) sinks on a mine 23 miles east-southeast of Smalls Light. 17 of the crew are lost.
• The French steamer Charles Plumier (4504t) is captured by the British destroyers Faulknor and Forester about 110 miles off Gibraltar. The French ship arrives at Gibraltar later in the day and is renamed Largs for British use.

The Blitz

Birmingham is hit again, this time by about 200 aircraft. The raid begins about 7pm with 11 He-111s of II/KG55. They drop flares followed by incendiaries. The next aircraft are 9 of KG100 and 5 of III/KG26. In the 11 hour raid about 600 fires are started. Serious damage is inflicted. The city's water supply is hit and more that half of the city is without water. Birmingham Cathedral is damaged. In the 3 recent raids on Birmingham, about 900 people have been killed and another 2,000 injured.

Balkans, Politics

In a meeting in Berlin Antonescu agrees to join the Axis powers. There are also talks on preparation for a German attack on Greece by the forces based in Rumania. Germany has been putting pressure on all the Balkan states since the Italian invasion of Greece in an attempt to ensure the stability of food and oil supplies. Hungary succumbed to the pressure on 20 November. Bulgaria and Yugoslavia have not joined the Tripartite Pact but progress has been made in the talks.

Rumania Joins Three-Power Agreement

Britain, Production and Supply

The new British Ambassador to the United States, Lord Lothian talks in New York of the possibility of Britain running out of ready money and securities to pay for arms and says that Britain will need financial help in 1941. In fact by April 1941 British reserves of gold and dollars will be as low as $12,000,000- a mere pittance when set against arms expenditure.

Battle of the Atlantic

• In attacks on Convoy SC-11 U-100 sinks the British steamer Justitia (4562t) 160 miles west of Bloody Foreland, County Donegal, with the loss of 13 crewmen, the British steamer Bradfyne (4540t) southeast of Rockall with the loss of 39 of her crew, the Norwegian steamer Bruse (2205t) with the loss of 16 crewmen, the Dutch steamer Ootmarsum (3628t) with the loss of her entire crew of 25, the Norwegian steamer Salonica (2694t) with the loss of 9 of her crew, the British steamer Leise Maersk (3136t) 120 miles west of Rockall with the loss of 17 crewmen, and the Dutch steamer Bussum (3636t) 90 miles west of Tory Island without loss. 26 survivors from the Justitia are picked up by the British sloop Enchantress, 4 from the Bradfyne by tne Norwegian steamer Norse King 2 days later, 5 from the Bruse by the Canadian destroyer Skeena, 16 from the Salonica by both the Skeena and the Enchantress, 7 from the Leise Maersk by a Dutch salvage tug, and the entire 25-man crew of the Bussum by the Canadian destroyer Ottawa.
• U-123 attacks Convoy OB-244 and sinks the British steamer Oakcrest (5407t) 250 miles west of Rockall with the loss of 35 of her crew, the Greek steamer Kolchis (2219t) with the loss of the entire crew, the British steamer King Idwal (5115t) 158 miles west of Rockall with the loss of 12 crewmen, the British steamer Tymeric (5228t) about 350 miles west-northwest of Malin Head with the loss of 71, and the Swedish steamer Anten (5135t) with the loss of 1 crewman. 6 survivors from the Oakcrest are landed on Barra Island, Hebrides, 28 from the King Idwal by the British sloop Sandwich, 5 from the Tymeric also by the Sandwich, and 32 from the Anten by the Sandwich.

Air Operations, North Africa

The Italians stage air raids on the naval base at Alexandria.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British steamer Alma Dawson (3985t) sinks on a defensive mine off Northern Island. The entire crew is rescued.
• The British anti-submarine trawler Amethyst (627t) sinks on a mine in the Barrow Deep in the Thames Estuary. Survivors are picked up by the British anti-submarine trawler Le Tiger.
• The British salvage vessel Preserver (630t) sinks on a mine near Milford have with the loss of 4 crewmen.
• The British steamer Alice Marie sinks on a mine southwest of Knob Light Vessel, Barrow Deep. The entire crew is rescued.
• The British steamer Port Hobart (7448t) is sunk by the German heavy cruiser Admiral Scheer near the Azores. The entire crew are made prisoners of war.

Atlantic

German destroyers carry out the first of 2 sorties off Plymouth. The second occurs 28 November.

The Blitz

There is a heavy night raid on Bristol. In a raid lasting 6 hours 148 bombers of Luftflotte III drop 140 tons of high explosives and 12,500 incendiaries. It begins at 6:30pm with 14 He-111s of KG55, 4 oo III KG26 and some from KG100. 200 civilians are killed and 689 are injured.

Bristol, the Morning After

Air Operations, Europe

The R.A.F. makes night raids on Kiel and Wilhelmshaven.

Balkan Politics

Bulgaria rejects membership in the Axis by refusing to sign the Tripartite Pact. Strong pan-Slavic feelings incline the Bulgarians toward Russia since they have nor particular affinity for the Germans or their politial philosophy.

The Blitz

Bristol is hit by 9 planes of KG100. They drop 70 small high explosive bombs and 6,500 incendiaries. Damage is done to a bank, 2 churches, several houses and buildings of the National Smelting Co. 19 people are injured.

German Raiders

The German armed merchant cruisers Orion and Komet sink the New Zealand steamer Holmwood (546t) in the South Pacific 27 miles southwest of Durham Point, Chatham Island. 17 crew and 13 passengers are landed on Emirau Island on 21 December.

Mediterranean

The British SS Patria (11,885t) is blown up and sunk at Haifa by the Zionist terrorist organization Irgun Zvai Leumi to prevent its use as deportation vessel for Palestinian Jews.

Air Operations, Europe

The R.A.F. carries out a heavy night raid on Cologne.

The Blitz

The Avonmouth area of Bristol is bombed by 4 aircraft. Little damage is done. To confuse the Germans, decoy fires were lit outside the city.

Diplomatic Relations

The Belgian Congo declares war on Italy.

German Raiders

The German armed merchant cruisers Orion and Komet sink the New Zealand troopship Rangitane (16,712) in the Pacific with the loss of 7 crewmen and 6 passengers. The survivors are made prisoners of war.

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Mediterranean

Aircraft from the British carrier Eagle raid Tripoli. In another operation the carrier Illustrious attacks targets on Rhodes.

Air Operations, Europe

• The R.A.F. carries out another heavy raid on Cologne.
• Jean Chiappe, newly appointed High Commissioner in Syria and Lebanon and a former pro-Fascist Chief of Police in Paris, is killed when the aircraft taking him to Beirut is accidentally shot down during the Battle of Spartivento.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-104 sinks the British steamer Diplomat (8240t), a straggler from Convoy HX-88, 128 miles west-northwest of Bloody Foreland with the loss of 14 crewmen. 39 survivors are picked up by the British destroyer Active.

  It is presumed U-104 sank from an unknown cause around this date; her last transmission was received this date.

  U-104

  Class	Type IXB
  CO	Kapitänleutnant Harald Just
  Location	Atlantic, S of Rockall
  Cause	Unknown
  Casualties	49
  Survivors	None

• U-95 sinks the British steamer Irene Maria (1860t), a straggler from Convoy OB-248, 55 miles south-southwest of Rockall with the loss of all 26 on board.
• U-103 sinks the British steamer Glenmoor (4393t), a straggler from Convoy OB-248, 167 miles northwest of Sylne Head with the loss of 31 of her crew. 2 survivors are picked up by the British destroyers Harvester and Havelock.

Mediterranean

There is a naval battle off Sardinia, the Battle of Spartivento. Admiral James Somerville, who is covering a Malta convoy in Operation COLLAR, has the Renown, Ark Royal, four cruisers and nine destroyers. He will be joined later by Ramillies, three cruisers and five destroyers. Admiral Inigo Campioni leads two battleships, seven heavy cruisers and 16 destroyers. There is a brief gun battle in which the cruiser Berwick and one Italian destroyer are hit. Despite their superior gunpower the Italians then break off the action.

Battle of Cape Spartivento

Atlantic

German destroyers carry out the second of 2 sorties off Plymouth, the first being 24 November. During the raids 4 coasters are sunk and the British destroyer Javelin is damaged by a torpedo.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-103 sinks the British steamer St Elwyn (4940t) and the Greek steamer Mount Athos (3578t) about 500 miles east of Bishop Rock. 24 crewmen are lost from the St Elwyn and 19 from the Greek ship. 16 survivors from the British ship are picked up by the British steamer Leeds City. 9 survivors from the Mount Athos are picked up by the British destroyer Vanquisher.

The Blitz

Liverpool is attacked in an 8 hour raid which begins at 7:15p.m. 8 He-111s from II/KG55 drop flares and bombs to mark the target for over 300 German bombers to follow. They drop about 350 tons of high explosives and 30,000 incendiaries. There is widespread damage to private and commercial property. Almost 300 people are killed. A parachute mine explosion hits a school in Durning Road trapping several hundred people in a shelter below the building. Of these victims 164 die and 96 are seriously injured. Public utility service are badly hit but comparatively little damage is done in the dock area.

The Blitz

There is a heavy night raid on London and the Home Counties by 330 aircraft. 380 tons of high explosives and 30,000 incendiaries are dropped. The main targets include the city center and Whitehall. Destruction is widespread including a number of factories, the civic center at Dagenhall and several railway lines. There are about 300 casualties.

Germany, Planning

The German High Command completes its plans for Operation BARBAROSSA, the projected invasion of Russia.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British naval trawler Chestnut (506t) sinks on a mine off North Foreland with loss.
• U-101 sinks the British steamer Aracataca (5378t) 230 miles west of Rockall with the loss of 36 of her crew. 18 survivors are picked up by the British steamer Potaro and 15 by the British ship Djurdjura.

China, Politics

Japan officially recognizes the puppet Nanking government led by President Wang Ching-wei.

Diplomatic Relations

The US loans $100,000,000 to Chiang Kai-shek and gives 50 aircraft to Claire Chennault's secret group of US volunteer airmen, the Flying Tigers, to help Chiang at Chungking in China.

The Blitz

The first of 2 consecutive night raids on Southampton occurs. 147 aircraft are involved. 12 He-111s begin the attack by dropping flares to light the way. 135 bombers follow dropping 135 tons of high explosives and 21,000 incendiaries. 2 1,800 kg 'Satan' mines are also dropped. Damage to the port area is light, but the center of the city suffers extensive damage. Almost two-thirds of the main shopping district is destroyed. There are about 200 casualties.

Scenes of Devastation in Southampton