Diary WW2

Diary for Tuesday, November 12, 1940: Politics Molotov, Russian Foreign Minister, begins 3-day official visit to Berlin to discuss closer collaboration with Axis Powers. He is forced to take shelter […]

Diary for Monday, November 11, 1940: Sea War Mediterranean: THE TARANTO RAID (Operation Judgement): 21 Swordfish torpedo-biplanes (2 lost) from carrier Illustrious carry out surprise torpedo/bomb attack on Italian Fleet

Diary for Sunday, November 10, 1940: Air War RAF bomb Danzig, Dresden, Krupp’s Works, Essen and many other targets in Germany, Occupied territory and Italy (night November 10-11) despite severe

Diary for Saturday, November 9, 1940: Home Fronts Britain: Death of Neville Chamberlain, aged 71. (Funeral in Westminster Abbey, November 14). Sea War Liner Empress of Japan (26,000 t) attacked

Diary for Friday, November 8, 1940: Air War Ju 87 Stukas attack shipping in Straits of Dover and Thames Estuary, sinking 1 ship. Hurricane fighter squadron drives off the raiders.

Diary for Thursday, November 7, 1940: Air War Night raid on Essen by 50 aircraft. RAF make surprise low-level attack on Valona air base, Albania. Vichy France Free French troops

Diary for Wednesday, November 6, 1940: Air War Daylight raid on Southampton; 190 aircraft raid London by night. RAF raid Italian airfields in Albania. Sea War 7 German torpedo boats

Diary for Tuesday, November 1940: Neutrals USA: PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. Roosevelt (Democratic), 27,241,939; Willkie (Republican), 22,237,226. Roosevelt carries 39 States and is re-elected for record third term. Five ‘fringe’ candidates (inc.

Diary for Monday, November 4, 1940: Air War Sneak raiders active over southern and eastern England and London; second strafing attack on London streets in two days. 150 night bombers

Diary for Sunday, November 3, 1940: Balkans In Pindus Mountains Greeks defeat 3rd Alpini Division. Sea War Atlantic: German U-boat U 99 torpedoes two British armed merchant cruisers: Laurentic (18,700

Diary for Saturday, November 2, 1940: Air War Italians bomb Salonika (on November 2 and 3).

Diary for Friday, November 1, 1940: Balkans Italians reach river Kalamas, near Adriatic coast. Air War Britain: Ju 87 Stukas attack convoy off Thames Estuary. Germany: Eight RAF raids on

Diary for Thursday, October 31, 1940: Balkans British forces land on Crete. Air War BATTLE OF BRITAIN ENDS (Day 114). Luftwaffe loses 116 fighter-bombers and escort fighters during raids on

Diary for Wednesday, October 30, 1940: Sea War Atlantic: U-boat U-32 sunk while attacking convoy by destroyers Harvester and Highlander. Destroyer Sturdy wrecked in Hebrides.

Diary for Tuesday, October 29, 1940: Home Front Britain: General Legentilhomme (ex-commander of French-Somaliland) joins General de Gaulle in London.

Diary for Monday, October 28, 1940: Politics Italian ultimatum to Greece, demanding right of passage for Italian forces to unspecified ‘strategic points’, by 6 a.m. Greek Prime Minster Metaxas rejects

Diary for Sunday, October 27, 1940: Neutrals USA: New York World’s Fair closes after only two seasons (first opened April, 1939).

Diary for Saturday, October 26, 1940: Sea War Atlantic: Liner Empress of Britain (42,300 t) bombed, strafed and set on fire by Focke-Wulf Condor, 150 miles West of Donegal; she

Diary for Friday, October 25, 1940: Air War Formations of high-flying Me 109Es make several attempts to reach London, but few penetrate RAF fighter screen: heavy casualties when loaded tram-cars

Diary for Thursday, October 24, 1940: Politics Hitler meets Petain and discusses Franco-German collaboration. Air War RAF night raids on Berlin and Hamburg: first raids to inflict significant civilian casualties.