Year 1940

Diary for Wednesday, December 11, 1940: North Africa British capture Sidi Barrani. Air War Heavy night raid on Birmingham by 270 aircraft: 6 churches, 11 schools, several hundred houses damaged.

Diary for Tuesday, December 10, 1940: North Africa British attack Sidi Barrani (Egypt). Air War Luftwaffe ordered to transfer Fliegerkorps X to South Italy. Home Fronts Germany: Hitler condemns British

Diary for Monday, December 9, 1940: North Africa FIRST BRITISH OFFENSIVE IN WESTERN DESERT (Operation Compass): 2 divisions attack 10 Italian divisions. (10th Army), in their fortified camps south of

Diary for Sunday, December 8, 1940: Air War Fire raid on London by 413 aircraft (2 lost): In 14-hour onslaught bombs are scattered over many metropolitan and suburban districts and

Diary for Saturday, December 7, 1940: Air War No raids on Britain, either by day or night – first such 24-hour period since August 7. RAF night raid on Düsseldorf

Diary for Friday, December 6, 1940: Balkans In Pindus Mountains Greeks advance towards Klisura. In Macedonian sector Greeks advance along valleys towards Elbasan. Marshal Badoglio, Duke of Addis Ababa, and

Diary for Thursday, December 5, 1940: Sea War Atlantic: German disguised raider Thor damages British armed merchant cruiser Carnarvon Castle (20,000 t) off Rio de Janeiro.

Diary for Wednesday, December 4, 1940: Balkans Greeks advance far into Albania and capture Premeti in the Southwest. Italians abandon important supply base of Argyrokastro, southwest Albania, and nearby port

Diary for Tuesday, December 3, 1940: Sea War Mediterranean: British cruiser Glasgow damaged by Italian torpedo-bombers in Suda Bay, Crete.

Diary for Monday, December 2, 1940: Air War Britain: Bristol raided by 120 aircraft (night December 1-2); serious damage in residential areas. Sea War Atlantic: Admiral Tovey succeeds Admiral Forbes

Diary for Sunday, December 1, 1940: Sea War Armed merchant cruiser Forfar (16,400 t) sunk by U-99 west of Ireland. Free-Norwegian liner Oslofjord (18,700 t) and a British tanker mined

Diary for Saturday, November 30, 1940: Balkans Greeks capture Progradets in northeast Albania, after nine-day battle until December 9. Air War First of two consecutive night raids on Southampton –

Diary for Friday, November 29, 1940: Air War Heavy night raid on London and Home Counties by 330 aircraft. Occupied countries France – General de Gaulle broadcasts to France: ‘Free

Diary for Thursday, November 28, 1940: Air War Heavy night raid on Liverpool by 300 aircraft: parachute mine explosion kills 164, injures 96. Spitfire fighters intercept Me 109E formation off

Diary for Wednesday, November 27, 1940: Sea War Mediterranean – Battle of Cape Spartivento: Action off Sardinia as Italian fleet attempts to disrupt major British convoy movements (Operation Collar). British

Diary for Tuesday, November 26, 1940: Air War Heavy RAF raid on Cologne (repeated following night). Home Fronts Britain: Death of Lord Rothermere (Harold Northcliffe), founder of ‘Sunday Pictorial‘ and

Diary for Monday, November 25, 1940: Air War Slight German air activity over southeast England, but prototype De Havilland Mosquito makes uninterrupted maiden flight from Hatfield. RAF night raids on

Diary for Sunday, November 24, 1940: Politics Slovakia joins Tripartite Pact. (see September 27, 1940). Air War Heavy night raid on Bristol by 130 German bombers (3 lost). Sea War

Diary for Saturday, November 23, 1940: Politics Rumania signs Tripartite Pact. (See September 27, 1940) US appoints Admiral Leahy Ambassador in Vichy (France). Air War Heavy night raids on Southampton

Diary for Friday, November 22, 1940: Balkans Greeks capture Koritsa – important town in southeast Albania. Politics Willington Trade Mission arrives in Rio de Janeiro to promote British interests.