Year 1940

Diary for Thursday, November 21, 1940: Secret War Dies Committee Report on German espionage and ‘fifth Column’ activity in Britain published.

Diary for Wednesday, November 20, 1940: Politics Hungary signs Tripartite Pact. (see September 27, 1940) Air War Air Marshal Boyd, RAF, captured by Italians when his plane makes forced landing

Diary for Tuesday, November 19, 1940: Air War Heavy night raid on Birmingham by 350 aircraft; second raid, by 116 aircraft, on following night is unsuccessful; third raid (200 aircraft),

Diary for Monday, November 18, 1940: Balkans All invading Italian forces have now been driven back over river Kalamas.

Diary for Sunday, November 17, 1940: Air War Heavy night raids on Southampton by 150 aircraft. RAF’s Army Co-operation Command established. RAF Night raids on Gelsenkirchen (Ruhr) oil plant.

Diary for Saturday, November 16, 1940: Sea War Three German cargo ships leave Tampico (Mexico), but fail to break through the British blockade: Phrygia scuttled; Idarwald and Rhein return to

Diary for Friday, November 15, 1940: Air War Heavy night raids on London (350 aircraft).

Diary for Thursday, November 14, 1940: Air War COVENTRY ‘BLITZ’ (Operation ‘Mondlicht Sonate’ = ‘Moonlight Sonata’): 440 aircraft (2 lost) led by He 111 ‘pathfinders’. City centre and Cathedral largely

Diary for Wednesday, November 13, 1940: Air War RAF night raid on Berlin and Italian Taranto naval base.

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).