Year 1941

Diary for Monday, February 3, 1941: East Africa Battle of Keren: Italians surprise British by holding this mountain stronghold for eight weeks. (Italians retreat March 27)

Diary for Sunday, February 2, 1941: Sea War Mediterranean: Swordfish planes from aircraft carrier Ark Royal make unsuccessful attack on Tirso Dam (Sardinia).

Diary for Saturday, February 1, 1941: East Africa British capture Agordat (Eritrea). Home Fronts South Africa: Serious riots in Johannesburg between off-duty soldiers and members of Burs Ossewabrandwag (‘Ox-wagon Guard’):

Diary for Friday, January 31, 1941: Air War Britain: Three London hospitals damaged by ‘hit-and-run’ raiders.# Politics Vichy French authorities in Indochina sign armistice with Thailand aboard Japanese warship off

Diary for Thursday, January 30, 1941: North Africa British capture Derna (Libya). Air War Britain: German ‘hit-and-run’ raiders attack London in cloudy weather. Me 109Es strafe Dover balloon barrage.

Diary for Wednesday, January 29, 1941: East Africa South Africans invade Italian Somaliland (1st South African, 11th and 12th African (native) divisions). Air War He 111 bombers drop mines by

Diary for Tuesday, January 28, 1941: Sea War Mediterranean: British submarine Rorqual lays mines off Adriatic coast port of Ancona.

Diary for Monday, January 27, 1941: Sea War Mediterranean: British sub Upholder operates against Italian convoy route, Trapani (Sicily) – Tripoli.

Diary for Sunday, January 26, 1941: East Africa British capture Biscia in Eritrea. Politics Wendell Willkie, defeated US presidential candidate, visits London.

Diary for Saturday, January 25, 1941: Balkans Many cases of frostbite are reported on both sides (Greeks and Italians) in wild mountain battle areas of South Albania. Italian soldiers also

Diary for Friday, January 24, 1941: Politics Lord Halifax, new British Ambassador to USA, arrives aboard new battleship King George V.

Diary for Thursday, January 23, 1941: Sea War After emergency repairs carrier Illustrious leaves Malta for Alexandria (then goes to Norfolk Navy Yard, USA). Five Norwegian merchant ships – interned

Diary for Wednesday, January 22, 1941: North Africa BRITISH CAPTURE TOBRUK. Sea War Atlantic – Operation Berlin: Battlecruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst leave Kiel in Baltic to attack Atlantic convoys.

Diary for Tuesday, January 21, 1941: Neutrals Rumania: Ultra-fascist Iron Guard attempts to overthrow Rumanian military dictator, General Antonescu, and conducts simultaneous pogrom against the Jews (approx. 1,000 killed); many

Diary for Monday, January 20, 1941: Air War British, South African and Rhodesian aircraft raid power station at Massawa and other targets in east Africa. Neutrals USA: Roosevelt inaugurated.

Diary for Sunday, January 19, 1941: East Africa British recapture Kassala (Sudan). Start of Italian East Africa campaign. China Nationalist Chinese disband Communist New 4th Army in Yangtse Valley following

Diary for Saturday, January 18, 1941: Neutrals Vichy France: Petain and Laval reconcile their differences.

Diary for Friday, January 17, 1941: Sea War Battle of Koh-Chang in China Sea: Vichy French squadron defeats Thai Navy, sinking 3 ships.

Diary for Thursday, January 16, 1941: Air War Ju 87 Stukas escorted by Italian fighters raid Malta, inflicting further damage on carrier Illustrious and damaging cruiser Perth. Illustrious again damaged

Diary for Wednesday, January 15, 1941: East Africa Emperor Haile Selassie returns to Ethiopia (night January 15-16). Air War Europe: 76 RAF bombers raid Wilhelmshaven (night January 15-16).