German Chancellor Adolf Hitler set the date for the start of Operation SEA LION, the German invasion of England, for September 21, 1940.
Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring convenes his Luftlotten commanders along the Channel (Kesselring, Sperrle) and others at the Hague on 3 September 1940. Apparently, Hitler either is in attendance or following the discussion closely elsewhere. The topic is the future strategy against England. Göring first asks for suggestions (as he has in the past, without ever taking anyone’s advice). This is a common German command method at such conferences, and not just in the Luftwaffe: to ask for opinions before announcing a decision already made by the high command.
Kesselring advocates bombing London. Sperrle, however, contends that the attacks on airfields are of primary importance, are working, and must continue. Everyone gets into a violent argument.
To reach a resolution, Luftwaffe intelligence provides its estimate of British fighter strength. Staff officer (and Göring crony) German Intelligence Chief Oberst Josef ‘Beppo’ Schmid, claims the RAF only has 100-350 fighters left. This may be based on a combination of wishful thinking and anecdotal reports from pilots, but it certainly is not based on solid intelligence. Göring accepts the estimate and announces that there is to be a change in the air objective (Zielwechsel). Since the RAF is finished, he orders, the final destruction of the British economy and morale will commence with the terror bombings of London. Or so Göring hopes.
Initiating terror bombing in London, of course, is a decision that only Hitler can make, pursuant to his 16 July Fuhrer Directive. The best reading of this conference is that Hitler already has made the decision to bomb London in private with Göring, and the Hague conference is just a formality. Göring would have known Schmid’s figures going in, so they add nothing to the discussion. In such situations, the only chance to influence the patently bad decision made here (and this happens at several key junctures of the war) is for the local commanders to express unanimous opposition. Since Kesselring (unwisely) favors the change to terror bombing, as he has in the past with even less foundation, that does not happen. There always is someone at these conferences who supports the decision, no matter how profoundly stupid it may be.
Since the opposition to the change in direction is split, the change of tactics is implemented (as it likely would have even in face of unanimous opposition). London is to be bombed. Aside from Hitler and Göring, the blame here lies with lousy Luftwaffe intelligence and with Kesselring, who places far too much faith in the power of terror bombing due to his experiences at Warsaw and Rotterdam. Kesselring throughout the war has a well-known reputation for being very optimistic (he is known to both sides as “Smiling Albert”). This serves him quite well at times and is usually considered an admirable trait in a leader. However, in this specific case, it hurts the German war effort. Hugo Sperrle, on the other hand, who receives virtually no press, displays sound judgment throughout the war but is forced into bad tactics by dreadful orders and declining forces.
Adolf Hitler regards the conference’s decision with satisfaction (since it ultimately is his decision) and states:
“[T]he British air force is down to its last reserves, they cry for pity, and I will give them pity. I will wipe London from the face of the earth! I want fire everywhere, thousands of them and then they will unite into one gigantic area of conflagration.”
As the wording of this statement suggests, there may be things other than purely military logic at play in this decision. It is worth pointing out that Hitler several times during the war seems to take a fetishistic delight in wishing to burn out his enemies.
Hitler also reaches a decision on Operation SEA LION based on this discussion or at least flowing from the decision announced at it. Operation SEA LION is on. Hitler’s orders provide that the Wehrmacht will be given 10-days lead time before the invasion. The new earliest date for Operation SEA LION landings now is moved from 15 September to 21 September (S-Day), with the ships to sail on 20 September.
The plan now (it has gone through numerous revisions) is to land two airborne divisions first, followed by nine other divisions. Included will be 250 panzers. The 16th Army will land four divisions at Folkestone, while 9th Army will and 2 divisions at Eastbourne and 3 divisions at Brighton. They would face a dozen British divisions of varying states of readiness. The UK has an inventory of roughly 350 Valentine and Matilda tanks (Prime Minister Churchill having just sent off several shiploads to the Middle East) and 500 antitank weapons — a strong, but not overwhelming, defensive force. The 9 picked Wehrmacht divisions against the assorted British divisions would be a fair fight.
With the benefit of omniscience derived from hindsight, knowing the true state of affairs on both sides as of 3 September 1940, the decision to invade England probably already is too late. The British military has recovered, strengthened its defenses, and fought the Luftwaffe to a standstill. RAF Fighter Command is bowed but not broken; even after large recent losses, it has 600-700 fighters ready to defend the beaches — not the 100-350 believed by the Luftwaffe. The Royal Navy remains amply able to defend the Channel. More importantly, the British (via Churchill’s rapport with Roosevelt) have solidified their arrangements with the Americans and made them virtual allies in the war. An invasion in July 1940, with a maximum Luftwaffe effort to establish temporary local air superiority rather than frittering away strength on other attacks, would have made infinitely more sense despite the obvious risks.
However, as it stands in early September, if SEA LION is ever to be attempted, it should be done immediately. The imminent arrival of the 50 destroyers from the United States (see below) would turn the naval equation solidly and permanently against the Germans, but those ships will take time to arrive. Having Luftwaffe bases established on both sides of the Channel before their arrival would largely nullify their local impact.
It is now or never for the Wehrmacht in terms of defeating England by frontal assault (as opposed to either economic strangulation at sea or a peripheral strategy in the Mediterranean, neither of which have worked against the British previously). At least making the effort with a reasonable possibility of success would be worth any number of losses. Leaving the British undefeated at your back — especially if you have some half-cocked notions of starting new wars in the East — is never a winning proposition. The British must be finished off once and for all, and any price is worth paying once they have their hands around your neck. Peace terms must be slapped down on the throne at Buckingham Palace quickly or the British will never go away and ultimately find a way to beat you: there is 300 years of history to prove that, going back to Philip II. Napoleon would nod in agreement.
Operation SEA LION is a huge gamble, and Hitler is the biggest military gambler of the millennium. The attempt seems worthwhile — but right away, not in 1941. Time is the Wehrmacht’s enemy. This decision is perhaps the biggest of the war.
Weather over Great Britain: After early morning mist, especially in low lying areas, the south and south-east should experience a warm and fine day. Possiblity of haze in many Channel areas. In the north, most areas can expect low cloud and drizzle with scattered heavy falls along the north-east coast and southern Scotland.
0830 Hours: A large build-up is forming over the Pas de Calais. Again, Bf 109 fighters advance ahead of the Dornier Do 17s and Messerschmitt Bf 110 bombers. Again Fighter Command refuse to engage the leading fighters, instead timing their take offs to engage the main bomber force at the latest possible moment, this way, the leading Bf 109s have used up valuable fuel and it would not be long before they had to return back towards their bases.
0930 Hours: The bombers are flying up the Thames and just off of Canvey Island make their turn north-west. It becomes obvious, that the targets would be North Weald or Debden, although Park was taking no chances that the German bombers could come in towards London from the north.
603 Squadron Hornchurch (Spitfires) was given the order to “scramble”, and it was clear now that the German formation consisted of 50+ Dornier Do 17s, 80 Bf 110s and 40+ Bf 109s. 249 Squadron North Weald (Hurricanes) and 17 Squadron Debden (Hurricanes) were also “scrambled” and between them done all in their power to abort any attack by the German bombers.
Squadron Leader Richard Hillary of 603 Squadron had just had a new canopy fitted to his Spitfire and for some reason as the “scramble” call sounded, he and a Corporal on the ground staff tried desperately to free it by grinding, filing and oiling, but it was stuck fast. But with sheer determination, they manage to get it open halfway, Hillary climbed in, took off and flew the rest of the sortie with the canopy half open.
In another incident, two Blenheim’s, returning to North Weald were accidently mistaken for Bf 110s by a couple of Hurricane pilots. They opened fire on the helpless fighter bombers only to shoot down and destroy two of their own aircraft.
It is estimated that over 150 bombs fell on North Weald, many of them delayed-action which caused substantial damage. The hangars belonging to 25 and 151 Squadrons were severely damages by bombs and the fire that broke out afterwards. A number of buildings were hit also the main stores depot. The new sector operations room got a direct hit and although suffering severe damage managed to continue operations. Communications with the Observer Corps was severed with the exception of just one line. In the attack, four personnel on the ground are killed with twenty injured.
“After the bombing, we heard machine guns firing off and thought that they had got the ammunitions dump. The decontamination center proved to be far from bomb-proof. The M.T. Yard was ablaze. The Ops block had been hit, but not much damage had been done. There was a D-A bomb outside the telephone exchange. In fact, except the officers’ mess, which survived both raids, there was hardly any building that hadn’t been damaged. They got some of the hangars, but all our aircraft were up, except a few which were being serviced.
“I and two other plotters climbed into a civilian lorry and went off to Emergency Ops. All the service transport in the yard had been blown up. On the way, we thought there was another attack coming, but it was our aircraft returning.
“We ran Ops from Emergency Ops, and worked all that day and through the next night. We had to cook for ourselves and the airmen.”
- Aircraftwoman Cooper then stationed at North Weald
0945 Hours: Hornchurch and Debden also received considerable damage, but all stations remained operational. From Duxford, 310 Czech Squadron encountered a formation of Bf 110s of 1Z/G2 and surprised the German pilots with outrageous manoevers and daredevil antics. They screamed in for the kill with throttles wide open, calling and shouting excitedly in their own language. On their return to base, they were all given a dressing down by their station commander, who stated that their rather unusual methods of attacking not only caused a danger to themselves, but to all those that shared the sky with them. They were also told that such unconventional methods must cease immediately. The station commander then finished off by reading a memorandum from Fighter Command who congratulated them on their actions and in the shooting down and destruction of 4 Bf 110s and their crews.
Park had ordered as many as eleven squadrons up, including assistance from 12 Group who sent the Czech 310 Squadron (Hurricanes) to provide assistance cover at North Weald. Coming in from the north east they were immediately thrown into the action. They met the Bf 110s of I/ZG2 and as the fighter bombers weaved, intent on completing their attack on the airfield, the Czech squadron managed to claim four Bf 110s.
In total, five Bf 110s of ZG2 were destroyed. The first was when a Bf 110 (3M+EK) collided with another Bf 110 (3M+HL) and crashed and exploded in flames at Harlow north of North Weald at 1045hrs. The Bf 110 (3M+HL) was at the time being pursued by Hurricanes of 310 Squadron and trying to take evasive action when it collided with 3M+EK. Although 310 Squadron made a claim for this Bf 110 it really could not be accepted. It crashed at Epping south of North Weald. Also at 1045hrs, prior to attacking North Weald, a Bf 110 (3M+BK) was attacked by Spitfires of 222 Squadron Hornchurch and shot down at Reculver. Both crew Bailed out and were captured by motor boat crew off Herne Bay. At 1100hrs, P/O J.M.V.Carpenter of 222 Squadron Hornchurch, Sgt. B.Furst of 310 Squadron Duxford and Sgt. G.C.Unwin of 19 Squadron Duxford all laid claims for the destruction of Bf 110 (3M+CB) which crashed at Stowmaries. Finally, at 1118hrs, a Bf 110 (3M+EL) was shot down possibly by F/O Count M.B.Czernin of 17 Squadron Debden (Hurricanes) and crashed at Canewden Essex.
It is interesting to note regarding this last mentioned crash of Bf 110 3M+EL.that excavators in the 1970’s had to dig to a depth of 35 feet before both engines were recovered, as well as six propeller blades, a tail wheel that was still inflated and undercarriage struts. Also found were instruments from the cockpit, the control column, a first aid kit, a gunners tool kit, and pieces of the tailfin that still bore markings of the Swastika.
In addition to the above, Bf 110s of ZG26 also on escort duty to Do 17 bombers, came under attack over the southern coast of Essex. One of them was damaged by British fighters over Southend where it had to make a crash landing. P/O Count Czernin of 17 Squadron claimed another when he shot down another Bf 110 over Wickford at 1030hrs, although a claim for this aircraft was also made by Sub Lt J.C.Carpenter of 46 Squadron. Then Spitfires of 54 Squadron attacked another Bf 110 over the Thames Estuary at 1038 hours and partially disabled it. It was finally shot down by F/O B.van Menz of 222 Squadron over Southend where it crashed at North Shoebury House.
1000 Hours: With the damage done, and North Weald in a shambles, Hornchurch damaged but only regarded as minor and parts of Tilbury and the London Docks also damaged by H.E and I.B, the raiders began their retreat back eastwards. 19 Squadron Duxford (Spitfires) and 310 Squadron Duxford (Hurricanes) managed to intercept about 50 Do 17s with about 100 Bf 109s returning after their raids on East London. S/L P.C.Pinkham had taken 19 Squadron up to 20,000 feet and managed to look down on the returning enemy with a still burning North Weald as a backdrop. Three of the aircraft that swooped down on the enemy formation suffered with jammed guns. Green section fared better and managed to down two Bf 110s and another was seen to be trying to escape by flying at about 50 above the waters of the Thames Estuary towards Whitstable.
Meanwhile, 603 Squadron Hornchurch (Spitfires) are warned by the Hornchurch controller that they have about 50 plus bandits above them. 603 Squadron decide to go in line astern and at the same time the 109s dive towards the Spitfires. The British fighters have no time to gain height, and the climb is aborted so as to attempt to gain speed. But the Bf 109s in their dive already have the momentum and their speed is far greater than that of the Spitfires. With defensive actions, 603 Squadron turn and meet the 109s and a dogfight that means every man for himself. P/O R.H.Hillary lines up a target and fire short bursts, but the Messerschmitt fails to go down. How much more punishment can it take. Hillary gives it another four second burst, smoke starts to appear, it gets thicker then suddenly the 109 explodes into flame and falls towards the sea.
Just as the Bf 109 exploded, Hillary’s Spitfire vibrates as he himself has taken a hit. In an instant, the cockpit of the Spitfire bursts into flames, Hillary tries to open the cockpit hood, but it is stuck fast. The new hood has given nothing but trouble ever since it was fitted. He undoes his harness in an attempt to gain better leverage. Flames are now licking all over him. He gives every ounce of his strength to open the jammed canopy and it slides slowly, he has to release his hold as he is near exhaustion. He tries to grab the control column to turn the Spitfire on its back, but the heat is far too intense and raises his hands over his face for protection but faints in the process. The Spitfire starts to spin and somehow as it rolls over on its back during an uncontrollable roll, P/O Richard Hillary, still in an unconscious state falls from the plane at about 10,000 feet.
He free falls, how many feet he does not know, but the cold air slowly brings him out of unconsciousness. He realizes where he is, out of the burning plane and free falling. He pulls the ripcord, and his body suddenly comes to a thump as the canopy of silk takes effect and he glides slowly down towards the sea off the town of Margate. Many observe him coming down in the sea, but the Margate lifeboat has difficulty in locating him and searched for three hours. Eventually he is picked up, suffering serious burns to his face and body, and never to see action in the Battle of Britain again.
In his book The Last Enemy, Richard Hillary thought about the pilots that he was to maim or kill during the battle:
“I wondered what he was like, this man I would kill. Was he young, was he fat, would he die with the Führers name on his lips, or would he die alone, in that last moment conscious of himself as a man? I would never know. Then I was being strapped in, my mind automatically checking the controls, and we were off.”
- P/O R.H.Hillary 603 Squadron RAF in his book The Last Enemy
For Richard Hillary the tables had been turned. We can now wonder if Hauptmann E.Bode of II/JG26, the man who shot him down had the same thoughts and feelings as his victim had.
1030 Hours: Hermann Göring had arranged a meeting with his Air Fleet Commanders and it was at the Hague that they all met, with the usual introductions of wine, delicacies and light hearted humor before getting down to the serious business of discussing the current situation as it stood at the moment. (Göring was a lover of good food and wine and nearly all meetings organized commenced or ended with a fine banquet).
The Luftwaffe Commander-in-Chief told his commanders that there were a number of reasons that progress had been slow and that he makes no apologies that Adlerangriff had not yet been completed. He told the commanders that the attacks on the RAF airfields had not been heavy enough, that they had made concentrated attacks on Biggin Hill and that although it was still operational, its efficiency had been greatly reduced. We cannot ease up on these attacks he stated, and that we must continue with our unleashing power to continue, with greater number of aircraft, make more use of the Bf 110 because of its greater range than the Bf 109, which should be used as an advance fighter do draw the British fighters into the air.
Göring stated that he believed that he was under pressure to make preparations for an all-out attack on British cities including London itself. But, the British air force is still giving London full protection, and Germany would be foolhardy to yet make any attack on the capital. “We must,” he emphasized, “completely demoralize and destroy the British Royal Air Force before any major raids can be launched. And that, we have almost achieved, as the reports that I have at hand state that the enemy is now down to its reserves.” To continue these attacks the way will soon be open for all out raids on their cities in safety.
Albert Kesselring commander of Luflotten (Air Fleet) 2 while in agreement with his commander that the Royal Air Force was low on machines and pilots as he agreed with German intelligence that the RAF had very few fighter aircraft left, but believed that the raids on British cities including London should commence at once. On the other hand, Hugo Sperle, commander of Luftflotten 3 based in Paris was a little more apprehensive. He stated that he could not agree that the RAF was down to its last reserves, and that his sources state that the British Royal Air Force still had in excess of 600 aircraft based on operations in the southern portion of England and that a further reinforcement of 400 aircraft could be called upon from areas in the north and west bringing a total of 1000 fighters. Sperle was really closer to the truth than Göring or Kesselring.
Meanwhile, in Great Britain, they saw things differently. AVM Keith Park (Commander of 11 Group) was concerned about the lack of serviceable aircraft, but even more so, the lack of fully trained pilots to fly the aircraft. At Bentley Priory, ACM Hugh Dowding agreed, stating that the situation was grim and that things may get worse before they get better. Regarding the number of serviceable aircraft available, both Göring and Sperle were way off of the actual and true figure. Throughout the month of August 1940, the number of aircraft that was available for operations remained steady in number even accounting for some terrible losses, and thanks must surely go to Canadian Lord Beaverbrook, the Minister for Aircraft Production for the effort in continuing being able to produce aircraft under strenuous circumstances. But for Park and Dowding, the figures were not good. The month of July 1940 produced more aircraft than was planned, but during the following months, even though a considerable number of aircraft rolled off the production lines, it was still below the number of aircraft planned.
1400 Hours: After the success of the mornings attack, the Luftwaffe attempted another series of raids, and following the same course and pattern as they had done just five hours previously. However, this was a lighthearted affair in comparison with the morning raids. Fighter Command put up the usual strong opposition once the attackers had crossed the coast. More squadrons, and a request for 12 Group to give protection to North Weald again, were put up and this time Keith Park was prepared. But most of the raids were aborted and many of the RAF fighter squadron began chasing the enemy back towards their own coastline. No damage was recorded.
AVM Keith Park was concerned by the number of aircraft that he did have available, and of course the number of trained pilots he had to fly them. According to Parks biographer Vincent Orange Keith Park knew that the ultimate target for Germany…..London was not too far off. But as he had informed Hugh Dowding and Lord Beaverbrook, as long as we can show strength and dominance in the defense of southern England, be can hold off, but if a high attrition rate occurs, the time left that would be available to them will be drastically shortened.
In these first few days of September, Park brought to the attention of Hugh Dowding, that he believed that the squadrons transferred to 11 Group from 12 Group were not highly trained pilots and compared these with those that had been transferred from 13 Group. He made a comparison that showed that squadrons transferred from 13 Group had been credited with forty-three aircraft destroyed at a cost of two pilots missing and two wounded, while those transferred from 12 Group had brought down only seventeen aircraft and had lost a total of thirteen pilots for the same period. Park claimed that AVM Richard Saul always chose experienced squadrons to be transferred to units in the south, where AVM Leigh-Mallory did not.
Park wrote about the state of affairs of 11 Group that had occured over the last few days:
“Contrary to general belief and official reports, the enemy’s bombing attacks by day did extensive damage to five of our forward aerodromes, and also to six of our seven sector stations.” Manston and Lympne were unfit for operations ‘on several occasions for days’ and Biggin Hill was so severely damaged that for over a week it could operate only one squadron. Had the Luftwaffe continued to attack these sectors, ‘the fighter defenses of London would have been in a parlous state during the last critical phase when heavy attacks have been directed against the capital.
“Sector operation rooms suffered both from direct hits and damage to landlines. They all had to use emergency rooms, though these were too small and poorly equipped to cope with the normal control of three squadrons per sector.”
- Air Vice Marshal Keith Park, C-in-C 11 Group
On the German side, even though no was prepared to admit it, the state of affairs was in reality even worse. The RAF claims at the time regarding the number of enemy aircraft shot down was well above the actual true figure. This was partly due to the antiquated way of establishing a day’s tally. If many of the pilots were a little more truthful about their claims a more realistic figure may have been reached. Pilots were asked at the end of a mission if they had any ‘kills’ to report, many pilots claimed for enemy aircraft that they shot at, went down bellowing smoke, but did not see them actually crash, often due to the fact that they had become locked in combat with another enemy aircraft. Many were honest and claimed it as a probable, but it was often the case that is was claimed as a ‘kill’. In a number of cases pilots were asked to describe any markings, and when these were given, they were told that two other pilots had also claimed that aircraft. Was there another way, possibly not, but the high figure given done wonders for public morale.
According to Williamson Murray, the author of “Strategy for Defeat — The Luftwaffe” the Luftwaffe possessed on June 29th 1940, a total aircraft strength of 4,482 aircraft. During the period July-September 1940 the total destroyed both on operations and on non-operations was 1,636 that is 37% of the total strength destroyed. Of these, the highest casualty rate was for the Bf 110 twin-engined fighter which at June 29th had a total of 357 and in the July-September period lost 235 in total and of this 214 were due to enemy action, 66% of all Bf 110s had been destroyed. Next highest on the list was the Bf 109. Out of 1,107 aircraft, 518 were destroyed; that is 47% of their original number.
Then if we quickly look at the number of aircraft damaged, we find that things do not get any better. Of the original 4,482 aircraft available on June 29th 1940, 697 aircraft had been damaged in some way. That is a staggering 52% if we combine the destroyed and damaged totals together of the original total.
RAF Casualties:
1035 Hours: River Crouch (Poss). Hurricane P3064. 46 Squadron Stapleford
Sgt G.H.Edworthy Listed as missing. (Believed to have crashed in River after combat over Essex coast)
1045 Hours: Ingatestone Essex. Hurricane P3518. 257 Squadron Debden
P/O C.R.Bon Seigneur killed. (Shot down by EA. Bailed out but fell dead soon after landing)
1055 Hours: Foulness Island. Hurricane P3539. 17 Squadron Debden
F/O D.H.W.Hanson killed. (Shot down but Bailed out of aircraft at 100 feet. Killed on impact)
1115 Hours: North Weald. Blenheim L1512. 25 Squadron North Weald
P/O D.Hogg killed (Thought to have been Bf 110 and shot down by Hurricane. Sgt E.Powel Bailed out unhurt)
1130 Hours: Chart Sutton (Kent). Hurricane P3782. 1 Squadron Northolt
P/O R.H.Shaw Listed as missing. (Crashed from unknown circumstances. Pilot killed in aircraft)
1130 Hours: Location unkown. Hurricane P3044. 1 Squadron Northolt
F/Lt H.B.L.Hillcoat Listed as missing. (Failed to return from standard squadron patrol)
After dark, the Luftwaffe continues its raids on Liverpool and areas to the south of it. Bristol and South Wales receive their usual visits. The Avonmouth docks are one target, but the bombers’ aim is particularly bad and bombs fall all around without many falling on the target.
Adolf Galland of JG 26 gains his 28th victory during the noontime battles. Several other pilots in the squadron get their first victories, while Lt. Gustav Sprick of 8./JG 26 gets his 15th kill.
Hitler directs the Luftwaffe to procure larger bombs than usual — 2200lb — for attacks on cities.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 6 Blenheims on an uneventful daylight sea sweep.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 90 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys overnight to Berlin, Magdeburg, the Ruhr and the German forests, and to airfields in France. No losses. The RAF bombs the Grunewald Park in the north of Berlin, apparently by accident. It also drops bombs on oil installations at Magdeburg, storage facilities at Schwere and Hamm, a blast furnace at Merzig, and the barges at Beveland Canal and the Scheldt estuary, and the Ostend docks. Special attention is paid to various airfields in northwest Europe, particularly those near the Pas de Calais where most of the recent Luftwaffe attacks have come from.
The operational orders for Operation SEA LION, the invasion of Britain, are issued. S-Day is scheduled for September 21, 1940.
The Reich Government releases figures showing that the unemployed number only 32,000. This type of number typically suggests a labor shortage — and with millions of men in the Wehrmacht, that is understandable. In 1932, right before Hitler came to power, the figure was around 5 million and 30% of the workforce was unemployed. Those mystified by Hitler’s popularity — and he was popular across a broad swathe of the country — should take note. In addition, the low number hints as to why the Germans embraced forced/slave labor.
The Germans seize the French television service, which has a television antenna on the Eiffel Tower. Eventually, the German Ministry of Post and Radiodiffusion Nationale will resume programming in Paris, broadcasting in both German and French (Fernsehsender Paris) from 7 May 1943.
German security police, the Sicherheitsdienst, ban the Freemasons, Rotary, and Red Cross.
Vichy France ordered the internment of anyone who posed a threat to national security. Pierre Laval issues orders to arrest anyone who poses a threat to national security, with priority given to communists.
Dutch government in exile of Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy forms in London, England.
Many Rumanians in northern Transylvania are not happy about the Second Vienna Award and stage demonstrations. There also are reports of incidents between Rumanian and Hungarian troops as the Hungarians move in to occupy the region.
The fascist Iron Guard agitates to have Ion Antonescu appointed Prime Minister. Antonescu is considered a somewhat moderate figure — among those in the far right — since he is a member of the elite and thus (presumably) not interested in any “death ride” military campaigns. However, Antonescu does sympathize with the aim of restoring the borders of “Greater Rumania” in the East. King Carol refuses.
The Legionary Revolution breaks out at 9AM in Rumania. Fighting in Bucharest, Brasov, and Constanta results in the death of nine Legionaries. Most public buildings are quickly occupied and the Palace is surrounded. General Coroama, Commander of the Bucharest Army Corps, refuses to order his troops to fire on the Legionaries.
Joachim von Ribbentrop denied that the Second Vienna Arbitration had violated any terms of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, as Vyacheslav Molotov had accused. Furthermore, Ribbentrop complained that the manner in which the Soviet Union had take over the Baltic States was in itself a violation of the pact.
Vojtech Tuka convinced the Slovak assembly to enact Constitutional Law 210 which gave the government powers to establish anti-Semitic laws.
At Malta, an Italian MAS (Motor Torpedo Boat) buzzes the island at dawn but makes a clean getaway despite attempted interceptions by the RAF. An Italian submarine also is reported northeast of the island, but depth charge attacks produce no result.
U-60, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Adalbert Schnee, sank steamer Ulva (1401grt) at 55-45N, 11-45W. At 0326 hours the unescorted Ulva (Master Henry Barnfather) was hit amidships by one G7e torpedo from U-60 and sank slowly about 180 miles west-northwest of Inishtrahull. The Germans observed a heavy detonation that sent debris into the air, some of it falling close to the U-boat. Three crew members were lost. The master and 16 crew members landed at Castlebay, Isle of Barra, Hebrides. The 1,401-ton Ulva was carrying coal and was headed for Gibraltar.
U-57, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Erich Topp, was sunk in an accidental collision with Norwegian steamer Rona (1376grt) at Brunsbuttel. Six crew were lost and 19 rescued, she was salved on 11 January 1941, repaired for training duties, and recommissioned on 30 May 1941.
All movements at Scapa Flow were held up due to minelaying by German IX Air Divison aircraft during the night in the southern entrances. Destroyer HMS Duncan remained at sea after escorting steamer Lady of Mann to Lerwick. Destroyer HMS Holderness was delayed in sailing until 1230 to provide additional escort for convoy WN.12 to Methil .
Destroyers HMS Zulu, HMS Sikh, HMS Kashmir, and HMS Kipling departed Scapa Flow at 1200 for Loch Alsh where they arrived at 1900. On the 4th, they escorted minelayers HMS Southern Prince, HMS Port Quebec, and HMS Menestheus from Loch Alsh at 1400/4th on minelaying operation SN 5A, which was conducted during the night of the 4th/5th, and arrived back at Scapa Flow at 1400/6th after the lay.
Destroyers HMS Bedouin and HMS Ashanti departed the Clyde for Scapa Flow, arriving at 1635 on the 4th.
Destroyers HMS Intrepid, HMS Icarus, and HMS Impulsive departed Immingham to lay minefield MS (A) near South Goodwin Light Vessel. They were escorted by six motor torpedo boats and the minelay was completed early on the 4th. They departed Immingham again on the 5th and laid minefield MS (B), an extension of the first field.
Sloop HMS Shoreham intercepted Greek steamer Evros (5283grt) in the Red Sea.
Heavy cruiser HMS Dorsetshire departed Simonstown for Durban.
Light cruiser HMS Dragon arrived at Capetown from Lobito.
Norwegian steamer Tropic Sea (5781grt), captured by German armed merchant cruiser Orion on 18 May 1940, was scuttled when intercepted by submarine HMS Truant in the Bay of Biscay, in 46-30N, 11-30W. The survivors, included the crew from steamer Haxby sunk by Orion, were picked up by Truant. Twenty one survivors were landed at Corunna. Ten survivors were picked up by a flying boat.
VICHY FRENCH NAVY MOVEMENTS
Armed merchant cruiser Cap des Palmes escorted by submarine Poncelet and sloop Bougainville departed Dakar for Libreville where they arrived with troops on the 10th.
Sloop D’Entrecasteux and submarine Ajax departed Casablanca for Libreville on the 3rd.
Light cruiser Primaugeut, sloop Gazelle, and tanker Tarn also departed Casablanca for Libreville on the 4th.
Sloops D’Iberville, Surprise, and Commandant Riviere followed over the next few days.
Due to the presence of Vichy French submarine Sidi Ferruch at Libreville, light cruiser Delhi departed Duala to carry ten French officers to Pointe Noire.
Sloop HMS Bridgewater departed Lagos for Freetown.
Convoy OB.208 departed Liverpool escorted by destroyer HMS Westcott, sloop HMS Folkestone, and corvette HMS Periwinkle. The next day, the convoy was joined by destroyer HMS Scimitar. On 6 September, Westcott and Periwinkle were detached and on the 7th, Scimitar and Folkestone left the convoy.
Convoy FN.271 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer HMS Vimiera and sloop HMS Egret. Patrol sloop HMS Shearwater joined on the 4th, on which day the convoy arrived in the Tyne.
Convoy MT.159 departed Methil, and arrived in the Tyne later that day.
Convoy FS.271 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyers HMS Valorous and HMS Westminster. Sloop HMS Shearwater joined the convoy en route, which arrived at Southend on the 5th.
Convoy SL.46 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser HMS Bulolo until the 19th, when the convoy was joined by Polish destroyer ORP Garland and corvettes HMS Gardenia, HMS Geranium, and HMS Periwinkle. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 23rd.
To an accompanying chorus of congressional approval and protest, President Roosevelt disclosed today that he was turning over 50 “overage” American destroyers to Great Britain to bulwark that beleaguered country against the onslaught of Nazi Germany. Commander Destroyers, Atlantic Squadron (Captain Ferdinand L. Reichmuth) is placed in charge of the transfer operation
President Roosevelt’s transfer of 50 over age destroyers to England for air and naval bases took congress by surprise today and evoked praise and criticism from members of both parties. Those who criticized the deal generally took the position that it might lead to war but there were some who held that the president had not gone far enough that he should have acquired the bases outright instead of on lease, or that additional territory should be included. The president acted by executive order, however, and no provisions for senate or house action were made.
President Roosevelt has unqualified power to exchange fifty over-age destroyers for British naval and air bases in the Western Hemisphere without Senate consent, in the opinion of Attorney General Jackson, made public today, but, while Mr. Jackson asserted the Executive’s right to dispose of naval vessels, he again refused to sanction the legality of delivery of “mosquito boats” now under construction. Under a World War law the Attorney General ruled that it would be entirely proper to transfer the destroyers, since these were not built “with the intent that they should enter the service of a belligerent,” but turning over the uncompleted mosquito boats, he argued, would be impossible, as this would legally mean that they were intended for a belligerent.
Opponents of the British-American deal sought tonight to find means of obstruction and delay, but this seemed to hinge upon the extent to which the direct interest of a taxpayer could be proved and the general opinion here was that the adversaries were blocked from court action and could depend only upon sufficient massing of public opinion. Apparently the Administration felt legally secure. Writing his opinion to President Roosevelt last Tuesday, Mr. Jackson went into detail as to constitutional power and especially stressed the responsibility of the Executive to use every authority for national defense at a time when “present world conditions forbid him to risk” any constitutionally avoidable delay.
The fifty destroyers which the United States will give to Great Britain in exchange for naval and air base leases on British territory in the New World have been certified by Admiral Harold R. Stark, Chief of Naval Operations, as not essential to the defense of the United States.
Although declaring “the country will undoubtedly approve” of the administration’s trade of destroyers for naval base rights in British possessions, Wendell L. Willkie said today it was regrettable President Roosevelt “did not deem it necessary” to obtain congressional approval or permit public discussion. Willkie handed reporters this formal statement at a press conference in his backyard: “The country will undoubtedly approve of the program to add to our naval and air bases and assistance given to Great Britain. It is regrettable, however, that the president did not deem it necessary in connection with this proposal, to secure the approval of congress or permit public discussion prior to adoption. The people have a right to know of such important commitments prior to and not after made. We must be extremely careful in these times when the struggle in the world is between democracy and totalitarianism not to deliminate or destroy the democratic processes while seeking to preserve democracy.”
Conscription of industrial plants if necessary for national defense became the center of debate as the House of Representatives began consideration of the Burke-Wadsworth Selective Service Bill today.
An intensification of the European crisis would be more likely to help President Roosevelt than Wendell Willkie in the coming election, a survey by the American Institute of Public Opinion indicates, according to Dr. George Gallup, its director.
The Communist party, given a chance to defend itself, today filed a complaint in intervention to a suit brought by Reginald Denny, film actor, to have the party’s candidate outlawed from the California election ballot. Denny filed suit last Aug. 19 on grounds the party was subversive to the interests of the United States and had no right to a place on the ballot. Superior Judge Thomas T. Gould granted Communists an opportunity to answer the charge. The intervener was filed by Jack Moore, candidate for the state assembly from the sixty-fourth district, in behalf of himself and members of the state and national Communist party. He asked that Denny’s injunction suit be dismissed, denying charges the party owes allegiance to a foreign government. The party in the United States, he said, recognized as “supreme authority” its national convention and between conventions, its national committee.
William S. Knudsen resigned today as president of General Motors Corp. because of his governmental duties as a member of the national defense advisory commission. He had been on leave of absence since June 1. Alfred P, Sloan Jr., chairman of the board of directors, said that Knudsen also resigned as a member of the board of directors and of the corporation’s policy and administrative committees, severing all official relations with the corporation. “The board felt,” Sloan said, “that in view of the approaching time when the corporation may be in a position to enter into contracts with the government to supply products required under the defense program, it must of necessity accept Mr. Knudsen’s resignation in order to remove any possibility of conflict of interests, owing to Mr. Knudsen’s dual position. This was done with the greatest regret.”
U.S. Navy light cruiser USS St. Louis embarked an evaluation board under Rear Admiral J. W. Greenslade to examine base sites acquired under Lend Lease. She departed Norfolk, Virginia on the 3rd, arrived at Bermuda on the 5th and departed on the 8th to return to Norfolk, arriving on the 10th. Leaving again on the 12th for St Johns, Newfoundland, she arrived there on the 16th, and departed on the 18th for Argentia. On the 21st, she departed Argentia, arrived at Boston on the 23rd, sailed again the same day, and arrived back at Norfolk on the 25th.
Long Island daily Newsday begins publication under the editorship of Alicia Patterson, daughter of the founder of New York Daily News.
39.4 cm of rainfall is recorded at Sapulpa, Oklahoma (state record).
Major League Baseball:
Scoring seven runs in a first-inning marathon, the Chicago White Sox triumphed by 10–2 to throw another damper on Detroit’s pennant chances and put the third-place Bengals four full games back of the league leading Indians. It was Detroit’s eighth straight loss to the White Sox, who have been losing to Cleveland even more consistently than they have whipped Detroit. In twenty games this season Chicago has defeated Detroit thirteen times, whereas the Sox have lost fifteen out of nineteen to the league leaders.
Forty-year-old Jimmy Wilson, sometime manager, coach, and catcher, and who has a son nearly ready for pro baseball, batted the Reds to a 4–3 victory over the Cardinals’ today with a double to send them eight full games ahead of the idle Dodgers in the National League pennant race. The champions’ eleventh triumph in fifteen starts also was Fireman Joe Beggs’s ninth in a relief role, and dropped St. Louis to a third-place tie with the Pirates, who were inactive.
All other major league teams were idle today.
Detroit Tigers 2, Chicago White Sox 10
St. Louis Cardinals 3, Cincinnati Reds 4
The U.S. Navy heavy cruisers USS Wichita (CA-45), under command of Rear Admiral Andrew C. Pickens, and USS Quincy (CA-39) departed Buenos Aires, Argentina for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. These ships were visiting South America “to furnish a reminder of the strength and the range of action of the armed forces of the United States.”
A reported virtual ultimatum from Japan to the governor of Indo-China heightened tonight the possibility that rich, torrid possession of defeated France would become a battlefield even if its poorly-armed forces do not resist. Neutral informants from Hanoi, Indo-China capital, said the Japanese insisted on immediate use of Haiphong, main port on the Gulf of Tonkin, as a military base and the right, as well, to move Japanese troops over the French-owned Yunnan railroad to the Chinese border. China’s foreign minister, Wang Chun-Hui, already has declared that Chinese forces will invade Indo-China if the Japanese send troops there.” Although Reuter (British) dispatches from Saigon, French Indo-China, said the Japanese army ultimatum had been rejected, Hanoi informants asserted the Petain-appointed governor-general, Vice-Admiral Jean Decoux, had decided to try to delay a decision and seek further instructions from Vichy. The Japanese presumably would transport their troops by sea to Haiphong, whence the Yunnan railway runs 220 miles to the Chinese border and from there 200 miles further to Kunming, capital of Yunnan province and nerve center of China’s internal and international land and air communications.
He Yingqin ordered Nationalist 18th Army to counter the Chinese Communist advance under Mao Tse-tung along the Yangtze River in Jiangsu Province, China. Heretofore, the two forces have had an uneasy alliance or at least co-belligerency against the Japanese. A day-long suspension of railway and telegraphic communications between Peiping and Tientsin resulted when a mobile force of the Chinese Eighth Route Army dynamited tracks and poles at two places near the halfway station, Lanfang.
Australian cargo ship Coraline runs aground on Point Kialla, New South Wales (Jervis Bay) and is wrecked. There are six survivors and one crewman perishes.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 129.74 (+0.32)
Born:
Pauline Collins, English actress (“Shirley Valentine”), in London, England, United Kingdom.
Eduardo Galeano, journalist, writer and novelist, in Montevideo, Uruguay (d. 2015).
Joseph C. Strasser, admiral, in New Jersey (d. 2019).
Ralph Wells, NBA guard (Chicago Zephyrs), in Chicago, Illinois.
Naval Construction:
The Royal Navy Bar-class boom defense vessel HMS Barova (Z 94) is laid down by Charles Hill & Sons (Bristol, U.K.).
The Royal Canadian Navy (VTE Reciprocating-engined) minesweeper HMCS Wasaga (J 162) is laid down by the Burrard Dry Dock Co. Ltd. (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada).
The U.S. Navy fleet minelayer USS Terror (CM-5), sole ship of her class, is laid down by the Philadelphia Navy Yard (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.).
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type VIIC U-boats U-455 and U-456 are laid down by Deutsche Werke AG, Kiel (werk 286 and 287).
The Royal Navy Flower-class corvette HMS Rose (K 102) is laid down by William Simons & Co. Ltd. (Renfrew, Scotland). She is transferred to the Royal Norwegian Navy before completion and commissions as HNoMS Rose (K 102).
The U.S. Navy Gleaves-class destroyer USS Macomb (DD-458) is laid down by the Bath Iron Works (Bath, Maine, U.S.A.).
The Royal Navy Shakespeare-class minesweeping trawler HMS Ophelia (T 05) is launched by Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co. Ltd. (Goole, U.K.); completed by Amos & Smith.
The Royal Navy Dance-class ASW trawler HMS Sword Dance (T 132) is launched by Henry Robb Ltd. (Leith, U.K.); completed by Whites M.E.
The Royal Navy Flower-class corvette HMS Daffodil (K 07) is launched by J. Lewis & Sons Ltd. (Aberdeen, Scotland). She is renamed HMS Dianella (K 07) before completion.
The Royal Navy Flower-class corvette HMS Snapdragon (K 10) is launched by Smiths Dock Co., Ltd. (South Bank-on-Tees, U.K.).
The Royal Navy British Power Boat 70 foot-class (ex-French) motor anti-submarine boat HMS MA/SB 57 is commissioned.
The Royal Navy “U”-class (Second Group) submarine HMS Upright ((N 89) is commissioned. Her first commander is Lieutenant Francis John Brooks, RN.
History Diaries 