The Greek 2nd Army Corps mounted another attack on the enveloped Italian Julia Division in the Pindus Mountains region in northern Greece. To the west, Italian forces at the Kalamas River continued their attempt to break out of the bridgehead.
In the coastal sector on 6 November 1940, the attacks against the Kalpaki front continue. The Italians continue trying to re-take the Grabala heights, without success. Nearby, Italian troops take Igoumenitsa on the coast, where the natural barriers are less formidable.
The Italian Julia Division continues being slaughtered in the Pindus sector. The Greek troops of the 2nd Army Corps continue pressing in on them. All attempts at the relief of the Italian troops in the Vovousa Valley fail.
The British promise of financial aid to Greece was cemented with an advance of £5,000,000.
Colonel Adolf Heusinger, chief of the operations department at the army high command (OKH), submits his first draft of the proposed invasion of Greece from Bulgaria. General Franz Halder, OKH Chief of Staff, reviews it — the plan is based on his general instructions — and decides to beef up the motorized troops involved. He adds the 60 Motorized Division and the SS Adolf Hitler Division to the 40th corps which forms the backbone of the invasion. This effectively doubles its strength. He also adds 30th corps, which has to be taken from Army Group B in Poland, giving that corps the 5th and 6th mountain divisions.
In effect, Halder doubles the size of the forces involved. Taking some of these top units from forces based in Poland that otherwise would be available later for Operation BARBAROSSA leads some historians to reach the conclusion that this operation — which eventually becomes Operation MARITA — dilutes the forces for that more important invasion.
Cardinal Faulhaber submits a letter of protest to Minister of Justice Gürtner. Faulhaber wrote that despite all attempts at secrecy, everyone now knew that large numbers of patients were being killed in the course of a compulsory euthanasia program. The killing of these innocent people, Faulhaber ended his letter, raised a moral issue which could not be ignored.
Three Canadian prisoners of war who had previously served in the British Royal Air Force arrived at the Oflag IV-C camp at the Colditz Castle. The men were Donald Middleton, Keith Milne, and Howard Wardle. They were transferred from Oflag IX-A/H.
The British Under-Secretary for War announced measures to provide the Home Guard better equipment without altering its ‘local and friendly character’.
Following numerous violations of Swiss aerial neutrality, the last one from 11:25 to 12:55 last night, Switzerland’s High Command today ordered blackout precautions to be taken as from tomorrow night at 10 o’clock throughout the entire country.
At Malta, there are rumors that the BBC has broadcast that the recent air attacks on Naples have come from Malta. The bombers’ base is supposed to be a secret as if the Italians believe that Malta is an offensive threat, that would make them more likely to invade it. This also is a particularly bad time to antagonize the Italians because of the extensive Royal Navy fleet operations in motion, including convoys to Malta.
British, Sudanese and Indian troops counterattacked the Italian garrisons at Gallabat and Metemma. The British under General Slim, accompanied by Sudanese and 10th Indian Brigade troops, counterattack the Italian troops at Gallabat and Metemma. Gallabat falls. The frontier post of Gallabat on the border of Sudan/Abyssinia has changed hands a couple of times, most recently in July.
The Free French remain on the move. They take Lambarenein Gabon.
Former South African Prime Minister General J.B.M. Hertzog, who some have accused of having Hitlerite sympathies, resigns as leader of the Nationalist Party. The reason is Hertzog’s loss of support by his coalition partners due to his platform of equal rights between British South Africans and Afrikaners.
The Luftwaffe raids Southampton during the day, causing casualties and property damage. They hit two churches, one of which has 600 people sheltering in the crypt, but there are no casualties. This is estimated to be the 175th raid against Southampton. During the night, the Luftwaffe sends 190 bombers to London and surrounding areas.
Major Helmut Wick, commander of JG 2 “Richthofen,” shoots down a Hurricane flown by Hubert Adair. The plane comes down at Pigeon House Farm, Widely, Hampshire. The plane is excavated on 6 October 1979 and the pilot’s remains removed. His loss is listed on the Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede, Surrey.
There are dogfights over the Isle of Wight, one of which leads to the death of Ofw. Heinrich Klopp of 5./JG 2.
Overall during the day, the Luftwaffe loses about 6 planes and the RAF loses four.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 9 Blenheims during the day to Holland and Northern Germany. 5 aircraft bombed targets. No losses. Bomber Command attacks a convoy off Den Helder and oil installations at Salzbergen, Cuxhaven, and the airfield at Haamstede, Zeeland.
After dark, the bombers attack Spandau, Berlin and nearby locations. RAF Bomber Command dispatches 64 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys overnight to 6 German cities. The largest raid was by 18 Wellingtons to Berlin but only 1 aircraft reached that target. 1 Wellington and 1 Whitley lost.
The RAF raids Italian airfields in Albania.
Destroyers HMS Exmoor, HMS Cleveland, and HMS Pytchley departed Scapa Flow at 0815 escorting aircraft carrier HMS Furious to Liverpool. The ships arrived on the 7th.
Destroyer HMS Cleveland departed Liverpool later on the 7th and proceeded to Portsmouth, arriving at 0900/9th.
Minesweeper HMS Elgin was mined near Sunk Light Vessel in 51-50N, 1-35E. Screened by minesweepers HMS Niger and HMS Speedwell, the minesweeper was towed by minesweeper HMS Gossamer to Harwich.
British minefield BS.45 was laid by minelayers HMS Teviotbank and HMS Plover and destroyer HMS Icarus and HMS Impulsive.
Anti-aircraft ship HMS Alynbank transferred from convoy EN.19 to WN.31 in Pentland Firth. Convoy was attacked by German bombers off Duncansby Head.
British steamer Clan Mackinlay (6365grt) in convoy WN.31 was sunk by German bombing in 58‑33N, 02‑53W. Five crewmen were lost from the British steamer.
British steamer Harborough (5415grt) in convoy WN.31 was damaged by German bombing nine miles 76° from Noss Head. She was taken in tow by tugs Buccaneer, Bandit and Abeille 21.
Destroyer HMS Bulldog departed Liverpool at 1400 for Skaalefjord to refuel from tanker Montenol and await orders. She arrived at 0900/8th.
Canadian destroyer HMCS Ottawa and destroyer HMS Harvester aided British steamer Melrose Abbey (2473grt) which was being shelled by an Italian submarine southwest of Ireland. The steamer escaped significant damage. Destroyer Ottawa fired five salvoes at the submarine before the submarine dived. Destroyers Ottawa and Harvester then conducted anti-submarine operations. Latest appraisals indicate the submarine was Italian submarine Faa Di Bruno which was sunk.
Submarine HMS Sturgeon sank Norwegian steamer Delfinus (1293grt) off Obrestad Light in 58-34N, 5-37E.
Submarine HMS Clyde arrived at Holy Loch. The submarine proceeded on to Devonport, arriving on the 18th. Submarine Clyde was under repair at Devonport from 22 November to 31 March.
Submarine HMS Unique departed Portsmouth for patrol off Cherbourg. After patrol, the submarine arrived back at Portsmouth on the 26th for A. S. T. running.
British steamer Nalon (7222grt) was sunk by German bombing in 53‑57N, 15‑03W. The entire crew of the British steamer was rescued.
British whaler Sevra (253grt, T/Sub Lt F. B. Richards RNVR) was sunk on a mine five and a half cables 154° from St Anthony Light off Falmouth. There were no casualties on the whaler.
British trawler Girl Helen (63grt) was sunk on a mine 10.75 cables 349° from Tyne North Pier Light.
Swedish fishing vessel Elly (52grt) was sunk on a mine twenty miles west of Paternoster. Five crewmen were lost on the Swedish vessel.
The Operation COAT, the Mediterranean Fleet with battleships HMS Warspite and HMS Valiant, aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious with three of HMS Eagle’s aircraft embarked, destroyers HMS Hyperion, HMS Hasty, HMS Hero, HMS Hereward, HMS Havock, and HMS Ilex of the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla and HMS Decoy and HMS Defender of the 10th Destroyer Flotilla departed Alexandria on Operation MB 8. Battleships HMS Malaya and HMS Ramillies and destroyers HMS Nubian, HMS Mohawk, HMS Jervis, HMS Janus, and HMS Juno of the 14th Destroyer Flotilla departed Alexandria in Operation MB 8. This operation was to meet reinforcements coming from the Western basin. Cruisers HMS York and HMS Gloucester also departed Alexandria in this operation. The Fleet also covered the movement of Convoys.
Of the Destroyers in the Mediterranean Fleet, only HMAS Vendetta, HMAS Stuart, and HMS Imperial repairing at Malta did not participate in COAT.
Light cruiser HMS Orion departed Alexandria for Pireaus to consult with the Greek authorities. The cruiser also carried ammunition, bombs, ground crews for 216 Squadron. The cruiser arrived during the morning of 7 November.
Convoy FN.328 departed Southend, escorted by destroyers HMS Wallace and HMS Westminster. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 8th.
Convoy FS.329 departed Methil, escorted by destroyers HMS Vanity and HMS Wolfhound. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 8th.
Convoy BS.7 A departed Port Suden, escorted by sloop HMS Shoreham. The convoy arrived at Aden on the 11th.
Wendell L. Willkie retired at 1:30 a.m. today after announcing that he would have no further statement on the election until he awakened. The Republican candidate did not concede defeat. The Republican presidential nominee gave up his vigil at the radio and his study of newspaper election returns after telling a group of cheering supporters at the Commodore hotel: “Don’t be afraid; never quit.” He said he would have a statement to make at 9 a.m. Willkie appeared tired, but he still was smiling as he sent word to reporters that he would withhold comment until morning.
Early Wednesday morning, Willkie awoke to find that the mathematics had become insurmountable, and bowed to the inevitable, conceding the election to winner Franklin Roosevelt.
Almost complete returns from Tuesday’s election in the United States reveal that, in general terms, the answer of about fifty millions of voters to President Roosevelt’s request for a third term and a vote of confidence in his foreign policies was as follows:
They gave to the President the electoral votes of 39 States out of 48, with a total of 468 electoral votes when only 266 were required for his re-election, but a reduction of 55 from his total of 1936.
They retained the Democratic party and the Administration in control of the House of Representatives — the Senate will remain Democratic until 1942 at the earliest — by adding eight Democratic seats to increase the present majority of 88 to 96, with one seat still in doubt.
They supplied a net Republican Senate gain of three seats-Burton in Ohio, Brooks in Illinois, Willis in Indiana and Butler in Nebraska, succeeding Democratic incumbents, while the Democrats picked up a Republican seat in Delaware.
They registered for the President over Wendell I. Willkie, his Republican opponent, a popular majority which, when all the votes are counted, will be about 5,000,000, a reduction of 6,000,000 from his score in 1936.
A will toward national unity manifested itself yesterday as the aftermath of the bitter, turbulent cam paign which resulted in President Roosevelt’s election to serve a tradition-smashing third term as the nation’s chief executive. It was evident in the editorials of newspapers which had strongly supported Wendell L. Willkie, the defeated Republican nominee, in the statements of many of the country’s leading men, in the usual exchange of messages between victor and vanquished, and In a radio address made by Willkie early In the day.
President Roosevelt departed for Washington tonight after appearing in his home village at his first public engagement as a third-term President-elect. He officiated at the cornerstone laying of the new Hyde Park post office. No callers were received by the President and he paid no other visits. Most of the time he remained in his study, where he made repeated long-distance telephone calls and glanced through sheaves of telegrams received from thousands which poured into the temporary White House offices in Poughkeepsie. Among the messages was one of congratulation from Wendell L. Willkie, to which he sent an immediate reply. Made public at the same time were messages which he exchanged with Senator Charles L. McNary, Republican candidate for the Vice Presidency.
Late returns swelled the already safe majority of Democrats in the House of Representatives tonight, but Republicans scored a counerstroke with a net gain of four seats in the senate. With most contests decided, control of both houses rested where it has been since 1930 in the house and since 1932 in the senate. Riding the strong tide of votes that sent President Roosevelt to the White House for a third term, the Democrats recouped some of their 1938 house losses and had elected 265 members on the basis of incomplete returns, six more seats than they hold in the present congress and 46 more than a majority.
Around the world last night, from the upper reaches of the Yangtze to Tokyo, London, Berlin and Rome, the reelection of President Roosevelt evoked reaction ranging from totalitarian indifference to British gratification and Chinese jubilation. Japan took the occasion to urge upon Mr. Roosevelt a “reorientation” of the United States’ far eastern policy. Berlin and Rome professed no surprise at the result nor any disappointment, expressing the view that as between Democratic and Republican policy on aid to Britain short of war they had no preference; that the election was none of their business anyway. Not so in London; even less so in Chungking.
John L. Lewis declined to comment today on the re-election of President Roosevelt, but it was reported that he would carry out his pledge to resign as president of the Congress of Industrial Organisations if Mr. Roosevelt were elected.
Hawaiian voters approve a referendum directing the territory to pursue becoming a U.S. state by a margin of roughly 2-to-1.
Professor F. Bert Farquharson at the University of Washington, who recently has completed a study of the “Galloping Gertie” Tacoma Narrows Bridge, meets with Bridge engineer Clark Eldridge and PWA engineer L. R. Durkee. Farquharson tells them that they will have to modify the brand-new bridge in order to make it more streamlined to eliminate or at least dampen a “twisting motion” which his scale models had shown were caused by high winds. The engineers agree and tell their superiors that they need to contract with suppliers to install wind deflectors on the south side of the bridge. State authorities begin drafting the contracts. Too late…
A major early winter storm system approaches the coast of the Pacific Northwest, coming ashore in Washington overnight. This will become known as the Armistice Day Storm and will bring gale force winds, destruction, and intense rain and snow across much of the United States in the coming days.
All Mexican officials are jubilant over President Roosevelt’s victory, which seems to remove any immediate likelihood of a cessation of silver purchases or a change in the attitude of the United States Government toward Mexican social reforms.
South American public opinion is jubilant over President Roosevelt’s re-election. Practically all newspapers of the continent except those of Fascist sympathies devoted their front pages to news of the U.S. election.
General understandings have been reached with virtually all the Latin American countries by which United States forces would be permitted to use air and naval bases to the south if that should be considered necessary for hemisphere defense.
When President Roosevelt visited Brazil in November, 1936, he invited President Getulio Vargas to visit the United States. His reelection now as President of the United States for a third term may materialize Dr. Vargas’s trip in the near future.
Chile made a claim to islands in the Antarctic region and to part of the South Polar continent.
The Japanese press recognizes President Roosevelt’s election victory as the American people’s endorsement of his policies of support to Britain and to China and a “positive defense of democracy.” Stronger pressure in the Far East is foretold and a Nichi Nichi columnist reminds his readers that the Japanese Navy can lick all comers. The commentators have no counter policy to suggest except that Japan should “sternly watch” and pursue her East Asia policy. “Japan is not disturbed by the result.” says Asahi. “Japan will only go ahead establishing a new order in East Asia on the basis of the fundamental purpose of her Allies who are determined to construct a new world order.”
Gunboat HMS Cricket departed Singapore escorted by light cruiser HMS Capetown for Penang and Nancowry. On the 10th, the report of the Ole Jacob attack caused gunboat Cricket to be ordered to Nancowry and light cruiser Capetown set off to search for the German raider. On the 20th, both ships were able to depart Nancowry to return to Penang to await weather conditions in the Bay of Bengal to settle.
On 5 December, gunboat HMS Tarantula and British steamer Gurna (5248grt) departed Singapore escorted by light cruiser HMS Dauntless. These ships arrived at Penang on 7 December and departed the same day with gunboat HMS Cricket in company.
Late on the 6th and into 7 November, German armed merchant cruiser Pinguin laid forty mines in Spencer Strait near Melbourne. This concluded minelays by armed merchant cruiser Pinguin and her auxiliary minelayer Passat.
Sunk on the 7th on the Bass Strait barrage laid by Passat was British steamer Cambridge (10, 855grt) six miles east of Wilson’s Promontory, Bass Strait. One crewman was missing from the British steamer. The survivors were rescued by Australian auxiliary minesweeper Orara which first attempted to tow Cambridge, without success.
Australian light cruiser HMAS Adelaide departed Sydney to search for the German raider. The light cruiser arrived back at Sydney on the 10th.
Sunk on the 8th in 38-51S, 143-39E off Cape Otway on the Bass Strait barrage was American steamer City Of Rayville (5883grt). One crewman was missing from the American steamer.
Sunk on 5 December was Australian coastal steamer Nimbin (1052grt) in 33‑15S, 151‑47E. Seven crewmen were missing from the Australian steamer.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 131.98 (-3.23)
Born:
Dieter F. Uchtdorf, aviator, airline executive and religious leader (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), in Mährisch-Ostrau, Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.
Ruth Messinger, Manhattan Borough President and President of the American Jewish World Service, born in New York, New York.
Gary Kroner, AFL kicker (Denver Broncos), in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Darrell Lester, NFL and AFL fullback (Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos), in Lake Charles, Louisiana (d. 2006).
Died:
Hubert Adair, 22 or 23, British fighter pilot (killed in action over Southampton).
Naval Construction:
The Royal New Zealand Navy Isles-class minesweeping trawler HMNZS Inchkeith (T 155) is laid down by John Lewis & Sons (Aberdeen, Scotland)
The Royal Navy Bangor-class (Turbine-engined) minesweeper HMS Brixham (J 105) Blyth Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. Ltd. (Blyth, U.K.); completed by Whites M.E.
The Royal Australian Navy Bathurst-class minesweeper-corvette HMAS Rockhampton (J 203) is laid down by Walkers Ltd. (Maryborough, Queensland, Australia).
The Royal Navy “Q”-class destroyer HMS Queenborough (G 70) is laid down by Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd. (Wallsend-on-Tyne, U.K.); completed by Wallsend.
History Diaries 