With the Italians having gone over to the defensive by 10 November 1940, the Greeks focus on massing troops for a counter-offensive. In the coastal sector, the Greek 8th Division continues launching local counterattacks to pressure the Italians into giving up their bridgehead over the Kalamas River.
End of the Battle of Britain: The onset of winter weather significantly reduced the threat of a German invasion of Britain. The Blitz continues, and the Germans in coming days conduct a massive raid on Coventry, which destroys much of the heart of the industrial city. But the British survived the worst of the Blitzkrieg as German air raids became increasingly sporadic. In the Battle of Britain, from August 8 — October 31, 1940, the Luftwaffe lost 2,375 planes while the RAF lost 800 planes. Many British cities, however, were seriously damaged and burned. German air attacks would resume in the spring of 1941, but the Luftwaffe had to shift air resources to the east in preparation for the German invasion of Russia.
Telegram from Churchill to Roosevelt — We have been much disturbed by reports of the intention of the French Government to bring [the battleships] Jean Bart and Richelieu to Mediterranean for completion. The danger is that these ships will fall under German control. We should feel bound to do our best to prevent it. I would be most helpful if you felt able to give a further warning at Vichy on this matter. [Roosevelt responded quickly offering to purchase the two ships for U.S. Navy and guaranteeing that they would not be used in the present war].
The House of Commons meets in another building, “as an experiment and as a precaution against increased bombing.”
The first Avro Manchester Mk. 1 bomber to be delivered went to No. 207 Squadron RAF (Squadron Leader Noel Challis Hyde) based at RAF Waddington in the county of Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom. The Manchester will be a disappointment, but will serve as a starting point for the development of one of the great aircraft of the war: The Avro Lancaster.
Martin Maryland’s of No. 431 Flight RAF are used to reconnoiter the Italian Fleet at Taranto.
Margaret White, a 26-year-old woman born in England and married to William Joyce (Lord Haw Haw), makes her first radio broadcast on Berlin Radio as Lady Haw Haw. In 1942 she broadcasts under her real name with weekly talks about women’s economic problems. Both are arrested on 28 May 1945 and taken to London for trial on charges of treason. William Joyce is found guilty and hanged in 1946. Margaret Joyce is spared a trial on the basis that she was a German citizen (her husband having become a naturalized German citizen in 1940). She is deported to Germany and interned as a security suspect for a short while. After her release she returned to London where she died in 1972.
The Vrancea earthquake struck Rumania, registering 7.7 on the Richter scale and killing 1,000 people. The most destructive earthquake in Rumanian history killed and injured thousands over the weekend, leveled whole villages, set raging fires in rich oil fields and caused millions to flee to open fields. New tremors overnight added to the terror early today. Between 1,000 and 2,000 persons were believed killed outright when the most violent quake struck at 3:39 AM. Thousands were injured and homeless. The death toll is expected to mount much higher. The majority of buildings in 5,000 square miles of thickly populated areas were damaged. Tens of millions of dollars in property damage resulted. Hardly a house in Bucharest was untouched. Officials estimated that 300 men, women and children were trapped in the 10-story Carlton apartment structure, Bucharest’s newest and most modern, which was reduced to a 20-foot high pile of rubble amid screams of the dying.
The German-French definitive peace postponed until end of war with the U.K. “because of uncertainty and flux of points to enter the treaty.”
The conferences here this week of Vyacheslav M. Molotov and Adolf Hitler are for the “reorganization of politics of the entire world” occasioned by the imminent collapse of the British empire, the Essener National Zeitung said tonight. Characterizing Molotoff; Soviet premier and foreign minister, as a “Russian plenipotentiary,” the newspaper said editorially that the meeting was a political factor of the first order and hinted that Russia and Japan soon would become increasingly active in the war against Britain. The newspaper, organ of No. 2 Nazi Marshal Herman Göring, said that German-Russian rapprochement had facilitated the improvement of Russo-Japanese relations enabling “Russia and Japan to become increasingly capable of action elsewhere.”
Today, the second anniversary of the death of President Kemal Ataturk, all Istanbul newspapers are largely devoted to honoring his memory and his great achievements of liberating and uniting the Turkish people in their present republic.
The seesaw campaign between the Italians and the British over the insignificant border town of Gallabat in southern Sudan continues. The British push the Italians out again.
During the day, the RAF attacks shipping in Boulogne and Calais. The weather is terrible during the night, with heavy storms and icing, but RAF Bomber Command sends its planes to attack several targets within Germany. These include industrial facilities in Dresden, Danzig, Essen, and northern Italy. The RAF loses five bombers. This is the first RAF attack on Danzig, which is at the outer limits of the RAF’s current bombers.
During the day, the Luftwaffe mounts fighter-bomber (Jabo) raids on some towns along the Kent and Sussex coasts. Some of the Jabos strafe the Scilly Isles. The Luftwaffe also is operational after dark despite the weather. After dark, it puts 170 bombers in the air with London as the main target.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 7 Blenheims during daylight. 3 aircraft bombed at Calais and Boulogne. 1 aircraft lost.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 111 aircraft overnight to many targets; the largest raid was by 25 Wellingtons to Gelsenkirchen. 2 Blenheims lost. There were 3 O.T.U. sorties.
At Malta, there are air raid alerts, but no actual attacks — the Italian planes have a well-established pattern now of approaching the island but then veering off and returning to base.
On U-28, Maschinengefreiter Sachse was severely injured by boiling water.
Operating in the English Channel, destroyer HMS Cattistock was damaged by splinters from German bombing. Acting Gunner W. J. Yates was wounded. She was repaired in one day.
Anti-aircraft cruiser HMS Curacoa departed Rosyth to cover convoy EN.22 from Methil to Pentland Firth.
Anti-aircraft ship HMS Alynbank departed Scapa Flow at 1500 to cover convoy WN.34 to the vicinity of Stonehaven.
Anti-submarine trawler HMS Kingston Alalite (550grt, Skipper R- A. Read RNR) was sunk by a mine off Plymouth, 5.7 cables 242° from Plymouth Breakwater Light. Six ratings were lost on the trawler.
Boom defence vessel HMS Marcelle (64grt) was sunk on a mine in Bristol Channel, in 51-21-48N, 3-08W. One crewman of a crew of five was lost on the boom defence vessel.
A Swordfish of 819 Squadron crashed shortly after taking off from aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious. Sub Lt D. A. Wise, Sub Lt A. Mardel-Ferreira were rescued by destroyer HMS Nubian. This crash was later found to be due to contaminated fuel. A second Swordfish of 819 Squadron also was lost on this date to contaminated fuel. Lt (A) W. D. Morford and Sub Lt (A) R- A. F. Green were rescued. At 0715, the cruisers of the 3rd and 7th Cruiser Squadrons rejoined the Main Fleet.
At 0730, destroyers HMAS Vampire, HMAS Voyager, HMAS Waterhen, HMS Dainty, HMS Diamond, HMS Hyperion, HMS Ilex, and HMS Havock rejoined the Main Fleet. Destroyers HMS Mohawk, HMS Defender, HMS Janus, HMS Juno, HMS Decoy, HMS Hasty, HMS Nubian, and HMS Jervis were then detached to refuel at Malta.
Battleship HMS Barham, heavy cruiser HMS Berwick, light cruiser HMS Glasgow, and destroyers HMS Griffin, HMS Greyhound, HMS Gallant, HMS Faulknor, HMS Fortune, and HMS FURY joined the Main Fleet at 1015. Destroyers Fortune and Fury joined the screen and the rest of the ships proceeded to Malta to disembark troops and stores.
Destroyer HMS Mohawk rejoined the Main Fleet at 1435 and destroyer HMS Hero was detached at 1450 to Malta.
Battleship HMS Barham, heavy cruiser HMS Berwick, light cruiser HMS Glasgow, destroyers HMS Griffin, HMS Greyhound, and HMS Gallant departed Malta after landing troops and joined the Mediterranean Fleet at sea.
Italian submarine Capponi attacked without success Battleship HMS Ramillies at forty miles southeast of Malta, in 34-33N, 16-08E.
Monitor HMS Terror proceeded to Suda Bay, Crete for duty as a guard ship, arriving on the 13th.
Gunboat HMS Aphis shelled a suspected Divisional Headquarters at Sidi Barrani during the night of 9/10 November.
Italian submarine Barbarigo attacked a destroyer in 54N, 18W without success.
Convoy OB.239, which had departed Liverpool on the 4th, but was recalled and arrived at Oban, departed Oban on the 10th escorted by corvette HMS La Malouine. The escort was joined on the 11th by destroyers HMS Broke, HMS Malcolm and HMS Sardonyx and corvettes HMS Anemone and HMS Arabis. On the 13th, destroyers HMS Malcolm and HMS Sardonyx were detached and the remainder of the escort of 14 November.
Convoy FN.331 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer HMS Woolston and sloop HMS Lowestoft. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 12th.
Convoy HX.86, which had been recalled outside Halifax on the 5th, departed Halifax at 1430 escorted by Canadian destroyers HMCS Assiniboine and HMCS Restigouche and auxiliary patrol vessel HMCS Husky. At 1500/11th, the convoy was turned over to the ocean escort, armed merchant cruiser HMS Voltaire, which was detached on the 21st.
Convoy BHX.87 departed Bermuda on the 8th escorted by ocean escort armed merchant cruiser HMS Laconia. The convoy rendezvoused with convoy HX.86 on the 13th and the armed merchant cruiser was detached (this is the only BHX.convoy to join a dissimilar numbered HX). Destroyers HMS Castleton, HMS Sardonyx, HMS Viscount, and HMS Whitehall and corvettes HMS Cyclamen, HMS Hibiscus, and HMS Rhododendron joined the convoy. Destroyer Whitehall was detached later that day. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 26th.
Convoy ME.3 of steamers Memnon, Lanarkshire, Clan Macauley, and Clan Ferguson departed Malta at 1330 escorted by battleship HMS Ramillies, anti-aircraft cruiser HMS Coventry, destroyers HMS Decoy and HMS Defender. Monitor HMS Terror and Australian destroyer HMAS Vendetta departed at 1400.
Italian submarine Topazio on the 11th made two attacks on the convoy without success in 34‑32N, 16‑17E.
Convoy ME.3 arrived Alexandria during the morning of 13 November.
Convoy AS.5 of eight steamers departed Piraeus for Port Said.
On the 11th, armed boarding vessels HMS Chakla and HMS Fiona departed Suda Bay and joined this convoy. The convoy arrived at Port Said on the 15th, escorted by destroyer HMS Wryneck and anti-submarine trawlers HMS Victorian and HMS Sindonis.
President Roosevelt and Secretary of State Hull joined with others in official circles in expressing grief at the death today of Senator Key Pittman, Nevada Democrat, president pro tempore of the senate and chairman of its foreign relations committee. In a message to Mrs. Pittman, Mr. Roosevelt said: I am shocked and deeply grieved by the news of the sudden and unexpected passing of my old friend Key. “The nation loses his guiding hand as president pro tempore of the senate and as chairman of the great committee on foreign relations in a time of world crisis when his leadership will be greatly missed. I personally mourn the loss of a friend of 30 years standing on whose loyalty I could always depend. My heart goes out to you in deepest sympathy in which Mrs. Roosevelt joins.”
President Roosevelt, departing from custom, will speak to the nation today, when he makes his pilgrimage to the tomb of the Unknown Soldier on this twenty-second anniversary of the World war armistice. In other years, the chief executive has journeyed to the tomb in Arlington national cemetery to lay a wreath and hear others speak, but has made, no address himself. His proclamation asking for the commemoration of the armistice anniversary directed attention to the need “not only for peace, but just peace with understanding; not only for a cessation of hostilities, but also mutual respect in the intercourse between nations.”
U.S. Ambassador to the Court of St. James Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., back in the states on holiday, gives an infamous interview to the Sunday Boston Globe. Always pessimistic about Great Britain’s chances in the war, and breaking ranks a bit with his friend Franklin Roosevelt’s government, he is quoted as saying, “Democracy is finished in England. It may be here.” He elaborates a bit further:
“It’s all a question of what we do with the next six months. The whole reason for aiding England (sic) is to give us time … As long as she is in there, we have time to prepare. It isn’t that [the UK is] fighting for democracy. That’s bunk. She’s fighting for self-preservation, just as we will if it comes to us….. I know more about the European situation than anybody else, and it’s up to me to see that the country gets it.”
This is not an isolated view within the United States, as many people are pessimistic about England’s chances in the war. However, it is undeniably Isolationist at a time when President Roosevelt is becoming increasingly interventionist. Needless to say, these comments do not go over well either in Washington or in England. Repercussions will follow in the coming weeks.
Wendell L. Willkie, defeated Republican presidential candidate, worked today on a radio address to be given tomorrow night while his personal headquarters reported that ho had received more than 30,000 post-election letters and telegrams urging him to continue his “crusade.” There was no indication of the precise subject of his address, to be given from 7:30 to 8 (PST) over national hookups of the three major broadcasting companies.
Senator Key Pittman, 68, chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, died at the Washoe General Hospital in Reno, Nevada at 12:35 AM (3:35 AM Eastern standard time) today. He had suffered a heart attack some days before.
The Director of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve formally integrated his organization into the regular U.S. Marine Corps.
Fala the Scottish terrier, one of the most famous presidential pets in American history, moved into the White House. President Roosevelt receives a gift: a Scottish terrier named “Big Boy.” The President renames him “Murray the Outlaw of Falahill,” after one of his Scottish ancestors. Quickly nicknamed Fala because, well, try saying “Murray the Outlaw of Falahill” every time you want to take your dog for a walk, Fala finds a home at the White House.
Walt Disney allegedly begins serving as an informer for the Los Angeles office of the FBI to report back information on Hollywood subversives. This allegation remains highly controversial. It may or may not be true. It is known that Disney had many labor troubles in his studio caused by communist agitators around this time and later testified about that. He also had certain arrangements with the government in the 1950s. However, Eliot’s “proof,” to the extent that it exists, about this 1940 agreement remains suspect. Some consider the whole issue to be a hoax, alongside Errol Flynn’s supposed German sympathies, cooked up by a biographer looking to create a stir.
The Copacabana nightclub opened in New York City. The Copacabana nightclub opens in New York City at 10 East 60th Street (just off Central Park and two blocks from the Plaza Hotel, later home to Rouge Tomato restaurant until August 2014, then Avra Madison Restaurant). Mob boss Frank Costello is behind the club. The club is eccentric, with a Brazilian theme and pink-haired “Copacabana Girls” who greatly resembled later Las Vegas nightclub acts (before Las Vegas became full of them).
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles play one of only 4 penalty free games in NFL history; Steelers win 7–3 at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh
Canada and Britain start Trans-Atlantic Ferry Service to move planes, men and supplies to the U.K. from Goose Bay, Labrador, and Gander, Newfoundland.
The first aircraft to be ferried from Gander, Newfoundland to the United Kingdom took off. The formation of seven Lockheed Hudson bombers landed the next morning at Alder grove, Northern Ireland after a 10-hour-12-minute-43-second flight. Over the course of the war some 10,000 aircraft would travel this route from North America to Europe.
The Little Norway air force training camp opened in the bay area of Toronto, Canada on the shores of Lake Ontario.
The German commerce raider Atlantis, claiming to be the British auxiliary cruiser HMS Antenor, stopped and captured the 8,306 ton Norwegian tanker Ole Jacob in the eastern Indian Ocean at 06‑29N, 90‑16E. The Ole Jacob was bound for Suez from Singapore and was carrying high-octane aircraft. A prize-crew was put on board and the Ole Jacob was sent south to rendezvous with the captured Norwegian oiler Teddy off Christmas Island. The Ole Jacob would be sent to Japan with her entire load of high-octane aircraft fuel along top-secret documents about the defenses of the port of Singapore captured from the British freighter Automedon. Because of this action the Japanese Government granted the Germans the use of Muag Island, a small island in the Mariana Islands, as a rest-refitting-replenishment area for raiders and blockade runners.
Signals from tanker Ole Jacob caused the dispatch of Australian heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra, Light cruisers HMS Capetown and HMS Durban, and armed merchant cruiser HMAS Westralia, but none made any contact with the German ship. Tanker Ole Jacob was renamed Benno for German use and was detached on the 16th. She arrived safely at Kobe on 6 December. Later on 19 July 1941, Ole Jacob arrived at Bordeaux.
Traffic over China’s Burma munitions road is proceeding smoothly and vast quantities of American supplies now are reaching Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek’s armies for use in their “war of resistance against Japan.” A correspondent makes the journey from Lashio to Kunming in eight days. All damaged bridges have been repaired and are passable.
Foreign military attachés, basing their opinions on the latest intelligence reports, said today there was no indication that the Japanese Army was planning a general withdrawal from China. The Japanese do appear to be shortening their lines, as indicated. by the withdrawals from Nanning and other points in Kwangsi Province. but they continue to hold all key points like Hankow, Canton and the railway triangles in North China. The attachés believed that the Japanese High Command in Nanking had worked out a garrisoning system similar to that used by the British in India for many years. This calls for strong forces, capable of vigorous offensive action, in all chief strategic centers, to work with native troops led by pro-Japanese leaders. The withdrawal from Nanning, it was said. was a logical move, and, in addition, intelligence reports showed, Nanning was an exceedingly unhealthy outpost and about 30 percent of the Japanese troops stationed there were stricken with malaria and other diseases.
The China Aid Council, composed of American groups giving assistance of every type to China ended its two-day convention here yesterday by dispatching a telegram to President Roosevelt strongly condemning the shipment of “war supplies, including finished steel and machine tools, to Japan, contrary to the principles implied in the embargo.”
United States Ambassador Joseph C. Grew conferred with Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka for two hours yesterday at the Foreign Minister’s request, it was learned today.
Born:
Screaming Lord Sutch, musician and founder of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party, in Hampstead, London, England, United Kingdom (d. 1999).
Lance Poimboeuf, NFL guard (Dallas Cowboys), in Franklin, Louisiana (d. 2018).
Died:
Key Pittman, 68, American politician (Senator-D-Nevada, 1916–1940; chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations since 1933).
Naval Construction:
The Royal Navy “U”-class (Second Group) submarine HMS Unbeaten (N 93) is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Lieutenant Edward Arthur Woodward, RN.
History Diaries 