Greek troops defeated the Italian IX Army and captured Korçë (Korytsa), Albania. The Greeks took 2,000 prisoners and captured 135 field guns and 600 machine guns. All day long Greek troops advanced steadily into Albanian territory, pouring through five gaps in the Italian defense lines and capturing considerable stores of material. The surviving elements of the Italian IX Army were able to escape without being harassed as the Greeks were poorly motorized and could not give chase. With bands playing and their blue and white flags held high, kilted Greek troops marched in triumph through the streets of Korçë today as the last Italian invaders fled from Greek soil. Mussolini’s boast that “we will break Greece’s back” had not taken into account the speed of Greek counter-attacks. Korçë had been surrounded for several days before the Greeks finally stormed the Italians’ shallow trenches with bayonets and trench-knives. The invaders surrendered in their hundreds, with retreat becoming a rout as they abandoned a complete arsenal of heavy guns, anti-tank weapons, food and a huge stock of petrol. Some reports speak of rape and other atrocities as Blackshirt divisions retreat through Albanian villages. As news of the fall of Italy’s biggest base in occupied Albania was flashed to an electrified world, Winston Churchill cabled to General Metaxas: “We are all inspired by the feat of Greek valour … long live Greece!”
The Greek K Group of Divisions in the Korçë plateau sector capture the summit of Morava on 21 November 1940. It continues attacking in the direction of Darza Pass. This forces the defending Italian IX Army to withdraw during the night, opening up the Devoll valley.
Greek II Corps captures Ersekë.
Greek I Corps is reinforced with the 3rd Division. It is moving forward along the Gjirokastër–Tepelenë–Valona axis. Its objective is Valona, a major Italian supply port. Once the Greek K Group captured the city of Korçë, the main weight of the Greek offensive would shift to this line of attack.
The Italians retreat to Elbasan as the Greeks advance on the Epirus front.
Hitler received Ion Antonescu at the Reich Chancellory in Berlin and indicated his plans to attack the Soviet Union. Adolf Hitler continues his succession of diplomatic meetings, meeting Romanian leader Ion Antonescu at the Reich Chancellory. Hitler apparently gives Antonescu a preview of Operation Barbarossa, still in its early planning stages.
The Turkish press and official radio today warned Bulgaria not to intervene in the Italo-Greek conflict and served notice on the axis that Turkey will fight the moment she is menaced. The newspaper Tan, organ of the People’s party, said that “any Bulgarian attempt to penetrate Greece can find complications.
In a somber wartime ceremony shorn of its usual brilliance, King George opened a new session of Parliament in the bomb-scarred House of Lords today and informed the members that aid from the United States in the form of munitions and supplies is arriving in “ever increasing volume.” The British Empire, he said, will continue to fight “until freedom is made secure.” The king, in naval uniform, and the queen, wearing a gown and coat of deep purple, occupied twin thrones at the ceremony, but there was no state drive to Westminster in the golden coach, no scarlet and ermine robes worn by the peers, nor brilliant dresses of peeresses. There were no diplomats present and the public was barred. In both his four-minute address opening the new session and in another, read by Lord Simon, the lord chancellor, proroguing the old session yesterday, the king referred with satisfaction to increased supplies from the United States, and said “relations could not be more cordial.”
The German 6th Army exercised a simulated invasion of Ireland.
Lieutenant General Bernard Law Montgomery is put in charge of the 3rd and 4th Divisions of the British Army.
The British No. 2 Commando Battalion was redesignated 11th Special Air Service Battalion for training as paratroopers.
Nazi occupiers forbid building schools in Netherlands.
In Vichy France, U.S. Charge D’affaires ad Interim H. Freeman Matthews meets with Marshal Henri Philippe Pathan, Head of the Vichy State, concerning the French battleships Richelieu and Jean Bart; the French admiral responds immediately: “Then why not leave those vessels at Dakar (French West Africa) and Casablanca (French Morocco) where they now are? I shall keep them there and if there should be any change in this plan I will give you previous notice.” This information, received in Washington on the morning of 22 November, is communicated through channels by the President to the “Former Naval Person” British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
The Luftwaffe stages only minor operations during the day. However, in what appears to have been an oddly lucky hit, a bomber hits Bletchley Park. This is the home to the Ultra Operation, otherwise known as the British Government Code and Cypher School at Buckinghamshire. While there are no casualties, the diplomatic section, telephone exchanges, typists’ rooms, and other areas are damaged. The damage could have been much greater, as three of the bombs are duds. The somewhat inexplicable incident — nobody is supposed to know about Bletchley Park — is likely due to a Luftwaffe bomber returning from Coventry and dropping unreleased bombs at random, as bombers are not supposed to land with any bombs. The attack was almost certainly accidental, as the Germans did not know of the importance of this site.
I,/JG 77 is redesignated IV,/JG 51 at Marquise.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 6 Blenheims in daylight; 3 of them bombed various targets in Holland. No losses.
The RAF bombs Benghazi.
At Malta, there are two air raid alerts in quick succession early in the morning. In the darkness, a single Italian bomber flies across Malta and bombs the vicinity of the RAF airfield at Ta Qali. The night is cloudy, and the plane gets away.
U-103, commanded by Korvettenkapitän Viktor Schütze, in attacks on convoy OB.244 sank British steamer Daydawn (4768grt) in 56‑30N, 14‑10W and Greek steamer Victoria (6085grt) in 56‑17N, 14‑12W.
At 0740 hours on 21 Nov 1940, U-103 fired torpedoes at the convoy OB.244 about 250 miles west of Bloody Foreland and sank the Daydawn. Schütze reported a hit on an unknown steamer running directly for the U-boat, but the torpedo glanced off and did not explode. 36 crew members from the Daydawn (Master James Horsfield) were picked up by HMS Rhododendron (K 78) (LtCdr W.N.H. Faichney, RNR). The master and one crew member were lost. The 4,768-ton Daydawn was carrying coal and was bound for Rio Santiago, Argentina.
At 0750 hours another attack was made and the Victoria was sunk. The Victoria was abandoned by the crew, later located in 56°08N/14°20W and a tug was sent out to recover the ship, but failed to find her on 23 November. The survivors were picked up by HMS Castleton (I 23) (Cdr F.H.E. Skyrme, RN (retired)). Of the ship’s complement, all 27 survived and were picked up by the destroyer HMS Castleton. The 6,085-ton Victoria was carrying ballast and was bound for Botwood, Newfoundland.
Submarine U-103 attacked a third steamer at the same area, but the torpedo glanced off the steamer’s hull and did not explode.
U-103 was attacked and claimed sunk by Corvette HMS Rhododendron, which was escorting convoy HX.87/OB.244 with destroyers HMS Vanquisher, HMS Viscount, HMS Whitehall, and HMS Castleton and corvette HMS Hibiscus, in 56‑28N, 14‑13W. Submarine U-103 was not damaged. However, U-104, which is generally credited to corvette Rhododendron in this attack, survived several more days to sink two tankers on the 27th. Submarine U-104 was lost on the 28th northwest of Tory Island to a mine. The submarine on her first war patrol was lost with all hands of forty nine crewmen. After the convoy duty, the corvettes arrived at Liverpool on the 26th and the destroyers arrived at the Clyde on the 28th.
German warships Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, Köln, and Leipzig departed for a sweep against Allied shipping between Iceland and the Faroe Islands.
Anti-aircraft cruiser HMS Curacoa transferred to convoy WN.41.
T/A/Lt Cdr (A) G. B. Legge RNVR, P/T/Sub Lt (A) A. J. Franklin RNVR, were killed when their Proctor of 752 Squadron crashed north of Exeter.
British steamer Dakotian (6426grt) was sunk on a mine in Dale Roads, Milford Haven. The entire crew was rescued.
Greek steamer Peleus (4695grt) was damaged on a mine at Milford Haven.
British drifter Xmas Rose (96grt, A/T/Skipper J. Merson RNR) was sunk on a mine in the Thames Estuary, 51-47-45N, 1-25-30E. Merson died of wounds. Three ratings were lost.
Destroyers HMS Vanquisher and HMS Viscount joined on 1 December and sloop HMS Folkestone and corvette HMS Gentian on 2 December. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 5 December.
German coastal steamer Brigette Raabe (375grt) was badly damaged in a collision eighteen miles south of Utklippan. She was not salvable and her wreck was sunk.
Greek destroyer Aetos claimed sinking an Italian submarine between Skiathos and Trikeri Channel.
Anti-submarine trawler HMS Lydiard attacked a submarine contact in 31-45N, 32-18E, near Port Said. The trawler was damaged by the explosion of one of her depth charges and was forced to return to harbor. Destroyers HMS Havock and HMS Hasty departed Alexandria on the 22nd to search in the area.
German armed merchant cruiser Pinguin sank British steamer Port Brisbane (8739grt) in the Indian Ocean at 29‑29S, 95‑35E. One crewman was lost from the British steamer. Fifty eight crew, two gunners, a passenger were made prisoners of war. Australian heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra refueling at Fremantle and light cruiser HMAS Perth on convoy duty were dispatched to search for the German ship. Light cruiser Perth escorted her convoy away from the danger area before joining the search. No contact was made, but heavy cruiser Canberra was able to rescue the survivors from Port Wellington and take them to Fremantle.
Convoy FN.339 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer HMS Vimiera and sloop HMS Weston. The convoy arrived at Methil on the 23rd.
Convoy FS.341 departed Methil, escorted by destroyers HMS Verdun and HMS Wolsey. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 23rd.
Convoy SL.56 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser HMS Bulolo to 8 December and sloop HMS Bridgewater to 22 November. The convoy rendezvoused with convoy SLS.56. On 9 December destroyer HMS Highlander and on 10 December destroyer HMS Burnham joined the convoy. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 12 December.
Convoy HX.90 departed Halifax at 1300 escorted by Canadian destroyer HMCS Assiniboine, auxiliary patrol vessel HMCS French, and corvette HMS Windflower. The convoy was given ocean escort by armed merchant cruiser HMS Laconia which was detached on 1 December.
Convoy BHX.90 departed Bermuda on the 19th escorted by ocean escort armed merchant cruiser HMS Maloja. The convoy rendezvoused with convoy HX.90 on the 24th and the armed merchant cruiser was detached.
The sixth and last group of ships involved in the destroyers-for-bases agreement — Bailey (DD-269), Meade (DD-274), Shubrick (DD-268), Swasey (DD-273), Claxton (DD-140), Fairfax (DD-93), Robinson (DD-88), Ringgold (DD-89), Sigourney (DD-81) and Tillman (DD-135) — arrives at Halifax, Nova Scotia. Turnover of the last ten ships is under the charge of Commander Destroyer Squadron 33 (Captain Schuyler F. Heim) (see 26 November).
For a nation at peace in a world at war, America gave thanks. While bombs rained upon England and Europe clear, sunny skies lent this country a holiday atmosphere as thirty-two States celebrated Thanksgiving Day with patriotic addresses, church services and turkey dinners in accordance with proclamations by President Roosevelt and their Governors. The remaining sixteen States will celebrate next Thursday on the traditional Thanksgiving date. President Roosevelt spent the day at Hyde Park, New York, giving up his usual trip to Warm Springs, Georgia, at this time of year because of the foreign situation. He had dinner with his wife, his mother and other members of his family in the house where he was born, and attended church services.
Somber thoughts of tragic happenings in other lands today permeated a Thanksgiving holiday peculiarly devoted to gratitude that America, herself, is at peace. “In a year which has seen calamity and sorrow fall upon many peoples elsewhere in the world may we give thanks for our preservation,” President Roosevelt had said in his annual proclamation and that inevitably provided the theme of the day’s countless offerings of prayer. The day was observed officially, however, in but 32 of the 48 states, for again this year Mr. Roosevelt ignored the traditional last-Thursday-in-November date, and set the holiday for the next-to-last. In 16 states including four of the solid south sticklers for tradition held out for November 28.
Today officially is Thanksgiving in the United States, one of the most important holidays of the year. At least, it is for most of the country. Following on an idea he had had a year earlier to move Thanksgiving up a week in order to extend the Christmas shopping season, Roosevelt again (by proclamation dated 9 November 1940) has ordained that the third Thursday of November, rather than the traditional fourth, be the date on which the holiday is celebrated.
This creates a bifurcated national celebration which predictably splits along political lines. Many people resent the government (even the saintly Roosevelt) meddling with the holiday schedule. Today, 32 states and the District of Columbia celebrate Thanksgiving, while 16 other states wait another week to celebrate, until the “Republican” Thanksgiving date. Today’s celebration is given the derisive name “Franksgiving.”
This is not one of Roosevelt’s better ideas. A study of shopping patterns shows no appreciable increase in sales due to the earlier date. However, parades are mounted today in the largest states, as they were on the third Thursday of November in 1939.
The Dies Committee charged today that a widespread network of Nazi propaganda and possible espionage exists in the United States, and that plans have been carefully drawn for organizing German post-war business here. The U.S. House of Representatives’ “Investigation of Un-American Propaganda Activities in the United States,” better known as the Dies Committee after its chairman, Rep. Martin Dies, Jr., releases a 500-page White Paper. The White Paper examines German activities in the United States. It reveals that Manfred Zapp, head of the German Trans-ocean News Service, had been working to poison U.S.-Japanese relations. The purpose was to divert U.S. attention from the war in Europe in order to help the Germans. Another finding of the White Paper is that Germany has been engaging in a “Damned clever scheme” involving commercial relations in both North and South America.
There is an element of paranoia and overkill in this committee and its reports, as subversive German activities in the U.S. actually are quite minimal. However, stoking such fears works in favor of increased assistance to Great Britain in its war against Germany, a covert policy of the Roosevelt administration (as exemplified by today’s transfer of the final tranche of destroyers to Great Britain pursuant to the destroyers-for-bases deal). The Dies Committee remains in existence until 1944, never really accomplishing much of use beyond propaganda value of its own, when it morphs into another, broader investigative committee.
U.S. Secretary for the Interior Harold Ickes gives a speech in New York which he excoriates national hero Charles Lindbergh, calling him:
“one of America’s leading fifth columnists, apparently representing small but dangerous groups of American-born Fascists.”
Lindbergh is a leading figure in the America First Committee, a peace group organized at Yale University. The America First position is that the U.S. should stay out of foreign wars. The official U.S. position also remains one of neutrality, making Lindbergh’s stance in accordance with the government’s own policies. However, Ickes reflects widespread sentiment in Democratic Party circles in favor of intervention, and they brand those advocating peace as traitors and foreign agents. Ickes’ speech appears to be related to the release of the Dies White Paper.
Chargé d’Affaires ad Interim H. Freeman Matthews meets with Marshal Henri Philippe Pétain concerning the French battleships Richelieu and Jean Bart; the French admiral responds immediately: “Then why not leave those vessels at Dakar and Casablanca where they now are? I shall keep them there and if there should be any change in this plan I will give you previous notice.” This information, received in Washington on the morning of 22 November, is communicated through channels by the President to the “Former Naval Person” (Prime Minister Churchill) on the 23rd.
The Washington Post in a copyrighted article said today that John J. Pershing, retired general of the armies of the United States, has been selected as ambassador to France. Announcement of the selection within the next few days was expected, the Post said, perhaps early next week after President Roosevelt returns from his Thanksgiving holiday in Hyde Park, N. Y. All requests for official confirmation of the Pershing appointment were referred to the White House last night, but in the president’s absence no comment was forthcoming. Should Pershing become ambassador to France, he would be accredited to an old World war comrade, Marshall Henri Philippe Petain, who now heads the Vichy government. Pershing, however, will not be able to accept the position because of his health.
Philip Murray, Scottish-born coal miner, will be elected president of the Congress of Industrial Organizations tomorrow as an aftermath of the convention action today in adopting an anti-Communist resolution. He will be nominated by John L. Lewis, who will retire as president of the organization in pursuance of his pledge to step down if President Roosevelt were re-elected. Before he consented to run for the presidency Mr. Murray desired to have some action taken on communism and to be assured a free hand in conducting the reorganization in his own way. Mr. Lewis is understood to have assured Mr. Murray that he would be his own master and that he would have the unstinted support of the United Mine Workers, which is the largest financial factor in the C.I.O.’s affairs.
Failure of company and union officials to agree on a two-year guarantee against further walkouts late today broke up negotiations seeking to settle a seven-day strike of C.I.O. United Automobile Workers at the Vultee aircraft plant. The new obstacle to early settlement of the walkout that has made 5,200 workers idle and halted production on national defense orders totaling more than $80,000,000 came shortly after both sides had agreed to a new minimum wage scale of 62 cents an hour proposed by Major Sidney Simpson, army representative.
Ernest Hemingway, noted author, and Martha Gellhorn of St. Louis, Missouri, were married tonight by Justice of the Peace F. A. Stennett. The couple arrived in Cheyenne, Wyoming from Sun Valley, Idaho. Hemingway gave his age as 41, Miss Gellhorn as 28. Hemingway said he met Miss Gellhorn, a magazine writer, in Spain during the civil war there.
The German Minister, Baron Ruedt von Collenberg called on the Under Secretary of Foreign Affairs today and delivered to him sworn statements made by the captains of the four German merchantmen that figured in the incident off Tampico last Saturday. The Germans are complaining about American naval interference with their ships.
Carrying placards reading “no bases for North America” and “South America for South Americans,” hundreds of students demonstrated in central Madrid today, halting to cheer in front of the Uruguayan embassy and finally disbanding at the United States embassy. Qualified observers said the demonstrators, most of them medical students and some wearing the uniform of Spain’s only political party, the Falangists, were expressing happiness over Uruguay’s attitude on the question of air bases for the United States. Spanish sources said the Madrid government had received assurances from Uruguay that she would not cede bases to the United States.
German raider Pinguin, having recovered its seaplane in the morning after its enemy action on the 20th, is still using the captured freighter Storstad as its lookout. The Storstad spots a freighter, and Pinguin approaches it in the dark. The freighter is armed with two 6-inch guns, and Pinguin opens fire. Eight shots slam into the freighter, destroying the radio room and setting the bridge on fire. The steering gets jammed, sending the ship in circles, causing the crew to abandon ship. It turns out to be Australian refrigerated freighter Port Brisbane, traveling from Adelaide to Durban. Pinguin takes 61 prisoners (including one woman passenger), then sinks the freighter using scuttling charges and a torpedo. A lifeboat carrying 27 people escapes in the darkness. The Pinguin can’t find it quickly in the dark, so it gives up and heads off to the southwest, followed by the Storstad.
Australian cruiser HMS Canberra is in pursuit of Pinguin. It knows the general location from radio messages received from another victim. The Canberra later picks up the passengers in the Port Brisbane’s missing lifeboat.
The Australian government presents a budget calling for increased taxation to finance a boost in defense spending. The government raises taxes to pay for a vastly expanded war budget, which will consume 20% of spending.
Australian 5,826-ton passenger liner Orungal runs aground at Barwon Heads, Victoria. The ship is salvageable, but ultimately catches on fire on 13 December and is written off.
Convoy US.7, carrying the Australian 26th Infantry Brigade, departs from Australia bound for Egypt.
Born:
Dr. John [Malcolm John Rebennack Jr.], musician (“Right Place, Wrong Time”), in New Orleans, Louisiana (d. 2019).
Richard Marcinko, U.S. Navy SEAL commander, author and radio talk show host, in Lansford, Pennsylvania (d. 2021).
Terry Dischinger, American NBA small forward and shooting guard (College Basketball HOF-Purdue; Olympic gold medal, 1960; NBA Rookie of the Year, 1963; NBA All-Star, 1963-1965; Chicago Zephyrs-Baltimore Bullets, Detroit Pistons, Portland Trailblazers), in Terre Haute, Indiana (d. 2023).
Tommy McCraw, MLB first baseman and outfielder (Chicago White Sox, Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians, California Angels), in Malvern, Arkansas.
Amelia Freedman, British music impresario and founder of the Nash Ensemble of London, in London, England, United Kingdom (d. 2025).
Natalia Makarova, a Soviet-Russian-born prima ballerina and choreographer (Kirov Ballet, 1956-70), in Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union.
Naval Construction:
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type VIIC U-boats U-337 and U-338 are ordered from Nordseewerke, Emden (werk 209 and 210).
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type VIIC U-boats U-387, U-388, U-389, and U-390 are ordered from Howaldtswerke AG, Kiel (werk 18–21).
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type VIIC U-boats U-449, U-450, U-731, U-732, U-733, and U-734 are ordered from F Schichau GmbH, Danzig (werk 1520–1525).
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type VIIC U-boats U-771, U-772, U-773, U-774, U-775, and U-776 are ordered from Kriegsmarinewerft (KMW), Wilhelmshaven (werk 154–159).
The Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) submarine Acciaio, name ship of her class of 13, is laid down by Cantieri Odero Terni Orlando (O.T.O.), (La Spezia, Italy).
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type IXC U-boat U-160 is laid down by AG Weser, Bremen (werk 1010).
The Royal Canadian Navy Flower-class corvette HMCS Lethbridge is launched by Canadian Vickers Ltd. (Montreal, Quebec, Canada).
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type IXB U-boat U-110 is commissioned. Her first commander is Kapitänleutnant Fritz-Julius Lemp.
History Diaries 