British and Australian troops of XIII Corps surrounded Tobruk and prepared for the assault on this Italian-held strategic port. Just a few months later the situation would be reversed in the 2nd Siege of Tobruk. British armored divisions rushed in their efforts to repair tanks and put them into operational status for the upcoming attack on Tobruk, Libya. Meanwhile, HMS Protector departed Bardia, Libya with 1,058 Italian prisoners of war, sailing for Alexandria, Egypt. The Australian 6th Infantry Division and British 7th Armoured Division of XIII Corps continue isolating Tobruk from landward communications and prepare an attack, which should take about ten days to prepare. While Italian opposition has been light to non-existent, simply moving tanks across the desert has sent many Matildas to the repair shops. The attack itself, though, is perceived to be a straightforward affair, as the Tobruk defenses are extremely similar to those of Bardia.
In response to the beating that the Royal Navy has been taking from the Luftwaffe’s Fliegerkorps X based on Sicily, the RAF launches raids against one of its airfields at Catania, southern Sicily. Meanwhile, the dockyard workers at Grand Harbour in Malta work around the clock to make the shattered HMS Illustrious seaworthy — at least enough to depart for lengthy repairs elsewhere. Sitting in Grand Harbour, it is a tempting target for the Germans (though the Italians probably will not pose a problem for it).
Once again, Royal Navy assets are tied up hauling Italian prisoners back to Alexandria, this time from Bardia. Net layer HMS Protector takes 1058 with it today, but there are many more awaiting transfer.
The Greeks continue to consolidate their capture of the Klisura Pass on 12 January 1941. They beat off weak Italian counterattacks and continue to subdue the trapped battalion of the Italian Lupi di Toscana Division. The Italian Julia Division remains in good shape and, along with the remnants of the Toscana Division, continues to bar the way to the key Italian supply port of Valona.
The capture by Greek soldiers of the mountain village of Tepeleni, which the Greeks claimed meant a definite break of the whole Italian front in central Albania, was reported tonight in Yugoslav border dispatches. The frontier reports said the little town fell with hardly any Fascist resistance and that the main Italian army was fleeing to the mountains northwest of Tepeleni.
Hermann Göring received the 15th-century Sterzinger Altar by Hans Multscher as a 48th birthday present from Benito Mussolini. It is Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring’s birthday, which is celebrated (by decree) throughout the Reich. Göring is considered somewhat of a specialist on Italian relations because he spent some time there in poverty with his wife Carin during the 1920s (when Benito Mussolini would not give him the time of day despite Göring’s repeated pleas for meetings), so Mussolini sends him a birthday present via the Italian ambassador in Berlin, Dino Alfieri. It is a collection of three medieval paintings, including one associated with the 15th-century Sterzinger Altar by German sculptor and painter Hans Multscher (the others are by an unknown artist, “The Visitation” and “Flight into Egypt”). Göring vows to scour the Continent for the missing parts of the Sterzinger altar — which are scattered all across Europe — and gather associated artwork and reconstruct them at his villa Carinhall north of Berlin.
This actually is part of a deal between Mussolini and Göring in which Göring receives the artwork “as a present,” while Göring sends Mussolini some Italian artwork located in Germany. The transfer is “purchased” by the Fascist ministry, although Italian law at the time prevented such transfers (such seemingly fine distinctions become quite important… later). The Fascists give the local commune where the paintings are located 9 million lire, about $400,000, in exchange for the artwork.
British Communists, left wing Labor groups and others of strong liberal tendencies among the clergy and the professions launched today a countrywide movement to overthrow the present British Government and establish in its place a “people’s government” that would bring peace by negotiating with the German masses, not with their leaders.
[Ed: In six months, these cretins will be screaming the loudest for ‘Second Front Now’ to save the Soviets from their own stupidity. Who needs principles when you have Moscow to tell you what to think?]
The SS begins recruiting in Norway for the Nordland Regiment of the 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking (Brigadeführer Felix Steiner). This is the first SS unit to
recruit outside the territory of the Reich. The Wiking Division is composed of three infantry regiments: Germania, Westland, and Nordland. The Norwegians are destined primarily for the Nordland Regiment, at least at first. Recruiting in Norway — a complex and somewhat controversial topic in itself — is relatively successful (how successful is the controversial part).
None of the units actually is Norwegian in totality, and all remain firmly under German control by German officers and NCOs. The Norwegians wish to fight as a group, but Steiner is leery about that and splits the Norwegians into small groups in every company.
Soviet Russia has not consented to any passage of German troops into Bulgaria nor has she been informed of such a move if it has occurred, it was announced officially late tonight. A special communique distributed by Tass, official Soviet Russian news agency, was broadcast by the Moscow radio at 11 p.m., an hour ahead of the usual news bulletin. The Tass statement, in denial of foreign press reports, asserted Germany never has asked Russia’s consent to the entrance of German soldiers into Bulgaria and Bulgaria never has approached Russia with an inquiry regarding the passage of German troops through her borders. A similar communique was issued at the time of the entry of the Germans into Rumania last fall. Russia and Bulgaria traditionally have maintained close and friendly relations as “sister Slavic” nations.
The Soviets impose a constitution upon Moldovia SSR, as Rumania’s former eastern province now is styled.
Amadeo, the Italian Duke of Aosta sends the Elite Savoia Grenadiers to defend Keren in Ethiopia.
The British troops in Sudan stage successful raids along the border around Metemma, Ethiopia. The Duke of Aosta, in charge of Italian forces in Abyssinia (Ethiopia), deploys the Savoia Grenadiers — elite troops — to defend Keren (Cheren) in Italian Somaliland.
The Luftwaffe is quiet during the day, then sends a desultory raid of 141 bombers against London and the nearby Thames Estuary region after dark.
The RAF continues its Operation CIRCUS activities, which are heavily escorted bomber raids intended to draw Luftwaffe fighters up for destruction. Today it begins Operation RHUBARB, a subset of CIRCUS. In Operation RHUBARB, fighters without accompanying bombers operate over occupied Europe and basically strafe any worthwhile targets. Just for clarity, there are several subsets of Operation CIRCUS:
Operation RHUBARB: fighter strafing runs at random;
Operation ROADSTEAD: fighter attacks on coastal shipping;
Operation RANGER: large-scale fighter intrusions;
Operation RAMROD: Fighter intrusions with specific targets.
This is a mirror image of similar operations that the Luftwaffe performed in late 1940. At this time, however, the Luftwaffe appears to have largely given up on daylight missions and is focusing instead on night-time operations and missions in other theaters, i.e., the Mediterranean.
These RAF Circus Operations do not come without a cost. Today, for instance, Fw. Helmut Brügelmann of 8./JG 26 and Oblt. Kinzinger of I./JG 54 together shoot down RAF fighters over Boulogne and Texel, respectively.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 6 Blenheims during the day; 1 bombed Flushing docks. No losses.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches overnight 26 Hampdens and Wellingtons to Brest, 21 Blenheims to airfields in France, 9 Wellingtons to Italy, 3 Wellingtons to Regensburg, 8 Hampdens minelaying off Brest and Lorient, 3 O.T.U. sorties. 1 Wellington lost from the Italian raid.
Other RAF raids target Venice and drop leaflets on Padua.
RAF No. 33 Squadron, currently based in Egypt and equipped with Hurricane Mk. Is, is detailed to go to Greece. The squadron arrives at Eleusis, Greece, about 11 miles (18 kilometers) northwest of Athens, on 19 February.
RAF Hurricane fighters based on Malta attack Catania airfield on Sicily in an attempt to prevent German and Italian planes from attacking Malta while temporary repairs are carried out on the crippled aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious (87).
Italian battleships Veneto and Doria, the 3rd Cruiser Division, and eight destroyers, which had put to sea earlier, returned to La Spezia thinking aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious was still operational.
Battleships HMS Warspite and HMS Valiant, light cruiser HMS Gloucester, and destroyers HMS Jervis, HMS Janus, HMS Greyhound, HMS Diamond, HMAS Voyager, HMS Hero, and HMS Defender proceeded to Alexandria.
Light cruisers HMS Orion and HMAS Perth, heavy cruiser HMS York, destroyers HMS Mohawk and HMS Griffin, and Force X proceeded to Suda Bay to refuel.
Steamers Clan Cumming, Clan Macdonald, and Empire Song of the EXCESS convoy arrived at Piraeus at 1000.
Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney passed through the Suez Canal to return to Australia after duty with the Mediterranean Fleet.
Netlayer HMS Protector, having completed laying anti torpedo net at Bardia, departed for Alexandria after embarking 1058 prisoners.
Destroyer HMS Montgomery departed Scapa Flow at 0900 for Liverpool on completion of working up exercises. The destroyer arrived at 1300/13th.
Minelayer HMS Teviotbank, escorted by destroyer HMS Intrepid, laid minefield BS.49 off the East Coast of England.
British trawler Strathrye (212grt) was sunk by a mine in 50-35N, 3-59W. The entire crew was rescued.
British trawler Oyama (340grt) was lost to unknown cause in the North Atlantic.
Norwegian steamer Tijuca (5498grt) was damaged by mining in 51-23N, 3-10W. The steamer arrived at Barry.
Convoy WS.5B departed Avonmouth with four ships and Liverpool with six ships on the 7th. This is a major convoy of 21 troop transport ships heading to the Middle East and the Far East (including Singapore). They carry 40,000 fighting men. The ships were anchored in Moelfre Bay from 8 to 11 January, because fog delayed the departure of the eleven ships of the Clyde section. Destroyer HMS Vansittart escorted the Bristol Channel portion of the convoy. Heavy cruiser HMAS Australia and destroyers HMS Highlander, HMS Harvester, and HMS Witherington escorted the Liverpool section to Moelfre Bay and provided anti-aircraft protection with anti-aircraft cruiser HMS Naiad. Destroyers HMCS Ottawa, HMS Leopard, HMS Churchill, HMS Lincoln, HMS Watchman, HMS Fearless, HMS Beagle, and HMS Brilliant escorted the five ships of the Clyde section able to sail. Destroyer HMS Foresight departed Liverpool 8 January and joined the convoy in Moelfre Bay. On the 11th, the ships in Moelfre Bay moved to Belfast Lough to take on water. The Clyde section rendezvoused with the other sections on the 12th.
Convoy WS.5B was composed of steamers Duchess of Bedford (20,123grt), Franconia (20,175grt), Capetown Castle (27,000grt), Nea Hellas (16,991grt), Arundel Castle (19,118grt), Empress of Japan (26,032grt), Windsor Castle (19,141grt), Monarch of Bermuda (22,424grt), Athlone Castle (25,564grt), Empress of Australia (21,833grt), Pennland (16,082grt), Britannic (26, 943grt), Winchester Castle (20,012grt), Ormonde (14,982grt), Durban Castle (17,388grt), Samaria (19,597grt), Duchess of Richmond (20,022grt), Highland Chieftain (14,135grt), Highland Princess (14,172grt), and Duchess of York (20,021grt).
Escorting the convoy were destroyers HMS Witherington and HMS Leopard to 14 January. Destroyers HMS Lincoln, HMS Vansittart, HMS Fearless, HMS Brilliant, HMS Watchman, HMS Beagle, HMS Jackal, and HMS Leamington to 16 January. Destroyers HMS Highlander and HMS Harvester to 16 January. Anti-aircraft cruisers HMS Naiad and HMS Phoebe proceeded with the convoy until 15 January. Cruiser Phoebe took steamers Monarch of Bermuda and Capetown Castle to Gibraltar, arriving at 1500/18th. Steamers Monarch of Bermuda and Capetown Castle embarked the troops which had been carried by troopship Empire Trooper. These two steamers departed Gibraltar for Freetown on the 19th escorted by destroyers HMS Isis, HMS Encounter, HMS Duncan, HMS Fearless, and HMS Fury. The destroyers joined aircraft carrier HMS Furious and light cruiser HMS Neptune. They arrived off Gibraltar on the 22nd, but could not enter due to bad weather. The ships arrived at Gibraltar on the 23rd. Light cruiser Phoebe departed Gibraltar on the 19th to return to England. Light cruiser HMS Emerald departed Portsmouth. Battleship HMS Ramillies was with the convoy until 17 January. Heavy cruiser HMAS Australia and light cruiser Emerald remained with the convoy arriving at Freetown on the 25th.
Corvettes HMS Asphodel and HMS Calendula joined the convoy on the 21st. Destroyer HMS Velox joined the convoy on the 22nd and destroyer HMS Vidette and corvette HMS Clematis joined the convoy on the 24th. The convoy departed Freetown, minus Duchess of York, plus British steamer Cameronia (16,297grt), escorted by destroyers HMS Faulknor and HMS Forester, sloop HMS Milford, and corvettes HMS Cyclamen and HMS Clematis to 1 February. Light cruiser HMS Emerald arrived at Capetown on 8 February with Athlone Castle, Capetown, Castle, Arundel Castle, Winchester Castle, Durban Castle, Monarch of Bermuda, Duchess of Bedford, Empress of Australia, and Empress of Japan. The light cruiser then went on to Simonstown. Heavy cruiser HMAS Australia with Pennland, Nea Hellas, Britannic, Franconia, Samaria, Cameronia, Duchess of Richmond, Ormonde, Windsor Castle, Highland Princess, and Highland Chieftain arrived at Durban on 11 February. The convoy departed Capetown on 12 February, escorted by light cruiser HMS Emerald and from Durban on 15 February, escorted by heavy cruiser Australia. The two sections rendezvoused off Durban. On 21 February, liners Empress of Japan, Windsor Castle, Ormonde, and Empress of Australia, escorted by light cruiser Emerald, were detached to Mombasa. Convoy WS.5B continued to Suez escorted by heavy cruisers Australia and HMS Hawkins, arriving on 3 March. Australian sloop HMS Parramatta was the Red Sea escort for the convoy.
On 22 February, the cruisers were detached to hunt the German heavy cruiser Scheer. This duty continued until 26 February. This section departed Mombasa on 24 February as convoy WS.5 X escorted by light cruiser HMS Enterprise. Light cruiser HMS Capetown joined convoy WS.5 X on 27 February and they arrived at Bombay on 3 March. On 5 March, Empress of Japan and Aquitania departed Bombay escorted by light cruiser Enterprise. They were joined by light cruiser HMS Durban on 8 March. Light cruiser Enterprise departed the convoy on 9 March. On 11 March, the convoy arrived at Singapore.
Convoy SC.19 departed Halifax, escorted by armed merchant cruiser HMS Aurania and corvette HMS Arrowhead. The corvette was detached the next day. On the 26th, the armed merchant cruiser was detached and corvettes HMS Heather and HMS Picotee, anti-submarine trawler HMS Lady Madeleine, and seaplane carrier HMS Pegasus joined the escort. On the 27th, destroyers HMS Antelope and HMS Anthony joined and on the 29th, destroyers HMS Jackal, HMS Sardonyx, and HMS Scimitar. Destroyer HMS Jackal was detached later that day. On the 30th, destroyers HMS Sardonyx and HMS Scimitar were detached. On the 31st, destroyers Antelope and Anthony seaplane carrier Pegasus, anti-submarine trawler Lady Madeleine were detached. On 1 February corvettes Heather and Picotee were detached and the convoy arrived at Liverpool on 2 February.
Convoy OB.273 departed Liverpool, escorted by destroyer HMS Ambuscade, corvettes HMS Aubretia, HMS Heartsease, and HMS Hollyhock, and anti-submarine trawlers HMS Angle, HMS Daneman, and HMS Lady Lillian. The escort was detached when the convoy dispersed on the 16th.
Convoy FN.382 departed Southend, and arrived at Methil on the 14th.
Convoy FS.386 departed Methil, escorted by destroyers HMS Vanity and HMS Westminster, and arrived at Southend on the 14th.
Convoy BS.12C departed Port Sudan, escorted by light cruiser HMS Caledon and sloops HMS Flamingo and HMS Hindustan. The escorts were detached on the 15th and the convoy arrived at Aden on the 16th.
Dispatch of an American expeditionary force abroad “within the next two years was forecast today by U. S. Representative James E. Van Zandt, Pennsylvania Republican, former national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.” There’s no use kidding ourselves,” he told Massachusetts V.F.W. members. “We’re going to war; it’s only a matter of time.” Asserting that the axis powers outnumber Great Britain and her allies in man power by 1,500,000 men, Van Zandt asked; “Where are the men coming from to make up the difference? From the United States? There’s no doubt about it.”
Senator Burton K. Wheeler, Montana Democrat, said tonight that if Congress approved the administration’s bill empowering President Roosevelt to send vast quantities of war supplies to the “democracies” it would mean “open and complete warfare” for the United States. Discussing the legislation on the American Forum of the Air, Wheeler added that the form of the bill “definitely stamps the president as war-minded.” Senator Lee, Oklahoma Democrat, speaking in support of the measure, contended that the United States’ only chance of escaping war was to send aid to England. “England,” he said, “is the only barrier between America and a baptism of blood. Hitler is at war with America today. He is making war on us economically, politically and morally. Only one obstacle prevents him from making war on us in a military sense, and that is England. If England is willing to furnish men to fly the planes we should be willing to furnish the planes. Suppose it does take our wealth, that is not as precious as the blood of our boys.”
Wendell L. Willkie declared today he favored “with modification” President Roosevelt’s “lend-lease” arms bill, announced he would fly soon to England for a private survey of the international situation. He asserted the bill should grant powers to the president “for a fixed term, not too far in the future,” and that congress should not be ‘harried’ in its passage. The defeated Republican presidential candidate expressed the belief that the nation faced an emergency under which “extraordinary powers must be granted to the elected executive.”
Wendell L. Willkie’s statement endorsing in principle the lend-lease bill met a mixed reception in Washington. Senators and Representatives who have taken a strong isolationist stand were critical of it. Those who favor President Roosevelt’s course welcomed it.
President Roosevelt today created by Executive Order a new Division of Defense Housing Coordination with broad powers in a move to assure efficient, adequate and speedy construction in connection with the rearmament and military training programs.
Reorganization of the entire labor defense set-up is being charted by Sidney Hillman, associate director general of the newly created Office for Production Management, it was reported today.
The New York Fire Department said that “more than 100 houses” in the Arverne section of Queens were being devoured by flames early today and that the fire was spreading before a. high wind. The fire started at 12: 46 AM in a Long Island railroad station and within an hour had covered three square blocks. It was Queens borough’s second five-alarm fire in the last 40 years.
The American luxury liner Manhattan ran aground north of Palm Beach, Florida with 750 people on board.
A benefit dance and show, for Greek war relief, is held at the Scottish Rite Auditorium in San Francisco. Native type entertainment is sponsored by the Philoptohos Greek Ladies Society
The Nationalist Chinese (Kuomintang) continue squeezing the encircled Chinese Communist New 4th Army troops at Maolin along the Yangtze River.
The Thai ground troops continue advancing toward Pakse. The French have problems with their own Indochinese native troops, who are mutinying in Annam.
The Thai (Siamese) high command reported today that fierce fighting was developing in the French Indo-Chinese province of Cambodia which Thai troops invaded in force last week. The communique said the advance continued steadily with effective cooperation of the air force but gave no place names or details. Well-informed unofficial circles said they believed large stretches of Cambodia’s frontier regions had been occupied. Heavy artillery fire was reported along the Mekong river which separates Indo-China’s Laos province from Siam. In the exchange of retaliation threats over aerial bombardments by both Thais and the French the Bangkok radio asked if the French authorities were prepared for bombardment of Saigon and other cities, adding that “Thais cannot wait further.”
Born:
Long John Baldry, blues singer (“Don’t Try to Lay No Boogie Woogie on the King of Rock and Roll”) and voice actor, in East Haddon, Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom (d. 2005).
Jaime Fuster, American politician (Rep-D-Puerto Rico, 1985–1992), in Guayama, Puerto Rico (d. 2007).
Bob Briggs, NFL fullback (Washington Redskins), in Amarillo, Texas.
Bill Perkins, AFL halfback (New York Jets), in Jersey City, New Jersey (d. 2016).
Naval Construction:
The Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) Capitani Romani-class (Attilio Regolo-class) light cruiser Scipione Africano is launched by Fratelli Orlando (Lovorno, Italy).
The Royal Navy Shakespeare-class minesweeping trawler HMS Celia (T 134) is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Lieutenant Frederick George Dawson, RNR.
History Diaries 