Nine days to BARBAROSSA.
Soviet Generals Timoshenko and Zhukov seek permission from Premier Joseph Stalin to alert troops at the border of an invasion threat and begin deploying forces. Stalin, however, refuses and discounts continuing warnings from spy Richard Sorge in Tokyo and others.
The Soviet Navy begins transferring submarines from its Baltic Fleet to the Northern Fleet via the White Sea canal.
The Soviet Union is deporting thousands of Jews from Bukovina and Bessarabia to Siberia. In light of later events, this may inadvertently save some of their lives. The first massive wave of deportations began in Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina at 2:30 AM, sending tens of thousands of citizens to forced labor camps in the USSR’s Gulag system
Walther von Brauchitsch returned to Berlin, Germany from an inspection of invasion forces in Poland at the “front” — the border with the Soviet Union.
Adolf Hitler arrives back in Berlin after a lengthy stay in Munich and Berchtesgaden meeting the leaders of his allies. As crony Walther Hewel writes in his diary, Hitler views eliminating the Soviet Union as a military power as a way to isolate and destroy Great Britain. Reflecting doubt about the wisdom of Operation BARBAROSSA all around Hitler, Hewel adds:
“I cannot share this belief, as the British will regard it as a weakening of Germany for a long time to come.”
Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels meets with Hitler and has some explaining to do. He has had his propaganda outlets spread a rumor that an invasion of England is imminent. In fact, that day’s Volkischer Beobachter — essentially the party newspaper — has a front-page article entitled, “Crete as an Example,” which implies that England will be invaded within the next two months in the same manner as Crete(i.e., with airborne troops, Fallschirmjäger). The article includes the line, “Mr. Churchill will be laughing out of the other side of his face” when the invasion takes place.
However, Hitler quickly confirms that Operation BARBAROSSA is still on. Goebbels has to send the police out to seize copies of the newspaper. In fact, this naturally sets rumors swirling and helps to hide the true operation planned against the USSR. So, the false story serves as an unintended disinformation campaign that helps maintain the secrecy of the invasion planned for 22 June. Hitler does not hold a grudge and finds the entire incident amusing.
The Soviet news agency TASS issued an official denial that there was tension between Germany and the Soviet Union. TASS stated that “there could be no misunderstanding between the two countries.” The Soviet news agency TASS denied any German threat and labeled such rumors as hostile propaganda. Meanwhile, those in the Baltic States who might support such a German invasion were arrested.
Operation Exporter continues on 13 June 1941. The advancing Australian troops begin to run into heavy resistance from the Vichy French. While the outcome of the campaign is never really in doubt, there is a lot of hard fighting which escalates today.
The Battle of Jezzine was fought in French Lebanon, resulting in Australian victory. Vichy French troops held up the Australian 7th Division at Jezzine in southern French Mandate of Syria and the Lebanon. The Australian 7th Division (Major General John Lavarack) advancing toward Beirut has split its forces. It has left a small party in Merdjayoun and sent the rest toward Jezzine. Australian troops of the 25th Brigade lead the attack on Jezzine. The defending French respond with heavy machine-gun fire, causing a lot of casualties. To eliminate the machine gun nest, Private Jim Gordon, 2/31st Battalion, crawls forward and attacks with his rifle and bayonet. Gordon succeeds and wins the Victoria Cross, and the Australians take Jezzine.
On the coast, the Australian 21st Brigade (Brigadier Jack Stevens) attacks Sidon, a town of about 12,000 people. The defending French resist fiercely and hold the town for the time being. The Australian forces are led by the 2/16th Infantry Battalion, which attacks during the day. The Australians are careful to avoid hitting historic buildings with their artillery, which slows the advance. Some sources say that Sidon falls today, but the battle takes a couple of days.
Armored cars and lorried infantry of 1st Spahis (Vichy) probe Kuneitra.
The Royal Navy begins another supply operation to Malta, Operation Tracer, when aircraft carriers HMS Ark Royal and Victorious depart from Gibraltar. The heavy escort includes battleship Renown. They carry 47 Hawker Hurricanes for Malta.
Convoy WS.81 (Winston Special) arrives in Suez carrying troops and weapons.
Indian trawler Parvati strikes a magnetic mine near Assab. This is the last naval casualty of the campaign, and the Red Sea now becomes a war-free zone.
The Vichy government alleged Jewish interference with Franco-German relations and deported 13,000 Jews to concentration camps. The excuse that the Jews were involved with an “anti-German/French coup plot” is used by the Vichy government to justify authorizing various Anti-Semitic laws. These laws now restrict Jews in Vichy France as they have in Hitler controlled countries.
Radio-Lyon announced the promulgation of the new status of the Jews. The announcement foreshadowed the census of all houses belonging to Jews.
Adolf Hitler, who evinces an obsession with islands throughout the war, order reinforcement of the Channel Islands. This results in the construction of both field-type and fortress-type concrete fortifications.
Nazi Foreign Minister Joachim Ribbentrop invites deposed Iraqi leader Rashid Ali, the Grand Mufti, and their cronies, who have escaped into Persia, to Berlin.
German heavy cruiser Lützow, light cruiser Emden, light cruiser Leipzig, and destroyers passed through the Skagerrak between Denmark and Norway. Despite aerial cover by Bf 110 fighters, a British force of Beaufort torpedo bombers with fighter escort was still able to get through and attack, damaging Lützow with a torpedo hit in the engine room. Lützow was forced to return to Kiel, Germany for repairs.
Italian submarine Brin sank British ship Djurdjura (33 killed, 5 survived) and Greek ship Eirini Kyriakides (entire crew of 31 killed) of Allied convoy SL.75 100 miles east of the Azores islands.
Cpl James Hendry (b. 1911), Royal Canadian Engineers, died at Invernessshire when a burning magazine blew up; he had warned others off but stayed to fight the blaze himself. He is awarded the George Cross posthumously.
The Soviets, who had taken over Bessarabia in June 1940 and immediately closed all Jewish institutions, arrest many of the region’s leading Jewish citizens and exile them to Siberia, where many die.
Luftwaffe bombers conducted a raid on the British naval base at Chatham, England with little effect. The Luftwaffe sends 135 bombers to the Chatham naval base and Portsmouth/Southampton area, perhaps in anticipation of the breakout attempt by heavy cruiser Lutzow. However, the British jamming procedures against the Luftwaffe’s radio direction service cause massive confusion in the bomber stream. The Luftwaffe bombers get lost in the dark and bombs drop all across southern and eastern England, mostly to no purpose. To add to the Luftwaffe’s bad night, it loses seven bombers to anti-aircraft fighters and anti-aircraft fire.
RAF Bomber Command, Day of 13 June 1941
4 Blenheims to Norway recalled.
RAF Bomber Command, Night of 13/14 June 1941
Brest
110 aircraft — 69 Wellingtons, 37 Hampdens, 4 Stirlings — to attack the 3 warships now at Brest but haze and smoke-screens concealed the targets and no hits were scored. No aircraft lost.
Schwerte
36 Whitleys and 6 Wellingtons to railway yards which were not located so the town was bombed instead. 1 Whitley lost.
Minor Operations: 5 Wellingtons to Boulogne, 4 Hampdens minelaying in the Frisians, 12 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.
The British have learned from Ultra decrypts about German plans to send heavy cruiser Lützow into the North Atlantic on Operation Sommerreise. An RAF Coastal Command Blenheim spots it about 15 minutes after midnight on the 13th. The cruiser is steaming about 25 km off the coast.
RAF Beauforts of No. 42 Squadron and No. 22 Squadron attack Lützow, escorted by five destroyers, off Egersund in the early morning hours and score a torpedo strike. An attack at 02:18 disables the ship’s electrical system and temporarily shuts down the engines (the RAF claims two torpedo hits, but apparently only one hits amidships). In addition, the hit on the port side No. 2 motor room causes a heavy list. At first, a destroyer takes Lützow in tow. After emergency repairs, the ship regains the use of its engines and heads back to Kiel. The repairs will last until 10 May 1942. The RAF loses one Beaufort in these operations.
On Malta, the Italians send numerous raids over and near the island. The British claim to shoot down 11 Axis planes and the RAF also takes at least one loss.
U-77, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Heinrich Schonder, sank British steamer Tresillian (4743grt) in 44-40N, 45-30W. At 0404 hours on 13 June 1941 the Tresillian (Master Ernest George Old), dispersed on 7 June from convoy OB.330, was hit amidships by one torpedo from U-77 southeast of Cape Race. The ship had been spotted at 0028 hours and was hit by a dud three hours later. After the hit, the ship stopped but the crew only prepared the lifeboats for launch and sent out emergency messages, so the U-boat opened fire with a machine gun at the bridge and after the crew abandoned ship shelled her with 87 rounds from the deck gun until 0530 hours. Between 60 and 65 hits were scored, but no effect could be observed except a small fire. At 0545 hours, a coup de grâce was fired which hit amidships and caused the ship to sink after breaking in two. The master, 44 crew members and one gunner were picked up by the US Coast Guard cutter USS Duane (WPG-33) and landed at St. Johns. The 4,743-ton Tresillian was carrying ballast and was headed for Canada.
U-107, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Günter Hessler, sank Greek steamer Pandias (4981grt) in 7-49N, 23-38W. At 1157 hours on 13 June 1941 the unescorted Pandias was hit amidships by one torpedo from U-107 and sank by the stern. The U-boat surfaced and provided the survivors in the lifeboats with cigarettes, water and rum. The 4,981-ton Pandias was carrying coal, military goods and 11 Spitfire fighters and was headed for Alexandria, Egypt.
Italian submarine Brin attacked convoy SL.75. British steamer Djurdjura (3460grt) and Greek steamer Eirini Kyriakides (3781grt) were sunk in 38-53N, 23-11W. Thirty three crewmen were lost on the British steamer. Five crewmen were rescued. All the crewmen from the Greek steamer were lost. The submarine claimed sinking two more steamers, but no more were damaged.
Sloops HMS Black Swan and HMS Stork departed Scapa Flow at 0900 for Fair Island Channel to search for a submarine reported by aircraft fifty miles southeast of Fair Island. The sloops were later joined by two motor launches and anti-submarine trawlers HMS Ophelia and HMS Celia. That evening, sloop Stork made an attack 15 miles 73° from Seal Skerry Light. Motor launch ML 218 also attacked a contact. No further attacks were made and the ships returned to Scapa Flow arriving at 0500/15th.
P/T/A/Sub Lt (A) M. Westerman RNVR, was killed when his Hurricane of 759 Squadron crashed near Ilchester.
Gate vessel King Henry (162grt) was sunk by German bombing at Lowestoft.
British steamer Kingstown (628grt) was sunk by German bombing nine miles northwest of Bishops Light, Bristol Channel. The entire crew were rescued. The steamer sank in tow of a trawler six miles 287° from St Anne’s Head.
British steamer St Patrick (1922grt) was sunk by German bombing in 52-04N, 5-25W. Seventeen crewmen, one gunner, and twelve passengers, including Surgeon Cdr A.R. Ewart MB, BCh, were lost on the steamer.
Norwegian steamer Ala (933grt), in tow of tug Security from Shoreham to Southampton after 17 May bombing damage, was sunk by German bombing in 50-42N, 0-52W.One crewman was lost on the steamer.
British steamer Empire Creek (332grt) was damaged by German bombing in 57-16N, 1-43W. The ship was disabled by near misses. The steamer arrived at Aberdeen.
Norwegian steamer Bokn (698grt) was damaged by German bombing off St Ives. The steamer returned to St Ives.
British steamer Dalemoor (5796grt) was damaged by German bombing in 57-04N, 1-51W. Six crewmen were killed and two were missing. The steamer was towed to Leith.
Battlecruiser HMS Renown, aircraft carriers HMS Ark RoyaL and HMS Victorious, and destroyers HMS Faulknor, HMS Fearless, HMS Foresight, HMS Forester, HMS Foxhound, HMS Hesperus, and HMS Wishart departed Gibraltar to fly off 47 Hurricanes to Malta on the 14th in Operation TRACER. Force H arrived back at Gibraltar on the 15th.
Minesweeper HMS Aberdare ran aground near Mersa Matruh, but was refloated without serious damage.
Anti-submarine trawler HMS Jade was attacked by two Italian motor torpedo boats 17 miles 192° from Cape Passaro at 0220 while searching for downed Hurricane pilot. The British trawler was able to drive off the two Italian craft without damage to herself, but Midshipman J.C. Creasy RNR, was killed by machine gun fire.
In Washington, President Roosevelt today canceled his press conference and other appointments because of a cold, but kept in touch with the situation involving the sinking of the Robin Moor and other important governmental affairs. He signed an executive order requiring all Federal employees coming under civil service to be fingerprinted.
The Senate was in recess, but its Banking and Currency Committee heard Secretary Morgenthau urge extension of the President’s power to devalue the dollar; the Naval Affairs Committee approved bills providing for nine additional vice admirals and for $81,115,000 in naval station improvements, and the Interstate Commerce Committee heard. recommendations for an investigation of the radio industry and the Federal Communications Commission.
The House passed the $885,905,000 Relief Appropriation Bill, completed Congressional action on the bill to deny visas to certain undesirable aliens, passed a bill appropriating $40,000,000 for additional Tennessee Valley Authority power facilities and adjourned at 5:09 PM until noon on Monday. The Military Affairs Committee considered anti-strike legislation and the Ways and Means Committee considered tax legislation proposals.
The United States branded Germany a treaty violator today for the sinking of the American merchant ship Robin Moor and claimed indisputable evidence to justify any measures necessary to enforce the newly reasserted doctrine of freedom of the seas. It was indicated that President Roosevelt would await the full depositions of 11 survivors, probably on Monday, before deciding fully what action to take. Survivors have stated that a German submarine torpedoed and shelled the ship. The government made known its general stand that Germany was guilty of breaking an international treaty on submarine warfare by failure of the U-boat to assure safety of the Robin Moor’s passengers and crew.
The United States tonight formally deplored French resistance to the British in Syria and charged that Germany had induced the Vichy government to do the Nazis’ fighting there. U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull said the French people and those of the United States had a common interest in preventing the former becoming cobelligerents of Hitler. “The general adoption of Hitlerism would set the world back five to ten centuries.” In a statement sharply attacking the so-called “Darlan-Laval group” in France, Secretary of State Hull declared that “the attitude of the present government of Vichy is a matter of the deepest disappointment and sorrow.” He directly accused Vice-Premier Jean Darlan and former Vice-Premier Pierre Laval of scheming to “deliver France politically, economically, socially and militarily” to Adolf Hitler and said this “original scheme” had now been brought into the open. Gaston Henry-Haye, the French ambassador, after reading Hull’s statement, reasserted that no axis forces were in Syria.
A renewed assurance of the “determination of the government and the people of the United States” to carry out the pledge “of full material assistance to Great Britain and her Allies” was given by President Roosevelt in a message to King George VI of Great Britain yesterday on the occasion of his birthday celebration.
In the interest of national defense, President Roosevelt today ordered that all government employees whose fingerprints are not on file and all future new employees be fingerprinted. Meanwhile, the house, informed that a shortage of power for the production of aluminum was impending, quickly approved a $40,000,000 appropriation to increase the power output of the T.V.A. by 117,000 kilowatts. The bill now goes to the Senate.
An intensive drive to unearth every Communist in the nation has brought thousands of new names to lists in the hands of the government. Major Lemuel B. Schofield, chief of the Department of Immigration and Naturalization, in disclosing this today said recent investigations had confirmed a belief that Communists are concentrated primarily on the west coast and In New York City. Other lists of members of German bunds and Fascist groups also are being prepared in anticipation of legislation facilitating the deportation of alien members. It is in aliens affiliated with subversive organizations that the government is particularly interested now, but naturalized and even American-born citizens in such groups also are being catalogued. Under present statutes, only aliens or naturalized members are subject to prosecution, and the latter is so subject only if there is evidence that a false oath of allegiance was taken.
The War Department tonight requested the office of production management to arrange for an immediate cut in automobile production, the second in less than two months. The first request called on the industry to reduce output of 1942 models by 20 percent. It was reported that tonight’s request calls for an additional 30 percent, or a total of 50 percent. Undersecretary of War Robert P. Patterson asked for the reduction in letter to O.P.M. Director General William S. Knudsen, former head of General Motors Corp. Contents of the communication were not made public immediately, but informed sources understood that Patterson asked a drastic cut so vital materials and man power could be diverted to defense production.
Unofficial sources in the automobile industry said tonight that an immediate 50 percent curtailment in car production would force dismissal of thousands of workers whose services would not be required in Detroit area defense plants until the spring of 1942. The original 20 percent cut in new car output, ordered less than two months ago, was accepted “in stride,” but observers said an additional 30 percent slash would prove a real hardship on the industry which this year is producing some 5,000,000 automobiles.
The House Military Affairs Committee approved today proposals to authorize the President to take over industrial plants when the managements refused to accept the mediation services of existing Federal agencies and to permit the use of troops to prevent unlawful picketing.
President Roosevelt asked labor unions today to refrain from “raiding” each other’s territory and jurisdiction in attempts to win membership from rivals. The President asked that government agencies be notified of jurisdictional strife arising from rival unions’ activities as they may affect the national defense program. The C.I.O., acting in the face of demands by President Roosevelt that all unions stop membership raids during the national emergency, today absorbed 5,000 teamsters of Minneapolis, Minnesota, who bolted the A.F.L. The teamsters deserted the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen & Helpers and applied for a C.I.O. charter after their leaders had been tried before the union’s executive board of charges of extreme left-wing radicalism.
The Federal Communications Commission today began to crack down on unlicensed radio shortwave operators in Southern California. “We are now checking more than 100 unlicensed stations,” said T. M Stevens, commission monitoring officer. “Many of these are operating from automobiles. We will demand prison terms for convicted violators. “Even these automobile and minor stations have been heard by government agents up to a range of 1,000 miles, and one can readily imagine what damage would result if they were divulging United States military secrets.”
A nationwide campaign intended to salvage 20,000,000 pounds of aluminum from kitchen pots and pans and various sources of scrap metal, or enough for 650 long-range four-motor bombers, will be started soon by the OPM, according to an announcement here yesterday by Frank Bane, director of the division of State and local cooperation of the Office of Civilian Defense.
The War Department announced Lubbock, Texas as the site for an advanced twin-engine training school. The city buys the necessary 2000 acres of land and leases it to the federal government for $1 per year. This becomes the Air Corps Advanced Flying School.
In a move which the Republican minority asserted would create “a permanent army of WPA workers in this country,” the House passed and sent to the Senate today the $875,000,000 relief appropriation bill which would put 1,000,000 unemployed persons to work during the fiscal year 1942.
U.S. Marine Corps Major General Holland M. Smith relinquished command of the 1st Marine Division to become the commanding general of the I Corps (Provisional) attached to the US Navy Atlantic Fleet. The mixed Marine-Army corps was consisted of the 1st Marine Division and the 1st Infantry Division.
The motion picture “Man Hunt” is released. This thriller based on Geoffrey Household’s novel “Rogue Male,” is directed by Fritz Lang and stars Walter Pidgeon, Joan Bennett, George Sanders, Roddy McDowall and John Carradine. The farfetched plot has hunter Pidgeon attempting to shoot Hitler but ends up in more trouble than he can imagine.
“Tom, Dick and Harry,” also premiers. This romantic comedy, directed by Garson Kanin and starring Ginger Rogers, George Murphy, Alan Marshal, Burgess Meredith and Phil Silvers, has telephone operator Rogers, pursued by a down-to-earth fellow (Murphy), a rich man (Marshal) and a nonconformist (Meredith). She dreams what life would be life married to each of them before choosing one.
King Brothers (Maurice and Frank Kozinski) release “Gangs, Inc.” aka “Paper Bullets,” Directed by Phil Rosen, Joan Woodbury stars as an orphan girl who takes the rap unjustly for a crime by her wealthy boyfriend, then becomes the “Queen of Crime.” Alan Ladd also stars and, when the film is released (and retitled) in 1946, he leaps to top billing because in the interim he has become a major Hollywood star.
Major League Baseball:
Due to inclement weather, an abbreviated Hall of Fame Game in Cooperstown, New York, ended in the 6th inning, with the Cleveland Indians defeating the Cincinnati Reds, 2–1.
Dodger ace Whitlow Wyatt continues his mastery of the Cardinals, allowing just four hits, but so does Max Lanier for St. Louis, who also allowed just four hits, and won, 1–0, in the series opener. Wyatt permitted only four hits, but two of these, singles by Johnny Hopp and Don Padgett in the third inning, came on the heels of a pass to Terry Moore, who carried the winning run across. Lanier also gave four hits, Wyatt making two of them, a double and a single. The other Brooklyn blows were a single by Billy Herman in the first inning and another single by Dolph Camilli in the second. In registering his fourth triumph of the campaign Lanier had the distinction of administering the first whitewashing to the Dodgers, whose own pitchers have scored eight shutouts, four by Wyatt.
Brooklyn Dodgers 0, St. Louis Cardinals 1
President Roosevelt has told Prime Minister Mackenzie King that he expects to make his projected Canadian tour soon. The Dominion’s Chief Executive imparted that information in an aside this morning to a group of nine American women reporters to whom he granted a brief interview, taking time out of a crowded schedule on the final day of this session of Parliament.
The Japanese government in Tokyo announces a trade agreement with the Soviet Union.
The Japanese Premier, Prince Fumimaro Konoe, in a speech to Japan’s reorganized Price Inquiry Commission strongly reaffirmed the government’s determination to maintain a low-price policy. “With the growing tension of the international situation since last Fall the government is compelled to compile a large budget to safeguard the nation’s defense” he said.
Although it was officially announced two days ago that supreme but unidentified leaders of the Japanese Government had made a final decision regarding the policy to be pursued toward the Netherlands Indies as a result of the deadlock in the trade negotiations, the Cabinet today again considered the situation.
Richard G. Casey, Australian Minister to the United States, said today that the democracies “will be fighting the horrors of unemployment after the war” and he hesitated to say which was the greater enemy of democracy, “Nazi Germany or unemployment.” He urged a postwar alliance between the U.S. and Australia.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 122.31 (-0.67)
Born:
Marcel Lachemann, MLB pitcher (Oakland A’s), manager and pitching coach (California Angels), in Los Angeles, California.
Dave O’Brien, NFL tackle and guard (Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, St. Louis Cardinals), in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Marv Tarplin, American guitarist and songwriter (The Miracles, 1958-73 — “The Tracks of My Tears”), in Atlanta, Georgia, (d. 2011).
Esther Ofarim (née Zaied), Israeli folk and pop singer (“T’en vas pas”; Ester & Abi — “Cinderella Rockerfella”), and actress, in Safed, British Palestine (now Israel).
Tom Hallick, American actor (“Search”), in Buffalo, New York.
Naval Construction:
The Royal Navy Round Table-class minesweeping trawler HMS Sir Galahad (T 226) is laid down by Hall, Russell & Co. Ltd. (Aberdeen, Scotland).
The Royal Navy modified Black Swan-class sloop HMS Crane (U 23) is laid down by William Denny & Brothers (Dumbarton, Scotland).
The Royal Canadian Navy Bangor-class (Diesel-engined) minesweeper HMCS Noranda (J 265) launched by the Davie Shipbuilding and Repairing Co. Ltd. (Lauzon, Quebec, Canada).
The Royal Navy British Power Boat 63-foot-class motor anti-submarine boat HMS MA/SB 25 is commissioned.
The Royal Navy Dance-class ASW trawler HMS Cotillion (T 104) is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is A/Skr./Lieutenant James Flett, RNR.
The U.S. Navy 77-foot Elco patrol motor torpedo boat USS PT-21 is commissioned.
History Diaries 