Posted on 04/29/2011 5:04:40 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
Winston S. Churchill, The Grand Alliance
http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1941/apr41/f29apr41.htm
Iraqis intend to resist British
Tuesday, April 29, 1941 www.onwar.com
In Iraq... British reinforcements arrive at Basra. By this time the Iraqis have decided to fight the British.
In East Africa... Advance forces from 5th Indian Division reach the north side of the Italian position at Amba Alagi, in Abyssinia.
http://worldwar2daybyday.blogspot.com/
Day 607 April 29, 1941
Allied resistance on mainland Greece effectively ends at 5.30 AM when 8000 British, ANZAC, Greek and Yugoslav troops surrender at Kalamata, Peloponnese peninsula. The evacuation is over, although men will be collected from various small Greek islands over the next few days. Germans take 6508 British, 2030 Australian, 1614 New Zealand prisoners, plus 3806 Cypriots and Palestinians. British and ANZAC casualties are 903 killed, 1250 wounded. Germany has overrun Greece in 23 days with 1318 killed and 3360 wounded (plus 166 killed and 392 wounded in Yugoslavia). In contrast, the Greco-Italian war in Northern Greece and Southern Albania (which was ended by the German invasion) costs Greece and Italy each about 14000 killed with 60,000 wounded. Most British troopships crowding Suda Bay, Crete, are sent on to Alexandria, Egypt, avoid attack by Luftwaffe bombers which sink 2 Greek steamers.
Tobruk. Rommel is still prevented from launching an attack by General Paulus (OKH Deputy Chief of Staff). German bombers again attack the defensive perimeter, to cover the troop movements around the perimeter, and the harbour sinking HMS Chakla (previously an Indian passenger ship commissioned into the Royal Navy).
Iraq. More Indian troops (20th Infantry Brigade) arrive at Basra from Bombay, to reinforce British and colonial forces.
500 miles West of Ireland, U-75 sinks British liner City of Nagpur with 4 torpedoes from 2.30 - 6 AM (15 crew and 1 passenger killed; 171 crew, 8 gunners and 273 passengers picked up from lifeboats by destroyer HMS Hurricane). British steamer Ambrose Fleming is sunk by German motor torpedo boats in the North Sea 10 miles off the English coast (10 crew and 1 gunner lost).
Overnight, Luftwaffe bombs Plymouth, England, damaging cruiser HMS Trinidad (under construction) and sinking auxiliary patrol vessel Pessac.
Field Marshall List pays an official visit to mountain troops in Greece, 1941, where he is seen talking to three junior non-commissioned officers. The Gefreiter in the center has been awarded the Iron Cross First Class (pinned to his tunic) and Second Class (denoted by the ribbon in his buttonhole)
"Historical justice obliges me to state that of the enemies who took up positions against us, the Greek soldier particularly fought with the highest courage. He capitulated only when further resistance had become impossible and useless."
The Führer also ordered the release and repatriation of all Greek prisoners of war, as soon as they had been disarmed, "because of their gallant bearing." According to Hitler's Chief of Staff, Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel, the Führer "wanted to give the Greeks an honorable settlement in recognition of their brave struggle, and of their blamelessness for this war: after all the Italians had started it."
Inspired by the Greek resistance during the Italian and German invasions, Churchill said, "Hence we will not say that Greeks fight like heroes, but that heroes fight like Greeks"
Interesting Supreme Court victory for Rep. Arthur Mitchell of Illinois, the first black Democrat in Congress. He had defeated black Republican Rep. Oscar De Priest in 1934, the first black elected to Congress in the 20th century in 1928.
Interesting to note that one of the main articles speculates that Russia may be about to be invaded, so that operation cannot have come as a complete surprise. In addition, it is interesting to think about the choices not taken and the history not made, e.g. the speculated invasion of Turkey.
The thug Roosevelt made the coal operators an offer they couldn’t refuse - much as his spiritual child would do the banks two generations later.
List will be permanently relieved by Hitler in September 1942 for failure to reach his objectives in the Caucasus.
Hitler will put himself in charge of List's Army Group A.
"List was captured by the Allies after the war."In 1947, List and 11 former subordinates were brought before a U.S. military court, charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity - primarily the reprisal killing of hostages in retaliation for partisan activity.
List was convicted in this Hostages Trial.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment in February 1948.
List was released from prison in December 1952, officially because of ill health.
However, he lived for another 19 years, dying on August 17, 1971."
That's nice-now tell me something I don't know.
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