http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/12.htm
November 12th, 1940
UNITED KINGDOM: RAF Bomber Command: 2 Group: While piloting a Whitley V (P 5005) of 102 Sqn. in a night raid on Cologne, Leonard Cheshire displays such gallantry that he is awarded an immediate D.S.O.
ASW trawler HMS Rumba commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)
GERMANY: Berlin: Molotov arrives in Berlin. He has a two and-a-half hour conversation with von Ribbentrop. He expounds yet again on the imminent collapse of England. But this collapse may need to be accelerated by invasion.
After lunch Molotov met with Hitler. The Fuhrer said that he had reached several conclusions:
1. Germany was not seeking to obtain military aid from Russia.
2. Because of the tremendous extension of the war, Germany had been forced, in order to oppose England, to penetrate into territories remote from her and in which she was not basically interested politically or economically.
3. There were nevertheless certain requirements, the full importance of which had only become apparent during the war, but which were vital to Germany. Among them were certain sources of raw materials.
Molotov for his part gives a non-committal assent but enquires about the Tripartite Pact. What is the meaning of the New Order in Europe and the Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere and where does the USSR fit in it? Issues regarding Russia’s Balkan and Black Sea interests must be clarified.
Meanwhile Hitler issues his 18th war directive, ordering political measures to bring Spain into the war and death by slow strangulation for Britain.
The meeting disturbs the Turks who are confident that the stage has been reached when she will be obliged to join the Axis or remain a non-belligerent ally of Britain.
U-91 laid down. (Dave Shirlaw)
ITALY: The Italian High Command announced:
Last night enemy aircraft raided the Italian naval port of Taranto. The anti-aircraft artillery in the harbour and on the ships anchored there, emitted strong defensive fire. Only one shipping unit was severely hit. Six enemy aircraft were shot down and a portion of their crews taken prisoner. We can count on 3 more machines being lost [later from damage].
In fact, three battleships were sunk at their berths (two of the three were raised, repaired, and back in action within six months).
British losses were two planes shot down (two aircrew taken prisoner when one Swordfish splashed down safely in the harbor) and two damaged by Italian fire, which was impressive in volume but obviously less so in accuracy. (Mike Yaklich)
CANADA: Corvette HMCS Quesnel launched.
Corvette HMS Hepatica commissioned with Canadian crew Quebec City, Province of Quebec. (Dave Shirlaw)
U.S.A.: Stark drafts a memo to Knox advocating “Plan Dog”, a defensive posture in the Pacific and a full-court press in the Atlantic. This was shared with the Army, the White House, and the British. (Marc Small)
Submarine USS Greenling laid down. (Dave Shirlaw)
After declassification it was shared with the world.