Posted on 11/20/2010 5:26:10 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson
Winston S. Churchill, Their Finest Hour
Midland City Fired – 2-3
Two Noted Race Horses Believed Eaten in France – 3
The International Situation – 3
Greek Gains Widen in Albanian Drive – 3-4
3-Hour R.A.F. Raid Blasts Oil Plant – 4-5
Vatican Says Nazism is Foe of Christianity; Lists Persecutions in Reich to Support Charge – 6
Texts of Day’s War Communiques – 7
Hungary joins Tripartite Pact
Wednesday, November 20, 1940 www.onwar.com
In Germany... In Vienna, Hungarian Prime Minister Count Teleki and Foreign Minister Csaky agree to signing the Tripartite Pact.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/20.htm
November 20th, 1940
UNITED KINGDOM:
CIGS to Wavell:
PM and Secretary of State for War have authorised me to send you the following:
You will have learnt from AOC-in-C strength of air forces which will be available from day to day in Egypt after approved air support to Greece has been provided. We realise how disturbing reduction of air forces must be to you, especially at this moment, but we are making every effort in our power to ensure that you have the squadrons you have estimated necessary to proceed with “Compass”.
You will appreciate that developments in Greek theatre are likely to lead to further persistent demands for our assistance which will be the more difficult to resist so long as your forces are not actively engaged. Nevertheless decision as to how and when to act with regard to “Compass” must rest with you and we have full confidence in your judgement.
Birmingham: Luftwaffe raiders bombard the city in a raid lasting nine hours, London is also bombed by over a 100 planes.
RAF Bomber Command: The RAF claim that during the bombing of Bremen the liner ‘Europa’ “was hit squarely at her dock”.
London:
There may be no marmalade for British breakfasts unless the Ministry of Food stops haggling over the price it is prepared to pay for the current crop of Seville oranges. Any further delay means that the fruit will start going bad. The dispute is over GBP 77,000, which could make the difference of a farthing to a two-pound jar of marmalade. Housewives who are waiting to make their own marmalade are getting frustrated. Extra sugar is available - but no oranges.
Destroyers HMS Airedale and Albrighton laid down. (Dave Shirlaw)
VICHY FRANCE: Canadian envoy Pierre Dupuy arrives.
AUSTRIA: Vienna: Hungary today signed a protocol linking itself to Germany, Italy and Japan. After the ceremony, held in the Belvedere Palace, the former home of Emperor Franz Josef, the Hungarian foreign minister, Count Csaky, emphasised that this did not mean that Hungary would change its attitude towards Russia. In fact, the protocol merely regularises the existing situation in which Hungary accedes to all of Germany’s demands.
ITALY: The newly formed 97 Gruppo (238a and 239a Squadriglia) of the Regia Aeronautica equips with the Junkers JU87. These Squadriglia will operate on the Greek-Albanian front. (Ferdinando D’Amico)
ADRIATIC SEA: The Italian torpedo boat Cofienza sinks after a collision with the auxiliary patrol vessel Cecchi north of Brindisi. (Jack McKillop)
EGYPT:
Cairo: Wavell to CIGS:
“Compass” in active preparation and forward depots already made. Main difficulties transport, spares for artillery and tanks, protection against air attack and secrecy. Can deal with first two locally as far as resources allow but air protection dependent on arrival Hurricanes in time. Am arranging to concentrate all AA artillery I can make available, taking risks elsewhere in Egypt. Shall endeavour to stage operation if air situation makes it at all possible but the less air support the larger the casualties will be and the greater the risk of failure.
EGYPT: Port Suez: The Indian Army arrives here and at Port Sudan. They bring with them cooks to prepare meals for the separate company messes for British, Hindu, Moslem, Sikh and Untouchable soldiers.
The role of these soldiers is unpopular with the Hindu majority of India where the Congress Party remains aloof from the war. Moslems, on the other hand, support the war effort. The reinforcements are welcome nonetheless. Britain has only 8,000 troops in the Sudan against Italy’s 300,000.
EAST AFRICA: The RAF bomb military installations at Mai Edaga, Gura in Eritrea.
FRENCH INDOCHINA: Japanese warships and transports have arrived off Saigon, and the Japanese have demanded the right to occupy the city.
CANADA:
Corvette HMCS Kamsack laid down Port Arthur, Ontario.
Corvettes HMCS Baddeck and Buctouche laid down Lauzon, Province of Quebec. (Dave Shirlaw)
U.S.A.: Washington: The House of Representatives defeated the move of the administration to adjourn the session. By a majority of 44 votes it was decided to stay in Washington and watch Roosevelt.
Washington:
An American bomber fresh off the drawing board has penetrated not only German defences but also the complex web of US law prohibiting the supply of war material to belligerents.
Two years ago a British defence, shopping in the US, asked Lockheed for a long-range reconnaissance bomber. None existed, but the Lockheed Super-Electra airliner was adapted in 24 hours. This became the Hudson. When war began, some legal way had to be found of avoiding the infringement of US neutrality. President Roosevelt revived an 1892 law permitting the lease of army property “not required for public use” for periods up to five years.
U.S. Secretary of War Henry Stimson and British Minister of Supply Sir Walter Layton agree to a partial standardization of British and American military weapons and equipment. The agreement establishes a general policy of pooling British and American technical knowledge, patents, and formulas for weapons production. (Jack McKillop)
PANAMA: The War Department activates the Panama Canal Air Force at Albrook Field, Canal Zone. This new unit, which is assigned to the Army’s Panama Canal Department, assumes administrative and operational control of all units in the Panama Canal which were previously under the 19th Wing. (Jack McKillop)
http://worldwar2daybyday.blogspot.com/
Day 447 November 20, 1940
Hungary joins the Axis. Hungarian Prime Minister Count Teleki and Foreign Minister Count Csaky sign a protocol in Vienna, joining the German-Italian-Japanese Tripartite Pact.
British cruiser HMS York delivers anti-aircraft guns to Piraeus near Athens, Greece, and returns to Alexandria, Egypt. British bombers sink Italian steamer Ardita III in the Red Sea off Assab, Eritrea. Off Brindisi, Italy, Italian torpedo boat Confienza sinks after colliding with Italian armed merchant cruiser Capitano A. Cecchi.
In the Indian Ocean 1000 miles West of Perth, Australia, German armed merchant cruiser Pinguin spends all day chasing British steamer Maimoa (carrying 5,000 tons of frozen meat, 1,500 tons of butter, 1,500 tons of grain, 16 million eggs) finally stopping her with shellfire from 12 miles. Maimoa is scuttled and all 87 crew are taken prisoner.
Overnight, Birmingham in the English Midlands is bombed again. 116 aircraft drop 132 tons of high explosive bombs and 296 incendiary canisters.
Do-24 Flying Boat
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