http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1940/dec40/f10dec40.htm
British capture Sidi Barrani
Tuesday, December 10, 1940 www.onwar.com
In North Africa... Sidi Barrani falls to the British attack. There are 20,000 prisoners already in the offensive. The coast road to the west has been cut by 7th Armored Division at Buq Buq.
In Washington... Roosevelt announces an extension of the export-license system. Iron ore, pig iron and many important iron and steel manufactures are brought within the system. Like previous measures this is aimed at Japan. The changes come into effect at the end of the year.
From Berlin... OKW issues a directive ordering the transfer of German 10th Fliegerkorps to south Italy and Sicily. Field Marshal Milch has been in Rome during the last few days to discuss the measures to help the Italian navy.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/10.htm
December 10th, 1940
UNITED KINGDOM:
London:
Two Nazi spies, Jose Waldberg and Carl Meier, are the first people to be executed since the start of the war. They were hanged today in Pentonville jail in London.
The pair landed in this country several weeks ago with a radio transmitter, English money and some iron rations. They planned to spend the nights hiding in the woods, and their days collecting information - from the unwary public in trains, pubs and buffets, and by observation of military bases.
An anti-espionage officer reported that, though Waldberg had been motivated by patriotism, his companion, Meier, was only interested in the money.
RAF Bomber Command: 2 Group: Four Blenheims of 105 Sqn., bomb the Focke-Wulf factory at Bremen, 1 enemy night fighter ‘probably’ shot down.
GERMANY: Berlin: Hitler issues a directive for the seizure of French military resources and the future occupation of Vichy France (Operation Attila), and cancels plans to invade Gibraltar via Spain (Operation Felix).
U-125 launched. (Dave Shirlaw)
NORTH AFRICA: General O’Connor’s advance is delayed by a sandstorm. Wavell in the meantime withdraws the 4th Indian Division and sends it to the Sudan where he expects an attack.
Mersa Matruh: At first light the Coldstream Guards assault the Italian positions, supported by heavy fire from the sea. Fighting continues all day and by 10 p.m. the Coldstream battalion HQ signalled that it was impossible to count the number of prisoners, but that “there were about five acres of officers and 200 acres of other ranks.”
AUSTRALIA: Minesweeper HMAS Ballarat launched. (Dave Shirlaw)
U.S.A.: Washington: Roosevelt announces that the export licence system will be extended to include iron and steel.