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February 2nd, 1941
UNITED KINGDOM:
London: The British Reuters News Agency reported:-
The German Luftwaffe has begun to operate on the Libyan front. The attacking planes, which raided an advanced British position in Libya, could not be identified with certainty, but observers were convinced that they were German because of the style of the attack. Also, the planes did not appear to carry the standard Italian markings.
RAF Bomber Command: Attacks continue on the invasion ports from the next 9 days and nights. Le Havre and Ostend are especially targeted.
In a speech directed at the United States, Prime Minister Winston Churchill said: “Put your confidence in us...give us the tools and we will finish the job.” (Jack McKillop)
GERMANY: U-431 is launched. (Dave Shirlaw)
BULGARIA: Sofia: The British Legation reports that German troops are entering Dobruja and that schools had been closed, possibly to provide accommodation for them. There was evidence to show that a German military mission had arrived and that German infiltration was proceeding at a faster rate. ‘It is therefore possible, though not yet certain, that Germans have already begun establishing themselves militarily in this country and are no longer waiting to begin a formal invasion until the Danube is free of ice.’
EUROPE: It is estimated that some 2.5 million prisoners of war are currently being held in camps across Germany and German-occupied territory. The vast majority, nearly two million are French; hundreds of thousands are Polish; tens of thousands are Belgian, Dutch and Norwegian, and about 44,000 are British.
Red Cross delegates are allowed into camps to report on conditions. Although these vary considerably, they are generally found to be satisfactory. Inmates of Oflags, camps in which officers are held, are usually better-fed and more comfortable than those in stalags, where privates and NCOs are confined. Dulags are transfer camps where the prisoners are sent first. A Red Cross delegate, Dr. Marti, wrote in his report on Dulag Luft: “Rooms with one to three beds; tables, easy chairs; exceptional comfort; dining-room; whisky every evening; papers; various games; walks outside camp ...”
The prisoners’ main complaint is boredom, brought on by the routine and, perhaps most of all, by the diet of soup and potatoes that is standard camp fare. In several camps visited recently by the Red Cross the lack of winter clothing was also a problem. The situation was not helped by the Germans selling extra garments at vastly inflated prices.
But compared with the treatment of “dissidents” and, in particular, Jews, in Nazi camps, conditions for prisoners of war seem positively humane.
LIBYA: The Australian forces have already advanced well to the west of Derna on the coast and are discovering that the Italians are withdrawing. General Archibald Wavel, Commander in Chief Middle East Command, agrees with General Richard O’Connor, General Officer Commanding Western Desert Force, that 7th Armoured Division should be sent hurrying across the center of Cyrenaica in an attempt to cut the Italians off. Supplies are being assembled to support this move but because the Italian retreat is so rapid the advance will have to start before the preparations are complete. (Jack McKillop)
ETHIOPIA: Gazelle Force and 4th Indian Division press on into the mountains, despite blown bridges and heavily mined stretches of road, but they cannot pass through the narrow Dongolaas Gorge, where a huge tumble of rocks lay across the road.
ITALIAN SOMALILAND: Carrier-based aircraft of the British aircraft carrier HMS Formidable, on her way to the Mediterranean to replace the damaged carrier HMS Illustrious, attack the harbour installations at Mogadishu. (Jack McKillop)
CANADA: Prime Minister MacKenzie King announces that the number of Canadian troops serving overseas will be doubled. (Jack McKillop)
http://worldwar2daybyday.blogspot.com/
Day 521 February 2, 1941
East Africa. 5th Indian Division captures Italian fortifications defended by 8,000 troops and 32 field guns at Barentu, Eritrea. Indian troops have advanced over 100 miles from Sudan since January 19, capturing 6,000 Italian POWs, 80 field guns, 26 tanks and 400 trucks.
In the Indian Ocean, British aircraft carrier HMS Formidable (escorted by cruiser HMS Hawkins to the Suez Canal, to replace HMS Illustrious in the Mediterranean) launches aircraft to drop mines in the harbour and attack shore installations at Mogadishu, Italian Somaliland (Operation Breach).
Operation Compass. Australian troops advance on the coast road West of Derna, Libya, and find Italians forces have withdrawn. General O’Connor receives permission from General Wavell in Cairo to send elements of 7th Armored Division across the desert to cut off the Italian retreat.
British aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal (escorted by battleships HMS Renown & HMS Malaya and cruiser HMS Sheffield) launches 8 torpedo bombers which unsuccessfully attack the hydroelectric Santa Chiara Dam on Tirso River, Sardinia. 1 Swordfish of 810 Squadron is shot down and all 3 crew are taken prisoner.
Naval trawler HMT Almond hits a mine and sinks off Falmouth (19 killed).
Overnight, in the Indian Ocean, German armed merchant cruiser Atlantis stops Norwegian tanker Ketty Brøvig (carrying 6370 tons of fuel oil and 4125 tons of diesel oil from Bahrain) with shellfire. Ketty Brøvig is taken as a prize ship (all 52 crew taken prisoner) and will refuel cruiser Admiral Scheer and several other raiders.