R. A. F. BLASTS INVASION PORTS, FIGHTS NAZIS OVER CHANNEL; ITALIANS ON RUN, SAY BRITISH (2/6/41)

Microfilm-New York Times archives, McHenry Library, U.C. Santa Cruz | 2/6/41 | Raymond Daniell, C.L. Sulzberger, David Anderson, G.H. Archambault, G.E.R. Gedye

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents World War II Plus 70 Years: Seminar and Discussion Forum
First session: September 1, 2009. Last date to add: September 2, 2015.
Reading assignment: New York Times articles delivered daily to students on the 70th anniversary of original publication date. (Previously posted articles can be found by searching on keyword “realtime” Or view Homer’s posting history .)
To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by freepmail. Those on the Realtime +/- 70 Years ping list are automatically enrolled. Course description, prerequisites and tuition information is available at the bottom of Homer’s profile. Also visit our general discussion thread

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Selections from West Point Atlas for the Second World War
North Africa, 1940: Graziani’s Advance and Wavell’s Offensive, 13 September 1940-7 February 1941 (Map 34a)
Marcks’ Plan, August 5, 1940
Operation Barbarossa (Dir. 21), December 18, 1940
The Mediterranean Basin (Map 33)
The Far East and the Pacific, 1941 – The Imperial Powers, 1 September 1939

[Homer_J_Simpson]

[Homer_J_Simpson]

The previous reply is from: B.H. Liddell Hart, History of the Second World War

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Winston S. Churchill, The Grand Alliance

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Reich Industry Hit – 2
The International Situation – 3
Retreat in Libya Verges on a Rout – 3-4
Greeks Take Town in Albania Battle – 4
Carrier Illustrious Steams to Alexandria; Lost 80 Men in Malta Fight, Knox Discloses – 4
Belgian Army of 90,000 to Help British in Africa – 4
7 Nazi Planes Lost in Raids on Britain – 5
Nazi Press Agent Greets Nazi No. 2 (photo) – 5
Lincoln’s Inn Fields Fence Yields Metal for War Use – 5
Price Laval Asks Too High for Vichy – 6
Army Rule Decree Revoked in Cuba – 7
The British Princesses are Still in Britain (photo) – 7
Gayda Says Jews Seek ‘To Drag’ U.S. Into War – 7
100 Norwegians Go to Fight for Germany; Volunteers Leave in Big Transport Planes – 8
Shanghai Taxpayers Vote for Rise in Levy – 8
Japanese Press On in Hong Kong Area – 8
Floods in Hungary Recede Despite Rain – 8
British Forces in Eritrea Shifted from North Africa – 8
The Texts of the Day’s Communiques on the War – 9-10
Exiled Turk Dies 3 Hours after His Return from 20 Years’ Absence as a Foe of Ataturk – 10

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1941/feb41/f06feb41.htm

Italians breakout attempt fails

Thursday, February 6, 1941 www.onwar.com

In North Africa... Benghazi is taken by Australian units following the Italian retreat. The Italian forces are streaming back along the coast road to Beda Fomm and during the day they make desperate attacks on the British blocking force there. These attacks are repulsed with heavy loss but the small British force is compelled to give some ground.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/06.htm

February 6th, 1941

UNITED KINGDOM:

Minesweeping trawler HMS Coriolanus commissioned.
Destroyer HMS Quantock commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)

GERMANY: Hitler offers Rommel command of a new formation to be made up of the 5th Light Division and 15 Panzer Division and intended for operations in North Africa. This force was designated Afrika Korps and equipped with PzKw III and IV tanks. The operation will be codenamed ‘Sunflower’

Berlin: Hitler issues his War Directive No. 23 - Directions for Operations against the English War Economy. It says that the bombing campaign has had “least effect of all, so far as we can see, on the morale and the will to resist of the English people. No decisive success can be expected from terror attacks on residential areas.”

However, bombing is to be intensified on shipping and the ports to inflict the greatest possible damage on the British economy “and also to give the impression that an invasion is planned for this year.”

U-176 laid down.

U-556 commissioned.
(Dave Shirlaw)

LIBYA: 4th Armoured Brigade arrive to strike the blocked Italians in the flank at Beda Fomm further north than Combeforce. The Italians fought hard and bravely throughout the day but by evening their position was desperate. 7th Armoured pinned down a mass of vehicles and men in complete confusion along some 20 miles of the one possible escape road from Solluch to Agedabia. In repeated attempts to break through the Italians lost more than 80 tanks.
O’Connor orders a fast-moving detachment - about a brigade group in strength - along the main road from Barce to Benghazi and on to Ghemines, to complete the encirclement of the Italians.

Benghazi: British and Australian troops enter the town.

Telegram from HQ RAF ME to the Air Ministry:

We continue to attack Italian Air Force and harass his retreating army, Cyrenaica, Abyssinia and Eritrea. Every available operational aircraft, including Gauntlets, employed full intensity.

Only squadron with defensive role is No. 33 Hurricane defending Alexandria and Suez Canal, where German mine laying has sunk three ships in the canal and temporarily blocked it.

There is a great shortage of spares, tools and equipment of all sorts ... no less than 32 Merlins now in depots awaiting spares before overhauls can commence. ...behind programme in Blenheims (over 90). Mohawks out of sight with major engine defect and Tomahawks unknown quantity.

AUSTRALIA: Destroyer HMAS Quickmatch laid down. (Dave Shirlaw)

U.S.A.: Washington: John Gilbert Winant is appointed the new ambassador to Britain.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: The Canadian United Towing and Salvage Co. merchantman Maplecourt (3,388 GRT) was sunk west of Northern Ireland in position 55.39N, 015.56W, by U-107, Kptlt Günther Hessler, Knight’s Cross, CO. All of her thirty-seven crewmembers and DEMS gunners were lost. Maplecourt had been travelling in Convoy SC-20 and was bound for Preston, England. She was one of four ships sunk by U-107 on her first combat patrol. Although Maplecourt was a member of convoy SC-20, most sources indicate that SC-20 arrived in Liverpool on 08 Feb 41 with all of its 38 ships intact. This probably indicates that she was either a ‘straggler’ or she had already detached and was proceeding independently for her destination. British records do not indicate convoy losses for ships that were lost outside of the main body of the convoy. (Dave Shirlaw)

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://worldwar2daybyday.blogspot.com/

Day 525 February 6, 1941
Operation Compass. Libya. A column of Italian 20,000 troops, 160 tanks and 200 field guns is strung out along 7 miles of the coast road. They are contained by Combe Force’s roadblock at Sidi Saleh and 4th Armoured Brigade at Beda Fomm, despite a series of uncoordinated attacks all day. Australian 6th Division captures Benghazi while 7th Support Group (another part of 7th Armoured Division) captures Sceleidima inland; both groups now close the trap on the Italians from the North.

Battle of Keren, Eritrea, East Africa. 2nd Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders hold Cameron Ridge and are reinforced by Indian 6th Rajputana Rifles. Indian 3rd Battalion, 14th Punjab Regiment advances past them and onto Brig’s Peak but they are pushed back by Italian 65th Infantry Division “Savoia Grenadiers” (Granatieri di Savoia).

German Motor Torpedo Boats S.30, S.54, S.58, S.59 raid the East coast of England, sinking British SS Angularity (2 crew killed, 1 taken prisoner by S.30).

At 5.52 PM 250 miles Northwest of Ireland, U-107 sinks Canadian SS Maplecourt carrying 3604 tons cargo including 1540 tons of steel from USA to Britain (all 37 hands lost).

[PeterPrinciple]

Gold and Belgium show up in two articles.

First, the Belgians put their pre invasion money in the French bank which sent it to Dakar but now was being sent back to France for the Nazis.

Second, A Belgian army of 90,000 is helping the British in Africa with supplies bought from the US but paid for with gold mined in the Congo.

Just found it interesting for some reason.

[PeterPrinciple]

Mishaps to 300 Army Trucks Daily Debated in Commons

London, Feb 5 - Army drivers contributed to the heavy total of road accidents in the last two months of 1940, damaging 800 army trucks of all descriptions daily. War Secretary David Margasson told the House of commons that severe disciplinary action would be taken where army drivers exceeded speed limits and in all cases of dangerous driving.

Mr. Margesson said the condition of the vehicles could not be blamed and that the accidents could not be put down to weather conditions. It was pointed out to him that many drivers were being employed for other purposes, while men who had not been drivers were newly trained.

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Sounds like drivers were cooking and cooks were driving, but it wasn’t managements fault. The answer to the problem was more discipline and penalties instead of letting the cooks cook.

I just find the small articles interesting...............

[PeterPrinciple]

FIRST LADY BACKS LEVITON STRIKERS

At Brooklyn Rally She Urges Unions for ALL - Proposes to Educate Employers

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Now there is an interesting Headline....................