This Day in the War in Europe: The Beginning

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Halders Diary 1 August 1941

 

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02 AUGUST 1941
Known Reinforcements
Axis
Type IXC DKM U-154

Allied
MSW HMS MINES (J-165), ML 182

Losses
None

UBOATS
Arrivals
St Nazaire: U-73
Trondheim: U-752

Departures
Lorient: U-43
St Nazaire: U-71, U-77, U-96, U-751

At Sea 02 August 1941
U-43, U-46, U-66, U-71, U-74, U-75, U-77, U-79, U-81, U-83, U-93, U-94, U-96, U-97, U-109, U-123, U-124, U-126, U-139 U-142, U-144, U-146, U-204, U-205, U-331, U-371, U-372, U-401, U-431, U-451, U-558, U-559, U-563, U-565, U-566, U-652, U-751

37 Boats

OPERATIONS
East Front
Baltic
Serie IX Submarine S.11 (VMF 840 grt); Hit a mine and sank off Hiiumaa Island, Estonia some 5 nautical miles west of Emmaste i on 2 August 1941. 3 crewmembers managed to raise from 11 m depth through a stern torpedo tube. The others (44 men) went down with the ship. The wreck was found in 1949, raised in 1955, and broken up at Riga during 1957-1958.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

North Sea
Steamer KOOLGA was damaged by the LW, near 54.D Buoy, Smiths Knoll, and arrived in tow at Great Yarmouth on the 3rd.

Northern Waters
DD HEYTHROP departed Scapa Flow for Greenock on completion of work up and arrived on the 3rd. DD ORIBI departed Scapa Flow for Scrabster to convey Admiral Horton to Scapa Flow, and arrived that evening. MSW HARRIER departed Scapa Flow for Seidisfjord, where she arrived on the 5th.

CLA CURACOA departed Scapa Flow at 0615 to provide escort for convoy WN.60 from the Pentland Firth until joining convoy EC.53 at 2300. She parted company with EC.53 in Pentland Firth late on the 3rd and arrived at Scapa Flow.

Med/Biscay
LL magnetic MSW SOIKA was recalled from Port Said to aid in minesweeping at Tobruk. Corvette SALVIA departed Beirut to relieve her at Port Said. SOIKA proceeded to Alexandria and minesweeping whaler SOTRA departed Alexandria for Tobruk.

RAN DD VENDETTA and DD HAVOCK, en route to Tobruk, were attacked by the LW. South African (SAF) air support was able to repulse the attack and the DDs were undamaged.

RNeN submarine O.23 departed Gibraltar for patrol in the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Central Atlantic
Tkr LAURELWOOD and Panamanian tkr NORVINN departed Gibraltar for Curacoa and Trinidad, respectively, escorted until dark on the 4th by DD WISHART and ASW trawler LADY HOGARTH.

Motor launches ML.130, ML.129, and ML.168 departed Gibraltar to conduct an anti-submarine search north of AlboranIsland.

Malta
Weather Sunny and hot.

1000 hrs Convoy arrives in GrandHarbour.

1744-1816 hrs Air raid alert for a formation of 15 enemy aircraft sighted 40 miles to the north of Malta. 21 Hurricanes are scrambled; the raiders approach to a point 22 miles from the Island and turn back before they can be engaged.

2308-2330 hrs Air raid alert; raid does not materialise.

2337-0032 hrs Air raid alert for two unidentified enemy aircraft which approach the Island singly from the north east. No Hurricanes are scrambled. Heavy anti-aircraft guns engage and force the raiders to drop their bombs in the sea, the first near St Elmo breakwater and the second raider in the sea off Tigne Point. Both then turn away and recede north east.

0101-0214 hrs Air raid alert for three unidentified enemy aircraft which approach the Island singly from the north east. The first turns back before reaching the coast. The second crosses the coast in north west of St George's and is engaged by heavy anti-aircraft guns but flies on to drop bombs on the Gzira area, east of Gudja and in the sea off Kalafrana. The third does not approach the coast but drops flares in the sea and recedes northwards.

OPERATIONS REPORTS SATURDAY 2 AUGUST 1941

ROYAL NAVY 'Operation Style' successfully completed. Farndale returned with defects.

AIR HQ Arrivals 1 Sunderland. Beaufighters and Hurricanes provided fighter escort for incoming Naval units. 69 Squadron 5 Marylands on patrols between Sicily and South Sardinia; one Maryland F/O Drew photo-reconnaissance Taranto, Messina, Brindisi, Valona and Reggio Calabria. Maryland patrols Tripoli and Comiso.830 Squadron Fleet Air Arm Anti-submarine patrols ahead of Naval units leaving Malta; no incidents. 143 Squadron 2 Beaufighters attacked Rizzo Aerodrome; damaged and destroyed aircraft. 2 Beaufighters sent to attack Pantellaria aerodrome unable to reach target.

HAL FAR One Swordfish patrolled Ionian Sea. 105 Squadron 3 Blenheims sent to attack barracks and aerodrome at Misurata destroyed buildings.

KALAFRANA A draft of 100 men arrived at the Station from the UK.

 

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Halders Diary 2 August 1941 (NOTE DATE SHOWN IS AN ERROR)

 

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03 AUGUST 1941
Known Reinforcements
None

Losses
None

UBOATS
Departures
Horten: U-129
Lorient: U-105
Trondheim: U-568

At Sea 03 August 1941
U-43, U-46, U-66, U-71, U-74, U-75, U-77, U-79, U-81, U-83, U-93, U-94, U-96, U-97, U-105, U-109, U-123, U-124, U-126, U-129, U-139 U-142, U-144, U-146, U-204, U-205, U-331, U-371, U-372, U-431, U-451, U-558, U-559, U-563, U-565, U-566, U-568, U-652, U-751

39 Boats

OPERATIONS
North Sea
CA BERWICK departed Rosyth for Scapa Flow and arrived later that day. Turbine problems had not yet been repaired and she was only capable of a maximum of 22.5 knots.

AA ship ALYNBANK departed Scapa Flow at sundown and escorted convoy WN.61 to southward. On the 4th, she transferred to convoy EC.54 in the vicinity of Tod Head, and arrived at Scapa Flow just after midnight on the 6th after parting from the convoy to the west of the Orkneys.

MSW NIGER departed Scapa Flow pre-dawn for Dundee to refit, arriving that evening The refit was completed 28 September. She returned to Dundee on 6 October for further refitting which continued until 15 December.

Northern Patrol
CVL FURIOUS, CA SUFFOLK and DDs INTREPID, ECHO, and ECLIPSE arrived at Seidisfjord at 1000 on completion of Operation EF. The ships went on to Scapa Flow after refuelling. FURIOUS, ECHO and ECLIPSE arrived on the 5th. INTREPID which had been separated in bad weather, proceeded to Loch Ewe to fuel and arrived that morning. The DD later proceeded to Greenock. DDs HAVELOCK, HESPERUS, and HARVESTER arrived at Scapa Flow at 0815 from Reykjavik.

Northern Waters
DD QUORN departed Scapa Flow at 1200 after a short period of practices for Rosyth. DD ANTHONY departed Scapa Flow for Scrabster during the afternoon to embark special personnel, and arrived back later that evening.

West Coast
Convoy WS.10 was formed at sea from ships departing Avonmouth on 30 July, Liverpool on 31 July, and the Clyde on the 2nd. It was composed of steamers PHEMIUS, DIOMED, INDIAN PRINCE, INDRAPOERA, ANDES, RANGITIKI, ORCADES, BRITANNIC, HIGHLAND MONARCH, MANCHESTERPORT, STARTHALLAN, VOLENDAM, CAMERONIA, REINA DEL PACIFICO, NEA HELLAS, STIRLINGCASTLE, WINDSORCASTLE, WARWICKCASTLE, and NIGERSTROOM. On the 6th, steamers WINDSORCASTLE and WARWICKCASTLE collided. WARWICKCASTLE was detached to Halifax and escorted by AMC WORCESTERSHIRE. The convoy was escorted by AMC WORCESTERSHIRE and DDs GURKHA, ORP PIORUN, RNeN ISAAC SWEERS, BROADWAY, LANCE, and LEGION from 2 to 6 August. CLA CAIRO and DDs WHITEHALL, WITCH, and WINCHELSEA escorted the convoy from 2 to 5 August. CA LONDON escorted the convoy from 2 to 10 August. On the 10th, CL EDINBURGH, which departed Gibraltar on the 8th, relieved the CA and escorted the convoy until 17 August when it arrived at Freetown. The CA proceeded to 40N, 30W to attempt to intercept an armed enemy merchant ship reported by civil aircraft. DDs WRESTLER and VELOX and corvette BERGAMOT escorted the convoy from 14 to 17 August and corvette CYCLAMEN escorted the convoy from 15 to 17 August. DD JUPITER was involved in the escort of the convoy at some time prior to the arrival at Freetown.

OS.2 departed Liverpool. On the 4th, DDs CHELSEA and WOLVERINE joined the convoy and were detached on the 8th. Also joining on the 4th were sloop SANDWICH which was detached on the 19th, corvettes GENTIAN, HIBISCUS, and MYOSOTIS which were detached on the 8th, and anti-submarine yacht PHILANTE which was detached on the 19th. French sloop COMMANDANT DOMINE joined the convoy on the 4th and was detached on the 18th. On the 7th, DDs VICEROY and WOOLSTON joined the convoy and were detached on 9 and 10 August, respectively. On the 19th, DD BRILLIANT and corvettes AMARANTHUS, ARMERIA, and WOODRUFF joined the convoy and arrived at Freetown with the convoy on the 22nd.

Western Approaches
CAM ship MAPLIN, which had left convoy OG.70 en route to convoy SL.81, scored the first kill for a ship of this type when her Hurricane shot down a FW 200 aircraft. LT (A) R. W. H. Everett RNVR was the pilot, and after his success, landed in the sea near DD WANDERER of convoy SL.81 and was rescued.

SW Approaches
Type VIIC U.401 (DKM 769 grt) was sunk by convoy SL.81 escorts, DDs WANDERER and ST.ALBANS and corvette HYDRANGEA, formerly of convoy SC.81, well south of Iceland, in 50-27N, 19-50W. The entire crew of forty four were lost. DD CAMPBELTOWN and corvettes LA MALOUINE, ZINNIA, CAMPANULA, BLUEBELL, WALLFLOWER, CARNATION, and HELIOTROPE were also escorting this convoy.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Med/Biscay
RNeN submarine O.21 unsuccessfully attacked a sailing vessel south of Sardinia. Submarine UTMOST arrived at Malta from patrol.

MV ESCAUT (Be 1087 grt) was sunk by the LW 17.3 cables 232° from South Beacon Ships Head, Attika Bay, Suez. The Master and two crew were missing.
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Belgian tkr ALEXANDRE ANDRE was damaged by the LW eight miles S of Suez. RAN sloop PARRAMATTA arrived at Port Said from Famagusta. Sloop FLAMINGO departed Port Said with motor transport ship KEVINBANK for Famagusta in Serial S.12 of the GUILLOTINE operation. they arrived on the 5th.

RAN MSW HMAS BATHURST passed through the Suez Canal and proceeded to Alexandria for duty with the Med Flt. BATHURST and LISMORE had been retained at Suez to assist with the large liners of the US.11A convoy.

Tkr DESMOULEA was damaged by the LW at Suez off the west beacon, and towed to Bombay for repairs.

Steamer ELISA (FI 216 grt) was sunk by the RAF off Benghazi. DDs WIVERN, WILD SWAN, and BOREAS departed Freetown at 0800 to proceed to Bathurst to refuel en route to Gibraltar.

Central Atlantic
Convoy WS 10, having arrived at Freetown from the UK on the 17th, departed on the 21st, escorted by CL EDINBURGH to 2 September when BRITANNIC, INDRAPOERA, REINA DEL PACIFICO, STIRLING CASTLE, STRATHALLAN, VOLENDAM, WINDSOR CASTLE, NIGERSTROOM, and PHEMIUS arrived at Capetown. On 6 September, liners ORCADES, ANDES, CAMERONIA, HIGHLAND PATRIOT, NEA HELLAS, RANGITIKI, DIOMED, INDIAN PRINCE, and MANCHESTERPORT arrived at Durban, escorted by CA HAWKINS. On 6 September, liners BRITANNIC, STIRLINGCASTLE, WINDSORCASTLE, VOLENDAM, INDRAPOERA, STRATHALLAN, NIGERSTROOM, and PHEMIUS departed Capetown escorted by AMCCARNARVONCASTLE. Liner BRITANNIC was detached on 8 September to Durban to embark passengers from liner CAMERONIA. She rejoined with steamer ARONDA departing Durban on 9 September with CA HAWKINS. On rendezvous, AMCCARNARVONCASTLE was detached with VOLENDAM, INDRAPOERA, PHEMIUS, and NIGERSTROOM to Durban CA HAWKINS then escorted the convoy until 15 September, when CL EMERALD took over the escort of the convoy. The convoy arrived at Bombay on 20 September. Steamers not departing Capetown on 6 September went forward to Aden in convoy CM.17.

Malta
AIR RAIDS DAWN 3 AUGUST TO DAWN 4 AUGUST 1941
Weather Sunny and hot.

AM A small fighter patrol approaches the Island. Malta fighters are scrambled and the enemy formation recedes immediately.

2300-2320 hrs Air raid alert for a single enemy aircraft which approaches GrandHarbour from the north and drops a single 250kg high explosive bomb on land in fields south of Zeitun, near Delimara and another in the sea before receding. Malta fighters are scrambled but there are no searchlight illuminations and no engagements.

2340-0056 hrs Air raid alert for three enemy aircraft which approach GrandHarbour from the north east but do not cross the coast, dropping bombs on Tarxien, Zabbar and in the sea off Della Grazia. A fourth raider approaches Grand Harbour and drops several 250kg high explosive bombs in the dockyard area damaging NAAFI stores and an Officers Mess as well as electric and telephone cables. One makes a crater 15 feet by four, damaging main drains. Other bombs are dropped in the sea. A fifth aircraft approaches over Grand Harbour and is caught for a moment in searchlights, at which he changes direction and immediately releases bombs on Sliema, destroying several houses and damaging many others. Part of SacredHeartChurch receives a direct hit. Two civilians are admitted to hospital with broken bones; several onlookers suffer minor injuries. Malta fighters are scrambled but there are no other searchlight illuminations and no engagements.

OPERATIONS REPORTS SUNDAY 3 AUGUST 1941

ROYAL NAVY Utmost arrived from patrol north of Messina, having sunk a 4000 ton ship and blown up a train.

AIR HQ Departures 3 Beaufighter, 2 Blenheim. 69 Squadron Maryland reconnaissance: Regio Calabria and Messina; Marittimo to CapeCarbonnera; Tripoli and Misurata. 143 Squadron 2 Beaufighters sent to attack fighters on Reggio Calabria aerodrome damaged aircraft on the ground. 105 Squadron 5 Blenheims sent to attack shipping in Tripoli harbour scored direct hits on ships and damaged buildings and port installations. Sgt Williams aircraft hit several times and had to make a belly-landing on return. 830 Squadron Fleet Air Arm 2 Fulmars patrolled Catania and Gerbini aerodromes, dropping bombs on Gerbini; no results observed.

KALAFRANA 2 Fulmars, Fleet Air Arm, patrolled over Catania and Gerbini aerodromes. Each Fulmar dropped four bombs on the flarepath of Gerbini aerodrome.

 

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Halders Diary 03 August 1941

 

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04 AUGUST 1941
Known Reinforcements
Allied
Bangor Class MSW HMCS MALPEQUE (J-148)

Bangor Class MSW HMS SIDMOUTH (J-47)

Sister ship HMS GUYSBURY

MMS I Class MSW HMS MMS 26 (J-526)
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Losses
U-126 sank Schooner ROBERT MAX (UK 172 grt) whilst she was on passage from Grand Banks to Oporto (Portugal). She had a load of codfish at the time and a crew of 7, all of whom survived the attack At 2055 hrs the schooner ROBERT MAX was stopped by two shots across her bow fired by U-126 near the Azores and was sunk 2 hrs later by 17 rounds from the deck gun and gunfire after the crew was allowed to leave their ship in a lifeboat. They were questioned by the Germans, who offered cigarettes, gave them the course to San Miguel and wished good luck before leaving the area. The survivors reached the Azores after three days and were repatriated from Oporto to Grand Bank by the British schooners JAMES AND STANLEY and HELEN FOSSEY.

Steamer TUNISIA(UK 4337 grt) carrying a cargo of manganese ore, was bombed by FW200 a/c in the Western Approaches and sank about 350 miles W of Achill Head, Co. Mayo. Thirty eight crew of a crew of 43 were missing.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

UBOATS
At Sea 04 August 1941
U-43, U-46, U-66, U-71, U-74, U-75, U-77, U-79, U-81, U-83, U-93, U-94, U-96, U-97, U-105, U-109, U-123, U-124, U-126, U-129, U-139 U-142, U-144, U-146, U-204, U-205, U-331, U-371, U-372, U-431, U-451, U-558, U-559, U-563, U-565, U-566, U-568, U-652, U-751

39 Boats

OPERATIONS
East Front
Arctic
PV TUMAN (VMF 1218 grt) a former trawler, was sunk by 3 DKM DDs at the entrance to KolaBay

North Sea
Ex-US Coast Guard cutter. escort ship BANFF was damaged in a collision with a Thames lighter in the Thames Estuary. She had just departed Tilbury, and returned following for repairs, which were completed on the 8th.

Channel
Submarines TIGRIS and TRIDENT departed Holy Loch 26 July and 1 August, respectively and arrived at Polyarnoe on the 4th and 10 August. They were relieved by submarines SEALION and SEAWOLF, which departed Portsmouth on 16 and 25 October, respectively and arrived at Polyarnoe on 6 and 10 November. These two then returned to Home Waters in December, and were relieved by submarine STURGEON which departed Scapa Flow on 1 January and arrived on 11 January.

Med/Biscay
Force H and Force X arrived at Gibraltar.

On the 8th, DDs COSSACK, MAORI, ZULU, and LIGHTNING escorted BC RENOWN and troopship PASTEUR, carrying 15 officers and 157 ratings of damaged CL MANCHESTER to the Clyde. DDs INGLEFIELD, IMPULSIVE, and ECLIPSE departed Scapa Flow on the 11th to meet the BC on the 12th and escort her to Rosyth for refitting, arriving on the 14th. INGLEFIELD was taken in hand for boiler cleaning at the same time.

The Force H DDs and the troopship arrived in the Clyde. MAORI proceeded to London for refitting. The other two Tribal DDs returned to the Mediterranean escorting convoy WS.11 which departed the Clyde on the 30th. LIGHTNING returned to the Home Fleet.

Submarine UNIQUE arrived at Malta from patrol.

CLA CARLISLE departed Alexandria for Suez to provide AA defense. CL NEPTUNE, ML cruiser ABDIEL, and DDs JACKAL and KIPLING departed Alexandria for Port Said for one serial of GUILLOTINE operation. The ships would then relieve RAN CL HOBART and DDs at Haifa. DDs JAGUAR and NIZAM carried supplies to Tobruk.

MSW whaler SOTRA was attacked by the LW off Mersa Matruh. The Whaler's skipper was killed.

Nth Atlantic
DDs ORIBI and CROOME departed Scapa Flow for Scrabster and returned to Scapa Flow that same day with personnel. BB PRINCE OF WALES departed Scapa Flow escorted by DDs ORIBI, HAVELOCK, HARVESTER, and HESPERUS, but ORIBI returned to Scapa Flow that evening. The other DDs were detached on the 5th in heavy weather and proceeded to Reykjavik.

On the 6th, the BB was met by RCN DDs RESTIGOUCHE and ASSINIBOINE and DD RIPLEY, which came out from Iceland. PRINCE OF WALES and her escort arrived at Placentia Bay on the 9th. In harbour at this time were US BB ARKANSAS, CA s AUGUSTA and TUSCALOOSA, DDs MCDOUGAL, MADISON, SAMPSON, WINSLOW, MOFFETT, BELKNAP, RHIND, and MAYRANT, DD READING, and oiler SALINAS.

RESTIGOUCHE while refuelling touched ground and damaged her screws. She was repaired at St Johns and Halifax, completing on 9 October. The Atlantic Charter was signed on the 10th.

The Atlantic Charter was a joint declaration released by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill on August 14, 1941 following a meeting of the two heads of state in Newfoundland. The Atlantic Charter provided a broad statement of U.S. and British war aims. It was not without its problems but also laid the foundations towards a close relationship between the two great democracies that greatly contributed to the ultimate allied victory.

PRINCE OF WALES departed Placentia Bay on the 14th escorted by RIPLEY, ASSINIBOINE, SAGUENAY, and READING and the American RHIND and MAYRANT. RIPLEY and READING were detached on the 16th.

DDs TARTAR, PUNJABI, and ESCAPADE departed Scapa Flow on the 11th and arrived at Hvalfjord on the 12th. The DDs put to sea on the 14th to meet the returning BB. On the 16th, the BB arrived at Hvalfjord, escorted by TARTAR, PUNJABI, and ESCAPADE. Churchill went on to Reykjavik on ASSINBOINE. Churchill addressed the crews of ships at Hvalfjord on this date. Included at Hvalfjord on the 16th were BB USS NEW MEXICO, RN BB RAMILLIES, CAs SHROPSHIRE and USS QUINCEY, five DDs, including CHURCHILL, five USN DDs and depot ship HECLA. PRINCE OF WALES departed Hvalfjord on the 16th escorted by TARTAR, PUNJABI, and ESCAPADE. On the 17th, when a submarine was reported off Cape Wrath, DDs ECLIPSE and ORIBI departed Scapa Flow to search for the submarine. The DDs joined the BB at midnight on the 17th. The BB, escorted by the five DDs, arrived at Scapa Flow on the 20th.

Central Atlantic
Corvette VERVAIN broke down with boiler problems at 18-50N, 20-35W while on patrol duty . On the 5th, she was able to proceed on one boiler, but by mid-afternoon on the 8th, could not steam at all with both boilers defective. Corvette CLOVER took her in tow for Freetown, arriving on the 9th.

Ocean boarding vessel CAVINA intercepted steamer FRANKFURT (Ger 5522 grt) west of the Azores in 31-34N, 37-42W. The steamer scuttled herself to avoid capture, and 26 crew were rescued. A second boatload refused to be picked up and were lost. CALVINA arrived at Gibraltar on the 11th.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Red Sea/Indian Ocean
CL CALEDON departed Suez for Bombay where she was refitting from 18 August to 13 October.

Malta
AIR RAIDS DAWN 4 AUGUST TO DAWN 5 AUGUST 1941
Weather Sunny and hot.

No air raids.

1205-1235 hrs Air raid alert for three Macchi 200 fighters which approach to within a few miles of GrandHarbour at 25000 feet. Hurricanes are scrambled and the raiders retire before they can be engaged.

OPERATIONS REPORTS MONDAY 4 AUGUST 1941

ROYAL NAVY Unique arrived from patrol south of Messina, having wrecked two trains.

AIR HQ Departures 2 Beaufighter, 1 Sunderland. 69 Squadron Four strike force patrols by Marylands. Photo-reconnaissance Comiso aerodrome, Tripoi and Misurata. 105 Squadron 2 Blenheims sent to attack a merchant ship north of Misurata attacked a schooner leaving the vessel damaged.

HAL FAR 830 Squadron Fleet Air Arm 3 Swordfish special westerly search for an enemy submarine seen earlier by a Maryland.

 

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Halders Diary 04 August 1941

 

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05 AUGUST 1941
Known Reinforcements
Allied
Flower Class Corvette HMCS AMHERST (K-148)

Losses
SL-81

An escort from Escort Group 7 counterattacking

U-Boats received course and speed information from FW 200 a/c from KG-40 the day previous to the attack

Between 0150 and 0159 hrs, U-372 fired four single torpedoes at ships in the convoy SL-81 west of Ireland.

Steamer BELGRAVIAN (UK 3136 grt) with a cargo of kernels, groundnuts and tin ore from Port Harcourt, was torpedoed by U-372 at around 0200 hrs, when the convoy had reached the west of Ireland in position 53.03N, 15.54W . The master, 40 crew members and six gunners were rescued up by the corvette HMS BLUEBELL and landed at Gourock. Three crew members were lost

The fourth torpedo fired by U-372 hit Steamer SWIFTPOOL (UK 5205 grt) which was carrying munitions when she was torpedoed by U-372, when the convoy had reached the west of Ireland in position 53.02N 15.58W. The ship exploded and sank by the bow in 50 seconds. The ship missed was the British steam merchant VOLTURNO.There were only two survivors and the master and 41 crew members and gunners lost their lives..

After sinking two ships from the heavily escorted convoy SL-81 (which represented somewhat the change in U-boat operatiuons at this point as the U-Boats began attacks on escorted convoys as well as stragglers) SL-81, U-372 was attacked in turn by its third intended victim, the British freighter VOLTURO , and the corvette HMS ZINNIA, which fired on U-372 and made to ram her. The boat managed to dive, and escape, but the opportunity for further attacks for the moment had passed. .

At 0520 hrs, west of Ireland, Steamer CAPE RODNEY (UK 4512 grt) with a cargo palm kernels, groundnuts and manganese ore from Lagos), was torpedoed and damaged by U-75 west of Ireland. On August 7, when in position 52.11N, 14.42W, she was taken in tow but sank on August 9 in position 52.44N, 11.41W. The master (Peter Allan Wallace), 31 crew members and four gunners were picked up by HMS HYDRANGEA and landed at Gourock and three crew members were rescued by HMS ZINNIA and landed at Londonderry. There was no loss of life.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

At 0520 hrs, west of Ireland, Steamer HARLINGEN (UK 5415 grt) (with a cargo of 8,000 tons of West African produce from Lagos), was torpedoed by U-75. The master and 38 other survivors were picked up by HMS HYDRANGEA and landed at Gourock and three crew members were rescued by HMS ZINNIA and landed at Londonderry. Three crew members lost their lives..

At 0540 hrs, west of Ireland, Steamer KUMASIAN (UK 4922 grt) with 7,000 tons of general cargo from Lagos was torpedoed by U-74. The master, 43 crew members and six gunners and nine passengers were picked up by Corvette LA MALOUINE and landed at Liverpool. Two crew members lost their lives.

UBOATS
Arrivals
Lorient: U-66

Departures
Trondheim: U-206, U-567

At Sea 05 August 1941
U-43, U-46, U-71, U-74, U-75, U-77, U-79, U-81, U-83, U-93, U-94, U-96, U-97, U-105, U-109, U-123, U-124, U-126, U-129, U-139 U-142, U-144, U-146, U-204, U-205, U-206, U-331, U-371, U-372, U-431, U-451, U-558, U-559, U-563, U-565, U-566, U-567, U-568, U-652, U-751

40 Boats

OPERATIONS
North Sea
MSW trawler RIVER CLYDE (RN 276 grt) of MSW Gp 6 was sunk on a mine off Aldeburgh Light Float (in the NthSea) . 11 ratings were killed and one died of wounds in the trawler. Skipper Grant was wounded.
[NO IMAGE FORUN]

OA.194 departed Methil escort DD HESPERUS and sloop HASTINGS. Convoy FN.243 departed Southend. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 7th. Convoy MT.131 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 5th. Convoy FS.243 departed the Tyne, escort sloops BLACK SWAN and HASTINGS and patrol sloop KITTIWAKE. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 7th.

Northern Waters
DDs ASHANTI and MASHONA proceeded to Lerwick to escort British steamer LOCHNAGAR which departed Lerwick at 1705 for Aberdeen

West Coast
DDs ACHATES and FIREDRAKE patrolled in the area of Cape Wrath-North Rona-Butt of Lewis area after a submarine was reported in the area.

Western Approaches
Due to heavy losses to shipping by submarine attacks, DDs KEPPEL and the A class DDs were to be transferred to the Commander in Chief Western Approaches. A division of the J and K destroyers were to join the Nore Command.

Nth Atlantic
USN CAs WICHITA and QUINCY departed Bahia for Perambuco, arriving on the 9th.

The cruisers departed on 13 September and arrived at Montevideo 23 August. Departing on the 28th, they arrived at Buenas Aires on the 29th. WICHITA and QUINCY departed Buenas Aires on 3 September and arrived at Rio de Janiero on 6 September. They departed Rio on 10 September and arrived back at Norfolk, Virginia on 24 September.

Malta
AIR RAIDS DAWN 5 AUGUST TO DAWN 6 AUGUST 1941
Weather Sunny and hot.

2138-2315 hrs Air raid alert for six enemy bombers which approach from the north east and drop bombs on Ricasoli, Tigne, Valletta, Marsa, Paola, Tarxien, Zonqor and Latnia. At Rinella a bomb puts a Bofors gun out of action; the crew is badly shaken. Two bombs on Cospicua damage houses. Hurricane fighters are scrambled and searchlights illuminate so that they can engage. P/O Barnwell shoots down one BR 20 and another unidentified bomber in flames. F/O Cassidy spots a raider on the edge of the formation and closes in. The raider opens fire first and after several volleys at each other parts of the enemy aircraft are seen to fly off and it rapidly loses height. Catania HQ is later heard signalling to Syracuse rescue station to report the loss of a pilot.

2346-0055 hrs Air raid alert for three enemy aircraft approaching in succession. The first crosses the south-east coast of the Island and drops bombs on Zonqor point, receding to the north east where it is engaged by a Hurricane. The second raider crosses the coast in the GrandHarbour and drops bombs four miles from Luqa and in the sea off Dingli. The third aircraft recedes without crossing the coast.

OPERATIONS REPORTS TUESDAY 5 AUGUST 1941

ROYAL NAVY 6 Swordfish attacked Augusta with bombs. All returned.

AIR HQ Arrivals 2 Blenheim. Departures 2 Blenheim. 69 Squadron Maryland patrols of Tunisian coast, western Ionian Sea, Pantellaria-Marittimo-Empedocle. Photo-reconnaissance Catania, Augusta, Syracuse. San Giovanni and Messina. 105 Squadron 4 Blenheims sent to attack merchant ships failed to locate but attacked coastal vessels. 2 Blenheims sent to attack shipping in Gulf of Sirte but not sighted; bombed barracks in Misurata. 830 Squadron Fleet Air Arm 2 Fulmar patrolled Catania and Gerbini aerodromes dropped bombs on Gerbini.

HAL FAR 830 Squadron Fleet Air Arm Six Swordfish successfully attacked the submarine base at Augusta, causing several large fires. 2 Fulmars patrolled over Catania and Gerbini aerodromes, dropping bombs on the flarepath of Gerbini. One Fulmar later gunned a searchlight position at Augusta

 

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Halders Diary 05 August 1941

 

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06 AUGUST 1941
Known Reinforcements
Axis
Type VIIC DKM U-404

Allied
MMS Class MSW HMS MMS 38
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Losses
None

UBOATS
Arrivals
Brest: U-565

Departures
Lorient: U-38

At Sea 06 August 1941
U-38, U-43, U-46, U-71, U-74, U-75, U-77, U-79, U-81, U-83, U-93, U-94, U-96, U-97, U-105, U-109, U-123, U-124, U-126, U-129, U-139 U-142, U-144, U-146, U-204, U-205, U-206, U-331, U-371, U-372, U-431, U-451, U-558, U-559, U-563, U-566, U-567, U-568, U-652, U-751

40 Boats

OPERATIONS
East Front
Arctic
The armed soviet motorboat POLYARNIK attacked DKM U-451 claiming to have scored a single hit with a 45mm shell. There is no record of this in German records. The Soviets also claimed that the U-Boat decided to dive and retreat.

At 1900 hrs Despatch vessel the PS-70 (VMF 568 grt) was struck on port side aft by one G7e torpedo from U-652 while en route alone about seven miles NW of Cape Teriberskij. A lookout had spotted the periscope of the U-boat in a distance of only 400 meters just before the torpedo explosion, too late to take evasive action. The vessel settled rapidly by the stern with a list to port and sank in less than one minute. The survivors were rescued by Soviet motorboats that were sent from the nearby coast. This was the first U-boat success in the Northern theater.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

North Sea
DDs EXPRESS, ESK, ICARUS, IMPULSIVE, INTREPID of DesFlot 20 departed Immingham on the 5th and met their MTB escort. Early on the 6th, the DDs laid minefield CBX.4 off the Dutch coast in the Schoonveld and West Pit Passages off Thornton Ridge.

DD INGLEFIELD, on passage from Loch Alsh to Scapa Flow, DD ANTHONY, escorting CVL FURIOUS on practices, proceeded to intercept two Dutch motor coasting vessels proceeding westward through the Pentland Firth. The Dutch ships were intercepted. They were turned over to anti-submarine trawler REGAL (409grt) which brought them to port for examination.

DDs COSSACK and SIKH departed Scapa Flow to carry out ASW patrols from 1700 in Fair Island Channel. No contact was made. The DDs met convoy WN.5 on the 7th in the Minches near TroddayIsland and escorted it to Pentland Firth. The DDs were relieved at 0400 in convoy WN.5 off Cape Wrath by DD BERKELEY, which departed Scapa Flow at 2015 on the 8th. DD BERKELEY continued south with the convoy to join the Nore Command.

Submarine SEALION was rammed at periscope depth by DKM Aux ASW vessel UJ.123 while attacking a convoy southwest of Stavanger. The submarine's periscopes, masts, aerials were wrecked. German steamer CLARE HUGO STINNES was missed by torpedoes and not damaged. SEALION arrived at Rosyth on the 10th. She was repaired in the Tyne from 15 August to 23 October.

FN.244 departed Southend, escort DD VIVIEN, sloop LOWESTOFT, patrol sloop GUILLEMOT. The convoy arrived in the Tyne on the 8th. MT.132 departed Methil. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day. FS.244 departed the Tyne, escort DD WINCHESTER and sloop WESTON. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 8th.

Northern Waters
DDs ACHATES and FIREDRAKE patrolling off Cape Wrath joined HX.60 A to give ASW protection in Pentland Firth. The DDs arrived at Scapa Flow on the 7th after escorting the convoy to Pentland Firth.

DDs COSSACK and SIKH joined convoy OA.195 at 1515 on the 8th and escorted it to Cape Wrath. COSSACK and SIKH returned to Scapa Flow at in the early morning hours.

DD AMAZON departed Scapa Flow to investigate a suspicious merchant ship report two miles 080° from Wick.

DD KEPPEL, ANTHONY, AMAZON departed Scapa Flow late in the evening and with DD ACHATES of convoy HX.60A proceeded to the Clyde to join the Western Approaches Command.

West Coast
OB.194 departed Liverpool escort DDs WARWICK and HARVESTER and corvette CLARKIA from 6 to 9 August. WARWICK and the corvette were detached to convoy SL.81.

The Clyde section of WS.2 of British steamers EMPRESS OF CANADA, ES, FRANCONIA, SUFFOLK, MEMNON, LANARKSHIRE departed at 0630 escorted by CA SHROPSHIRE, CL EMERALD, DDs FORTUNE, FURY, WATCHMAN, VORTIGERN. The Liverpool section of WS.2 of British steamers CLAN MACAULEY, WAIWERA, ASKA, ORMONDE, MONARCH OF BERMUDA, ORION, OTRANTO, STRATHEDEN, BATORY, EMPRESS OF BRITAIN, STRAITHARD departed escorted by CA CORNWALL and DDs HIGHLANDER, HAVELOCK, HURRICANE, HARVESTER. Steamer ORION was forced to put into the Clyde the same day with engine defects. Both sections rendezvoused on the 6th and traveled together at sea.

Various ships were detached en route and the troopships arrived safely at Capetown. on the 31st, the "slow group" WS.2 B of liners ORION, STRATHEDEN, ORMONDE, BATORY departed Capetown for Bombay. On 12 September, the "fast group" WS.2 A of liners EMPRESS OF BRITAIN, EMPRESS OF CANADA, ANDES departed Capetown. SHROPSHIRE arrived at Simonstown on the 28th and joined the East Indies Command. CA CORNWALL arrived at Simonstown on the 30th.

In the Indian Ocean, WS 2 A was escorted by RAN CL HOBART and RN CL CARLISLE and DDs KANDAHAR and KINGSTON and WS.2 B was escorted by CA CORNWALL and AMC KANIMBLA.

Med/Biscay
RM CLs BARBIANO and GUISSANO with DDs PIGAFETTA and ZENO laid mines near Pantelleria escorted by TBs CASSIOPEA, CIGNO, PLEIAI, ALDEBARAN.

In Operation TUBE, submarine PANDORA, which departed Gibraltar on 31 July, arrived at Malta with supplies of spares and ground equipment for the Hurricanes CVE ARGUS delivered in HURRY.

Red Sea/Indian Ocean
Convoy BN2A departed Aden, escorted by CL CERES and RAN sloop PARRAMATTA. The convoy arrived at Suez on the 12th

Pacific/Australia
German steamer FULDA at Dairen was sold to Japan as TAKAI MARU

Malta
AIR RAIDS DAWN 6 AUGUST TO DAWN 7 AUGUST 1941
Weather Sunny and hot.

0247-0325 hrs Air raid alert for three enemy aircraft approaching from the north. Two raiders turn back 40 miles before reaching Malta. The third approaches to ten miles north of St Paul's bay when the raider begins to lose height and dives in flames; its bombs explode as it hits the sea. A series of distant explosions is heard from the direction of Sicily. Three Hurricanes are scrambled but there is no opportunity to engage.

OPERATIONS REPORTS WEDNESDAY 6 AUGUST 1941

AIR HQ Arrivals 6 Beaufort, 9 Wellington. Departures 69 Squadron Strike force patrols by two Marylands. Photo-reconnaissance Gela, Comiso, Licata, San Giovanni, Reggio Calabria, Catania, Messina, Comiso and Augusta. 105 Squadron 4 Blenheims sent to attack convoy of 6 merchant vessels and 6 destroyers unable to complete mission. Fleet Air Arm 2 Fulmar patrol over Gerbini and Catania, machine-gunned bombers Gerbini aerodrome.

HAL FAR 830 Squadron Fleet Air Arm 7 Swordfish attacked a convoy of 6 merchant ships and 6 destroyers. Three merchant vessels were torpedoed, leaving one submerged and another sinking fast.

 

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Halders Diary 06 August 1941

 

[parsifal]

07 AUGUST 1941
Known Reinforcements
Axis
Acciaio Class sub RM GRANITO

Type VIIC DKM U-582

Allied
MMS I Class Motor MSW MMS 7 (J-507)
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Losses
Motor MSW MMS.39 (RN 350 grt (est)) was lost on a mine in the Thames Estuary.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

UBOATS
Arrivals
Brest: U-558
Kirkenes: U-81, U-652

Departures
Lorient: U-101
St Nazaire: U-73, U-553
Trondheim : U-501

At Sea 07 August 1941
U-38, U-43, U-46, U-71, U-73, U-74, U-75, U-77, U-79, U-83, U-93, U-94, U-96, U-97, U-101, U-105, U-109, U-123, U-124, U-126, U-129, U-139 U-142, U-144, U-146, U-204, U-205, U-206, U-331, U-371, U-372, U-431, U-451, U-551, U-553, U-559, U-563, U-566, U-567, U-568, U-751

41 Boats

OPERATIONS
North Sea
Tanker GOLD SHELL was damaged by the LW in the NthSea. She was towed to Hull and then taken to Middlesborough for repairs.

Northern Patrol
DDs ANTELOPE and ACTIVE arrived Seidisfjord on completion of Operation EF. ACTIVE departed later in the day for Scapa Flow arriving at 1330/8th. ANTELOPE departed late in the evening escorting damaged DD ACHATES in the tow of tug ASSURANCE sailing for the Tyne. The DDs arrived on the 10th, the destroyers arrived at the Faroes after having been forced to hove to in bad weather. They later arrived at Skaalefjord on the 11th. ANTELOPE departed for Scapa Flow, arriving late on the 11th.

MSW HARRIER departed Seidisfjord to investigate a submarine and minesweeping search in Vidfjord.

Northern Waters
CA DEVONSHIRE, CV VICTORIOUS, and DDs INGLEFIELD, ICARUS, and ESCAPADE arrived at Scapa Flow on completion of Operation EF. CLs NIGERIA and AURORA and DDs TARTAR and PUNJABI arrived separately at Scapa Flow on completion of Operation FB.

Channel
DD SOMALI departed Southampton for Greenock on completion of refit. The DD arrived at Greenock on the 8th and departed that evening for Scapa Flow, where she arrived on the 9th.

T/Sub Lt (A) J. R. Allen RNVR, Leading Airman A. A. Shields, and Mr. J. Goddard were killed when their Albacore of 820 Squadron crashed off Stokes Bay Pier.

Med/Biscay
Dutch submarine O.24 sank coastal steamer MARGHERITA MADRE (FI 296 grt) 15 miles off Anzio. The submarine had made an unsuccessful attack on another steamer in the LigurianSea four hours earlier.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

CL NEPTUNE, ML cruiser ABDIEL, and DD JACKAL departed Port Said for Famagusta in Serial S.15 of the GUILLOTINE operation. The troops were landed during the night of 7/8 August. They ships then proceeded to Haifa.

DDs KANDAHAR and KIMBERLEY departed Alexandria for Mersa Matruh, but they were recalled at dark.

Tug AMIRAL LACAZE was sunk by the RA at Famagusta, but was later refloated and repaired.

Central Atlantic
Submarine SEVERN unsuccessfully attacked a submarine west of Gibraltar

The 17th ML Flotilla of ML.242,ML 266, ML.256,ML 261, ML.263,ML 265, and ML.274 arrived at Gibraltar, escorted by ASW whaler SOUTHERN GEM. ML.272 of the Flotilla arrived on the 8th, escorted by ASW whaler SOUTHERN PRIDE. On the 16th, the Flotilla, escorted by the two whalers and ASW trawler ARRAN departed Gibraltar for Bathurst, arriving on the 23rd. The ML's and whalers proceeded to Freetown separately at the end of the month.

Malta
AIR RAIDS DAWN 7 AUGUST TO DAWN 8 AUGUST 1941
Weather Squally.

AM Enemy rescue aircraft with fighter escort carry out several searches between Sicily and Malta. Hurricane fighters remain on patrol throughout.

1113-1128 hrs Air raid alert triggered by enemy rescue search as above. Patrol withdraws without approaching the coast.

2322-0012 hrs Air raid alert for three enemy aircraft approaching from the north. One crosses the coast alone, the other two together. 250 kg high explosive bombs are dropped on Naxxar, Salina, Zonqor Point and Gudja. Hurricane fighters are scrambled but searchlights do not illuminate the raiders and there are no engagements.

OPERATIONS REPORTS THURSDAY 7 AUGUST 1941

AIR HQ Arrivals 2 Blenheim, 6 Wellington. Departures 3 Beaufighter. 69 Squadron Photo-reconnaissance of Comiso reveals that the number of fighters has returned to its previous high of 53. Photo-reconnaissance Comiso, San Giovanni, Reggio, Tripoli. Reconnaissance of Homs, Misurata, Lampedusa. 105 Squadron 8 Blenheims sent to attack convoy scored direct hits; one aircraft damaged but all returned safely. 38 Squadron 6 Wellingtons successfully attacked Tripoli damaging harbour facilities and causing fires.

 

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Halders Diary 07 August 1941

 

[Njaco]

August 8 Friday
ASIA: "Shokaku" was commissioned into service at Yokosuka, Japan.

Japanese air forces begin a week of air raids on Chungking. A total of 40 raids are recorded by August 13th.

EASTERN FRONT: Unternehmen Barbarossa: Marshal Timoshenko issues a proclamation to all Soviet citizens in enemy-occupied areas urging them to join partisan forces, carry out Stalin's "scorched-earth" policy and "wreak merciless vengeance on the enemy... for the death of your children..."

Heeresgruppe Nord: Heeresgruppe Nord opens a major offensive against the Soviet Luga River defenses southwest of Leningrad. Extremely heavy fighting occurs between the German 1.Panzer-Divisionen (Lieutenant General Friedrich Kirchner) and 6. Panzer-Divisionen (Major General Franz Landgraf) and the Soviet 125 and 111 Rifle Divisions. Elements of the 18.Armee reach the Gulf of Finland, cutting off the Estonian capital and massive naval base at Tallinn. Reinhardt's XXXXI.Armeekorps (mot.) and XXXVIII.Armeekorps advance along the Kingisepp-Krasnogvardeisk axis in an attempt to reach the Narva-Leningrad railroad.

Heeresgruppe Mitte: German troops smash Russian defenders at Kazaki. XXIV. Armeekorps (mot.) (General of Panzer Troops Geyr von Schweppenburg) finishes the elimination of the Roslavl pocket claiming 38,000 prisoners. 3.Panzer-Divisionen ( Lieutenant General W. Model) notes that sending its trucks to the eastern rail-heads often results in them sitting idle for days while they wait for trains with supplies to arrive.

Heeresgruppe Sud: The Battle of Uman ended in Axis victory. The 6th and 12th Soviet Armies in the Uman Pocket in Ukraine were wiped out by German troops; over 100,000 Soviet prisoners were taken. Some 15 Rifle and 5 Tank divisions are destroyed leaving very little to defend the Ukraine south of Kiev. With the Soviet 6th, 12th and a large part of 18th Army destroyed in the Uman pocket, the whole south flank of Southwestern Front and the northern flank of Southern Front were now shattered, making any defense of the territory west of the Dnepr untenable. From north to south, the Southwestern Front now deployed the 5th Army (north of Kiev and in the Pripet Marshes), the new 37th Army in Kiev, the 26th Army south of Kiev behind the Dnepr, the new 38th Army at Kremenchug behind the Dnepr, and the mobilizing (second) 6th Army at Kharkov. From north to south, the Southern Front now deployed the mobilizing (second) 12th Army near Dnepropetrovsk, the remains of 18th Army retreating towards Nikopol on the Dnepr, and 9th Army retreating towards Nikolayev on the Bug River. In addition the 51st Separate Army was mobilizing to defend the Crimea. Heeresgruppe Sud was moving to clear the Soviet forces west of the Dnepr and making preparations to cross the river south of Kiev. The 6.Armee (General of the W. von Reichenau) was exerting significant pressure on the 5th and 37th Armies around Korosten-Kiev, with the Soviets having to launch counter-attacks to keep the Germans out of Kiev itself. The 17.Armee (General of the Infantry C-H von Stumpfnagel) was advancing eastwards, north of the Bug River towards Kremenchug on the Dnepr. The 11.Armee (Colonel General E. Ritter von Schobert) and 3. Romanian Army (General P. Dumitrescu) were marching south-east towards the Black Sea coast and Nikolayev, and the 4. Romanian Army (General N. Cuiperca) was ingesting Odessa. Meanwhile Heeresgruppe Sud's main mobile offensive force (1.Panzergruppe (Colonel General Ewald von Kleist)) was somewhat dispersed. The III. Armeekorps (mot.) (General of the Kavalrie E. von Mackensen) was moving south-eastwards along the Dnepr River line towards Cherkassy and Kremenchug. The XLVIII.Armeekorps (mot.) (General of the Panzer Troops Kempff) was at Kirovograd and advancing towards Krivoirog. The XIV.Armeekorps (mot.) (General of the Infantry G. von Wietersheim) was near Pervomaisk and was planning to wheel eastwards and head for Dnepropetrovsk. Evidently Rundstedt was attempting to catch the Southern Front's 18th and 9th Armies before they could retreat over the Dnepr, as well as planning for a breakout across the Dnepr River.

The Siege of Odessa began. The Romanian General Staff issued Directive No. 31 calling for the capture of Odessa and the defeat of Soviet forces between the Dniester River and the Tiligulskiy Estuary in Ukraine. It was thought that the city garrison, which was heavily outnumbered, would surrender quickly. Odessa was heavily fortified by three defensive lines and, thanks the presence of the Soviet Black Sea Fleet, could not be completely surrounded. The first line was 80 km long and situated 25–30 km from the city. The second and main line of defense was situated 6–8 km from the city and was about 30 km long. The third and last line of defense was organized inside the city itself. The forces that initially manned the fortifications were made up of the 25th and 95th Rifle Divisions, the 2nd Cavalry Division, the 421st Rifle Division, the 54th Rifle Regiment and an NKVD Regiment. The Red Army had 34,500 men and 240 artillery pieces in the area.

Soviet destroyer "Valerian Kuibyshev" made rendezvous with British submarine HMS "Tigris" off northern Russia.

Joseph Stalin ordered the formation of eight Guards mortar regiments directly under the control of the Stavka to operate Katyusha rocket launchers.

German troops and Lithuanian collaborators massacre Jews in the village of Zeimel.

After some shuffling around the Stavka of the Supreme High Command [Stavka Verkhnogo Glavnokomandovaniia - SVGK] is formed with Stalin as the Supreme High Commander.

GERMANY: The Red Air force targets Berlin for the first time in the war. Five Ilyushin Il-4 heavy bombers took off from bases in Estonia. Two bombers were shot down, two failed to find Berlin and one dropped its bombs just outside the city. Berlin is bombed on six more occasions by the Soviets this month.

RAF Bomber Command sends 54 aircraft to attack Kiel and 44 aircraft to attack Hamburg overnight. Flying a Dornier Do 215B-5 night fighter ('G9+OM'), Luftwaffe Oberleutnant Ludwig Becker achieves Germany's first aerial victory employing airborne radar, using a low-UHF-band Lichtenstein radar (FuG 202 radar unit) to detect and close with a British Vickers Wellington bomber participating in the raid on Hamburg, before shooting down the Wellington.

MEDITERRANEAN: Yugoslavia was dissolved, with Italy annexing large areas.

RAF bombers attack Corinth Canal overnight.

Axis Convoy departs Naples for Tripoli with four vessels escorted by Italian destroyers "Aviere", "Gioberti", "Camicia Nera", and "Oriani".

NORTH AFRICA: Luftwaffe bombers attack Ismailia, Port Said, and Suez overnight.

UNITED KINGDOM: During the morning two Spitfire pilots operating from Leconfield airfield, near Beverley, were sent up to investigate an enemy aircraft reported off Flamborough Head. After fifteen minutes they spotted a Messerschmitt Me 110 with two extra fuel tanks under its wings, which after a while, was shot down into the sea about 70 miles E of Flamborough Head.

WESTERN FRONT: The pro-Nazi Rexist (Belgian fascist) leader, Leon Degrelle, and more than 800 Belgian volunteers depart Brussels to form Wallonien Legion for service under German command on the Russian Front.

In the Netherlands, the Nazi controlled "robber bank" of Lippmann, Rosenthal and Co., referred to as "Liro", issues its first decree, requiring Jews to register all assets and private property; additionally, they are to turn over to the Liro Bank all credits, securities, and large sums of Dutch and foreign currency. Jewish "customers" are allowed to keep a thousand guilders in cash, which they can use at their discretion.

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[Njaco]

August 9 Saturday

ASIA: Japanese Imperial General Headquarters decides to postpone any operations against Soviet Union until spring 1942. The Japanese high command formally endorses the "Go South" strategy, to strike south into the weakly defended islands with valuable natural resources.

ARCTIC OCEAN: Kriegsmarine destroyers make sortie to Kola Inlet sinking Russian patrol ship, but withdraw under heavy air and artillery bombardment.Soviet patrol vessel SKR-12 sunk by Kriegsmarine destroyers near mouth of Kola Inlet.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: The RN battleship HMS "Prince of Wales", with Prime Minister Winston Churchill aboard, arrives at Placentia Bay escorted by the RN destroyer HMS "Ripley" [ex USS "Shubrick" (DD-268)] and Royal Canadian Navy destroyers HMCS "Restigouche" and HMCS "Assiniboine". Churchill is here to meet with U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt who arrived in the heavy cruiser USS "Augusta" (CA-31) two days ago. Churchill calls on Roosevelt on board USS "Augusta" and the two confer over lunch and dinner before Churchill returns to HMS "Prince of Wales". Both are accompanied by their military staffs. The discussions cover the situation in Europe and the Far East. The result of this historic conference would be the Atlantic Charter which outlined the broad goals for resolving the war.

EASTERN FRONT: Unternehmen Barbarossa: Heeresgruppe Nord: The German 16.Armee (part of Army Group North) begins its offensive toward Novgorod on Lake Illmen. The main weight of the attack was borne by General Sponheimer's 21.Infanterie-Divisionen, which, reinforced by 424th Infantry Regiment, 126.Infanterie-Divisionen (Lieutenant General Paul Laux) was to advance along the strongly fortified main road towards Novgorod. The ground was tricky even for infantry. Swamps, thick undergrowth, and numerous streams and river-courses made movement difficult. The Russians, moreover, had developed the whole area into a fortress: there were pillboxes, minefields, machine-gun nests, and mortar positions blocking what few roads and paths led through the swampy ground. At 0430 hours exactly the company commanders of 2nd and 3rd Battalions, 3rd Infantry Regiment, as well as 1st Battalion, 45th Infantry Regiment, leapt out from their hideouts. The men dragged inflated dinghies to the river-bank and, under cover of the artillery umbrella, ferried themselves across. In the late afternoon the 24th Infantry Regiment took the village of Mshaga. By nightfall the Soviet defenses had been pierced to a depth of five miles.

Heeresgruppe Mitte: German 2.Panzergruppe repulses Soviet counterattacks in Yelnya sector.

Heeresgruppe Sud: Romanian 30th Dorobanti Regiment captured the village of Ponyatovka, Ukraine while other Romanian units captured the railway town of Razdelnaya. German Heeresgruppe Sud, with forces from 11.Armee and 17.Armee, begins attacks along the line of the River Bug. German 6.Armee attacking in the Kiev sector.

The Soviet Shchuka-class submarine ShCh-307 (Treska) commanded by N. I. Petrov torpedoed and sank the German submarine U-144 west of Hiiumaa Island in the Baltic Sea.

NORTH AFRICA: Air Marshal Arthur Coningham arrives from UK and takes command of RAF No. 204 Group.

NORTH AMERICA: Charles Lindbergh made a speech in Cleveland in which he accused American interventionists of plotting to create "incidents and situations" that would plunge the United States into war "under the guise of defending America."

NORTHERN FRONT: Battalion of Swedish volunteers serving under Finnish command begins moving into the line facing Hango approximately this date.

UNITED KINGDOM: A Messerschmitt Bf 110 was brought down sixty-five miles off Flamborough Head after its reconnaissance flight over Hull.

WESTERN FRONT: Battle of Britain ace Wing Commander Douglas Bader was involved in a mid-air collision with a German Bf 109 fighter over northern France. He parachuted from his crippled aircraft by releasing and leaving behind in his Spitfire fighter one of his two artificial legs. He is captured, and spends the rest of World War II as a German prisoner-of-war. He is credited with 20 aerial victories, four shared victories, six probables, one shared probable, and 11 enemy aircraft damaged before his capture.

RAF Fighter Command flew Circus operations and Fighter Command sweeps.

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[Njaco]

August 10 Sunday
ASIA: While intercepting a Japanese attack on Chengdu at dawn, Captain Ou Yangdeng (no. 7261) of the Chinese 21st PS was killed. He was flying with the remnants of the 5th PG when his aircraft was hit and he crash-landed. Unfortunately he died from lack of medical attention.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: The Atlantic Charter Conference between U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill continues for a second day in Placentia Bay. Roosevelt boards the destroyer USS "McDougal" (DD-358) and is transported to religious services in the battleship HMS "Prince of Wales" as a guest of Churchill. After inspecting the topsides of the British battleship, the President returns in "McDougal" to heavy cruiser USS "Augusta" (CA-31). That night, the President hosts the Prime Minister at dinner.

EASTERN FRONT: Unternehmen Barbarossa: Russian aircraft destroyed by the Luftwaffe for this day total fifty-four warplanes.

Heeresgruppe Nord: German 4. Panzergruppe attacking Luga. The German 16.Armee and X. Armeekorps (General of the Artillery Christian Hansen) attack toward Novgorod and east of Staraia Russa. Manstein's LVI. Armeekorps (mot.) (element of Army Group North) is committed to the attack on the cities of Luga and toward Novgorod. All along the front the fighting was fierce and only XXXI. Armeekorps (mot.) (at Kingisepp) made much progress. Shimsk, at first to be bypassed, fell to the Germans. The Germans are considering abandoning this axis of attack as casualties mount for very little gain.

Heeresgruppe Mitte: Elements of German Panzergruppe Guderian are attacking toward Gomel. Since the beginning of the invasion, Panzergruppe Guderian has lost 26,230 men including 1,275 officers; Panzergruppe Hoth has lost 17,201 men including 763 officers.

"So long as the agreed motors and spare parts remain undelivered the panzer situation cannot be decidedly improved. It would be false to remain inactive waiting for further refitting. In the absence of spare parts and motors, the rest period will produce no noticeable improvement" - General Heinz Guderian.

General Boldin leads small column of troops to safety after 45 days of encirclement, breaking through to Soviet lines near Smolensk.

Heeresgruppe Süd: At Odessa in the sector of the Rumanian 3rd Corps, the bulk of the 7th Infantry Division reached Elssas, while the 1st Guard Division arrived on the alignment Strassburg – Petra Evdokievka. In the sector of the 5th Corps, the 1st Armored Division broke through Odessa's first line of defense. That evening, the Romanian division reached the second line of defense. The 1st Cavalry Brigade took Severinovka and joined the 1st Armored Division. At the same time, the 10th Dorobanţi Regiment overran the Soviet forces at Lozovaya. The 4th Army gradually closed the circle around Odessa.

Soviet Southern Front's 9th Army began the difficult task of evacuating its forces to the eastern bank of the Bug River at Nikolayev.

German vessels conduct minelaying operations. Soviet transport "Molotov" with 3500 wounded aboard damaged by mine.

Luftwaffe conducts night attack against Moscow.

GERMANY: Soviet Air Force sends 10 bombers to attack Berlin overnight, of which seven lost.

NORTH AFRICA: Luftwaffe bombers attack Alexandria, Suez, Port Said, and Ismailia overnight.

SOUTH AMERICA: Local officials in Chile, Argentina and Cuba uncover attempts by the Germans to subvert those governments. These nations were ably assisted by the US FBI.

UNITED KINGDOM: London: Britain and the USSR promise to go to the assistance of Turkey in the event of an attack by any European power. In identical statements presented to the Turkish foreign office by their ambassadors, the two Allies have also pledged themselves to "observe the territorial integrity of the Turkish republic." The statements are seen as counters to German propaganda that Russia would take advantage of Turkey and invade should the latter enter the war.

A Spitfire pilot flying from Leconfield airfield, near Beverley, broke away from the formation he was flying in and dived into the ground near Driffield. The cause of the accident is not known.

WESTERN FRONT: RAF Fighter Command flew Roadstead operations and Fighter Command sweeps.

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[Njaco]

August 11 Monday

ASIA: Matome Ugaki was named the chief of staff of the Japanese Navy Combined Fleet. Captain Yoshioki Tawara was named the commanding officer of "Naka".

The Japanese conducted another dawn attack on Chengdu and four I-153s of the 29th PS were scrambled. Squadron Commander Tang (or Tan) Zhouli and two of his deputies, Wang Chongshi and Huang Rongfa were killed in the ensuing combat. During this combat the last I-153s were destroyed. Gitaro Miyazaki of the 12th Kokutai claimed his second and final victory over China during this attack.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: President Franklin D Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill continue their meeting at Placentia Bay. Both are accompanied by their military staffs. The discussions cover the situation in Europe and the Far East. They confer twice today aboard the US heavy cruiser USS "Augusta" (CA-31) in Placentia Bay, Argentia, Newfoundland.

EASTERN FRONT: Unternehmen Barbarossa: Hitler decides to postpone a direct advance on Moscow in favour of massive onslaught against Kiev.

Heeresgruppe Nord: German Heeresgruppe Nord pushes across the Luga River. Soviet resistance crumbles under the intense pressure on the Luga River Line. The German 1.Panzer-Divisionen (Lieutenant General Friedrich Kirchner) breaks through the Soviet lines at Opolye and advances 30 miles into the Soviet rear area.

Heeresgruppe Mitte: The Red Army counterattacked around Yelnya. Guderian pushes south towards Gomel.

Heeresgruppe Süd: Nikolayev Bridge destroyed by Hungarian bombers, trapping 60,000 Soviet troops.

GERMANY: The Soviet Air Force makes its first raid on Berlin, as 11 Petlyakov Pe-8s attack the city. German defenses shoot down five Pe-8s, and Soviet antiaircraft artillery mistakenly shoots down another as it returns to base.

RAF Bomber Command sends 29 aircraft to attack Krefeld and 24 bombers to attack Monchen-Gladbach overnight. The 24 Wellington bombers attacked a railway target at Monchen-Gladbach, on the edge of the Ruhr. All the bombers returned safely. Although cloud covered the target, the raid was noteworthy in that two aircraft, from 115 Squadron, were equipped with a new navigation device codenamed "Gee". Until now British bombers have had to reckon on dead reckoning and astro-navigation to find their way to targets by night. The result has been that up to 90 per cent of bombs have missed their target. Robert Dippy, a scientist working at the Telecommunications Research Establishment (TRE) at Worth Matravers in Dorset, has produced a radio navigation system known as TR 1335. This is based on three radio transmitters, situated on a 200 mile baseline, sending signals to the aircraft. These are observed by the navigator on a cathode-ray tube and can tell him his position to within a mile. The initial results are very encouraging. The only drawback is that the system is line-of-sight and limited to a range of 400 miles, and that it can be jammed. As yet there are only 12 sets available, and it is planned to carry out further operational trials with these this month before TR 1335 is cleared for production.

MEDITERRANEAN: The Italian hospital ship "California" was sunk off Syracuse, Sicily by Fairey Swordfish torpedo aircraft of British No. 830 Naval Air Squadron.

NORTH AMERICA: A famous pin-up photo of Rita Hayworth appeared in this week's issue of Life magazine, showing Hayworth perched on her bed wearing a negligee. The iconic picture was the second-most popular among American servicemen during World War II (only Betty Grable's over-the-shoulder photo from 1943 was bigger).

NORTHERN FRONT: Finnish Army of Karelia captures Khitola on the north shore of Lake Ladoga. The Finnish South-Eastern Army (comprising 2nd Corps, which included 2nd, 10th, 15th and 18th Divisions plus second coastal artillery brigade, and 4th Corps, which included 4th, 8th and 17th Divisions) pushes deep into the Karelian Isthmus, with elements reaching Vuosalmi south of Lake Ladoga.

PACIFIC OCEAN: Lieutenant Colonel Harold D. Shannon, executive officer of the US Marine Corps 6th Defense Battalion, arrived at Midway to prepare for his battalion to relieve the 3rd Defense Battalion.

WESTERN FRONT: Vichy France enacted a law to exclude Jewish doctors.

RAF Bomber Command sends 34 aircraft to attack Rotterdam overnight.

General Huntziger, Minister of War, becomes Commander-in-Chief of Vichy French ground forces.

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[Njaco]

August 12 Tuesday
ASIA: Light carrier "Hosho" became the flagship of Carrier Division 3.Battleship No. 1 departed Kure, Japan for trials.

Zhao Chengshou signed a secret armistice with the Japanese.

Crown Prince Yi Un was assigned to Jinzhou, Liaoning Province, China.

The N.Y.K. "Silk Express" Liner "Asama Maru" is recalled by the Japanese to Japan without touching a United State port because the Unites States had not given general assurances of the inviolability of Japanese ships. The "Asama Maru" is carrying a number of American passengers and a large cargo of silk. This is the sister ship of the "Tatu Maru".

ATLANTIC OCEAN: The conference between US President Franklin D Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in Placentia Bay, Argentia, Newfoundland, is held in the US heavy cruiser USS "Augusta" (CA-31).It is agreed to send strong warnings to the Japanese and it is understood the America will almost certainly enter the war if Japan attacks British or Dutch possessions in the East Indies or Malaysia. A message is also sent to Stalin, proposing a meeting in Moscow. The conference is most remembered for the agreement later called the Atlantic Charter. This is a statement of principles governing the policies of Britain and the USA and states that all countries have the right to hold free elections and to be free from foreign pressure. The conference also gives British and American staffs an opportunity to get to know each other and to work together. The Atlantic Charter was signed but not made public until two days later. After the last meeting, the battleship HMS "Prince of Wales" and her escort depart Newfoundland for England while USS "Augusta", with USS "Tuscaloosa" (CA-37) and 5 destroyers, sail to Blue Hill Bay, Maine, where the presidential yacht USS "Potomac" (AG-25) and her tender, USS "Calypso" (AG-35), are anchored.

The US Army-US Marine Corps 1st Joint Training Force under Major General Holland M. Smith was redesignated the Atlantic Amphibious Force.

HMS "Picotee" (Lieutenant R. A. Harrison) was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-568 while the Flower class corvette is escorting convoy ON.5 south of Iceland.

The Canadian Hall Corporation merchantman "Eaglescliffe Hall" (1,900 GRT) was damaged by bombs from Luftwaffe aircraft in the North Sea, off Sunderland. There is no record of casualties in this incident.

US Navy takes over patrolling convoy routes in the North Atlantic and tracking German submarines for the Royal Navy in violation of Neutrality Act.

EASTERN FRONT: Unternehmen Barbarossa: The Central Committee of the Soviet Communist Party ordered the security forces to deport the entire population of the Volga German Autonomous Republic to destinations in Central Asia and Siberia. Semyon Timoshenko drafted an order calling for the execution of deserters; it would be revised by Joseph Stalin and issued as Order No. 270 four days later.

Heeresgruppe Nord: The Soviets, reeling from their defeats at the hands of Operation Barbarossa launch a hastily organized counter-attack at Staraya Russa, south of Lake Ilmen in Novgorod, against elements of Heeresgruppe Nord. This envisaged the newly formed Soviet 48th Army attacking from the Novgorod region along the west side of Lake Ilmen, while the newly formed 34th Army, supported by 11th and 27th Armies, would attack south of Lake Ilmen. The Soviets concentrated 8 rifle divisions, a cavalry corps and a tank division for the offensive, with the objective of capturing Staraya Russa and Dno station, and destroying 16.Armee's X.Armeekorps (General of the Artillery Christian Hansen). The Soviet counterattack at Staraya Russa by the 34th Army succeeds in caving in the flank of the German X.Armeekorps. Three German divisions are threatened with encirclement on the south bank of Lake Illmen. North of Lake Illmen, German armored formations break into the clear and advance toward Leningrad. The Ushnitsa River was forced by a frontal attack. The infantrymen were weighed down by their weapons and ammunition-boxes. Everything had to be carried. The Russians were resisting stubbornly. Along the railway embankment especially they contested every inch of ground.

Heeresgruppe Mitte: German II. Armeekorps and elements of 2. Panzergruppe attacking toward Gomel. XXIV.Armeekorps (mot.) (General of Panzer Troops Geyr von Schweppenburg) had encircled elements of Central Front near Krichev, and the German II. Armeekorps already had 3 divisions across the Dnepr south of Zhlobin.

Heeresgruppe Süd: The OKH orders Rundstedt to destroy all Soviet forces between Zaporozh'e and the mouth of the Dnepr to trap the 9th, 18th, and Coastal Armies against the Black Sea. With units of both Axis forces operating in close proximity, hostilities nearly erupt between Hungarian and Rumanian troops near Voznessensk on the Bug River.

The Soviet Politburo granted thousands of Polish prisoners of war amnesty for the formation of a Polish unit under General Wladislaw Anders to fight against Germany.

Siegfried Freytag of JG 77 scores his tenth victory, a MiG 3. At JG 3, the Staffelkapitän of 7th Staffel, Oblt. Kurt Sochatzy, is rammed during a dogfight by a Russian I-16 over Kiev. Both machines crash and Oblt. Sochatzy survives although he is captured and imprisoned. Later in the day Oblt. Sochatzy is awarded the Ritterkreuz, even though he is still a prisoner of the Russians.

GERMANY: RAF Bomber Command sends 54 aircraft to attack power stations at Cologne in daylight in conjunction with Fighter Command operations. Cologne was hit by 54 Blenheims and four US made Flying Fortresses, setting fire to two power stations.

78 British bombers, escorted by 485 fighters, conducted the heaviest daylight attack against Germany to date, targeting the powerplants near Köln (Fortuna Power Station in Knapsack and Goldenburg Power Station in Quadrath) and other targets in a wide area. RAF Bomber Command sends 70 aircraft to attack Berlin, 36 aircraft to attack Magdeburg and 35 aircraft to attack Essen overnight. The Germans were only able to scramble few fighters, but anti-aircraft fire was heavy. The Germans could not offer as much opposition as they once did because many of their planes had been diverted to the Eastern Front. The Germans suffered four fighters shot down (plus five likely shot down) and heavy damage to both powerplants; the British suffered 12 British Blenheim bombers shot down and 10 British fighters shot down. South east of Vlissingen, Major Johannes Seifert of I./JG 26 shoots down a Blenheim. The attack follows a bombing directive by Air Vice-Marshal Norman Bottomley, the deputy chief of the air staff, claiming that strikes on industrial towns undermine civilian morale. Last month he wrote: "Destroy the morale of the civilian population as a whole and the industrial workers in particular." The air ministry says that the raiders had a fighter escort to Antwerp. Then "the bombers went on alone, ... on their 150 mile penetration of the German air defence system. The power stations were attacked at point blank range." Due to their success, power output is reduced by 10 percent for nine days.

Hitler issues a Supplement to Directive 34. Army Group North is ordered to continue its efforts in the direction of Leningrad. Army Group South is to begin the battle for the Crimea, Kharkov and the Donets. Army Group Center is to halt and provide help to the other army groups. http://der-fuehrer.org/reden/english/wardirectives/34a.html

The Finnish Ambassador in Berlin, T. M. Kivimäki informs the German Foreign Ministry that Finland doesn't think it necessary to join the Anti-Comintern Pact, because 'the Finnish attitude towards communism is already clear'.

MEDITERRANEAN: Apprentice John Sedgwick Gregson (b. 1924) helped free a gunner on the sinking MV "Deucalian", then swam 600 yards with the helpless man to another ship. He is later awarded the Albert Medal.

Italian vessels conduct minelaying operations in the Sicilian Narrows.

NORTH AFRICA: In response to pressure from the Australian government concerning the relief of their troops in Tobruk, Allied naval forces evacuate 5000 Australian troops from Tobruk and land 6000 fresh troops from a Polish Brigade over the course of several nights (August 12-18th). The fast minelayers "Abdiel" and "Latona" are prominent in these moves. A cruiser and two destroyers are also employed.

NORTH AMERICA: The United States Congress passed a modification to the Selective Service Act, which extended the service period of draftees as requested by Franklin Roosevelt, by a single vote.

The Canadian government ordered all Japanese Canadians to carry a registration card that have their thumbprint and photo.

The manoeuvres held at New River, North Carolina, since 3 August involving the 1st Marine Division and the Army's 1st Division, end.

US Navy Motor Torpedo Squadron 3 is commissioned and sent to the Philippines.

UNITED KINGDOM: No. 489 (NZ) Squadron RAF was formed at RAF Leuchars, Fife, Scotland, from New Zealand personnel under the command of Wing Commander J. A. S. Brown. The squadron would see extensive service on anti-shipping strikes in the North Sea and protection of the North Cape convoys.

British convoy Dervish departs Liverpool for Archangel via Iceland.

WESTERN FRONT: French Marshal Philippe Pétain appointed Admiral François Darlan as Minister for War, the Navy, the Air and the Colonies. General Maxime Weygand was thus placed under Darlan's orders. General Petain declares that the Vichy government will cooperate completely with the Nazi Germany. Pétain made an address announcing the appointment in which he also announced a series of harsh new measures including the dissolution all political parties, the creation of a Council of Justice to judge;

"...those responsible for our disaster," and the new requirement that all ministers and high officials swear an oath of loyalty directly to him. "In 1917 I put an end to mutiny," Pétain said. "In 1940 I put an end to rout. Today I wish to save you from yourselves."

The powers of the police and of the departmental prefects have been increased, and a council for political justice will be set up to punish those responsible for the collapse of France last year. Commissioners will be appointed to root out secret societies and action will be taken immediately against Freemasons in particular. All ministers and high officials will be required to take an oath of allegiance to Marshal Petain. The marshal acknowledged that his "national revolution" was proving more difficult than he had expected, and that the collaboration "offered with great courtesy" by Hitler was slow. Minds were falling prey to anxiety, he conceded; he even admitted that this unease was in part caused by "insidious propaganda", an apparent admission of the widespread popularity of the BBC news broadcasts from London. In effect, the Marshal proposes to replace "Petainism by persuasion" with "Petainism by discipline," thus imposing on the French people a conservative revolution which they have refused to adopt of their own free will.

RAF Fighter Command Circus operations and diversions in conjunction with Bomber Command daylight attack on Cologne. RAF Bomber Command sends 14 aircraft to attack Le Havre overnight.

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[Njaco]

August 13 Wednesday
ASIA: After a week, the Japanese have recorded 40 air raids on Chungking. After seven days of heavy Japanese bombing, the city of Chungking is devastated.

EASTERN FRONT: Unternehmen Barbarossa: For new Free Polish Army under General Anders, Moscow orders release of all Polish prisoners, including soldiers such as Menachem Begin and Leopold Okulicki. Stalin released the Polish prisoners of war taken in Sep 1939, ostensibly to form a Polish Army in Russia.

Heeresgruppe Nord: German 4. Panzergruppe involved in heavy fighting around the Luga bridgehead. The German X.Armeekorps (General of the Artillery Christian Hansen) retreats in the face of the counterattack in the Staraya Russa area. The LVI.Armeekorps (mot.) (now with only two motorised divisions) was ordered to disengage at Luga and assist X. Armeekorps (General of the Artillery Christian Hansen) by moving south-west and attacking the Soviet 34th Army. However the imperiled X. Armeekorps had to hold on because The LVI.Armeekorps (mot.) was already heavily engaged and could not disengage and relocate until 18th August.

Heeresgruppe Mitte: General Guderian resists the suggestion that the Yel'nya salient be abandoned since he felt it would represent a significant victory for the Soviet forces. General of Panzer Troops Geyr von Schweppenburgs' XXIV.Armeekorps (mot.) eliminates a pocket at Krichev taking 16,000 prisoners, 76 guns, and 15 tanks.

Heeresgruppe Süd: German 1.Panzergruppe advancing toward Nikolaev. Soviet destroyers support ground operations near Grigorevka.

Ostland Reichkommissar Hinrich Lohse ordered that all property belonging to Jews was to be confiscated and registered, and all money and valuables in their possession handed over immediately.

GERMANY: The maiden flight under rocket power of the Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet takes place at Karlshagen.

A Wellington bomber carrying prototype navigation equipment is lost after a raid. A prototype of the GEE or AMES Type 7000 British radio navigation system was lost on a raid over Hanover, Germany. GEE was devised by Robert Dippy and developed at the Telecommunications Research Establishment (TRE) at Swanage. Dippy later went to the United States where he worked on the development of the LORAN system. Loran, long-range navigation, later fell out of favor with the development of satellite-based navigation systems.

Dutch prisoners Dufour and Imit escaped the Oflag IV-C prisoner of war camp at Colditz Castle in Germany; they would be recaptured within a few days.

NORTH AFRICA: Journalist Richard Capell paid tribute in a radio broadcast the defenders of Tobruk, Libya, with specific mention of anti-aircraft gunners but also generally of Australians, Indians, and British; "boys", who "within weeks, turned into hardened men."

Beginning last night 6,000 Polish troops replace 5,000 Australians at Tobruk. These troop movements will continue through the 18th. They are being made at the request of the Australian government.

Luftwaffe bombers attack Alexandria overnight.

NORTH AMERICA: The Roosevelt Administration issued an executive order suspending the eight-hour day for mechanics and laborers employed by the War Department on public works projects such as airfields, troop housing units and fortifications so as to hasten their construction.

The Canadian government authorized the creation of the Canadian Women's Army Corps (CWAC).

SOUTH PACIFIC: The Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS) was raised. Australian Women's Army Service was formed to release men from certain military duties for service with fighting units.

Troop convoy WS 9BX detaches from WS 9B off Aden and turns for Bombay.

UNITED KINGDOM: Three places on the north-east coast were attacked by the Luftwaffe. The railway south of Alnmouth station and property and public utilities suffered at Sunderland when four people were killed and some injured and damage to plant at Horden Colliery caused delay in production. Two dead, twenty-eight injured when two HEs fell in Horden Colliery Yard, damaging offices, lamp cabins and colliery buildings. The plane machine gunned streets in Horden causing slight damage to property.

WESTERN FRONT: Fighting breaks out in Paris. At the porte Saint-Denis and the porte Saint-Martin, fighting breaks out between demonstrators and the French and German police. Those arrested are communists.

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[Njaco]

August 14 Thursday
ATLANTIC OCEAN: Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill jointly issued the Atlantic Charter, stating the Allied goals for the post-war world. British deputy Prime Minister, Clement Attlee, has broadcast the terms of a joint Anglo-American declaration of common principles. The United States and Britain declare that they seek no territorial gains from the war. They say they hope that all nations will co-operate economically after the war, and they look forward to a lasting peace and the end of the use of force. Roosevelt feels that the entry of the USSR into the war makes it desirable that the western democracies should spell out their creeds. To British relief he did not insist on denouncing protectionism or empires.

While returning to the US from the Atlantic Charter Conference, US President Franklin D Roosevelt, in USS "Augusta" (CA-31), watches flight operations conducted by the F2A Buffaloes and SOC Seagulls of Scouting Squadron Two Hundred One (VS-201) in aircraft escort vessel USS "Long Island" (AVG-1), the first "jeep" aircraft carrier. During the afternoon, USS "Augusta" reaches Blue Hill Bay, Maine, where he re-embarks in the presidential yacht, USS "Potomac" (AG-25).

EASTERN FRONT: Unternehmen Barbarossa:

"Battles on 13 and 14 [August] very costly, also in material. there was little benefit [in the fighting] because the enemy mass had already evacuated. Truck in bad condition. Men tired. Division increasingly more worn out...Russian tanks, especially the heavy ones, are good." - 4. Panzer-Divisionen war diary.

Heeresgruppe Nord: Soviet positions on the Luga collapsing. Heavy fighting around Tallinn, Narva, and Staraya Russa sectors.

Heeresgruppe Mitte: German 2.Panzergruppe was pushing toward Bryansk. German II. Armeekorps was attacking toward Gomel. Meanwhile the Stavka continued to believe Moscow was the primary objective, but as a precautionary measure they formed the new Bryansk Front (Eremenko) south of Reserve Front. The Bryansk Front (initially allocated the newly mobilized 50th, and the 13th and 3rd Armies) was tasked with protecting Kiev from an attack from the north, and preventing any eastward advance of 2.Panzergruppe and II.Armeekorps, and so protect the southern flank of the Moscow approaches.

Heeresgruppe Süd: German forces captured Krivoy Rog. German 11. Armee pushing toward Nikolaev. The Soviets begin to evacuate their Black Sea naval base at Nikolayev. Eight destroyers of the Black Sea fleet cover the operation (lasting through August 17th). Of the ships under construction in the port, 13 are far enough advanced to be towed away but one battleship and 10 other vessels on the stocks are blown up. Soviet battleship "Sovetskaya Ukraina", battlecruiser "Sevastopol", cruisers "Ordzhonikidze" and "Sverdlov", three destroyers, two gunboats, and three submarines destroyed at Nikolaev.

The Soviet transport ship "Sibir", carrying 2,500 wounded soldiers from Estonia, was bombed by German aircraft. There were few survivors.

The Eichenlaub is awarded to Oblt. Heinz Bär of JG 51 after achieving sixty kills and Hptm. Hans 'Assi' Hahn of JG 2 with forty-two victories.

Over the Bay of Kolga, Lt. Max-Hellmuth Ostermann of 7./JG 54 destroys two Soviet I-153s.

Auschwitz. Ten Polish prisoners had been condemned to die after a prisoner had escaped. When the ten were selected, one begged and pleaded to be saved for his wife and children. Fr. Maximilian Kolbe, a Franciscan friar and fellow prisoner, had stepped forward and asked to take the place of the family man. The offer was accepted. The ten were marched off to a starvation bunker. As one by one they died, Fr. Maximilian comforted them. The last survivor of the ten, Fr. Maximilian was executed by lethal injection on August 14. The man he died to save was present in St. Peter's Square in 1982 when Fr. Maximilian was proclaimed St. Maximilian Kolbe.

GERMANY: RAF bomber command continues its nightly raids on German targets. Tonight the British bombers hit railway yards in Hannover, Brunswick and Magdeburg. RAF Bomber Command sends 152 aircraft to attack Hannover, 81 aircraft to attack Brunswick and 52 aircraft to attack Magdeburg overnight.

MEDITERRANEAN: Axis Convoy departs Naples for Tripoli with seven vessels escorted by Italian destroyers "Freccia", "Euro", and "Dardo" and three torpedo boats.

NORTH AFRICA: Edmund Herring was promoted to the temporary rank of major general and was given command of Australian 6th Division in Egypt.

PACIFIC OCEAN: British vessel "Australind" sunk by German raider "Komet" south of the Galapagos.

UNITED KINGDOM: The Luftwaffe bombed Northumberland. One bomb dropped in barley field, one in oat field, two at roadsides. Two roads blocked, telephone wires and overhead electricity cables down. A few houses were wrecked and utilities affected at Gateshead, where four people were killed. Three children and an elderly lady died when HE struck houses on Howard Street off Sunderland Road, Gateshead. About 150 small Anti Personnel Bombs were dropped in Close House District in Bishop Auckland, four of which failed to explode. Slight damage to roofs of dwelling house and two outhouses and an electric conductor was broken but was soon repaired.

WESTERN FRONT: RAF Bomber Command sends 26 aircraft on coastal sweeps. RAF Fighter Command flew escort operations and sweeps.

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