- January 6
- American President Franklin Roosevelt makes his annual address to Congress. He says the country should support those nations resisting aggression, to keep war from this Hemisphere, to increase manufacture of war supplies and loan to nations in need of them. Roosevelt says the world should be founded on four freedoms: speech and expression, to worship God in his own way, economic health, and reductions in arms, so that no nation can threaten any neighbor. [416.E5] [448.129]
- January 8
- The Soviet general staff conducts war games over four days, to examine the possibilities of a German attack and Russian counter-attack. Two basic scenarios are considered, one concentrating on the northwest (Lithuania and East Prussia), the other on a Southwestern Army Group attack south of Brest-Litovsk. An initial defensive stage of the war is not simulated. Both attack scenarious show overall difficulties, but the southern approach is shown to advance 55-100 miles into Poland. [135.14] [331.825]
- January 9
- Adolf Hitler issues orders to discontinue preparations for Operation Felix (Gibraltar) and Sea Lion (England), to continue Attila (France) preparations, and continue undertaking Marita (Balkans). [149.93] (January 10 [439.110])
- January 10
- Graf von Schulenburg of the German Government and V. Molotov of the USSR sign a secret protocol transferring a small piece of Lithuanian territory to the USSR for 31.5 million reichmarks (US$7.5 million). [629.A10]
- In the Mediterranean, German planes make a dive bombing attack on the British carrier Illustrious causing major damage. The carrier slowly makes its way to Malta. [212.23] [519.1933]
- January 11
- Adolf Hitler issues Directive No. 22, ordering support for allies defending Tripolitania and Albania. [149.93]
- January
- Britain's prime minister Winston Churchill decides against increasing British forces on Hong Kong, concluding that it could not be held in the event of a Japanese invasion. [5.58]
- Canadian Prime Minister William King bans Canadian citizens of Japanese ancestry from joining the armed forces. [5.67]
- The United States and Britain agree that if the US joins the war against Japan and Germany, that the first priority would be the defeat of Germany. [166.339]
- Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, Commander in Chief of the Combined Fleet, writes a letter to the navy minister, favoring a massive attack on the United States Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor. [169.64]
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- January 15
- The British Air Ministry issues a directive to Bomber Command regarding the importance of German oil targets. [84.77,342] [831.815]
- January 17
- (morning) French forces with one old light cruiser and four old gunboats, attack Siam along the Koh-Chang island anchorage. They sink the new battleship Dhonburi, force the new battleship Ayuthia to run aground, and sink three small destroyers. [46.37]
- January 21
- Australian infantry with 16 Matilda tanks attack Tobruk, Libya, forcing the surrender of 25,000-30,000 Italians and 87 tanks. [149.107] [277.54] (January 22 [508.1765,1788])
- January 23
- British carrier Illustrious sets sail from Malta, headed to the United States for repairs. [212.23] [519.1942]
- Five Norwegian ships transport 25,000 tons of special steel products from Sweden to Britain, in a move called Operation Rubble. All five ships make it through German-controlled water, to Royal Navy escort to Kirkwall, Scotland. [29.110] [38.127]
- January 28
- Vichy France ceases hostilities with Siam. [46.38]
- January 29
- Greek Prime Minister General Ioannis Metaxas dies unexpectedly of throat cancer. The new Greek prime minister invites British forces in for protection against Germany and Italy. [277.57] [753.35]
- January 30
- Japan agrees to co-ordinate its intelligence collection efforts in the US with Germany and Italy. [376.69]
- January 31
- A formal armistice is signed by Siam and Indochina. [444.319]
- January (month)
- Total German submarine sinkings of merchant shipping in the Atlantic during the month: 21 ships, 126,782 tons. [173.19]
- Total German long-range bomber sinkings of merchant shipping in the Atlantic during the month: 20 ships, 78,517 tons. [173.19]
- February 5
- Adolf Hitler issues general instructions for military cooperation with Italy in Tripoli, Albania, and Gibraltar. [149.101]
- February 6
- Adolf Hitler issues Directive No. 23, directing operations against the English war economy. The focus of attacks is to be merchant shipping, harbors, and aircraft industry. [149.102]
- At Beda Fomm, south of Benghazi, Cyrenaica, over three days, British 7th Armored Division with 29 tanks and 3000 men cripple 60 Italian M13 tanks, and capture 20,000 troops and another 40 tanks. [277.56] (February 5 [508.1788])
- Adolf Hitler puts Erwin Rommel in command of the new Deutsches Afrika Korps (German Africa Corps) with 15th Panzer Division and 5th Light Motorized Division, to rescue the Italians in North Africa. [277.56]
- Submarine U-107 torpedoes and sinks Canadian merchant ship Maplecourt west of Northern Ireland. Maplecourt was part of convoy SC-20 from Montreal, Canada, to Preston, England. [27.18]
- February 8
- Bulgaria signs an agreement with Germany for military co-operation. In particular, the German 12th Army is allowed to concentrate along the frontier with Greece. [47.194] [508.1765]
- February 9
- British Prime Minister Winston Churchill gives a speech in Glasgow, Scotland, in which he makes an appeal "give us the tools and we'll finish the job." [101.12]
- February 10
- British War Cabinet elects to offer Greece military assistance. [753.36]
- (evening) Over 222 British aircraft bomb Hanover, Germany, doing great damage. Seven bombers are shot down. This is the largest aerial raid against a single target so far. [84.78,342]
- (evening) The British four-engined Short Stirling Mk I bomber debuts in active service. Their first operation is against oil storage tanks at Rotterdam, Netherlands. [84.78,342] [831.814]
- February
- Adolf Hitler sends Lieutenant-General Erwin Rommel to North Africa to help the Italians force British troops out. [2.11]
- February 12
- Lieutenant-General Erwin Rommel arrives in Tripoli, Libya, with an advance party of German troops. [508.1789]
- February 14
- Lead elements of three Italian divisions leave Tripoli, heading toward Sirte. [277.72]
- The first German troops of the new Africa Corps arrive at Tripoli. [277.72]
- The Australian Advisory War Council makes a press statement to inform the public of the country's poor defence situation. [439.118]
- Singapore's leader Brooke-Popham meets with the Australian War Cabinet. He says that Singapore is designed to withstand an attack for six to nine months, and a landward attack is not likely. [439.118]
- February
- Germany begins planning a march towards India through Afghanistan. [80.316]
- Germany begins planning a take-over of Switzerland, called Operation Tannenbaum. [80.316]
- Germany begins planning a take-over of Sweden, called Operation Polarwuchs. [80.316] (1940 [415.34])
- February 21
- German pocket battleship Admiral von Scheer sinks Canadian merchant ship Canadian Cruiser in the western Indian Ocean. The captain and crew are taken prisoner. [27.18]
- February 22
- German battle cruiser Gneisenau sinks Canadian merchant ship A.D. Huff east of Cape Race, Newfoundland. Two die, and 37 are taken prisoner. [27.18]
- February
- In Washington, USA, officials insist that Britain look after her own interests in the Pacific, not to count on American help. [439.123]
- February 24
- The Greek government agrees to allow the British Army to enter the country for defense against Germany. [149.107]
- British War Cabinet decides to carry out plan to help defend Greece. [753.37]
- (evening) The British twin-engined Avro Manchester bomber makes its debut in active service. First mission is against warships at Brest. [84.78,342]
- February (month)
- Total German submarine sinkings of merchant shipping in the Atlantic during the month: 39 ships, 196,783 tons. [173.19]
- Total German long-range bomber sinkings of merchant shipping in the Atlantic during the month: 27 ships, 89,305 tons. [173.19]
- March 1
- US Under-Secretary of State Sumner Welles gives full details of a likely attack of Germany on the Soviet Union to the Soviet Ambassador. The information had been first learned in August 1940, then checked carefully. (Josef Stalin ignores the report.) [376.48]
- Bulgaria formally agrees to adhere to the Tripartite Pact of the Axis powers. [47.194] [416.E5] [517.1793]
- March 2
- German units cross the Danube river, deploying ground and air forces in Bulgaria. [753.38]
- March 4
- Great Britain and Greece conclude a revised plan for the defence of Greece. [508.1765]
- The Yugoslav government decides to adhere to the Tripartite Pact. [149.107]
- British commandos make a large-scale raid on Lofoten Islands, Norway. The raid is a complete success, capturing 225 prisoners and evacuating 315 Norwegian volunteers. [508.1765,1785]
- Yugoslavia's Prince Paul meets with Adolf Hitler. He tells Adolf Hitler that Yugoslavia would sign on to the Tripartite Pact, provided that Yugoslavia was not asked to fight, territory would be guaranteed, and German troops would not expect transit through Yugoslavia. The terms are agreed to. [47.194]
- March 5
- Adolf Hitler issues Directive No. 24: "Cooperation with Japan". The purpose is to induce Japan to take action in the Far East as soon as possible, to tie down English forces and divert the USA to the Pacific. [149.104]
- March 6
- British Prime Minister Winston Churchill issues a directive giving supreme priority to the Battle of the Atlantic. [84.80] (March 9 [831.815])
- March 7
- British troops, mostly Australian and New Zealand motorized forces, begin arriving in Greece. [277.57] [753.37]
- British corvettes Arbutus and Camellia and destroyer Wolverine sink German submarine U-47, killing captain Gunther Prien, responsible for sinking 150,000 tons of merchant shipping, and recipient of the Knight's Cross. [173.20] [377.53] (March 6 [829.435])
- March 8
- In London, England, Australian Prime Minister Menzies officially releases Britain from deserting naval protection of the Mediterranean to protect Australia, in the event of war in the Pacific, due to the large number of ground forces in the Middle East. [439.124]
- The Soviet government orders 900,000 reservists called to duty between May 15 and October 20. [331.833]
- March 9
- Italian forces begin a final offensive against Greek forces, which are able to hold their positions. [508.1765]
- March 10
- (evening) The British four-engined Handley Page Halifax Mk II aircraft makes its operational debut. The first mission is against docks and shipping targets at Le Havre, France. [84.78,342] [831.814]
- March 11
- German 5th Panzer Regiment of 5th Light Division arrives in Tripoli, with 120 tanks. [277.76]
- Soviet A.M. Vasilevskii writes the Strategic Deployment Plan, refined from the September 1940 plan, with the main attack on Germany proposed for southern Poland. The document states that the offensive is to begin on "12.6" (June 12). [331.829]
- In the United States, Congress passes "An Act to Promote the Defense of the United States", known as the Lend-Lease Act, authorizing the President to sell, lease, lend, transfer, or exchange war supplies to any nation deemed vital to defence of the US. Total value is US$1.3 billion. [166.338,354] [277.44] [448.133] [503.1737] [766.34]
- March 12
- (evening) British Bomber Command sends Halifax and Manchester bombers against Hamburg, Germany. [84.342]
- March 13
- Wilhelm Keitel issues a supplement to Directive No. 21, laying down rules for administration of occupied Russia. [149.129]
- March 14
- (evening) A large British bomber raid on the German Gelsenkirchen oil production area scores hits, temporarily halting oil production. [84.80]
- March 15
- German commander in the West Gerd von Rundstedt is replaced by von Witzleben. [149.306]
- March
- The United States Navy begins escorting US merchant ships bound for Britain. [27.11]
- (mid-month) German battleship Tirpitz makes its maiden voyage from Wilhelmshaven. [84.78]
- British corvettes Camelia and Arbutus sink German submarine U70 in the North Atlantic. [377.52]
- March 17
- German submarine U-99 torpedoes and sinks Canadian merchant ship J.B. White south-west of the Faeroes Islands. Two die, 38 survive. [27.18]
- British Convoy HX 112 on the Atlantic is attacked by German submarines. British destroyers Walker and Vanoc sink German submarine U-100, killing captain Joachim Schepke, responsible for sinking 200,000 tons of merchant shipping. There are six survivors of the submarine. [173.20] [377.53] [829.435]
- British destroyers Walker and Vanoc sink German submarine U-99, capturing captain Otto Kretschmer, responsible for sinking 200,000 tons of merchant shipping. [173.20] [377.53]
- March 19
- German General Erwin Rommel meets with Walther von Brauchitsch and Franz Halder, requesting two more panzer divisions in North Africa. The request is denied. [277.76]
- March 20
- American undersecretary of state Sumner Welles informs the Soviet ambassador of an impending attack from Germany. [277.89]
- March 22
- German battle-cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau slip into Brest harbor, France, for repairs. [831.825]
- March 24
- German General Erwin Rommel sends a reconnaissance battalion to seize El Agheila. British forces withdraw after a brief fight. [277.76]
- March 25
- In Vienna, Austria, Yugoslav premier Prince Paul and foreign minister sign on to the Tripartite Pact in the presence of Adolf Hitler and Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop. [47.195] [52.98] [149.107] [277.57] [444.327] [508.1765] [753.38]
- Disguised German merchant raider Kormoran captures Canadian merchant ship Candolite south-east of Freetown, West Africa. The crew of 44 is taken prisoner. [27.18]
- March 26
- Royal Canadian Navy armed yacht Otter is destroyed by an explosion and fire off Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. 19 die. [27.18]
- March 27
- (0020 hours) A military revolt in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, lead by General Dusan Simovic, overthrows the Regency and pro-Axis government. [47.192,197] [444.327] [508.1765] [753.38] (March 26 [149.107] [277.59]) (General Bora Mirkovic’ [508.1765])
- Adolf Hitler issues Directive No. 25, ordering the military annihilation of Yugoslavia in retaliation for its coup. Operation Barbarossa, the planned attack on the Soviet Union, is postponed from May 15 for at least a month. Yugoslavia and Greece are to be attacked on April 6. [47.199] [149.108] [444.327]
- The Italian navy sets out to attack the British convoy route to Greece. British planes from the carrier Formidable engage the ships, sinking the destroyer Pola and two cruisers. [212.23] [519.1942]
- March 28
- (night) In the Mediterranean, the British fleet destroys three Italian cruisers off Cape Matapan, south of Greece. [277.57] [508.1769]
- March
- German battle cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau take refuge in Brest. [84.81]
- March 30
- (evening) British Bomber Command begins concentrated attacks on German warships Gneisenau and Scharnhorst in Brest. [84.342]
- March 31
- German 5th Light Division attacks British forces at Mersa el Brega, but are unable to defeat them. [277.77] [508.1789] [753.39]
- German merchant ships Muenchen and Hermouthis are scuttled by their crews to avoid capture by Royal Canadian Navy armed merchant cruiser Prince Henry, which intercepted them off Peru. [27.18]
- (evening) Bomber Command drops its first 4,000-pound bomb, by a Wellington aircraft over Emden, Germany. [84.342]
- (night) German 8th Machine Gun Battalion successfully drives British forces from Mersa el Brega, gaining Bren gun-carriers and 30 lorries. [277.77]
- March (month)
- Allied and neutral shipping losses for the month: 532,000 tons. [84.80]
- (month unknown)
- Britain parachutes its first Special Operations Executive agents into France. [54.99]
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