4 Januari 1940,
Germany creates General Council for War Economy under Goering.
Increase numerical strength
Luftwaffe
1938-Bombers 1466
Fighters 920
1939-Bombers 1553
Fighters 1090
1940-Bombers 1558
Fighters 1290
8 January 1940,
Food rationing in England and France (at 11 Januari). Britain introduces ration cards for butter, sugar, bacon and ham.
1 February 1940,
(till 3 February).Finnish troops, 6 div., successfully defence against the 7th and 13th Russian Army at the "Mannerheimlinie".
16 February 1940,
The British destroyer "Cossack" rescues 299 British seamen from German prison ship Altmark in the Norwegian "Josing-fjord". Sweden refuses to intervene on the side of Finland.
23 February 1940,
Begin in the Northern Icesea of the blockade of transport from Etching out of Scandinavia to Germany from the Allied.
8 March 1940,
At the beginning of the war a gas attack was greatly feared; the government issued everyone with gas masks to be carried at all times. As the threat receded, the masks became a nuisance rather than a need, but nevertheless had to be carried throughout the war. Gas drill was a regular feature of air raid precaution training and practice.
11 March 1940,
The first example of an aircraft sinking a U-boat, the U-31 is attacked and sunk off Wilhelmshaven by a RAF Blenheim.
Atlantis, the first of a dozen German commerce raiders, puts to sea. These 'ghost' ships are to prey on merchantmen sailing without the protection of a convoy. Their 60.000 nautical miles range will see them in action in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans.
12 March 1940,
Finland signs a treaty with Russia (Moskow) giving up a large amount of territory.
18 March 1940,
Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini hold a conference at Brenner Pass; Italy joins the war with Germany.
Defense of Italy
8 April 1940,
French and British navy troops mine Norwegian coastal waters and ports.
9 April 1940,
(till 10 April)."Operation Weserübung": German troops invade Denmark and Norway, in a quick as lightning action.
Norway and Denmark
Norway was strategically and economically important to both Germany and the Allies. Control of its coastline could either help Britain to strengthen its blockade, or provide Germany with suitable bases for its navy. It was also a vital outlet for Swedish iron ore, an essential part of Germany's war economy. Hitler decided to pre-empt an Allied move and on 1 March 1940 ordered the seizure of Norway and in the process, Denmark. German troops invaded Norway by sea and air on 9 April 1940. They seized key locations and the Luftwaffe took control of the air. Unable to prevent the invasion, the Royal Navy nevertheless inflicted significant losses upon the German surface fleet. British, French and Polish units were sent to assist the Norwegians but their efforts were uncoordinated and poorly planned. They failed to dislodge the Germans, and withdrawal followed. The last units left Narvik in June 1940.
Sweden
Sweden's crucial role supplying Nazi Germany iron ore and military facilities. Especially notorious for their support to the Nazis were Wallenberg family, SEB bank and SKF factory. The Swedish government was responsible for the most iron ore that Nazis received. Kiruna-Gällivare ore fields in Northern Sweden were all important to Nazi Germany. These heavy deliveries of iron ore and military facilities from Sweden to Nazi Germany lengthened WW II.
German invasion of Norway: German cycle battalion leaving the quay after disembarking
Relative Strenght at the Occupation of Denmark and Norway.
Germany Allies Norway
Inf. motor. div. 9 2 6
Planes: 0 0 0
Bombers 240 -- 200
Fighters 95 -- --
Transport/Scouting planes 543 -- --
Warships:
Battleships 2 3 (+ 1 Carrier) --
Armoured ships 1 2 --
Heavy cruisers 2 -- --
Light cruisers 4 4 --
Destroyers 14 25 --
Torpedo-boats 8 -- --
U-boats 30 -- --
15 April 1940,
Allied caught by surprise try to help poor Norway troops. British troops occupy the port of Narvik, Norway, also Namsos, Trondheim and Andalsness. Germans fleet with great loses.
27 April 1940,
Himmler order to built Concentration Camp Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss becomes Commandant.
3 May 1940,
Pro-Nazi Norwegian Army Major Vidkun Quisling becomes leader of Norway, King Haakon fly away from Norway.
Quisling
7 May 1940,
Leopold Amery(MP) blasts the government of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. His bad statement concerning the German invasion of Norway and Chamberlain lead to Chamberlain's ouster as Prime Minister of Great Britain (England).
On 7 and 8 May 1940 the House of Commons debated the disastrous Norwegian campaign. The Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain was widely criticised and members of his own Conservative party voted against him. Unable to form a National Government that would serve under him, Chamberlain resigned and, on 10 May 1940, Winston Churchill replaced him as Prime Minister.
10 May 1940,
(till 4 June). Operation "Gelb": German troops invade the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.
Holland and Belgium
On 10 May 1940 the Germans unleashed a series of devastating and audacious series of operations against neutral Holland and Belgium. Airborne units supported by the Luftwaffe seized key positions in the Netherlands well in advance of the main columns. Unable to match the force and ingenuity of the invaders, and disconcerted by air raids on civilian targets, the Dutch army capitulated on 15 May. In Belgium a memorable German airborne assault took place on the key fortress of Eban Emael. Although the Belgian army fought for three weeks against overwhelming odds, at midnight on 27 May it surrendered.
A German bombing raid on Brussel, a street a few days after the German invasion of Belgium.
Relative Strength at 10 May 1940
German France England Allies Belgium/Holland
Inf. div. 119 - - 119 -
Motor. div. 7 - - 7 -
Tank div. 10 - - 11 -
Airborne div. 1 - - - -
Total div. 136 - - 137 -
Tanks 2580 - - 3000 -
Bombers 1562 143 »Total 1150
Fighters 1016 764 -
Scouting Planes 501 396 -
Other Planes 555 396 -
Total Planes 3634 »2613«
10 May 1940,
British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain resigns. Winston Churchill (65 years) formed a National Government and became Prime Minister of Great Britain (England).British troops land on Iceland.
10 May 1940,
The Netherlands opens its flood gates in an attempt to slow-down the German Army's advance.
The German ultimatum ordering the Dutch commander of Rotterdam to cease fire was delivered to him at 10:30 a.m. on May 14, 1940. At 1:22 p.m., German bombers set the whole inner city of Rotterdam ablaze, killing 30.000 of its inhabitants.
11 May 1940,
Capture of Eben Emael (Belgian) and Maastricht. The Fortress Eben Emael formed the northern most part of the French defence line running along the German border. Allied forces occupy Netherlands West Indies.
13 May 1940,
Queen Wilhelmina has a narrow escape from the Netherlands and arrives in England.It was feared that the Germans would attempt a raid to seize Queen Wilhelmina, infant crown princess Beatrix, and other members of the Dutch Royal Family. Netherlands government flees to England. First Speech of Winston Churchill: "Blood, Sweat and Tears,".
14 May 1940
The bombing of Rotterdam; 617 killed.
German troops, the 12th Army, invade France, forces the front at Sedan.
The Battle of France
The German invasion of Belgium resulted in an Anglo-French advance to a new defence line intended to protect the Channel ports. The main German attack had not come where it was expected but through the Ardennes where the terrain was believed to be too difficult for an invading force and was therefore only lightly defended. In a devastatingly rapid advance, the Blitzkrieg, the Germans broke through the French line and drove northwards towards the sea. Confused, demoralised and unable to slow the German advance, the Allied armies were split in two. The British Expeditionary Force (the BEF) and the French First Army were cornered at Dunkirk but 338,000 managed to escape, thanks to a hasty but effective evacuation operation mounted across the English Channel. Meanwhile the main French forces to the south endeavoured to stem the tide, but the German columns pierced each new defence line and on 22 June 1940 an armistice was agreed between France and Germany.
15 May 1940,
The Netherlands surrenders to Nazi Germany at Rijsoord. Seys-Inquart Government Commissioner of the Netherlands, numbers of losses after 4 days war: 2890 killed; 6889 wounded; 29 missing.
19 May 1940,
British Royal Air Force planes bomb Bremen and Hamburg,in Germany.
26 May 1940,
(till 3 June).Operation "Dynamo"; Nearly 350,000 British, French, and other allied troops are rescued from the beaches of Dunkirk.
Evacuation from Dunkirk
The British Expeditionary Force (the BEF) and the French First Army were cornered by the advancing German armies at Dunkirk. 338,000 managed to escape, thanks to a hasty but effective evacuation mounted across the English Channel. In an astonishing improvisation, naval craft and personnel were reinforced by hundreds of 'little ships' and their civilian crews who had volunteered to take part. The operation across the Channel between 26 May and 4 June 1940 seemed a triumphant feat for the British people. However, the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, reminded the country that it was a defeat which would need strong determination to overcome. He emphasised the threat of a German invasion now that the Allies had been pushed out of Europe.
The Evacuation at Dunkirk
Data From the
beach From the
harbor Both Total
27 May -- 7.669 7.669 7.669
28 May 5.930 11.874 17.804 25.473
29 May 13.752 33.558 47.310 72.783
30 May 29.512 24.311 53.823 126.606
31 May 22.942 45.072 68.014 194.620
1 June 17.438 47.081 64.429 259.049
2 June 6.695 19.561 26.256 285.305
3 June 1.870 24.876 26.746 312.051
4 June 622 25.553 26.175 338.226
Total 98.671 239.555 338.226 --
Fall of Dunkirk on 4 June
The Evacuation at Dunkirk of France troops to England
Data By French boats By British boats Total
29 May 655 ---- 655
30 May 5.444 3.272 8.616
31 May 4.032 10.842 14.874
1 June 2.765 32.248 35.013
2 June 905 15.144 16.049
3 June 4.235 15.568 19.803
4 June 2.349 24.640 26.989
5 June 140 956 1.096
Total 98.671 239.555 338.226 --
28 May 1940,
Belgium surrenders to Germany.Allied capture Narvik, Norway and at 3 June evacuation from Narvik.
5 June 1940,
(till 24 June) Begin of the battle of France and Corsica, called "Operation Rot".
8 June,
German troops capture again Narvik, end of the evacuation of Allied troops from Narvik.
Carrier Glorious sunk at Norway wad, German battleship Scharnhorst heavily damage.
10 June 1940,
Norway troops surrenders.
The Fascist Government of Italy declares war on England and France, Italian troops invade France and bomb Malta for the first time. Malta is used as a bomber base for raids against Italy and Lybia, the aircraft used were Wellingtons.
11 June 1940,
First RAF Air attack on Turin, Whitley bombers bomb the Fiat- factories, 1200 km.
Italians' airplanes attack French bases in Tunisia and Corsica.
13 June,
Paul Reynaud, the Premier of France broadcasts a final appeal for American intervention.
14 June 1940,
German troops, 6th German Army, enter Paris, France. General Frere (French 7th Army) leaves Paris without fighting and von Studnitz leads the 87th Infantry Division in ints triumphal entry march. The western allied forces completely lost control over the European continent.
Spain declares not belligerents.
15 June 1940,
French troops abandon the Maginot Line.
Russia invade Litauen, Letland, Estland, Bessarabia and Northern Bucovina.
Rows of tank barriers, forming a small part of the complicated defence system, the Maginot Line
The Maginot Line
16 June 1940,
Paul Reynaud resigns as Premier of France.
18 June 1940,
From London Charles de Gaulle, become "Leader of the Free France", talks for the first time to the people of France; continue the War.
Hitler and Mussolini meet in Munchen.
20 June,
France allows Japan to penetrate Japanese troops in North-Indo China.
22 June 1940,
France (General Huntziger) signs an armistice with Germany at Compiegne (Rethondes), France. Fall of France; German troops occupy northern and western France. Collaborationist Vichy government set up in south-eastern France.
At this point the Blitzkrieg to the west has seen the Germans lose 27.000 dead more than 111.000 wounded and 18.000 missing. The French have lost 92.000 dead and more than 200.000 wounded; the British Expeditionary Force has lost more than 68.000 men.
24 June 1940,
Armistice sign at Rome between Italy and France, armistice 25 June at 1.35u in France.
27 June 1940
Romania, under the demands of Joseph Stalin, cedes Bessarabia and northern Bucovina to the Soviet Union.
Stalin, Josef Vissarionovich (1879-1953)
Stalin secured control of the Soviet Communist Party in 1923 and became Prime Minister in May 1941 until his death in 1953. He was a brutal leader, who purged his political and personal opponents. During the war he controlled the Soviet military effort as Commissar of Defence and Marshal of the Soviet Union. After signing the Nazi-Soviet non-agression pact in 1939, Soviet troops moved into Eastern Poland, the Baltic States and Finland. The period of co-operation between Germany and the Soviet Union was short-lived however, and Russia was unprepared when the invasion by German forces began in June 1941. Britain became allied with the Soviet Union, but was unable to immediately accept Stalin's demands for a campaign in France to relieve pressure on Russia. Stalin's military strategy was eventually successful, but at the cost of millions of Soviet lives. At the end of the war, with the exception of Yugoslavia, the East European states 'liberated' by the Red Army came under the control of the Soviet Union.
29 June,
Italo Balbo shot down above Tobruk by his own anti-aircraft artillery.
30 June 1940,
German forces land in the Channel Islands, the only part of the British Isles that they will occupy. Dônitz visits Brittany to view the U-boat bases which he believes will hugely increase the potential of his U-boat fleet. Now freed from having to make passage north of the British Isles to reach the Atlantic, the U-boats will surely be able to impose his will upon the all-important shipping lanes to and from the USA. With occupation of Norwegian, Danish, Belgian, Dutch, and French ports, the Kriegsmarine is in a position to control the seas of northern Furope in which Great Britain now seems ever more isolated. Indeed, a surge of success has been seen in June, with Allied shipping of more than 350,000 tons being lost to the U-boats.
1 July 1940,
Vice-Admiral Somerville takes command of Force H, a group consisting of the carrier HMS Ark Royal, battlecruiser HMS Hood, and two battleships plus cruisers and destroyers. Its first action will be against the French who, though claiming that none of their vessels will be allowed to faIl into German or Italian hands, are proving reluctant to take determined action to avoid this.
3 July 1940,
Operation "Katapult": French War Fleet in the port Mers el Kébir near Oran (N.Africa) attack by British War-ships. Ships of the British Mediterranean Fleet destroyed units of the French Fleet to prevent them falling into German hands.
9 July 1940,
By a vote of Parliament, the capital of France is moved to Vichy.First battle between Warships from Italy and England at Punta Stilo, Italian battleship Conti di Cavour heavily damage.
10 July 1940,
(till 25 August) The Battle of Britain begins, maybe "Operation Seelowe", invasion in England, the first great air-attack on England on 10 July.
11 July 1940,
Marshal Henri Philippe Petain (84 years), the old fighter from WW I, becomes Premier of France.
"Der Kanalkampf": German air attacks on British convoys intensify.
19 July 1940,
Adolf Hitler broadcasts for peace to England, it is immediately rejected.
"Street of Birma" closes for 3 month, China's supply stopped.
21 July 1940,
Estland, Letland and Litauen are annexed by the Soviet Union.
25 July 1940,
A US decision to limit its exports of oil places an immediate and continuing problem with the Japanese who have come to rely on foreign supplies. Their stocks dwindle from this day and cause them to look to the Dutch East Indies and Malaysia.
2 August 1940
The Chief of the German Ministry of Economics and Armament is requested to set a programme in train which will increase the army's strength to 180 divisions; this in preparation for the invasion of Russia. Hitler orders the 'destruction of the RAF and the British aircraft industry' and states that the necessary air offensive must start on 5 August. The significance of this is that it accords the Luftwaffe an independence of role and action that has not been permitted hitherto. Its 'offensive force', rapidly assembled in France, the Low Countries and Norway, will consist of almost 1,700 aircraft including bombers, fighters, Stuka dive-bomhers and fighter-destroyers. Field Marshal Kesselring's Luftflotte 2 will play the major role because its bases are the closest to England; in support will be Field Marshal Sperrle's Luftflotte 3; General Stumpffs Luftflotte 5 wil operate from Norwegian bases against sites in the English Midlands. At this point the Germans remain unaware that the fighters which will be ranged against them are controlled by ground radar, a crucial asset in the weeks to come.
3 August 1940,
England lost Somalia to Italy.
8 August 1940,
"Adlerangriff": Göring orders the Luftwaffe to destroy the RAF defence-system (fighters and radar) within 4 days. The first large wave of German bombers assault England. The American Aircraft war production range: 900 planes per month.
12 August 1940,
Raids by Messerschmitt Bf 110s and Stukas on radar stations along the coasts of Kent, Sussex and the Isle of Wight fial to break the system. RAF HQ reports 5 German aircraft shot down and others damaged; the Germans report their air raid on Portland Harbour with vessels damaged and ground installations destroyed.
The Junkers JU 87 'Stuka' dive bomber.
13 August 1940,
"Adlertag": Intensification of the Battle of Britain; Airfight between Germany and Britain, nearly 1500 Luftwaffe flights above England. The fighters of Fighter Command, Hurricanes and especially Spitfires be equal to Messerschmitts Bf-109, Junkers Ju-87 (Stuka) and bombers Junkers Ju-88, Dornier Do-17Z and Heinkel He-111.
The Battle of Britain
The Luftwaffe began its main offensive on 13 August 1940. Fiercely challenged by RAF Fighter Command, it attacked airfields, radar stations, ports and aircraft factories. Between 24 August and 6 September, the Germans struck at key airfields, but the raids were not decisive. The secret of Fighter Command's success lay in the system of air defence which had been developed before the war. German aircraft were picked up by radar stations and tracked by the Observer Corps. Information from a series of filter rooms was passed to the British fighters to enable them to intercept the raiders. On 7 September the assault switched to London, relieving the pressure on Fighter Command at a critical time. The Luftwaffe's efforts intensified but so did its losses. On 17 September Hitler postponed Operation Sealion indefinitely.
3,080 aircrew served in RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain. Of these 520 were killed. Most were British but the front line squadrons included many men from Canada, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa as well as from Poland and Czechoslovakia. There were representatives too from France, Belgium, Ireland, America, southern Rhodesia, Jamaica and Palestine. No 11 Group, covering the south-eastern approaches to London, bore the brunt of the fighting, although Nos. 10 and 12 Groups were also heavily involved.
Relative strength at 13 August 1940
Luftwaffe Royal Airforce
Bombers 960 500
Fighters 760 700
Others 230 6
Losses
Till end oct. '40 1733 915
Till 31 march '41 2840 --
At the end Damage --
of the Air-battle more 10% --
MORE LOSSES OF THE LUFTWAFFE:
from 1 august 1940 till 31 march 1941
Dead 3363
Missing/prisoners 2641
Wounded 2117
In October: 783 German air attacks on England (333 on London). 601 British air attacks on Germany.
Till now: 15.000 killed and 21.000 wounded at British civilian population.
24 August 1940,
The German battleship Bismarck enters service. Through an accidental loss of course, a German bomber offloads over the centre of London with some loss of civilian life.
25 August 1940,
In a reprisal for the London bombing of the night before, the RAF attacks Berlin.
5 September 1940,
Marshall Ion Antonescu, Fascist leader, is appointed Prime Minister of Romania. Antonescu sent out loyalty to Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.
6 September 1940,
King Carol of Romania abdicates in favor of his son Michael, at the urging of Marshall Antonescu and Hitler.
7 September 1940,
(till 1 October) Begin of the "Blitzkrieg" of London, attacks from the air, marking the first air blitz of the city. More than 900 aircraft attack London. By this action the German effectively 'invade England from the air, but within another 10 days Hitler will have cancelled his plans for Operation 'Sealion', the full-scale invasion of England. Goering's Luftwaffe fails to bring Britain to her knees in month October.
The Blitz
From 7 September 1940 to 16 May 1941, the Luftwaffe carried out an intensive bombing campaign against British cities and industries. London was attacked on fifty-seven consecutive nights between 7 September and 2 November 1940 and experienced further heavy raids in December 1940 and March, April and May 1941. Fifteen other British cities were subjected to major bombing attacks. Some, like Coventry, suffered extensive damage. Over 41,000 British civilians were killed and 137,000 injured during the Blitz. Although the bombing caused widespread destruction, civilian morale remained high and war production was not seriously affected.
13 September 1940,
First Italian offensive in North-Africa; Italy invade Egypt, the objective is to lock the Suez Canal. Stop at Sidi Barrani; because they didn't become enough material to continue.
The 10th Italian Army (Marchall Graziani): 6 inf. div. and 8 tankbatalions, total 250.000 soldiers in Lybia. The Britain troops (general Wavell): 3 batalions, 1 tankbatalion, 3 battery, 2 squadron armoured scout cars, total 36.000 soldiers in West-Egypt.
Wavell, Field Marshal Sir Archibald (1883-1950)
Fought in the Boer War and in Palestine during the First World War. He was appointed commander-in-chief, Middle East in July 1939. He successfully defended Egypt in 1940, turning the Italians out of Cyrenaica in the first of the North African campaigns and assisting in the conquest of Ethiopia and Italian East Africa. In 1941 he fought in Greece, Crete, Iraq and Syria as well as in North Africa and his resources were severely over-stretched. In July 1941 he replace Auchinleck as C-in-C in India but was unable to stem the Japanese advance in 1942. He was Viceroy in India from June 1943 to February 1947.
16 September 1940,
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Selective Service bill, which begins America's first peace-time draft.
17 September 1940,
Italian troops (Marshal Graziani) invade Egypt from Libya; Bardia till Sidi-Barrani because of supply problems.
19 September 1940,
French landed troops at Naval port Dakar (West Africa), counter a possible landing of the "Free France" of Charles de Gaulle.
21 September 1940,
Planned Operation "Seelöwe" today postponed.
23 September 1940,
(till 26 September). Operation "Menace": Attack of English naval forces at Dakar, preperation to a landing of Gaullistic troops. Charles De Gaulle's troops failure to invade Dakar.
27 September 1940,
Germany, Italy, and Japan sign the Tripartite Pact in Berlin.
7 October 1940,
German troops invade Romania to "defend" its oil fields.
12 October 1940,
Hitler postpones Operation 'Sealion' until the spring of 1941. His priorities are now elsewhere and Goring has been unable to achieve the vital air superiority. The operation will never receive the go-ahead.
16 October,
Over 16,000,000 men register for the draft in the United States.
23 October 1940,
Hitler meets General Francisco Franco at Hendaye, in southern France, and offers him Gibraltar and territory in northern Africa to join the war. Franco is uncertain about the offer and comes to no agreement.
24 October 1940,
French Chief of State Marshal Petain and Adolf Hitler meet to promote the "new order" of Europe.
28 October 1940,
Italian troops invade Greece from Albania with 155.000 men. After becoming fully mobilised the Greeks can field 420.000 men.
1 November 1940,
Italian aircraft bomb Athens and Salonika, Greece.
5 November 1940,
Franklin Delano Roosevelt elected for the third time as President.
10 November 1940,
Former British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain dies at his home in Hampshire, England.
Begin of transport from American warplanes from New Foundland to North-Ireland.
11-12 November 1940,
Visit from Molotow to Berlin. Conference of Hitler and von Ribbentrop about Sowjet Unions joining to the Pact of Three. British aircraft attack Taranto Harbor, Italy.
15 November 1940,
A German blitz on Coventry and Birmingham, England destroys most of the cities.
The Ghetto of Warsaw is closed.
Civil defence
From the beginning of the war, the civil defence organisations relied heavily on voluntary effort. By December 1943 nearly two million civilians were serving in Britain's Air Raid Precaution, fire, ambulance and police services, most as part-time volunteers. Regular local fire brigades and the Auxiliary Fire Service, merged in 1941 to form the National Fire Service, often fought enormous blazes as the bombs continued to fall. Unattended buildings were destroyed or damaged by incendiary bombs, so fire-watching duties were made compulsory from January 1941. Air Raid Wardens reported all incidents to their local sector and assessed what help was needed. After a raid, the ARP services, the Women's Voluntary Service and other organisations came to the rescue. This included dealing with unexploded bombs, rescuing people from wrecked buildings, and looking after the homeless.
Luftwaffe operations over the Bristol area
19 November 1940,
Greek troops defeat the invading Italians and mount a counter-attack against the Italians, I, II and III Corps, driving the greater part of Italian Ninth Army back into Albania.
Albania invaded
20 November 1940,
Hungary and some days later Rumania declares its support for Germany and Italy.
2 December 1940,
Greek forces capture 5,000 Italian troops.
9 December 1940,
British offensive begins; Tobruk captured and the Italians collapse and retreat, 48.000 men are taken prisoner by the British.
15 December 1940,
(till 9 Febrary 1941). Operation " Compass": British troops (Wavell), 31.000 men and 225 tanks, defeat the Italian Army in Egypt, march from Sidi Barrani to El-Agheila. In this period British troops destroys 8 Italian div., 130.000 Italian prisoners of war, 470 tanks and 1300 guns the prize. British losses: 500 dead, 1371 wounded, 55 missing.
Increase numerical strength
Planes: 0 0 0 