Saturday 23 November 1940

Romanian ruler Ion Antonescu rather casually reviews the Tripartite Agreement in Berlin, Germany. Adolf Hitler and German Foreign Minister Joachim Ribbentrop look on. November 23, 1940.

Italian/Greek Campaign: With the fall of Korçë on the 22nd, Italian leader Benito Mussolini is pressured on 23 November 1940 by Marshal Badoglio and General Mario Roatta to reverse an order he had given in early October for partial demobilization of the Italian military. In fact, this need for additional troops not only in Albania but in North Africa is not only necessary, it is becoming overwhelming. While the Egyptian front has settled down into a garrison routine, there is no guarantee that it will stay that way.

Greek I and II Corps complete the removal of the remaining troops from Greek territory today. The Greek K Group on the Korçë plateau continue moving forward in an effort to capture the entire plateau, which opens the way to central Albania via the valley of the Devoll River. However, the main axis of advance now begins to shift from this area to the left flank, where the important Italian supply port of Valona appears vulnerable. The Greeks conduct some small amphibious landings behind the Italians which add to their confusion. The Italians in that sector retreat in a disorganized fashion, losing equipment.

The Greek Liuba Detachment captures Megali Rahi in the Thesprotia sector, and the Greek 2nd Infantry Division reaches the Albanian border in the Negrades sector.

Wing Commander Guy Penrose Gibson, VC, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar, marries his bride Eve today. November 23, 1940

European Air Operations: The Luftwaffe sends 120 bombers against Southampton, causing fires all across the city. Some bombers also make it to London. The Germans lose four planes. The Italians contribute with an attack by Caproni BR 20M bombers. The RAF has no difficulty with the Italian CAI, shooting down seven of the lumbering bombers.

RAF Bomber Command raids railway installations in Berlin, Dortmund and Leipzig, the inland port at Duisburg-Ruhrort, canal installations at Cologne, the Krupp factory at Essen, oil installations at Dortmund and Wanne Eickel, and various Luftwaffe airfields in northwest Europe. Coastal Command chips in with attacks on seaplane bases.

The RAF also raids Turin in northern Italy, apparently involving planes from Malta. Nine Wellington bombers arrive in Malta today, so possibly it is a shuttle raid from England. The RAF is quite tight-lipped about the use of Malta for offensive operations, not wishing it to rise on the Axis priority list.

Ford delivers its Pygmy Jeep prototype on November 23, 1940, for tests, along with an identical chassis mounting a body from the Budd Company. The Ford Pygmy, like the previously delivered Willys prototype Jeep, is based on the original Bantam Jeep. The Pygmy uses a mix of Spicer axles and transfer cases, combined with a modified Model-A three-speed and a Ford 119ci four-cylinder engine. Willys is generally acknowledged as the creator of the Jeep, but Ford has at least as much of a hand in the final design - while Bantam, of course, got it pretty much right before both of them. If Ford had delivered its own design, the Pygmy, ten days earlier, with the Willys prototype, it might be considered the "inventor" of the Jeep. This photo is from the 1990s, as the original Pygmy survives in Alabama.

Battle of the Atlantic: It is a bad day for the Allie at sea, and not just because of the numerous sinkings. There are two convoy attacks that are notable for the number of ships sunk, and other ships damaged.

RMS Llandovery Castle (10,640 tons) is being converted to become a hospital ship - like her namesake who featured in a notorious incident during World War I - in Southampton Harbor. During the fierce Luftwaffe attacks during the day, the Llandovery Castle is badly damaged. Also damaged is 302-ton freighter Duchess of Cornwall, which is tied up at Royal Pier. The latter ships are rejected for service as minesweepers due to her bomb damage. (Some accounts place the Llandovery Castle incident on the 24th).

The Luftwaffe attack on Southampton also sinks 38-ton tug Bonaparte, near Northam Bridge.

While there no wolfpacks in operation, two separate U-boat attacks net a total of eleven Allied ships.

U-123 (Kptlt. Karl-Heinz Moehle) continues its successful second patrol out of Lorient. She is in the shipping lanes west of Ireland and sinks four ships of Convoy OB 244 in quick succession. Convoy OB-244 already has lost two ships to Viktor Schütze's U-103 on 21 November, and today's losses make the grand total of losses for that convoy six ships of 31,738 tons.

U-123, however, is itself seriously damaged during the attack by hitting something - possibly one of the ships that it had sunk, as a common (and risky) tactic to avoid detection by escorts is to sail under torpedoed ships - and needs to return to Lorient after this.

U-123 torpedoes and badly damages 5135-ton Swedish freighter Anten. There are 32 survivors and one death. The ship remains afloat until the 25th, an obstruction in the sea lanes, at which point it sinks. This may be the ship that U-123 hits, as the U-boat may be trying to hide near it.

U-123 also torpedoes and sinks 5228-ton British freighter Tymeric. There are 5 survivors and 71 deaths.

U-123 also torpedoes and sinks 5115-ton British freighter King Idwal. There are 28 survivors and 12 deaths.

U-123 also torpedoes and sinks 5407-ton British freighter Oakcrest. There are 6 survivors and 35 deaths.

Greek 2219-ton grain freighter Kolchis, sailing in Convoy SC 13, sinks for unknown reasons. All 23 crew perish, thus giving rise to the mystery of its loss. There is speculation that it was another of U-123's victims, but most believe that it simply sank due to bad weather.

Separately, U-100 (Kptlt. Joachim Schepke) is on its fourth patrol. It has been shadowing Convoy SC-11 about 310 km north of Ireland. It finally today gets into a position to attack just after midnight. In a wild night of action, Schepke sinks an incredible six ships and then, after continuing to shadow the convoy throughout the day, adds a seventh victim around 21:00.

The seven ships sunk by Schepke today:

• 4562-ton British freighter Justitia (13 dead 26 rescued)
• 4740-ton British freighter Bradfyne (39 dead 4 rescued)
• 3628-ton Dutch freighter Ootmarsum (all 25 perish)
• 2205-ton Norwegian freighter Bruse (16 dead 6 rescued, it is a ship full of lumber so does not sink; towed to port, then scrapped)
• 2694 ton Norwegian freighter Salonica (9 dead 25 rescued)
• 3136-ton British grain freighter Leise Mærsk (17 dead 7 rescued)
• 3636-ton Dutch freighter Bussum (all 29 survive).

The escorts depth-charge Schepke's boat after he gets his final victim, but U-100 gets away with minor damage.

Elsewhere, 46 ton Royal Navy patrol trawler HMT Good Design hits a mine off Inchkeith and breaks in two. Four men survive, two perish. The two halves are later salvaged and towed to Granton.

British 245 ton drifter New Comet hits a mine off the mouth of the Tyne and is close enough to shore for the crew to beach it. The ship is later refloated and returned to service.

British 41 ton drifter Sailor King hits a mine and sinks off Brightlingsea, Essex in the North Sea.

British 310 ton collier Thomas M hits a mine and sinks off Lowestoft. There are two deaths.

US 73 ton tug Mary Arnold is towing the 117-ton dredge Progress at the eastern end of Long Island Sound when both ships sink. It is unclear what happened, perhaps a weather-related event.

Convoy OB 248 departs from Liverpool, Convoy FS 343 departs from Methil, a Greek convoy departs from Candia for Piraeus, Convoy BN 9A departs from Aden.

U-70 (Kapitänleutnant Joachim Matz) is commissioned.

Swing dancers. 23 November 1940.

Battle of the Mediterranean: The Royal Navy's Mediterranean Fleet based at Alexandria sorties in Operation MB 9. Force C is led by battleships HMS Malaya and Ramillies and the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle, while Force D covers Convoy MW 4. This is another Malta convoy with related operations. Fast transport Breconshire and freighters Clan Ferguson, Clan Macaulay, and Memnon are bringing men and supplies.

At Malta, the Italians stage two major air raids on the island's RAF airfields. During the morning, five Italian bombers attack the new RAF field at Ta Qali. The second raid, in the afternoon, hits Luqa airfield and the nearby Marsa area.

RAF Air Vice-Marshal John H. D'Albiac is in command of strong forces in Greece now. His mission, for the time being, is to protect Greece from Italian air attacks.

Battle of the Pacific: Cruiser USS Augusta departs from Honolulu to scout in the northern Hawaiian chain of islands (which extends all the way to Midway) due to reports of Japanese activity in the area. Commander in Chief, Asiatic Fleet Admiral Thomas C. Hart remains at Pearl Harbor and shifts his flag to the USS Houston.

Marshal Antonescu signs the Tripartite Agreement.

Romanian/German/Italian/Japanese/Hungarian Relations: Romania adds its assent to the Tripartite Pact, which now should be called the Quintipartite Pact - which actually flows, especially if you way it with a lilting Swedish accent - but nobody calls it that. This group of nominal allies is commonly called the Axis now. Ion Antonescu, who meets Adolf Hitler for the first time during this state visit, and Premier Dr. Tuka sign on behalf of Romania. There are subtle distinctions made between the pact's signers, with it made clear that the original three signers are the main partners in the enterprise.

US/Vichy French Relations: The US State Department, perhaps displeased with the negative outcome of its attempt to obtain the French battleships based in North Africa, replaces ambassador William Bullitt with Admiral William Leahy.

Anglo/US Relations: British Ambassador Lord Lothian returns to New York from a spell in London. At a press conference, he warns the US government that Great Britain's gold and dollar reserves are not limitless and that the UK may require some kind of financial assistance as soon as the coming year. So far, US assistance to Great Britain has been on a "cash and carry" basis, but that cannot last forever because wars are expensive, and even England's bank accounts are not limitless.

It is not so much what Lord Lothian has to say, but how he says it, that makes news. Not always the most tactful fellow, Lord Lothian simply tells the assembled journalists: "Well, boys, Britain's broke; it's your money we want." This causes turmoil in the financial markets (the pound sterling drops), and the remark is trumpeted by the Reich media. However, what he says essentially is accurate, and getting it out in the open may create some short-term headaches, but it also "clears the air" and sets in motion serious planning in Washington for how to carry England financially for the remainder of the war.

Separately, President Roosevelt cables British Prime Minister Winston Churchill about the unsuccessful negotiations for the French battleships which Petain refuses to sell to the US.

British Military: Churchill confers with the First Lord of the Admiralty and the First Sea Lord. They reach a decision to maintain a strictly defensive posture in Singapore and Hong Kong.

China: The Japanese 11th Army is organized into five groups. Lieutenant General Waichiro Sonobe commands. The intention is to attack Hubei Province.

Dutch Homeland: The German authorities order all Jewish professors and civil servants to be fired.

"Life of an East End Parson." A Priest is followed by children in the East End London slums. November 23, 1940. Photo by Bert Hardy

November 1940

November 1, 1940: Hitler Irate
November 2, 1940: U-31 Sunk - Again
November 3, 1940: Kretschmer's Master Class
November 4, 1940: Spain Absorbs Tangier
November 5, 1940: Jervis Bay Meets Admiral Scheer
November 6, 1940: San Demetrio Incident
November 7, 1940: Galloping Gertie
November 8, 1940: Italian Shakeup in Greece
November 9, 1940: Dutch Fascists March
November 10, 1940: Fala and Doc Strange
November 11, 1940: Taranto Raid
November 12, 1940: Molotov Takes Berlin
November 13, 1940: Molotov Foils Hitler
November 14, 1940: Moonlight Sonata
November 15, 1940: Warsaw Ghetto Sealed
November 16, 1940: France Keeps Battleships
November 17, 1940: Malta Hurricane Disaster
November 18, 1940: Hitler Berates Ciano
November 19, 1940: Birmingham Devastated
November 20, 1940: Hungary Joins Axis
November 21, 1940: Dies White Paper
November 22, 1940: Italians Take Korçë
November 23, 1940: U-Boat Bonanza!
November 24, 1940: Slovakia Joins In
November 25, 1940: Molotov's Demands
November 26, 1940: Bananas Be Gone
November 27, 1940: Cape Spartivento Battle
November 28, 1940: Wick Perishes
November 29, 1940: Trouble in Indochina
November 30, 1940: Lucy and Desi Marry

2020

Thursday 14 November 1940

Civilians recover after the 14 November 1940 bombing of Coventry.

Italian/Greek Campaign: The Greeks open their first major offensive of the war on 14 November 1940. Known as the Battle of Morava-Ivan, the battle is launched by the Greek 9th, 10th and 15th Divisions in III Corps (Lieutenant-General Georgios Tsolakoglou). They are opposed by the Italian XXVI Corps, composed of the Parma, Piemonte and Venezia Divisions. Both sides have reinforcements handy. The objective is the capture of the Korçë plateau, which is strategically important because it provides a route into central Albania via the Devoll River Valley.

The Greeks launch the attack early in the morning and achieve surprise, not using artillery. The Greeks make good gains on the first day across the Albanian border. Some claim this represents the first Axis land defeat of the war, but that is a bit melodramatic, as the Germans were pushed back here and there during the invasions of France and Norway, too.

The British continue ferrying troops to Piraeus using four cruisers from Alexandria. Many of these are in support of the new RAF presence there, led by Air Vice-Marshal John H. D'Albiac.

German reconnaissance photos of Coventry after the attack soon appear in Axis publications.

European Air Operations: The Luftwaffe mounts one of the most controversial, long-remembered and devastating raids of World War II. Operation Moonlight Sonata (Mondscheinsonate) is the climax of a rather late decision by the Luftwaffe to target Coventry. Whereas the Germans began targeting cities such as London, Liverpool, and Bristol early in the campaign, Coventry has not become a prime target until much later. Coventry is an industrial city, with numerous factories such as a Daimler plant, nine aircraft factories, and two naval ordnance stores. Thus, it has military value and is not just a "terror target" like most of London.
The British have prior warning of the attack. A downed Luftwaffe airman reveals under interrogation several days previously that a "massive attack" on Coventry by "moonlight" is planned "between 15-20 November." The attack will include "every Luftwaffe plane." Winston Churchill (alone) apparently has advance warning of the attack from Ultra intercepts as well. Thus, the attack is not a big surprise - except for the people actually bombed, killed and wounded.

The increasing intensity of raids has caused a large fraction of Coventry residents to abandon the city at night and find lodgings in the countryside. This proves wise, as this entirely rational fear keeps the number of deaths and casualties due to Moonlight Sonata much lower than it would be otherwise. Anti-aircraft defenses have been concentrated in London and other larger targets, and only 24 3.7 inch and 12 40 mm Bofors guns - insufficient to disrupt a major attack - are available in Coventry. Fortunately, there are few casualties in shelters.

Some 400-515 Luftwaffe bombers from Field Marshal Sperrle's Luftwaffe 3, guided by 13 special Heinkel He 111 radar-equipped bombers of KG 100, begin the attack not long after sunset at 19:20. The KG 100 bombers are guided by X-Gerät radio beams that the British have not yet figured out how to disrupt. The bombs rack up successes early, with the Coventry Cathedral ablaze in less than an hour. Hit by numerous bombs, the cathedral soon is a wreck, a roofless shell which becomes the symbol of the attack. The bombing intensifies until midnight and then tapers off as daylight approaches.

There are well over 500 deaths (nobody knows precisely), over 1000 other casualties, and destroys over 4300 homes. German Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels coins the word "coventriert" ("Coventried") to describe the utter devastation (as in, "Next, Southhampton will be Coventried!"). The use of pathfinder bombers is validated, and also the use of blockbuster bombs mixed with massive numbers of incendiaries.

The controversial aspect of the raid arises from the belief that the British could have vastly reduced the number of casualties due to their foreknowledge of the attack. In fact, the author of the book that revealed the Ultra secret in 1974, "The Ultra Secret," Group Captain F. W. Winterbotham, tacitly blamed Churchill for the deaths because Churchill (supposedly) refused to authorize precautionary measures lest the war-winning Ultra secret is revealed. There are vociferous and highly credentialed people on both sides of that argument - the deniers claim that Churchill actually had limited knowledge from Ultra of the operation and did not know that Coventry was the target (other military intelligence besides Ultra, however, did pinpoint Coventry). The "avoidable tragedy" due to Churchill's supposed silence and inaction has become part of the lore of the event and, to some extent, the common view about Operation Moonlight Sonata.

The RAF, for its part, does make use of the non-Ultra intelligence about Operation Moonlight Sonata. It has been mounting Operation Cold Water. This is an attempt to disrupt the coming Luftwaffe attack by taking concrete steps. Operation Cold Water, initiated at 03:00 on 11 November due to military intelligence, includes:

• monitoring German radio
• interfering with the Luftwaffe radio navigational beams
• patrolling over Luftwaffe airfields
• attacking the KG-100 airfields
• attacking the German navigational beam transmitters near Cherbourg
• mounting a massive counter-raid against "a selected city in Germany"
• maximum night fighters and anti-aircraft defenses.

These countermeasures, while perhaps appropriate from an abstract, intellectual perspective, do nothing to diminish the actual Luftwaffe raid. The RAF puts up 121 night fighters, but they do not score any victories because most are concentrated around London.

RAF Bomber Command, as part of these countermeasures, raids Berlin and other targets with 82 bombers. It suffers unusually heavy casualties, losing 13 bombers.

During the day, the RAF had more success, dispersing an attack by 30 Junkers Ju 87 Stukas over Dover. The RAF loses a Hurricane and a Spitfire.

Greek gunners during the Battle of Morava-Ivan.

Battle of the Atlantic: There is poor weather around the British Isles at sea, causing heavy swells.

The Luftwaffe bombs and sinks British 1216-ton freighter St. Catherine off Aberdeen. There are 15 deaths (14 crew, one passenger). Some accounts place this on the 13th, so we put it on that date's page, too - but it only sank once. ;)

The Luftwaffe damages 4960-ton British freighter Fishpool, then is towed to harbor by corvette HMS Gardenia.

British 92 ton drifter The Boys founders in the Downs due to heavy seas.

Royal Navy minelayers HMS Teviotbank and Plover lay minefield BS 46 in the North Sea. The Luftwaffe notices these minelaying operations and attacks the Teviotbank, but it is undamaged.

The Royal Navy attempts to refloat sunken destroyer HMS Fame, but the weather is bad and the destroyer is too damaged, so the operation is unsuccessful.

Convoy FN 334 departs from Southend, Convoy FS 335 departs from Methil, Convoys HX 87 (16 merchantmen) and HX 88 depart from Halifax.

Battle of the Mediterranean: The Royal Navy ships that participated in Operations Judgement and Coats make port in Alexandria. Aircraft carrier HMS Argus arrives in Gibraltar for Operation White.

An air attack on Alexandria damages 8299-ton Egyptian freighter Zamzam.

In Malta, improved radio direction finder (RDF) equipment brought on the recent convoy from Alexandria significantly improves the RAF's ability to spot Italian air attacks.

Battle of the Indian Ocean: German raider Atlantis has been refueling from 6750-ton Norwegian tanker Teddy since capturing it on 8 November. Today, the German crew has no further use for the tanker and scuttles it.

Street damage in Coventry.

German/Soviet Relations: Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov departs from Berlin by train around noontime. He has made clear to the Germans that the USSR continues to focus on Europe and not elsewhere, as the Germans would prefer. The Germans view the meeting as a complete and utter failure. Molotov goes back to Moscow with the intention of following through with some written proposals, but at this point the whole exercise is pointless.

German/Italian Relations: German Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel, chief of OKW, meets at Innsbruck with his opposite number in the Italian military, Marshal Pietro Badoglio. Badoglio, who has been chief of staff since 1925, knows the Italian military inside and out, and he makes clear to Keitel that the Italians in Egypt would advance no further. In addition, he has no plans to occupy southern Greece. These talks continue on the 15th.

German Government: Admiral Raeder confers with Hitler. He recommends postponing an invasion of the Soviet Union until the Kriegsmarine blockade of Great Britain diminishes its strength. Hitler, however, is of the opposite view: that destroying the Soviet Union will diminish Great Britain's strength. Hitler sees the USSR as easy prey.

Canada: The first graduates from the Imperial training scheme in Canada begin to embark on passage to Great Britain.

Singapore: Air Marshal Brooke-Popham arrives in Singapore. He is the new British Commander in Chief for the Far East.

German Homefront: The government makes it legal to consume dog meat.

British Homefront: Neville Chamberlain's funeral is held at Westminster Abbey, with Churchill giving the eulogy.

American Homefront: In New York City, The Queens-Midtown Tunnel opens to traffic. It remains in operation today, connecting Long Island to Manhattan.

Searchlights at the star-studded Los Angeles premiere of Charlie Chaplin's "The Great Dictator" at Carthay Circle on 14 November 1940. The film earlier had its world premiere in New York on 15 October. There are searchlights beaming bright around the world... for vastly different reasons relating to the film's theme.

November 1940

November 1, 1940: Hitler Irate
November 2, 1940: U-31 Sunk - Again
November 3, 1940: Kretschmer's Master Class
November 4, 1940: Spain Absorbs Tangier
November 5, 1940: Jervis Bay Meets Admiral Scheer
November 6, 1940: San Demetrio Incident
November 7, 1940: Galloping Gertie
November 8, 1940: Italian Shakeup in Greece
November 9, 1940: Dutch Fascists March
November 10, 1940: Fala and Doc Strange
November 11, 1940: Taranto Raid
November 12, 1940: Molotov Takes Berlin
November 13, 1940: Molotov Foils Hitler
November 14, 1940: Moonlight Sonata
November 15, 1940: Warsaw Ghetto Sealed
November 16, 1940: France Keeps Battleships
November 17, 1940: Malta Hurricane Disaster
November 18, 1940: Hitler Berates Ciano
November 19, 1940: Birmingham Devastated
November 20, 1940: Hungary Joins Axis
November 21, 1940: Dies White Paper
November 22, 1940: Italians Take Korçë
November 23, 1940: U-Boat Bonanza!
November 24, 1940: Slovakia Joins In
November 25, 1940: Molotov's Demands
November 26, 1940: Bananas Be Gone
November 27, 1940: Cape Spartivento Battle
November 28, 1940: Wick Perishes
November 29, 1940: Trouble in Indochina
November 30, 1940: Lucy and Desi Marry

2020