Egypt

Country

Egypt, officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world. Covering an area of about 1,010,000 square kilometers (390,000 sq mi), Egypt is ...

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Documents about Egypt

Monday 8th January 1940

Analysis of German Propaganda, December 1-15, 1939.

extract Foreign Secretary Lord Halifax presents an analysis of the main themes in Nazi propaganda at the beginning of December

person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax

place South Africa

place Great Britain

place Finland

place Slovakia

place Russian Empire

place Egypt

place Iraq

place Europe

place Syria

organisation Labour Party (UK)

Meeting minutes

extract U-boat sighted Swansea. Japanese Ambassador warns of “incalculable possibilities” over Asama Maru seizure.

person Anthony Eden

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person Harold Wilson

place Finland

place Egypt

organisation New Zealand Treasury

Wednesday 21st February 1940

Meeting minutes

extract UK Ambassador Rome regards Italian entry into the war on the side of Germany as “not probable”

person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn

place Finland

place Egypt

place West Germany

Meeting minutes

extract Australian, NZ forces arrive Middle East. Finnish Minister states "no danger of collapse for a number of weeks at least"

person Anthony Eden

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person Kingsley Wood

place Newcastle upon Tyne

place Finland

place Egypt

place Malta

place Africa

organisation KEF

Thursday 7th March 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Lord Chatfield meets junior ministers. Italy “more menacing”. “On balance little advantage in going to war with Russia”

place Finland

place Egypt

place Iraq

place Turkey

place Syria

place Iran

organisation Luftwaffe

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet informed of German raid on British lines in the Saarland. Two soldiers killed, 16 captured

person Anthony Eden

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley

person Stafford Cripps

person Samuel Hoare

person Kingsley Wood

person Ernest Brown

person Harold Wilson

person Andrew Duncan

place Finland

place Egypt

place Rome

organisation New Zealand Treasury

organisation RAF Coastal Command

Military implications of hostilities with Russia in 1940.

extract Chiefs of Staff report on "military implications of hostilities with Russia in 1940"

place Great Britain

place Afghanistan

place Murmansk

place Finland

place Russian Empire

place Egypt

place Iraq

place Narvik

place Turkey

place Basra

place Syria

place West Germany

place Iran

organisation Air Force F.C.

organisation Foreign Office (Germany)

organisation Minister of Economic Warfare

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet discusses war with Russia. Air Chief: “Embarrassing diversions" not "vital blows”. No hastening of German defeat

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

place Heligoland

place Afghanistan

place Finland

place Russian Empire

place Egypt

place Turkey

place Burma

place West Germany

place Iran

organisation Hopatcong High School

Withdrawal of two R.A.F. Bomber Squadrons from Singapore to India.

extract Chiefs of Staff urge moving two bomber squadrons from Singapore to India as war with Russia now more likely than Japan

place Egypt

place Iraq

place Singapore

The Effects of Severe Rationing.

extract "Severe" rationing experiments show German rations are "fully adequate". Demonstrate that UK could cut rations further

place Egypt

Saturday 18th May 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax announces signs “some arrangement” with USSR possible. Stafford Cripps to be sent to Moscow to explore agreement

extract Telegram from Ankara warns of secret Italian full mobilisation within 48 hours. Rumour Germans have crossed Brenner Pass

extract Japan has requested “economic advantages” from Dutch East Indies. Halifax to inform US of these “sinister” demands

extract Information Minister reports UK air attacks on Germany “being hushed up”. Suggests they are “not ready to retaliate”

extract PM: “On the whole” military situation in France “better”. RAF have “covered themselves with glory”

person Anthony Eden

person Alexander Cadogan

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person Stafford Cripps

person Samuel Hoare

person Sydney Brenner

place Great Britain

place Ankara

place Egypt

place Brussels

place Madrid

place Iceland

place Moscow

place Cairo

place Madrid, New York

organisation KEF

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet orders Chiefs of Staff to prepare plans for total UK evacuation of Norway. Naval chiefs warn could take 2 months

extract UK Ambassador Rome reports Mussolini “only awaiting” German seizure of Channel ports to declare war

extract French troops at Calais “completely demoralised”. Supply position “very anxious”. UK force “heavily hammered” at Courtrai

extract War Secretary reports Boulogne under heavy attack. UK forces in danger of being surrounded and cut off. Should hold today

extract If attack fails UK to form new strategy with object of “saving and bringing back” as many troops and weapons as possible

extract “Whole success” of joint Weygand attack depends on French taking offensive. At present they show “no signs of doing so”

extract PM: Situation around the Channel ports “critical”. Unexpectedly large German forces. UK and Belgian troops in a “trap”

person Alexander Cadogan

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person Samuel Hoare

place Greece

place Egypt

place Rome

organisation Hopatcong High School

British strategy in a certain eventuality.

extract Without “full economic and financial support” from USA. Chiefs of Staff cannot see “any chance of success” in war effort

extract Chiefs of Staff circulate UK strategy for next phase of conflict. Paper assumes defeat of France, failure to evacuate BEF

place Portugal

place Russian Empire

place Egypt

place Iraq

place Eyre Peninsula

place Singapore

place Turkey

place Malta

place Europe

place Gibraltar

place Alexandria

place Africa

place Libya

organisation Air Force F.C.

organisation Minister of Economic Warfare

organisation Scapa

organisation United States Army

Saturday 8th June 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Report Egypt wishes to remain neutral in UK-Italy conflict. Egyptian PM told with "brutal straightness" this impossible

extract General Dill: Situation in France "generally more favourable". But concern at possible German breakthrough near Rouen

person Anthony Eden

person Alexander Cadogan

person John Anderson (Australian politician)

place Egypt

place Gisborne, New Zealand

place Halifax Peninsula

place Iceland

Meeting minutes

extract Home Security Minister now taking into custody Italians resident in the UK. Cabinet keen to deport "as many as possible"

extract General Dill: French "fighting well", German advance "much slower" than expected. News scant due to move of French HQ

extract UK Ambassador Paris reports French morale "now everywhere good", sees "a general determination to fight to a finish"

extract PM to go to France for Supreme War Council meeting. Aims to find out French intentions, discourage move to separate peace

person Anthony Eden

person Alexander Cadogan

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person John Anderson (Australian politician)

person John Dill

place Portugal

place Egypt

place Halifax Peninsula

place Turkey

place Greenwood, Nova Scotia

Meeting minutes

extract PM Churchill: A "chapter in the war" now closing. "We must now concentrate everything on the defence of this island"

extract Eden: French politicians in favour of peace with Germany "might find themselves strong enough" to overthrow PM Reynaud

extract General Weygand to declare Paris an open city. "Full of defenceless people", will "not see it destroyed" by bombardment

extract PM: "Defeatist" Marshal Petain has "made up his mind that peace must be made". He is "a dangerous man at this juncture"

extract General Weygand: French army "almost completely exhausted". General de Gaulle supports "carrying on a guerrilla warfare"

extract PM: Talks with French "studiously polite and dignified" but clear that France "near the end of organised resistance"

extract War Cabinet meeting again on PM's return from talks with French. General Dill reports UK 52nd division now in France

extract UK Ambassador Cairo recommends installing new "loyal" PM in Egypt. If King objects, to be told "comply or get out"

extract Damage from overnight Italian bombing raids on Malta "neglible". RAF attacked targets in Italian Libya, Eritrea

extract French Command blocked some UK planes from bombing runs on Italy overnight. Halifax: "Prompted by fear of reprisals"

extract German advanced elements must be expected in Paris within 24-48 hours. State of the city's defences not known

extract Signs of heavy attack east of Rheims. Situation west of Rouen very obscure. Position of remains of 51st division critical

person Anthony Eden

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person Charles de Gaulle

person Stephen King

person John Anderson (Australian politician)

place Greece

place Egypt

place Halifax Peninsula

place Turkey

place Malta

place Eritrea

place Libya

Meeting minutes

extract Press uncertainty over possible announcement of neutrality by Spain. UK Ambassador: "We should take nothing for granted"

extract Turkey considering whether to declare war on Italy. Egyptian government has severed diplomatic relations

extract UK 52nd division having a "very good" morale effect on French. Eden: Their arrival "might make all the difference"

extract General Dill: Germans claim to be "within 12 miles of Paris already", capital being encircled. Rheims cut off to the east

extract PM Churchill and Lord Halifax in France for further meeting with French government. PM to return tonight to brief Cabinet

person Anthony Eden

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person John Dill

place Great Britain

place Lancaster, Lancashire

place Greece

place Egypt

place Turkey

place Paris

place Greenwood, Nova Scotia

organisation Home Office

organisation Royal Air Force

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet agree not to bomb Vatican but tell Papal Nuncio safety of rest of Rome depends on Italy observing "rules of war"

extract Roosevelt will not publish his message of support to France. PM: US holding back will have "disastrous effect" on French

person Alexander Cadogan

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

place Egypt

place Halifax Peninsula

place Vatican City

place Turkey

place Sicily

place Greenwood, Nova Scotia

place Rome

organisation KEF

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet told French have ceased fire. Petain has broadcast that “with a broken heart” he requested Armistice last night

extract General Dill: UK must "take a leaf out of the Germans book", organise special squadrons of Storm Troopers. Cabinet agrees

extract Anthony Eden warns local defence volunteers "largely a broomstick army". Shortage of good officers in home defence forces

extract Halifax: “No information” on Soviet plan in Baltic. Clear extension of influence in Lithuania, similar designs on Estonia

extract Belgian Foreign Minister requests facilities for evacuation of 30-35,000 Belgian troops to UK. PM: We will “do our best”

extract Cabinet directs telegram permitting French to negotiate Armistice only in exchange for their fleet be resent to M. Petain

extract RAF ordered to evacuate from south of France. BEF now evacuating via Nantes and Cherbourg. 50,000 troops currently remain

person Anthony Eden

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person Andrew Greenwood

person Ronnie Campbell

person Farouk of Egypt

place Great Britain

place Russian Empire

place Egypt

place Halifax Peninsula

place West Germany

organisation Royal Air Force

organisation German Army

organisation British Army

organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom

organisation Hopatcong High School

organisation House of Lords

organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom

Meeting minutes

extract PM: Must avoid "putting undue pressure" on loyal province of Ulster. In favour of allowing Germany first move in Eire

extract Chamberlain urges offering Eire government declaration favouring a United Ireland in exchange for ports, hosting UK force

extract Halifax: Japan threat yesterday "should not be taken too seriously". Japan may be trouble "later on but not immediately"

extract Withdrawal of French government "complicated" by refusal of President Lebrun to leave. German forces rapidly approaching

extract M. Petain: Unlikely France will agree to give Destroyers to UK. But will "never allow them to fall into German hands"

extract Air Chief: UK bomb raids "hitting Germany considerably harder" than their raids hitting us. Good night for Bomber Command

extract Air Chief reports raids on industrial targets across UK overnight including ammunition stores. Casualties "very slight"

extract General Dill: Germans continuing to advance towards Lyons and western French ports. 111,478 troops so far evacuated to UK

person Walter Hines Page

person James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon

person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn

place Great Britain

place Egypt

place Malta

place Gibraltar

place Africa

place Dublin

place Northern Ireland

organisation Home Office

organisation Air Force F.C.

organisation British Army

organisation Royal Navy

Meeting minutes

extract Home Office report enemy aliens being locked up as fast as facilities can be provided. Reliable aliens being "combed out"

extract PM concerned at rise in number of children for evacuation overseas. Information Minister to stress transport limits

extract French government's move to Perpignan for evacuation to N. Africa cancelled. Position on Fleet may have changed for worse

extract Military evacuation of Channel Islands complete. Evacuation of residents wishing to leave will be finished later today

extract British evacuation from France now complete (144,180 returned to UK). Some Polish troops still awaiting embarkation

person Walter Hines Page

place Great Britain

place Somaliland

place Egypt

place Iceland

place Liverpool

place Malta

place Nigeria

place Africa

place Greenwood, Nova Scotia

place Libya

organisation Home Office

organisation Air Force F.C.

organisation RAF Coastal Command

organisation Government of Canada

organisation French Foreign Legion

Meeting minutes

extract Report from Bordeaux that German armistice conditions have been received. Not possible to telegraph lengthy full text

extract King Farouk refusing to replace Egyptian PM. Situation dangerous. Farouk to be warned Cabinet would "welcome" his removal

extract Halifax: Concentration of Soviet forces in Baltic States "defensive". Sir Stafford Cripps to meet Marshall Stalin shortly

extract PM urges demand to France for information on Germany talks. Inconsistent with French honour to pass equipment to enemy

extract Halifax presents series of contradictory telegrams from France. Fears expressed that government may not now move overseas

person Walter Hines Page

person Ronnie Campbell

person Stafford Cripps

person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn

person Farouk of Egypt

place Great Britain

place Portugal

place East Germany

place Egypt

place Hong Kong

place Cairo

place Calais

place Lisbon, New York

organisation Home Office

Meeting minutes

extract PM Churchill: Relations with France "might well approach very closely to those of two nations at war with each other"

extract Telegram received from former PM Reynaud. Churchill: Clear French government "completely under the thumb of Germany"

extract Aerial reconnaissance over Dortmund-Ems aqueduct shows RAF bombing has failed to damage structure despite being on target

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person Charles de Gaulle

person Walter Hines Page

person Samuel Hoare

person Francisco Franco

place Egypt

place Iceland

place Berlin, New York

place Malta

place Gibraltar

place Libya

organisation Home Office

organisation RAF Coastal Command

organisation Royal Air Force

organisation RAF Fighter Command

organisation French Foreign Legion

Meeting minutes

extract Royal Navy to transport an estimated 20,000 men back to France from tonight

extract PM: Desirable to remove from UK as soon as possible all French troops not volunteering "to remain and carry on the fight"

person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell

person Walter Hines Page

person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort

person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn

place South Africa

place New York, Lincolnshire

place Somaliland

place Egypt

place Iceland

place Malta

place Algeria

place Morocco

place Africa

organisation Hopatcong High School

organisation Royal Navy

organisation Royal Marines

Meeting minutes

extract Lord Halifax reports Romania likely to accede to Russian demand to occupy territories of Bessarabia and Bukovina

person Walter Hines Page

person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax

person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn

place Great Britain

place Russian Empire

place Egypt

place Hong Kong

place Shanghai

place Syria

Monday 8th July 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Minister of Food requests Cabinet approve tea rationing with immediate effect. Margarine to be rationed within two weeks

extract Members of French overseas missions in UK to be temporarily "segregated" at Worcester College, Oxford

extract Chief of Air Staff reports 27 casualties overnight in bomb attacks on south coast ports and shipping in Straits of Dover

person Anthony Eden

person Alexander Cadogan

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person Andrew Greenwood

person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell

person Charles de Gaulle

person Stafford Cripps

person Richard Kiel

person Robert Vansittart, 1st Baron Vansittart

place Kassala

place Egypt

place Isle of Portland

place Sudan

place Malta

place Gibraltar

place Libya

organisation Home Office

organisation RAF Coastal Command

organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Implications of French Hostility.

extract Chiefs of Staff examine implications of French hostility. Warn of "considerable added Naval commitment"

person Jean Bart

place South Africa

place Freetown

place Somaliland

place Egypt

place Madagascar

place Caribbean

place Malta

place Gibraltar

place Dakar

place Alexandria

place Syria

place Libya

organisation French Navy

organisation French Air Force

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet moves control of camps from War to Home Office. Internees "actively hostile" to fascist regimes to be released

extract Chamberlain tells Cabinet he is "disturbed greatly" by a "large number of complaints" over internment conditions

extract Food Ministry to add vitamins to white bread for public health. Public will not "eat brown bread if they could get white"

extract 11,000 French sailors at Aintree "becoming very restive". War Cabinet approves immediate repatriation in French ships

extract Air Chief reports little activity due to weather conditions. German losses in last two days amount to two "possibles"

person Anthony Eden

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person Andrew Greenwood

person Neville Chamberlain

place Somaliland

place Egypt

place Halifax Peninsula

organisation Home Office

organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom

organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom

Propaganda for the future.

extract Information Minister Duff Cooper developing propaganda strategy to respond to German "peace offensive"

place Great Britain

place Egypt

place Iraq

place Europe

place Gibraltar

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet rejects plan to transfer British fascists to St. Helena. To be kept in UK "under suitable conditions"

extract Cabinet divided over a response to the recent speech by Herr Hitler. PM Churchill to consult more widely

extract Halifax warns of impact of possible US oil embargo on UK stocks, Japan may be "stung" into seizing Dutch East Indies

extract First Sea Lord: Enemy air attacks on Malta continuing, three raids yesterday. "Only slight damage"

extract Air Chief: Enemy air activity concentrated against Channel shipping and Straits of Dover. "A few isolated raids" inland

person Anthony Eden

person Alexander Cadogan

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person Hugh Dalton

person John Maffey, 1st Baron Rugby

person Adolf Hitler

person Clement Attlee

person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn

person Farouk of Egypt

place Hamburg

place Portugal

place Trondheim

place Egypt

place Halifax Peninsula

place Madrid

place Sicily

place Malta

place Greenwood, Nova Scotia

organisation Home Office

organisation New Zealand Treasury

organisation RAF Coastal Command

Meeting minutes

extract Commons to debate Hitler's Reichstag speech tomorrow. Press told speech requires no "official reply from this country"

extract Cabinet agrees uninterned aliens in the UK will be liable to military service on the same conditions as British subjects

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person Andrew Greenwood

person Samuel Hoare

person Adolf Hitler

person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn

person Farouk of Egypt

place Egypt

place Morocco

place Africa

organisation British Army

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax: “We delude ourselves” if we think Russia will “by proper treatment be made a warm friend of this country”

extract Halifax: Resuming relations with France unlikely in view of UK bombing, blockade, leaflet drops. Not of great importance

extract Lord Halifax speaking to junior ministers. Tells meeting “We might now be at the turning point of the war”

person Charles de Gaulle

person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax

person Adolf Hitler

person Farouk of Egypt

place Great Britain

place Lancaster, Lancashire

place Russian Empire

place Egypt

place Singapore

place Europe

place Burma

place West Germany

organisation Foreign Office (Germany)

organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Thursday 1st August 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Eden: 44 UK and Empire divisions to rise to 55. PM "not content" with fewer than 7 more tank divisions by summer 1941

place South Africa

place Egypt

place Iceland

Meeting minutes

extract UK to support French Cameroon anti Vichy coup. De Gaulle to form "Council of Defence" from ranking colonial supporters

extract No official reaction from Japan over UK arrests. Halifax now suggests release of a prisoner to "keep the position fluid"

person Anthony Eden

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person Andrew Greenwood

person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley

person Charles de Gaulle

person Clement Attlee

place Egypt

place Basra

place British Cameroons

place Sudan

place Nigeria

place Africa

organisation Home Office

organisation United States Navy

organisation Canadian Forces Maritime Command

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet approves Operation Scipio. De Gaulle to mobilise a force for N. Africa shortly. Force to set sail by August 23rd

extract 15m incendiaries for aborted Operation Razzle on German crops remain unused. RAF to drop on German heathland near bases

person Charles de Gaulle

place Egypt

place Nigeria

place Algeria

place Morocco

place Africa

organisation Hopatcong High School

Meeting minutes

extract King George VI: My peoples "would rather all perish in the common ruin than fall or falter in their duty"

extract Halifax circulates draft rejection by King George of offer of mediation between UK and Germany by King Gustav of Sweden

extract PM Churchill: "We could never stand by and see a British Dominion overwhelmed by a yellow race"

extract PM: Invasion of Australia "could be retrieved" by USA. "In the last resort" UK would "abandon" Mediterranean and Mid-East

extract PM: We hope "to avoid war" but it could occur "at any moment". "Opening moves" likely to be against Hong Kong, Singapore

extract Churchill outlines policy in the event of Japanese aggression: UK Fleet needed in Mediterranean "to beat the Italians"

person William Lyon Mackenzie King

person Adolf Hitler

person Winston Churchill

person Neville Chamberlain

place Great Britain

place Egypt

place Fiji

place Hong Kong

place Singapore

place Europe

place Gibraltar

place Alexandria

place Africa

place Republic of China

organisation Air Force F.C.

organisation Royal Air Force

organisation Foreign Office (Germany)

organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Meeting minutes

extract PM warns Cabinet that "on the present lay-out we might find ourselves in serious difficulties in the Middle East"

extract PM: "So much stronger" at home can spare armoured brigade for Mid-East. In Somaliland should "stay on and fight it out"

extract PM: Royal Marines will now assist in De Gaulle attack on Dakar ("Operation Menace"). "Every endeavour" to avoid bloodshed

person Charles de Gaulle

place Somaliland

place Egypt

place Dakar

place Kenya

place Khartoum

organisation French Foreign Legion

organisation Royal Marines

Meeting minutes

extract PM Churchill "anxious" over defence of Egypt. Attack might be launched while our position in the Middle East "still weak"

place Egypt

place Libya

Gold and Exchange Resources. Summary of Position.

extract Chancellor "seriously perturbed" at UK's gold and foreign exchange reserves. Britain "out of gold by the end of December"

person William Patrick Stuart-Houston

person Kingsley Wood

place South Africa

place New York, Lincolnshire

place Egypt

place Iraq

place North America

place Sudan

place South America

place Newfoundland, Kentucky

place Burma

organisation Ministry of Supply

organisation New Zealand Treasury

organisation Bank of England

The Middle East: Directive to the Commander-in-Chief.

extract PM warns General Wavell invasion of Egypt from Libya "must be expected at any time", circulates orders for Middle East

person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell

person Winston Churchill

place Great Britain

place Somaliland

place Egypt

place Sudan

place Malta

place Europe

place Kenya

place Khartoum

place Alexandria

place Africa

place Libya

Meeting minutes

extract War Cabinet agrees "every endeavour must be made to limit dollar expenditure to vital needs"

extract Air Chief: Attacks yesterday mainly small, by single aircraft along the East and SE coasts. "Good proportion" intercepted

person Anthony Eden

person Alexander Cadogan

person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay

person Herbert Morrison

person Kingsley Wood

place Greece

place East Germany

place Egypt

place Bermuda

place Singapore

place Washington

place Greenwood, Nova Scotia

organisation Hopatcong High School

organisation House of Commons of Canada

Meeting minutes

extract Commanders-in-Chief Middle East report "no local signs of any impending offensive" against Egypt by Italian forces

place Egypt

place Alexandria

place Libya

Monday 2nd September 1940

Food Situation of the United Kingdom. Eleventh Report submitted by the Minister of Food for the month of July, 1940.

extract Food Ministry predicts food stocks (except tea and sugar) will be "appreciably greater" at end of 1940 than August 1939

place Egypt

The Munitions Situation.

extract PM: By devising new weapons and above all by scientific leadership we shall best cope with enemy's superior strength

extract PM circulates his views on UK's munitions position: "The Navy can lose us the war but only the Air Force can win it"

person Winston Churchill

place Egypt

place Iraq

place Turkey

place Sudan

place Europe

place Syria

place Iran

organisation Air Force F.C.

organisation United States Navy

Telegrams Exchanged with His Majesty's Minister in Stockholm.

extract Halifax: UK Embassy Stockholm has received apparent German peace offer ("World to be divided"). Draft rejection attached

person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan

person Adolf Hitler

place Great Britain

place Finland

place East Germany

place Egypt

place Europe

place Republic of China

organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet rejects advance by "secret emissary of Hitler" in Sweden. US to be told of UK's refusal of this "offer of peace"

extract PM warns "powerful armada" being deployed along French coast. Coast from N. Foreland to Dungeness to be further fortified

person Samuel Hoare

person Adolf Hitler

place Egypt

place Gibraltar

place Dakar

place Northern Ireland

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet told dive-bombing attack carried out on Buckingham Palace. PM: "Too dangerous for Parliament to sit after dark"

extract Cabinet agree Tube should not be used as shelter. Police opposed and "more important" to keep it available for transport

extract Home Secretary: This tendency due in part to a number of street shelters having suffered direct hits

extract Health Minister: Silvertown evacuated due to failure of water supply. A reluctance to use public shelters in some areas

extract Health Minister: AA fire has transformed London morale. People who "clamoured to be taken away" now reluctant to leave

extract Air Chief: Enemy activity on "reduced scale" in past 24 hours, not more than 100 aircraft. No UK air casualties

person Anthony Eden

person Alexander Cadogan

person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person Andrew Greenwood

person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell

person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley

person John Anderson (Australian politician)

person Malcolm MacDonald

person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso

person Clive Anderson

person Andrew Duncan

place Egypt

place South America

organisation Home Office

organisation House of Lords

organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom

Supplies for Malta.

extract Colonial Secretary: Supplies for civil population of Malta "exhausted" by end October. Governor requests urgent resupply

place Egypt

place Malta

organisation 335th Fighter Squadron

Meeting minutes

extract Home Secretary: "Some signs of organised demonstrations". Agree with PM, "necessary to take strong action"

extract PM: Report people seeking raid shelter entered Savoy Hotel. "Episodes of this kind could easily lead to serious trouble"

extract General Dill: In Egypt Sollum "now in the hands of the Italians". Signs of Italian advance in two columns towards Buq-buq

extract Air Chief: Fighting yesterday "most successful". Enemy "adopted bolder tactics...only to increase his losses"

person Anthony Eden

person Alexander Cadogan

person Andrew Greenwood

person Malcolm MacDonald

person Clement Attlee

person Leo Amery

place Egypt

place Berlin

place Burma

organisation Home Office

organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom

organisation Indian National Congress

Meeting minutes

extract Foreign Office: Swiss do not believe story UK overflights due to navigational errors. Flights to be suspended temporarily

extract General Dill: Two Italian columns have occupied Sidi Barrani. It now seem three divisions have crossed Egyptian frontier

extract Air Secretary: Bad weather cancelled all UK bomber missions last night. Two German machines downed, 1 by barrage balloon

person Anthony Eden

person Alexander Cadogan

person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person Andrew Greenwood

person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley

person Malcolm MacDonald

person Kingsley Wood

person Clement Attlee

place Freetown

place Egypt

organisation Home Office

organisation Air Force F.C.

organisation RAF Coastal Command

organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom

organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom

organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Meeting minutes

extract PM: US making "very large demands" over use of UK bases but "no further action" over supplying weapon. Diplomats to press

extract Foreign Office: Swiss took reply on airspace violations "fairly well". RAF now free to resume attacks on Northern Italy

extract Cabinet agrees UK will retaliate against German parachute mines "by dropping mines over Berlin"

extract Home Secretary: Considerable damage to London in last 24 hours. Continued dropping of parachute mines damaging wide area

extract First Sea Lord: Only 15 children reported safe from City of Benares. Cabinet consider ending overseas evacuation scheme

extract Air Chief: UK bombing to concentrate on "invasion ports". Attacks on Berlin to resume "as soon as the weather favourable"

extract Air Chief: Air casualties during past 24 hours twelve aircraft, but 9 pilots safe. Enemy 46 (+ 16 probable, 19 damaged)

person Anthony Eden

person Alexander Cadogan

person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person Andrew Greenwood

person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley

person Kingsley Wood

person Clement Attlee

person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn

place Kassala

place Egypt

place Sudan

place Malta

place Nigeria

organisation Home Office

organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom

Meeting minutes

extract PM: US has now agreed to release 250,000 further rifles to us. Negotiations proceeding over aircraft and flying boats

extract First Sea Lord: Severe loss by enemy attack on convoys approaching UK in last 3 days. 7 ships in one convoy, 4 in another

extract Air Chief: Number of enemy fighters crossed SE coast this morning. Casualties so far 9 aircraft. Enemy 10 (+5 probable)

person Anthony Eden

person Alexander Cadogan

person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley

person Charles de Gaulle

person William Lyon Mackenzie King

person Kingsley Wood

person Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope

person Clement Attlee

person Andrew Duncan

place Egypt

place Greenwood, Nova Scotia

place Libya

organisation Home Office

organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Meeting minutes

extract Home Secretary: London attack last night "more severe than usual", mainly directed against West End, considerable damage

extract Air Chief: Air casualties yesterday 5 (3 pilots saved). Enemy 7 certain (+8 probable, 13 damaged)

person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person Andrew Greenwood

person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley

person John Anderson (Australian politician)

person Clement Attlee

person William Anderson (RAAF officer)

place Egypt

place Sudan

place Gibraltar

place Kenya

organisation Home Office

Meeting minutes

extract Home Secretary: Overnight attack on London mainly on north suburbs and just south of river. 13 parachute mines dropped

extract Cabinet debate Operation Menace. PM: "We should be careful of embarking upon new adventures with inadequate preparations"

extract War Secretary: Colonel Sandford Mission 101 has "penetrated some way into Abyssinia". Operations proceedingly sucessfully

extract Air Chief: Air casualties yesterday 4 aircraft (2 pilots safe). Enemy 26 certain, 8 probable. Weather "not good"

extract Air Chief: Enemy attack yesterday on Portland, Plymouth "unsuccessful". "Considerable damage" to aircraft works at Filton

person Anthony Eden

person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person Andrew Greenwood

person Richard Kiel

person Joachim von Ribbentrop

person William Anderson (RAAF officer)

place Kassala

place Egypt

place Rome

place Libya

organisation Home Office

organisation RAF Coastal Command

Meeting minutes

extract Home Secretary: London and Liverpool enemy's chief objectives in past 24 hours. Air Secretary to boost Liverpool defences

extract PM: German wireless has announced "Three-Power Pact" with Japan and Italy. Pact seems to be directed against USA

extract Cabinet agrees to maintain blockade of French colonies. Halifax: Difficult to alter our "join de Gaulle or starve" policy

extract PM: RAF construction/repair "nearly 2.5 times" number of machines destroyed. Fine achievement by Air Production Minister

extract Admiralty: First 5 Destroyers obtained from USA have arrived Belfast. SS Stratford, Ashantian and Port Denison torpedoed

extract Air Chief: Vickers Works severely damaged. Crewe attacked damage "slight". RAF lost 10 machines (7 pilots safe), Enemy 32

extract Air Chief: Great deal of enemy activity off Dutch coast and Dover yesterday, heavy attack on Isle of Wight & Southampton

person Anthony Eden

person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley

person Richard Kiel

person Kingsley Wood

person Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.

place Kassala

place Guernsey

place Portugal

place Egypt

place Madagascar

place Bermuda

place Tangier

place Liverpool

place Sudan

place Malta

place Dakar

place Greenwood, Nova Scotia

organisation Home Office

Spain, Gibraltar and Morocco.

extract Halifax warns of likely German "diversion" against Egypt or Iberian Peninsula. "Great pressure will be placed on Spain"

person Charles de Gaulle

person Francisco Franco

person Adolf Hitler

place Great Britain

place Portugal

place Egypt

place Halifax Peninsula

place Madrid

place Turkey

place Paris

place Europe

place Gibraltar

place Berlin

place Morocco

place Syria

place Africa

place Madrid, New York

organisation German Army

organisation Minister of Economic Warfare

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet to temporarily suspend Government evacuation of children overseas. Parents still permitted to arrange privately

extract Cabinet cancel upcoming Newmarket race meeting but agrees "restricted number of race meetings should continue"

extract Sir Stafford Cripps in Moscow to "sound" M. Molotov on Soviet reaction to the new Pact between Germany, Italy and Japan

extract War Secretary Eden to consider request that military authorities make soldiers available to help clear London's streets

person Anthony Eden

person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person Andrew Greenwood

person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley

person Stafford Cripps

person John Anderson (Australian politician)

person Clement Attlee

person Robert Craigie (diplomat)

place Egypt

place South Wales

place Moscow

place Liverpool

place Sudan

place East Anglia

organisation Home Office

organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom

organisation KEF

Friday 4th October 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Message received from de Gaulle. Plans to disembark force at Duala, Cameroon and "get possession" of Libreville, Gabon

person Charles de Gaulle

place Egypt

place Libreville

place Nigeria

place Africa

Meeting minutes

extract PM: We should "take advantage" of any delay caused by a German "Eastward thrust" to develop our army in the Middle East

extract War Secretary Eden to make personal visit to Middle East. PM: Sure that such a visit will be of great value

person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell

person Stafford Cripps

person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn

person Sydney Brenner

place Russian Empire

place Egypt

place Turkey

place Kenya

place Khartoum

place Syria

place Libya

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax: Report invasion of UK postponed to Spring 1941. PM: "Premature to dismiss possibility of an attempt being made"

extract Air Chief: Enemy activity "rather heavier than usual" overnight. St. Paul's Cathedral hit, choir and altar badly damaged

extract Cabinet postpones Jewish recruiting campaign until US Presidential Election. Halifax: "No question" of abandoning scheme

extract Cabinet told Coventry aircraft factory strike now in 3rd week. Public feeling "said to be running high against strikers"

person Anthony Eden

person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley

person Herbert Morrison

person Stafford Cripps

person Kingsley Wood

person Clement Attlee

person John Dill

place East Germany

place Egypt

place Cranborne

place Halifax Peninsula

place Sudan

place Libreville

place Washington

place Africa

place Greenwood, Nova Scotia

organisation New Zealand Treasury

organisation British Army

organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom

Weekly Resume (No. 58) of the Naval, Military and Air Situation from 12 noon October 3rd to 12 noon October 10th, 1940.

extract Chiefs of Staff: "No reliable details" of German force in Romania. Likely "practically unnoticed" Romania to be occupied

person Charles de Gaulle

place Greece

place Egypt

place Sudan

place Libreville

place Europe

place Gibraltar

place Berlin

place Kenya

place Alexandria

organisation Air Force F.C.

organisation RAF Coastal Command

organisation Royal Air Force

organisation Luftwaffe

organisation United States Navy

Meeting minutes

extract Anderson: One-eighth of consumers in London cut off from domestic gas supplies. Position has been "static for some days"

extract Minister of Labour: Baking industry offering "time and a half" during air raid warnings. Will end "dangerous precedent"

extract Halifax: Washington opposed to "anything like a conference" in US, London or Singapore. Cooperation to remain technical

extract Admiralty: "Great improvement" in shipping losses last week but enemy sowing "very large quantities" of mines around UK

extract Air Chief: Main concentration of overnight bombing again on London. Liverpool also received "considerable attention"

person Alexander Cadogan

person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person Andrew Greenwood

person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley

person Stafford Cripps

person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort

person Samuel Hoare

person Malcolm MacDonald

person Kingsley Wood

person Clement Attlee

person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn

place Egypt

place Cranborne

place Halifax Peninsula

place Iceland

place Singapore

place Sudan

place Washington

organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom

Meeting minutes

extract PM satisfied "central nucleus of Government should not move". Church House Westminster set as alternative for Parliament

extract Home Security Minister: Damage to two tube stations has made public realise "practically no kind of shelter" invulnerable

extract Attlee: Newspaper proprietors recognise some recent articles "mischievous". "Appeared somewhat chastened" after meeting

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person Charles de Gaulle

person Herbert Morrison

person Samuel Hoare

person Kingsley Wood

person Leo Amery

person Chiang Kai-shek

place South Africa

place Egypt

place Cranborne

place Alexandria

place Greenwood, Nova Scotia

organisation Home Office

organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom

organisation Indian National Congress

organisation United States Congress

organisation Daily Mirror

Minutes of Defence Committee (Operations) 34th Meeting.

extract Defence Committee agree RAF will take action to disable German battleships Tirpitz and Bismarck. 3 attempts authorised

extract Lord Beaverbrook objects to the "form, subject matter and conclusions" of future strategy presented by Defence Chiefs

extract Lord Beaverbrook objects to the "form, subject matter and conclusions" of future strategy presented by Defence Chiefs

place Egypt

place Malta

organisation Hopatcong High School

Meeting minutes

extract UK Ambassador Washington: "Almost miraculous change of opinion" in US now it is clear UK effectively resisting air attack

extract Halifax: Prospect of trade agreement with USSR "promising". Marshal Chiang Kai-shek also desires "closer co-operation"

extract Home Secretary: 370 casualties in London last night, damage to railways. Londoners "at the moment a little pessimistic"

extract Admiralty "certain" Germans using radio detection to locate convoys. "Taking all steps possible" to deal with situation

extract Admiralty: Shipping losses over weekend "the worst ever experienced". Germans using new tactics, attacking at night

extract Air Chief: Pilot detailed to attack Berlin overnight came down to 2,000ft and dropped four 500lb bombs on the Chancellery

person Alexander Cadogan

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person Andrew Greenwood

person Herbert Morrison

person Stafford Cripps

person Samuel Hoare

person Francisco Franco

person Kingsley Wood

person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso

person Clement Attlee

person Chiang Kai-shek

person Andrew Duncan

place Egypt

place Cranborne

place Halifax Peninsula

place Turkey

place Gibraltar

place Africa

place Republic of China

organisation Home Office

Meeting minutes

extract General Dill: "No confirmation" of this morning's Press report UK inflicted 400 losses on Italian forces in the Sudan

extract Air Chief: Enemy activity yesterday "on a reduced scale". Attacks mostly from Norway where weather conditions were better

extract Cabinet directs War Secretary to decline invitation to Iraq on security grounds. Foreign Office will blame lack of time

extract PM proposes new Supreme War Council including Dominions, Free France, Holland, Belgium, Norway, Poland and Czechoslovakia

person Alexander Cadogan

person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley

person Herbert Morrison

person Stafford Cripps

person Maxime Weygand

person Kingsley Wood

place Egypt

place Cranborne

place Halifax Peninsula

place Iraq

place Madrid

place Sudan

place Khartoum

place Greenwood, Nova Scotia

place Czechoslovakia

organisation Royal Air Force

organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom

organisation Hopatcong High School

organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom

organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office

organisation Government of Canada

Meeting minutes

extract President Roosevelt has issued protest "in strongest terms" against France permitting Germany to use its Fleet against UK

extract King George telegrams Petain over French fleet: "Confident you will reject proposal that would bring dishonour to France"

extract General Dill: "No confirmation" received of the rumours of an impending Italian attack on Greece

extract Home Secretary: "Considerable damage" to Birmingham. Both railway stations, Town Hall hit. Damage in London negligible

extract PM welcomes Air Marshall Portal as new Chief of the Air Staff. Birmingham "heavily attacked" overnight

extract Halifax: French considering handover of fleet and bases to Germany. King George to issue urgent appeal to Marshall Petain

person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley

person Herbert Morrison

person Samuel Hoare

person Maxime Weygand

person Malcolm MacDonald

person Kingsley Wood

person Clement Attlee

place Greece

place Egypt

place Cranborne

place Halifax Peninsula

place Birmingham

place Sudan

place Gibraltar

place Berlin

place Greenwood, Nova Scotia

organisation New Zealand Treasury

organisation Royal Navy

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet agrees to intensify air attacks on Italy to support Greece. "Out of the question" to send British fleet to Corfu

place Greece

place East Germany

place Egypt

place Vatican City

place Turin

place Sicily

place Malta

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax: "Pessimistic" over Greek resistance. "Not particularly sanguine" about USSR. Spain "another source of anxiety"

extract Halifax meets junior ministers. M. Petain wants "to be friendly with us" but UK has made "many mistakes of psychology"

person William Patrick Stuart-Houston

person Francisco Franco

person Maxime Weygand

person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax

place Athens

place Greece

place Egypt

place Turkey

place Washington

place Africa

place Bulgaria

place Republic of China

place Rome

organisation Foreign Office (Germany)

organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Meeting minutes

extract PM: Civilians around target areas "must be made to feel the weight of the war". Italians will "not stand up to bombing"

extract Air Chief: 450 enemy aircraft over UK yesterday, 200 more overnight. Attacks on London, Birmingham, Coventry, Liverpool

person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell

person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley

person Herbert Morrison

person Malcolm MacDonald

person Kingsley Wood

person Bob Kerslake

person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso

person Clement Attlee

person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn

place Egypt

place Cranborne

place Halifax Peninsula

place South Wales

place Birmingham

place Cairo

place Libreville

place Malta

place Khartoum

place Syria

place Greenwood, Nova Scotia

organisation Home Office

organisation RAF Coastal Command

Friday 1st November 1940

An advance by the enemy through the Balkans and Syria to the Middle East.

extract Chiefs of Staff recommend more support for Turks, occupation of Iraq and Syria. Stress force unavailable till Spring 1941

place Greece

place Egypt

place Baghdad

place Iraq

place Turkey

place Syria

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax: A fortnight since our last communication with Vichy. "Still no reply" on the status of their talks with Germany

extract UK Miltary Attaché in Athens reports "weak advances" made by Italy are being held by Greek forces

extract Air Chief: Enemy air activity over this country "on a reduced scale both by day and night." Several towns machine-gunned

person Alexander Cadogan

person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person Andrew Greenwood

person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley

person Herbert Morrison

person Samuel Hoare

person Kingsley Wood

person John Dill

person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn

person Farouk of Egypt

place Athens

place Greece

place Egypt

place Cranborne

place Halifax Peninsula

place Malta

place Gibraltar

place South America

place Bulgaria

organisation Home Office

organisation KEF

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax to warn Vichy its capital ships are barred from the Mediterranean "where they might fall into German hands"

extract Cabinet informed UK battalion arriving in Crete today. If Greek resistance good UK "prepared to take some risks" to help

person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell

place Athens

place Greece

place Egypt

place Turkey

place Gibraltar

Meeting minutes

extract PM: Egypt's air defence to be halved to aid Greece. Strict secrecy to be maintained to avoid new Italian attack on Egypt

extract PM: Of "utmost importance to help Greece to resist". "Reasonable prospect" a Greek front against Italy can be built up

place Athens

place Wellington, Nevada

place Greece

place Egypt

place Cairo

place Malta

place Khartoum

place Libya

organisation Hopatcong High School

organisation 335th Fighter Squadron

Meeting minutes

extract General Dill: "Possibility" of Italian advance into Egypt. Greece situation "still obscure". RAF will report tomorrow

extract Air Chief: Enemy air attacks "on a low scale" over weekend. A number of attacks on East Coast convoys, no casualties

person Alexander Cadogan

person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person Andrew Greenwood

person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley

person Herbert Morrison

person Samuel Hoare

person Ernest Bevin

person Kingsley Wood

person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso

person Clement Attlee

person John Dill

person Jean Bart

place Greece

place Egypt

place Cranborne

place Gisborne, New Zealand

place Halifax Peninsula

place Malta

place Toulon

organisation Home Office

organisation Government of Canada

organisation Daily Mirror

Overseas Air Communications.

extract Air Minister asks for resources to improve Empire communications links. "Reasonably quick air-mail" will boost morale

place Athens

place Egypt

place Iraq

place Hong Kong

place Cairo

place North America

place Europe

place South America

place Khartoum

place Africa

place Lisbon, New York

place Burma

place Rome

organisation Royal Air Force

organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office

organisation Minister of Economic Warfare

organisation United States Army

Meeting minutes

extract UK Naval Attaché Washington has seen "hypothetical" US Navy plans for entering war. Far East "second place" to Europe

extract Cabinet told Roosevelt likely to be re-elected "by a large majority". Election may turn out to be "democratic landslide"

extract General Dill: Indications Italian advance in Western Desert may be resumed. We might expect an attack about 9th November

extract Halifax to press Bulgaria for assurance she will not attack Greece, in order to release Greek troops for Albanian front

extract General Dill: Greek army now mobilised, Italian morale low. UK reinforcing Crete so Greek Division can fight on mainland

person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley

person Charles de Gaulle

person Duff Cooper

person Samuel Hoare

person Ernest Bevin

person Kingsley Wood

person John Dill

place Greece

place Egypt

place Cranborne

place Halifax Peninsula

place Europe

place Dakar

place Bulgaria

organisation New Zealand Treasury

organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom

organisation House of Lords

organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom

organisation United States Navy

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet to take no action over criticisms of MI5 over Arandora Star sinking. "A pity" to revive public interest in this

extract Prime Minister Churchill sends personal message to FDR Roosevelt congratulating him on his re-election as US President

extract General Dill: Greeks "getting worried" by Italian attacks in Epirus sector. "Rather diminished satisfaction" at Greek HQ

extract General Dill: Greeks advancing in Northern sector. "Considerable number" of Italian prisoners taken, Greek losses few

extract Admiralty: Heavy attacks on convoys by Luftwaffe yesterday. PM: Attacks emphasise need for more air support of convoys

extract Air Chief: Overloaded aircraft from Malta have crashed on bombing runs to Italy. Orders issued to prevent this in future

person Alexander Cadogan

person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay

person Oliver Lyttelton, 1st Viscount Chandos

person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley

person Herbert Morrison

person William Lyon Mackenzie King

person Kingsley Wood

person Clement Attlee

person John Dill

place Wellington, Nevada

place Greece

place Egypt

place Cranborne

place Sudan

place Malta

place Kismayo

place Berlin

place Valona, California

place Syria

place Greenwood, Nova Scotia

organisation Home Office

organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom

Meeting minutes

extract Morrison: Bombing more severe last 2 nights. "Good many casualties" at Southwark, Wandsworth, Richmond. Penzance attacked

extract Halifax: "Sharp and unhelpful" reply from M. Petain to the King's message. Nothing yet settled between Hitler and Vichy

extract PM: UK cannot tolerate shipping losses on present scale. Will ask Roosevelt to pressure Ireland to abandon neutrality

extract PM: "For the present" Crete appears in no great danger of Italian attack. Possible Australian units could replace Greeks

extract General Dill: Greeks advancing in Pindus sector (Italian morale "bad") but under "heavy pressure" in Epirus sector

extract General Dill: UK forces have captured Gallabat on Sudan/Ethiopia border and resisted Italian counterattack

extract Admiralty: Work on new German acoustic mines now allows certain counter measures. Method still in the experimental stage

extract Admiralty: "No further information" of convoy attacked by the Admiral Scheer. Surviving ships due in home waters tomorrow

person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell

person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley

person Charles de Gaulle

person Hugh Dalton

person Adolf Hitler

person Kingsley Wood

person John Dill

person Chiang Kai-shek

person Jean Bart

place Greece

place Egypt

place Halifax Peninsula

place Madrid

place Sudan

place Libreville

place Malta

place Greenwood, Nova Scotia

organisation Air Force F.C.

organisation RAF Coastal Command

organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet discuss death of Mr Chamberlain. PM: Loss will "be felt most deeply by all those who had worked with him"

extract Halifax "a little anxious" at Molotov visit to Berlin. May be "a face-saving device" or to discuss an anti-Turkish policy

extract Admiralty: General De Gaulle has taken Gabon capital Libreville. Vichy claims UK bombed the city and sunk vessels untrue

extract General Dill: Greeks could hold up Italians for a considerable time. "A different matter" if Germans attack on this front

extract Air Chief: 12 Italian aircraft shot down over UK today. Total enemy losses for the weekend now 47 confirmed, 31 probable

person Alexander Cadogan

person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan

person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley

person Charles de Gaulle

person Samuel Hoare

person Kingsley Wood

person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso

person Clement Attlee

person John Dill

person Jean Bart

person Neville Chamberlain

place Greece

place Egypt

place Cranborne

place Halifax Peninsula

place Sudan

place Libreville

place Malta

place Berlin

place Africa

organisation Royal Air Force

organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Meeting minutes

extract War Secretary reports on his N.Africa visit. Position "far more favourable than seemed possible a few months previously"

person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell

place Kassala

place Greece

place Egypt

place Alexandria Troas

place Cairo

place Turkey

place Sudan

place Malta

place Gibraltar

place Kenya

place Syria

place Africa

place Libya

place Tripoli

organisation Air Force F.C.

organisation United States Navy

Meeting minutes

extract General Dill: Greeks advancing again towards Kalamas river. Italian troops "unenthusiastic" over move to Albanian front

extract Air Chief: 5 Italian airmen taken prisoner yesterday. Fiat bomber landed with engine still running. Fighter escort fled

person Alexander Cadogan

person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan

person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley

person Stafford Cripps

person Stephen King

person William Lyon Mackenzie King

person Kingsley Wood

person John Dill

person Leo Amery

place Greece

place Egypt

place Cranborne

place Halifax Peninsula

place Sudan

place Albania

place Greenwood, Nova Scotia

organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom

Meeting minutes

extract Eden briefs junior ministers on Egypt trip. Germans might find desert "a very different thing" from their usual fighting

person Anthony Eden

person Oliver Lyttelton, 1st Viscount Chandos

person Hugh Dalton

person Ernest Brown

person Frederick Marquis, 1st Earl of Woolton

person Farouk of Egypt

place Greece

place Egypt

place Sudan

place Kenya

place Cyprus

place Syria

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax: Death of Egypt's PM throws politics there "into the melting-pot". UK Ambassador hopes to find replacement

extract General Dill: Greeks have begun large scale counterattack advancing in a number of sectors. Many Italian prisoners taken

extract Admiral: Shipping Ministry must stop persistent tendency of convoy ships to straggle. Stragglers vulnerable to air attack

extract Anderson: Raid "heaviest yet experienced". Full details not yet available. Reinforcements of Police, firemen sent to city

extract Air Chief: 300 enemy bombers in Coventry attack. RAF targetted aerodromes to lessen assault with "fairly good results"

person Stephen King

person Bob Kerslake

person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn

person Jean Bart

place Greece

place Egypt

place Cranborne

place Sudan

place Valona, California

place Albania

place Africa

place Chad

place Burma

Reports for the Month of October 1940 for India, Burma and the Colonies, Protectorates and Mandated Territories.

extract India Secretary: New outbreak of civil disobedience in Hyderabad State. "Not clear" what Gandhi's next intention might be

person Charles de Gaulle

person William Patrick Stuart-Houston

place South Africa

place Great Britain

place Greece

place Somaliland

place Russian Empire

place Egypt

place Hong Kong

place Caribbean

place Singapore

place Jamaica

place Gibraltar

place Cyprus

place Syria

place Africa

place Burma

organisation Royal Air Force

organisation Indian National Congress

organisation Congress Working Committee

Meeting minutes

extract PM: UK will supply 5 squadrons of aircraft for Greeks. Difficulty of moving aircraft abroad "not realised in Greece"

place Athens

place Greece

place Egypt

organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Meeting minutes

extract Lord Halifax concerned Bulgaria may join Axis. King Boris "thought to have been pressed by Herr Hitler and Ribbentrop"

extract India Secretary: If arrest required Viceroy already told "he would have full support in allowing Gandhi to fast to death"

extract Viceroy warns of worsening political situation in India. Cabinet refuses request to outlaw Congress party, arrest Gandhi

extract PM: America must appreciate we are "fighting for our lives". Certain secret information we cannot possibly divulge

extract Cabinet agrees release of limited secret data to US. UK Scientists say US has "less to tell us than we have to tell them"

extract PM de Valera "in a very agitated and bitter mood" over use of Irish ports. PM Churchill refuses to rule out seizing them

extract General Dill: Italians have "retired in disorder" from Epirus sector. Greeks to do utmost to maintain momentum of advance

extract Air Chief: Duisberg main target for RAF overnight. Enemy attacks focused on Midlands including Birmingham and Coventry

person Alexander Cadogan

person John Maffey, 1st Baron Rugby

person Adolf Hitler

person Winston Churchill

place Kassala

place Greece

place Egypt

place Birmingham

place North America

place Sicily

place Sudan

place Malta

place Valona, California

place Bulgaria

organisation Home Office

organisation Royal Air Force

organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom

organisation Indian National Congress

organisation Congress Working Committee

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet approves cancelling Boxing Day Bank Holiday "for workers engaged on essential production" after talks with unions

extract Britain to urge Turkey and Yugoslavia to announce they would declare war if German troops were allowed to enter Bulgaria

person Alexander Cadogan

person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person Andrew Greenwood

person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley

person Herbert Morrison

person Stafford Cripps

person Kingsley Wood

person Clement Attlee

place Egypt

place Cranborne

place Halifax Peninsula

place Birmingham

place Turkey

place Gibraltar

place Berlin

place Albania

place Bulgaria

organisation Home Office

Monday 2nd December 1940

Illegal immigrants into Palestine from S.S. Patria.

extract General Wavell protests Cabinet decision to allow SS Patria survivors to enter Palestine. "Disastrous" for Arab opinion

person Anthony Eden

place Egypt

Meeting minutes

extract Admiralty brief junior Ministers on recent success against Italy with "very limited" forces. 27 Italian subs sunk so far

place Greece

place Egypt

place Turkey

place Malta

place Gibraltar

place Albania

place Libya

organisation RAF Coastal Command

organisation Royal Navy

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet to "continue consultations" on action against Eire to force UK access to Irish ports. Diplomats to meet in London

extract Chiefs of Staff: UK economic action against Eire could lead to either "sullen animosity" or "state of open hostility"

extract Admiralty reports very bad weather in NW Approaches. 7 merchant ships adrift - no reason to think they will not make port

person Alexander Cadogan

person Duff Cooper

place Greece

place Egypt

place Sudan

place Gibraltar

place Northern Ireland

place Portsmouth

organisation Hopatcong High School

Meeting minutes

extract PM informs Cabinet extensive UK attack now in progress in Libya. Hopes to inflict "decisive defeat" on Italian divisions

person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell

place Greece

place Egypt

place Sudan

place Northern Ireland

place Libya

Meeting minutes

extract Admiralty: Australia asks for return of a cruiser from the Mediterranean after German raider attacks Gilbert Islands.

extract Chiefs of Staff: Except for reconnaissance flights over Thames Estuary and South Coast, no enemy activity yesterday

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

place Egypt

place Libya

organisation Home Office

organisation Indian National Congress

Reports for the Month of November 1940 for the Dominions, India, Burma and the Colonies, Protectorates and Mandated Territories.

extract India Secretary: Civil disobedience continuing and spreading. Mr. Gandhi has extended considerably his anti-war campaign

person Charles de Gaulle

place South Africa

place Greece

place Egypt

place Hong Kong

place Singapore

place Jamaica

place Kenya

place Burma

organisation Air Force F.C.

organisation Royal Air Force

organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom

organisation United States Navy

organisation Royal Navy

organisation Government of Canada

Meeting minutes

extract Morrison: Many fires reported in Birmingham but all under control. 12 factories, 8 schools, 5 churches, 2 cinemas damaged

extract PM Churchill to consult with President Roosevelt before ordering economic action against Ireland

extract Chiefs of Staff: RAF have inflicted severe losses on Italian Tank Group and a Blackshirt Division withdrawing to Sollum

extract Chiefs of Staff: Sidi Barrani captured by British forces. 4th Armoured Brigade making for Sollum, now west of Buq Buq

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person Herbert Morrison

person John Maffey, 1st Baron Rugby

person Andrew Duncan

place Greece

place Egypt

place North America

place Valona, California

place Morocco

place Madrid, New York

place Libya

organisation Home Office

organisation RAF Coastal Command

organisation Royal Air Force

organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom

organisation House of Lords

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet concerned at Spanish action in Tangiers: "an unpleasing analogy with the conduct of Italy" before entry into war

extract Morrison: 10,000 people made homeless in Sheffield overnight in addition to 10,000 homeless from raid on 12th December

extract PM Churchill: These operations constitute an event of first-class importance. Results "more than we had dared to hope"

extract General Dill: Enemy air attacks now chief menace but 30,000 prisoners taken, 100 guns and 50 tanks. UK casualties 500

extract General Dill: Halfaya cleared, Sollum and Fort Capuzzo still held by the enemy. Weather has turned from sandstorm to rain

person Alexander Cadogan

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person Herbert Morrison

person Samuel Hoare

person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn

place Egypt

place Tangier

place Malta

place Alexandria

place Madrid, New York

place Libya

organisation Home Office

organisation New Zealand Treasury

organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom

organisation United States Navy

Meeting minutes

extract Morrison: Production restored in Sheffield shortly. Civic authorities have stood the strain well, public morale excellent

extract General Dill: Heavy snow in Albania but Greeks making some small advances. War Office considering sending warm clothing

extract General Dill: Position in Bardia "developing slowly and favourably". 800 prisoners taken at Sidi Omar and more to come

extract Air Chief: Recent air fighting in Libya "extremely satisfactory". UK losses 10, enemy 77 certain and 25 probable

extract Air Chief: "Excellent results" from 3 nights of attacks on Mannheim. 100 tons of explosives, 14,000 incendiaries dropped

extract Halifax: Swiss have issued "very strong" protest over bombing of Basle. Claim clear visibility means "no possible excuse"

person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges

person Herbert Morrison

place Greece

place Egypt

place Cranborne

place Albania

place Africa

place Burma

place Libya

organisation Home Office

organisation Royal Air Force

Contacts with the Vichy Government.

extract Halifax: To go beyond this may be difficult for Vichy. They must be careful "to avoid rousing German suspicions"

extract Halifax: We have received written assurances from Vichy that France will retain her fleet and Empire and not attack UK

person Charles de Gaulle

person Samuel Hoare

person Maxime Weygand

person Adolf Hitler

place Great Britain

place Greece

place Egypt

place Tangier

place Libreville

place Gibraltar

place London, Ontario

place Morocco

place Africa

place Madrid, New York

organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom

organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office

organisation Royal Navy

Meeting minutes

extract PM Churchill formally tells Cabinet Lord Halifax is to step down as Foreign Secretary to become UK Ambassador Washington

extract Halifax: Swiss have asked their airspace not be "violated" on Christmas night. Hope it will be possible - for goodwill

extract Air Chief: After enquiries "strongly of the opinion" bombing of Basle "not done by our machines". Halifax to inform Swiss

extract General Dill: 37,000 prisoners now captured in Libya. Greek advance of 4km, 3 Italian bombers downed by small arms fire

person Charles de Gaulle

person John Maffey, 1st Baron Rugby

person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax

person Winston Churchill

place Freetown

place Greece

place Egypt

place Manchester

place Cranborne

place Liverpool

place Africa

place Dublin

place Libya

organisation Home Office

organisation RAF Coastal Command

Meeting minutes

extract Morrison: 18,500 people successfully rehoused in Sheffield. Homeless there reduced to about 1,500

extract Talks proceeding on new finance deal with US. President Roosevelt hopes to put matter before Congress in "a few days"

extract General Dill: Some Sikh troops in Hong Kong apparently object "to wearing steel helmets". A number have been arrested

extract General Dill: Unconfirmed reports of German troops moving through Hungary, either to Roumania, Yugoslavia or Bulgaria

extract General Dill: Preparations for attack on Bardia continuing. Garrison believed to be 13,400. 40,000 prisoners now taken

person Walter Hines Page

person Herbert Morrison

place Athens

place Greece

place Egypt

place Cranborne

place Hungary

place Hong Kong

place Manchester, New Hampshire

place Bulgaria

organisation Ministry of Supply

organisation Home Office

organisation New Zealand Treasury

organisation Morning Star (UK newspaper)

organisation Indian National Congress

Wednesday 8th January 1941

Meeting minutes

extract "Fighter command stronger than ever before", Air Secretary tells Ministers. Main effort now on night interception

place Greece

place Egypt

place Berlin, New York

place Malta

place Oslo

place Libya

organisation Air Force F.C.

organisation Luftwaffe

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet approves compulsory civil defence service of up to 48 hours a month for "men and women (subject to age limits)"

extract PM has met with personal envoy of President Roosevelt (Mr Harry Hopkins). "Very favourably impressed with his attitude"

extract General Wavell reports preparations for attack on Tobruk "proceeding satisfactorily". Garrison estimated at 15-20,000

extract Air Chief: Italian aircraft losses in Egypt last month 207 (ours 17). Losses in Greece 47 (ours 23), Malta 50 (ours 4)

extract Air Chief: Raid on Venice last night "very successful". Oil refinery received a direct hit from a 1,000 lb. bomb

person Alexander Cadogan

person Andrew Greenwood

person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell

person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley

person Kingsley Wood

person Clement Attlee

person John Dill

place Greece

place Somaliland

place Egypt

place Cranborne

place Malta

place Ethiopia

place Eritrea

place Africa

organisation RAF Coastal Command

organisation Morning Star (UK newspaper)

organisation United States Congress

Tuesday 18th February 1941

Authority to H.M. Ships and Aircraft in the Mediterranean to sink Merchant Ships without warning.

extract Admiralty authorises widening of Navy's ability to sink on sight in the Adriatic, Gulf of Genoa and Central Mediterranean

place Egypt

place Malta

place Tunisia

place Algeria

place Albania

place Libya

Meeting minutes

extract PM: "We could not very well blame them." Hopes "we should not have to put any large part of our army into Greece"

extract Churchill warns Cabinet Germans could "offer the Greeks such attractive terms that they would feel bound to make peace"

place Athens

place Greece

place Egypt

place Turkey

place Tripoli, Greece

place Bulgaria

Meeting minutes

extract PM Churchill: In my opinion the enterprise is a risk we must undertake. At worst bulk of force could be got back to Egypt

extract PM Menzies: If enterprise "only a forlorn hope it had better not be undertaken." Is there substantial chance of success?

extract PM Churchill: "Difficulties...must not be under-rated". If colleagues have misgivings "they should express them now"

extract PM Churchill: Cabinet must now "reach a most important decision, namely, whether to open a new theatre of war in Greece"

person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell

person Joseph Stalin

place Greece

place Egypt

place Turkey

place Bulgaria

organisation Luftwaffe

Policy in the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean.

extract Chiefs of Staff outline advantages and disadvantages of sending UK forces to assist Greece as Foreign Secretary proposes

place Greece

place Egypt

place Turkey

place Africa

Meeting minutes

extract PM Churchill "deeply moved" by assent of Dominion Governments. They have "responded magnificently" to severe proposals

extract PM Menzies: Australian government concurs in the proposed use of two Australian divisions in Greece

person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell

person Harold Wilson

place South Africa

place Republic of Macedonia

place Greece

place Egypt

place Turkey

place Albania

place Bulgaria

place Libya

Tuesday 4th March 1941

Meeting minutes

extract PM: Movement of Allied troops due to start today but no troops to arrive in Greece "for another four days"

extract PM: Prospects in the Balkans "not promising". Bulgaria now under German control. Greece will "have to fight for her life"

person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell

place Greece

place Egypt

place Albania

place Bulgaria

Meeting minutes

extract PM Menzies concerned over Greece operation. All new factors add to difficulties, no reason offered why it should succeed

person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell

place Republic of Macedonia

place Greece

place Egypt

place Belgrade

place Turkey

place Albania

place Bulgaria

place West Germany

organisation Foreign Office (Germany)

organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Meeting minutes

extract PM Churchill: Nobody could represent us forcing hopeless resistance on Greeks. "We should go forward with a good heart"

extract Eden: Key Service Chiefs "unanimously agreed" that, despite "grave risks" involved, action in Greece the "right decision"

person William Patrick Stuart-Houston

place Greece

place Ankara

place Egypt

place Turkey

place Bulgaria

organisation Royal Air Force

organisation Hopatcong High School

organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Weekly Resume (No. 82) of the Naval, Military and Air Situation from 12 noon March 20th, to 12 noon March 27th, 1941.

extract Chiefs of Staff: Reports that Germany intends to attack USSR this summer continue to be received but are not convincing

person Richard Kiel

place Plymouth

place Aruba

place Greece

place East Germany

place Egypt

place Manchester

place Berlin, New York

place Liverpool

place Malta

place Alexandria

place Africa

place Addis Ababa

place Bulgaria

place Libya

organisation Royal Air Force

Monday 7th April 1941

Meeting minutes

extract Menzies: Chance of German advance underestimated by Wavell. We consented to Greek attack because told Libya push unlikely

extract PM: If we hold the advance at Tobruk we can be well satisfied. "But we must recognise that this might not be possible"

extract PM: Deterioration due to 7th Armoured Division at Cairo for refit. Not realised it would be so completely out of action

extract PM: General Wavell reports position in Western Desert greatly deteriorated yesterday. Hopes to stabilise front at Tobruk

person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell

place Greece

place Egypt

place Sicily

place Sudan

place Malta

place Tobruk

place Libya

Meeting minutes

extract General Dill: Now clear the Germans had assembled "a considerably stronger force in Libya than we had reckoned on"

extract Attlee: "Somewhat surprised at the rapidity and force" of Libya attack in face of telegrams received from Desert Front

extract Eden: Hitler's plans "retarded and thrown out of gear" by Greek resistance and Yugoslav coup - both with our support

extract Foreign Secretary Eden and the Chief of the Imperial General Staff outline discussions held in Balkans and Middle East

person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell

person Stafford Cripps

person Adolf Hitler

place Republic of Macedonia

place Athens

place Greece

place Egypt

place Belgrade

place Turkey

place Sicily

place Malta

place Tobruk

place Cyprus

place Alexandria

place Bulgaria

place Libya

place Tripoli

organisation United States Navy

Meeting minutes

extract PM: "Navy must be prepared to suffer heavy losses in order to cut the enemy line of communication" from Italy to Libya

extract Telegram from Yugoslav government asking for air evacuation to Athens. Greek government considering evacuation to Crete

extract General Dill: "Most serious news" German mechanised columns moving to cut off Greek army in Albania

person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell

person Rashid Ali al-Gaylani

place Athens

place Greece

place Egypt

place Baghdad

place Iraq

place Basra

place Albania

place Cyprus

place Tripoli, Greece

place Alexandria

place Libya

organisation United States Navy

Meeting minutes

extract Indian Government to send troops to secure Basra in Iraq. General Rashid Ali to be told but force will "land in any case"

extract General Dill: Our force in Greece holding its own against heavy German attack. But enemy has taken Sollum on Egypt border

extract General Dill: Germans have occupied North Yugoslavia. Their advance likely to be by Sarajevo and Mostar to the Adriatic

extract Air Chief: In Libya on April 12th our bombers made 4 attacks and dispersed about 60 enemy tanks drawn up to attack Tobruk

extract Air Chief: In Balkans we have (with severe aircraft losses) inflicted fairly serious damage on advancing German troops

person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley

person Rashid Ali al-Gaylani

place Greece

place Egypt

place Cranborne

place Iraq

place Iceland

place Basra

place Eritrea

place Albania

place Addis Ababa

place Libya

organisation RAF Coastal Command

Meeting minutes

extract PM: Situation in Libya "considerably better" than it appeared a week ago. "Good chance" German thrust can be "liquidated"

extract PM: "Crete must be held in force". We have 59,000 men in Greece. Afraid we shall lose most of our artillery and tanks

extract PM: Clear implication the Greek Army "might be unable to continue the struggle". "We should fall in with their views"

extract PM: General Papagos has announced a withdrawal to the Thermopylae position and has suggested we re-embark our forces

person Rashid Ali al-Gaylani

place Athens

place Greece

place Egypt

place Iraq

place Basra

place Tripoli, Greece

place Libya

place Tripoli

organisation Air Force F.C.

organisation British Army

organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom

Policy towards Turkey.

extract Eden: "Most we can hope for" from Turks "benevolent neutrality". In our interest to supply and support their armed forces

person Anthony Eden

place Great Britain

place Greece

place Egypt

place Iraq

place Turkey

place Basra

place Europe

place Istanbul

place Cyprus

place Alexandria

place Syria

place Bulgaria

Meeting minutes

extract PM: "We must now expect a period of great enemy activity in the Mediterranean". Attacks will be made on Crete and Malta

extract PM Churchill: I feel no regret over the decision to send troops to Greece

person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell

place Greece

place Egypt

place Malta

organisation United States Navy

Thursday 8th May 1941

Meeting minutes

extract Eden: I think Stalin's open assumption of power shows he realises the clouds are gathering

extract PM: Enemy "short of ammunition, petrol and food". "With good fortune the Battle of Egypt might well turn in our favour"

extract PM informs Cabinet Operation Tiger, to send tank reinforcements to General Wavell through the Mediterranean, is underway

extract Air Chief: "Light night" led to 23 enemy aircraft being brought down. Air Secretary to congratulate Fighter Command

person Walter Hines Page

person Herbert Morrison

person Joseph Stalin

place Egypt

place Iceland

place Manchester, New Hampshire

place Syria

place Greenwood, Nova Scotia

organisation Home Office

organisation New Zealand Treasury

organisation RAF Coastal Command

organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom

organisation United Nations

Weekly Resume (No. 90) of the Naval, Military and Air Situation from 12 noon May 15th, to 12 noon May 22nd, 1941.

extract Chiefs of Staff: Situation at Heraklion obscure. Town and harbour partly occupied by Enemy who has mounted machine guns

person Richard Kiel

person Robert German

place Newcastle upon Tyne

place Freetown

place Greece

place Somaliland

place Egypt

place Iceland

place Basra

place Europe

place Tobruk

place Berlin

place Syria

place Africa

organisation RAF Coastal Command

Future of Cyprus.

extract Eden: "Strong case" for ceding Cyprus to Greece after war. Suggest talks now to avoid German offer to "quisling" Athens

person Anthony Eden

place Great Britain

place Athens

place Greece

place Egypt

place Turkey

place Malta

place Cyprus

place Alexandria

place Syria

organisation Foreign Office (Germany)

Thursday 12th June 1941

Meeting minutes

extract Home Secretary reports overnight raids at Bristol, Dover and Huddersfield. Fires quickly brought under control

extract Chiefs of Staff to give preliminary consideration to arrangements for despatch of a Military Mission to Moscow

extract General Dill: British and Free French forces "slowly advancing" in Syria. Vichy troops "resisting strongly"

person Alexander Cadogan

person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley

person Herbert Morrison

person Duff Cooper

person Ronnie Campbell

person Stafford Cripps

person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort

person Samuel Hoare

person Francisco Franco

place Great Britain

place Portugal

place Egypt

place Cranborne

place Syria

place Greenwood, Nova Scotia

organisation Hopatcong High School

organisation United States Department of State

Meeting minutes

extract Stafford Cripps: Likely Germany intends to "deliver an ultimatum to Russia" when her military concentrations are complete

person Stafford Cripps

place Russian Empire

place East Germany

place Egypt

place Turkey

Morale of the Australian and New Zealand Forces in the Middle East and of the Royal Air Force in Egypt.

extract Air Chief denies American suggestions of low morale amongst RAF in Middle East and "bad behaviour of airmen in Cairo"

place Greece

place Egypt

organisation Royal Air Force

Meeting minutes

extract President Roosevelt has informed PM he has closed US German consulates, frozen assets. Plans bases in N. Africa, Iceland

place Egypt

place Iceland

place Dakar

place Africa

The Middle East. Note by the Secretary of the War Cabinet covering telegrams from the Commander-in-Chief, Middle East.

extract General Wavell reports failure of Operation Battleaxe in Egypt. Troops have been driven back with heavy loss of tanks

person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell

place Egypt

place Tobruk

Supplies to Turkey.

extract Foreign Secretary Eden urges continuing military supplies to Turkey in spite of new Turco-German agreement

person Anthony Eden

place Egypt

place Turkey

Wednesday 2nd July 1941

Command in the Middle East.

extract PM: General Wavell "would make an admirable Commander-in-Chief in India". Viceroy: "I shall be proud to work with him"

extract PM: General Wavell "tired", "fresh eye needed". Will be replaced by General Auchinleck as Commander in Chief Middle East

person Claude Auchinleck

person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell

place Egypt

place Africa

organisation British Army

Weekly Resume (No. 96) of the Naval, Military and Air Situation from 12 noon June 26th, to 12 noon July 3rd, 1941.

extract Chiefs of Staff: Fighting continues against Vichy French in Syria "who are putting up skilful and determined resistance"

extract Chiefs of Staff: German forces advancing on the general axis Smolensk-Moscow have reached Minsk

place Great Britain

place Freetown

place Egypt

place Gisborne, New Zealand

place South Wales

place Shanghai

place Sicily

place Malta

place Europe

place Gibraltar

place Tobruk

place Beirut

place Syria

place Libya

place Tripoli

organisation Royal Air Force

organisation German Army

organisation Luftwaffe