Malta

Country

Malta, officially known as the Republic of Malta, is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, 93 km south of Sicily and 288 km east of Tunisia, with the Strait of Gibraltar 1,826 km to the west and Alexandria 1,510 km to the east. Malta covers just over 300 km² in land ...

Read more at Wikipedia

Documents about Malta

Wednesday 21st February 1940

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
 

Friday 15th March 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Informal notes on recent meetings: Zetland describes shooting, French PM Daladier nervous, jumpy, not sleeping
person Joachim von Ribbentrop
person John Reith, 1st Baron Reith
person Arthur Robinson (Australian politician)
place Finland
place Narvik
place Malta
organisation Scapa
 

Meeting minutes

extract Chief of Imperial General Staff says German offensive most likely on France-Luxembourg frontier
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Ronnie Campbell
person Neville Chamberlain
place Brussels
place Singapore
place Malta
place Libya
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation Scapa
organisation 335th Fighter Squadron
 

Saturday 25th May 1940

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
 

Meeting minutes

extract King Leopold informs British government he is “determined to stay with his army” in Belgium
extract PM: Operation may be a great failure. Or our troops may "fight magnificently" and save considerable portion of the Force
extract PM anxious “orders for march to the coast should be issued as soon as possible”. Order from Reynaud to Weygand drafted
extract Halifax urges talks with Mussolini. Italy may be able to “persuade Herr Hitler to take a more reasonable attitude”
extract Reynaud: No peace terms yet but France “could get an offer if they wanted one”. Taking Paris “the dream of all Germans”
extract PM Reynaud tells War Cabinet France has 50 divisions to Germany’s 150. “Clear that the war could not be won on land”
person John Maffey, 1st Baron Rugby
person Maxime Weygand
person James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon
person Adolf Hitler
person Roger Keyes, 1st Baron Keyes
place Great Britain
place Somaliland
place Russian Empire
place Paris
place Malta
place Europe
place Gibraltar
place Washington
place Northern Ireland
place Rome
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract Churchill: "Our success must depend first on our unity, then on our courage and endurance."
extract Churchill: “If we both stand out we may yet save ourselves from the fate of Denmark or Poland”
extract Churchill informs French PM Reynaud that the War Cabinet has decided it is not “the right moment” to approach Mussolini
extract Churchill: "Nations which went down fighting rose again but those which surrendered tamely were finished"
extract Chamberlain: Better for both UK and France “to play their part in the struggle” than to open negotiations with Mussolini
extract Halifax: UK may get better terms now, before France went out of the war and UK aircraft factories bombed than in 3 months
extract PM: “Clear” French wish Mussolini to act as intermediary with Herr Hitler. “Determined” not to get into this position
extract French again urge talks with Mussolini. Halifax says Italians want UK to request their mediation in European conflict
person Alexander Cadogan
person William Patrick Stuart-Houston
person Maxime Weygand
person Adolf Hitler
person Winston Churchill
person Bob Kerslake
person Neville Chamberlain
person Edward Spears
place Great Britain
place Malta
place Europe
place Gibraltar
place Denmark
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation United States Navy
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
organisation United Nations
organisation French Army
 

Thursday 6th June 1940

Meeting minutes

extract UK 51st Division madeto give ground after heavy attack. "Generally speaking" position "more satisfactory" than expected
extract Germans have penetrated Front 10-12 miles, French counterattacking “energetically”. PM: French Command gaining confidence
extract Air Chief reports 134 air raids on UK overnight. Very little damage, casualties "very few". No intercepts by RAF fighters
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Dill
place Malta
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet informed of tonight's targets in Italy including Fiat motor factory. Incendiary attack on Black Forest approved
place Trondheim
place Turin
place Malta
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

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 General Dill: "No confirmation" of report of Soviet forces massing on the frontier of East Prussia
extract Report Swiss government to capitulate to military coup, allowing German troops free passage. Halifax: "A wild story"
extract BEF no longer under overall French command. "Grave risk" if French agree Armistice force "involved and unable to escape"
extract General Brooke reports that organised resistance in France has "come to an end". French army "disintegrating"
extract Roosevelt says his message "in no sense" promised US military action. PM: "Nothing short" of this will sustain France
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person William Patrick Stuart-Houston
person Franklin D. Roosevelt
person Adolf Hitler
place Iraq
place Turkey
place Malta
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Libya
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
organisation United States Congress
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet Secretary: Cabinet members “consulted again individually” on de Gaulle broadcast. Now agree should be allowed
extract Cabinet adopts plan by Lord Halifax for return of Emperor to Abyssinia. UK to foment anti-Italian action in the country
extract Cabinet agrees de Gaulle should not broadcast as long it remains possible French government may act in Allied interests
extract General de Gaulle has submitted text of broadcast saying France not defeated and inviting French soldiers to rally to him
extract Stafford Cripps in Moscow warns he sees "no prospect of drawing the Soviet Union into a common front against Germany"
extract Navy Vice Chief: SS Lancastria sunk in Loire yesterday with 3,000 troops on board. Not yet possible to assess casualties
extract Evacuation continuing from Cherbourg, St Nazaire, St Malo, Brest. 42,502 personnel returned to UK
extract Chief of Air Staff has despatched aircraft to Bordeaux after Polish reports General Sikorski somewhere in France
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Walter Hines Page
person Herbert Morrison
person Stafford Cripps
person Samuel Hoare
place East Germany
place Halifax Peninsula
place Moscow
place Narvik
place Malta
place Gibraltar
place Kenya
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

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 Chamberlain: We must keep the ships. Sweden knows that she cannot bully Germany "but might succeed in bullying us"
extract Halifax: Sweden taken "gravest possible view" of UK seizure of Destroyers. Germany may offer "protection" against us
extract Lord Halifax informs Cabinet that British Ambassador and his staff will leave France today for the UK on HMS Galatea
extract HMS Dunedin to intercept French vessel en route to Martinique to seize cargo of £60m in gold.
extract First Sea Lord: Mutiny by Germans being transported to Canada aboard SS Duchess of York. Further rising on vessel feared
extract PM urges War Office "push forward" with creation of a Foreign Legion. General Pownall says action already being taken
extract General Pownall reports 10000 Czech and Pole troops, 8000 French heading to coast for UK. HMS Keppel to arrange transport
person Charles de Gaulle
person Walter Hines Page
person Ronnie Campbell
person Neville Chamberlain
place Hamburg
place Malta
place Europe
place Algeria
place Africa
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation French Foreign Legion
 

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 Churchill suggests attack on French ships in harbour at Oran, Algeria. Admiralty to form plan of operations
person Winston Churchill
place Malta
place Dakar
place Tunisia
place Algeria
 

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
 

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
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: Not much possibility of attack being launched from the French coast “in the immediate future”
extract Chamberlain concerned at intelligence of craft massing at Ostend and Bergen. Requests heavy attack. Air Chief to consider
extract Admiralty reports French battleship Richelieu “definitely disabled” in torpedo attack from HMS Hermes
place Malta
place Gibraltar
organisation Scapa
 

Meeting minutes

extract Attlee warns of "disquiet" in House of Commons over conditions in UK internment camps. Cabinet asks him investigate
extract Cabinet concerned at likely fall of Japanese government. May be replaced by anti-British regime "who might declare war"
extract Halifax: Signs France will not "close down" relations with UK entirely. Proposes UK Consul at Vichy. Cabinet accepts
extract Admiralty to tell France UK will "take no further action" against French ships in French Colonial or North African ports
extract General Dill: "No doubt" Germans assembling force in Norway. "Might" be for raid on Scotland, Shetland, Orkney or Faroes
extract Air Chief: “Harassing raids” on south and west coast ports yesterday. (Docks, shipping). Casualties “greater than usual”
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Jean Bart
person Robert Vansittart, 1st Baron Vansittart
place Halifax Peninsula
place Eyre Peninsula
place Turkey
place Malta
place Gibraltar
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract Admiralty briefing junior ministers on invasion defence. German motor torpedo boats "a source of some anxiety"
place Malta
place Alexandria
organisation Royal Marines
 

Meeting minutes

extract War Secretary requests leave for the Army be resumed "on a limited scale". Stoppage having "bad effect". Cabinet approves
extract Air Chief: Overnight enemy action slight. Minelaying in Thames Estuary, Harwich areas, attacks on Bristol, Kent, Suffolk
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Clement Attlee
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
place Guernsey
place Halifax Peninsula
place Malta
place Europe
place Gibraltar
place Kenya
place Bristol
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
 

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 Signs Stafford Cripps in Moscow may be exceeding his instructions. Lord Halifax instructed to put out "a smothering paw"
extract PM calls Guernsey raid a "super flop". General Bourne to be replaced at Combined Operations by Admiral Sir Roger Keyes
person Alexander Cadogan
person Claude Auchinleck
person Stafford Cripps
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
person Roger Keyes, 1st Baron Keyes
place Guernsey
place Malta
place Libya
 

Meeting minutes

extract General Ironside to be replaced as C-in-C Home Forces by General Brooke. "Did not really command complete confidence"
person Claude Auchinleck
place Alexandria Troas
place Malta
organisation Air Force F.C.
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM outlines Admiralty plan to send "greatest sea-borne air force ever dreamed of" to strengthen morale in Middle East
person Max Aitken, Lord Beaverbrook
place Alexandria Troas
place Malta
organisation Air Force F.C.
 

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
 

Friday 2nd August 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Attlee warns evacuation of east coast towns bankrupting local authorities. Lowestoft already "in the hands of a bank"
extract HMS Highlander, off the north coast of Scotland, is reporting having brought down two Heinkels by machine-gun fire
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Walter Citrine, 1st Baron Citrine
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
place Gisborne, New Zealand
place Malta
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
 

Meeting minutes

extract Eden: "Strong Italian attack in three columns" developing against British Somaliland. Two columns heading towards capital
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Richard Kiel
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
person Kingsley Wood
person Leo Amery
place Somaliland
place Malta
place North China
place Burma
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation British Army
organisation United States Navy
organisation Canadian Forces Maritime Command
 

Meeting minutes

extract Police reporting 45 parachutes found "abandoned by enemy parachutists" in Scotland, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Yorkshire
extract General Dill: UK force in Somaliland under attack, "everywhere resisting stubbornly" but "tired after two days' fighting"
extract Air Chief: Final figures for fighting yesterday: Enemy 78 destroyed (certain), 33 probable. Our own 13 (10 pilots saved)
extract Air Chief: All raids yesterday intercepted. "Heavy losses inflicted on the enemy with few casualties to ourselves"
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 John Anderson (Australian politician)
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
person William Anderson (RAAF officer)
place Somaliland
place Turin
place Malta
organisation Home Office
 

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
 

Tuesday 3rd September 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet discuss compensation for households damaged by air raids. 8000 houses hit to August. "Very few" totally destroyed
extract PM hopes Cabinet can "continue their business without interruption" if air raids begin during meetings at Downing Street
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
place Malta
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Royal Air Force
 

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 Cabinet agrees new honours for civilian bravery. George Cross suggested. PM: Civil population "now in the front line"
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
place Malta
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: Magnetic mines dropped on this country overnight. Blast will destroy glass "over a wide area". Glass to be conserved
extract Air Chef: Enemy activity mainly directed against London and SE yesterday. "A few raids" on Wales and the Midlands
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 Clement Attlee
place Malta
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
 

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 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
 

Tuesday 1st October 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Australian PM "much disturbed" over Operation Menace failure. UK approach "strongly criticised". PM Churchill to respond
extract Air Chief: Air casualties yesterday 20 (12 pilots safe). Enemy 46 (+32 probable). Good results for RAF on Ostend, Berlin
person Anthony Eden
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Charles de Gaulle
place Alexandria Troas
place Malta
place Africa
place Libya
place Toulon
 

Meeting minutes

extract Swiss Minister now discussing UK airspace violations "with complete good humour". Hopes RAF will use mainly Geneva route
extract Cabinet agrees to reopen Burma Road. PM: Right decision, do not believe Japan will "declare war upon us as a result"
extract Air Chief: Air casualties 1 machine (pilot safe but wounded), Enemy 10. Weather very bad but a few bombers reached Berlin
extract Air Chief: 250 enemy aircraft over UK yesterday "only dropped a few bombs on the South Coast"
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Stafford Cripps
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
person Leo Amery
place Berlin, New York
place Singapore
place Malta
place Burma
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

The Blockade and French West Africa.

extract Admiralty suggest Vichy blockade not a priority. UK must instead aim "to knock Italy out of the Axis as soon as possible"
place Malta
place Gibraltar
 

Air Reinforcements for the Middle East.

extract Air Chief: "We are justified in assuming that a most serious danger is already developing in the Middle Eastern theatre"
extract Air Chief approves limited air reinforcements for Middle East. PM: RAF "still vastly inferior in numbers" to Luftwaffe
place South Africa
place Wellington, Nevada
place Malta
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

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 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 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

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 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
 

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 Chancellor: Greeks have misunderstood Treasury's position. UK offering "them more than they had asked". First advance £5m
extract Halifax: Greek government "keenly disappointed" by "ungenerous attitude" of UK Treasury in supplying financial aid
extract Morrison: Local people "shaken" and "bitter" but "kept their heads". King's visit "of the utmost value" recovering morale
extract Morrison: Damage to munitions production in Coventry less extensive than feared but water and gas positions "bad"
extract PM Churchill: Clear we cannot increase our air reinforcements to Greece beyond what we have already arranged to send
extract General Dill: Greeks have crossed Albanian border, captured town of Bilishti. General Papagos requests more air support
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Stafford Cripps
place Athens
place Greece
place Malta
place Gibraltar
place Berlin
place Albania
organisation Home Office
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
organisation United States Navy
organisation BBC
 

Meeting minutes

extract Admiralty: 9 aircraft lost from HMS Argus while landing on Malta. Inquiry to be held into "regrettable" incident
place Malta
 

Meeting minutes

extract War Cabinet approves "only one day" of holiday for workers at Christmas
person Herbert Morrison
person Duff Cooper
person Jean Bart
place Athens
place Greece
place Madrid
place Malta
place Gibraltar
place Washington
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
 

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 Attorney General to consider legal action against Daily Worker newspaper for libellous cartoon of Labour Minister Bevin
extract PM: Utmost importance to build reserve of gas weapons. If enemy uses gas "we must be in a position to retaliate at once"
extract Greenwood: Damage in Birmingham "probably more serious" than Coventry but recovery in both cities "going ahead well"
extract Cabinet told an explosion has sunk the SS Patria carrying "illegal immigrants" to Palestine. 385 people unaccounted for
extract Halifax: Upshot of various reports that "probably not very much" settled at Berlin talks between Hitler and Molotov
extract General Dill: Italians landing at Durazzo, Valona to retrieve situation by extensive reinforcement. Vital to impede this
extract Admiralty reports "good progress" made in devising means for dealing with acoustic mines
person Anthony Eden
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Hugh Dalton
person Herbert Morrison
person Adolf Hitler
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
person Andrew Duncan
place Wellington, Nevada
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Birmingham
place Belgrade
place Turkey
place Sudan
place Malta
place Gibraltar
place Berlin
place Valona, California
place Bristol
place Bulgaria
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Morning Star (UK newspaper)
organisation RAF Fighter Command
 

Meeting minutes

extract Air Secretary to investigate Vichy claims RAF has bombed Marseilles. Lord Halifax requests "facts as quickly as possible"
extract Air Chief: RAF attacked Kiel, Wilhelmshaven overnight. One of our pilots thought he obtained a direct hit on the Tirpitz
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 John Dill
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Tangier
place Malta
place Africa
place Lisbon, New York
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation United States Navy
 

Tuesday 3rd December 1940

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 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
 

Reports on the effectiveness of Royal Air Force Bombing Operations.

extract Air Secretary: But US sources in Berlin call UK attacks "far too light", "negligible". Others suggest many bombs "duds"
extract Air Secretary: "Conflicting" testimony of effectiveness of UK bombing. "All secret reports" from Hamburg confirm accuracy
place Hamburg
place Madrid
place Geneva
place Malta
place Europe
place Bulgaria
place Vienna
place Iran
organisation Royal Air Force
 

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
 

Meeting minutes

extract General Dill: Preparations for attack on Tobruk delayed owing to sand storms. Italians falling back on the Kassala front
extract Admiralty: Damage to HMS Illustrious not serious but 10 ships lost in last 4 days, 3 by U-boat action, 3 by raider action
extract PM: Important to maintain strong air defence at Malta. Fighter reinforcements must be sent, AA ammunition reserve checked
extract "Cheerful telegram" from Air Officer Commanding Malta: about 37 enemy aircraft downed in the recent heavy air attacks
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Oliver Lyttelton, 1st Viscount Chandos
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Clement Attlee
place Greece
place Cranborne
place Malta
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

Weekly Resume (No. 73) of the Naval, Military and Air Situation from 12 noon January 16th, to 12 noon January 23rd 1941.

extract Chiefs of Staff: Over 14,000 prisoners taken so far at Tobruk and about 200 guns. "Our casualties were under 500"
person Richard Kiel
place Great Britain
place Freetown
place Somaliland
place Alexandria Troas
place Narvik
place Malta
place Gibraltar
place Tobruk
place Albania
place Africa
place Libya
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Luftwaffe
organisation Scapa
organisation RAF Fighter Command
 

Meeting minutes

extract Eden: Japan has sent an "unpleasant memorandum" over Dutch East Indies. Netherlands government will "play for time"
extract Eden: Balkans situation "disquieting", German divisions in Roumania rising to 20. Greece "frightened" to provoke Germany
extract Eden: Resistance in Eritrea less than expected. Possible we will be able to advance as far as Agordat and threaten Asmara
extract Eden meeting junior ministers. Says German morale remains good but "deteriorating" among troops in occupied territory
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
place Greece
place Russian Empire
place Turkey
place Malta
place Ethiopia
place Eritrea
place Tripoli, Greece
place Bulgaria
place West Germany
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Weekly Resume (No. 74) of the Naval, Military and Air Situation from 12 noon January 23rd, to 12 noon January 30th, 1941.

extract General Dill: Our forces in the Sudan have captured Biscio and are "now pushing on towards Agordat"
extract Air Chief: "There has been less enemy activity this week than at any time since intensive raids began last autumn"
place Freetown
place Aruba
place Portugal
place Iceland
place Sudan
place Malta
place Europe
place Gibraltar
place Kenya
place Alexandria
place Libya
place Tripoli
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Luftwaffe
organisation ING Group
 

Thursday 13th February 1941

Meeting minutes

extract PM directs Japanese vessel Asaka Maru be permitted to travel to Lisbon to "give more time" to consider action to be taken
extract Cadogan: Unconfirmed report all Japanese ships have received orders to return to Japan by the 1st March
extract Cadogan: Yugoslavia seems to be "under German pressure". Report Italian forces in Tripoli being evacuated by sea to Italy
extract PM: Hope Bomber Command realise we do not press for bombing operations to be undertaken when weather unfavourable
extract Air Chief: Fog on 11th rendered landing impossible. Crews ordered to bale out, 22 aircraft lost. All but 5 crew safe
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Andrew Greenwood
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Kingsley Wood
place Cranborne
place Malta
place Kismayo
place Lisbon, New York
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
 

Weekly Resume (No. 76) of the Naval, Military and Air Situation from 12 noon February 6th, to 12 noon February 13th, 1941.

extract Chiefs of Staff: "Waterless and inhospitable" Sirte desert now a very good defence for remaining Italian forces in Libya
place Somaliland
place Iceland
place Liverpool
place Malta
place Kismayo
place Gibraltar
place Stockholm
place Africa
place Bulgaria
place Denmark
place Libya
place Tripoli
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

Oil Position. Monthly Report for January, 1941, submitted by the Secretary for Petroleum.

extract Petroleum Secretary: January oil imports "on a very low level" but expect them to recover to Summer 1940 levels shortly
person Geoffrey Lloyd, Baron Geoffrey-Lloyd
place Greece
place Hong Kong
place Singapore
place Malta
place Kenya
 

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 Cabinet approves non compulsory "thinning out" of coastal towns. PM: "Undesirable to exercise too great pressure"
extract Cabinet votes to approve double summer-time from around 1st May to 8th August. Home Secretary to take necessary steps
extract Admiralty: 19 convoy vessels sunk or damaged off Ireland. PM: Effort against this danger must "be our supreme exertion"
extract Air Chief: RAF bombed Cologne and invasion ports overnight. 1st use of Manchester bombers. 150 fires observed in Cologne
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Ernest Bevin
person Kingsley Wood
person Ernest Brown
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
person Clement Attlee
place Somaliland
place Manchester
place Cranborne
place Malta
place Eritrea
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
 

Monday 3rd March 1941

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet approves public statement on gas weapons. Bevin calls for regular gas mask drill in workshops, offices, schools
extract UK Ambassador in Sofia authorised to break off diplomatic relations and leave Bulgaria as soon as position "impossible"
place Ankara
place Cranborne
place Turkey
place Malta
place Bulgaria
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract Air Chief: Particulars just received of very heavy air attack on Malta yesterday by over 100 German and Italian aircraft
extract Cabinet refuses any Parliamentary debate of lease of British bases to the United States
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person Charles de Gaulle
person Walter Citrine, 1st Baron Citrine
place Jamaica
place Malta
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract Air Chief: Bomber Command sent 255 aircraft overnight to attack targets in Berlin, Hamburg, Bremen, Boulogne and Calais
extract Air Chief: ...In January, 1 in every 110. In March (first 12 days) 1 in 63. Agreed these figures could not be published
extract Air Chief: Measures against night bombing "increasingly effective". In December we destroyed one bomber in every 326...
place Hamburg
place Somaliland
place Liverpool
place Malta
place Gibraltar
place Berlin
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM Menzies to try and arrange meeting with Mr De Valera in Ireland
extract Report received from Belgrade that Yugoslav PM and Foreign Minister leaving tonight for Vienna to sign pact with Germany
extract PM: Royal Navy "stretched to their fullest extent", Home Fleet dispersed. "Undoubtedly serious" but "no cause for alarm"
extract General Haining: Our forces have captured Jarabub in eastern Libya. 800 prisoners taken
person Alexander Cadogan
person Herbert Morrison
person Richard Kiel
place Greece
place Cranborne
place Belgrade
place Malta
place Eritrea
place Vienna
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Madrid, New York
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation Royal Navy
 

Oil Position. Monthly Report for February, 1941, submitted by the Secretary for Petroleum.

extract Petroleum Minister will end "Help your Neighbour" scheme of extra petrol for organised free lifts at the end of the month
person Geoffrey Lloyd, Baron Geoffrey-Lloyd
place South Africa
place Hong Kong
place Malta
place Kenya
place Africa
organisation Royal Air Force
 

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
 

Thursday 3rd April 1941

Meeting minutes

extract General Haining: Some of our forward posts overrun in Libya. Our troops withdrawing to a position north of Agedabia
extract PM: President Roosevelt has allotted funds to build a further 200 ships for us. I stated urgent need for escort vessels
extract Admiralty: The air attack against our shipping was more intense during March than in any previous month
person Alexander Cadogan
person Herbert Morrison
place Greece
place Finland
place Cranborne
place Iceland
place Narvik
place Malta
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

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 Eden: Position of Syria "serious", risk of German paratroop attack. UK to urge Vichy France to defend its territory
extract General Dill: Enemy advancing in Western Desert from Sollum. Have penetrated 5-6 miles across Egyptian frontier
extract General Dill: Evacuation of troops from Greece proceeding. 27,000 evacuated. 13,000 have landed in Crete of 59,000 total
extract Admiralty: British Ambassador to Yugoslavia taken prisoner. Submarine Regent found port of Kotor under enemy occupation
extract Air Chief: RAF bomber used cloud over Emden for 45 minutes this afternoon. 18 500lb bombs dropped, streets machine-gunned
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
place Lancaster, Lancashire
place Greece
place Ankara
place Cranborne
place Turkey
place Malta
place Dakar
place Washington
place Syria
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
organisation House of Commons of Canada
 

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 1st May 1941

Weekly Resume (No. 87) of the Naval, Military and Air Situation from 12 noon April 24th to 12 noon May 1st, 1941.

extract Chiefs of Staff: Iraqi Army concentrated in and around Baghdad. Evidence Raschid Ali may offer resistance to our troops
extract Chiefs of Staff: Every indication Germans see Libya as "theatre of war to which their maximum efforts should be devoted"
extract Chiefs of Staff: "No reliable indications of imminent hostilities" between Germany and USSR, relations somewhat strained
place Aruba
place Greece
place Baghdad
place Iceland
place Liverpool
place Malta
place Europe
place Tobruk
place Tunisia
place Alexandria
place Morocco
place Syria
place Africa
place Libya
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Advanced Micro Devices
 

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)
 

Monday 23rd June 1941

Reports for Month of May 1941 for the Dominions, India, Burma, and the Colonies, Protectorates and Mandated Territories.

extract Dominions Secretary: Germany has expressed regret for "accidental" bombing of Dublin in May. Offered compensation
person Max Aitken, Lord Beaverbrook
place Greece
place Iraq
place Iceland
place Malta
place Gibraltar
place Cyprus
place Syria
place Africa
place Northern Ireland
place Burma
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation Labour Party (UK)
 

Thursday 3rd July 1941

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