Gibraltar

Country

Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of 6.843 square kilometres (2.642 sq mi), it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region. At its foot is the densely populated city ...

Read more at Wikipedia

Documents about Gibraltar

Monday 18th March 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Churchill reports on defences after Scarpa attack. Warns of general feeling “Germans used bombs…we only dropped leaflets”
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Walter Hines Page
person Adolf Hitler
person Winston Churchill
person Neville Chamberlain
place Finland
place Gisborne, New Zealand
place Hong Kong
place Turkey
place Gibraltar
place South America
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
organisation Scapa
organisation Home Fleet
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet told leaflet drops now secondary to air reconnaissance. Danish Attaché: “Extensive damage” done by Sylt attack
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Neville Chamberlain
place Hong Kong
place Paris
place Gibraltar
place Denmark
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
organisation French Army
 

Tuesday 14th May 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Chief of Air Staff has received naval intelligence suggesting Italy “seeking an excuse for entering the war”
extract Lord Halifax urges consideration of possibility of German paratroop attack on Ireland. Eire government to be informed
extract Belgian Ambassador complains British troops moving through Brussels which his government has declared an open city
extract Lord Gort reports “satisfactory” position of British Expeditionary Force. Belgians and French withdrawing to Antwerp line
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
place Halifax Peninsula
place Gibraltar
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Rome
organisation Royal Marines
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet approves process of “thinning out” UK shipping in the Mediterranean in case of attack by Italy
extract BEF Commander reports French considering withdrawal to defensive line. PM to visit France at once to prevent this retreat
extract British occupation of Iceland proceeding. Small force sent North to occupy aerodrome
extract Situation on Western Front “most critical”. French counterattack of vital importance says Chief of Imperial General Staff
extract Urgent request for more fighter aircraft received from French. Four squadrons to be despatched, two more held in reserve
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Franklin D. Roosevelt
person John Dill
place Iceland
place Gibraltar
 

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
 

Saturday 15th June 1940

Plans to meet a certain eventuality: French Colonial Empire and Mandated Territories.

extract Chiefs of Staff circulate suggested strategies to encourage French overseas territories to continue assistance to Britain
person Chiang Kai-shek
place Freetown
place Aruba
place New Caledonia
place Somaliland
place Madagascar
place Iraq
place Caribbean
place Singapore
place Turkey
place Europe
place Gibraltar
place Dakar
place Beirut
place Morocco
place Syria
place Africa
place Newfoundland, Kentucky
place Burma
organisation Minister of Economic Warfare
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 Halifax: Decision “distasteful” but cannot see Cabinet can reach conclusion other than that proposed by Chiefs of Staff
extract Cabinet discuss Channel Islands report. PM: “Repugnant” to abandon territory held by Crown since the Norman Conquest
extract Halifax announces receipt of telegram from Japan threatening war if UK will not immediately comply with a list of demands
extract Halifax reports French colonies may “be willing in most cases to cooperate with us” whatever decided by Petain government
extract Admiralty to make arrangements to embark Polish and Czech troops at French ports and bring them to UK
extract Admiral Darlan: “In no circumstances” will Fleet be surrendered to Germans. Can be got away during negotiations
extract PM: “More encouraging picture” from France. Fighting continuing, French navy has sunk two Italian submarines
extract Air Chief: 120 enemy aircraft over UK last night. Attacks on Cambridgeshire, East Anglia. Nine casualties so far reported
person Andrew Greenwood
person Walter Hines Page
person Maxime Weygand
person Jean Bart
place Great Britain
place Narvik
place Gibraltar
place South America
place East Anglia
place Eritrea
place Kenya
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation French Navy
organisation RAF Fighter Command
organisation 335th Fighter Squadron
 

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 PM: Cannot run “mortal risk” of allowing ships to fall into enemy hands. Rather "we should have to fight and sink them"
extract Cabinet to send appeals directly to French naval officers to secure fleet in spite of French government opposition
person Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope
person Jean Bart
place Gibraltar
place Dakar
place Alexandria
place Syria
organisation Royal Navy
organisation French Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract War Cabinet discussion on UK action against French fleet again inconclusive. French ships in UK ports will be detained
person Jean Bart
place Gibraltar
place Portsmouth
 

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 Most French crew to be returned to France. French Navy's "Communist tendency" means "no reliance" can be placed on them
extract Cabinet cannot decide action toward French fleet. Agree UK must do all it can to capture or scuttle four biggest ships
person Jean Bart
place Gibraltar
place Alexandria
place Portsmouth
organisation French Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet approves evacuation of women and children from Hong Kong. War Secretary to look at UK recruitment in Far East
extract General Dill: Military operations in the Middle East confirm "reluctance of the Italians to fight"
person Walter Hines Page
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Francisco Franco
person Adolf Hitler
place Great Britain
place Russian Empire
place Hong Kong
place Europe
place Gibraltar
place Portsmouth
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Hopatcong High School
organisation Royal Navy
organisation French Navy
organisation French Foreign Legion
 

Visit to French Morocco.

extract Information Minister reports failure in North Africa mission. French "determined we should see nobody of importance"
person Duff Cooper
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
place Gibraltar
place London, Ontario
place Morocco
organisation French Air Force
 

Situation in Algeria and French Morocco.

extract Chiefs of Staff to examine proposal from Information Minister Duff Cooper for an invasion of French Morocco
person Duff Cooper
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
place Gibraltar
place Algeria
place Morocco
place Africa
 

Thursday 4th July 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet agrees French ships encountered on high seas be ordered to heave to and surrender or face being boarded or sunk
person Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope
place Gibraltar
place Alexandria
place Toulon
organisation United Nations
 

Meeting minutes

extract "Energetic protest" from French Embassy over UK naval action. Warns situation so grave "impossible to foretell" response
extract PM to send personal telegram to President Roosevelt making "further strong appeal" for US to supply destroyers to Britain
extract Dominions Secretary informs Cabinet that Eire government will "turn a blind eye" to UK ships in Irish territorial waters
extract Lord Halifax registers "disfavour" at Cabinet's view that Burma Road should be closed. Believes Japanese position "bluff"
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Stafford Cripps
person John Maffey, 1st Baron Rugby
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
person Chiang Kai-shek
place Great Britain
place Halifax Peninsula
place Singapore
place Gibraltar
place Republic of China
place Burma
organisation Home Office
organisation Hopatcong High School
organisation Morning Star (UK newspaper)
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet told French cruiser accidentally sunk without warning yesterday. UK to apologise and restate warning policy
extract Cabinet agrees to pause overseas evacuation of UK children. Vessels cannot be escorted and so are at too great a risk
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Samuel Hoare
person Richard Kiel
person Clement Attlee
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
person Chiang Kai-shek
place Great Britain
place Hamburg
place Halifax Peninsula
place North America
place Gibraltar
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Portsmouth
organisation Home Office
organisation Luftwaffe
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
organisation Government of Canada
 

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 French Charge d'Affaires lodges formal protest against “irregular and unnecessary” segregation of French missions to UK
extract Cabinet approves Home Security plan to modify UK air raid warning system to carry on factory production during air attack
extract Air Secretary: Germans may be using captured Hurricanes from Belgium and France in air attacks on UK
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Robert Vansittart, 1st Baron Vansittart
place Halifax Peninsula
place Gibraltar
place Morocco
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Fighter Command
 

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 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
 

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
 

Naval measures proposed to effect Contraband Control of the West Coast of Europe and North West Africa.

extract Despite "considerable difficulties" Admiralty widening naval blockade to entire western seaboard of Europe and NW Africa
place Portugal
place Europe
place Gibraltar
place London, Ontario
place Africa
organisation United States Department of State
organisation Minister of Economic Warfare
 

Sunday 4th August 1940

Operation "Scipio".

extract Cabinet to discuss plan for Operation Scipio. General de Gaulle and Free French to attempt occupation of Dakar, Senegal
person Charles de Gaulle
person Edward Spears
place Gibraltar
place Dakar
place Nigeria
place Africa
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Assistance to the Dutch in event of Japanese aggression in Netherlands East Indies.

extract Chiefs predict Japan would suffer "commercial ruin" with a year of UK/US sanctions. Confronting both "highly improbable"
place Singapore
place Europe
place Gibraltar
place Thailand
organisation Hopatcong High School
organisation United States Navy
organisation Minister of Economic Warfare
organisation United States Army
 

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 Halifax: Despite Foreign Minister's denials "good deal of evidence" Japan intends invasion of French Indo-China
extract Halifax: Japan tension has "certainly relaxed". Considering release of one or two Japanese, third party mediation
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Clement Attlee
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
place Finland
place Moscow
place Gibraltar
place West Germany
organisation Home Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract Inquiry to be held into the selection of aliens for passage on the Arandora Star and conditions at Huyton Internment Camp
extract Air Chief: Air casualties yesterday 25, 60 enemy confirmed. Number of raids currently in progress including on Portsmouth
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 Charles de Gaulle
person Clement Attlee
person William Anderson (RAAF officer)
place Somaliland
place Isle of Portland
place Gibraltar
place Toulon
organisation Home Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax to assure Greek government UK will provide "immediate military and financial help" in event of attack by Italy
extract PM concerned at "heavy" merchant shipping losses, "serious" if they continue at this rate. Admiralty planning new tactics
extract Air raid casualty figures "fairly heavy". Cabinet agrees release: total "not high" compared to peace-time road casualties
extract Air Chief: Germans unload bombs whether or not targets located. RAF ordered to return bombs if targets cannot be located
extract Air Chief: Weather prevented some aircraft locating their target last night in mission to bomb military targets in Berlin
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person Clement Attlee
place South Africa
place Athens
place Greece
place Gibraltar
place Burma
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

M. Baudouin's Speech.

extract Vichy Minister Paul Baudouin replies to PM's Commons speech. Accuses PM of dedicating "the world to an enslaved struggle"
person Winston Churchill
place Somaliland
place Europe
place Gibraltar
place Syria
 

Wednesday 11th September 1940

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 Swiss to issue further "stiff protest" over RAF violations of their airspace. Foreign Office and Air Ministry to discuss
extract Home Secretary "most grateful" for the increased support. City of London has escaped serious damage two nights running
extract Air Secretary: London anti-aircraft defence "being more than doubled". Third of raiders turned back by barrage last night
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Clement Attlee
place Turin
place Gibraltar
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet tells De Gaulle: "We cannot judge...from here". Gives Commanders full authority to go ahead with attack on Dakar
person Charles de Gaulle
place Libreville
place Gibraltar
place Dakar
 

Situation in Spain.

extract UK Embassy Madrid: Germany now "rather desperate about Spain". Spanish obstinate,"our wonderful fight is impressing them"
person Charles de Gaulle
person Francisco Franco
person Winston Churchill
place Portugal
place Gibraltar
place Morocco
organisation Air Force F.C.
 

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
 

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
 

Policy towards the Vichy Government.

extract Admiralty urges an end to conflict with Vichy: "Our naval strength is already inadequate for fighting Germany and Italy"
place Gibraltar
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
organisation United States Navy
 

Tuesday 1st October 1940

Meeting minutes

extract PM: Agree principle of talks but not "a golden opportunity". Should protect de Gaulle, "assist in any movement" he starts
extract Halifax proposes Vichy talks to secure "healthily anti-German" France. "Not vital" whether Colonies to Vichy or de Gaulle
person Charles de Gaulle
person Samuel Hoare
place Great Britain
place Madrid
place Cairo
place Libreville
place Gibraltar
place Morocco
place Africa
organisation United States Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax to examine ways UK can inconvenience Japan "without ceasing to act politely". Trade interference already begun
extract PM: Reports of "indescribable conditions" in public shelter in Stepney. "Drastic action" called for to make building safe
extract Home Secretary: Outside London "most serious attacks" on Manchester. "Lucky hits" on railways. Details not yet available
extract Air Chief: 250 enemy aircraft attacked overnight. London main objective also Midlands, S.Wales. Oil plant at Purfleet hit
person Anthony Eden
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Charles de Gaulle
person Samuel Hoare
person Clement Attlee
place South Africa
place Somaliland
place Gibraltar
place Berlin
place Morocco
organisation Home Office
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: "Normal rules" do not apply to our relations with France at present. We may have to "interfere with French convoys"
extract Churchill and Halifax disagree over UK attitude to France. Halifax: We should not interfere with Colonies favouring Vichy
person Charles de Gaulle
person Winston Churchill
place Gibraltar
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM orders ships to be diverted from anti-invasion duties to convoy escort. Winter weather renders invasion "not likely"
extract Air Chief: Only serious damage to De Havilland aircraft factory. All our own operations cancelled due to poor visibility
extract Air Chief: Enemy activity "on a much reduced scale" in past 24 hours, 80 aircraft during the day, 60 overnight
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 Charles de Gaulle
person Herbert Morrison
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
place Great Britain
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Europe
place Gibraltar
place Dakar
place Madrid, New York
organisation Home Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM Churchill: "Intolerable that any newspaper should indulge in criticism and abuse...in a time of great national peril"
extract PM complains of "dangerous and sinister" Press criticism. Accuses HG Wells and Editors of advocating a "surrender peace"
extract PM argues with Halifax over "appeasement of Vichy". UK should "retaliate by bombarding Casablanca" if Gibraltar attacked
extract Halifax: Reports Herr Ribbentrop's Rome visit had "object of keeping Italy in the war". Our bombing having "great effect"
extract USA has inquired about use of Singapore "in the event of trouble in the Far East". PM: Japan has made "great" mistake
person Anthony Eden
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 Joachim von Ribbentrop
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Madrid
place Tangier
place Singapore
place Gibraltar
place Morocco
place Rome
place Libya
organisation Daily Mirror
 

The Blockade and French West Africa.

extract Economic Warfare Minister calls for tightening of blockade on Vichy. UK has drifted "into a sort of half surrender"
person Hugh Dalton
place Europe
place Gibraltar
place Dakar
place South America
place Africa
organisation Minister of Economic Warfare
 

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
 

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
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM Churchill: We are "straining every nerve" to counter night bombing. "The people of this country must stick it out."
extract Cabinet concerned civilians in London beginning to wonder if UK "hitting back hard enough at Germany" in bombing attacks
extract PM blocks moving more ships to protect NW Approaches. Intelligence German plans for invasion "still moving forward"
extract Admiralty: Sweep by HMS Ajax has sunk 3 Italian destroyers. Italian claims to have damaged one of our cruisers untrue
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Herbert Morrison
person Stafford Cripps
person William Patrick Stuart-Houston
person Kingsley Wood
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
person Andrew Duncan
place Russian Empire
place East Germany
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Moscow
place Turkey
place Gibraltar
place Berlin
place Northern Ireland
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation Royal Air Force
 

Meeting minutes

extract Admiralty: UK cannot currently assemble strong fleet at Straits of Gibraltar. Again urge "tolerable agreement" with Vichy
extract Halifax opposes bombing Vichy if France attacks Gibraltar. Ambassador authorised to deliver this "threat" to deter attack
extract "Serious damage" to Treasury overnight in London bombing. "Minor scale of attack on Birmingham and Liverpool"
extract Air Chief: All overnight UK bomber missions cancelled due to adverse weather. Equipment for landings in fog being fitted
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Walter Hines Page
person Stafford Cripps
person Samuel Hoare
person Ernest Bevin
person Kingsley Wood
person Bob Kerslake
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
place Newcastle upon Tyne
place Cranborne
place Hong Kong
place Gibraltar
place Dakar
place Africa
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation ING Group
 

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
 

Gibraltar Evacuees.

extract Ministers urge 10,000 Gibraltar evacuees be moved to West Indies. "Very strong reasons against" their stay in London
place Caribbean
place Jamaica
place Gibraltar
organisation Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (Netherlands)
 

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 rejects New Zealand request for air support. UK will supply up-to-date aircraft as soon as it can manage to do so
extract PM: Neither UK "nor the Americans" have received any news on talks between Germany and Vichy. Position "extraordinary"
extract Halifax: General Metaxas asks for our "immediate help" to defend Corfu by sea and Athens by air and for financial aid
extract Cabinet told of unconfirmed reports Athens bombed, 10 Italian divisions ("perhaps 200,000 men") moving into Greece
extract Admiralty: Germans have adopted acoustic mines. Experts "working day and night" to discover secret of these new mines
extract Admiralty: Enemy minelaying taking place on considerable scale in Home Waters. Most ports temporarily closed most nights
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 Herbert Morrison
person Kingsley Wood
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
place Kassala
place Athens
place Greece
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Gibraltar
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation British Army
 

Friday 1st November 1940

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 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 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
 

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 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 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 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
 

Spain.

extract Chiefs of Staff report on consequences of Spain entering Axis. Tell Cabinet "everything should be done" to prevent this
person Samuel Hoare
person Francisco Franco
place Portugal
place Slovakia
place Gibraltar
place Madrid, New York
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

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
 

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 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
 

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 Morrison: Glasgow tramworkers refusing to work after "alert" sounded. Minister of Labour to take what action he can
extract Cabinet agrees to make further concessions to USA in Caribbean. Colonial Secretary: This will "lead to major friction"
extract PM Churchill: President's speech yesterday "satisfactory". US committed to "implacable hostility and resistance" to Axis
extract Eden: US Naval Attaché Berlin has given a "depressing account" of the lack of success of our bombing raids on Berlin
extract Morrison: Recent raid on Manchester and last night's attack make it clear our firewatching organisation is "inadequate"
extract PM Churchill: "Fullest publicity should be given to the damage caused". No military objectives were aimed at
extract Morrison: Overnight damage to London comparable in severity to 7th September raid. Over 300 casualties
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person Herbert Morrison
person Telesforo Trinidad
place City of London
place Plymouth
place Hungary
place Bermuda
place Caribbean
place Manchester, New Hampshire
place Liverpool
place Gibraltar
place Berlin
organisation Home Office
organisation Minister of Economic Warfare
organisation United States Congress
 

Thursday 2nd January 1941

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet approves Chancellor's plan of economic action against Eire. Irish food imports and shipping to be disrupted
extract American Naval Attaché in London to be informed of defects in US supplied Destroyers. President not to be told directly
extract President expects financial aid bill for UK to be passed around February 15th. Possible to meet our payments until then
extract President Roosevelt proposes sending Red Cross food aid to France and Spain. PM: Not politically possible to oppose this
extract General Heywood reports "very rigorous conditions" on Greek Front causing frostbite but Greek forces "in very good heart"
extract Air Chief: Last night's attack on Bremen appears "from preliminary reports to have been highly successful"
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 Herbert Morrison
person Ernest Bevin
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
person Frederick Marquis, 1st Earl of Woolton
place South Africa
place Greece
place Cranborne
place Gibraltar
place Washington
organisation Home Office
organisation International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
 

Meeting minutes

extract Eden: News from Bulgaria "disquieting". A number of indications government coming "under strong pressure from Germany"
extract PM: Attack "brilliantly executed", casualties "extraordinarily small". No need to emphasise there was not "much fighting"
extract General Dill: 25,000 prisoners taken at capture of Bardia "including 2 Corps Commanders and 4 Senior Generals"
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
place Gibraltar
place Albania
place Bulgaria
place West Germany
place Libya
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet approves seizure of 4 French ships. Vessels to be held until Vichy releases Allied vessels held in French ports
extract Admiralty: Attacks on UK shipping now "on a greatly reduced scale" due to wintry weather and "our protective measures"
extract Unconfirmed reports Gazala (30 miles west of Tobruk) abandoned by the enemy. 35 enemy aircraft "burnt out and abandoned"
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Hugh Dalton
person Ernest Bevin
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
person Leo Amery
place Cranborne
place Gibraltar
place Tobruk
place Burma
organisation Home Office
 

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
 

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
 

Wednesday 5th February 1941

Meeting minutes

extract Admiralty: Italian convoys using French territorial waters. Cabinet agrees enemy ships in Med. area may be sunk on sight
place Gibraltar
organisation Air Force F.C.
 

Meeting minutes

extract Foreign Secretary Eden to consult President Roosevelt on whether to detain the Asaka Maru at "the risk of war" with Japan
extract PM Churchill: In what way should our forces in the Middle East now be employed?
extract Admiralty: 24,000 tons of merchant shipping lost since last report made to the War Cabinet
person Anthony Eden
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Duff Cooper
person Francisco Franco
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
person Kingsley Wood
person Ernest Brown
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
place Cranborne
place Gibraltar
place Republic of China
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation House of Lords
organisation Parliament 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
 

Action to be taken against Enemy Submarines taking refuge in Spanish Territorial Waters.

extract Admiralty requests permission to chase enemy submarines into Spanish territorial waters. "Not proposed" to inform Spain
place Gibraltar
place Morocco
 

Tuesday 4th March 1941

Meeting minutes

extract PM Churchill: "If resolutely tackled over the next four months, the position should show great improvement"
extract PM Churchill: "Above all, the offensive spirit must be retained in meeting the enemy's attacks on our merchant shipping"
extract PM Churchill: This is the Battle of the Atlantic which must be fought out in the shipyards and the docks, and on the seas
extract PM describes measures being taken to improve shipping situation, reduce the volume of merchant shipping awaiting repair
extract General Wavell predicts "difficulties" for German forces "if they tried to stage an early offensive against Cyrenaica"
extract Admiralty: Preliminary reports indicate raid against the Lofoten Islands "proceeding satisfactorily"
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
place Gibraltar
place Tripoli, Greece
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
organisation Minister of Economic Warfare
 

Meeting minutes

extract Shortage of jam "a serious matter" says PM Churchill. Rationing of other foods drives "people to consume more bread"
place Cranborne
place Gibraltar
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
 

Policy towards Vichy Shipping.

extract Shipping Minister demands Vichy reciprocate food aid shipments by returning two UK vessels "with cargo that we require"
place New York, Lincolnshire
place Gibraltar
place Morocco
 

Meeting minutes

extract Eden to warn Italy any attempt to scuttle ships at Massawa will result in UK ceasing food shipments to Eritrea, Abyssinia
extract President Roosevelt has sent details of first allotments under Lease and Lend Act. 180 'planes, 5,500 Oerlikon guns...
extract PM: Have telegraphed congratulations to Sir Andrew Cunningham and Sir Arthur Longmore on this fortunate and timely action
extract Admiralty: 3 enemy cruisers and 2 destroyers sunk and an Italian battleship torpedoed at Matapan. Our losses two aircraft
person Stafford Cripps
person Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope
place Greece
place Russian Empire
place Cranborne
place Gibraltar
place Africa
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Ministry of Supply
organisation United States Navy
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Friday 2nd May 1941

Gibraltar: Further evacuation of civilians.

extract Colonial Secretary seeks permission to evacuate 4,000 civilians from Gibraltar to UK. Minister of Health suggests Jamaica
place Jamaica
place Gibraltar
 

Meeting minutes

extract Eden: Iraqi Ambassador told if matters continue his country will "be at war with the whole of the British Empire"
extract Morrison: Other places attacked during the last four nights include Portsmouth, Tyneside, Barrow-in-Furness and Belfast
extract Morrison: Merseyside has suffered air attacks for 4 nights. Repeated attacks on towns "present many difficult problems"
extract General Dill: We are holding perimeter of Tobruk except part of west side. Germans using flamethrowers for first time
person Alexander Cadogan
person Herbert Morrison
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
place Ankara
place Baghdad
place Iraq
place Jamaica
place Gibraltar
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Libya
place Portsmouth
organisation Home Office
organisation United States Department of State
 

Monday 16th June 1941

Meeting minutes

extract War Cabinet informed German concentration against Russia proceeding and "should be by now nearly complete"
extract General Dill: "No reason to be dissatisfied with the progress made" although a number of tanks put out of action by mines
extract General Dill: Attack in Western Desert underway. Enemy at Halfaya still resisting. Fort Capuzzo, Bir Waer in our hands
person Alexander Cadogan
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
place Portugal
place Russian Empire
place Cranborne
place Turkey
place Gibraltar
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
 

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)
 

Gibraltar - Emergency Evacuation.

extract Chiefs of Staff request greater powers for Governor and Commander-in-Chief, Gibraltar in event of emergency evacuation
place Madrid
place Gibraltar
 

Meeting minutes

extract Attlee to nominate representatives from industry for Mission to United States. "Very unfortunate" details leaked to Press
extract Eden: Russians have bombed Finnish aerodromes. Prospects of Finnish neutrality being maintained "not very bright"
extract Eden: Spanish government apologises, promises compensation for damage to British Embassy Madrid in "organised riot"
extract General Dill: "Stiff fighting in Syria". Damascus and Merjayoun now in our hands. Have advanced 10-12 miles toward Beirut
extract General Dill: No first-hand information from USSR. Germans making some progress but Old Russian frontier not yet reached
person Walter Hines Page
person Duff Cooper
person Walter Citrine, 1st Baron Citrine
person Sumner Welles
place Finland
place Cranborne
place Madrid
place Moscow
place Turkey
place Gibraltar
place London, Ontario
place Beirut
place Syria
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Madrid, New York
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Hopatcong High School
organisation House of Lords
 

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