Posted on 08/01/2010 5:08:57 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
William L. Shirer, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich
Winston S. Churchill, Their Finest Hour
http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1940/aug40/f01aug40.htm
Germans set to invade Britain in 2 months
Thursday, August 1, 1940 www.onwar.com
From Berlin... Hitler issues his Directive 17 on the invasion of Britain. The army plans have now been revised to take some note of naval problems and on account of these it is laid down that preparations are to be complete by September 15th for the operation to take place between the 19th and 26th. The order is to be given about 14 days after the main Luftwaffe offensive to gain air supremacy has begun.
In Tokyo... A public policy declaration is made concerning Japan’s support for a “New Order” in East Asia.
In the English Channel... There are German attacks on shipping.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/01.htm
August 1st, 1940
UNITED KINGDOM: RAF Bomber Command:
4 Group (Whitley).Bombing - oil refinery at Dusseldorf.
58 Sqn. Seven aircraft. One returned early, four bombed primary, one bombed an alternative target.
102 Sqn. Eight aircraft. Five bombed primary, three bombed alternatives.
RAF Fighter Command: Weather, fine, haze.
Luftwaffe attacks shipping off south and east coasts.
Norwich (aircraft factory, Boulton Paul) is attacked.
At night Luftwaffe bombs South Wales and the Midlands.
Losses: Luftwaffe, 9 aircraft; RAF 1 aircraft.
Submarine HMS Tuna commissioned.
Destroyer HMS Cattistock commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)
NORTH SEA: Submarine HMS Spearfish on patrol in the North Sea is torpedoed by U-34 and sunk 180 miles WSW of Stavanger. It is U-34s last remaining torpedo. The U-boat surfaced to look for survivors and found AB William Peter (on his first patrol) who was the only survivor of the sinking, 29 becoming casualties.
HMS Narwhal is paid off the same day. After leaving the Humber on 22 July for a minelaying mission off Norway, she fails to return.
German submarine U-25 is sunk in the North Sea, north of Terchelling, by a British mine in position 54.14N, 05.07E. All hands, 49 men, are lost.
Mine barrage Field No 7. was laid by the destroyers HMS Express, Esk, Icarus and Impulsive in the North Sea on 3 March, 1940. It probably accounted for several U-boats on their inbound or return journey. (Alex Gordon)
NETHERLANDS: The Hague: A Luftwaffe conference is held to plan the invasion of Britain.
GERMANY: Hitler sets the date for the invasion of Britain at 15 September, and issues his directive no 17 ordering intensification of the air war from 5 August.
OKW issues Führer Directive #17: In order to establish the necessary conditions for the conquest of England, air and sea warfare will be intensified against the English homeland.
(i) The Luftwaffe is to overpower the RAF with all the forces at its command. The attacks are to be directed primarily against flying units, their ground installations, and their supply organizations. The aircraft industry (including anti-aircraft production) should also be targeted.
(ii) After local air superiority is won, the air war will continue against ports and stores of food and provisions. Damage to ports on the south coast must be minimized in view of our future operations.
(iii) Attacks on enemy warships and shipping may be reduced in order to concentrate on above mentioned operations. Operations should be carried out such that air support can be called upon for urgent naval activity, or an invasion, at any time.
(iv) The Führer reserves the right to order terror attacks as measures of reprisal.
(v) Intensified air and sea operations should begin on or after 5th August, weather permitting. (Marc Roberts)
U-96 launched.
U-575, U-576, U-577, U-578 laid down. (Dave Shirlaw)
PORTUGAL: Lisbon: The Duke and Duchess of Windsor left here today aboard the US liner Excalibur after the collapse of a Nazi plot to pressure them into leading peace moves against the duke’s brother, King George, and Churchill. The couple, who were living in France, fled to Spain when the Germans invaded and went on to Lisbon. At von Ribbentrop’s request, the Falangist Miguel Primo de Rivera contacted the Duke and was gratified to be told that Churchill was a warmonger. Rivera suggested that the Duke might again be King. “Oh, no”, said the Duke, “That would be unconstitutional!”
MEDITERRANEAN SEA: Submarine HMS Oswald on patrol south of the Strait of Messina reports Italian Navy movements. She is detected and later rammed and sunk by Italian destroyer ‘Ugolini Vivaldi’ off Cap Spartivento.
The RN submarine makes no attempt to escape or to attack the Italian ship, possibly because the commander suffers from night blindness when he is suddenly called to the bridge. The RN commander (who ordered abandon ship BEFORE the ramming occurred, when Vivaldi was 100 yards away) is court martialled on 5 charges for the loss of his ship and found to have been negligent in performing his duties. He is sentenced to forfeit all seniority as a lieutenant commander, to be dismissed and to be severely reprimanded. There were 3 casualties, but 52 of the crew survived to become POW. (Alex Gordon)
(Mark Horan) HMS Argus reaches the intended flying off position for the RAF reinforcements for Malta. At the pre-flight briefing, the RAF pilots are shocked to discover that distance to Malta is well beyond the capability of their aircraft. Acknowledging their willingness to follow orders, they casually bring up the point that plunking the 12 Hurricanes in the Mediterranean Sea can hardly be the desired goal of their lordships. Unwilling to take the pilots word for their aircrafts capability, a series of hasty messages are dispatched to England; the answers subsequently verify that the RAF pilots assessment of the their aircraft is correct. Having already been discovered by Italian reconnaissance planes, this means that the need for HMS Argus to close Malta will entail heavy risk as the flight must be delayed until the morrow.
Sure enough, later that afternoon the expected attacks from Regia Aeronautica units based in Sardinia develop, but numerous interceptions by HMS Ark Royal’s Skua II fighter aircraft of both 800 and 803 Squadrons down one contact plane and chase off another, then break up the actual attacks while downing an S-79. No damage is sustained by the RN.
Now, as in the future, cover is provided by force H. The opportunity is taken for HMS Ark Royal’s aircraft to hit Sardinian targets.
Submarine HMS Oswald is rammed and sunk by Italian destroyer Ugolino Vivaldi. The RN submarine makes no attempt to escape or to attack the Italian ship, possibly because the commander suffers from night blindness when he is suddenly called to the bridge. The RN commander (who ordered abandon ship BEFORE the ramming occurred, when Vivaldi was 100 yards away) is court martialled on 5 charges for the loss of his ship and found to have been negligent in performing his duties. He is sentenced to forfeit all seniority as a lieutenant commander, to be dismissed and to be severely reprimanded. There were 3 casualties, but 52 of the crew survived to become POW. (Alex Gordon)(108)
AUSTRALIA: Minesweeper HMAS Bathurst launched. (Dave Shirlaw)
U.S.A.: The book “While England Slept,” written by 23-year-old John Fitzgerald Kennedy as his senior essay for Harvard, is published. This, his first book, describes England’s lack of readiness for WWII. (Jack McKillop)
Destroyer USS Niblack commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)
ATLANTIC OCEAN: At 0345, the unescorted Sigyn was hit in aft part by one torpedo from U-59 and sank by the stern with a sharp list. The ship had been spotted at 0157 and missed with two torpedoes at 0217 and 0343. (Dave Shirlaw)
http://worldwar2daybyday.blogspot.com/
Day 336 August 1, 1940
Battle of Britain Day 23. In the morning, a photo reconnaissance Spitfire notices a build-up of German aircraft at an airfield on the Cotentin Peninsula, Northern France. At 3.40 PM, 13 Blenheim bombers of 59 Squadron bomb the airfield causing some damage, escorted by 10 Blenheim fighters of 236 Squadron. 1 bomber and 2 fighters do not return from the mission, possibly shot down by anti-aircraft fire or German fighters. At the same time, 30 He111s reach Norwich unopposed, as no RAF fighters are scrambled to intercept, and bomb Boulton-Paul Aircraft Works and Norwich railway station (6 civilians killed, 54 injured).
Hitler issues Directive 17 ordering intensified air attacks to begin on August 5 “to establish the necessary conditions for the final conquest of England”. Notably, “attacks on the South coast ports will be made on the smallest possible scale, in view of our own forthcoming operations”. http://www.battleofbritain1940.net/document-27.html
2 British submarines are sunk. HMS Spearfish is spotted on the surface by U-34 halfway between Aberdeen and Stavanger. U-34 is returning from patrol and sinks Spearfish at 7.04 PM with her last torpedo (41 killed). 1 survivor Able Seaman William Pester is picked up by U-34 and taken prisoner. Overnight, HMS Oswald, a leaky WWI-era submarine, is charging batteries and carrying out routine maintenance on the surface 15 miles South of Sardinia. Italian destroyer Ugolino Vivaldi spots Oswald at 2.5 km ramming her and sinking her with depth charges. After 2 hours, 52 survivors are pulled from the water by Vivaldi and taken prisoner but 3 men die. http://www.secondworldwar.org.uk/britsuboswald.html http://www.shipsnostalgia.com/showthread.php?t=24299
Italian submarine Goffredo Mameli sinks Greek steamer Roula 40 miles South of Crete (all crew rescued). U-59 hunts Swedish steamer Sigyn (carrying 765 fathoms of pit props to Sunderland, England) from 2.15 to 3.45 AM, finally sinking her with the third torpedo 60 miles Northwest of Ireland (all crew rescued).
http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/443.html
U-60 has a lucky escape off Norway. Dutch submarine O-21 misses U-60 with 2 torpedoes from 2 km. O-22, O-21’s sister ship, also spots U-60 but is too far away to attack.
Royal Navy begins Operation Hurry transporting 12 Hurricanes on aircraft carrier HMS Argus to reinforce the garrison on Malta. HMS Argus is part of Admiral Somerville’s Force H from Gibraltar with battlecruiser HMS Hood, battleship HMS Valiant, aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, cruisers HMS Arethusa & Enterprise and 10 destroyers. Admiral Cunningham’s Mediterranean fleet leaves Alexandria, Egypt, to conduct diversionary maneuvers around the Greek island of Crete.
The NYT showing it’s colors? Two armed ships battle in the Atlantic. The British one is called ‘an armed merchant ship’. The German one is a ‘commerce raider’.
Ah the good old days. We didn’t have to worry about family care plans or day care centers at Fort Bragg. Back in the days when most families had a young man serving (or who would serve) in the military, unless it was the Byrd, Romney, etc. family.
"Semi-official comment released tonight by the German news agency, D.N.B., emphatically rejects 'any impression that may prevail in the world that Germany is waging war against Britain only half-heartedly.' 'Nothing,' it is stated 'could be more false than any such interpretation of the warfare the Reich has waged against England since the armistice was concluded with the French.'
"'The war against England,' it is stated, 'is being conducted just as determinedly and just as confidently as it was against Poland and against France. In this case, however, the burden of waging war rests on the shoulders of only a few men, the crews of U-boats, speed-boats and airplanes...' "
Does this official denial strike anyone else as being more that a bit, well, odd?
Well, did the British ship raid commerce?
Did the German ship carry merchandise?
In this context, decidedly odd. What it reminds me of is the case where a conservative activist goes on a news show or writes an opinion piece accusing the RNC of waging a weak defense of their supposed principles. A party hack responds by saying something like, they are really working hard behind the scenes to build support within the big tent for whatever cause it is they happen to be selling out at the moment.
So, business as usual in politics. But you know the pols are lying, and so are the Germans. If they were going all out against the British their invasion plan would be a lot further along.
Date: 1 August 1940
Enemy action by day
Enemy activity was on a reduced scale and mostly consisted of reconnaissances and raids by single aircraft or small formations. Shipping was attacked and one land target was bombed. Our fighters shot down four enemy aircraft (one confirmed and three unconfirmed).
South and West
Trawlers south of Selsey Bill were attacked early in the morning. Our fighters failed to intercept.
During the day small formations approached Beachy Head and the Isle of Wight, but turned away on the sighting of our fighters. Enemy reconnaissances in the Channel extended to North-West of Cornwall.
South and South-East
Several raids of three plus aircraft flew towards Dungeness; one of these raids was intercepted at 1450 hours by No 145 Squadron (Hurricanes) and one Hs126 and one Ju88 (both unconfirmed) were shot down. We lost one Hurricane.
Off the East Coast four enemy reconnaissances for shipping were reported during the morning and three calls for help were received from convoys. Unfavourable weather prevented interceptions.
In the afternoon following several reconnaissances, a convoy was attacked off Yarmouth and our fighters contacted the enemy successfully. No 242 Squadron (Hurricanes) shot down one Ju88 (confirmed) and one He111 (unconfirmed).
At 1512 hours bombs were dropped on Norwich by one aircraft. From the reports available there is little doubt that this was a hostile Blenheim. Some damage was done in a railway goods yard and two timber yards were set on fire.
North East
Only two raids were plotted - probably Zenit flights.
France
The usual tracks were plotted off the coast between Cherbourg and Boulogne.
By night
Activity has not been heavy, only sporadic raids being plotted. Raids have, however, been over more widespread areas than usual, many parts of the country having been either under red or purple warning at some time during the night.
There appears to have been minelaying in the Thames Estuary and off the North-East and Scottish coasts. Some of the raids off the Scottish coast crossed inland and dropped bombs at or near Montrose, Dundee, Haddington, Armadale and Duns.
Single raids crossed the East Anglian coast, bombs being dropped near Peterborough, Stradishall and Newmarket. [Enemy aircraft] reached the Midlands, bombs being dropped near Leeds, and penetrated to Sealand, Liverpool and Coventry. One raid which appeared over Glasgow, passed south over Cumberland. Others passed in over Weymouth towards Bristol and Cardiff areas.
Other bombs are reported at or near the following: -
Brighton, Leighton Buzzard, Milford haven, Isle of Grain and Middlesborough.
________________________________________
Statistics
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 1 August 1940
Casualties:
Patrols:
Balloons:
Aerodromes:
Organisation:
Air Intelligence Reports
Home Security Reports
It will be interesting to learn if the allies ever make similar sounding statements -- assuming, that is, they someday decide to launch a return invasion of Hitler's Europe. ;-)
Not exactly a lot of German commerce to raid on the high seas.
Did the German ship carry merchandise?
It's my recollection that they generally used prize ships to get the booty home.
And the purpose of the armed German ship was to raid commerce on the high seas.
Much as I hate to defend the New York Times -- even back in 1940 they were too liberal for my tastes -- it seems that in this example they did describe those armed ships accurately, doesn't it?
Btw, if I remember right, many if not most merchant ships in those days were armed to some degree or another.
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