BRITISH SEIZE 1,000 ITALIANS IN SUDDEN THRUST IN EGYPT; GREEKS WIN NEW POSITIONS (12/10/40)

Microfilm-New York Times archives, Monterey Public Library | 12/10/40 | Hugh Byas, A.C. Sedgwick, G.E.R. Gedye

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents World War II Plus 70 Years: Seminar and Discussion Forum
First session: September 1, 2009. Last date to add: September 2, 2015.
Reading assignment: New York Times articles delivered daily to students on the 70th anniversary of original publication date. (Previously posted articles can be found by searching on keyword “realtime” Or view Homer’s posting history .)
To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by freepmail. Those on the Realtime +/- 70 Years ping list are automatically enrolled. Course description, prerequisites and tuition information is available at the bottom of Homer’s profile. Also visit our general discussion thread

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Selections from West Point Atlas for the Second World War
North Africa, 1940: Graziani’s Advance and Wavell’s Offensive, 13 September 1940-7 February 1941 (Map 34a)
Marcks’ Plan, August 5, 1940
The Mediterranean Basin (Map 33)
The Far East and the Pacific, 1941 – The Imperial Powers, 1 September 1939

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Gordon W. Prange, At Dawn We Slept

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Desert Battle On – 2-3
The International Situation – 4
Matsuoka Doubts Conflict with U.S. – 4-5
Greeks Now Hold Fourth of Albania – 5-6
Reich Said to bar Air Help to Italy – 7
The Texts of the Day’s War Communiques – 8

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1940/dec40/f10dec40.htm

British capture Sidi Barrani

Tuesday, December 10, 1940 www.onwar.com

In North Africa... Sidi Barrani falls to the British attack. There are 20,000 prisoners already in the offensive. The coast road to the west has been cut by 7th Armored Division at Buq Buq.

In Washington... Roosevelt announces an extension of the export-license system. Iron ore, pig iron and many important iron and steel manufactures are brought within the system. Like previous measures this is aimed at Japan. The changes come into effect at the end of the year.

From Berlin... OKW issues a directive ordering the transfer of German 10th Fliegerkorps to south Italy and Sicily. Field Marshal Milch has been in Rome during the last few days to discuss the measures to help the Italian navy.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/10.htm

December 10th, 1940

UNITED KINGDOM:
London:
Two Nazi spies, Jose Waldberg and Carl Meier, are the first people to be executed since the start of the war. They were hanged today in Pentonville jail in London.
The pair landed in this country several weeks ago with a radio transmitter, English money and some iron rations. They planned to spend the nights hiding in the woods, and their days collecting information - from the unwary public in trains, pubs and buffets, and by observation of military bases.
An anti-espionage officer reported that, though Waldberg had been motivated by patriotism, his companion, Meier, was only interested in the money.
RAF Bomber Command: 2 Group: Four Blenheims of 105 Sqn., bomb the Focke-Wulf factory at Bremen, 1 enemy night fighter ‘probably’ shot down.

GERMANY: Berlin: Hitler issues a directive for the seizure of French military resources and the future occupation of Vichy France (Operation Attila), and cancels plans to invade Gibraltar via Spain (Operation Felix).

U-125 launched. (Dave Shirlaw)

NORTH AFRICA: General O’Connor’s advance is delayed by a sandstorm. Wavell in the meantime withdraws the 4th Indian Division and sends it to the Sudan where he expects an attack.
Mersa Matruh: At first light the Coldstream Guards assault the Italian positions, supported by heavy fire from the sea. Fighting continues all day and by 10 p.m. the Coldstream battalion HQ signalled that it was impossible to count the number of prisoners, but that “there were about five acres of officers and 200 acres of other ranks.”

AUSTRALIA: Minesweeper HMAS Ballarat launched. (Dave Shirlaw)

U.S.A.: Washington: Roosevelt announces that the export licence system will be extended to include iron and steel.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://worldwar2daybyday.blogspot.com/

Day 467 December 10, 1940

Operation Compass. British and Indian troops overrun the last 2 Italian camps on the coastal plain. Overnight, the isolated forward base at Maktila is abandoned by 1st Libyan Division (colonial troops fighting for Italy) after shelling from British monitor HMS Terror and gunboats HMS Ladybird & Aphis. In the afternoon, Indian 4th Infantry Division and British 7th Royal Tank Regiment again combine to capture the camp at Sidi Barrani, forcing the Italian 4th Blackshirt Division and another Libyan colonial Division into the desert where they and 1st Libyan Division will surrender the next day.

[iowamark]

BRITISH SEIZE 1,000 ITALIANS

I'll bet those Italians didn't look like Sophia

[Homer_J_Simpson]

I was working on a witty reply incorporating seizing and thrusting but I think I had better leave it alone.

[TimSkalaBim]

Coldstream battalion HQ signalled that it was impossible to count the number of prisoners, but that “there were about five acres of officers and 200 acres of other ranks.”

Classic! This really deserves to be a more popularly known phrase than it is. I suppose it's not as generally succinct as the more well-known comments of your Nelsons or your Henry IIs, etc. But still, one for the ages.