http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1941/feb41/f01feb41.htm
German raider sets sail
Saturday, February 1, 1941 www.onwar.com
In the North Atlantic... The German heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper sails from Brest on a commerce destroying raid in the north Atlantic.
In East Africa... In Eritrea Agordat falls to Platt’s forces after a vigorous three-day battle. Frusci’s troops are falling back to the mountain positions around Keren after suffering some losses. To the south Barentu has also been captured by the Indian troops.
In Washington... There is a major reorganization of the US Navy. It is now to be formed in three fleets, the Atlantic, the Pacific and the Asiatic. Admiral King is appointed to command the new Atlantic Fleet. There is to be a significant strengthening of the forces in the Atlantic.
In Japan... Japan announces that it will be necessary to introduce rice rationing.
http://worldwar2daybyday.blogspot.com/
Day 520 February 1, 1941
East Africa. 4th Indian Division captures Agordat, Eritrea. 5th Indian Division crosses the border from Sudan into Northern Ethiopia & occupies Metemma. 2nd Lieutenant Premindra Singh Bhagat of the Royal Bombay Sappers & Miners wins the first Victoria Cross for the British Indian Army in WWII for a “...continuous feat of sheer cold courage” clearing 15 minefields & 55 miles of roads in 48 hours.
At 10.15 PM 200 miles South of Iceland, U-48 sinks Greek SS Nicolas Angelos with a torpedo and the deck gun (all hands lost). The crew abandons ship in the lifeboat but they were never found.