November 12th, 1940 (TUESDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: RAF Bomber Command: 2 Group: While piloting a Whitley V (P 5005) of 102 Sqn. in a night raid on Cologne, Leonard Cheshire displays such gallantry that he is awarded an immediate D.S.O.ASW trawler HMS Rumba commissioned.
GERMANY: Berlin: Molotov arrives in Berlin. The Soviet Army is massing on the Romanian border and the Soviets want to know the German position on a Romanian invasion. He has a two and-a-half hour conversation with von Ribbentrop. He expounds yet again on the imminent collapse of England. But this collapse may need to be accelerated by invasion.
After lunch Molotov met with Hitler. The Fuhrer said that he had reached several conclusions:
1. Germany was not seeking to obtain military aid from Russia.
2. Because of the tremendous extension of the war, Germany had been forced, in order to oppose England, to penetrate into territories remote from her and in which she was not basically interested politically or economically.
3. There were nevertheless certain requirements, the full importance of which had only become apparent during the war, but which were vital to Germany. Among them were certain sources of raw materials.
Molotov for his part gives a non-committal assent but enquires about the Tripartite Pact. What is the meaning of the New Order in Europe and the Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere and where does the USSR fit in it? Issues regarding Russia's Balkan and Black Sea interests must be clarified.
Meanwhile Hitler issues his 18th war directive, ordering political measures to bring Spain into the war and death by slow strangulation for Britain. France is to be treated as a non-belligerent power, required to allow German war measures on French territory, and support these measures with her own forces. Gibraltar is to be captured. Possible actions in neighboring countries, both defensive (Spain, Portugal, Rumania, Bulgaria) and offensive (Egypt, Greece, Russia, England) are to be considered. One part of the directive was identified as Operation FELIX, the code name for the capture of Gibralter, the Canary Islands and the Cape Verde Islands. It is never put into operation, partly because of the refusal of Spain to join the Axis. Spain is in no position to fight another war; the civil war of 1936-39 has left the country a shambles, her cities in ruins.
The meeting disturbs the Turks who are confident that the stage has been reached when she will be obliged to join the Axis or remain a non-belligerent ally of Britain.
U-91 laid down.
ITALY: The Italian High Command announced:
Last night enemy aircraft raided the Italian naval port of Taranto. The anti-aircraft artillery in the harbour and on the ships anchored there, emitted strong defensive fire. Only one shipping unit was severely hit. Six enemy aircraft were shot down and a portion of their crews taken prisoner. We can count on 3 more machines being lost [later from damage].
In fact, three battleships were sunk at their berths (two of the three were raised, repaired, and back in action within six months).
British losses were two planes shot down (two aircrew taken prisoner when one Swordfish splashed down safely in the harbor) and two damaged by Italian fire, which was impressive in volume but obviously less so in accuracy. (Mike Yaklich)
FRENCH EQUATORIAL AFRICA: In Gabon, the Free French take Port Gentil, the last Vichy stronghold. The sole casualty is former Governor Masson who goes along to persuade the garrison to surrender peacefully. Masson having declared for Free French Brigadier General Charles DeGaulle and later reneging only to be replaced by Vichy has despaired of facing the consequences of his actions and commits suicide.
CANADA: Corvette HMCS Quesnel launched.
Corvette HMS Hepatica commissioned with Canadian crew Quebec City, Province of Quebec.
Colonel Burns again proposes a parachute force to the Chief of General Staff. The idea is shelved, and no action is taken.
The Canadian government bans the import of comic books.
U.S.A.:
Stark drafts a
memo to Knox advocating “Plan Dog”,
a defensive posture in the Pacific and a full-court press in the Atlantic.
This was shared with the Army, the White House, and the British.
(Marc Small)
Submarine USS Greenling laid down.
As a result of the British raid on Taranto, the Secretary of the Navy asks the Special Naval Observer in London, Rear Admiral Robert L. Ghormley, to "learn more details of how the attack was carried out, especially as to what extent aerial torpedoes were used." Knox tells Ghormley the successful operation "did not a little to promote an most optimistic attitude hereabouts."
ATLANTIC OCEAN: The German armored ship (or pocket battleship) "Admiral Scheer" is refueled by the tanker Eurofeld in the central Atlantic .