January 13th, 1941 (MONDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: Plymouth: Heavy night raids by 50 bombers render many people homeless.FRANCE: RAF bombers strike the U-boat base at Lorient during the night.
GERMANY: U-597 is laid down.
GREECE: Athens: Greek generals ask Wavell for nine divisions to enable them to repel an expected German offensive; he can offer only a small force. There is a good deal of discussion at staff level about sending material rather than British units. What the Greeks want are aircraft, Anti-Aircraft guns, transport (both MT and pack animals), clothing and anti-tank guns.
The Greeks have captured the key town of Klisura as they push the invading Italians back through Albania. The crack "Wolves of Tuscany" division has been badly cut up and over 1,000 of its men have surrendered.
When this latest victory was announced shortly after noon today the church bells were rung and it seemed that the whole population of Athens was celebrating in the streets. King George and General Metaxas, the Premier, appeared on a balcony and received a tumultuous reception.
The Greek army is now advancing on Valona, the Italian base port on the Adriatic, harrying the Italians through the frozen Albanian mountains. Valona is reported to be crowded with 30,000 wounded and frost-bitten soldiers waiting to be shipped home.
ALBANIA: General Ugo Cavallero, the Chief of the Italian General Staff, relieves General Soddu of the Italian command as Greek troops consolidate their advance on the Klisura front.
SWITZERLAND: Zurich: James Joyce died in hospital here today after an emergency intestinal operation.
BULGARIA: Sofia: King Boris of Bulgaria, "invited" to Germany by Hitler, has been given a series of demands by the Fuhrer which would bring Bulgaria into the war on Germany's side. Hitler wants Bulgaria to join Germany, Italy and Japan in the Tripartite Pact; to allow German troops to pass through its territory in order to attack Greece; and to take an active part in Axis military operations.
NORTH AFRICA: Cairo: Reuters News Agency reports:
British operations are progressing well around Tobruk. Artillery has been placed in sizeable strength and drinking water depots have been set up for the troops. The Italian garrison is now surrounded.
LIBYA: Italian aerial reconnaissance spots British vehicles and tanks 80 kilometers (50 miles) southeast of Derna.
U.S.A.:
Seven National Guard units from Iowa, Louisiana, New York, Pennsylvania and South Carolina are inducted into Federal service. The units are:
- One Field Artillery Brigade
- One Cavalry Regiment (Horse-Mechanized)
- One Coast Artillery Regiment (Antiaircraft) (Colored)
- One Coast Artillery Regiment (Harbor Defense) (Type B)
- One Field Artillery Regiment (155mm Gun) (Motorized)
- Two Field Artillery Regiment (155mm Howitzer) (Truck-Drawn)
The number 1 song in the U.S.A. on this date, according to Billboard magazine, is "Frenesi" by Artie Shaw.
Destroyers USS Laffey and Woodworth laid down.