January 21st, 1941 (TUESDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: London: Churchill expresses concern at the reduction of the weekly coal supply to London. Only 250,000 tons are week are being delivered, but the requirement is for 410,000 tons a week.He also pushes the Ministry of Health to reduce the number of homeless people still in London rest centres and have them dispersed into more permanent accommodation.
London, the Admiralty: With the Greek refusal to accept British land forces, the Defence Committee switch the area of greatest importance back to North Africa, with the capture of Benghazi being now of prime importance. However, with the impending arrival of German forces in mainland Greece there is also a need to capture the islands of the Dodecanese, primary being Rhodes to preserve communications with Greece and Turkey.
Rescue tug HMS Englishman lost due to unknown circumstances.
GERMANY: U-763 laid down.
BULGARIA: Sofia: The story is emerging here of a slaughter of Jews by the Iron Guard in Bucharest. Some were burnt to death in buildings set on fire by the rioting guards. Others were beaten senseless, robbed and then doused in petrol and set on fire. In the most horrific incident some 50 Jews had their throats cut in a barbarous parody of kosher butchering in the municipal slaughterhouse. Tiring of this sport, the guards beheaded scores more. In another incident 160 Jewish leaders who has been imprisoned at Jilava were taken into a field and shot.
NORTH AFRICA: O'Connor's Commonwealth force attacks Tobruk at 0830 hours. The attack is strongly assisted by naval and air forces and is led by elements of the Australian 6th Infantry Division. 16th Australian Brigade with "I" tanks to break through the perimeter are closely followed by the 19th Brigade. Free French troops also played an important part in the attack.
The Australians reach their first objectives by midday; but then the Italians bring their coastal and AA guns into action and there are several hours of fierce fighting around and about the middle of the perimeter. By dusk though, the Commonwealth forces are ranged along the edge of the escarpment overlooking the town, and the western and south-western portions of the perimeter are safely under control.
The Italian cruiser "San Giorgio," damaged earlier in the month by the RAF and beached in Tobruk harbour, where she was used as a fortress mounting anti-aircraft guns, was set on fire from the air and put out of action.
HMS Gnat, HMS Ladybird and HMS Terror bombard Tobruk.
U.S.A.:
The US Navy orders 108 Brewster F2A-3 Buffalo fighters, for delivery between July and December. Based on reports from Europe, armor protection was incorporated in the aircraft increasing it's weight resulting in instability and handling difficulties.CANADA: Corvettes HMCS Arrowhead, Spikenard and Eyebright departed Halifax with Convoy HX-104 for UK.
JAPAN: Tokyo: Yosuke Matsuoka, the Foreign Minister, warns the US against meddling in Asian affairs.