January 25th, 1941 (SATURDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: London: The first medal of the war awarded to an animal has gone to Chum the Airedale. He has been awarded the "Dogs' VC" - the Bravery Medal of Our Dumb Friends' League - for saving the life of Mrs. Marjorie French of Purley.Mrs French was trapped in her air-raid shelter after her home had been destroyed by a bomb. The first signs of rescue were two large paws digging fast and furiously. When he had cleared a large enough opening, Chum seized Mrs French by the hair and dragged her to safety. He did not wait around for rewards and it had taken Our Dumb Friends' League a while to trace him. He is owned by Mr and Mrs Chant of Whyteleaf Road, Purley.
RAF Bomber Command:
2 Group: Operations Instruction No.43, explains that most targets for the night offensive against Germany were outside the Blenheim's range and that operations should only be carried out in moonlight if the weather was suitable. Therefore when the conditions were suitable all possible aircraft should take part. Priorities are 1) oil, 2) industrial, 3) marshalling yards, 4) airfields.
GERMANY:
BULGARIA: Sofia: The Minister in charge of the British Legation reports a conversation with the Greek Minister who believes that the Germans had decided not to invade Bulgaria.
ALBANIA: Both Greek and Italian forces report many cases of frostbite among the troops fighting in the mountains. Italian forces are reported to be also suffering through an outbreak of typhoid.
CANADA: Corvette HMCS Sudbury laid down Kingston, Ontario.
U.S.A.:
Battleship USS Wisconsin laid down.
U.S.A.: Washington: Viscount Halifax, the new British ambassador, asks the Secretary of State, Cordell Hull, for swift American aid.
The keel of the Iowa Class battleship Wisconsin (BB-64) is laid at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. She will be the last battleship commissioned by the U.S. Navy.