April 25th, 1941 (FRIDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: RAF Bomber Command: 2 Group: 18 Sqn. bombs and sinks a 7,000-ton vessel.Submarine HMS P-311 laid down.
GERMANY: Hitler issues Directive No. 28 - Operation Mercury, the invasion of Crete. Gen
Maj Gerhard is made air commander of a force of transport aircraft which is to include 493
Ju 52/3ms and over 80 DFS 230 gliders.
U-413 laid down.
NORTH AFRICA: The Afrika Korps attacks the Halfaya Pass and drives the British back to Buq Buq.
Wavell admits to Churchill that the decision to let the Armoured Division withdraw gradually from Rommel so as to maintain force until the enemy had been stretched too far and then counterattack, was a mistake. The 3rd Armoured Brigade melted away through mechanical and administrative breakdowns, without much fighting. 2nd Armoured Division's unpractised HQ lost control. This was partly due to inexperience of signal personnel...
IRAQ: Baghdad: Germany and Italy undertake to give financial and military aid to Rashid Ali.
Basra: Reuters News Agency reports:
Strong British and Imperial troops have arrived in the area of the Mosul airfields and, with the consent of Iraqi military authorities, have occupied positions of strategic importance. Precautions have been taken against possible military surprise raids, and both land and aerial forces have been considerably strengthened. British troop movements are still continuing.
U.S.A.: Washington: In a statement today, President Roosevelt promises all possible aid will be sent to Greece from the United States.
The motion picture "The Flame of New Orleans" is released in the U.S. Directed by Rene Clair, the film stars Marlene Dietrich, Bruce Cabot, Mischa Auer and Andy Devine. This period comedy set in 1840 New Orleans, has Dietrich trying to convince her fiancé that she is two different women while being chased by another man. The film was nominated for one technical Academy Award.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: The US Navy enforces a new security zone 2,000 miles off the east coast.
Due to major engine difficulty U-553 was forced to return to base.
At 0038, the Polyana was hit near the bridge by one torpedo from U-103, capsized fast and sank within one minute. The ship was last seen when detached from Convoy OG-58 in 44°41N/22°43W and was reported missing when she did not arrive in Freetown on 30 April. The U-boat had missed the freighter with a first torpedo at 2357 on 24 April. All crewmembers, 19 Norwegians, two British, one Danish, one Tunisian, one Spanish and one Maltese were lost.