27 April 1941

In a bold aerial assault, paratroops seized the isthmus and the city of Corinth on the morning of April 26. Large numbers of British were taken prisoner; the rest fled south.

Following violent attack and pursuit fighting, German armoured division spearheads pursued the fleeing British and marched into Athens at 9:25 A.M. today.

The Leibstandarte "Adolf Hitler", in a turbulent advance, has reached the Bay of Patrai west of the Pindos mountains, forced its way across the bay and penetrated the Peloponnese.

As units of the Mediterranean Fleet carry out the evacuation, destroyers HMS Diamond and HMS Wryneck rescue troops from the bombed transport 'Slamat' Shortly afterwards, both are sunk by more German Ju87s off Cape Malea at the southeast tip of Greece. There are few survivors from the three ships. 148 are killed on Diamond. There are 42 survivors from the Wryneck including eight soldiers coming from the Dutch Slamat which had been carrying 700 troops.

The 4th NZ Brigade have fought off the Germans and embarked this night but some groups at Kalamata and Nauplion have been captured. (Anthony Staunton)

MALTA: Operation Dunlop: 24 Hurricanes delivered from carrier, HMS Ark Royal: 23 arrive in Malta.

LIBYA: General Paulus arrives in North Africa on an OKH inspection tour.
He is also to control Rommel.

SINGAPORE: A conference between American, Dutch and British military officers ends. They have reached an agreement on combined operations of defence forces in the event of war with Japan. However, the US War and Navy departments recommend the rejection of the plan as they feel it is defeatist and compromises US interests by insisting on defence of trade routes over offensive actions against the Japanese. (Jack McKillop and Marc Small)

At 0130, the Henri Mory, dispersed from Convoy SL-68, was hit by one torpedo from U-110 and sank about 330 miles WNW of Blaskets Islands, Ireland. A Russian survivor was picked up by the U-boat, questioned and later put into a dinghy with a bottle of spirits. The Germans identified the ship as Andre Moyrand, but this is not possible because she survived the war and was not at sea on this date. 26 crewmembers and two gunners were lost. The master and two crewmembers were picked up by destroyer HMS Hurricane and landed at Gourock on 1 May. One crewmember was rescued after 8 days by the British merchantman Lycaon.

At 0242, the unescorted Rimfakse was torpedoed by U-147 east of the Shetlands and sank in two minutes. Eleven crewmembers were lost. The master and seven survivors managed to get on a raft, but they were not able to help others that were crying for help in the dark. At dawn they reached another raft by paddling, distributed themselves on the rafts and tied them together. Later that day, the survivors were picked up by Hengist and taken to Scrabster.

At 1612, the unescorted Beacon Grange was torpedoed and sunk by U-552 south of Iceland. Two crewmembers were lost. The master, 73 crewmembers and eight gunners were picked up by Belgian trawler Edouvard Anseele, transferred to corvette HMS Gladiolus and landed at Londonderry.

ASW trawler HMS Commander Horton sunk by U-552 at 62N, 16W.