20 May 1941

The drop of the first wave of German paratroops went off almost without a hitch and contrary to expectations, losses of transport aircraft were few. Only 7 of the Ju52s deployed failed to return to their bases in Greece. But during descent and landing, the paratroops were met by strong defensive fire. Many companies of troops were too widely dispersed; they suffered heavy losses and were virtually incapable of going on the offensive. Thus they failed to capture the important Hill 107 near Maleme airfield which was being held by New Zealanders. German airborne infantry who made glider landings in the rocky terrain, also met surprisingly vigorous Allied fire and suffered far higher losses than they predicted. Instead of carrying out their assignment to secure the landing zone, they were immediately put on the defensive.
Gen. Meindl was one of the casualties of the first wave. When news reached Greece that Meindl was out of action, Hermann Bernhard Ramcke, who was then between assignments, decided to accompany the next wave of Fallschirmjaeger jumping into the Maleme perimeter. He landed at Maleme and took charge of that sector.
I. Battalion of the Sturm Regiment is left almost leaderless. The regimental chief surgeon, Dr. Heinrich Neumann, takes over the battalion.

Meanwhile the second wave of German paratroop regiments were standing by at Greek airfields, waiting for the return of the transport aircraft that were due to drop them on Crete that same afternoon. But the first wave transports were delayed in arriving back at their takeoff bases and most had to be refuelled out of portable fuel drums, which was a slow process. It was no longer possible to relay new orders because British agents had cut all the telephone cables between Luftwaffe XI Corps. The Germans therefore attacked Rethimnon and Heraklion at 3.15 PM just as the second wave were about to take-off, the second wave was expected by the defenders and they were shot to pieces by tanks which appeared before they could free themselves from their parachutes, the attacks on the airfields failed.

The USN's Task Force 2 consisting of the aircraft carrier USS Wasp (CV-7); the heavy cruiser USS Quincy (CA-39); and the destroyers USS Kearny (DD-432) and USS Livermore (DD-429) departs Bermuda for a 4,000+ mile (6,400+ km) neutrality patrol that concludes in Bermuda on 3 June. The Wasp Air Group consists of Marine Bombing Squadron Two (VMB-2), Fighting Squadron Seventy One (VF-71) and Scouting Squadron Seventy Two (VS-72).

The ninth Lake-class US Coast Guard Cutter, USCGC Shoshone (CGC-50), is transferred to the Royal Navy as HMS Languard. .

At 0458 hours on 20 May 1941, the Norman Monarch in station #91 of convoy HX-126 was torpedoed and sunk by U-94. The Harpagus in station #93 was the designated rescue ship for the column and dropped back to rescue survivors. After picking up the whole complement of 48 men, she set course to regain the convoy. At 2320, the Harpagus, having almost regained position, was struck by two torpedoes from U-109 in the starboard side and sank very quickly about 250 miles SSE of Cape Farewell. 25 crewmembers, four gunners, three passengers and 26 survivors were lost. The master, 17 crewmembers and 22 survivors were picked up by destroyer HMS Burnham and landed at Reykjavik.

At 1644, the San Felix, dispersed from Convoy OB-322, was hit by one of two torpedoes from U-111, but escaped in a rain squall with a slight list to starboard after evading a second attack by zagging. The tanker arrived in St John’s on 26 May and later returned to service.

At 2124, the Javanese Prince was torpedoed and sunk by U-138 155 miles NW of the Butt of Lewis, Outer Hebrides. One crewmember was lost. The master, 45 crewmembers, eight gunners and four passengers were picked up by destroyers HMS Faulknor, Lincoln and tug HMS Assurance. All survivors were transferred to the British rescue ship Toward and landed at Gourock on 28 May.

At 1448, 1450 and 1516, U-556 fired torpedoes at Convoy HX-126 south of Cape Farewell and sank three ships, the Darlington Court, British Security and Cockaponset. The British Security caught fire after she was hit and burned for three days until she sank in 57°14N/39°23W. The master, 48 crewmembers and four gunners were lost. The master and 40 crewmembers from the Cockaponset were picked up by the Dutch rescue ship Hontestroom and landed at Reykjavik on 27 May. The master Charles Hurst, ten crewmembers and one gunner from the Darlington Court were picked up by the rescue ship Hontestroom and landed at Reykjavik on 27 May. 22 crewmembers, three gunners and three passengers were lost.

At 1817, the John P. Pedersen, dispersed from Convoy HX-126 the same day, was torpedoed by U-94 about 160 miles south of Greenland. One British gunner was lost and 37 survivors abandoned ship in two lifeboats. The U-boat sank the tanker with two coup de grâce fired at 1850 and 1920. 16 survivors in one boat were picked up by the Dutch rescue ship Hontestroom on 23 May and taken to Reykjavik. Four of them joined the Norwegian Navy there, while eight continued to Gourock on board the Dutch vessel. Another three were sent to Preston, while one was briefly admitted to a hospital at Reykjavik. The other lifeboat with 21 survivors, including the master (13 Norwegians, two Dutch, two Swedish and four British) was never found.

At 0453, the Norman Monarch in position #91 of Convoy HX-126 was hit on the starboard side by one of two torpedoes from U-94 and sank about 200 miles SSE of Cape Farewell. The Harpagus in station #93 was the designed rescue ship for the column and dropped back to rescue survivors. After picking up the master, 41 crewmembers and six gunners the ship tried to rejoin the convoy, but was torpedoed and sunk by U-109. The master, 19 crewmembers and six gunners from the Norman Monarch did not survive the second sinking, the remaining 22 crewmembers were picked up by HMS Burnham and landed at Reykjavik.

At 1729, the Rothermere, dispersed from Convoy HX-126 the same day, was hit in the engine room by one torpedo from U-98 SE of Cape Farewell. The ship sank by the stern after being hit by a coup de grâce at 1756. The master and 21 crewmembers were lost. 29 crewmembers, four gunners and one passenger were picked up by the Icelandic merchantman Bruarfoss and landed at Reykjavik.

SS Rothermere (5,356 GRT), Newfoundland-registered, Anglo-Newfoundland merchantman torpedoed and sunk by U-98, Kptlt Robert Gysae, Knight's Cross, Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, CO, in the North Atlantic, in position 57.48N, 041.36W. Rothermere was proceeding to England in Convoy HX-126. There were twenty-two casualties from the crew.

HMCS St Francis, a Town-class destroyer (ex-USS Bancroft), a Clemson-class destroyer), rescued survivors from the British freighter Starcross (4,662 GRT), which had been torpedoed in position 51.45N, 020.45W by the Italian Glauco-class submarine Otaria, LCdr Giuseppe Vocaturo, CO.