GERMANY:

Grand Admiral Raeder renews his proposal to Hitler that there should be a 'decisive Egypt-Suez offensive for the autumn of 1941which would be more deadly to the British Empire than the capture of London.'

Hitler decides that this can wait until the collapse of the Soviet Union which should happen no later than October.

GREECE: CRETE:

2nd Lt Charles Hazlitt Upham (b. 1908), 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force, displayed great valour many times from 22-30 May. (Victoria Cross; only VC and bar of the war)

Early in the day more troops are lifted from the southern port of Sphakia by another cruiser force. Well to the south the Australian cruiser HMAS Perth is bombed and damaged.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: HMS Calcutta was bombed and sunk by two German Ju-88 bomber aircraft in the Mediterranean north-west of Alexandria, Egypt, during the Battle of Crete. Calcutta was from the third group of the 'C type’ cruisers that were based on the WWI-vintage Arethusa Class light cruiser. They were intended to serve as leaders for destroyer flotillas and as scouts for the battle fleet in the North Sea. Several were converted into AA cruisers in the late 1930’s. Their low endurance and relatively poor seakeeping characteristics limited their utility outside of ‘small sea’ operating areas.

EGYPT:

Cairo: The British Middle East Air Force announced:-

In Iraq our fighter squadrons flew patrols throughout the day in support of our advancing troops while Italian aircraft tried to prevent them. One of these aircraft was shot down ar Khanugh (Iraq). A number of British reconnaissance planes and bombers operated in cooperation with motorised units. We have destroyed the hangars on the airfield at Deir ez Zor in Syria. In Abyssinia, South African aircraft attacked Italian troops still fighting near Gimma. Direct hits were observed on buildings, as were a number of fires. Several Italian motor trucks went up in flames north of Algeh. Forts Azozo and Digya were bombed at Gondar (Ethiopia). In Libya, an enemy bomber wing yesterday undertook an assault on Tobruk; antiaircraft succeeded in shooting down four of them and severak others were damaged. Five of our own aircraft failed to return from these operations.

IRAQ:

British troops of the 4th Cavalry Brigade of 1st British Cavakry Division stood at the gates of Baghdad after travelling 500 miles across the desert from Palestine. Rashid Ali, the German and Italian diplomats in Iraq and the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, all fled to Persia. A cease-fire agreement was signed.
The main British forces are at Ur, the force from Habbaniyah has advanced slightly.

PALESTINE:

Jerusalem: The American Associated Press News Agency reported:

British and Indian troops are continuing their non-stop advance toward Baghdad and encountering no major resistance anywhere. It is now known that two motorised columns are carrying out the operation. Other British forces supported by tanks are operating against Iraqi troop positions at Ramadi about 12 miles northwest of Habbaniya.

NEWFOUNDLAND: HMCS Restigouche and Ottawa arrived in St John’s, Newfoundland, and became the first destroyers to join the newly formed Newfoundland Escort Force.