June 12th, 1941 (THURSDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: The Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the Government of Belgium, the Provisional Government of Czechoslovakia, the Governments of Greece, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Yugoslavia, and the representatives of General de Gaulle, leader of Free Frenchmen, engaged together in the fight against aggression, are resolved:1. That they will continue the struggle against German or Italian aggression until victory has been won and they will mutually assist each other in this struggle to the utmost of their respective capacities;
2. There can be no settled peace and prosperity so long as free peoples are coerced by violence into submission to domination by Germany or her associates or live under the threat of such coercion;
3. That the only true basis for enduring peace is the willing cooperation of the free peoples in a world in which, relieved of the menace of aggression, all may enjoy economic and social security; and that it is their intention to work together with other free peoples both in war and peace to this end.
Submarine HMS Unshaken laid down.
GERMANY: Berlin: German soldiers have been told to eliminate any Russian Commissars they capture. This order, known as the 'Kommissarbefehl' [commissar order] was issued by Hitler six days ago under the title 'Guidelines for the Conduct of the Troops in Russia.'
Other key points are:
1. Bolshevism is the mortal enemy of the National Socialist German people; Germany's struggle is directed against this destructive ideology and its carriers.
2. This struggle demands ruthless and energetic measures against Bolshevik agitators, guerrillas, saboteurs and Jews, and the elimination of all resistance.
130 army divisions are reported massed on the Russian border.
NORWAY: The pocket battleship 'Lutzow' is severely damaged by RAF Beaufort torpedo bombers.
MALTA: RAF and Italian fighters engage in fierce battles.
SYRIA: 21 Aust Brigade continues to advance up the coast road towards Sidon. French now have six battalions (including two FFL) and most of their 90 tanks assembled between Mount Hermon and the desert for a counter-attack. A further three Tunisian battalions are in the Jebel Druse area. Unaware of this, General Lavarack decides to switch most of 25 Aust Brigade from the central axis to the coast to join 21 Aust Brigade, leaving a small holding force at Merdjayoun. General Legentilhomme (Free French) is wounded supervising attempts to capture Kiswe south of Damascus. He is replaced by Brig Lloyd (5 Ind Bde). General Wavell orders 16 Brit Brigade from Egypt to Syria to reinforce the invasion force.
CANADA: Corvettes HMCS Buctouche and Sherbrooke arrived Halifax from builders in Quebec City and Sorel respectively.
U.S.A.: Destroyers USS David W Taylor and Capps laid down.
ATLANTIC OCEAN:
At 0251, the unescorted Empire Dew was torpedoed and sunk by U-48 north of the Azores. 23 crewmembers were lost. The master, 16 crewmembers and two gunners were picked up by destroyer KNM St Albans and landed at Liverpool.
At 0414, the unescorted Chinese Prince was torpedoed and sunk by U-552 south of Rockall. 45 crewmembers were lost. The master, 15 crewmembers and three gunners were picked up by corvettes HMS Arbutus and Pimpernel and landed at Londonderry.
At 1505, the Ranella, dispersed from Convoy OG-64, was hit on the port side in the tank #4 by one torpedo from U-553. After the crew abandoned ship in two lifeboats, the tanker was hit by a coup de grāce at 1635 behind the mast and broke in two but remained afloat. The U-boat surfaced and after 1706 fired 100 rounds from her deck gun until she sank. The boats were separated the next day in bad weather, but both sailed about 300 miles in twelve days and reached Figueira da Foz, Azores Islands.
SS Susan Maersk sunk by U-553.
HM S/M Patrol attacked U-557 off St. John's Nfld.
HMCS Eyebright departed Iceland to join Convoy OB 332 bound for Halifax.