Operation Barbarossa, the German attack on the Soviet Union, begins. However, both to the west on the coast, where Sidon is taken by Austrialian forces and to the east in the approaches to Damascus, where Kiswe falls, the Allied advance is still going well. A counterattack by the Vichy French forces succeeds in retaking part of the town of Marjayoun and some nearby positions. On the whole Rommel is content to defend on the first day and, indeed, by the end of the day the British tank losses already leave them at a disadvantage. The German radio intelligence gives them excellent tactical information and their dispositions of 5th Light forward and 15th Panzer watching Tobruk are more than adequate.
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Some success is achieved at Capuzzo, however. A force of lighter cruiser tanks similarly loses heavily at Hafid Ridge. The attack of Matilda tanks is beaten off at Halfaya by the emplaced 88mm guns, and without tank support the infantry there can achieve nothing. Three columns are sent forward, one to Halfaya Pass, one to Fort Capuzzo along the edge of the escarpment and one inland to Hafid Ridge. General Noel Beresford-Pierse is in charge of the attack.
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Although the two divisions involved, 4th Indian and 7th Armored, are both experience formations, they are not at full strength and have been further weakened by changes in command. Wavell is still reluctant to attack, largely because the tanks which recently arrived on the Operation Tiger convoy have had many mechanical faults and the time taken for repairs means that the troops have had a very short training period. A major British offensive, Operation Battleaxe, begins. In response to the threat of air raids on Alexandria, the evacuation of about 40,000 people begins. The British announce that they seek no territorial gains.
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General Catroux, who has been appointed by General de Gaulle to head the Free French forces, issues a proclamation calling optimistically for Dentz and his men to change sides. The Allied force advances along several lines from positions in Palestine and Transjordan. The defending Vichy forces consist of 45,000 men under the command of General Dentz. Collet, in the vanguard of the Free French forces). The attacking force is commanded by General Wilson and includes 7th Australian Division, 4th Indian Brigade and Free French units (including Circassian cavalry, under Col. In fact, all German military personnel have now left at the request of Vichy authorities. The British have been increasingly worried by reports of a German presence in Syria in recent weeks. At 0200 hours British and Free French forces invade Syria. It is announced that measures for clothes rationing are being prepared.Ĭircassian cavalry in Syria Sunday, June 8, 1941 Only four ships are involved at this stage. The US Coastguard begins patrol operations off the southern Greenland coast. The majority of the German 15th Panzer Division has now joined Rommel's force. Air Marshal Tedder takes command of the RAF forces in the Middle East. Regent Emir Abdul Illah, the uncle of King Faisal, returns to the country. Hitler decides that such large-scale airborne operations should not be repeated even though the result has been a brilliant success. The Germans admit casualties of 7000 from their force - a very high proportion of them deaths. In addition two battleships, one carrier and numerous cruisers and destroyers have been damaged. The British forces lose three cruisers and six destroyers.
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The largest groups of prisoners are the 5000 men who are captured when the Germans take Sfakia on this day and the garrison of Retimo who do not receive evacuation instructions. Altogether 18,600 men are taken off but casualties and prisoners in the battle for the island amount to another 15,000 from the land forces and 2000 from the navy.
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Near Crete, the cruiser Calcutta is sunk by German aircraft during the evacuation operations. Surrendered Allied soliders on Crete Sunday, June 1, 1941