military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (04/05/91)
Friday, 4 April, 1941 Italian forces enter the now-abandoned city of Benghazi. The German disguised raider Thor surprises and sinks the 13000-ton British Armed Merchant Cruiser Voltaire in the Central Atlantic. Hitler and Japanese Foreign Minister Matsuoka meet in Berlin to discuss potential cooperation. Specifically, the possibilities of a Japanese attack on Singapore and American entry into the war are considered. Confident in his continental defenses, the U-boat blockade, and poor quality of American troops, Hitler promises to join Japan should she go to war with the USA. References: C.Argyle, _Chronology of World War II_ R.Dupuy and T.Dupuy, _The Encyclopedia of Military History_ R.Goralski, _World War II Almanac, 1931-1945_ J.Keegan, ed., _The Times Atlas of the Second World War_ C.Messenger, _Atlas of World War Two_ J.Piekalkiewicz, _Tank War 1939-1940_ Royal Institute of International Affairs, _Chronology of the Second World War_ C.Salmaggi and A.Pallavisini, _2194 Days of War_ Brig. P.Young, _The World Almanac of World War II_ The New York Times, daily editions Time magazine Newsweek -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@att.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "England has already lost the war. It is only a matter of having the intelligence to admit it." - Adolf Hitler