military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (03/25/91)
Tuesday 25 March, 1941 Yugoslavia, represented by Prime Minister Cvetkovic and Foreign Minister Cincar-Markovic, signs the Tripartite Pact in Vienna. As part of the agreement, Germany has promised not to violate Yugoslavian neutrality by deploying troops within the nation. Several demonstrations take place in Belgrade when news of the signing is released. Berlin announces that the blockade of Britian will be extended to within 3 miles of Greenland, and warns especially that ships near Iceland would be attacked. (Iceland has been controlled by Britain since the German occupation of Denmark.) Using the Allied code breaking Operation ULTRA and Italian naval ciphers obtained by agent "CYNTHIA", Adm. Cunningham, CIC, Mediterranean is advised that the Germans have finally persuaded Italy to attack British convoys supplying the buildup in Greece. Reporter: Bob Beville (rbeville%tekig5.pen.tek.com@RELAY.CS.NET) March 25, 1941 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@att.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "The main objective and practically the only objective of Yugoslav foreign policy was and remains: To preserve peace for the Yugoslav people and to strengthen their security." - Prime Minister Cvetkovic of Yugoslavia