military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (01/07/91)
From: military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) Saturday, 4 January, 1941 A small group of Tuareg and Tibesti tribesmen, led by Free French officers, cross nearly 500 km of desert terrain between Chad and South Libya. They surprise and destroy the Italian base and Murzuk Oasis. Greece opens a new offensive in Albania, concentrating in the direction of Valona. Italian troops, well reinforced, offer firm resistance, however. Greece now has 13 divisions mobilized, while Italy has 16 in Albania. The attack on Bardia continues. Australian troops, supported by tanks, aircraft, and naval bombardment, make good progress as the Italian defense begins to crumble. Following a threat by Marshal Petain to move the French Government to Africa, Germany eases somewhat diplomatic pressure for concessions by Vichy France. 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_ 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 "What time do the pubs shut in Bardia ? We mean to get there in the evening." - unidentified Australian soldier