military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (08/17/90)
From: military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) Saturday, 17 August, 1940 The Royal Navy battleships Warspite, Malaya, and Ramillies, together with supporting ships, bombard Bardia and Fort Capuzzo in Libya. Attacks by Italian aircraft are repulsed by AA fire. Germany announces that in response to Britain's "hunger blockade against German women and children" a total blockade of Britain is now in effect. Neutral shipping in British waters is now subject to attack. German Foreign Minister von Ribbentrop delivers a message from Hitler to Mussolini, warning that the anti-Greek propoganda campaign should be immediately halted, as German does not wish military involvement in the Balkans. No daylight raids are reported over Britain, though some night attacks take place. Poor visibility is cited by German sources. Germany accuses British aircraft of bombing Goethe's home of Weimar, and states that following this "cultural outrage," no British city will be spared. Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King and President Roosevelt meet at the US-Canadian border, where Roosevelt is expected to reiterate an early guarantee that the US would not stand by if Canadian integrity was threatened. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@att.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "It is every man's war in Britain today." - Captain Harold H. Balfour