downfall 1941
 

Bismarck scatters British convoy
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Bismarck escorted by GrafSpee acting on intelligence reports sneak into the Atlantic undetected and intercept a convoy in the mid Atlantic, scattering it and sinking several merchant ships.

British counter-intercepting forces arrived far too late and the first confirmed sighting of the raiders was from German radio celebrating their safe arrival home.

1 transport sunk

Happy Times

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U-boats based in France now enjoying great advantages and the Battle of the Atlantic is swinging in their favour.

Severe losses to Atlantic shipping.

U-boats account for 7 transports sunk, 2 damaged, for 0 losses

Churchill now referring to the Atlantic situation as "an emergency"

The Blitz

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The entire luftwaffe bombs London. The remains of the RAF engage, but scarcely dent the steamroller that is the bombing campaign.

London is firestormed and takes the maximum 30 brps damage. 1 german aaf shot down and 1 british aaf lost

spring 1941

invasion of Malta

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Italian naval and air forces support an amphibious assault on the beleaguered garrison of Malta. The dug in defenders inflicted some losses, but surrendered after 3 days of fighting.

Malta is now italian.

Vichy France and Bulgaria join tripartite pact

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Bulgaria joins fully, Vichy joins as associated minor country.

Up to three vichy units may be lent to the eastern front in the case of war with russia

Japanese Carrier Shokaku launched

http://www.mobhome.de/vehicles/pics/Shokaku_real.jpg

June 1941

Barbarossa!!!

Germany declares war on Russia - Operation Barbarossa begins

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Massive surprise counter-air strikes catch large numbers of Russian planes on the ground.

Russia loses 7 AAF (nearly half the red airforce), germany loses 5 aaf.

Finland associates with Germany and begins the Continuation War

German Armored Divisions Overrun Russian Sector in Lithuania

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With very heavy ground support by the Luftwaffe, German Armored divisions overrun the defending Russians and blast through Lithuania into Latvia and across the river Drina without effective resistance

two 4o6 and 16 aaf overrun 4 defending infantry factors

Kicking open the barn door

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huge armored encirclements capture almost all the Red Army and make deep progress towards Leningrad and into the Ukraine. German casualties though heavy pale into insignificance against the Russian losses.

http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/1329/barbarossa.jpg

Sink the Bismarck!

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Bismarck, Graf Spee and Lutzow raided the Atlantic. However Churchill's order to Sink the Bismarck at all costs had meant that several small Task Forces were lurking in the seas near Iceland ready to catch them.

The first sighting of the raider group was made by planes from the light carrier HMS Illustrious and her 4 cruiser escort.

The planes launched a strike, the Graf Spee damaged by a torpedo. Several planes were shot down in the attempt.

The cruisers closed to range, but 2 were sunk and the other 2 damaged by accurate long range gunnery from the Bismarck and Lutzow.

A second, larger force was vectored in, consisting of HMS King George V, HMS Repulse, the carriers HMS Victorious and HMS Glorious and two more cruisers.

A concentrate air strike on the Bismarck resulted in a torpedo damaging her rudder. Only able to go in circles, the Royal Navy Battleships closed. Eventually gunnery from King George V sank the Bismarck.

HMS Repulse and Lutzow were both damaged by each other's gunfire. The two German pocket battleships managed to escape back to Bergen.

U-boats!

http://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/al...vy/uboat_2.jpg

u-boats continue to be a very serious threat, sinking 6 transports

summer 1941

Japanese Occupy Saigon

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Japanese troops enter Saigon, and take control of the government

summer 1941

Carrier Zuikaku launched

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Japan launches her 6th CV3

summer 1941

US announces oil embargo against Japan

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Not for Japan

As a response to increasing concerns about Japanese expansion, the US decides to implement an embargo on sales of strategic resources and materials to Japan, including oil.

A minority express concern that this may increase the likelihood of armed conflict.

Summer 1941

Flying Tigers begin Ops in China

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Claire Chennault arrives in China and establishes an all volunteer force of pilots to assist the Nationalist Chinese under Chiang Kai Shek