Balkans
GERMAN INVASION OF YUGOSLAVIA AND GREECE: Germans employ 15 divisions (with 5 Panzer divisions) and 800 aircraft. Yugoslav Government flees from Belgrade to Uzice.
see also:
Balkans Campaign
German Orders of Battle, April 1941
Yugoslav Armed Forces
Greek Armed Forces
Air War
Europe: LUFTWAFFE DESTROYS BELGRADE (Operation Bestrafung = ‘Punishment’) and raids Yugoslav air bases. German bombers and Ju 87 Stukas fly 500 sorties against undefended Yugoslav capital, starting huge fires, destroying many public buildings and hospitals and Royal Palace; fleeing civilians strafed (raids repeated April 7-8). Approx. 17,000 killed, April 6-8.
British munition ship Clan Fraser explodes during German raid on Piraeus (night April 6-7) wrecking harbour, sinking 13 other ships and inflicting heavy casualties.
RAF Beaufort torpedo-bomber hits battlecruiser Gneisenau at Brest.
Wellington bombers attacking Sofia (Bulgaria).
North Africa
Rommel captures Mechili, south of Derna.
Sea War
Atlantic: Armed merchant cruiser Comorin (15,400 t.) destroyed by fire from an accident.
Politics
US Secretary of State, Cordell Hull, describes German invasion of Balkans as ‘barbarous’.
