Diary May 27, 1942

05-1942, Diary WW2, War Diary, Year 1942 / 1 minute of reading

German mortar in a captured trench west of Bir Hacheim.

WW2 War Diary for Wednesday, May 27, 1942:

North Africa

Defence of Bir Hakeim: Free French Brigade under Koenig defies Rommel May 27-June 10 and rejects 3 surrender ultimatums. Stukas pound the French, who have to be supplied by air. Koenig obeys superior orders and withdraws night June 10-11.

Occupied Territories

Czechoslovakia: ‘HANG-MAN’ HEYDRICH ASSASSINATED. Deputy ‘Protector’ of Bohemia-Moravia and head of the SD ambushed while driving near Prague by 2 Free Czech agents (he is critically wounded by grenade and dies June 3); aged 38.

Sea War

Arctic: 7 He 111s and 111 Ju 88s sink 5 ships of Arctic convoy PQ.16.
Pacific: Damaged carrier Yorktown arrives Pearl Harbor for emergency repairs (completed in 48 hours).

China

Chinese evacuate Kinhwa after fierce fighting and severe Japanese bombing.

Home Fronts

Japan: Prime Minister Tojo claims, in speech to Imperial Diet (Parliament), that Japan stands on the verge of ‘ultimate victory’. Australia lies defenceless and must ‘reconsider her attitude … or suffer the consequences. Japan will never sheathe the sword of righteousness until the influence of the Anglo-American Powers … has been completely uprooted.’
South Africa: 50% reduction in size of postage stamps announced, in order to save paper.

About The Author

Kretaner

My name is Norman 'Kretaner' and since my childhood I am interested in history and strategy games. Later, I have learned programming and the development of computer games, and finally with the Internet, also web design. I'm in the fortunate position to combine all my interests with my work and to live on a place of my choice, on Crete. All information, figures, specifications and statistics used here had been compiled from a variety of sources and the large, over decades collected, library of the author about military history, WW2 and weapons.