World war II timeline - February 1941

5 February 1941	Adolf Hitler issues general instructions for military cooperation with Italy in Tripoli, Albania, and Gibraltar.
6 February 1941	Adolf Hitler issues Directive No. 23, directing operations against the English war economy. The focus of attacks is to be merchant shipping, harbors, and aircraft industry. At Beda Fomm, south of Benghazi, Cyrenaica, over three days, British 7th Armored Division with 29 tanks and 3000 men cripple 60 Italian M13 tanks, and capture 20,000 troops and another 40 tanks. Adolf Hitler puts Erwin Rommel in command of the new Deutsches Afrika Korps (German Africa Corps) with 15th Panzer Division and 5th Light Motorized Division, to rescue the Italians in North Africa. Submarine U-107 torpedoes and sinks Canadian merchant ship Maplecourt west of Northern Ireland. Maplecourt was part of convoy SC-20 from Montreal, Canada, to Preston, England.
8 February 1941	Bulgaria signs an agreement with Germany for military co-operation. In particular, the German 12th Army is allowed to concentrate along the frontier with Greece.
9 February 1941	British Prime Minister Winston Churchill gives a speech in Glasgow, Scotland, in which he makes an appeal "give us the tools and we'll finish the job."
10 February 1941	British War Cabinet elects to offer Greece military assistance. Over 222 British aircraft bomb Hanover, Germany, doing great damage. Seven bombers are shot down. This is the largest aerial raid against a single target so far. The British four-engined Short Stirling bomber debuts in active service. Their first operation is against oil tanks at Rotterdam. Adolf Hitler sends Lieutenant-General Erwin Rommel to North Africa to help the Italians force British troops out.
12 February 1941	Lieutenant-General Erwin Rommel arrives in Tripoli, Libya, with an advance party of German troops.
14 February 1941	Lead elements of three Italian divisions leave Tripoli, heading toward Sirte. The first German troops of the new Africa Corps arrive at Tripoli. The Australian Advisory War Council makes a press statement to inform the public of the country's poor defence situation. Singapore's leader Brooke-Popham meets with the Australian War Cabinet. He says that Singapore is designed to withstand an attack for six to nine months, and a landward attack is not likely.   Germany begins planning a march towards India through Afghanistan. Germany begins planning a take-over of Switzerland, called Operation Tannenbaum. Germany begins planning a take-over of Sweden, called Operation Polarwuchs.
21 February 1941	German pocket battleship Admiral von Scheer sinks Canadian merchant ship Canadian Cruiser in the western Indian Ocean. The captain and crew are taken prisoner.
22 February 1941	German battle cruiser Gneisenau sinks Canadian merchant ship A.D. Huff east of Cape Race, Newfoundland. Two die, and 37 are taken prisoner. In Washington, USA, officials insist that Britain look after her own interests in the Pacific, not to count on American help.
24 February 1941	The Greek government agrees to allow the British Army to enter the country for defense against Germany. British War Cabinet decides to carry out plan to help defend Greece. (evening) The British twin-engined Avro Manchester bomber makes its debut in active service. First mission is against warships at Brest.