10 Dec 1940
  • Georg von Bismarck was named the commanding officer of the 20th Rifle Brigade. ww2dbase [Georg von Bismarck | CPC]
  • Before dawn, colonial troops of the Libyan 1st Division withdrew from Maktila, Egypt. In the afternoon, Indian 4th Infantry Division and British 7th Royal Tank Regiment captured Sidi Barrani, pushing Italian 4th Blackshirt Division and another Libyan colonial division into the desert. ww2dbase [Operation Compass | CPC]
  • A shell fired randomly across the English Channel from one of Germany’s massive 280mm rail guns fell within a few feet of the British 13.5in "Peacemaker" rail gun at Martin Mill, England, United Kingdom severely damaging one of its bogies and mortally wounding one of the Royal Marine gunners. ww2dbase [AC]
United States
  • USS R-1 departed Groton, Connecticut, United States with Submarine Squadron 3 of Submarine Division 42. ww2dbase [R-1 | Groton, Connecticut | CPC]
  • USS R-5 departed New London, Connecticut, United States for Cocos Solo, Panama Canal Zone. ww2dbase [R-5 | New London, Connecticut | CPC]

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis




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Claire Chennault with Chinese officers at an airfield, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China, 1942-1943; note P-40 fighters

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