On This Day

Historical Events in April 1941

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Apr 1 Lillian Hellman's "Watch on the Rhine" premieres in NYC

Playwright Lillian Hellman
Playwright
Lillian Hellman
  • Apr 1 US Navy takes over Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay
  • Apr 1 Nazis forbid Jews access to cafés
  • Apr 1 Pro-German Rashid Ali al-Ghailani grabs power in Iraq
  • Apr 1 The Blockade Runner Badge for German Kriegsmarine is instituted.
  • Apr 2 German occupier disallows Dutch scouting association

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Apr 3 British Prime Minister Winston Churchill warns Soviet leader Joseph Stalin that a German invasion is imminent

Soldier, Author and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill
Soldier, Author and British Prime Minister
Winston Churchill
Soviet General Secretary Joseph Stalin
Soviet General Secretary
Joseph Stalin
  • Apr 3 Rasjid al-Gailani forms pro-German regime in Iraq
  • Apr 3 Walton's overture "Scapino" premieres in Chicago
  • Apr 4 German troops conquer Benghazi, Libya
  • Apr 5 San Francisco Castro & Fillmore streetcars replaced by buses

Sport awardUS Masters Golf

Apr 6 8th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Craig Wood wins his first major title, 3 strokes ahead of runner-up Byron Nelson; Masters' first wire-to-wire champion

Golfer Byron Nelson
Golfer
Byron Nelson
  • Apr 6 Beginning of operation Bestrafung - German bombers attack Belgrade (17,000 die)
  • Apr 6 British major general Michael Gambier-Parry captured in North Africa
  • Apr 6 German bombardment of Piraeus (munitions ship explodes)
  • Apr 6 Italian forces holding Addis Ababa surrender to British & Ethiopian forces

  • Apr 7 British generals O'Connor & Neame captured in North Africa

Sport defeatBoxing Title Fight

Apr 8 In his 4th title defence in 9 weeks Joe Louis beats Tony Musto by TKO in the 9th round at the Arena, Saint Louis, Missouri to retain NYSAC heavyweight boxing crown

Boxer and World Heavyweight Champion Joe Louis
Boxer and World Heavyweight Champion
Joe Louis
  • Apr 9 PGA establishes Golf Hall of Fame
  • Apr 9 LPGA Titleholders Championship Women's Golf, Augusta CC: Dorothy Kirby wins comfortably by 16 strokes ahead of Helen Sigel
  • Apr 10 German troops conquer Libyan county Cyrenaica

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Apr 10 Independent State of Croatia led by Ante Pavelić established as fascist German puppet state

Croatian Fascist Leader Ante Pavelić
Croatian Fascist Leader
Ante Pavelić

'Hitler Will Have to Break Us or Lose the War''Hitler Will Have to Break Us or Lose the War'

Apr 11 Germany blitzes Coventry, England

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Buckingham Palace is bombed. Churchill, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth inspect the damage. Photo: NPA Rota
Buckingham Palace is bombed. Churchill, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth inspect the damage. Photo: NPA Rota
Read Article
  • Apr 11 Jewish Weekly newspaper taken control by Nazis
  • Apr 11 Nazi occupiers in Netherlands confiscate Jewish assets
  • Apr 12 Stanley Cup Final, Olympia Stadium, Detroit, MI: Boston Bruins defeat Detroit Red Wings, 3-1 for a 4-0 series sweep

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Apr 12 Vichy-France's head of government Admiral François Darlan consults with Adolf Hitler

Admiral and Prime Minister of Vichy France François Darlan
Admiral and Prime Minister of Vichy France
François Darlan
Dictator of Nazi Germany Adolf Hitler
Dictator of Nazi Germany
Adolf Hitler
  • Apr 13 Heavy German assault on Tobruk
  • Apr 13 Pact of neutrality between the USSR and Japan is signed.
  • Apr 14 1st massive German raid in Paris, 3,600 Jews rounded up
  • Apr 14 King Peter leaves Yugoslavia
  • Apr 14 45th Boston Marathon won by Leslie Pawson in 2:30:38; his third victory in the event
  • Apr 15 1st helicopter flight of 1 hr duration, Stratford, Ct
  • Apr 16 Little Theater at Adelphi Strand, London closes
  • Apr 17 British troop land in Iraq
  • Apr 17 US Office of Price Administration forms (handled rationing)

  • Apr 17 World War II: The Kingdom of Yugoslavia surrenders to Germany.
  • Apr 19 Bertolt Brecht's play "Mother Courage and her Children" premieres in Zurich
  • Apr 19 Bulgarian troops invade Macedonia
  • Apr 19 Milk rationed in Holland
  • Apr 20 100 German bombers attack Athens
  • Apr 20 Dodgers start to wear liners in their caps
  • Apr 21 Greece surrenders to nazi-Germany
  • Apr 23 Greek Army surrenders to Germany; British RAF evacuates the Greek King George II to Egypt
  • Apr 24 British army begins evacuation of Greece
  • Apr 24 Dutch Prince Bernhard becomes an RAF pilot

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Apr 25 Operation Merkur: Hitler orders conquest of Kreta

Dictator of Nazi Germany Adolf Hitler
Dictator of Nazi Germany
Adolf Hitler
  • Apr 26 A tradition begins, 1st organ at a baseball stadium (Chicago Cubs)
  • Apr 26 Potatoes rationed in Holland
  • Apr 27 German troops occupy Athens, Greece
  • Apr 28 Last British troops in Greece surrender

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