WWII in real time

Royal Navy warships HMS Ladybird, Terror & Aphis are bombarding Italian forces on the shore- ready for a frontal assault by Allied tanks. https://t.co/t6UH7lA8aN

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Allied troops continuing breakneck advance in Egypt; they've encircled the Italian fortress of Sidi Barrani, cutting off any reinforcement.

Allies in Egypt have taken 4000 prisoners in 12 hours- many of them Libyans forcibly enlisted by Italian occupiers, eager to surrender. https://t.co/fO2HbAT887

Secretly, Japanese Admiral Yamamoto has been told to plan for war against the USA. He predicts: "I shall run wild for 6 months or a year- but I have no confidence after that."

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Japan's Foreign Minister, Matsuoka, announcing Japan has no quarrel with USA or UK if all nations "mind their own business."

Among Italian dead from Allied surprise attack in Egypt is a General, Pietro Maletti- shot down while personally manning a machine-gun.

Operation Compass begins with an early victory: Indian & British troops have captured two fortified Italian camps in Egypt, killing or capturing 3000 soldiers. https://t.co/YMyQm3iJHZ

Wavell's 30,000 troops- & 265 British Matilda tanks- will strike from the Egyptian desert at dawn, hoping to blindside Italians who are guarding the Mediterranean coast road. https://t.co/9YjtCR0tJh

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Canadian Parliament has just passed a 25% "luxury tax" on all consumer products & banned import of US-made products not related to war effort.

British commander in Egypt, General Wavell, is holding an officers' party tonight at the Cairo Turf Club- to make Italian spies think he has no plans for tomorrow.

30,000 Allied troops in Egyptian desert finally told they are not on an exercise. Tomorrow they attack Italian forts: huge raid, codenamed Compass.

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British War Cabinet are discussing blockading Ireland with the Royal Navy & cutting off all Irish exports for 6 months- "economic warfare" to force Ireland away from neutrality.

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Spanish dictator Franco has, after months of deliberation, refused Hitler's military alliance; planned joint German-Spanish attack on Gibraltar cancelled.

Churchill to Roosevelt: Risk of German invasion of Britain "has receded; in its place, an equal danger: steady & increasing diminution of sea tonnage" by German U-boats.

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As the year draws to a close UK PM Winston Churchill writes to US President Roosevelt, reviewing "prospects for 1941" & tacitly begging for more American aid: https://t.co/tal1sLcctA

Allied forces hiding in no-man's land of the Egyptian desert; windscreens removed from vehicles so no Italian reconnaissance will spot tell-tale sun-glare. https://t.co/0WHvKI8X3r

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In Egypt, 30,000 British & Commonwealth troops are advancing deep into the desert- ready for a surprise attack on Italian invaders. https://t.co/p2zZ9kI2L0

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German occupiers of Poland release propaganda photos boasting of their oppression of Jews: Nazis shown rounding up "Jewish criminals" in Lublin. https://t.co/uSeAqHiMIL

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Marshal Badoglio has resigned from the Italian General Staff, taking blame for Italian disasters in Greece (although he warned Mussolini not to invade).

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British government has denied American please to allow food aid to be delivered to occupied France; naval blockade will not be lifted, even if Europe starves.

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