Events Date 1941 April | History by KabAstro

Watch on the Rhine

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

Apr 1 Nazis forbid Jewish 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 1 US Navy takes over Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay
Apr 2 German occupier disallows Dutch scouting association

Churchill Warns Stalin

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

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

8th US Masters

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

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

Louis vs Musto

Apr 8 In his 4th title defense 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

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

Croatia German Puppet Statete

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

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

Apr 11 Germany blitzes Coventry, England

Buckingham Palace is bombed. Churchill, King George VI and Queen Consort Elizabeth (The Queen Mother) inspect the damage. Photo: NPA Rota

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

Darlan Consults with Hitler

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

Admiral and Prime Minister of Vichy France François Darlan

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 45th Boston Marathon won by Leslie Pawson in 2:30:38; his third victory in the event
Apr 14 King Peter leaves Yugoslavia
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 Egyptian steamer SS Zamzam attacked and later scuttled by German cruiser Atlantis (all on board rescued)
Apr 17 US Office of Price Administration forms (handled rationing)
Apr 17 World War II: The Kingdom of Yugoslavia surrenders to Germany.

Mother Courage and her Children

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 WWII: 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