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WWII On This Day: January 5

What happened on January 5 during World War II? This date brings together 1 event from 1941, with period photographs and links to the full operations documented across WW2 Theatres.

1941
Italian prisoners captured at Bardia march toward a British base on 6 January 1941, the day after organised resistance ended.
Italian prisoners captured at Bardia march toward a British base on 6 January 1941, the day after organised resistance ended. Capt Geoffrey Keating / No. 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit · Imperial War Museums E 1579 · public domain (UK Government) Source
Operation Compass

Bardia gives in

The remaining northern and southern pockets collapsed on the third day. The Australian 6th Division had suffered 456 casualties, while the Italian losses exceeded 40,000 killed or captured. More than 400 guns and large numbers of tanks and vehicles were taken. British armour was already moving west toward El Adem before the last resistance ended. Bardia had become another stage in the advance, and the command was already preparing the investment of Tobruk.

Continue in Operation Compass →