, ▁Italian ▁military ▁officer ▁( kil led ▁in ▁action ▁in ▁North ▁Africa ) ▁ ▁December ▁ 1 0 , ▁ 1 9 4 0 ▁( T ues day ) ▁The ▁Battle ▁of ▁S idi ▁Bar ran i ▁began ▁as ▁British ▁forces ▁launched ▁an ▁off ensive ▁to ▁re take ▁the ▁Egypt ian ▁port ▁of ▁S idi ▁Bar ran i . ▁Hitler ▁issued ▁Direct ive ▁No . ▁ 1 9 ▁on ▁the ▁German ▁occupation ▁of ▁V ich y ▁France , ▁c oden amed ▁Operation ▁Att ila . ▁Hitler ▁made ▁a ▁speech ▁to ▁m un itions ▁workers ▁in ▁Berlin . ▁The ▁ 1 9 4 1 ▁NFL ▁draft ▁was ▁held . ▁The ▁Chicago ▁B ears ▁selected ▁Tom ▁Harm on ▁of ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Michigan ▁as ▁the ▁number ▁one ▁overall ▁pick . ▁D ied : ▁John ▁R ath bone , ▁ 3 0 , ▁British ▁politician ▁and ▁f ighter ▁pilot ▁( kil led ▁in ▁action ) ▁ ▁December ▁ 1 1 , ▁ 1 9 4 0 ▁( W ed nes day ) ▁The ▁Battle ▁of ▁S idi ▁Bar ran i ▁ended ▁in ▁British ▁victory . ▁German ▁sub marine ▁U - 1 4 7 ▁was ▁commission ed . ▁Born : ▁Don na ▁M ills , ▁actress ▁and ▁producer , ▁in ▁Chicago , ▁Illinois ▁D ied : ▁J . ▁Harold ▁Murray , ▁ 4 9 , ▁American ▁bar it one ▁ ▁December ▁ 1 2 , ▁ 1 9 4 0 ▁( Th urs day ) ▁The ▁first ▁of ▁four ▁night s ▁of ▁heavy ▁German ▁bomb ing ▁of