lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Apr 28, 2019 18:04:39 GMT
Day 241 of World War II, April 28th 1940
Battle for Norway
The British cabinet, given a strong recommendation in the morning from General Massy, affirms the Military Coordination Committee (MCC) decision on April 27th to evacuate Norway. Everything is prepared for a quick exit.
Lieutenant General Claude Auchinleck is appointed commander of the British forces in Norway, now named the North Western Expeditionary Force. He will oversee the evacuation.
Norway Army Operations
General Paget at Otta and General de Wiart at Namsos both receive orders to evacuate.
Paget tells Norwegian Commander in Chief Ruge at 05:00. Ruge gets angry at both the decision and not being told previously. He still believes that the defensive 15th Brigade south of Dombås can establish a permanent line, but the decision is final. He offers to assist with the retreat as long as Norwegian troops are included in the evacuation.
The 15th Brigade at Otta holds its line during the day, destroying three German light tanks. During the night, it withdraws 25 north to Dombås, where it can protect its own flank. They conduct a scorched-earth policy, blowing bridges as they go.
General de Wiart in Namsos withdraws his forces into a tighter, more defensible perimeter as he prepares to depart. He faces Luftwaffe attacks only.
The French 27th Demi-Brigade de Chasseurs Alpins deploys on the mainland at Sjovegan, north of Narvik.
Norway Air Operations
The Luftwaffe continues bombing the British ports in northern Norway.
The Luftwaffe sends reinforcements and supplies to General Dietl's troops at Narvik with 89 Junkers Ju-52 transports.
Having downed a German Heinkel 111 the previous night, RAF pilot Captain Partridge has crash-landed nearby. He finds a hut, then hears someone outside - it is the crew of the bomber he shot down. He invites them in, they become friends, and are picked up this morning by a Norwegian ski patrol.
Battle of the Atlantic
The Queen Mary, impressed into British military service, completes a record-breaking, 12-day trip from New York to Cape Town.
U-13 (Kapitänleutnant Max-Martin Schulte) torpedoes and damages 9,491 ton British tanker Scottish American west of Pentland, Firth.
Convoy OA 138 GF departs from Southend, Convoy OB 138 departs from Liverpool.
Italian battleship Vittorio Veneto completed.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Apr 29, 2019 13:28:16 GMT
Day 242 of World War II, April 29th 1940
Battle for Norway
King Haakon catches a ride on HMS Glasgow from Molde to Tromso. It also takes Crown Prince Olav, Prime Minister Nygaardsvold, and much of the rest of the Norwegian government. The government issues a statement condemning German "terrorism" which they claim to have witnessed first-hand against civilians. The portion of the Norwegian gold reserves that have not been transported to England goes with them.
Like other British-held ports, Molde is in flames due to Luftwaffe attacks. The royals and other Norwegians have to board the ship by running across a burning pier.
Despite this cooperation, Anglo/Norwegians are strained at all levels. The Norwegians feel that the British are acting in high-handed fashion, such as by not telling them about the decision to evacuate. There are tales of British soldiers acting imperiously: "British officers behave with the arrogance of Prussians, demanding food at gunpoint."
Norway Army Operations
While the British have decided to evacuate, they are still tinkering with their strategy. They land troops at Bodo in the north. It is convenient to have if the objective is Narvik.
The British 15th Infantry Brigade holds Dombås through the day. The German troops pursuing them are delayed by British demolitions. Oberst Fischer’s Kampfgruppe, composed mainly of the 196th Division, completes its bypass of the British blocking action. It moves from the Østerdal valley to link up with German troops from Trondheim. This effectively hems the British in on the east.
The Germans at Steinkjer launch probing attacks against the British concentrated at Namsos.
The Germans at Hegra bring in fresh troops. They now ramp up the artillery assault, using captured Norwegian 12 cm (4.7 in) howitzers from the armoury in Trondheim.
East of Lillehammer, 3,700 troops of the Norwegian 2nd Infantry Division surrender.
Norway Naval Operations
A British destroyer force (HMS Kelly, Maori and Imperial, plus French destroyer Bison which isunder Commander Lord Louis Mountbatten) departs from Scapa Flow. Its mission is to evacuate Namsos.
Norwegian Air Operations
The Luftwaffe launches attacks at Andalsnes, the site of a large British base, and Molde, where King Haakon and the Norwegian government have been recently.
The Luftwaffe attacks Norwegian hospital ship Brand IV off Aalesund.
The Luftwaffe sinks Royal Navy anti-submarine trawlers Cape Chelyuskin and Cape Siretoko off Norway.
Battle of the Atlantic
U-50 is sunk by British destroyers HMS Amazon and HMS Witherington off the Shetlands.
British submarine HMS Unity is lost when SS Atle Jarl runs into it at Blyth Harbour in heavy fog. There are four lives lost. Lieutenant John Low and Able Seaman Henry Miller help other men to get out and are given posthumous medals.
The Kriegsmarine lays mines in the North Sea.
Convoy HG 28 departs from Gibraltar.
British Expeditionary Force
The British 1st Tank Brigade moves to France.
Royal Air force
The Empire Air Training Program gets under way at training schools in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Anglo/US Relations
The US government has not received a satisfactory response from the British about the seizure of German engineers from the Panamanian ship Don Juan at Port Said on 5 September 1940. However, it closes the incident “on the assumption that similar incidents will not be permitted to occur in the future."
France
Prime Minister Paul Reynaud offers old war hero Henri Petain a cabinet post as Minister of State.
War Crimes
Over 20,000 Poles have been shot during the purge known as the Katyn Forest Massacre, led by Vasily Blokhin, who personally has shot over 7,000, or 250/night.
British Homefront
All sorts of basic commodities, such as toilet paper, are now rationed and highly sought after on the black market.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Apr 30, 2019 3:19:28 GMT
Day 243 of World War II, April 30th 1940Battle for Norway
Hitler is pleased with the progress of Operation Weserubung and issues a congratulatory Order of the Day. General Otto Ruge issues a somewhat different statement: "Allied forces are withdrawing from Romsdal and presumably Namsos. The situation has thus been changed. A military collapse is to be expected in Gudbrandsdalen, Romsdal and Trondelag. The Government and Army High Command are transferring to Northern Norway." Norway Army Operations
The British at Andalsnes begin evacuating during the night. The British 15th Brigade at Dombås are given the order to retire after holding there all day against German attacks. The 15th leaves by train for Andalsnes, where they will be evacuated. At 17:00, cruisers HMS Manchester & Birmingham and destroyers HMS Inglefield, Diana and Delight, under Vice Admiral Layton, depart Scapa Flow for this mission. General de Wiart's troops at Namsos are also waiting to be evacuated by the destroyer force that is en route from Scapa Flow. The Germans of the 196th Infantry Division occupy Dombås and make contact with German troops of the 359th Infantry Regiment south of Trondheim. They are on foot because they have had to leave their vehicles behind the bridges that the British demolished. The Germans coming west from the Osterdal link up with their comrades at Dragset. Narvik is the new focus of Allied operations in Norway. Norwegian 6th Infantry Brigade, 7th Infantry Brigade and French 27th Demi-Brigade de Chasseurs are slowly advancing toward Narvik from the north. Air War over Europe
During minelaying operations, a Heinkel He 111 which is carrying a magnetic mine is damaged by anti-aircraft. After trying to crash-land safely, it crashes into a suburban neighborhood at Clacton-on-Sea, Essex. It explodes and causes the deaths of the four-man crew, two civilians, 156 injured civilians, and the destruction of 50 houses. The RAF bombs Stavanger and Oslo-Fornebu airfields overnight, and they also attack Aalborg airfield in Denmark. The RAF wants to minimize disruptions of the evacuations. Two British aircraft carriers, HMS Ark Royal and Glorious, provide some air cover. The Luftwaffe goes out to attack them, and they are forced to retreat further off the coast. Anti-submarine trawler HMS Warwickshire is sunk by the Luftwaffe off Trondheim. Battle of the Atlantic
Monthly April 1940 shipping losses: - 58 Allied Ships. - 158,218 tons. - 5 U-boats sunk. The Luftwaffe sinks Royal Navy anti-aircraft sloop Bittern off Namsos. Stukas dive-bomb it and set it on fire in the stern. There are 20 lives lost. A nearby destroyer, HMS Janus, rescues the crew and then torpedoes the flaming hulk. Admiral Forbes is being proved correct about the unwise decision of using ships to provide anti-aircraft defense. Photo:HMS Bittern ablaze in Namsos Fjord after having suffered a direct hit in the stern by a bomb.
 Royal Navy minesweeper HMS Dunoon hits a mine and sinks off Great Yarmouth near Smith's Knoll. There are 27 lives lost. Kriegsmarine torpedo boat Leopard is involved in a collision in the Skagerrak and sinks. French destroyer Maille Breze has two of its own torpedoes explode and destroy it in the Clyde. There are 25 deaths, 48 wounded. Convoy OB 139 departs from Liverpool, Convoy SL 30 departs from Freetown, and Convoy HX 39 departs from Halifax. Minesweeping trawler HMS Fir (J. W. H. Whitelaw) is commissioned. US Military
The Norwegian tanker Willy catches fire in the Cooper River at Charleston, South Carolina. If allowed to burn, it could have destroyed the ship and the Charleston pier. The Commandant of the Sixth Naval District organizes a team that extinguishes the fire. US/Italian Relations
President Roosevelt sends Mussolini a personal telegram that begins, "My dear Signor Mussolini." French Military
A French military attaché in Berne, Switzerland, reports to French intelligence that a German attack on the West is set for May 8-10, focusing on Sedan. France has chosen to ignore the warning. General Gamelin was dismissive of any possible invasion being a threat, however; “France is not Poland!” Many of the other French generals agree with Gamelin’s opinion that Germany poses no threat to the powerful French army. But regional commanders are more anxious. General Huntziger, whose area of command covers where the Swiss believe the invasion will take place, is said to be nervous. According to reports, his troops are said to be unprepared and poorly trained. Gamelin has even suggested Huntziger’s nerves are more down to his personal unpreparedness than any lack of troops or equipment.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on May 1, 2019 14:43:21 GMT
Day 244 of World War II, May 1st 1940
Battle for Norway
King Haakon, Prime Minister Nygaardsvold, the Crown Prince and the remainder of the Norwegian government arrive in Tromso aboard the Royal Navy cruiser HMS Glasgow.
The British give up at Åndalsnes. During their mission there, they have lost 1301 killed, missing or captured. Norwegian Commander-in-chief Otto Ruge take the HMS Diana from Åndalsnes to Tromsø to join the king and rest of the government.
Norway Army Operations
It is a miserable day for the British 15th Brigade, which suffered heavily south of Dombås. Their train to Åndalsnes derails at a bomb crater at 01:15. There are 8 dead, 30 wounded. The men then have to walk the remaining 17 miles through deep snow in order to reach the port at 09:00.
The British troops, both 15th Brigade and 148th Brigade, leave Andalsnes that evening on a flotilla of destroyers and cruisers under Vice-Admiral Geoffrey Layton. Destroyers HMS Inglefield (D 02), HMS Diana (H 49), and HMS Delight (H 38) take troops to the light cruisers HMS Manchester and HMS Birmingham. While 5,084 servicemen are taken off, much equipment is left behind. The British are gone by 2 a.m. on 2 May 1940. The Germans do not immediately notice the departure.
Commander Lord Louis Mountbatten brings his 4 destroyers into Namsos and to take off General de Wiart’s 146th Brigade. Fog in the harbor limits the evacuees to the 850 men of the French Chasseurs Alpins.
About 4,000 Norwegian troops trapped at Lillehammer surrender.
The German 3rd Mountain Division under General Dietl counterattacks at Narvik.
German forces at Oslo and Bergen link up. Norwegian General William Steffens, who previously evacuated Voss and had set up his headquarters at Førde, disbands his troops. About 3,500 Norwegian 4th Infantry Brigade troops surrender, but the Germans allow them to simply disband and go home. Steffens leaves during the night for Tromsø with three naval aircraft. This effectively ends the campaign in southwest Norway, though there are still some Norwegian troops here and there who are un-noticed and remain active.
Norway Air Operations
The Germans transfer a battalion of the 2nd Mountain Division from Denmark to Trondheim by air.
The RAF sends a dozen bombers to attack Stavanger-Sola airfield during the day, then more aircraft to attack the same airfield and also Oslo during the night.
The Luftwaffe continues its attacks on the British-held ports in northern Norway. Stukas sink the anti-submarine trawler HMS St. Goran. The Stukas also hit Royal Navy sloop HMS Bittern at Namsos and set it ablaze.
Norway Naval Operations: British submarine HMS Narwhal (Lt. Commander Ronald J. Burch) spots a German merchant convoy in the Kattegat about 20 miles north of Anholt, Denmark. It fires six torpedoes at the convoy. The convoy is carrying units of the 2nd Gebirgsjager Division to Norway. The Narwhal torpedoes and sinks one troop transport, the Buenos Aires (62 men and 240 horses killed), and torpedoes a second, the Bahia Castillo (10 men, 26 horses killed).
The Norwegian ships in western Norway are ordered to evacuate either to Great Britain or northern Norway. Only two do so, the auxiliary Bjerk sailed to the United Kingdom and Steinar to Northern Norway. The other Norwegian ships either have too few crews left to sail, or their commanders simply tell the men to go home.
Battle of the Atlantic
The 1,296-ton Swedish freighter Haga hits a mine laid by British submarine HMS Narwhal in the Skagerrak east of Cape Skagen and sinks.
Air War over Europe
During the night, the RAF bombs Aalborg airfield in Denmark.
The RAF sends other planes to drop mines during the night.
The Luftwaffe drops mines along the British coast.
Swedish freighter Haga strikes a mine and sinks.
Convoy OA-139 departs from Southend, Convoy SL 30 departs from Freetown, Convoy OG 28F forms at Gibraltar.
Western Front
Hitler is done waiting to invade France and the Low Countries and wants Fall Gelb to being as soon as possible. He sets a tentative start date of May 5th 1940.
Hitler is goaded on by public opinion, as expressed by journalist William Shirer broadcasting from Berlin: "What kind of war is this, where the world's two greatest armies stand facing but refrain from killing?" He recalls a typical scene: "200 yards from the Rhine, in sight of a French blockhouse, German soldiers play football."
British Military
The Military Coordination Committee (MCC) is reorganized in such a fashion as to give its leader (in the absence of Prime Minister Chamberlain) Winston Churchill more direct control over all military operations. General Ismay becomes Churchill's chief staff officer at the MCC.
German Military
General Johannes Blaskowitz takes over command of German 9th Army.
US Military
The US Navy establishes a naval air station in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
German Government
The government designates a Krupp armaments plant at Essen as a "National Socialist model plant."
German Occupied Poland
The Germans seal off the Lodz Ghetto. The German authorities tell the Council of Elders that they will supply the 230,000 captives with food only if they become a "useful workforce."
SS-Hauptsturmführer (captain) Rudolf Höss is appointed the first commandant of Auschwitz prison camp near the town of Oświęcim in western Poland.
Ireland
The government refuses a British offer of a "defense alliance." It re-asserts its neutrality and calls upon the US to guarantee it.
China
At the Battle of Tsaoyang-Ichang, the Japanese 11th Army opens and offensive from Hsinyang, Sui Hsien, and Chung-Hsiang toward Tsaoyang and rice granary areas in Hubei province, advancing in five columns. This is a typical Japanese "rice offensive."
The 11th Army quickly captures Mingkang, Lion's bridge, and Hsiaolintien. The Japanese Army Air Force 3rd Air Brigade, based at Hankow (Wuhan), provides air support for 11th Army during the Tsaoyang-Ichang operation.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on May 2, 2019 15:05:16 GMT
Day 245 of World War II, May 2nd 1940
Battle for Norway
The British and French are evacuating their tenuous positions near Trondheim, but that does not mean that they are abandoning Norway altogether. In fact, the emphasis is just shifting further north, to the key to the entire invasion in the first place: Narvik. This new operation will be called "Scissors Force." It is to be led by General Colin Gubbins.
General Gubbins has been raising "Independent Companies." These are embryonic Commandos (aka Special Forces). The plan is for him to use four or five of these Independent Companies to take and hold Narvik while also taking and holding Bodø, Mo i Rana and Mosjøen.
Prime Minister Chamberlain tells the House that Norway is not a "sideshow" nor a "Quixotic adventure."
Norway Army Operations
The evacuation of General de Wiart's Maurice Force troops (British 146th Infantry Brigade, French 5th Demi-Brigade de Chasseurs) at Namsos is completed. Lord Mountbatten leads in four destroyers and is joined by Vice Admiral John Cunningham with 3 cruisers, 5 destroyers, and 3 troop transport ships.
The German 196th Infantry Division takes Åndalsnes around 16:00, which had been evacuated by the British Sickle Force troops on 1 May. The British take off 4,400 men but leave behind much equipment in the devastated town. With this force gone, the Allied presence in Norway now has been halved.
The Germans seize control of the Dovrebanen railway line from Dombås to Støren.
The German 69th Infantry Division meets the German 163rd Infantry Division midway between Oslo and Bergen.
The Norwegians at Hegra Fortress hear radio reports of surrenders and evacuations elsewhere and consider their alternatives. Bread has now run out, and no resupply is forthcoming.
There is fighting in the Narvik area.
Norway Naval Operations
Junkers Ju 87 Stukas attack the destroyer convoy which is arriving to take off the British 146th Brigade and associated French troops from Namsos. They sink French destroyers Afridi and Bison and damage via near miss HMS Maori (5 men perish and 18 are wounded). The flotilla stays offshore and finally comes in when heavy evening fog arrives to hide it from the Luftwaffe. The destroyers ferry about 5,350 men to the cruisers and transports after dark.
Norway Air Operations
RAF Bomber Command attacks Stavanger Airfield both during the day and at night. It also attacks Oslo airfield after dark.
Air War over Europe
RAF Bomber Command attacks Rye Airfield in Denmark both during the day and at night.
The RAF sends 26 bombers to lay mines during the night in the North Sea.
Battle of the Atlantic
Convoy OA 140G departs from Southend, and Convoy OB 140 departs from Liverpool.
Western Front
Having masterfully led the Allies to focus on Norway, Hitler and the Wehrmacht High Command start assembling troops for Fall Gelb, the invasion of France and the Low Countries. The attack will be led by 93 front-line divisions, 10 of them armored and 6 motorized. The main thrust will be through the Ardennes forest, with a subsidiary decoy thrust to the north through Holland.
German/Swedish Relations
The Swedes had sent their crown jewels to Norway for safekeeping during the Winter War. Now, they open secret talks with the Germans to get them back.
US Navy: Lieutenant Commander Edward Henry “Butch” O’Hare finishes his flight training at NAS Pensacola, Florida and is assigned to USS Saratoga (CV-3) Fighter Squadron Three (VF-3).
New Zealand
A New Zealand troop convoy departs from Wellington to Australia.
Egypt
Prime Minister Chamberlain announces that a British/French combined fleet is in the Mediterranean and en route to Alexandria.
German occupied Poland
Holocaust: SS-Hauptsturmführer (captain) Rudolf Höss arrives at Auschwitz prison camp near the town of Oświęcim in western Poland. He will be its first commandant. His orders are "to create a transition camp for ten thousand prisoners from the existing complex of well-preserved buildings." Höss has had experience at the Sachsenhausen concentration camp and is determined to make this new camp run with extreme efficiency.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on May 3, 2019 9:20:10 GMT
Day 246 of World War II, May 3rd 1940
Battle for Norway
The British/French tilt away from the Trondheim target is a serious tell-tale sign for the direction of the entire Norwegian campaign.
The Allies at this point have no hope of prevailing against Germany on the Continent in any kind of mobile warfare setting except in artificial frames such as island conflicts. Narvik provides a last gasp as an opportunity for the Allies only because, for all intents and purposes, it is an island: it is difficult to reach by land due to numerous geographical barriers and lack of roads, it has a small population and the best way to reach it with military support is via ship (military supplies cannot be sent on the rail line through neutral Sweden).
In fact, the British arguably have a slight advantage in some ways in a Narvik campaign. The British Home Fleet not only completely outclasses anything that the Kriegsmarine can put in action, but its main base at Scapa Flow, Scotland is closer to Narvik than any German ports. Conceivably, the Allies could occupy northern Norway indefinitely - so long as nothing else comes up diverting scarce resources somewhere else.
King Haakon and the rest of the Norwegian government and Commander-in-chief Otto Ruge are under British protection just south of Navik at Tromsø. There is a 1000km (600 mile) buffer zone between them and the German troops further south.
The sense of hopelessness among the few active Norwegian forces remaining in the country is exacerbated by a radio broadcast by British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announcing the evacuation of Allied troops from the Trondheim region.
Norway Army Operations
The evacuation of British (1,850) and French (2,345) troops, along with some Norwegian troops and 30 Wehrmacht POWs, is finished before dawn. General de Wiart is grateful: "The Navy promised to evacuate my troops tonight. I thought it impossible, but the Navy do not know the word."
Colonel Ole Berg Getz—the Norwegian commander in the Trøndelag area - announces in his order of the day that he has proposed an armistice due to his lack of supplies, particularly ammunition. He broadcasts his surrender of troops in Nord-Trøndelag during the day, and advises all other Norwegian forces in Trøndelag to do the same.
Norwegian General Jacob Hvinden-Haug throws in the towel and surrenders all troops south of Trondheim. All fighting south of Trondheim in essence is over except for holdouts.
The commander of one of those holdouts, Hegra Fortress, realizes from radio reports and its own situation that the end is at hand. Food is running out, and there is no hope of relief. The garrison begins destroying it artillery ammunition. Three Swedish volunteers are taken out of the fortress and escorted by a ski patrol to the Swedish border.
Norway Naval Operations
Destroyer HMS Alfridi lingers at Namsos after the evacuation convoy leaves, shelling the dock and other port facilities before finally departing at 04:45.
The Allied troops evacuated from Åndalsnes arrive safely in Scapa Flow. The French transit to French passenger liners bound for Brest to aid in the defense of their own country.
Norway Air Operations
The Luftwaffe attacks the Namsos evacuation convoy at 09:45, sinking French destroyer Bison about 110 miles west of Vega Island, Norway at 10:10. There are 103 deaths - but many also wind up on HMS Alfridi, which also goes down.
Alfridi is bombed at 14:00 and also goes down quickly (45 minutes), with numerous deaths (45 crew, 13 men of 146th Brigade, and 30 of the 69 men just rescued from the Bison). Elderly General de Wiart - legendary escape-artist from hopeless predicaments - is forlorn: "I'm sorry I wasn't on board - I've missed a great experience!"
The Luftwaffe attacks British battleship HMS Resolution and Cruisers Aurora and Effingham off Narvik.
Western Front
Hitler is hard at work on Fall Gelb, the invasion of France and the Low Countries, and now is at the fine-tuning stage. He postpones the date from 5 May to 6 May, the small change showing how close the actuality is getting. He is assembling 93 Divisions along the border without the Allies apparently noticing.
Hitler sees the entire world up for grabs: "The earth is a challenge cup: it goes to those who deserve it.…"
French General Huntziger commands the 2nd Army on the Ardennes front. He is offended by the construction without his approval of anti-tank obstacles on two main roads through the forest and orders them demolished.
Air War over Europe
The RAF bombs Oslo-Fornebu airfield, Stavanger-Sola, and Ry airfield in northern Denmark.
Three Luftwaffe fighters ambush a British reconnaissance plane over Borkum, losing one of their own number.
RAF bomber command sends 10 aircraft out on minelaying operations during the night. The Luftwaffe also conducts minelaying.
Convoy OA 141 departs from Southend, Convoy OB 141 departs from Liverpool.
Battle of the Atlantic
German commerce raider Atlantis is travelling in the south Atlantic disguised as Japanese freighter Kasii Maru. It spots British freighter Scientist near Walvis Bay on its way to Freetown, boards it, and then sinks it with a torpedo. There are three deaths.
Spies
Colonel Hans Oster of the German military intelligence service, the Abwehr, tells the Dutch military attaché in Berlin, Colonel Sas, that Fall Gelb is close, perhaps ready by 8 May. Unfortunately for Oster, his credibility has been undermined by previous postponements subsequent to his alerts. The neutral Dutch decide not to pass this information along to the Allies.
Applied Science
The Wehrmacht seizes control of the world's only heavy water production facility Vermork outside Rjukan in Tinn, Norway.
Greenland
The Danish crown colony takes a different route than Iceland, which earlier had declared independence. It seeks US protection to maintain its Danish sovereignty without German domination.
China
At the Battle of Tsaoyang-Ichang, the Japanese 11th Army captures Changshouien and Tienchiachi.
British Homefront
Industrialist Sir Alfred Edward Herbert, a huge advocate of women workers during World War I (along with minimum wages and maximum working hours), encourages women to sign up for factory work "at this grave time."
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stevep
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Post by stevep on May 3, 2019 13:02:38 GMT
Day 246 of World War II, May 3rd 1940
French General Huntziger commands the 2nd Army on the Ardennes front. He is offended by the construction without his approval of anti-tank obstacles on two main roads through the forest and orders them demolished.  
To quote from the bible, "Jesus wept" Probably wouldn't have made an huge difference but it shows how disjointed the allied situation was at this point.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on May 4, 2019 14:25:18 GMT
Day 247 of World War II, May 4th 1940
YouTube clip (Retreat in the North, Preparations in the West)
Battle for Norway
Norway Army Operations
The allies are accumulating troops in the vicinity of Narvik. There are about 30,000 troops nearby (French Foreign Legion & Chasseurs Alpins [mountain infantry], Polish troops, British 24th Brigade & Norwegians), though in scattered locations to the north and south. The French troops march to Bjerkvik, opposite Narvik, but the Germans hold them at Labergdal Pass.
The British No. 1 Independent Company (special forces) occupies Mo between Namsos and Narvik.
Colonel General Eduard Dietl’s 139th Mountain (Gebirgsjäger) Regiment has been isolated at Narvik since the beginning of the invasion, now almost a month old, and the Wehrmacht senses trouble (and also Hitler). The closest Wehrmacht formation, General Feuerstein’s 2nd Mountain (Gebirgsjäger) Division, begins marching 350 miles to the north to relieve them. The allies have troops at Mosjöen, Mo, and Bodö, and deploy about 300-500 at each along the way to stop or delay the German march.
The German 359th Infantry Brigade enters Namsos now that the Allies are evacuated.
At Hegra Fortress, the surrounded Norwegian volunteers begin destroying radios, machine guns, small arms and other items of value. Ski patrols leave carrying important documents and messages.
North of Trondheim, the Norwegian 5th Infantry Brigade surrenders its 2,000 troops.
Norway Naval Operations
The Royal Navy lands troops at Mo, south of Narvik.
British submarine HMS Seal is laying mines on the surface in the Kattegat at 02:30 when it is spotted by a Heinkel He 115 seaplane. The submarine dives to 30 feet and continues laying mines. German anti-submarine trawlers arrive. Seal takes evasive action throughout the day, but then at 18:30 strikes a mine and settles on the bottom. The submarine does not flood, but it is stuck in the mud on the bottom and in big trouble.
German troops capture Norwegian submarine B-6.
Norway Air Operations
A Luftwaffe Heinkel He 111 of KG 100 bombs the Polish destroyer Grom on her torpedo tubes in the fjord Rombaken off Narvik at 08:28. The Grom was bombarding German positions along with destroyer HMS Faulknor, which picks up the survivors quickly along with light cruisers HMS Enterprise (D 52) and HMS Aurora (12) and destroyer HMS Bedouin (F 67). There are 154 survivors and 59 perish, with the crew put on a hospital ship sailing for the Clyde.
Battle of the Atlantic
British 5,995 ton tanker San Tiburcio hits a mine and sinks four miles off Tarbett Ness, Moray Firth, Scotland. All 40 crew survive. The mine was laid by U-9 on February 10, 1940.
Royal Navy submarine HMS Severn sinks German freighter Monark in the North Sea.
Swedish freighter Aimy hits a mine and sinks. The mine was laid by Royal Navy submarine HMS Seal.
Convoy OA 142 departs from Southend, Convoy OB 142 departs from Liverpool, Convoy HG 29F departs from Gibraltar, and Convoy HX 40 departs from Halifax.
Spies
The Papal Nuncio warns King Leopold of Belgium that the Germans are preparing to attack.
Royal Air Force
Douglas Bader, a fighter pilot who lost his legs in a crash in 1931, has been fitted with metal legs and is flying missions. In some small ways, such as handling G-forces, his situation helps him. His story is well known by pilots on both sides and is quite inspirational.
Netherlands
The Dutch Premier announces that the military authorities have arrested 21 people as being a danger to the state. They are suspected saboteurs and Nazi infiltrators ("fifth columnists").
Italy
There is an editorial in La Stampa which states that the Germans have demonstrated their invincibility in Norway and can defeat the British and occupy England.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on May 5, 2019 7:38:59 GMT
Day 248 of World War II, May 5th 1940
Battle for Norway
Both sides are now upping their bids on Northern Norway. Central and southern Norway are now solidly German-occupied, but the northernmost third of the country is still up for grabs. It is rugged, largely devoid of roads, and subject to fierce weather, with military supply dependent upon naval or aerial sources - at which the British and French can rightly claim an advantage. The prize is more desirable because, aside from general geographic convenience for U-boat operations and air bases, the only value of Norway to anyone lies in that northern third - the port of Narvik. It is the source of the iron ore which makes the tanks and ships and guns which the Nazi war machine requires. Norwegian Foreign Minister Professor Koht, and Minister of Defence Col. Ljungberg arrive in London for consultations with British ministers. A Norwegian Government-in-exile is established in London, though the seat of government remains under British/French protection in northern Norway. Meanwhile, Adolf Hitler has everyone else looking above the Arctic Circle - and he is looking much closer to home. Norway Army Operations
With food running out and only enough water for a few days, the garrison of Hegra Fortress (26 miles east of Trondheim) knows that its only hope would be relief by external Norwegian/Allied troops. However, there are no longer any potential saviors within a thousand kilometers due to the British/French evacuations and Norwegian surrenders. In fact, Hegra Fortress is the last pocket of resistance south of Nordland. Accordingly, at 05:00, Major Holtermann gives a speech thanking the volunteers - largely local gun club members - and a rendition of the Norwegian national anthem. At 05:25, he raises the white flag over Hegra Fortress. The Germans, led by Hauptmann Giebel, arrive at 06:30. The garrison, totalling 190 men and one woman (nurse Anne Margrethe Bang) is led out later in the day. Adolf Hitler ultimately orders the Hegra Fortress prisoners' release in recognition of their valor, but not before they are forced to attempt to build a road to replace the bridges that they had blown. Total casualties at Hegra Fortress: Norwegians: Killed 6 Wounded 14 Germans: 150-200 casualties. German mountain troops advancing north from the Trondheim region continue their march toward Narvik. They reach the vicinity of Mosjoen. However, they are still hundreds of kilometers away from Narvik over rough ground. The Allied troops near Narvik begin consolidating their positions. Norwegian 6th Infantry Brigade and 7th Infantry Brigade and French 27th Demi-Brigade de Chasseurs capture Elvenes just north of Narvik Norwegian Air Operations: German aircraft from Norwegian bases fly support missions for General Dietl's troops at Narvik for the first time. Norway Naval Operations
French Foreign Legionnaires and Polish troops land at Harstad and Tromso, preparing the way for a pincer movement on Narvik. They also can help block any relief attempts. Capture of HMS Seal
On April 29th 1940, HMS Seal left Immingham laden with 50 mines. On entering the Skagerrak, she met HMS Narwhal just leaving the area after having stirred up German defences by scoring six hits with six torpedoes. Seal was running at shallow depth to maintain speed and conserve energy, when she was spotted by a German Heinkel He 115 on May 4th at about 02:30. She dived to 90 feet (27 m) and was slightly damaged by a bomb. Later that morning, Lonsdale discovered German anti-submarine trawlers searching for them around her target area, and he had to divert to the secondary target area. At about 09:00, Seal started to lay down her mines and completed that mission some 45 minutes later. Seal turned and headed for home, with the trawlers heading after her. Lonsdale took an evasive course, and used the Asdic to identify when the trawlers were stopping to listen. Then, at 3:00 pm, he spotted a patrol of nine German anti-submarine motor torpedo boats heading from a different direction. There were too many hours of daylight left, and the Kattegat was too shallow to allow a submarine as large as Seal to go deep and run for it. Lonsdale evaded detection by following a zig-zag course and at around 18:00 settled the submarine in stop-trim at the bottom of the sea. Unknown to the crew, they had entered an uncharted minefield. One of the submarine's hydroplanes caught a mine stay-cable and at about 06:30 pm, the attached mine was swept by the current onto the stern of the boat. There was a huge explosion and Seal was severely damaged. A painful increase in air pressure indicated that a large amount of water had entered the submarine. The crew's evening meal was catapulted round the mess rooms and the boat tilted bow upwards at about 10 degrees. All the watertight doors were quickly sealed and all crew accounted for, after two who had been trapped in the after end of the boat managed to make their way to the control room. To the crew's surprise, the pursuing ships had not noticed the explosion and moved away. After various inspections and repairs, the crew had to wait until 22:30 when it was dark enough for an attempt to be made to raise the submarine. At 10:30 pm, the ballast tanks were "blown" and the main motors started, but the stern stayed firmly stuck on the sea bed. The bow rose at a sharp angle, and the attempt had to be abandoned. By this time, the air quality had deteriorated badly. Pumping carried on and emergency repairs were made to start the pump to blow air into the rear trimming system. For a second attempt to surface, the 11-ton drop keel was released. This meant that the submarine could not submerge again. More high pressure air was used to blow the remaining tanks, but again the attempt was unsuccessful. Carbon-dioxide poisoning was having an accelerating effect on the crew and a third attempt was called for, using the engines and main ballast. This also failed. At 01:10, Lonsdale, a devout Christian, called his crew to prayer and led them in the Lord's Prayer. The crew then responded to his order for them to move as far forward as they could to try to tip the balance, though many fainted or were sick. While thoughts went to using the Davis escape gear, it was realised that it would take several hours to escape by this method and there was a risk of flooding the entire craft before more than a few could escape. The engineers found they could open a salvage-blow[clarification needed] and a final attempt was made to raise the submarine. The motors caught fire, but the fire went out for lack of oxygen. The batteries were nearly empty and the high pressure air exhausted. The engineer realised there was one air pressure group left with a tiny amount of air, which was some way up the companionway. He reached and opened the valve, and the submarine started to move upwards. Seal surfaced at 01:30. After the pressure was released, the fresh air caused blinding headaches to the crew, who had suffered oxygen deprivation. Lonsdale clambered to the bridge, and sighting land, decided to try to make for Swedish waters. The confidential papers were consigned to the sea bed, and the Asdics were destroyed and the pieces thrown overboard. Lonsdale sent a message to the Admiralty: "Am making for the Swedish coast". With the cipher books destroyed, Lonsdale did not receive two replies – "Understood and agreed with. Best of luck" and "Safety of personnel would be your first consideration after destruction of the Asdics". If he had, they would have saved him a considerable amount of anguish over his subsequent decisions. The rudder was damaged and the boat impossible to steer, but it was found that it could be made to go in reverse. Fair progress was made, but mud had entered the lubricating system and the one working engine seized up. At 02:30, Seal was spotted on the surface and attacked by two German Arado Ar 196s and another Heinkel. Lonsdale on the bridge, under fire, tried to fend them off with the Lewis guns, but these both jammed. With Seal under bombing and gunfire attack from the air, unable to dive and without motive power, some men wounded and no remaining defences, Lonsdale had no alternative but to surrender. The white messroom table-cloth was hoisted on the mast. Leutnant Schmidt brought his seaplane alongside and required the captain to swim to him. On his 35th birthday, Lonsdale swam to the seaplane, and shortly after, the chief petty officer swam to the other Arado. The crew waited on the submarine for the anti-submarine naval trawler UJ-128, to arrive at 06:30. It was expected that the boat, which was holed and listing, would sink of its own accord, but attempts were made to scuttle her. The German boarding party took the crew off, and the submarine was towed to Frederikshavn Photo: 20mm cannon damage to the HMS Seal
Battle of the Atlantic
German raider Widder leaves Kiel bound for Bergen. Convoy OG 28 forms at Gibraltar. British light cruiser HMS Fiji (Captain William G. Benn) is commissioned. Western Front
The front remains remarkably quiet. There is a report that, during the night, German patrols launched exploratory attacks on three Allied outposts supported by artillery fire, but were driven off. Journalist William Shirer in Berlin, unlike the Allied intelligence services, notices something unusual going on: "More bans on private cars. Why is Germany saving oil? Do they need it for some big military plan?" Spies Ireland is defiantly neutral, but a large body of opinion sees the distraction of a war against Germany as a handy way to pry the British out of the country. Taking advantage of this, the German military intelligence service sends Kapitän Hermann Goertz to Dublin by parachute. He is there to establish contacts with the IRA and sympathetic Irish Army Officers. Australia
Troop convoy US 3 departs Victoria, bound for Egypt. It is transporting the Australian 18th Infantry Brigade. VaticanPope, Pius XII issues a public anti-war prayer: "Christ, please stop the whirlwind of death which is crushing humanity."
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on May 6, 2019 3:18:02 GMT
Day 249 of World War II, May 6th 1940
Battle for Norway
The saga of the Norwegian gold reserve reaches a turning point, as £33,000,000 arrives in London. Having traveled most of the vast length of Norway by train and British cruiser, there were some anxious moments before it finally wound up safely in England.
Norway Army Operations
With the Germans in control of all of Norway south of Trondheim, the Allies are massing strength around the vital transit hub Narvik. The South Wales Borderers (part of British 24th Brigade) are assembling five miles to the west, and the French Chasseurs Alpins and Colonial artillery troops continue to try to force their way through Labergdal Pass to the north, across the fjord. Getting into position on the opposite shore would provide prime artillery positioning for the Allies, so the pass must be held if the Germans are to hold the town.
Colonel General Dietl in Narvik is sitting tight in Narvik. It is a small port whose only value is the rail line to Swedish ore mines. While easily defensible due to the towering mountain ranges on all sides, Dietl's regiment does not have the manpower to hold off a determined assault from all directions.
The Wehrmacht high command (particularly Hitler) is well aware that General Dietl's regiment is in trouble. The German 2d Mountain (Gebirgsjäger ) Division continues marching north from Trondheim across snow-covered mountain roads to help Dietl. It remains far away. Sea transport is out of the question due to British naval dominance.
Norway Naval Operations
Allied supply convoys reach Harstad and Tromso, jumping-off points for an attack on Narvik. The French 13th Demi-Brigade Legion Etrangere arrives at Harstad.
The Kriegsmarine is sending reinforcements to Norway across the Skagerrak and is somewhat careless about possible Allied interference. British submarine HMS Sealion sees two transports, Moltkefels and Neidenfels, at 14:00. Sealion fires six torpedoes, and all miss.
In addition, HMS Snapper sees German armed merchant cruiser Widder, which left port on 5 May for its raid, about 30 miles east of Denmark around 15:25. Snapper fires two torpedoes - and both miss.
Norway Air Operations
While the British control the sea around Narvik, the Germans increasingly control the skies. Today, the Luftwaffe attacks part of the British fleet sitting nearby, with one bomb just missing cruiser HMS Enterprise, causing some damage and killing a Marine.
The Luftwaffe can operate from Værnes Air Station near Trondheim, which is rapidly upgraded to handle large forces, and also Hattfjelldal Airfield in Hattfjelldal, Norway. While not very close to Narvik, their planes outmatch anything that the British can put in the air over the isolated port.
Western Front
Hitler's Wehrmacht is silently moving over 90 divisions into launching points for the invasion of the Low Countries and France. Meanwhile, the Allies are focused on the sideshow in Narvik. The Germans, incidentally, are preparing more divisions for combat operations than the United States fielded at any point in World War II.
Belgian reconnaissance notices a large Wehrmacht Armoured column moving west through the Ardennes. It is part of General von Rundstedt's force for Fall Gelb.
Battle of the Atlantic
The HMS Seal, captured by the Wehrmacht on May 5th, is gone but not forgotten. During its patrol, it released some 50 mines. Today, German cargo ship Vogesen hits one and sinks.
British freighter Brighton hits a mine and sinks near Dunkirk.
Convoy OA 143GF departs from Southend, convoy OB 143 departs from Liverpool.
British corvette HMS Calendula (Lt. Commander Alan D. Bruford) is commissioned.
Minesweeping trawler HMS Ash (George A. Harrison) is commissioned.
Italian Battleship Vittorio is completed.
Air War over Europe
RAF bomber command sends a dozen aircraft on minelaying operations during the night.
Vatican
The Vatican has been acting as a clearinghouse for off-and-on behind the scenes peace negotiations with Wehrmacht dissidents and thus has good sources. The Pope has been trying to get the word out that the Germans are preparing to attack. He faces massive Allied indifference or disbelief. The Pope tells Princess of Italy Marie José, the wife of the Italian Crown Prince, that Germany is about to attack the Low Countries. The Princess informs her brother, King Leopold of Belgium. Unfortunately, there have been several false alarms which have greatly embarrassed the Belgians and cost some highly placed officials their jobs, so one more alarm does not create as much excitement as it otherwise might.
Olympics
The International Olympics makes formal a decision that has been obvious for some time, cancelling the 1940 Summer Olympics - the winter Games already having been cancelled.
China
At the Battle of Tsaoyang-Ichang, the Japanese 11th Army captures Fengyao and Changchiachi.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on May 7, 2019 3:55:56 GMT
Day 250 of World War II, May 7th 1940
Battle for Norway
The Norway campaign has not gone well for the Allies. Prime Minister Chamberlain goes before the House of Commons to defends his policies and sparks the "Norway Debate." Naturally, the opposition parties are full of scorn. His own conservative party, however, also is full of critics. Former Admiral of the Fleet Sir Roger Keyes reads out a litany of complaints about the government's handling of the Norwegian campaign. He makes a towering presence in his uniform and medals.
Leo S. Amery, a low-profile backbencher, cries out a quote from Oliver Cromwell:
“Somehow or other we must get into the Government men who can match our enemies in fighting spirit, in daring, in resolution and in thirst for victory.... I will quote certain other words. I do it with great reluctance, because I am speaking of those who are old friends and associates of mine, but they are words which, I think, are applicable to the present situation. This is what Cromwell said to the Long Parliament when he thought it was no longer fit to conduct the affairs of the nation: 'You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!'”
The final vote is scheduled for the morrow.
Norway Army Operations
The Norwegian 6th Division tries to block the German 2nd Mountain Division relief column rushing to General Dietl's regiment at Narvik. Essentially, the Allies have Narvik surrounded, though all they have to do is block that one relief attempt.
Norway Air Operations
The Luftwaffe hits British cruiser HMS Aurora at 16:41, putting turrets A and B out of action and killing 7 Marines.
Norway Naval Operations
More Allied troops land in northern Norway for the Narvik operation. This time, some 5,000 Polish troops, the Polish Podhale Brigade (Chasseurs du Nord), arrive in Harstad.
Battle of the Atlantic
A Bristol Beaufort torpedo bomber of RAF Coastal Command drops a 2,000lb bomb at a German cruiser spotted in the East Frisian islands. It misses, but marks a first as the largest bomb dropped by the RAF (the Luftwaffe previously dropped a bomb that was twice as large on the Hegra Fortress in Norway).
A gun accident on WWI-era British cruiser HMS Curlew kills five sailors.
Convoy HG 29 departs from Gibraltar.
Western Front
Allied aerial reconnaissance is beginning to detect signs of the Wehrmacht build-up, but reports are haphazard. A French pilot returning from a leaflet raid on Düsseldorf happens to see a 60-mile-long German motorized column heading toward the Ardennes.
General Charles Huntziger, commanding French 2nd Army in the Sedan sector, states: "I do not expect that the Germans will ever consider attacking in the region of Sedan."
Hitler moves the start date to May 9th 1940 due to the weather. General Jodl notes that "Hitler is greatly agitated."
Soviet Military
Stalin implements a major shake-up of the military high command. Semyon Timoshenko, fresh off what is considered a brilliant and successful re-direction of the Winter War, replaces Kliment Voroshilov as the Soviet Union's Minister of Defence. Voroshilov is being demoted to Deputy People's Commissar of Defense due to the failures in Finland. Chief of General Staff Boris Shaposhnikov is promoted to Marshal of the Soviet Union.
Netherlands
Responding to fragmentary reports of German troop movements and various clandestine sources such as the Vatican, the government cancels all leave, mobilizes the reserve and begins strengthening/occupying its frontier and coastal defenses.
The Dutch have various sources of information about Fall Gelb that the Allies do not. However, they are under no obligation to disclose this information, and they don't. As Dutch civil servant Snouck Hurgronje says, "They're not our Allies."
US Navy
President Roosevelt cuts short a vacation due to what he describes as a "case of nerves." He is concerned about the situation vis-à-vis Japan. The US fleet is scheduled to return from Hawaii to the west coast of the United States on May 9th, but he believes this would encourage Japanese intransigence. He instructs Rear Admiral James O. Richardson to issue a press release stating that the US fleet would remain in Hawaii indefinitely and that it had been done at his request.
China
At the Battle of Tsaoyang-Ichang, Japanese 11th Army captures Suiyangtien, Wuchiatien, and Tangho and attacks Shuangkou.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on May 8, 2019 3:42:04 GMT
Day 251 of World War II, May 8th 1940
British Government
The "Norway Debate" concludes this day. Liberal Party leader David Lloyd George, who had been Prime Minister during the First World War, bemoans "the worst strategic position this country has ever faced." He then strikes the fatal blow:
"The Prime Minister….has appealed for sacrifice….he should sacrifice the Seals of Office !"
Herbert Morrison, Labour MP, calls for a vote of no confidence. Chamberlain views the vote as perfunctory, saying,
“At least I shall see who is with us and who is against us and I call upon my friends to support us in the lobby tonight. I have friends in this House.”
The vote at 23:30 comes out in Prime Minister Chamberlain's favor, 281 - 200. However, Chamberlain loses 33 conservative members and the vote total is less than previous votes of support. It is an insufficient level of support for a Prime Minister. Accordingly, Chamberlain decides to resign after anguished late-night talks with First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill, who has been conspicuously absent as a target during the debate.
Western Front
Hitler postpones Fall Gelb, the invasion of France and the Low Countries, for one more day, to 10 May 1940.
The Germans claim that Dutch mobilization on May 7th 1940 is proof that the Allies intend to invade Holland.
William Shirer in Berlin has some advice for Associated Press on whether to transfer their Amsterdam correspondent to Norway: "The war will come to him, soon enough."
Battle for Norway
German troops are advancing north from Grong in the vicinity of Narvik against a Norwegian battalion. The Norwegians are falling back on Mosjøen, conducting demolitions. During the night, the British Nos. 4 and 5 Independent Companies (special forces) land at Mosjøen, which had been held by a small French detachment.
No. 1 Independent Company secures Mo i Rana, while No. 3 Independent Company proceeds to Bodø.
The Independent Companies are under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Colin Gubbins, who organized them. They are designed for raiding purposes, not land battles. Altogether, the Independent Companies form Scissors Force.
To the south of Narvik, Polish Podhale Brigade deploys.
Battle of the Atlantic
German raider Widder departs from Bergen.
Convoy OA 144 departs from Southend, Convoy OB 144 departs from Liverpool, Convoy HX 41 departs from Halifax.
Anglo/Polish Relations
A military agreement is signed.
Middle East
General Wavell and General Weygand meet in Beirut to discuss French plans regarding Crete and Milos in the event of an Italian declaration of War.
Belgium
The Belgian embassy in Brussels informs the government that German Foreign Minister Ribbentrop is preparing an ultimatum - which is a standard Nazi prelude to invasion. In addition, the German OKW (military high command) already has given the final orders for the invasion.
German occupied Poland
Jews in Nazi-occupied territory are now banned from: restaurants, parks, museums, trains, owning land. They have a 5 pm curfew and must wear the Yellow Star of David, the "badge of shame." Chaim Kaplan comments, "My own eyes saw a `badge of shame': a yellow patch saying 'Jew.' I advise everyone add, next to 'Jew,' the words: My Pride.”
China
At the Battle of Tsaoyang-Ichang, there is a counterattack by 31st Army Group of Chinese 5th War Area which recaptures Tangho, while the Japanese 11th Army captures Hsinyeh and Tsaoyang.
The river gunboat USS Tutuila (PR 4) is damaged when she runs aground on a reef and becomes stranded while shifting her anchorage at Chungking, China.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on May 9, 2019 3:47:03 GMT
Day 252 of World War II, May 9th 1940
British Government
Prime Minister Chamberlain's fate is a done deal, though early in the morning he is determined to fight on. The opposition Labour Party rejects an offer to join the government and keep Chamberlain in power, though the official communication of this is dragged out until the afternoon of the 10th.
The question is who shall replace Chamberlain. Foreign Minister Lord Halifax is a leading candidate, and he would garner a majority of support if put to a vote. As a member of the House of Lords, however, it is seen as poor public relations to elevate him at a time of crisis. Halifax also feels that Churchill would continue to control defense policy anyway, the only thing that really matters in wartime, and thus he would be relegated to a sort of supernumerary status. In the event, Halifax could have accepted the position, but he bows out and helps a meeting of conservative leaders choose Winston Churchill as the new Prime Minister.
Battle for Norway
The Germans north of Narvik drive the Norwegian defenders out of Fellingfors. The Germans advance in the direction of Mosjøen, which is 25 miles (40 km) to the north. There are strong British forces at Mosjøen, with other Allied forces at intermediate positions.
British No. 3 Independent Force occupies Bodo.
The Polish Armed Forces in the West (Podhale Brigade) arrive near Narvik, four battalions strong. They assemble five miles to the west of the port, reinforcing the South Wales Borderers. They are supported by 24 guns (French 75's & British 25-pounders) and 10 small French tanks - which is overwhelming firepower against the German regiment holding the town.
The RAF sinks Kriegsmarine minesweeper M-13 at Bergen.
Western Front
No more postponements. The invasion date for Fall Gelb, the invasion of France and the Low Countries, remains May 10th 1940 as day drifts into night. Hitler departs on his command train Amerika for his forward headquarters at Felsennest (Rock Nest). It is located near the small village of Rodert, 30 km south of Bonn and consists of four bunkers and three barracks. While his presence there is not necessary for the conduct of the war, it symbolically places Hitler at the head of the army during Fall Gelb.
German troops silently move into their jumping-off positions. In the late evening, Wehrmacht troops cross the border into Luxembourg and occupy the country without a shot being fired.
Colonel Oster of the Abwehr once again warns the Dutch military attache of the invasion. The Dutch take this seriously and order highest alert.
Battle of the Atlantic
U-9 (Oberleutnant zur See Wolfgang Lüth) torpedoes and sinks French submarine FFR Doris (Q 135) in the North Sea at 00:14. All 45 crew on board perish.
The British are sending ships full of troops to Iceland to occupy it.
A Royal Navy task force sorties out to intercept Kriegsmarine troop transports in the Skagerrak. The Kriegsmarine sends 5 Schnellboot (fast boat, or torpedo boats) to greet them. HMS Kelly, commanded by Lord Mountbatten, is torpedoed by Krigsmarine S-boat S-31. There are 27 deaths. It is towed back to England badly damaged, enduring additional attacks along the way.
Convoy SL 31 departs from Freetown, Convoy OG 29F forms at Gibraltar.
Air War over Europe
The Luftwaffe conducts minelaying operations off the Dutch coast. The RAF sends fighters up to meet them.
The RAF sends 31 aircraft on minelaying operations.
French Government
Prime Minister Paul Reynaud is having difficulty due to former Prime Minister Daladier, the War Minister. He also finds the leadership of General Gamelin to be lacking. He threatens to resign. However, there remains no sense of urgency about the frontier.
British Military
The government raises the top age of conscription to 36.
Belgium
The government declares a state of emergency and places its military on alert.
Luxembourg
The Royal Family hears of the massing of German troops at the border and flees, along with four of the Grand Duchy's five cabinet ministers. They go to Paris.
China: At the Battle of Tsaoyang-Ichang, the 31st Army Group of Chinese 5th War Area counterattacks and recaptures Hsinyeh.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on May 10, 2019 6:58:29 GMT
Day 253 of World War II, May 10th 1940 (Fall Gelb)Fall Gelb
Hitler finally permits the much-postponed invasion of France and the Low Countries to proceed on 10 May 1940. The German ambassadors in Belgium and Holland issue memoranda to those governments full of justifications for the violation of their neutral status. The two nations in turn appeal to Great Britain and France. Queen Wilhelmina of Belgium in particular is incensed. The British government is now led by Winston Churchill, who has been warning the neutral countries of their danger for months. It immediately warns the Germans against bombing civilians. Holland, Belgium, and Luxembourg declare war on Germany. Photo: German paratroopers above the neighborhood of Bezuidenhout in The Hague
 French fortifications along the frontier were incomplete, and never were intended to cover the entire border. The French, however, placed a great deal of faith in them. Western Front
Fall Gelb opens with 77 Wehrmacht Divisions (10 Panzer, 2 airborne) in the front line. Hitler issues his prophetic order of the day: "Soldiers of the West Front ! The battle which is beginning today will decide the fate of the German nation for the next thousand years."
During the night, Army Group B (Fedor von Bock) launches its offensive into Holland and Belgium. The ground troops are supported by Fallschirmjäger (paratroopers) from the 7th Flieger Division and 22nd Luftlande Division (Kurt Student). These paratroopers land beginning at 05:35 at The Hague, on the road to Rotterdam and atop the Belgian fort at Eben-Emael on the Albert Canal. During the day, the German forces advance 10-15 miles into both Holland and Belgium. At the Battle of Maastricht, the 4th Panzer Division is briefly delayed by resistance at Gulpen. By the time they get to Maastricht, the Dutch have time to destroy the bridges across the Maas which the Wehrmacht needs. After resisting throughout the day, the Dutch retreat and the Germans take the sector. The Germans lose about 190 dead, 9 armored cars and tanks, and 10 Luftwaffe aircraft, while the Dutch lose 47 troops. Photo: German Panzer at Maastricht
 The main German thrust is through the Ardennes with Panzer Corps XI (Guderian), XLI (Reinhardt) and XX (Hoth). Army Group A (von Rundstedt) has 41,000 vehicles in General von Kleist's Panzergruppe, and they have only four road routes through the forest. Congestion occurs immediately. The Luftwaffe maintains air superiority, shooting down dozens of French bombers, allowing the armoured columns time to sort things out. Further south, facing the Maginot Line, Army Group C (von Leeb) attacks on the front between Trier and the Swiss border. The French high command under General Gamelin reacts quickly. It implements Plan D. The French Seventh Army crosses the Dutch border only to run into retreating Dutch forces. It heads to Brussels, Belgium to form a defensive perimeter. The BEF and French with 32 divisions executes the Dyle Plan, crossing into Belgium. The Dutch commence defensive flooding in East Holland. Air War over Europe
The Luftwaffe has 3,500 aircraft in operation to support Fall Gelb. They fly over 1,000 sorties during the day. At Eben-Emael, 78 paratroopers under Oberlt. Rudolf Witzig land in DFS 230 gliders directly atop the fortress itself. The attackers eliminate all above-ground opposition and enemy firepower using top-secret magnetic hollow charges. The day ends with the paratroopers in complete control of the surface of the strategic fort and the 650 Belgian defenders trapped in underground galleries. While the defenders have not yet surrendered, they are helpless and the way is clear for German 6th Army to advance as the paratroopers also seize bridges over the canal. At The Hague, the Luftwaffe first bombs the area around Ypenburg airfield, then drops paratroopers there. Other paratroopers land at Ockenburg airfield and Valkenburg airfield. The Luftwaffe is unable to land at the airfields due to destroyed aircraft on them, and the Dutch launch furious counterattacks. At the end of the day, the Dutch have retaken all of the airfields and the paratroopers forced into nearby villages and dunes. The Germans also lose a staggering 182 transport aircraft, primarily the workhorse Junkers Ju 52. The Luftwaffe conducts raids against airfields in all of the enemy territories commencing at dawn. The Luftwaffe bombs and sinks Dutch liners Statendam (28,300 t) and Veendam (15,500 t) at Rotterdam. The RAF and Dutch fighters shoot down Junkers Ju 52 transports over Holland. The RAF also conducts fighter-bomber raids on advancing Wehrmacht armoured troops. Of 32 RAF Battle bombers sent into action, 16 are shot down and the rest damaged. The Luftwaffe mistakenly bombs Frieburg by mistake, killing 57 civilians. Propaganda Minister Goebbels promptly blames the French. There is a major dogfight over Belgium as Nine Belgian Fairey Fox biplane fighters intercept a group of Bf 109s. The biplanes manage to shoot one Messerschmitt down for three of their own number. The RAF sends 33 Bristol Blenheim light bombers against the advancing Wehrmacht in Holland, losing three bombers. The RAF also sends 32 Fairey Battle light bombers against the German troops in Luxembourg, losing 13 of their number to anti-aircraft fire and 10 to Luftwaffe fighters. During the night, the RAF bombs the the Wehrmacht lines of communications to the east of the Holland/German border. This is the first attack by the RAF on German soil. The RAF commences the much-delayed Operation Marine, the mining of the Rhine River. British Politics
Prime Minister Chamberlain resigns at 18:00 after the Labour Party at 17:00 reports that it will only agree to support a coalition government led by someone other than Chamberlain. Winston Churchill is voted in as the new Prime Minister, visits the King, and forms a coalition government. New British Cabinet: Churchill: Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, First Lord of the Treasury; Chamberlain: Lord President of the Council; Clement Attlee: Deputy Prime Minister and Lord Privy Seal; Lord Halifax: Foreign Minister; General Ismay: Secretary of the Imperial Defense Chiefs of Staff Committee, Deputy Secretary of the War Cabinet, and Chief of Staff to Churchill in his role as Minister of Defense. Battle of the Atlantic
Iceland has declared its de facto independence from Denmark, but the British are not taking any chances. Four Royal Navy warships deposit 800 Royal Marines in Reykjavik of the 2nd Royal Marine Battalion under Force Sturges. They arrest German citizens and sympathizers, close down the German embassy, and fortify the harbor. The Icelandic government issues a formal protest to the British government. It also asks its citizens to treat the British invaders as "guests." The British and French send troops to the Dutch West Indies. The Dutch seize 26 German merchants ships in their overseas possessions and intern German civilians. German raider Atlantis lays 92 magnetic mines off Cape Agulhas in South Africa. German raider Orion heads in that direction. Dutch submarines HNLMS O-21 (P 21) (Lt. Commander Johannes F. van Dulm) and HNLMS O-22 (Lt. Commander Albertus M. Valkenburg) are commissioned. Convoy OA 145G departs from Southend, Convoy 145 departs from Liverpool. Italian/Croatian Relations
Italian Foreign Minister Ciano and Ustashi leader Ante Pavelic discuss plans for a Croatian insurrection to separate it from Yugoslavia. Dutch East Indies
Colonial Governor-General Jonkheer van Starkenborgh declares martial law. On Aruba, 180 French marines arrive to defend the Lago oil refinery at San Nicolas. US Government
Secretary of State Cordell Hull states that the US will not allow any nations to take advantage of Dutch difficulties in Europe to seize control of the Dutch East Indies. The Japanese Foreign Minister responds positively. President Roosevelt orders Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau, Jr. to freeze Dutch, Belgian and Luxembourger assets in the US. Battle for Norway
British troops evacuate Mosjoen by sea to Bodo. The German 2nd Mountain Division continues attacking north toward Narvik. The Germans at Trondheim commandeer a coaster, the "Nordnorge," and load it with 300 infantry from the 138th Mountain Regiment. They sail to the Ranfjord and land at Hemnesberget about halfway down, accompanied by two Dornier He 115 seaplanes. They put pressure on Allied forces at Mo i Rana at the base of the fjord and deny the use of the port to Norwegian troops, who must march by land instead and thus have to abandon equipment. The British Destroyer Zulu sinks the Nordnorge after the Germans disembark. Ireland Reaffirms its neutrality. China The Battle of Tsaoyang-Ichang continues, with the Chinese increasingly isolating the Japanese 11th Army.
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stevep
Fleet admiral
Posts: 24,843
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Post by stevep on May 10, 2019 9:19:49 GMT
Lordroel
Some interesting details there, including some fairly heavy German loses, especially at Maastricht and in air transport, although the allies are suffering from the obsolescence of their bombers.
Never heard before about the US guarantee of the DEI so early although freezing Dutch and Belgium assets while their still fighting and before much can be seen about how its going seems a bit hasty, at least with what's known at the time.
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