World War II in real time

Day 266 of World War II, May 23rd 1940

YouTube (Elmer Davis and the News)


Western Front

The German 6.Armee crossed the Scheldt River in Belgium. General Rundstedt, commanding Heeresgruppe A, orders his tank forces to halt their advance. Despite this order German 2.Panzerdivision attacks Boulogne, triggering the evacuation of the British 20th Guards Brigade which has just arrived. German 1.Panzerdivision's forward elements reached Calais, effectively cutting off British, French and Belgian forces from the rest of France. British 3rd Royal Tank Regiment (equipped with cruiser tanks) and the 30th Motor Brigade land at Calais and hold off probing attacks by the 1.Panzerdivision. British General Lord Gort withdrew his troops from Arras despite being able to halt Rommel's momentum. Owing to this retreat the planned Allied counteroffensive is postponed. It is becoming clear to the British generals in France that an evacuation by sea is probably going to be necessary. The Allies begin building defensive positions around Dunkirk.

Several British and French destroyers are bombed until RAF fighters arrive at 1920 hours. However, Germans are so close that tank shells and small arms fire claim several lives on the ships, including the captains of HMS “Keith” and HMS “Vimy”. 4,360 troops are rescued (naval losses; 61 dead, 62 wounded).

Boulogne/Calais

After the previous days fighting in this sector near Boulogne, it was early on the 23rd that the germans finally succeeded in encircling Boulogne. This prevented the arrival of expected reinforcements from Calais and placed the Brigade HQ in danger. It was decided to evacuate the Brigade HQ staff. Which was completed late on the 23rd, on DD VERITY.

By Dawn, it was apparent the town was encircled, but worse the northern flank, to the left of the Welsh gds was inadequately defended. The field commander, Lt Col Foxx Pitt had managed to reinforce this northern flank with 800 pioneers and reinforce the two existing Bns with aboiut 150 more.

A dawn attack had been expected, but this did not materialize, as the germans were pre-occupied in reducing the two French manned flank forts to the nth and sth of the port. Later in the morning, the Germans organized an attack on both bns (the French wre still holding out), hitting the Welsh Gds first. Their position was heavily attacked by a mixed tank/infantry force, but despite surrounding one of the platoons, lost around 20 tanks to AT fire and were beaten back.

Following this, it was the turn of the Irish guardsmen again. Now they had all but expended their AT ammunition, and were forced to fight yet another combined arms assault, this time with rifles, brens and grenades. The Germans were again beaten off, with the fighting continuing well into the night, but losses to the irish Gds had been heavy.

That night dispatch riders finally got through to both these elite formations ordering them to withdraw to the port and evacuate. Evacuation would now be difficult, as the Germans had now wrested control of the flanking heights from the French garrison troops and their artilleryu could now pour fire directly into the city centre and port regions However with the cover of darkness, the DDs proceeded in pairs to the docks, collecting potions of the rearguard and departing the battle area. DDs VIMY, KEITHG, WHITSHED, VIMIERA, WILD SWAN, VENOMOUS VENETIA and WINDSOR, and a French contingent consisting of CYCLONE, ORAGE, and FRONDEUR all participated coming in close, firing 4.6” and 5” shells directly into the enemy (and doing much to break up the german assaults onto the docklands). For a time in the evening half light Stukas did much to disrupt the embarkation of the allied forces, delivering some vicious bombing attacks and causing the ORAGE to be scuttled due to damage. During this attack, as the Destroyers were returning fire into the now enemy fortress of Fort De La Creche (which at 2100 hours blew up) 6 Hurricanes dove through the attacking Stukas just as a second wave of attackers were arriving and forming up for yet another attack. The intercepting fighters caused a cheer to be raised from the allied soldiers and sailors alike as several stukas were lost and the attack they were preparing was broken up.

Just after 2100 hours, WILD SWAN and VENOMOUS moved into the docks to pick up the last of the Irish Guards rearguard. As they approached the docks in the low tide, they drew fire from almost every available German gun that could sight them. But the low tide and intervening structures essentially made the Destroyers a “Hull Down” target, making it hard for the German gunners to be effective. As the last of the Gurds were hurriedly being embarked,, the 4.7” guns of the DDs were working furiously to keep the assaulting Germans at bay. One group were advancing behind an advancing tank. The DDs were fired on, but their return fire was devastating , a 4.7” shell struck the tank blowing it apart. with a direct hit and sending the tank airborne in a complete somersault. A minute later the gunners spotted an enemy MG firing from the upper storey of a quayside hotel. The gunners silenced this position by blasting away the entire hotel floor where the MG nest had been located.

WILD SWAN and VENOMOUS cleared the harbour by 21:30. Immediately following them into the docks were DDs WINDSOR and VIMIERA. Both these ships carried out prodigious evacuation and gunfire support efforts. WINDSOR was slightly in front of VIMIERA and lifted off more than 600 soldiers, a proportion of which were wounded. The last warship to come alongside was the VIMIERA, she departed just before dawn with no less than 1400 soldier and civilians embarked. Many of the civilians were jews and Poles, who because of the known atrocities being committed by the Germans on their kin, were permitted to board . VIMIERA’s load also included most of LtCol Deans pioneers, who to the end fought a series of extreme rearguard actions. These were among the british Armies finest moments of the campaign .

Not everyone got away. In the Ville Haute , General Lanquetots troops from the 21st Div fought on as dawn broke and fought back the attempts to dislodge them. At 1000 hrs the germans delivered an ultimatum, if the French did not surrender immediately, the town would be leveled and the townsfolk would be executed . The French defenders elected to surrender to spare the lives of the civilians.

The man on whose shoulders rested the defence of Calais was colonel RT Holland. The forces at his disposal initially comprised a single platoon of Inf from the 6th Argyllstogether with an LAA detachment and searchlight gp. There was also a french garrison manning the citadel, and a few CA btys manned by fr sailors. At dawn on the 22nd the 3rd RTR arrived with 27 A9 cruisers attached. It took until the 23rd to complete disemabarkation for theser vehicles where they moved to their laager positions 2 miles outside the city. However once again poor leadership intervened. Holland learned that he was not to be given this priceless asset after all, they were to proceed to the St Omer line to assist in the defence there. and not hit the flanks of the advancing 10 Pz XX as expected.

The French perspective

On 23rd May, the 2.PzD completes the encirclement of Boulogne. The 1.PzD is again blocked by the 1st battalion of the 65e RI at Alincthun, east of Boulogne and cannot move on until 22h00.

At 2h00, the Germans assault the fort of La Crèche, which falls at 9h45 despite the intervention of 3 French torpedo-boats at 7h45 (Siroco, Mistral and Cyclone). After the German success, 5 French ships (Cyclone, Siroco, Mistral, Léopard and Chacal) and HMS Vimy fire on the fort.

The German troops try to seize the harbor to prevent any reinforcement or evacuation but they are defeated.

The situation is nonetheless critical with the numeric superiority of the Germans. The situation is even worsening more because the British troops are withdrawing at the end of the morning and prepare to be evacuated. The evacuation operation involves only British troops and ships while the French troops continue to fight. 4,368 British soldiers are evacuated between 23rd May afternoon and 24th May at 2h45. 6 out of 7 British destroyers are damaged by the Luftwaffe and the German artillery. The losses are important and the commander of the British destroyer fleet is KIA.

Calais

Meanwhile in England, 30 Bde had also received orders to embark for Calais. This brigade had been formed for ops in Norway, consisting of 1 Bn (QVR) 2 Bns (KRRC), bridaded under the command of Brigadier Nicholson.

The QVR (Queen Victoria Rifles) were the first to arrive, in the afternoon of thew 22nd. They were immediately sent out to set up road block to all entrances, and turnb away the sea of refugees heading for the port, a heart wrenching task. The main elements of the Bde did not arrive until afternoon of the 23rd. The Bde commander enroute had conferred with Adm Dover (ramsay) and Brownrigg, where is was agreed to send the force to Calais where it as hoped it might be able to relieve the pressure on the Boulogne garrison. Overnight, these orders were changed....a microcosm of the sheer confusion affecting all Allied operations at this time. Nicholson received fresh instructions to force a way to Dunkirk, to deliver vital supplies to the beleagured forces there. Nicholson dutifully set about the task, organising forces and transport for the task. A lead element with 4 tanks and some infantry was sent out overnight, driving past the laagered german 10 Pz armour, and reaching Gravelines where they joined other british troops. By now with dawn approaching, and much German activity all around them the platoon commander coolly reported the results of his recon, before pulling his entiore force out. These troops made it back to Calais unharmed.

Meanwhile Mj Gen McNaughton of the Cdn 1st Div arrived with direct orders from the CIGS to assess the feasibility of resupplying and holding Calais and Dunkirk to support and extended siege of the BEF. McNaughtonbs report was unequivocally that it was not possible, consequently new orders were issued to Nicholson that he was to commence evacuation of all personnel except fighting personnel. This signal, issued by Gen RH Dewing director of operations was to have very significant repercussions.

Despite the evacuation orders, Nicholson decided to attempt the relief effort to dunkirk....which occurred on the following day

Dunkirk Sector

On the 23 may with the Battle for Boulone raging, and the enemy poised for the assault on Calais, the allied commanders within the cauldron were realizing with sudden apprehension the threats being posed to their lines of communication, though it would take some days for their respective higher commands and govts to reach the same conclusion.

It was fortunate that the Allies were falling back onto Dunkirk. The third largest port in France, it boasted 7 deep water basins 4 dry docks and more than 5 miles of quayside berths. Surrounding it was a flat expanse that could be flooded and a series of old forts which were considered (and proven by unfolding events) to have great resistance to modern HE fire.

Apart from air attacks, which to this point had been sporadic and ineffective, the enemy threat to Dunkirk was not immediate. The nearest enemy units were nearly 20 miles away , at St Omer, and had not yet reached the Aa canal.. The possibility of a speedy breakthrough in this sector had receded. In the post war revision of history, it is often portrayed that the Germans were the sole deciders as to when and how Dunkirk was to be taken. To an extent that is true, but there was also the level of resistance being mounted by the allies in front of Dunkirk that played into this matter. In summary there was a short pause and stabilisation of the front.

News of the aborted French counterattack at Cambrai reached Gort on the 23rd. it seems that from this point he became utterly convinced there was no longer any possibility of a coherent Allied stand. It was a feeling that had been gathering momentum for the last three days, particularly after the bombastic cables he had received from Churchill

Air War over Europe

While the RAF fighters have almost all been withdrawn across the channel, they at least are operating from established bases and, at least temporarily, have an advantage along the coast.

Air operations over Boulogne are intense. RAF fighters are needed elsewhere, and the Luftwaffe has free reign over the port for most of the day. The RAF fighters finally arrive at 19:20.

The Luftwaffe bombs French destroyer Orage and sinks it.

The Luftwaffe catches French destroyer Jaguar, which has been damaged by Kriegsmarine S-boats, and sinks it.

French destroyer Chacal is sunk at Boulogne by combined Luftwaffe and shore fire.

Norway

Colonel Gubbins has had enough of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Byrnand Trappes-Lomax, the commander of the Scots Guards, believing him to be too interested in retreating. Gubbins relieves him during the afternoon. Gubbins orders the entire unit withdrawn to Bodø. The German mountain troops take the high ground overlooking the Viskisnoia River, Gubbins' proposed stop line, so he has to retreat further. Gubbins now tries to hold Fauske on the north side of the Skjerstadfjorden, which is a key intersection on the road north. While there is a lot of ground left to hold, the British are giving it up in a hurry.

The Luftwaffe continues its daily reinforcements of General Dietl's troops at Narvik, this time dropping 65 mountain troops by parachute from Junkers Ju 52 transports. For many of the men, it is their first parachute drop.

The 14 Gladiator Glosters of RAF No. 263 Squadron go into operation from Bardufoss north of Narvik.

23 May 1940 worldwartwo.filminspector.com Jack Benzie 242 Squadron

P/O John "Jack" Benzie of No 242 Squadron RAF, shown at RAF Coltishall in 1940. He is a 25-year-old Canadian who bails out wounded south of Dunkirk on 23 May 1940. He is KIA 7 September 1940.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-9 (Oberleutnant zur See Wolfgang Lüth) at 12:54 torpedoes and sinks 3,256 ton Belgian freighter Sigurd Faulbaum (a captured German ship) off of Zeebrugge. The crew survives.

Convoy HG 31 departs from Gibraltar, Convoy SL 33 departs from Freetown.

The British commission destroyer HMS Harvester (H 19) ( Lt. Commander Mark Thornton).

Terrorism

The British arrest 76 IRA suspects in Northern Ireland.

Anglo/Irish Relations

Irish head of state Éamon de Valera informs the British that Ireland will result a German invasion and will require British assistance if any landings take place.

German occupied Poland

The Nazis turn their attention to the "Roma" peoples, the Gypsies. Mass round-ups begin, and they are sent to occupied Poland for internment in concentration camps.

British Homefront: The authorities arrest Sir Oswald Mosley, MP Captain Archibald Maule Ramsay, and dozens of others for being Fascist sympathizers, a crime under Defence Regulation 18B. Mosley is notorious for giving fascist speeches and being the leader of the British Union of Fascists, while Ramsay is associated with the Right Club, which opposes "organized Jewry." The Right Club is considered fertile ground for Nazi spies.

The Crown approves the Treachery Act 1940.

German Homefront

German media applauds the British for implementing the Emergency Powers Act, noting that "At last England has seen sense and abandoned decadent democracy."

British Homefront

Arrests began for British fascists across the United Kingdom as well as known IRA operatives in Northern Ireland. The former leader of the British Union of Fascists, Sir Oswald Mosley, is arrested. 747 other British Union members were arrested (including ninety-six women including Lady Diana) and interned without charge. Also detained is a Member of Parliament, Captain Ramsay because he has been connected with the Right Club.

American Homefront

United States President Roosevelt wins the Democratic primary in Vermont and is now certain to receive his party's nomination for the November elections.

Day 267 of World War II, May 24th 1940

German Military

The OKW (German military high command) issues a stop order (Fuhrer Directive 13) to General Paul Ewald von Kleist on 24 May 1940. It calls for "the annihilation of French, British and Belgian forces in the Dunkirk pocket." Panzer Group Kleist controls the Wehrmacht's spearhead which has been aiming at the sea and, more recently, specifically toward the Channel Ports. All troops are to stop and consolidate their current positions.

This order quite possibly is the most controversial incident of World War II, and not just among historians. The OKH (army high command) led by General von Brauchitsch and General Halder objects at the time. With General Guderian's XIX Corps only 18 miles from Dunkirk and the Germans already in possession of Boulogne, Hitler expresses concern about the "Flanders marshes" that he recalls as a World War I infantry corporal.

In truth, the OKW has been increasingly leery about the over-extension of the panzer forces since the crossing of the Meuse, and not just Hitler. There is a case to be made that the stop order is wise and prevents a chance for an Allied counter-stroke that could surround some of the more advanced Wehrmacht positions. There also is a military theory that you want to provide your enemy a "Golden Bridge," an escape route that is too inviting for them to take rather than stand and fight. In any event, the order is only in place for the day, so perhaps too much is made of it by historians.

The precise reason for the stop order is fertile ground for conspiracy theorists - was Hitler actually trying to save the BEF for some reason? - but will never be known. It existed only inside the head of Adolf Hitler, though Hermann Goering assures the Fuhrer that his Luftwaffe can prevent any escape. Hitler himself commented on this issue on 26 February 1945, claiming that he allowed the British to escape as a "sporting gesture." One way or the other, the order is widely believed to have affected the course of World War II.

Western Front

The German attacks on Boulogne continue. Farther along the coast they are also attacking Calais. The German 10.Panzerdivision began the attack on Calais and captured the town of Boulogne (capturing 5,000 Allied troops), Maubeuge, and Saint-Omer. The Royal Navy is active in support of the British forces in both towns. During the day and later in the night destroyers are used to evacuate 5000 men from Boulogne and over the next three days two light cruisers and seven destroyers are in support near Calais. There are also German attacks on the line of the Lys and around Tournai. To the north, the German 1.Panzerdivision reached the Aa Canal 10 miles from Dunkerque in an attempt to cut off the Allied troops in Belgium. Only 1 BEF battalion defends Dunkirk. At this key moment, Adolf Hitler interfered and ordered the tanks to pull back. Hitler ordered Walther von Brauchitsch, army commander in chief, to halt the panzers along the Bassée Canal, specifically to remain at medium artillery range from Dunkirk. No one knows exactly why. Generals Brauchitsch and Halder rail against the order but are told it comes from the very top. Even Guderian, who has bent and ignored orders to get to the coast, had no choice but to comply. Under Hitler’s orders, German forces halt outside of Dunkirk. They have reached the line Gravelines - Omer - Bethune. Although the ground north of here is not well suited to armed action the Allied defenses are weak. General Göring convinces the Führer that the Luftwaffe can demolish the remaining Allied forces on the beaches. German fighters are rushed to the area and bombers are ordered to destroy the harbor areas.

Map: British transport on the dockside at Calais, pictured after the Germans had captured the port.



German Heeresgruppe A Commander Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt begins issuing orders for his panzer tank divisions to halt their advance in France, due to losses and maintenance problems.

German troops captured Ghent and Tournai, Belgium. King Léopold of Belgium informs four Government ministers he would stay with the Army in Belgium, capitulating to the Germans if necessary. The plans for the Allied counteroffensive depend on the Belgians being able to take over a longer section of the front but with this pressure they will not be able to do so.

British Lieutenant Christopher Furness, the son of Viscount Furness, was killed in hand to hand fighting near Arras, France after his Bren gun carrier group engaged a vastly superior enemy force in order to allow a convoy to escape. He was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.

The German advance is so fast that the Jagdgeschwader are having a hard time keeping up with the action. An example of this is I./JG 27 led by Max Ibel, who are ordered to overtake the airfield at St. Omer, twelve miles from Dunkirk. But as the Stab flight of Bf 109s approach to land, they find the airfield still under attack by both the Germans and the Allies. With the last bit of fuel in their tanks, the Gruppe manages to land further south at St. Pol and begin escorting bombers over Dunkirk.

British Expeditionary Force

Dunkirk Sector

General Fagalde commander of the French XVI corps begins the movement of one of his divisions to bolster the Aa canal position . He receives a direct message from Weygand, appointing him as the supreme commander of the Channel Port defences. He immediately travels to Dunkirk to inspect the defences and discuss with Adm Abrial. He finds the principal defenses built around 272 demi Bde, 2 further training bns and a labour group a regt equivalent. Arriving are the remnants of 5 Inf Bns from the shattered 21st inf XX. He has, at his disposal 6 btys of 75 and 155mm guns..

Fagalde also meets Gen McNaughton of the Cdn 1st Div. Fagalde took Mcnaughtons arrival as an indicator of the impending arrival of the Canadians. McNaughton gives no indication as to his role which is, in fact to report directly to the CIGs on the situation. He reports that the problem in Dunkirk is not troop numbers, or even equipment, but lack of organization and confusion. McNaughtons appraisal was repeated by Brig Parminter, officer in charge of the distribution of the still arriving stores to the front. He noted the utter lack of organisation and lack of a clear chain of command. Nevertheless, it has to be said that Parminter still manageed to distribute over 500 tons of supplies on this day alone.

On the 23rd, Fagalde learnt that the Germans had already reached the Aa at St Omer, and accordingly decided to position his 68th XX (already moving) only as far as Yser, Early on the 24th the 68th pushed a few miles further so as to occupy the Mardyck canal, midway between Dunkirk and the Aa.

So far there had been little communication between Fagaldein his new capacity and Gort, However this began from the 24th, and on that day, gort ordered the 144th Bde out of the line, and to organise or reinforce the exposed southern flank of the Port Defences. Its commander Bgdier Thorne conferred with CO 68Div, and agreed to place his unit on the left flank of the French Div, and also to organise a defense of the Bergues Furnes canal, which included a vital strong point. This whole canal system and the strongpoint was a vital key to defending Dunkirk. The task of defending this section was given to "Usherforce", a composite unit built around the 6th Green Howards. There were also the 1st and 3rd super heavy art btys in support. Allied defences in front of Dunkirk were not fully emplaced however, until the 26th, they needed some time to delay the German advance in order to even temporarily hold open the port for evacuation.

Map: German Situation Map--24th May, 1940.



Calais

Fagalde immediately reverses the order to evacuate Calais, and appoints Nicholson as station commander. Churchill endorses the order. Churchill sends a message via Ismay to the War Office: "(I am) informed that an order was sent at 2am to Calais saying that evacuation was decided in principle, but this is surely madness. The only effect of evacuation would be to transfer the forces blockading it to Dunkirk. Calais must be held for many reasons, but specially to pin the enemy on its front".

The first Nicholson learnt of the changed plan was in the early hours of 25th May, when DD Wolfhound after completion of it bombardment, landed Adm Somerville (the very man 24 hrs previously advising of the evacuation) to deliver the following message in person:

"In spite of the policy of evacuation handed to you this morning , British forces in your area are now under Gen Fagalde, who has ordered no, repeat, no evacuation. You must comply for the sake of allied solidarity. Your role is therefore to hold on , even though the harbour at present is of no importance to the BEF. Bde Gp from 48 XX has started marching to your assistance . No reinforcements by sea but ammo coming".

It was a most unsatisfactory order, and drew the displeasure of Churchill almost immediately

Air War over Europe

The Luftwaffe launches some raids after nightfall in Yorkshire, East Anglia and Essex. There are 8 civilian casualties in Middlesbrough - the first such casualties in England (previous casualties were in Scotland).

The RAF bombs the Cologne railroad marshalling yards during the night with 59 bombers.

The RAF sends 69 bombers to attack German positions around Calais.

The Luftwaffe sinks British ship Brighton at Dieppe.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-37 (Kapitänleutnant Victor Oehrn) torpedoes and sinks 3,994 ton Greek freighter Kyma about 300 miles west of Ushant. There are 23 survivors and 7 perish.

The Royal Navy is active off the Channel Ports, aiding the BEF and French forces defending them. Royal Navy cruisers Arethusa and Galatea, Polish destroyer Okręt Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej (ORP) Burza, and destroyers HMS Grafton, Greyhound, Wessex, Wolfhound, and Verity support the troops.

Canada sends destroyers HMCS St. Laurent (H83), HMCS Restigouche (H00) and HMCS Skeena (D59) from Halifax to the UK to aid in the war effort.

The President of Panama, Augusto S. Boyd, sends diplomatic notes to Germany, Great Britain, the Dominican Republic and the Inter-American Neutrality Committee in Rio de Jzneiro, Brazil regarding the Hannover incident of 8 March 1940. He claims that it was a violation of the Pan-American Neutrality Zone.

Convoy OA 154 departs from Southend, Convoy OB 154 departs from Liverpool, and Convoy HX 45 departs from Halifax.

The British commission corvette HMS Gardenia (K 99) (Lt. Commander Trevor A. O. Ellis).

Norway

With the BEF trapped in Belgium and the British Isles potentially under threat of invasion, British War Cabinet decides to bring home their remaining troops in Norway. They inform French General Béthouart, in command of the attack, who decides to continue with the capture of Narvik anyway before evacuation. The Supreme War Council agrees to capture Narvik and destroy the port facilities before they will evacuate. Ironically the airfield at Bardufoss has only just received its first complement of British aircraft and already the campaign seems less one-sided, showing what might be done. The Norwegians are not yet told of the decision to leave.

The German 2d Mountain Division continues pursuing Colonel Gubbins' troops north from Mo i Rana. Gubbins has some of his troops hold a switch position at Pothus, about 10 miles (16 km) south of Rognan. The men of the Irish Guards, Nos. 2 and 3 Independent Companies, and Royal Artillery Battery 203 wait for the Germans, equipped with mortars, machine guns and with 25-pound artillery emplaced to sweep the road. The Germans advancing toward Bodo will be walking into an ambush.

French Alpine troops land at Bjerkvik, which is across the fjord from Narvik.
At Narvik, the Germans essentially are surrounded, with the Norwegians on the north, the French on the west, and the Poles on the southwest. The RAF is operating Gladiator Glosters out of Bardufoss just to the north. As cover for Operation Alphabet, the British decide to launch an attack on Narvik, but not right away. French General Béthouart in particular would like to teach the Germans a lesson here, where they are more vulnerable than back in France.

The Luftwaffe continues its gradual reinforcement of General Dietl's troops in Narvik, dropping another 55 mountain troops by parachute, while seaplanes bring 14 more. The rail line through Sweden also brings 40 German troops, violating Swedish neutrality.

Military Intelligence

Bletchley Park's Code and Cypher School has had great success recently in decoding certain (but not all) German Enigma Machine coded messages. It begins routing its finding in close to real time to the BEF, the RAF and, of course, Prime Minister Winston Churchill. This is all top secret, of course, and the actual source of the information is rarely provided to any but the absolutely most highly placed individuals.

Belgian Government

King Leopold III remains in the increasingly narrow portion of the country still held by the Allies and has no intention of leaving like Queen Wilhelmina of Holland. He states, "Whatever happens, I have to share the same fate as my troops." His Prime Minister, Hubert Pierlot, strongly suggests that Leopold leave the country, but Leopold refuses. Some feel that his remaining in the country after a capitulation would be contrary to the best interests of the nation. In any event, whether to surrender is a question for the elected government, not the King.

Soviet Government

Stalin has had it in for old rival Leon Trotsky for some time, and today he does something about it. Trotsky has emigrated to Coyoacán, Mexico, but nowhere is far enough when Stalin wants you dead. An armed force attacks Trotsky's fortified compound, throwing bombs and firing machine guns. The attackers eventually leave - but Trotsky and his wife Natalia survive by ducking under the bed.

British Government

King George VI addresses the public by radio broadcast on Empire Day. He states:

"The decisive struggle is now upon us ... Let no one be mistaken; it is not mere territorial conquest that our enemies are seeking. It is the overthrow, complete and final, of this Empire and of everything for which it stands, and after that the conquest of the world. And if their will prevails they will bring to its accomplishment all the hatred and cruelty which they have already displayed."

YouTube (HM King George VI - Empire Day Address -)



Sir Samuel is named ambassador to Spain.

Ireland

The government forms a Local Security Force.

Middle East

General Eugene Mittelhauser takes over command of French forces.

Day 269 of World War II, May 26th 1940

YouTube (Elmer Davis and the News - German Radio Reports British Forces are in Retreat)



Western Front

Adolf Hitler rescinded the order to halt the offensive near Dunkerque. Army headquarters directs panzers to move south to attack across the Somme River. BEF’s retreat around Lille, France, leaves a gap in the Allied lines exposing the French left flank and Belgian right flank to the Walther von Reichenau's 6.Armee. The Belgians fall back to the River Leie. The French 1st Army is essentially encircled.

200 German bombers and artillery pound the Citadel at Calais and German troops cross the canals forming the last Allied defensive line. At 1600 hours, Brigadier Claude Nicholson surrenders at the Citadel. British losses are 300 killed, 200 wounded evacuated by boat and 3500 taken prisoner. Thousands of French and Belgian troops are captured. German losses are 750-800 killed or wounded.

Photo: Calais, France in ruins




The position of the Belgian army is becoming increasingly grave. It is clear that it is unable to stay in the fight for much longer. The British forces are beginning to fall back on Dunkirk and in the evening the order is issued to begin ‘Operation Dynamo’, the evacuation from Dunkirk. Admiral Ramsay, who commands the Royal Navy forces based at Dover, is appointed to command the operation. The scope of the operation is not made clear to the local French commanders at first and they feel, with some justice, that they are being abandoned. At Dunkerque, British Expeditionary Force commanding General Lord Gort received the formal authorization for a withdraw. Operation Dynamo, the code name of the massive evacuation, was headed by British Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsey. RAF Vice-Marshal Keith Park assigns 16 squadrons of No. 11 Group to protect the port. Meanwhile,

Map: he front line in the Dunkirk pocket







General Maxime Weygand issued his Ordre Général d'Operation No. 1184 3/FT; "The battle on which the fate of the country depends will be fought without any idea of retreat, on the line which we hold today."

Battle of France (Calais)

At 5:00am the 10th Panzer Division renewed their assault with a massive artillery and air bombardment. From 7:00am wave after wave of Stuka dive bombers joined in, turning the shattered old town into an inferno. At 9:15am the infantry assault commenced. In the face of desperate resistance, the barricades over some of the bridges were cleared, and panzers entered the old town. This rendered the British defence hopeless, as the tanks were able to blast apart each house that showed resistance.

At 1500 a German junior officer approached the British positions, accompanied by a french and Belgian officer that had been captured or deserted. The german demanded the garrisons surrender, failing which the city would be levelled, the defenders and the population executed. It was a familiar ring to German methods.

Brigadier Nicholosns reply (which was recorded in 10Pz Divs war diary) surprised the Germans. He gave a short reply "The answer is no as it is the British Army's duty to fight as well as it is the germans to continue". Britains version of "Nuts!" Fighting continued around the citadel for almost another 2 hours. The city was levelled, but there were no reprisal killings. The fighting at Calais lasted for most of 26 May. A German attack in the morning failed, but in the afternoon the defenders began to run short of ammunition. The Germans was able to bring their medium tanks into the battle, and by 4 pm had captured the harbour area. This was followed at 5 pm by a successful infantry assault on the citadel, which saw Brigadier Nicholson captured.

Even then the fighting did not end. British troops retreated into the Courgain, the fisherman’s quarter, and where they held on until 9 pm, when as darkness fell they were ordered to break up into small groups and make their own way out of the town. By now there was little chance, and the majority fell into German hands.

The last British ship to visit Calais was the yacht Gulzar. She entered the harbour just after midnight, remaining until 1.00am on 27 May. She eventually picked up a part of 50 men from the end of the breakwater, and then made her way back to safety in Britain.

The Enemy fights with a hitherto unheard-of obstinacy. They are English, extremely brave and tenacious. They have at least one reinforced infantry regiment, armour supporting them and naval guns firing from ships in the Channel.”

10th Panzer Division war diary.

The surviving British and French defenders prepared their final positions, while the Germans opposite brought up artillery and AA guns into the front to blast the defenders from their positions. That night a few small boats managed to make it to Calais and withdraw some wounded and rear echelon personnel; but the port was now cut off.

Battle of the Atlantic

The RAF sinks four block ships in Zeebrugge Harbour.

U-13 and U-48 leave Kiel to take up positions around the British Isles.

Convoy OA 155G departs from Southend, Convoy OB 155 departs from Liverpool. Australian/New Zealand troop convoy US 3 arrives at Cape Town.

Air War over Europe 

Fierce air battles continue over the Channel Ports. The Stukas pound Calais with 200 Stuka sorties.

The Luftwaffe aids the German 10th Panzer Division in Calais with attacks on Calais Citadel.

The RAF attacks railway marshalling yards in the Rhineland during the night.

Norway

Colonel Gubbins, knowing that further defense is pointless due to Operation Alphabet, withdraws his defensive line to the ferry port of Rognan. The Irish Guard makes a fighting withdrawal, leaving behind (destroying) supplies. At the port, they take ferries across the fjord - just barely leaving ahead of the Germans when the ferry breaks down. He receives air cover from a new RAF base at Bodø, which is the first RAF presence in the vicinity.

The Luftwaffe sinks British anti-aircraft cruiser Curlew (D 42, Captain Basil C. B. Brooke) in Lavangsfjord, Ofotfjord near Narvik. Nine crew perish. The Curlew had been especially helpful because it possessed the only radar in the area.

Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Glorious ferries Hurricanes of No. 46 Squadron to Skaanland near Narvik. The runway is sod, but but Hawker Hurricanes are sturdy planes.

The Luftwaffe continues its gradual reinforcement of General Dietl's force in Narvik, bringing in 81 men of of 1st Fallschirmjaeger Regiment.

Anglo/Belgian Relations

Prime Minister Churchill meets with Belgian Prime Minister Pierlot and Foreign Minister Spaak.

Anglo/French Relations

French Prime Minister Paul Reynaud visits Churchill in London.

Italy: Mussolini meets with Army Chief of Staff Pietro Badoglio and Air Marshal Italo Balbo in Rome to discuss his growing urge to join the Axis conflict. Badoglio states that Italy is unprepared for any conflict and illustrates this by pointing out that the army does not even have enough shirts. Mussolini replies:

"History cannot be reckoned by the number of shirts."

He explains that he needs "a few thousand dead" to be able to hold his head high at the peace table. Mussolini orders Badoglio to prepare his forces for an invasion of France on 5 June 1940.

German Military

Admiral Otto Schniewind, Chief of Staff of the Seekriegsleitung (Maritime Warfare Command), reaches a conclusion: "Evacuation of (BEF) troops without equipment …. is conceivable by means of large numbers of smaller vessels …. even from the open coast."

British Military

General Sir Edmund Ironside becomes Commander-in-chief of the Home Forces. Sir John Greer Dill replaces Ironside as Chief of the Imperial General Staff. While done politely, and with Ironside putting the best positive spin about it in his diary, there is an element of scapegoating for the disastrous course of the battle on the Continent. In addition, Ironside has proven undiplomatic with the French.

US/Latin American Relations

The US minister in Uruguay, Edwin Wilson, follows up on his previous report of undue Nazi influence within the Uruguayan government. He reports by telegram to Secretary of State Cordell Hull that the Uruguayan government has had its police searching the homes and businesses of German nationals. Wilson states that the police are using "rough methods" and that tension is arising between the two governments as a result.

American Homefront

President Roosevelt gives his fireside chat "On National Defense." He emphasizes that the US has become more secure since his inauguration, and emphasizes:

"There is nothing in our present emergency to justify a retreat from any of our social objectives."

German Homefront

Prince Wilhelm of Prussia, 33, son of Wilhelm, German Crown Prince, perishes of wounds sustained in France.

Day 271 of World War II, May 28th 1940

YouTube (Elmer Davis and the News -Germany Calling)



Western Front

King Leopold III of Belgium surrenders the Belgian army unconditionally to German forces. He does not consult the Allies or the Belgian government and both hold him in strong contempt for his actions.

Before the Belgian capitulation becomes effective at 1100 hours, there is a desperately hurried redeployment of the British and French forces that prevents the Germans from reaching Nieuport, and from there the Dunkirk beaches. There is fierce fighting around Cassel and Poperinghe where Rundstedt's men again press forward. While heavy fighting rages around the perimeter, 11,874 Allied personnel were evacuated from Dunkerque harbor and 5,930 from the nearby beaches. The latter was possible due to the arrival of many small fishing boats and pleasure craft. The small boats are able to get into shallow water and ferry men out to the larger warships for the journey to England. The steamer “Mona's Isle” is the first ship to arrive at Dunkirk and evacuate troops even though she comes under fire from coastal battteries which inflict heavy casualties on board.

Seige of Lille. A corps of French 1st Army is holding out in Lille but they are now cut off from the main British and French forces in the evacuation area. 40,000 French soldiers, the remainder of the once-mighty First Army, are surrounded at Lille by 7 German divisions (3 armoured divisions, including Rommel’s). They will fight a delaying action until May 31, while the evacuation of Dunkirk proceeds. At Abbeville, the crew of French Char B1 Bis tank "Jeanne d'Arc" gallantly fought on against a German attack despite receiving 90 hits.

Across the front lines, between eighty and ninety British prisoners of the 2nd Warwickshire Regiment, the Cheshire Regiment, and the Royal Artillery were murdered by members of No. 7 Company, 2nd Battalion SS Liebstandarte at Wormhoudt, France.

French 4th Armored Division forces the retreat of a German armored division at Caumont. This makes Commander Colonel Charles de Gaulle the first and only French Commanding Officer to force a German retreat during the invasion of France.

The Royal Air Force continues to do the utmost to relieve pressure by bombing behind German lines and on military targets in Germany itself. All 3 branches of the British air service attacked German positions on French and Belgian coasts. The pilots of I./JG 26 and III./JG 26 battle British Spitfires over the Dunkirk area, shooting down twelve of the RAF fighters. By the end of the day the three Gruppen of JG 26 can claim fifteen RAF fighters destroyed including the first kill for Konrad Jackel of 8./JG 26, a Hurricane over Ostende, Belgium as the RAF pilot was attacking his Gruppen-Adjutant, Hptm. Müncheberg. Lt. Josef ‘Pips’ Priller of 6./JG 51 begins his scoring by downing a British Spitfire and a Hurricane over Dunkirk. The British Air Ministry announced that Royal Air Force fighters had the most success since the invasion of the Low Countries with 79 Luftwaffe aircraft destroyed or damaged.

British Expeditionary Force

Belgium surrendered to German forces.

The retreat to the Lys had been practically completed during the night. By five o'clock in the morning of the 28th only the 42nd Division still had a rearguard of one brigade (the 125th) on the bend of the Deule Canal running northwards from Lille; while the 4th Divs 12th Brigade had also a small rearguard on the canal bend. On the main eastern front, facing the German AGp B, the augmented 5th Division and the 50th and 3rd Divs still held the line from Warneton through Ypres to near Noordschote. In the 20 mile gap between Noordschote and the coast beyond Nieuport, there were as yet no British divisions; only some cavalry of the French 2nd DLM (which had been placed by General Blanchard under General Brooke's command) and the 12th Lancers watched this open left flank, while a detachment of sappers from the 101st Army Fld Co, Royal Engineers, worked energetically to destroy the bridges between Dixmude and Nieuport. The surrender of the Belgian Army left the way clear for a rapid German advance at this point presenting a great danger to the army retiring to the coast, and throughout the day German divs which were no longer required to overcome Belgian resistance were being moved hard in outflanking marches. The german attacks n the centre on the BRFs rearguard positions between Warneton and Ypres were resumed and intensified. .

The battle in the centre, which commenced on the 25th, and was to continue until all BEF forces were within the Dunkirk bridgehead, was of crucial importance to the BEF. Just as the 2nd Div fought the SW battle to keep the way open for the first stages of the British retreat, so the divs of II Corps fought this longer, fiercer battle of the NE to keep open the way for the last stages. Gen Brooke directed operations with great skill on a plan which the enemy was not allowed seriously to upset. His battle is generally considered an Allied dfensive victory, in that nearly all the BEF escaped the developing envelopment movements undertaken by the Germans.

Map: I


Map II



The 50th and 3rd Divs on their left, heavily shelled and subjected to some attacks from the air, were in contact with the enemy all day, but, except for one assault on the centre of the 50th Division which was beaten back, the enemy was not yet up to our line in strength for a serious effort to advance. During the night the 50th Division moved as planned to a line running NE from Poperinghe, and the right of the 3rd Div swung back to form a rational linear defence line. The Fr 2nd DLM Div had moved behind the Loo Canal, and the Fr 60th Inf Div which had come from near Bruges 'had been overwhelmed in the loop of the Yser, its survivors were gathered up by the 2nd DLM and by the British who held the Furnes–Nieuport Canal.

Lord Gort's Headquarters had left Premesques that afternoon, spent the night at Houtkerque and on the 28th were established at La Panne in the Dunkirk bridgehead. The 3rd Div was side-stepping to the left of the British front (page 196) at the time of the above entry.

On the long western flank of the corridor, where British troops faced Army Group A, the position was less satisfactory. Gen Wason's III Corps was far weaker. The 48th Div had only two bdes, for it will be remembered that the 143rd had gone to strengthen the 5th Division on the Ypres front. The only other division 'in the line' was the attritioned 44th, for what little remained of the 46th was held back in reserve behind Cassel. And not only were much smaller forces available in these two divs; they were extended over more than 20 miles, so that there were many gaps through which German armour could penetrate unhindered. At the beginning of the 28th, the 48th Div de[;oyments took the form of a series of strongpoints, not particularly mutually supporting and therefore vulnerable. . The 144th Bde held the Soex–Ledreinghem sector; the 145th Cassel and Hazebrouck.

An order issued from GHQ at about two o'clock in the afternoon of the 28th set Poperinghe as the pivot of the line to which withdrawal would take place in the night, but 'within the outline of these orders' corps commanders were to use their full discretion and to move as many men as possible into the Dunkirk bridgehead. II Corps needed no fresh instructions and was given freedom to hold a line from Poperinghe to Ypres and on to some point north of Ypres. In fact, they held from Poperinghe to near Noordschoete. I Corps, now only the 1st Division (less the three bns which had gone to strengthen the 5th div) and the 42nd Div, were to retire to a position between Poperinghe and Proven, but in fact the 42nd Div went further nth to the Yser and the 1st Div reached the perimeter of the Dunkirk bridgehead. Instructions to III Corps were less clear. The 48th Div was given no orders but was told that these would be issued when French dispositions had been ascertained; the 44th Div was ordered to retire 'to frontier defences' but no area was specified; the 2nd Div was to move back to Beveren on the Yser (the sector to which the 42nd actually retired). The 44th and 2nd Divs could not carry out these instructions, and clearly they were based on insufficient information in regard to conditions on the corps front.

During the day the German XIX Corps commander (Guderian) made a tour of his forward positions. The Diary records his opinion that further tank attacks would involve 'useless sacrifice of our best troop': in his view the wise course is 'to hold positions reached and to let 18 Army's attack from the east take effect'. Guderian finally sought permission and was duly granted permission, to withdraw his entire Corps for much needded rest and refit

Between the British 44th Div and the divisions of II Corps on the eastern front lay the Fr 1st Army. By the morning of the 28th only its III Corps and the Cav Corps had got back to the Lys; the rest were still in the Lille area nearly surrounded by German divs. Decision as to 1st Army's further movements had become a matter of urgency, for unless the French also moved promptly to the coast they would be left isolated when the British withdrawal from the Lys took place in the coming night. General Blanchard visited the Command Post at about 1100 and conferred with Lord Gort and General Pownall. It was quickly apparent that although he had had been present at the discussion of the defence of a Dunkirk bridgehead which had taken place at Cassel on the day before he regarded retirement to the Lys as the final move; apparently the British decision to retire to the coast and evacuate to England, which had been notified by M. Reynaud and General Weygand on the 26th, had not been made known to him. When the British Government's telegram to Lord Gort was read to him, he was horrified. These and other bungled understandings of the new BEFs orders led to the encirclement and loss of more than half 1st Army's fighting strength. The end was now firmly in sight for France.

Air War over Europe

There is intense aerial activity over Dunkirk. The British claim to have shot down 79 Luftwaffe aircraft on the 27th. RAF bomber command puts 48 aircraft over the beachhead during the day, and sends 47 to attack the Germans there during the night.

The French send LeO-451 bombers, escorted by Hawker Hurricanes, against Germans lines of communication in the Aubigny sector.

Battle of the Atlantic

German submarine U-37 sank French liner “Brazza” 100 miles west of Cape Finisterre, Spain at 0924 hours, killing 79 crew and 300 passengers. 53 crew and 144 passengers were later rescued by French gunboat “Enseigne Henry” and British armed merchant cruiser HMS “Cheshire”.

Swedish freighter Torsten hits a mine and sinks in the North Sea. It had been laid by British submarine HMS Seal.

Norwegian freighter Blamannen hits a mine and sinks in the North Sea. It had been laid by French submarine Rubis.

British freighter Carare hits a mine and sinks in the Southwest Approaches to England.

Convoy OA 157 departs from Southend, Convoy OB 157 departs from Liverpool, Convoy HG 32F departs from Gibraltar, Convoy OG 31 forms at Gibraltar, and Convoy HX 46 departs from Halifax.

U-121 (Kapitänleutnant Karl-Ernst Schroeter) is commissioned.

HMS Lady Rosemary (FY 253) (Skipper Robert J. McCullogh) is commissioned.

Norway

Allied forces consisted of British, French, Norwegian, and Polish troops attacked Narvik, Norway across the Rombaksfjord and by land starting at 0015 hours. French Foreign Legion comes ashore with 5 French light tanks at 15 hours. French General Béthouart leads a force from Bjerkvik on Narvik while Polish troops attack from south of the village. Naval bombardment of German positions begins at midnight, aided by the broad daylight at this latitude (it is dark at the same time at airfields further South, preventing Luftwaffe bombers taking off in response). German aircraft did not arrive until 0430 hours, but they were able to force the Allied fleet to withdraw after damaging cruiser HMS “Cairo” (killing 10 and wounding 7). At 1200 hours, British forces captured Narvik, Fagernes, and Forsneset. German troops withdrew to nearby hills.

The British at Bodø prepare to be evacuated by the Royal Navy.

Photo: German Gebirgsjägers in the mountains after losing Narvik.




German/Romanian Relations

King Carol tells his cabinet that neutrality can be dispensed with as the country draws closer to Germany.

French Government

Prime Minister Paul Reynaud broadcasts in a radio address that the surrender was done precipitously, without consultation, and that "France can no longer count on the Belgian Army."

Belgian Government: Prime Minister Hubert Pierlot has moved from London to Paris. He delivers a broadcast from Paris in which he expresses shock at the Belgian Army's capitulation. Pierlot announces that the King acted on his own, against the wishes of the rest of the government and outside of his constitutional authority, and "henceforth he has no power to govern." The Belgian cabinet - in exile - now assumes all governmental functions, and it places all resources at the service of the Allies. The Belgian King, for all intents and purposes, is deposed - but he remains in Belgium and retains loyalty there, though with growing resentment from the populace.

US Military

US Army Air Force Colonel Carl Spaatz arrives in Genoa aboard the liner Manhattan on his way to London.

US Government

American ambassador to France, William Bullitt, sent a telegram to the United States asking President Roosevelt to dispatch a cruiser to Bordeaux, France to bring weapons for the French police to quell a feared "Communist uprising" and to embark French and Belgian gold reserves. Heavy cruiser USS “Vincennes” would sortie from Hampton Roads, Virginia, United States with destroyers USS “Truxtun” and USS “Simpson” in response to the ambassador's request.
The Norwegian gold reserves previously were sent to England, but this time the gold is to be sent across the Atlantic.

President Roosevelt approves the ambassador's request, and the US Navy sends heavy cruiser USS Vincennes (CA 44) from Hampton Roads, accompanied by destroyers USS Truxtun (DD 229) and USS Simpson (DD 221). They will take the gold first to the Azores, then to New York. As to the expected Communist uprising, that is deemed a French concern.

Bullitt also suggests sending the Atlantic Fleet to the Mediterranean as "one of the surest ways" to keep the French and British fighting the Nazis so that the United States will not have to. This suggestion is not taken up.

President Roosevelt also sets up the National Defense Advisory Committee. Its purpose is to advise the President on defense matters. Its members include former automobile manufacturer William S. Knudsen, corporate executive Edward R. Stettinius, labor leader Sidney Hillman, and economist Leon Henderson.

Day 273 of World War II, May 30th 1940

Western Front

here is something of a lull in the land battle around Dunkirk because of confusion and disagreement in the German command. The panzer forces begin to withdraw from the front line to take up positions to the south for the next stage of the battle of France. The Allied fighting retreat toward the coast continued. The vanguard of First French Army, cut off at Cassel, fought its way out and arrived at Dunkirk. Germans reported that they supposedly captured the commander, General Prioux. Wounded men and troops not in immediate engagement were evacuated from Dunkirk. The withdrawal and evacuation are screened by the Royal Air Force whose planes were ceaselessly engaged against the Germans although the air battles over the evacuation beaches become more even with the Spitfire now on active duty. The Stukas are quickly found wanting by the sleek, highly manoeuvrable British fighter.

British Admiralty orders all modern H, I, J class destroyers out of Dunkirk due to the previous day's losses by German Luftwaffe, leaving 18 older destroyers to continue the evacuation. Despite this, 24,311 Allied troops embark from Dunkirk harbour and 29,512 from the beaches, including the first French soldiers to be evacuated. Small craft from Britain ferry troops out to waiting warships or even back to England. One destroyer is sunk during the day, the French “Bourrasque”, three others are hit and at least nine of the smaller ships are also sunk. This total does not include the smallest vessels whose losses are also considerable. General Brooke, who has commanded the British 2nd Corps with distinction, is one of the evacuees. Despite the poor weather, German aircraft damaged destroyers HMS “Anthony” and HMS “Sabre”, minesweeper HMS “Kellet”, armed boarding vessel HMS “King Orry”, and steamers “St. Julien” and “Normannia”. French destroyer “Bourrasque” was damaged by a mine and finished off by German artillery off Ostend, Belgium. 660 were either killed or swam to shore and became captured, while about 300 were rescued.

Belgian Ministers hold a Cabinet meeting in Limoges, France. They declare that it is impossible for the King to resign, due to being under the power of German invaders.

Map; Dunkirk, May 30th 1940



British Expeditionary Force

On this day there is a crucial cabinet meeting. bouyed by the success of recuing so much of the BEF, Churchill is able to crush dissent and commit the British to a continuation of the war. It is the first and major achievement of the operation, except for the rescue itself which gives the british the necessary pool of trained manpower to rebuild her army

By midday on the 30th virtually all the retreating BEF forces were within the perimeter with the enemy pressing round them. From now on all interest was focused on the Dunkirk bridgehead.The battle to hold the front lines was essential to enabling the evacuations to occur. I Corps were now responsible for the western half of the British sector, from Dunkirk to the French frontier; II Corps for the eastern half from the frontier to the sea at Nieuport. III Corps was moving to the beaches for evacuation or had already gone home. None of the divs were up to strength as the effects of 18 days of heavy operations began to have their effects. Of I Corps the 1st Div was short 3 bns which had been taken to help II Corps in the battle of the Ypres front. In the 42nd Div only the 126th Bde was still capable of opns and only 6 bns of the 46th Div remained under Lord Gort's command during the battle. Of the 2nd Div only a composite company formed from men of the 5th Bde was now left. In II Corps the 5th and 23rd Divs were no longer capable of further fighting and some bns had now little more than the strength of a company.
As the last of the divs entered the bridgehead the enemy followed up quickly and before the day was over they were in close contact with the Port defences and were shelling and mortaring them with mounting violence. They reported that "the bridgehead is held by British troops who are fighting back very stubbornly" In many places the waterlogged state of the ground made it impossible for the defending troops to dig in, and as a consequence some units had heavy casualties from the bombardment. But the enemy were only ready to make one serious attempt to break through the defences on that day.
After artillery preparation the Germans tried to cross the canal just north of Furnes, where the front of the 3rd Div was held by the 7th Gds Bde and the 8th Bde. The attack was beaten off, but the 4th Royal Berkshire (now about the strength of one coy) suffered heavily and a coy of the 1st Coldstream Gds was sent to take over part of their position. About 1000 at night the attack was renewed and the enemy succeeded in breaking across the canal. But the Coldstreamers counterattacked and restored the position

Most contemporary accounts try to say all the problems faced by the heer were solved once the halt order was rescinded. This is untrue. in fact confusion and hesitation continued to dog the german command. Unable to quite comprehend what was now needed, the formations involved fumbled and hesitated. The confusion and loss of grip on the German side was noticeable at this time and remained unresolved. On the 29th of May AGp A War Diary had noted that their 4A could make little headway 'owing to very stubborn enemy resistance' They now asked the 4A whether Dunkirk could not be attacked through Bergues by mobile forces, but fear of a possible heavy loss led to this proposal being dropped. Instead the 4A directed Kleist Gp to close in, so as to be able to shell Dunkirk with 105mm guns. It is recorded in 4A War Diary that the operations officer at Army HQ complained to the Kleist Gp:' there is an impression here that nothing is happening today, that no one is any longer interested in Dunkirk. Town and harbour must be bombarded, embarkation prevented, panic caused' About 1500, AGp A informed 4A that O.K.H. had sanctioned an attack on Dunkirk; to which the officer receiving the message replied that the 4A was ready to attack but AGp B's 6A must also take part, and the 6A had apparently pulled out to rest! Rundstedt's CoS then asked whether 4A knew that Kleist Gp had informed Richthofen's VIII Air Corps that they intended to attack Dunkirk that afternoon. He was told that this was not known; on the contrary, Kleist Gp had asked for Dunkirk to be bombed. However, the 4A ordered Kleist Gp to 'attack Dunkirk on both flanks, penetrate right up to the coast, and then continue the pursuit eastwards'. Kleist Gp CoS replied that their formations were unstable, since tanks could not be used there. He was told that 'By higher orders an end must finally be made of the embarkation at Dunkirk. …' And the 4A commander intervened personally to order: 'All forces to the coast east of Dunkirk immediately. … The Divl Cdr is to be told that he is to reach the coast without fail today.' Later, Kleist Gp reported that their 20th Mot Div was 'advancing towards Bray Dunes. … The left wing is in front of Bergues and in Gravelines, on the Canal and is unable to get on. The fortified bridgehead of Dunkirk lies in front of them'. Attempts would now be made to fire on Dunkirk with light artillery, for the medium artillery had run out of ammunition the day before.



Battle of the Atlantic

The main focus remains on the English Channel due to Operation Dynamo. Numerous smaller vessels are sunk or damaged from a variety of causes, including Luftwaffe and small arms attacks. The Admiralty removes all modern destroyers from the vicinity (H, I, J class), leaving about 10 older destroyers to rescue the roughly 300,000 men left in the shrinking bridgehead. Ronald Cartland, a Member of Parliament, is killed in the fighting at Dunkirk.

French destroyer/torpedo ship Bourrasque is damaged by striking a mine off Nieuwpoort, and then sunk by artillery fire off Ostend. It is loaded with BEF troops, and 660 men either drown or swim ashore and are captured. There are about 300 survivors picked up by other ships.

Three large transports are sunk off of Dunkirk.

Three Royal Navy destroyers (HMS Anthony, Sabre, and Worcester) are damaged off of Dunkirk.

Numerous smaller vessels are damaged near Dunkirk, including minesweeper HMS Kellet, armed boarding vessel HMS King Orry and steamers St. Julien & Normannia.

U-101 (Kapitänleutnant Fritz Frauenheim) torpedoes and sinks 4,831 ton British freighter Stanhall about 35 miles northwest of Ile d'Ouessant, France. There are 36 survivors, one man perishes.

U-boats U-100 (Kapitänleutnant Joachim Schepke) and U-123 (Kapitänleutnant Karl-Heinz Moehle) are commissioned.

Convoy OA 158GF departs from Southend, Convoy OB 158 departs from Liverpool.

Air War over Europe

RAF sends 68 aircraft to attack the advancing Germans at Dunkirk during the day, and 28 more at night.

RAF Bomber Command attacks Hamburg and Bremen during the night with 18 bombers.

Norway

The British continue the evacuation of Bodø, taking another group of men off to Harstad. Colonel Gubbins remains in the port. The German 2d Mountain Division is still working its way up the lengthy road which the British were able to skip by using the ferry.

General Dietl and his mountain troops remain in the middle of nowhere in northern Norway. The Allies continue to press them, and the German mountain troops are retreating slowly toward the Swedish border at Bjørnfjell, which is only 18 miles away. During the day, Dietl receives another 57 men of the 1st Fallschirmjaeger Regiment. His main hope is the slow, painful advance of the 2nd Gebirgsjäger Division.

Once at the border, Dietl will have to make a decision whether to stand and fight to the end, or cross the border and be interned - and cloud the entire campaign. Hitler is not giving him the option to be interned - the Fuhrer is focusing as much on Narvik as on the much more vital campaign in France. From the broadest possible perspective, Dietl's troops have served as a capital decoy to divert attention away from the main front in France - on both sides.

Italian occupied Ethiopia

The Duke of Aosta is in command of Italian forces in Addis Ababa. He is instructed to mobilize his forces.

German/Italian Relations

Mussolini tells Hitler that Italy will declare war on the side of the Axis on 5 June 1940.

US Government: President Roosevelt decides to keep the US fleet in the Pacific rather than bring it to the Mediterranean as has been suggested by US Ambassador to France William Bullitt, Jr. He has Secretary of State Cordell Hull tell Bullitt:

"The presence of the fleet in the Pacific at this time is a very practical contribution to the maintenance of peace in the Pacific."

In Montevideo, US Minister Edwin C. Wilson notes in a telegram to Hull that the political situation is "deteriorating." He portrays a Uruguayan government that is "drifting," with ordinary people "climbing on the Nazi band wagon." He cautions that if things continue, an "armed movement is a possibility."

German Homefront

Food rationing is easing due to an influx of supplies from Denmark, Norway, and the Low Countries.

From this site i get: Leopold III: The Belgian king who was forced to abdicate after the Second World War

The Belgian government, exiled in France, stripped him of his constitutional powers since he was now captive and “unable to govern”. They could not appoint a regent, but decided they could rule as a body of government.

Do not know if that is the same thing as what i have in the May 30th update.