World War II in real time

Day 285 of World War II, June 11th 1940

Western Front

With German troops approaching Paris and little to stop them, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Foreign Minister Anthony Eden fly to France to confer with French Prime Minister Paul Reynaud and French Commander-in-chief Maxime Weygand at Briare (Weygand's headquarters in Chateau du Muguet). The French demand more RAF fighter squadrons be sent across; in fact, they ask for the entire Royal Air Force. They believe this would give the French Army a chance to regain its balance.

Churchill defers to Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding, who refuses to send more squadrons. Churchill renews his vow to defend France, but also strongly hints at his true view of the situation by encouraging the French to begin guerrilla warfare. He pointedly reminds the French of their March 28th 1940 agreement not to make a separate peace.

Churchill's true concern is the French navy, the fourth largest in the world. He wants assurances that it will not fall into German hands. Reynaud is exasperated and refuses to discuss the matter. At some point, French Navy Admiral François Darlan assures Churchill that the fleet will not be surrendered.

There is an air of unreality to the proceedings, almost as if everyone is just going through the motions and disconnected from the awful reality. French Marshal Pétain (84) interrupts the conference with his own take on strategy: "We don't seem to be making much use of carrier pigeons." According to Reynaud, Pétain has been busy drafting an appeal for an Armistice. The conference continues on the 12th. General Spears, along with Churchill, notes: "I was suddenly aware that the battle of France was over and that no one believed in miracles."

General Erwin Rommel and his 7th "Ghost" Panzer Division takes Le Havre, then advance 30 miles further up the coast. This bottles up the 51st (Highland) Division and many French troops, a total of 46,000 men, at Saint-Valery-en-Caux. It is a mini-Dunkirk situation, but the foggy weather makes a British evacuation difficult. Royal Navy destroyer HMS Broke and corvette HMS Gardenia take off some wounded. Rommel takes positions on the cliffs overlooking the port, making Royal Navy visits extremely hazardous. The Allied troops hide in some caves, but many are on the beach under the night sky.

Photo: General Rommel's 7th Panzer Division on the move.



Wehrmacht troops of 4th Army enter the distant Paris suburbs at Pontoise, northwest of the city. In addition, Panzer Group Kleist crosses the Marne at Château-Thierry. The German 18th Army is approaching Paris. Faced with an unstoppable pincer attack, the French government declares Paris an open city.

Panzer Group Guderian takes Reims.

Italian troops make begin tentative movements across the Alps toward France.

Newspapper: Daily News June 11th 1940



Battle of the Atlantic

With the Italians in the war, the British and French take quick steps to neutralize its navy. The Royal Navy (Admiral Andrew Cunningham) and a French cruiser squadron patrol the eastern Mediterranean from Alexandria and the Levant, respectively. In addition, Royal Navy cruisers bombard the Italian stronghold of Libya.

While the British and French are the most aggressive, the Italians draw first blood. An Italian submarine sinks cruiser HMS Calypso south of Crete.

U-101 (Kapitänleutnant Fritz Frauenheim) torpedoes 5,280 ton Greek freighter Mount Hymettus in the eastern Atlantic. When it does not sink quickly, it surfaces and finishes it off with gunfire. All 24 aboard survive.

U-48 (Korvettenkapitän Hans Rudolf Rösing) torpedoes and sinks 3,598 ton Greek freighter Violando N. Goulandris off Cape Finisterre, Spain. There are six deaths, 22 survivors.

U-46 (Kapitänleutnant Engelbert Endrass) torpedoes 8,782 ton British tanker Athelprince west of Cape Finisterre at 23:04. When the first torpedo does not sink it, U-46 fires a second torpedo that hits amidships and appears to doom the ship. After U-46 departs believing it has the kill, the Athelprince is salvaged, repaired and returned to service. All 59 crew survive. This is another example of large tankers being particularly difficult to sink.

British freighter St. Ronaig hits a mine and sinks in the North Sea.

Troopship Bruges (a Belgian transport attached to the Royal Navy) is sunk by Luftwaffe attack off Le Havre; all 72 crew survive, and the ship is empty of troops.

The US passenger liner Washington is en route from Lisbon to Galway, Ireland. It is packed with 1,020 US citizens collected from France and North Africa at the urging of the US State Department. U-101 sees it, surfaces, and orders it to stop for inspection. Kapitänleutnant Frauenheim at first thinks that the ship is Greek and prepares to disembark it and sink it. However, hurried blinker signal exchanges establish that it is American, and he permits the ship to proceed. It is one of the great unknown (except by people like us) instances of a U-boat captain avoiding huge loss of innocent life by strictly and correctly following the rules of international law.

Norwegian trawler Borglund picks up 37 survivors from HMS Glorious and 2 from HMS Acasta.

Convoy OA 166G departs from Southend, Convoy OB 166 departs from Liverpool.

U-124 (Kptlt. Georg-Whilhelm Schulz) is commissioned.

Air War over Europe

The RAF in Egypt bombs Italian airfields in El Adem, Libya, while the South African Air Force bombs Moyale, an outpost in Abyssinia (Ethiopia). The British lose three planes, but destroy all 18 Italian planes on the ground.

In retaliation for the RAF raids, the Italian Air Force (Regia Aeronautica) sends a raid of 10 Italian Royal Air Force Cant Z.1007 Alcione bombers to attack Grand Harbour, Hal Far and Kalafrana in Malta. One civilian and 6 British soldiers (sources vary) perish, with 130 wounded. There are only 4 completely inadequate and obsolete Sea Gladiators to defend the island, and they damage one of the attacking planes. This is considered the start of the "Siege of Malta." Three of the British biplanes are named Faith, Hope, and Charity.

Italy bombs the French naval base at Toulon. It also bombs French positions in Tunisia and a British base at Aden and one at Port Sudan.

The RAF bombs the German fleet at Trondheim, damaging two cruisers and a transport.

Photo: German pocket battleships Gneisenau and Scharnhorst in Trondheim Harbor on the left, Admiral Hipper on the right,



The RAF sends a night raid of 36 Whitely bombers against Fiat factories in Turin and Genoa, refueling in the Channel Islands. The raid shows typical poor aim for the period and instead hits the city center indiscriminately, killing 14 civilians. The Mussolini government widely publicizes this as an instance of terror bombing.

The French in Marseilles demonstrate seeming ambivalence, or perhaps outright despair, about the course of the war when they block runways to prevent their use by RAF Wellington bombers. Their apparent objective is to prevent Italian reprisal raids. Marseilles already has suffered damage in Luftwaffe raids, but Marseilles is a much easier target from northern Italy than from Germany.

The RAF drops incendiaries on the Black Forest during the night in an attempt to begin forest fires.

North African Campaign

Ground hostilities in North Africa commence when a British patrol raids Sidi Omar and the Italians also stage raids. The British 11th Hussars send armoured cars into Libya and take some Italian troops prisoner who don't even realize they are at war.

International Relations

Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, all part of the British Commonwealth, declare war on Italy. Italy severs relations with Norway.

Italian/German Relations

The Luftwaffe establishes liaison staff with the Italian air force.

Anglo/US Relations

As part of his continuing correspondence with President Roosevelt, Churchill sends a telegram noting the Italian entry into the war, its submarine fleet (largest in the world), and reiterates his request for destroyers:
To this, the only counter is destroyers. Nothing is so important as for us to have 30 or 40 old destroyers you have already had reconditioned.
Anglo/Polish Relations: The two governments (Polish Government-in-exile) sign an agreement for there to be both a Polish army and navy in Great Britain.

German Government

Adolf Hitler gives an interview to German-born UP reporter Carl von Wiegand which is published a couple of days from now. Wiegand had been the first US reporter to interview German crown prince Wilhelm, the first interview given by a German noble during World War I, and Hitler references almost everything back to the Great War. This interview is entitled "Europe for the Europeans: Adolf Hitler on the international situation during the war in France; An interview granted to Karl v. Wiegand, Führer's Headquarters, June 11, 1940." Hitler expresses his desire not to destroy the British Empire, but instead to "destroy those who are destroying that Empire." He believes that US aid to Britain will not affect the outcome of the war.

US Government

In accordance with his obligations under the Neutrality Act, President Roosevelt defines the Mediterranean and parts of the Red Sea as combat zones.

Roosevelt expresses serious reservations with permitting the UK royals to transfer to Canada, fearing the public relations effect of allowing the monarchy to set up shop in North America.

French Homefront

The refugee crisis hits Paris, as long lines of traffic snakes out of the city with headlights dimmed, packed with gear, and mattresses on the roofs.

British Homefront

Clement Attlee, Lord Privy Seal, addresses the House of Commons about (among other things) the Italian entry into the war. He uses quite colorful metaphors, comparing the Duce to a "jackal" and a "sneak-thief":

"Signor Mussolini thinks that he sees a chance of securing some spoils at the expense of the Western democracies now that they are at grips with the brute forces of Germany. Signor Mussolini uses the argument of the jackal which scents the possibility of getting some scraps from another beast’s kill. He puts forward the argument of the petty sneak-thief to rob and rifle the pockets of the murderer’s victim."

He concludes that Mussolini's aim, like Hitler's, is to "destroy democracy."

The British government extends its internment policy to include all male Italians, 16 and over, who have lived in the country for fewer than 20 years. There is no trial, and some are political refugees who fled Mussolini's regime.

Day 287 of World War II, June 13th 1940

Western Front

The French forces west of Paris are now retreating to the Loire. The British decide to abandon attempts to rebuild a BEF in France and begin to evacuate the British and Canadian troops which still remain in the country.

Maxime Weygand declared Paris, France an open city. British Prime Minister Churchill flew to Tours, France for what would become the last meeting of the Supreme War Council. Both Britain and France now acknowledged that defeat would be imminent. Churchill encourages the French to withdraw to their colonies in North Africa to fight on. However, French PM Paul Reynaud asks to be released from the March 28 agreement and allowed to negotiate armistice terms with Germany. Churchill refuses, appraising this solely from the British point of view.

Spain's Generalissimo Francisco Franco changes Spain's status from neutral to nonbelligerent.

Battle of the Atlantic

At dawn in the Arctic (02:43), British carrier Ark Royal launches 15 Skua dive-bombers against the German warships in Trondheim. The British lose eight planes (six dead, 10 POWs), and manage to hit the Scharnhorst with one 500 lb bomb that fails to explode. The surviving aircraft return by 03:45. Kriegsmarine light cruiser Nurnberg arrives in Trondheim later in the day from Germany.

Drawing: a Blackburn Skua attacks KMS Scharnhorst



U-25 (Kapitänleutnant Heinz Beduhn) torpedoes and sinks 17,046 ton armed merchant cruiser Scotstoun (converted Anchor Line passenger ship Caledonia) about 80 miles off of the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. The attack lasts all day, but Scotstoun finally succumbs. Seven crew perish, 345 others are picked up by destroyer HMS Highlander (H 44).

British tanker Inventor hits a mine and sinks in the English Channel.

Escort destroyers HMS Antelope and Electra collide in fog of Norway and both require extensive repair.

A German seaplane spots two survivors of the HMS Ardent in the water. They somehow have survived since 7 June. After picking them up, one dies from exposure, malnutrition etc. The other man, able seaman Roger Hooke, is Ardent's only survivor and, in extremely poor condition, is taken prisoner.

Convoy OA 167 departs from Southend, Convoy OB 167 departs from Liverpool, Convoy HG 34F departs from Gibraltar, Convoy HX 50 departs from Halifax.

Battle of the Mediterranean

Italian destroyers Baleno and Strale sinks Royal Navy submarine Odin. All 56 crew perish.

A French cruiser squadron bombards Genoa during the night.

Battle of the Pacific

German raider Orion lays mines off of Auckland, New Zealand.

Air War over Europe 

Italy's Regia Aeronautica raids the French naval base at Toulon. It also raids Aden, but is driven off with losses, and Malta.

The RAF raids German bridgeheads on the Seine all along the front to the Maginot Line.

The RAF is gradually evacuating its units from France.

North African Campaign

The British captures 52 Italian soldiers during the night, many of whom have no idea that they are at war.

The RAF raids Fort Capruzzo on the Libyan border with Egypt. It also raids Assab in Italian East Africa. South African aircraft chip in with a raid on Kismayo in Italian Somaliland.

The Regia Aeronautica hits British vehicles near the Libyan border in Egypt.

Norway

While the Allies have departed and the Norwegians have surrendered, many areas of the large country remain unoccupied by the Germans. Today, some of General Dietl's 3rd Mountain Division troops quietly occupy Tromso.

US Military

Rear Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr., relieves Vice Admiral Charles A. Blakely as Commander Aircraft, Battle Force, on board the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV 5) at Lahaina Roads, Maui, Territory of Hawaii. Halsey is given the temporary rank of Vice Admiral.

US Government

President Roosevelt signs a $1.3 billion Navy bill, which is unprecedented in amount. The first shipment of surplus artillery, rifles and other smaller weapons leaves the USA on the SS Eastern Prince. To avoid the Neutrality Laws, the arms are first sold to a steel company, which then re-sells them to the British government.

Netherlands government-in-exile

The Dutch government-in-exile announces formation of a Netherlands Legion to be composed of all available domestic and overseas troops.

Spain

Generalissimo Francisco Franco reiterates his policy of non-belligerency, which of course tilts toward Germany. Spain is of vital strategic importance to both sides due to its ability to take Gibraltar and close off the Mediterranean.

China

The Japanese launch a terror raid on Chungking that starts massive fires.

French Homefront

Paris is largely deserted. Jewish citizens in particular have been quick to leave, for obvious reasons. There are oddities of a suddenly abandoned major city: for instance, herds of cattle roam the streets, as the men operating the slaughterhouses have left.

British Homefront

The government renews its evacuation plans for schoolchildren, since so many returned home over the winter. Plans are to disperse 120,000 kids from London and other large cities in the south. All children are required to carry gas masks at all times. Many of the masks have been brightly colored to make them more attractive to children, and they are carried in ubiquitous boxes.

A new law specifies that church bells are to be rung only as a signal of a German invasion.

Members of Parliament ask to be issued sidearms, since rumors are flying that they are on German assassination lists. The request is refused.

Newspapper: The New York Times

Thanks will edit it.

Day 289 of World War II, June 15th 1940

YouTube (Britain Votes to Leave)



Western Front

Another German pincer closes on France. The German 7.Armee under General Friedrich Dollmann crossed the Rhine River into France about 40 to 50 miles north of the Swiss border and penetrated the Maginot Line, fanning out on the Alsace plain to join up with Guderian’s Panzers making their way South towards Switzerland. Strasbourg and Verdun are taken in the converging German advance on the Maginot defenses. On the coast of the English Channel, the Allies launched Operation Ariel to evacuate troops from Cherbourg and St Malo. Over the next 3 days, 23,630 men, mostly British, are embarked from Cherbourg. Adolf Hitler gave the German Army permission to demobilize some divisions once the French campaign drew closer to its end. French Army GHQ moves south from Briare, on the Loire, to Vichy.

Map of France and Southern England, 



Air War over Europe

Italian aircraft of the Regia Aeronautica raid Propriano, Corsica and southern France.

The RAF raids Bergen, destroying ammunition stored on the quays.

RAF Bomber Command sends strategic raids against the Ruhr and southern Germany. It alsos ends 8 aircraft against Genoa.

The British drop leaflets over Rome.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-38 (Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Liebe) spots convoy HX-47 at 01:00 and goes to work. First, U-38 torpedoes and sinks 9,973 ton Norwegian tanker Italia. There are 16 survivors, while 19 perish.

Then, it torpedoes and sinks 2,238 ton Canadian freighter Erik Boye 60 miles west of the Scilly Isles. All 22 aboard survive.

US passenger liner Washington, having embarked an additional 852 American passengers in Galway, departs from Ireland for New York. It is transporting 1,872 US passengers who have been evacuated from North Africa, France and the UK.

U-137 (Oberleutnant zur See Herbert Wohlfahrt) is commissioned.

Convoy 168 GF departs from Southend, Convoy OB 168 departs from Liverpool, Convoy SL 36 departs from Freetown.

Battle of the Mediterranean

Italian submarine Macalle runs aground and sinks off Port Sudan in the Red Sea.

North African Campaign

The RAF sends raids against Italian forces at Sidi Areiz, Assab and Jarabub.

The Italians send an airstrike against British positions at Sollum.

The French send 6 bombers against Tripoli.

German Military

Adolf Hitler sets forth plans to demobilize portions of the Wehrmacht once the campaign in France concludes, which appears to be in the offing.

British Military

The UK War Cabinet decides that the Channel Islands, British territory within sight of France, "are of no strategic importance and they won't be defended."

Anglo/US Relations

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill sends a telegram to President Roosevelt asking for destroyers. He states that his country will carry on the struggle "whatever the odds," but the destroyers are a matter of "life and death." Churchill, as former First Lord of the Admiralty, notes that England's survival "may well be beyond our resources unless we receive every reinforcement and particularly do we need this reinforcement on the sea."

US/French Relations

President Roosevelt promises French Prime Minister Reynaud that he will continue to provide France with material support (by illegally evading the US neutrality laws), but he states that he cannot commit troops.

German/Swedish Relations

Stockholm grants a German request for railroad transport of non-military supplies to Narvik.

German occupied Norway

German 3rd Mountain Division occupies Harstad.

Baltic States

Soviet troops enter Lithuania with no opposition. This is pursuant to the secret Ribbentrop/Molotov Pact of 23 August 1939, and a last-minute agreement by the Lithuanian government to their ultimatum of 14 June. They occupy Kaunas and Vilna. President Antanas Smetona flees to Germany, barely escaping an attempt to capture him by Prime Minister Antanas Merkys. However, the Soviets do capture a minesweeper named... President Smetona.

Vladimir Dekanozov arrives in Kaunas as the new governor.

Soviet troops also take the Latvian border posts of Masļenkos and Smaiļi.

Italian occupied Albania

The Italian-controlled government declares war on France and the UK.

Applied Science

Dr. Vannevar Bush, pursuant to his 12 June 1940 discussion with President Roosevelt, becomes the head of the National Defense Research Committee.

The University of California's Dr. Ernest O. Lawrence begins supervising construction of a giant cyclotron. This is a key step in the development of plutonium, the essential ingredient of an atomic bomb.

US Government

US President Franklin Roosevelt approved a revised copy of the Naval Expansion Act which he had approved on the previous day; it increased naval aviation to a strength 10,000 aircraft instead of the previously lower quantity of 4,500.

China

At the Battle of Tsaoyang-Ichang: Chinese 2nd Army Group and 31st Army group arrive to support the Ichang sector against the Japanese 11th Army.

Italian Homefront

A Roman man becomes the first civilian casualty of the war in that city when he is struck down by falling anti-aircraft shrapnel during a RAF leaflet drop.

French Homefront

The Swastika is raised over the Palace of Versailles, which saw the birth of the so-called Second Reich of Wilhelmine Germany.

Crowds, which were absent during the German victory parades, assemble to watch French POWs being transported through town.

Southern France is packed with refugees, and supplies of everything are tight.

British Homefront

George Orwell suddenly realizes that his French publisher now can't publish his next book, and notes "If so, I am £30 to the bad... The sensible thing to do now would be to borrow money right and left and buy solid goods."

Day 292 of World War II, June 18th 1940

Western Front

he German 7.Panzerdivision under Rommel advanced another 75 miles since the prior date, reaching Cherbourg, France but not before most of the Allied personnel had already evacuated the city. 30,600 British and Allied troops were evacuated from Cherbourg. French battleship Courbet gave covering fire. Also on this date, Le Mans, Belfort, Metz, and Dijon fell under German control. Elsewhere, the Allies completed the Operation Ariel evacuation of La Pallice and Saint-Nazaire, but all the heavy equipment were left behind in the latter location. All large French towns are to be surrendered without resistance. Civil administrators and military forces are ordered to await arrival of Germans.

In Brest, with 5.Panzerdivision only a few hours away, French cruisers “El Djezair”, “El Kantara”, “El Mansour”, “Ville d'Oran”, and “Ville d'Alger” departed 1,200 tons of French gold for Casablanca, French Morocco while the cruiser “Victor-Schoelcher” transported 198 tons of Belgian gold (originally held in French banks) from Lorient to the port of Dakar in French West Africa. The French gold would arrive in Casablanca on 21 Jun 1940, but the Belgian gold would be captured by the Germans (much to the chagrin of the Belgians who sue the Banque de France in 1941, demanding in return French gold being held in the USA).

Evacuation of last RAF squadrons from France completed. The remnants of the RAF Hurricane squadrons in France evacuate their bases, having provided cover for the final Allied retreat from France. The last to leave are Nos. 1 and 73 Sqns, which had been the first to arrive in 1939. The fighting in France cost the RAF a total of 1,029 aircraft and over 1,500 personnel.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-28 (Kapitänleutnant Günter Kuhnke) torpedoes and sinks 2,417 ton Finnish freighter Sarmatia in the eastern Atlantic. All 23 on board survive.

U-32 (Oberleutnant zur See Hans Jenisch) torpedoes and sinks 1,522 ton Norwegian freighter Altair south of Ireland. All 18 on board survive.

U-32 then sinks 108 ton Spanish fishing trawler Nuevo Ons with gunfire. There are seven survivors, and six perish.

U-32 also sinks 108 ton Spanish fishing trawler Sálvora with gunfire. All 12 on board survive.

28,100 ton French troop ship Champlain hits a mine and is seriously damaged. It is dead in the water and an easy target if the Germans spot it.

Kriegsmarine minesweeper M-5 hits a mine and sinks off Norway.

The French scuttle nine French submarines, a destroyer, and a sloop at Brest and Cherbourg. They are immobile for various repair reasons.

New French battleship “Richelieu” leaves Brest for Dakar (arrives June 23). Uncompleted battleship “Jean Bart” is towed out of St Nazaire; fuelled under German air attack and sails under half-power for Casablanca (night June 18-19; arrives 22).

Convoy OA 170 departs from Southend, Convoy OB 170 departs from Liverpool.

British corvette HMS Camellia (K 31, Lt. Commander Eric M. Mackay) is commissioned.

Air War over Europe

The Luftwaffe sends a massive raid of 76 bombers against eastern England (Cambridge, Southend, the Thames estuary region) during the night. There are 11-12 dead and 30 injured. This is the first of a series of such nightly raids, and could be counted as the unofficial start of the Battle of Britain - though the history books state that battle does not begin for another couple of months. The Luftwaffe incurs light losses during this period.

The RAF conducts reconnaissance over northern France, Belgium and Holland. The RAF also sends 69 bombers to drop 250 bombs on Bremen and Hamburg.

Battle of the Pacific

13,415 ton liner RMS Niagara (Captain William Martin) hits a mine and sinks off Auckland, New Zealand. Niagara is carrying £ 2.25 Millions of gold from the Bank of England bound for the United States in payment for munitions. The wreck settles at 121 meters of water. Immediately, thoughts turn to salvage of the gold, but the ship is at the outer limits of salvage operations.

German auxiliary cruiser Orion captures Norwegian vessel Tropic Sea near the Society Islands.

German/Italian Relations

Hitler and Mussolini meet in Munich to discuss the French request for an Armistice. They are in no hurry to end the campaign. They ultimately send a request for the names of French plenipotentiaries to the French government currently at Bordeaux. Hitler is not impressed by the Italian contribution and gives Italy only a small zone of occupation in southern France. Mussolini is chagrined, but he has other plans of his own which he does not disclose to his partner.

Photo: Adolf Hitler and Italian Fascist leader Benito Mussolini together in Munich



US/French Relations

The US is concerned, as are the British, about the French fleet. U.S. Secretary of State Hull directs Deputy U.S. Ambassador to France Anthony J. Drexel Biddle, Jr., to tell the French that a German takeover of the fleet would the French to "permanently lose the friendship and goodwill of the Government of the United States."

The French are not impressed by the rough diplomatic veiled threat and say that they are "deeply pained" by the attempted coercion. Nonetheless, French Minister for Foreign Affairs Baudouin promises that the French fleet "would never be surrendered to Germany." Admiral Darlan seconds this assurance.

Bulgarian/Romanian Relations

Bulgaria demands that Romania cede southern Dobruja.

Canada

Mackenzie King introduces to the Canadian House of Commons the National Resources Mobilization Act. This implements national registration and conscription for home defense.

Baltic States

The Soviet occupation is complete. The Soviet government promises to give the Germans $7.5 million in gold for the courtesy of honoring the Ribbentrop/Molotov Agreement.

Latvia

The Soviets form a new government from a list of approved candidates.

Sweden

German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop informs the Swedish Minister in Berlin, Germany, that if Sweden resists the German use of Swedish railways to transport troops and supplies to Norway, it would have dire consequences. Sweden allowed passage of German troops between Oslo, Norway, and Trelleborg, Sweden, on Swedish rail lines, with the only demand being that the number of troops coming from Germany must equal to the number being evacuated, so that it could not be said that Sweden was helping Germany reinforce the front lines. Sweden receives a reply from Britain regarding expectations in Norway, indicating that Britain might have to make peace with Germany.

Italian Somaliland

The English King's African Rifles raid the Italian port of El Uach.

French Somaliland

Italian artillery bombards French positions.

Italy

The government secures ancient monuments and statues against possible air attack.

China

At the Battle of Tsaoyang-Ichang, Japanese 11th Army consolidates its hold on Ichang and Tangyang. Chinese 5th War Area goes over to the defensive.

Polish Government in Exile

General Sikorski arrives in London on a RAF plane. He meets with Churchill, and they agree on the evacuation of Polish soldiers from their location at La Pallice.

British Government

Winston Churchill at 15:45 addresses the House of Commons with one of his famous speeches. He states that this could be the country's "Finest Hour":

What General Weygand has called the Battle of France is over ... the Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilisation. Upon it depends our own British life, and the long continuity of our institutions and our Empire. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be freed and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands.

But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new dark age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves, that if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, This was their finest hour.

French Government: The cabinet continues to debate whether to evacuate to North Africa. New Prime Minister Pétain refuses to go, but President Lebrun and the two presidents of the Chambers of Parliament, Édouard Herriot and Jeanneney, want to go. The weight of opinion is to stay in France.

YouTube (Their Finest Hour Speech)



French cruisers El Djezair, El Kantara, El Mansour, Ville d'Oran and Ville d'Alger evacuate 1,200 tons of French gold from Brest to Casablanca. In addition, the French use the cruiser Victor-Schoelcher to take 198 tons of Belgian gold from Lorient to the port of Dakar in French West Africa.

War Crimes

There are strong rumors that the advancing Nazi troops have been murdering any black African French troops that they take prisoner. There is a German propaganda campaign that these French troops themselves are committing atrocities.

French Homefront

General Charles de Gaulle broadcasts at 20:00 from London and urges continued French resistance. He emphasizes that a battle, and not the war, is lost:

The destiny of the world is here. I, General of Gaulle, currently in London, invite the officers and the French soldiers who are located in British territory or who would come there, with their weapons or without their weapons, I invite the engineers and the special workers of armament industries who are located in British territory or who would come there, to put themselves in contact with me.

This speech initiates the image of de Gaulle, heretofore virtually unknown outside of military circles, as the leader of "Free France." It is fair to comment that de Gaulle likes to use the word "I" a lot as he develops a cult of personality.

De Gaulle has no official authority to make any claim to be a French spokesman and is no longer even in the government (though for the time being he remains a General). De Gaulle's sole source of power is that he has British backing due to his willingness to continue the fight. De Gaulle also has a large cache of French gold given to him by former Prime Minister Reynaud which will tide him over, though it is insufficient to form an army or anything like that. He certainly is an inspirational figure for many French citizens, though the legitimate French government does not think so and feels he is being counter-productive. De Gaulle returns the favor and pointedly refuses to recognize any French government under German domination, which creates a chasm between him and the "legitimate" Petain government. He no longer has any official reason to be in London and is "flying solo," at great risk to himself, creating an entire movement out of whole cloth. The course de Gaulle is taking practically defines the term "leader."

There is a tortuous story behind de Gaulle's speech. He was the one, along with Churchill, who came up with the "union" idea of France and the UK joining as one country. He flew back to France to argue for it and thought that Petain would agree with him, and was stunned when instead Petain surrendered. Returning immediately to England, de Gaulle asked to give this speech on 17 June, but the BBC required him to wait until 18 June - the anniversary of the French defeat at Waterloo.

General Legentilhomme, French commander in Somaliland, quickly announces his support for de Gaulle, but few others do. It is easy to maintain that martial spirit when you are far from the panzers, not so much when the front that protects you is collapsing.

Photo: General De Gaulle giving his speech on June 18th 1940.