Wednesday 8 May 1940

Hitler and Manstein talk it over.

British Government: The "Norway Debate" concludes on 8 May 1940. Liberal Party leader David Lloyd George, who had been Prime Minister during the First World War, bemoans "the worst strategic position this country has ever faced." He then strikes the fatal blow:

The Prime Minister….has appealed for sacrifice….he should sacrifice the Seals of Office !

Herbert Morrison, Labour MP, calls for a vote of no confidence. Chamberlain views the vote as perfunctory, saying,

At least I shall see who is with us and who is against us and I call upon my friends to support us in the lobby tonight. I have friends in this House.

The vote at 23:30 comes out in Prime Minister Chamberlain's favor, 281 - 200. However, Chamberlain loses 33 conservative members and the vote total is less than previous votes of support. It is an insufficient level of support for a Prime Minister. Accordingly, Chamberlain decides to resign after anguished late-night talks with First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill, who has been conspicuously absent as a target during the debate.

Prime Minister Chamberlain wins the vote but resigns anyway.

Western Front: Hitler postpones Fall Gelb, the invasion of France and the Low Countries, for one more day, to 10 May 1940.

The Germans claim that Dutch mobilization on 7 May 1940 is proof that the Allies intend to invade Holland.

William Shirer in Berlin has some advice for Associated Press on whether to transfer their Amsterdam correspondent to Norway: "The war will come to him, soon enough."

Norway: German troops are advancing north from Grong in the vicinity of Narvik against a Norwegian battalion. The Norwegians are falling back on Mosjøen, conducting demolitions. During the night, the British Nos. 4 and 5 Independent Companies (special forces) land at Mosjøen, which had been held by a small French detachment.

No. 1 Independent Company secures Mo i Rana, while No. 3 Independent Company proceeds to Bodø.

The Independent Companies are under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Colin Gubbins, who organized them. They are designed for raiding purposes, not land battles. Altogether, the Independent Companies form Scissors Force.

To the south of Narvik, Polish Podhale Brigade deploys.

Battle of the Atlantic: German raider Widder departs from Bergen.

Convoy OA 144 departs from Southend, Convoy OB 144 departs from Liverpool, Convoy HX 41 departs from Halifax.

Anglo/Polish Relations: A military agreement is signed.

Middle East: General Wavell and General Weygand meet in Beirut to discuss French plans regarding Crete and Milos in the event of an Italian declaration of War.

Belgium: The Belgian embassy in Brussels informs the government that German Foreign Minister Ribbentrop is preparing an ultimatum - which is a standard German prelude to invasion. In addition, the German OKW (military high command) already has given the final orders for the invasion.

Holocaust: Jews in German-occupied territory are now banned from restaurants, parks, museums, trains, owning land. They have a 5 pm curfew and must wear the Yellow Star of David, the "badge of shame." Chaim Kaplan comments, "My own eyes saw a `badge of shame': a yellow patch saying 'Jew.' I advise everyone add, next to 'Jew,' the words: My Pride.”
China: At the Battle of Tsaoyang-Ichang, there is a counterattack by 31st Army Group of Chinese 5th War Area which recaptures Tangho, while the Japanese 11th Army captures Hsinyeh and Tsaoyang.

The river gunboat USS Tutuila (PR 4) is damaged when she runs aground on a reef and becomes stranded while shifting her anchorage at Chungking, China.

Future History: Ricky Nelson is born in Teaneck, New Jersey. He becomes a television star in The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952–66) and is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on 21 January 1981. He perishes in a plane crash on December 31, 1985.

Toni Tennille is born in Montgomery, Alabama. She becomes famous in the 1970s as the singer in Captain & Tennille.

Peter Benchley is born in Princeton, New Jersey. He becomes famous in the 1970s as the author of Jaws.

British, French and Polish soldiers on a British ship, 8 May 1940.

May 1940

May 1, 1940: British Leave Åndalsnes
May 2, 1940: British Depart Namsos
May 3, 1940: Many Norwegians Surrendering
May 4, 1940: Bader Returns
May 5, 1940: HMS Seal Survives
May 6, 1940: Allies Focus on Narvik
May 7, 1940: In The Name of God, Go!
May 8, 1940: Exit Chamberlain
May 9, 1940: Enter Churchill
May 10, 1940: Fall Gelb
May 11, 1940: Eben Emael Surrenders
May 12, 1940: Germans at Sedan
May 13, 1940: Rommel at Work
May 14, 1940: German Breakout in France
May 15, 1940: Holland Surrenders
May 16, 1940: Dash to the Channel
May 17, 1940: Germans Take Brussels
May 18, 1940: Germans Take Antwerp
May 19, 1940: Failed French Counterattack
May 20, 1940: Panzers on the Coast
May 21, 1940: Battle of Arras
May 22, 1940: Attacking Channel Ports
May 23, 1940: British Evacuate Boulogne
May 24, 1940: Hitler's Stop Order
May 25, 1940: Belgian Defenses Creaking
May 26, 1940: Operation Dynamo
May 27, 1940: King Leopold Surrenders 
May 28, 1940: The Allies Take Narvik
May 29, 1940: Lille Falls
May 30, 1940: Operation Fish
May 31, 1940: Peak Day for Dynamo

2019

Tuesday 7 May 1940

Leo S. Amery makes a memorable comment in the House of Commons.

Norway: The Norway campaign has not gone well for the Allies. Prime Minister Chamberlain goes before the House of Commons to defend his policies and sparks the "Norway Debate." Naturally, the opposition parties are full of scorn. His own conservative party, however, also is full of critics. Former Admiral of the Fleet Sir Roger Keyes reads out a litany of complaints about the government's handling of the Norwegian campaign. He makes a towering presence in his uniform and medals.

Leo S. Amery, a low-profile backbencher, cries out a quote from Oliver Cromwell:

“Somehow or other we must get into the Government men who can match our enemies in fighting spirit, in daring, in resolution and in thirst for victory.... I will quote certain other words. I do it with great reluctance, because I am speaking of those who are old friends and associates of mine, but they are words which, I think, are applicable to the present situation. This is what Cromwell said to the Long Parliament when he thought it was no longer fit to conduct the affairs of the nation: 'You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!'”

The final vote is scheduled for the morrow.

Norway Army Operations: The Norwegian 6th Division tries to block the German 2nd Mountain Division relief column rushing to help General Dietl's regiment at Narvik. Essentially, the Allies have Narvik surrounded, and all they have to do to take the town is to block that one relief attempt.

Norway Air Operations: The Luftwaffe hits British cruiser HMS Aurora at 16:41, putting turrets A and B out of action and killing 7 Marines.

Norway Naval Operations: More Allied troops land in northern Norway for the Narvik operation. This time, some 5,000 Polish troops, the Polish Podhale Brigade (Chasseurs du Nord), arrive in Harstad.

Battle of the Atlantic: A Bristol Beaufort torpedo bomber of RAF Coastal Command drops a 2,000lb bomb at a German cruiser spotted in the East Frisian islands. It misses but marks a first as the largest bomb dropped by the RAF (the Luftwaffe previously dropped a bomb that was twice as large on the Hegra Fortress in Norway).

A gun accident on WWI-era British cruiser HMS Curlew kills five sailors.

Convoy HG 29 departs from Gibraltar.

Western Front: Allied aerial reconnaissance is beginning to detect signs of the Wehrmacht build-up, but reports are haphazard. A French pilot returning from a leaflet raid on Düsseldorf happens to see a 60-mile-long German motorized column heading toward the Ardennes.

General Charles Huntziger, commanding French 2nd Army in the Sedan sector, states: "I do not expect that the Germans will ever consider attacking in the region of Sedan."

Hitler moves the start date to 9 May 1940 due to the weather. General Jodl notes that "Hitler is greatly agitated."

Soviet Military: Stalin implements a major shake-up of the military high command. Semyon Timoshenko, fresh off what is considered a brilliant and successful re-direction of the Winter War, replaces Kliment Voroshilov as the Soviet Union's Minister of Defence. Voroshilov is being demoted to Deputy People's Commissar of Defense due to the failures in Finland. Chief of General Staff Boris Shaposhnikov is promoted to Marshal of the Soviet Union.

Holland: Responding to fragmentary reports of German troop movements and various clandestine sources such as the Vatican, the government cancels all leaves, mobilizes the reserve and begins strengthening/occupying its frontier and coastal defenses.

The Dutch have various sources of information about Fall Gelb that the Allies do not. However, they are under no obligation to disclose this information, and they don't. As Dutch civil servant Snouck Hurgronje says, "They're not our Allies."

US Navy: President Roosevelt cuts short a vacation due to what he describes as a "case of nerves." He is concerned about the situation vis-à-vis Japan. The US fleet is scheduled to return from Hawaii to the west coast of the United States on 9 May, but he believes this would encourage Japanese intransigence. He instructs Rear Admiral James O. Richardson to issue a press release stating that the US fleet would remain in Hawaii indefinitely and that it had been done at his request.

China: At the Battle of Tsaoyang-Ichang, the Japanese 11th Army captures Suiyangtien, Wuchiatien, and Tangho and attacks Shuangkou.

Soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army 6th Infantry Regiment crossing the Bái hé River during the Battle of Zaoyang-Yichang.

May 1940

May 1, 1940: British Leave Åndalsnes
May 2, 1940: British Depart Namsos
May 3, 1940: Many Norwegians Surrendering
May 4, 1940: Bader Returns
May 5, 1940: HMS Seal Survives
May 6, 1940: Allies Focus on Narvik
May 7, 1940: In The Name of God, Go!
May 8, 1940: Exit Chamberlain
May 9, 1940: Enter Churchill
May 10, 1940: Fall Gelb
May 11, 1940: Eben Emael Surrenders
May 12, 1940: Germans at Sedan
May 13, 1940: Rommel at Work
May 14, 1940: German Breakout in France
May 15, 1940: Holland Surrenders
May 16, 1940: Dash to the Channel
May 17, 1940: Germans Take Brussels
May 18, 1940: Germans Take Antwerp
May 19, 1940: Failed French Counterattack
May 20, 1940: Panzers on the Coast
May 21, 1940: Battle of Arras
May 22, 1940: Attacking Channel Ports
May 23, 1940: British Evacuate Boulogne
May 24, 1940: Hitler's Stop Order
May 25, 1940: Belgian Defenses Creaking
May 26, 1940: Operation Dynamo
May 27, 1940: King Leopold Surrenders 
May 28, 1940: The Allies Take Narvik
May 29, 1940: Lille Falls
May 30, 1940: Operation Fish
May 31, 1940: Peak Day for Dynamo

2019

Friday 3 May 1940

German troops and bombers on an improvised airfield during the battle for Norway, May 3, 1940 (Wide World Photo).

Norway: The British/French tilt away from the Trondheim target is a serious tell-tale sign for the direction of the entire Norwegian campaign on 3 May 1940. The Allies at this point have no hope of prevailing against Germany on the Continent in any kind of mobile warfare setting except in artificial frames such as island conflicts. Narvik provides a last gasp as an opportunity for the Allies only because, for all intents and purposes, it is an island: it is difficult to reach by land due to numerous geographical barriers and lack of roads, it has a small population and the best way to reach it with military support is via ship (military supplies cannot be sent on the rail line through neutral Sweden).

In fact, the British arguably have a slight advantage in some ways in a Narvik campaign. The British Home Fleet not only completely outclasses anything that the Kriegsmarine can put in action, but its main base at Scapa Flow, Scotland is closer to Narvik than any German ports. Conceivably, the Allies could occupy northern Norway indefinitely - so long as nothing else comes up diverting scarce resources somewhere else.

King Haakon and the rest of the Norwegian government and Commander-in-chief Otto Ruge are under British protection just south of Navik at Tromsø. There is a 1000km (600 miles) buffer zone between them and the German troops further south.

The sense of hopelessness among the few active Norwegian forces remaining in the country is exacerbated by a radio broadcast by British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announcing the evacuation of Allied troops from the Trondheim region.

Norway Army Operations: The evacuation of British (1850) and French (2345) troops, along with some Norwegian troops and 30 Wehrmacht POWs, is finished before dawn. General de Wiart is grateful: "The Navy promised to evacuate my troops tonight. I thought it impossible, but the Navy does not know the word."

Colonel Ole Berg Getz—the Norwegian commander in the Trøndelag area - announces in his order of the day that he has proposed an armistice due to his lack of supplies, particularly ammunition. He broadcasts his surrender of troops in Nord-Trøndelag during the day and advises all other Norwegian forces in Trøndelag to do the same.

Norwegian General Jacob Hvinden-Haug throws in the towel and surrenders all troops south of Trondheim. All fighting south of Trondheim, in essence, is over except for holdouts.

The commander of one of those holdouts, Hegra Fortress, realizes from radio reports and its own situation that the end is at hand. Food is running out, and there is no hope of relief. The garrison begins destroying it artillery ammunition. Three Swedish volunteers are taken out of the fortress and escorted by a ski patrol to the Swedish border.

Norway Naval Operations: Destroyer HMS Afridi lingers at Namsos after the evacuation convoy leaves, shelling the dock and other port facilities before finally departing at 04:45.

The Allied troops evacuated from Åndalsnes arrive safely in Scapa Flow. The French transit to French passenger liners bound for Brest to aid in the defense of their own country.

Norway Air Operations: The Luftwaffe attacks the Namsos evacuation convoy at 09:45, sinking French destroyer Bison about 110 miles west of Vega Island, Norway at 10:10. There are 103 deaths - but many also wind up on HMS Afridi, which also goes down.

Afridi is bombed at 14:00 and also goes down quickly (45 minutes), with numerous deaths (45 crew, 13 men of 146th Brigade, and 30 of the 69 men just rescued from the Bison). Elderly General de Wiart - legendary escape-artist from hopeless predicaments - is forlorn: "I'm sorry I wasn't on board - I've missed a great experience!"

The Luftwaffe attacks British battleship HMS Resolution and Cruisers Aurora and Effingham off Narvik.

Western Front: Hitler is hard at work on Fall Gelb, the invasion of France and the Low Countries, and now is at the fine-tuning stage. He postpones the date from 5 May to 6 May, the small change showing how close the actuality is getting. He is assembling 93 Divisions along the border without the Allies apparently noticing.

Hitler sees the entire world up for grabs: "The earth is a challenge cup: it goes to those who deserve it.…"

French General Huntziger commands the 2nd Army on the Ardennes front. He is offended by the construction without his approval of anti-tank obstacles on two main roads through the forest and orders them demolished.

European Air Operations: The RAF bombs Oslo-Fornebu airfield, Stavanger-Sola, and Ry airfield in northern Denmark.

Three Luftwaffe fighters ambush a British reconnaissance plane over Borkum, losing one of their own numbers.

RAF bomber command sends 10 aircraft out on minelaying operations during the night. The Luftwaffe also conducts minelaying.

Convoy OA 141 departs from Southend, Convoy OB 141 departs from Liverpool.

Battle of the Atlantic: German commerce raider Atlantis is traveling in the south Atlantic disguised as Japanese freighter Kasii Maru. It spots British freighter Scientist near Walvis Bay on its way to Freetown, boards it, and then sinks it with a torpedo. There are three deaths.

Spies: Colonel Hans Oster of the German military intelligence service, the Abwehr, tells the Dutch military attaché in Berlin, Colonel Sas, that Fall Gelb is close, perhaps ready by 8 May. Unfortunately for Oster, his credibility has been undermined by previous postponements subsequent to his alerts. The neutral Dutch decide not to pass this information along to the Allies.

Applied Science: The Wehrmacht seizes control of the world's only heavy water production facility Vermork outside Rjukan in Tinn, Norway.

Greenland: The Danish crown colony takes a different route than Iceland, which earlier had declared independence. It seeks US protection to maintain its Danish sovereignty without German domination.

China: At the Battle of Tsaoyang-Ichang, the Japanese 11th Army captures Changshouien and Tienchiachi.

British Homefront: Industrialist Sir Alfred Edward Herbert, a huge advocate of women workers during World War I (along with minimum wages and maximum working hours), encourages women to sign up for factory work "at this grave time."

The Vermork hydroelectric plant in 1935.

May 1940

May 1, 1940: British Leave Åndalsnes
May 2, 1940: British Depart Namsos
May 3, 1940: Many Norwegians Surrendering
May 4, 1940: Bader Returns
May 5, 1940: HMS Seal Survives
May 6, 1940: Allies Focus on Narvik
May 7, 1940: In The Name of God, Go!
May 8, 1940: Exit Chamberlain
May 9, 1940: Enter Churchill
May 10, 1940: Fall Gelb
May 11, 1940: Eben Emael Surrenders
May 12, 1940: Germans at Sedan
May 13, 1940: Rommel at Work
May 14, 1940: German Breakout in France
May 15, 1940: Holland Surrenders
May 16, 1940: Dash to the Channel
May 17, 1940: Germans Take Brussels
May 18, 1940: Germans Take Antwerp
May 19, 1940: Failed French Counterattack
May 20, 1940: Panzers on the Coast
May 21, 1940: Battle of Arras
May 22, 1940: Attacking Channel Ports
May 23, 1940: British Evacuate Boulogne
May 24, 1940: Hitler's Stop Order
May 25, 1940: Belgian Defenses Creaking
May 26, 1940: Operation Dynamo
May 27, 1940: King Leopold Surrenders 
May 28, 1940: The Allies Take Narvik
May 29, 1940: Lille Falls
May 30, 1940: Operation Fish
May 31, 1940: Peak Day for Dynamo

2019