Wednesday 15 May 1940

Dutch General Henri Winkelman departing from his signing of the capitulation documents, 15 May 1940 (Haussen, Federal Archive).

Western Front: After the shattering Luftwaffe destruction of Rotterdam, the Dutch fighting spirit (at least among the leadership) dies on 15 May 1940. Dutch General Henri Winkelman capitulates at 10:15 in a formal signing at Rijsoord, a suburb of Rotterdam. The Dutch army is out of the fight except in Zeeland and isolated spots such as Walcheren Island and Beveland, where there are some holdouts. The Wehrmacht's 18th Army occupies "Fortress Holland," including Amsterdam, The Hague, and Rotterdam. There are some members of the Dutch Fascist Party on hand to greet them.

The mood among the Allies is bleak. At 07:50, French Prime Minister Paul Reynaud rings up British Prime Minister Winston Churchill to say: "We have been defeated; we have lost the battle ..... The front is broken near Sedan." Churchill, disturbed from sleep, awkwardly refers him to a similar situation during World War I that turned out well in the end.

Churchill later recounts the call to the War Cabinet: "I doubted the mighty French Army could be beaten so easily, but Reynaud seemed near-hysterical." The invasions are only five days old, but already they all are having outlandish success against proud countries that have spent heavily on their own defense for many years.

The Wehrmacht penetration across the Meuse gains force. General Guderian reaches Montcornet near Laon to lever open the gap between French 2d and 9th Armies. He is ordered to halt, and once again demands and receives permission to advance another day. General Rommel continues pushing southwestward toward Philippeville and passes through the Maginot Line extension at Sivry on his way into the French interior. Rommel faces little opposition and covers 40 km to Cerfontaine.

The French are off-balance, both in the field and at General Gamelin's headquarters. General Gamelin informs Defense Minister Daladier that the front is shattered. He replaces French 9th Army commander General Corap with General Giraud after the army collapses.

In Holland, Army Group B under General Fedor von Bock is performing its diversionary role brilliantly. In fact, Army Group B's stumbles only enhance the illusion that the battle so far is not going terribly for the Allies and thus they have more time than they really do, aiding the real thrust to the south.

German 6th Army under General Reichenau continues rushing westward (partly due to faulty military intelligence) and slams into the Allies' well-prepared Dyle Line. General Billotte commands the French 1st Army Group. Fliegerkorps VIII clears the way for an assault at 08:00. The assault by 3rd and 4th Panzer Divisions stalls in the teeth of fierce French artillery (French 75mm artillery and Hotchkiss 25mm anti-tank guns). The Germans take huge tank losses (some estimates say 250 tanks lost) and decide to wait a day before mounting a concentrated attack. It is a clear French defensive victory, but the French retreat during the night to the French border.

Col. Charles de Gaulle, an advocate of innovative strategies for the use of armor, is promoted to Brigadier General and given command of the improvised 4e Division cuirassée (4th Armoured). It is a new unit, formed on 10 May 1940, comprised mainly of tank battalions. This command complements de Gaulle's talents and serves as a good way to test his theories, which are similar to those of the panzer Generals. His first job is to set up a front at Laon.

A Dutch woman - perhaps a member of the Dutch Fascist Party - greets the arriving Wehrmacht troops in Amsterdam (Jager, Federal Archive).

European Air Operations: The Luftwaffe attacks British destroyers in the Scheldt Estuary. They destroy HMS Valentine (beached) and badly damage HMS Winchester.

The Luftwaffe attacks Brussels and bombs Radio Brussels.

Allied bombing attacks against the Meuse River crossings are completely ineffective, and the Allies lose over 50% of the planes committed.

Air Marshal Hugh Dowding, who has remained in office only due to the crisis, argues against reinforcing the RAF fighter presence in France. The French, of course, want "clouds of planes," but the British War Cabinet agrees with him. The decision taken by Sir Cyril Newall, Chief of the Air Staff, is for Air Marshal Sir Charles Portal to begin strategic bombing raids against Germany instead. This is a key moment when British and French interests begin diverging.

RAF Bomber Command thus mounts its first large-scale raid against the German homeland. It sends 95-100 Wellington, Whitley and Hampden bombers (sources vary) to attack the Ruhr during the night. They target oil installations, blast furnaces, and marshaling yards. They do not achieve many effects - only 24 of the bombers claim to have found their targets - and lose one plane. Most of the attacks - 78 bombers - are against oil-related targets.

Battle of the Atlantic: Most of the action is taking place just off the coasts of Holland and Norway.

Troop Convoy US 3 out of Australia is diverted to the Cape of Good Hope.

Convoy HG 30 departs from Gibraltar.

Norway: Polish troopship Chrobry is loaded with Irish Guards and Brigade headquarters headed for Bodø when the Luftwaffe attacks it off the southern Lofoten Islands. The liner is set ablaze, and the troops - 700 of whom are rescued - must be sent back to Harstad to be re-formed and re-equipped. The Guards show absolutely stellar morale during the sinking and are compared by the rescue ship's Captain to Rudyard Kipling's classic stoic-in-the-face-of-death Birkenhead Drill.

The Luftwaffe continues reinforcing General Dietl's 3rd Mountain at Narvik by drips and drabs, dropping 22 more men of 1st Fallschirmjaeger Regiment.

Leslie Redford (Les) Clisby DFC (29 June 1914 – 15 May 1940) was an Australian fighter ace of World War II. Serving with the Royal Air Force (RAF), he was credited with 16 aerial victories before being killed in action during the Battle of France. In a combat career lasting a matter of months, he was Australia's first air ace of the war.

Anglo/US Relations: PM Churchill, who has been corresponding by telegram with President Roosevelt by signing his messages "Naval Person," now sends his first as Prime Minister, signing it "Former Naval Person." Today's message requests American aid such as old destroyers and aircraft, among other things:

• The loan of 40 or 50 "older destroyers" for a year;
• "several hundred" of the latest planes; 
• antiaircraft "equipment and ammunition"; 
• that the U.S. continues to provide Britain with steel;
• that a U.S. squadron visit Irish ports, presumably to keep Eire quiet;
• that the U.S. "keep that Japanese dog quiet in the Pacific, using Singapore in any way convenient."

Spies: The US Minister in Uruguay, Edwin C. Wilson, tells US Secretary of State Cordell Hull that fascist activities were increasing in the country. He notes that there is "indifference and apathy...and in certain cases something worse" to the fascist presence by the government of Uruguay.

Dutch East Indies: The authorities are rounding up a total of 2400 Germans and 400 members of the  Dutch National Socialist group.

Palestine" David Ben-Gurion is in London to talk with Colonial Secretary Lord Lloyd about the future of Palestine.

China: The Japanese begin attacking Chungking and Chengtu.

Four members of the WLA (Women's Land Army) shearing sheep in London's Hyde Park. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images).

French Homefront: The refugee crisis hits Paris, as news of the Wehrmacht breakout at Sedan is spread. Government offices begin burning sensitive documents and refugees flee south.

Dutch Homefront: Dutch underground newspaper Geuzenactie is published, the first of many resistance publications.

British Homefront: There is a massive civilian response to the broadcast of the previous evening calling for volunteers for the Local Defence Volunteers." Unfortunately, the police have received no uniforms or equipment for the volunteers yet.


American Homefront: Nylon stockings have been a hot item, and today they appear in New York City - and immediately sell 780,000 pairs.

Richard and Maurice McDonald have the grand opening for the first McDonald's hamburger joint. It is located in San Bernardino, California.

Future History:  Lainie Kazan is born in Brooklyn, New York. She becomes famous on Broadway in the 1960s; poses nude in Playboy in October 1970; and becomes a huge television and film star.

Don Nelson is born in Muskegon, Michigan. He becomes a key player on the Boston Celtics basketball team (5x national champions) in the '60s and '70s, then a coach of the NY Knicks, Golden State Warriors, and other teams.

The first McDonald's Restaurant in San Bernardino.

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

2020

Saturday 11 May 1940

Belgian soldiers surrender to German paratroopers at the bridge at Veldwezelt, 11 May 1940 (Ang, Federal Archive).

Western Front: The German offensive continues rolling on 11 May 1940. William Shirer, a US journalist, notes that there are "Great headlines today in Berlin papers over 'shameful' protests of the Low Countries against being invaded."

The 9th Panzer Division crosses the Meuse and finds an undefended bridge over the Zuid-Willemsvaart canal 50 miles from Rotterdam, enabling it to continue rolling westward.

The trapped Belgian troops at fortress Eben Emael surrender to the German 7th Flieger Division, clearing the pathway for the 6th Army to proceed over the Maas Canal and completing one of the most brilliant aerial assaults in history. German 6th Army pulls up to the Albert Canal below the fortress and sends tank spearheads across, which requires rushed reinforcements from further south - where the Germans are quietly rolling their main force through the Ardennes.
The Battle of the Grebbeberg gets rolling. This is the main defense line forward of "Fortress Holland" in the west. The Grebbeberg is a hill near Rhenen which offers panoramic views (a zoo which is a major tourist attraction is on the hill). German artillery of the 18th Army opens fire before dawn on the line's outposts, disabling Dutch communications. At first light, the SS brigade attacks. The Germans breach the right side of the line, which enables the attackers to surround the rest of the line. The entire outpost line falls. However, the hill itself - protected by a 47 mm (1.85 inches) gun) remains inviolate. The Dutch counterattack, but it degenerates into a chaotic disaster with Dutch units firing on each other - but it does forestall the Germans' own night attack.

The German columns pushing through the Ardennes face logistical issues on the forest roads, but no significant defenders. General Erwin Rommel's 7th Panzer "Ghost" Division is in the lead of Army Group A and disperses a French Cavalry Unit guarding the road. Allied bombers are noticeably absent, partly due to Luftwaffe air superiority.

The French 1st Army, 7th Army, 9th Army, and British Expeditionary Force execute the "Dyle Plan," advancing to take up defensive positions on the Dyle River line. The German main assault does not lie there. Retreating Belgian troops join them. Hitler, when informed of his classic decoy move producing the desired results, says "I could weep for joy!"

The Fallschirmjäger (paratroops) operation at The Hague is one of the few blemishes on the Fall Gelb offensive. Generalleutnant Hans Graf von Sponeck's paratroops are scattered across dunes and do not control any of the airports they were dropped to capture. With his objective now impossible, von Sponeck receives orders to aid the assault on Rotterdam. In reality, he and his men now are hunted fugitives behind enemy lines, with hundreds of wounded and missing troops.

The paratroopers at Rotterdam are doing somewhat better. The 22nd Flieger Division holds bridges over the Niewe Maas River. The Dutch Marines launch furious attacks, but the paratroopers have nowhere to retreat to anyway, so a stalemate develops - which is to the Germans' benefit.

'The biggest traffic jam in history': German armor squeezes through the narrow gorges of the Ardennes on its way to France on 11 May 1940.

European Air Operations: The Luftwaffe is concentrating on ground support missions - a key element of "Blitzkrieg." The Allies are hampered by few airbases close to the scene of the battles and, quite frankly, often inferior equipment.

In terms of that equipment, the Fairey Battle light bomber is struggling. The RAF sends eight of them to attack German troops in Luxembourg and only one returns.

The Luftwaffe also is aggressively targeting Allied airfields. They make a low-level attack on the field of No. 114 Squadron and destroy its Bristol Blenheim bombers on the ground.

The Luftwaffe sinks Dutch liners Statendam and Veendam at Rotterdam.

The RAF sends 23 aircraft to attack bridges over the Maas at Maastricht, which the Germans captured on the 10th.

Overnight, the RAF sends 37 bombers to attack Monchengladbach - the first RAF bombing of a German town without military priority.

Battle of the Atlantic: U-9 (Oberleutnant zur See Wolfgang Lüth) torpedoes and sinks 1,930-ton British freighter Tringa just off the West Hinder buoy at the mouth of the Scheldt River. There are 6 survivors and 17 perish.

U-9 also sinks 1,908-ton Estonian freighter Viiu. There are 5 survivors and 15 perish.

British submarine HMS Narwhal sinks Kriegsmarine vessel V-1109.

HMS Seal, the only British submarine captured during the war, arrives in Frederikshavn, Denmark, under tow by German "UJ 128" (Unterseebootsjäger 128). It is immediately investigated by German technicians.

Convoy OA 146 departs from Southend, Convoy OB 146 departs from Liverpool.

US Government: President Roosevelt fulfills various obligations under the Neutrality Laws, issuing executive orders :

1. Recognizing the state of war that exists between Germany and Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands; 
2. Proclaiming American neutrality in the conflict; and 
3. Restricting belligerent submarines from using American ports and territorial waters, exclusive of the Panama Canal Zone.

War Crimes: The British Air Ministry takes the radical step of authorizing attacks on purely civilian targets in Germany. This is a clear violation of international law which the Germans have violated as well in Poland and Finland. While this particular decision is not considered a war crime by many historians and "they did it first"... if things had turned out differently, it would be. War can be unavoidably morally ambiguous.

Dutch Commander of 2nd Corps General Harberts at Grebbeberg impanels a summary court-martial of a sergeant, Chris Meijer, accused of abandoning his post. Meijer is shot by firing squad the same day. There are possible issues of undue influence of Harberts in the matter with murky motivations.

Norway: British General Claude Auchinleck is in command of the British-French ground forces of what has become a classic sideshow campaign. Even that is not going well for the Allies.

The two Independent Companies and accompanying British light anti-aircraft detachments (who have to abandon their equipment) at Mosjøen evacuate during the early morning hours on Norwegian vessel Erling Jarl. Lt. Col. Gubbins pays the owners 5000 kroner for their assistance. The accompanying Norwegians are forced to retreat by road after the Germans occupied Hemnesberget on the 10th by using the commandeered vessel Nordnorge.

The German 2nd Mountain Division troops at Hemnesberget attack toward Mo i Rana. Other troops from the division occupy the evacuated Mosjøen. Still, other units of the division continue their march north toward Narvik to relieve General Dietl's regiment there.

German/Swedish Relations: A Swedish delegation meets with Hermann Goering regarding German use of the Narvik railway which runs through Sweden.

Caribbean: British and French troops continue occupying Dutch islands such as Curaçao and Aruba. President Roosevelt states that these actions do not violate the Monroe Doctrine (no foreign military actions in the Americas).

China: At the Battle of Tsaoyang-Ichang, the Chinese 5th War Area attacks the Japanese 11th Army around Tsaoyang, Tungpo, and Mingkang, but the Japanese break out of the encirclement and retreat eastward.

Belgian Homefront: The roads are clogged with refugees fleeing westward and southward. Most are on foot or on their bicycles. The Mayor of Bouillon, in a classic "business, is business" reaction to the war, refuses to quarter troops in hotels: "This is a resort town! Hotels are  reserved for tourists."

Dutch Homeland: Former Kaiser Wilhelm, living in exile in Holland, has had a somewhat dismissive opinion of Hitler. However, he refuses Winston Churchill's offer of sanctuary in the UK.

British Homefront: The  Manchester Guardian publishes an editorial stating that new Prime Minister Churchill "takes office with greater goodwill than any of our modern history."

"Contraband" starring Conrad Veidt hits the theatres. Veidt is a Lutheran German World War I veteran who fled Germany in 1933 due to the specter of Hitler's persecution of his Jewish wife.

The victors of Eben-Emael: Fallschirmjäger of Sturmabteilung Koch. (By Bundesarchiv, Billd 146-1971-011-27 / Büttner / CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5441177)

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

2020