Sunday 19 May 1940

Belgian tank on fire in Zwyndrecht, Antwerp, Belgium. 19 May 1940.

Western Front: The French Army on 19 May 1940 is completely discombobulated. The generals have little idea where the front is and what the Germans might do. The commander of the French 9th Army, General Giraud, is even captured by a German panzer unit.

Lord Gort, head of the BEF, has a conversation with General Edmund Ironside, the British Chief of the Imperial General Staff. Ironside recommends attacking southwest toward Amiens. Lord Gort replies that he has insufficient troops, as 7 of his 9 divisions are in action on the Scheldt. Somewhat bizarrely, Gort relates that his putative French commander, General Billotte of the 1st Army Group, has not issued him any orders in a fortnight.

Ironside then talks to General Billotte, who is nearby. He finds that Billotte is incapable of taking action. Ironside returns to England convinced that the end is near for the BEF and ramps up anti-invasion efforts. A code name is generated for a BEF evacuation: Operations Dynamo.

Much of the German Panzer force has been halted between Péronne and St. Quentin for refueling, maintenance, and re-supply. Today, General Guderian starts moving forward again. He takes Péronne, only 50 miles from the French coast. This disrupts the supply lines of the BEF and French forces fighting to the north.

General Rommel regroups at Cambrai.

Brigadier General de Gaulle launches his second attack from Laon into the German spearhead flank at Montcornet using the 4th Armoured Division. Once again, as on the 17th, he makes some progress, but the effort runs out of steam. However, there is no corresponding thrust from the other side of the bulge which might cut off the most advanced German units.

The Belgian army withdraws in the sector including St Nicholas, Lakeren, and Audenard.

The BEF pulls back near Lille.

On the Maginot Line, the German 71st Infantry Division, after a three-day battle, take the left-most anchor of the line, Fort La Ferté (known as Panzerwerk 505 to the Wehrmacht). The French inside succumb to the smoke and toxic fumes after their ammunition and other items catch fire. The fort, 20 km south of Sedan on a hill overlooking the Chiers River, has been blocking the German advance. The Germans occupy the village of Villy. Underneath Villy, the fort had been scaled back during construction due to cost, making it a death trap for the 107 soldiers inside.

European Air Operations: Fliegerkorps VII is covering the German advance toward Abbeville. This is a key component of "Blitzkrieg." There are radio-equipped forward liaison Luftwaffe officers traveling with the panzers who have direct lines to the Luftwaffe bases. The amount of time between a request for air support and its arrival is minimal, around 10 minutes for Henschel HS 123s and 45-75 minutes for the Ju 87 Stukas.

The Luftwaffe bombs Royal Navy destroyer HMS Whitley, which must be beached and scuttled.

The Luftwaffe bombs Dieppe.

The Luftwaffe also is supporting the attacks on the Maginot Line in the south. They are hitting fortresses and helping the ground to make progress against this supposedly invulnerable line.

The RAF once again bombs oil refineries in the Ruhr.

The RAF begins pulling its last squadrons in Belgium. They have lost over half of their aircraft and the German army is approaching their airfields. BEF air cover will be conducted henceforth from bases in England.

There are reports that 100,000 people perished in the Rotterdam air attacks, with a third of the city destroyed. This figure is likely wildly exaggerated for propaganda purposes, but then again, nobody knows how many people died. The high figure illustrates the depths of fear and terror being sown by the innovative Blitzkrieg. Rotterdam has joined "Warsaw" on the litany of Luftwaffe misdeeds chronicled in Allied propaganda.

Luftwaffe Junkers Ju 87 unit near Arras, France. May, 1940 (Strift, Federal Archive).

Battle of the Atlantic: U-37 (Kapitänleutnant Victor Oehrn) torpedoes and sinks 5,066-ton Swedish freighter MV Erik Frisell. All 34 aboard survive, picked up by armed trawler HMS Cobbers.

Royal Navy minelayer HMS Princess Victoria hits a mine and sinks in the North Sea.

Convoy OA 151 departs from Southend, Convoy OB 151 departs from Liverpool, and Convoy OG 30 forms at Gibraltar.

Norway: The evacuation of Mo i Rana concludes, with the last rearguard troops of B Company of the Scots Guard and No. 1 Independent Company pulling out. The German 2d Mountain Division occupies the town and sends troops further north toward Bodo.

Military Intelligence: The cryptoanalysts at Bletchley Park crack the Enigma "Red" code being used by the Luftwaffe liaison officers to coordinate ground support.

Anglo/US Relations: Winston Churchill sends President Roosevelt a plea for quick aid while discussing something else. "If [the old destroyers] were here in 6 weeks, they would play an invaluable part."

Sweden: The government announces that, like Great Britain, it will form its own home defense corps. It also institutes gasoline rationing.

Ethiopia: A group of Italian settlers arrives.

War Crimes: Civilians live in fear of Allied troops who reportedly are shooting civilians who they are mistaking for German paratroopers or infiltrators. There are other anecdotal reports of Allied troops shooting civilians who they believe, for one reason or another, to be aiding the German advance.

British Homefront: Prime Minister Winston Churchill makes an address to the British people which he calls " Be ye men of valor," which is a quotation from 1 Maccabees in the Apocrypha. Churchill mentions that only "a very small part" of the French army has been engaged with the Germans, but that it would be "foolish ... to disguise the gravity of the hour." He vows to "wage war until victory is won, and never to surrender ourselves to servitude and shame, whatever the cost and the agony may be."

American Homefront: Charles Lindbergh makes another radio broadcast in support of isolationism:

"We need not fear a foreign invasion unless American peoples bring it on through their own quarreling and meddling with affairs abroad. If we desire peace, we need only stop asking for war. No one wishes to attack us, and no one is in a position to do so."

A commemorative day for war heroes of the Winter War in Joensuu, Finland. 19 May 1940 (SA-kuva).

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

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