Wednesday 12 June 1940

General Rommel surveys the Allied POWs at St.Valery-en-Caux on 12 June 1940.

Western Front: The situation is darkening rapidly for the Allies on 12 June 1940. General Weygand bows to reality and orders a general withdrawal. British General Sir Alan Brooke arrives in Cherbourg to take over the reconstituted BEF.

US Ambassador to France William Bullitt is the last accredited ambassador remaining in Paris, as everyone else - including the French government - has left for points south. Bullitt actually becomes the provisional governor of Paris as he awaits the Wehrmacht.

The Supreme Allied War Council at Briare continues. The French are promising to keep their fleet out of German hands. Otherwise, not much is accomplished, but the lines on the map showing the front continue getting readjusted closer.

General Erwin Rommel's 7th Panzer "Ghost" Division captures the remaining 40,000 or so Allied troops of the 51st (Highland) Division and French IX Corps at St.Valery-en-Caux, north of Le Havre (the British officially admit to losing 6,000 of their soldiers there). The blow to the Allies is greater than at Dunkirk, with no corresponding salve of a propaganda victory. There are RAF patrols over the area that accomplish little. A "small flotilla of ships" in the early morning light takes off about 3000 Allied soldiers, but that is it. It is one of Rommel's greatest if least publicized victories.

German 6th and 9th Armies push ahead across the Marne against ineffective resistance. Panzer Group Guderian takes Chalons-sur-Marne, about 80 miles east of Paris (now an open city). The deficiencies of the hedgehog defense of the Weygand Line are coming into sharp relief, as once the crust is penetrated, there are no mobile reserves to stop the attacking spearheads. The panzers are crossing the Langres plateau in the Champagne sector.

The crew of Char B1 tank No 350 "Fleurie." In the center is Sergeant-Chef Jacques Dumay, KIA June 15, 1940, at Montsuzain. Adjutant Levasseur, also in the picture, was killed on June 12, 1940, at Murmelon.

Battle of the Atlantic: U-101 (Kapitänleutnant Fritz Frauenheim) torpedoes and sinks 5,250-ton British freighter Earlspark off Cape Finisterre, Spain at noon. There are 31 survivors, 7 perish.

U-46 (Oberleutnant zur See Engelbert Endrass) spots Convoy SL-34 and attacks. It torpedoes and sinks 4,223-ton British freighter Barbara Marie off Cape Finisterre at 19:38. There are 5 survivors, 32 perish.

U-46 also torpedoes and sinks 5,041-ton British freighter Willowbank at 19:46. All 51 onboard survive.

The Italian submarine fleet is at sea in the Mediterranean and dangerous. Royal Navy cruiser HMS Calypso is torpedoed and sunk by an Italian submarine off Crete, and Norwegian freighter Orkanger is sunk by a combination of Italian submarines Nereide and Naiade.

French submarine Saphir torpedoes and sinks Italian freighter Alicantino off Sardinia.

Royal Navy cruisers operating off Tobruk sink Italian minesweeper Giovanni Berta.

British transport Baron Saltoun hits a mine and sinks off Cherbourg.

The Royal Navy raids Trondheim, where the Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, and Admiral Hipper are hiding out.

Royal Navy submarines lay mines off Norway.

Korvettenkapitän (Kriegsmarine) Kapitän zur See (Bundesmarine) Herbert Emil Schultze (24 July 1909 – 3 June 1987). Schultze was a U-boat ace, sinking 169,709 gross register tons (GRT) of shipping in eight patrols during the early part of the war. He is in eighth place on the Aces of the Deep list. He received the Knight's Cross on 1 March 1940, and he became the 15th recipient of the Oak Leaves on 12 June 1941 as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-48.

European Air Operations: The RAF bombs Genoa, Milan, Venice, and Turin, focusing on Fiat factories. The RAF scrupulously avoids bombing historic portions of Venice.

Regia Aeronautica sends BR.20s against Toulon, Hyères, and Saint-Raphaël, as well as the Corsican communes of Calvi and Bastia and the Tunisian city of Bizerte. French anti-aircraft fire is effective at minimizing damage. The attack on Bizerte destroys French aircraft on the ground.

Italian bombers attack the British base at Aden and at Moyale in Kenya, where the 1st King's African Rifles is based.

North Africa: The British and Italians engage in skirmishes along the Egyptian/Libyan border. The British take 62 Italian prisoners.

A British cruiser squadron bombards Tobruk. The Italian fleet sorties to defend the port, but the British withdraw. The attack is only marginally successful, with Italian cruiser San Giorgio in the harbor surviving the attack.

Egypt breaks diplomatic relations with Italy after pressure from London.

Turkey breaks commercial relations with Italy.

Norway: A final tranche of soldiers sailing from Narvik reaches the Clyde. The French are immediately transshipped to Brest and Lorient in the south of France.

Soviet/Lithuanian Relations: The Soviet government issues an ultimatum to the Lithuanian government, requiring additional territorial concessions and a new government. Ultimatums in this day and age often presage military action.

Soviet/Estonian Relations: The Kremlin orders the Soviet Baltic Fleet to blockade Estonia. This is part of a planned invasion of Estonia and Lithuania.

Applied Science: President Roosevelt meets with Dr. Vannevar Bush of the Carnegie Institute of Washington. Bush proposes the creation of a National Defense Research Committee. Roosevelt takes up the suggestion, which is to be part of the Council of National Defense.

US Government: Pursuant to President Roosevelt's "show the flag" decision, heavy cruiser USS Quincy (CA 39) makes a port visit to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Its next destination is planned to be Montevideo, Uruguay, which is said to be a German hot spot.

The US Navy Department issues contracts for 22 new warships.

Italian Government: The Italian government temporarily bans the Vatican's newspaper, Osservatore Romano, for publishing British and French war communique.

British Government: Sir Stafford Cripps arrives in Moscow as British Ambassador.

Dutch Government: Princess Juliana and daughters Beatrix and Irene arrive in Canada.

Thailand: Britain and France sign non-aggression treaties with Thailand. Thailand also signs a "Treaty of Friendship" with Japan.

China: The Japanese 11th Army captures the port of Ichang, east of Chungking on the Yangtze River.

Melrose Place at Cienega Boulevard on 12 June 1940. That is a Foster and Kleiser billboard for 76 brand gasoline.

June 1940

June 1, 1940: Devastation at Dunkirk
June 2, 1940: Hitler Visits France
June 3, 1940: Operation Paula
June 4, 1940: We Shall Fight
June 5, 1940: Fall Rot
June 6, 1940: Weygand Line Crumbling
June 7, 1940: British Evacuating Narvik
June 8, 1940: Operation Juno
June 9, 1940: Norway Capitulates
June 10, 1940: Mussolini Throws Down
June 11, 1940: Paris an Open City
June 12, 1940: Rommel at St. Valery
June 13, 1940: France Goes Alone
June 14, 1940: Paris Falls
June 15, 1940: Soviets Scoop Up Lithuania
June 16, 1940: Enter Pétain
June 17, 1940: The Lancastria Sinks
June 18, 1940: A Day of Leaders
June 19, 1940: U-boats Run Wild
June 20, 1940: Pétain Wilts
June 21, 1940: Hitler's Happiest Day
June 22, 1940: France Is Done
June 23, 1940: Hitler in Paris
June 24, 1940: Six Million Jews
June 25, 1940: German Celebrations
June 26, 1940: USSR Being Belligerent
June 27, 1940: Malta in Peril
June 28, 1940: Channel Islands Bombed
June 29, 1940: Gandhi Insists on Independence
June 30, 1940: Channel Islands Occupied

2021

Sunday 9 June 1940

General Erwin Rommel with his staff in a French field, Panzer 38(t)s in the distance, June 1940 (Ang, Federal Archive).

Western Front: General Rommel's 7th "Ghost" Panzer Division and the accompanying 5th Panzer Division of 4th Army consolidate their hold on the Seine at Rouen on 9 June 1940. Rommel turns west and pushes the British 51st "Highland" Division back, along with what remains of the French 10th Army in the vicinity. The British make a stand at St-Valery-en-Caux, with the panzers taking nearby Dieppe. Basically, it is a repeat of Dunkirk on a smaller scale. However, there are no plans for a sea rescue this time.

At Rheims, the Panzer Group Kleist and Panzer Group Guderian team up and take Compiegne. The French are still holding the remnants of the Weygand Line between Amiens and Peronne, but the Weygand Line has become porous and the panzers are able to sidestep pockets of resistance.

The offensive broadens as German 2nd Army, 12th Army, and 16th Army of General von Rundstedt's Army Group A attacks toward Reims, supported by Panzer Group Guderian.

The Luftwaffe provides essential air coverage to the advancing panzer spearheads, which are without infantry support and vulnerable to air attack. Some units of the French Air Force (Armée de l'Air) begin withdrawing to North Africa. The French have flown 1,815 sorties since the beginning of Operation Fall Rot, with 518 of them bomber missions. This rate begins to fall off drastically beginning on 9 June.

RAF air support units are retreating before the Wehrmacht advance, some moving to Brittany and other places to the south.

Hurricane Mk I YB-S. This shows damage from cannon fire that blew apart a section of the flap before P/O David C Leary force-landed near Bolbec on the afternoon of 9 June 1940. The day before, he had moved with No 17 Squadron RAF to Brittany. The 19-year-old pilot returned by train to Le Mans, arriving 2 days later and claiming a Bf-109 destroyed on 12 June and another the next day. Retiring from Dinard to Jersey and Guernsey on 17 June, he withdrew to RAF Debden 2 days later.

Norway: The Norwegian government-in-exile led by King Haakon has Commander-in-chief Ruge issue a cease-fire order effective as of midnight. The only troops still fighting are in the Norwegian 6th Division near Narvik.

The Norwegian campaign has been a complete German victory. Losses during the campaign:

Germans:

5296 dead/missing
160 fighters/bombers
80 transport planes (Ju 52s)
3 Cruisers
10 Destroyers
6 U-boats
4 cruisers and 6 destroyers damaged

Allies:
2119 British
1335 Norwegian
530 French

Most importantly, Germany has protected its source of iron ore, and also obtained advanced bases for the Kriegsmarine and useful air bases for the Luftwaffe.

General Dietl inspects Narvik and finds that the departing British have destroyed all rail and port facilities.

The 2nd Mountain Division continues marching up to Narvik from Sorfold, though its mission at Narvik to rescue General Dietl now appears to be moot.

Battle of the Atlantic: U-46 (Oberleutnant zur See Engelbert Endrass) torpedoes and sinks 2,155-ton Finnish freighter Margareta about 350 miles off of Cape Finisterre, Spain. There are 19 survivors and 5 crew perish. The survivors spend four days drifting in a lifeboat before being rescued.

British freighter Empire Commerce hits a mine and sinks in the North Sea.

Kriegsmarine patrol boat V-801 sinks from undetermined causes.

German raider Pinguin completes its trials. It will operate in the Indian Ocean.

Royal Navy ships detain Italian ship Rodi off Cape Matapan.

Convoy OB 164 departs from Liverpool, Convoy OG 33F forms off Gibraltar, Convoy HX 49 departs from Halifax.

Soviet/Japanese Relations: The two governments finalize a treaty ending the dispute in Manchukuo which led to the Battle of Khalkhin Gol. The Soviets claim territorial gains.

US Military: Destroyer USS Dickerson (DD-157) departs from Casablanca for Lisbon. It carries US nationals who wish to take the State Department's advice and return to the US aboard the passenger liner Washington. Washington itself departs from Bordeaux carrying 813 Americans leaving France. Washington is scheduled to depart Lisbon for Ireland and then the States tomorrow, 10 June 1940.

French Government: Prime Minister Paul Reynaud ponders evacuating his government from Paris with his cabinet. They ultimately decide to leave. General Weygand tells Reynaud that the Weygand Line on the Somme has collapsed and it is time to start negotiations.

The US heavy cruiser Vincennes (CA 44), accompanied by destroyers USS Truxton (DD-229) and Simpson (DD-221), arrive at Casablanca. Their mission is to transport the French gold reserves to New York.

General de Gaulle is in London for discussions with Prime Minister Churchill.

British Government: Hospital ship Atlantis, which had been spared by the Admiral Hipper, rendezvouses with battleship HMS Valiant and informs the Admiralty of the loss of the Orama. The Admiralty remains in the dark about the fate of HMS Glorious.

Italian Government: Mussolini prepares to invade French positions in the Alps. The slated start date is tomorrow, 10 June 1940.

The government orders all Italian ships to proceed at once to neutral ports.

China: At the continuing Battle of Tsaoyang-Ichang, the Japanese 11th Army makes gains around Tungshih, Tangyang, and Yuanan.

Wehrmacht troops during the Battle of France.

June 1940

June 1, 1940: Devastation at Dunkirk
June 2, 1940: Hitler Visits France
June 3, 1940: Operation Paula
June 4, 1940: We Shall Fight
June 5, 1940: Fall Rot
June 6, 1940: Weygand Line Crumbling
June 7, 1940: British Evacuating Narvik
June 8, 1940: Operation Juno
June 9, 1940: Norway Capitulates
June 10, 1940: Mussolini Throws Down
June 11, 1940: Paris an Open City
June 12, 1940: Rommel at St. Valery
June 13, 1940: France Goes Alone
June 14, 1940: Paris Falls
June 15, 1940: Soviets Scoop Up Lithuania
June 16, 1940: Enter Pétain
June 17, 1940: The Lancastria Sinks
June 18, 1940: A Day of Leaders
June 19, 1940: U-boats Run Wild
June 20, 1940: Pétain Wilts
June 21, 1940: Hitler's Happiest Day
June 22, 1940: France Is Done
June 23, 1940: Hitler in Paris
June 24, 1940: Six Million Jews
June 25, 1940: German Celebrations
June 26, 1940: USSR Being Belligerent
June 27, 1940: Malta in Peril
June 28, 1940: Channel Islands Bombed
June 29, 1940: Gandhi Insists on Independence
June 30, 1940: Channel Islands Occupied

2020

Thursday 6 June 1940

Foredeck of the Scharnhorst, following a minesweeper. It is at sea off Norway along with sister-ship Gneisenau.

Western Front: The Germans on 6 June 1940 continue pressing their bid to break into the heart of France. On most parts of the Weygand Line, the French continue to have success at repelling the German attacks under Fall Rot.

The French line is in the most peril along the Somme between Amiens and the sea. There, XVI Panzer Corps of the 4th Army makes the largest gains in the entire offensive. General Erwin Rommel's 7th "Ghost" Panzer Division sidesteps the effective French artillery at Amiens and breaks through to the west of that city, advancing 20 miles between Abbeville and Amiens. This illustrates one of the inherent weaknesses of the "hedgehog" theory of defense, as there is no "line" to cross, but instead simply places to avoid. The 5th Panzer Division also makes good gains.

The 51st Highland Division at Saint-Valery-sur-Somme at the mouth of the Somme is in deep trouble, but it has the good fortune of being the closest portion of the line to England.. RAF Bomber command supports it with a raid of 38 bombers.

Further east, between Amiens and Peronne, von Kleist's Panzer Group is held. To the east of Kleist's troops, Panzer Group Guderian seize bridgeheads across the Aisne.

The French 10th Army, 7th Army, and 6th Armies are withdrawing under pressure. The French are using their 75mm field guns as anti-tank artillery, just as the Wehrmacht uses its 88 mm anti-aircraft guns in the same role. Firing at panzers over open sights is a dangerous occupation, but even the best panzers are susceptible to direct hits.

About 109,000 French troops evacuated to Great Britain pursuant to Operation Dynamo demand to be sent back to France to defend their country.

A short-barreled Panzer IV in France, May/June 1940 (Eckert, National Archive).

European Air Operations: The French send 21 LeO-451 bombers against German panzers at Chaulnes.

The RAF Bomber Command sends 24 bombers to attack Hamburg and other German targets during the night, and 41 aircraft to attack German lines of communication for the troops at the front.

Battle of the Atlantic: U-46 (Oberleutnant zur See Engelbert Endrass) torpedoes British 20,277-ton armed merchant cruiser (converted liner) HMS Carinthia west of Galway Bay, Ireland at 01:13. The Carinthia is in bad shape but remains afloat at day's end.

German minesweeper M-11 hits a mine and sinks off of Norway.

British ship Harcalo hits a mine and sinks in the English Channel near Dover.

German raider Atlantis is back in the south Atlantic, disguised as Dutch freighter MV Abbekerk. It stops and captures 7,230-ton Norwegian freighter Tirranna. Five of the crew perish. The ship is taken as a prize but retained in the area due to a lack of fuel.

Norwegian submarine B.3 departs from Harstad for Tromso but experiences an explosion which cripples it. The submarine lays up in Gavlfjord near Tromso.

German raider Thor sails toward the Atlantic for a mission.

The Italian Navy begins laying mines.

Norway: The Royal Navy continues evacuating troops from Narvik, some 5,200 today from Harstad. The aircraft carrier HMS Glorious is approaching to recover the RAF aircraft at Bardufoss - which will eliminate Allied air cover.

German Military: The Germans are discriminating amongst their Belgian prisoners of war depending upon their language. Flemish prisoners are released, while French speakers are sent to German POW camps.

French Government: Prime Minister Paul Reynaud warns his Cabinet that he may withdraw the government to French possessions in North Africa to continue the struggle, if necessary.

British Government: The new British Ambassador to Moscow is Sir Stafford Cripps, well known for his socialist views.

Italy: Mussolini - with the King's assent - orders long-time military Chief of Staff Pietro Badoglio to prepare for war with France and Great Britain.

China: At the Battle of Tsaoyang-Ichang, the Japanese 11th Army captures Chingmen, Shihlipu, and Shihhuichiao.

Japanese bombers launch another attack on Chiang Kai-shek's capital, Chungking.

German troops advancing across the Somme on 6 June 1940.

June 1940

June 1, 1940: Devastation at Dunkirk
June 2, 1940: Hitler Visits France
June 3, 1940: Operation Paula
June 4, 1940: We Shall Fight
June 5, 1940: Fall Rot
June 6, 1940: Weygand Line Crumbling
June 7, 1940: British Evacuating Narvik
June 8, 1940: Operation Juno
June 9, 1940: Norway Capitulates
June 10, 1940: Mussolini Throws Down
June 11, 1940: Paris an Open City
June 12, 1940: Rommel at St. Valery
June 13, 1940: France Goes Alone
June 14, 1940: Paris Falls
June 15, 1940: Soviets Scoop Up Lithuania
June 16, 1940: Enter Pétain
June 17, 1940: The Lancastria Sinks
June 18, 1940: A Day of Leaders
June 19, 1940: U-boats Run Wild
June 20, 1940: Pétain Wilts
June 21, 1940: Hitler's Happiest Day
June 22, 1940: France Is Done
June 23, 1940: Hitler in Paris
June 24, 1940: Six Million Jews
June 25, 1940: German Celebrations
June 26, 1940: USSR Being Belligerent
June 27, 1940: Malta in Peril
June 28, 1940: Channel Islands Bombed
June 29, 1940: Gandhi Insists on Independence
June 30, 1940: Channel Islands Occupied

2020