Chronology of World War II

Saturday, June 1, 1940

On the Western Front... Despite increased Luftwaffe attacks a total of 64,429 men are evacuated from Dunkirk. However, German planes sink four destroyers and damage five more as well as several of the Channel ferries and other ships, which form the backbone of the evacuation fleet. The RAF sends eight large patrols to give cover but most of the damage is done in the intervals between them. On the ground the Germans increase their efforts, breaking the defensive perimeter along the canals at Bergues and forcing retreats in other sectors as well. During the night the British authorities decide that the air attacks have made the evacuation too dangerous to continue by day.

In Norway... The British and French tell the Norwegians that they are about to begin their evacuation. They have delayed giving this information on the grounds of security but by doing so they have encouraged the Norwegians to openly resist the Germans, which can only be costly when the Allies leave.

Sunday, June 2, 1940

On the Western Front... During the day the Dunkirk perimeter, now manned entirely by French forces, is largely driven in but the Germans still cannot penetrate to the town. The beach area is only two miles long after this advance, however. Both before dawn and after dark the evacuation continues, with 26,256 men being taken off, including the last British unit to leave. Just before midnight the evacuation dies to a trickle. There are still plenty of ships but the French troops have not been given proper orders about where to go and which piers are in use. Many more have gone to earth in and around town and will take no further part in military operations.

Monday, June 3, 1940

On the Western Front... During the day the German attacks around Dunkirk continue. The perimeter contracts, despite a brave counterattack, and German forces reach to within two miles of the harbor. The British and French naval authorities are led to believe that there are only about 30,000 soldiers left in the beachhead and plan the night's operations accordingly. In the course of the night 26,175 men are evacuated but as the rearguard are marching down to the ships an enormous crowd of French stragglers begins to appear out of cellars and other hiding places. When the last ship leaves at 0340 hours on June 4th there are still 40,000 men left for the Germans to capture.

Tuesday, June 4, 1940

On the Western Front... Early in the morning the Germans enter Dunkirk and capture all the remaining French soldiers. The official figure for those evacuated is 338,226 of which 112,000 are French. Almost all heavy equipment has been lost and many of the troops are without rifles and basic kit. Against the original expectation that a maximum of perhaps 50,000 men might be taken off it has been something of a triumph, but at some cost. The British and French navies have lost at least 80 merchant ships and warships as well as many small vessels. Nine destroyers have been sunk. From a force of 180 in September 1939 the Royal Navy now has only 74 destroyers not in dock for essential repairs. The Home Fleet has three capital ships and eight cruisers under repair also, although this is not because of Dunkirk. The credit for the unexpected success of the operation must lie in part with the British land and naval commanders but the Germans must also be included. Despite the brilliance of their campaign, many of the most senior commanders have not fully realized the potential of their armor and have handled it hesitantly, granting vital time for Gort and his subordinates to re-dispose their force. The RAF has also suffered heavily, with 80 pilots being killed in the operation. The German losses in the air have been a little heavier but German reserves are, of course, much larger.

In Britain... Churchill delivers perhaps the most famous of his wartime speeches. His message is, "We shall fight on the beaches... We shall never surrender." Already he is talking of the time when "...The New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and liberation of the Old." This message seems to suggest that France will be beaten, leaving Britain to fight alone. This is not perhaps the best way to encourage the French.

In Norway... The Allied evacuation gets under way. During the next four days the Harstad force is taken off. The total number evacuated is 24,500. The considerable base organization which has been built up has to be dismantled.

Wednesday, June 5, 1940

On the Western Front... The German attack on the line of the Somme begins. The French have used the period of the Dunkirk battle to make some defensive preparations but not enough to compensate for the weakness of their forces. These are now organized as Army Groups Three and Four. Army Group Three holds the Somme near the coast and Army Group Four the line of the Aisne. The German attack is code named Operation Rot. Their tank forces, now organized in two Panzer Groups and one Panzer Corps, are given the leading role. The heaviest fighting at first in the area between Amiens and the sea where Hoth's Panzer Corps is heading the drive.

In Paris... In a Cabinet reshuffle Daladier is dropped and the newly promoted General de Gaulle is made Under-Secretary for Defense.

Thursday, June 6, 1940

On the Western Front... The French line along the Somme between Amiens and the coast is broken by the attacks of 15th Panzer Corps after a vigorous struggle. Rommel's 7th Panzer Division makes the largest gains. Between Amiens and Peronne, Kleist's Panzer Group is still being held, but farther inland Guderian's divisions are seizing bridgeheads over the Aisne in preliminary attacks.

Friday, June 7, 1940

In Norway... The British cruiser Devonshire carries the king of Norway and his government from Tromso to Britain.

On the Western Front... In their advance on the coastal region the Germans take Montdidier, Noyon and Fores-les-Eaux. They are now only 20 miles from the Seine at Rouen.

Saturday, June 8, 1940

In the Norwegian Sea... The German battle cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau operate off the Norwegian coast. Their aim is to attack the various convoys carrying the evacuation from Norway to Britain. They sink three empty ships and then find the aircraft carrier Glorious and two destroyers. Despite a gallant defense by the destroyers there is no time for Glorious to escape or launch her aircraft, and although Scharnhorst is damaged all three British ships are sunk. The British Admiralty has been careless in providing too few escorts for these waters, and it is by no means inconceivable that Scharnhorst and Gneisenau might have achieved a still greater victory by intercepting the simultaneous troop convoys. Admiral Marschall, in command of the German operation, decides to return to base because of the damage to Scharnhorst.

Sunday, June 9, 1940

On the Western Front... The German forces reach the Seine at Rouen and take the city. Dieppe and Compiegne are both captured. Guderian's forces are now in full attack against the French positions around Reims. They have been joined by Kleist's Panzer Group who have been switched east after being held between Amiens and Peronne. In the fighting the French defenders manage to hold most of their positions but take heavy losses.

From London... The king and his prime minister order the loyal Norwegian forces to cease fighting at midnight.

Monday, June 10, 1940

From Rome... Mussolini issues declarations of war to Britain and France. Neither the Italian economy nor the Italian people are particularly well prepared for war. Their fleet is, however, of considerable strength and strategic significance. They have two battleships immediately available, with four more modern ships nearly completed. They also have a powerful force of cruisers and destroyers and the largest submarine force in the world, 116 strong. These forces, when all the battleships are available, will be comfortably stronger than the British and French forces in the Mediterranean, the more so when Britain is fighting alone. The only class of ship which the Italians do not have is the aircraft carrier. Two British ships of this type are in the Mediterranean at this time. The Italian army is not a formidable as the fleet. Although of considerable size its units are usually under strength and, as the coming battles will show, badly led and poorly equipped.

From Paris... French Prime Minister Reynaud appeals to President Roosevelt to intervene in the war in Europe. This appeal is repeated on June 13th but without success.

In Norway... The Allied campaign comes to an end. Strategically the campaign has been most significant for the naval losses on each side and the transformation it has helped to bring about in the potential of the available bases for the German fleets. The Allies have lost one carrier, two cruisers, nine destroyers and many smaller craft, also many ships were damaged. These losses do nothing to help the British ability to protect the trade routes. The Germans have lost three cruisers, 10 destroyers and several submarines. This forms a large proportion of the Kriegsmarine fleet and this loss cannot be replaced at all quickly. It limits ability German navy capability to help protect, for example, an invasion of Britain. Manpower losses in the Norwegian campaign are about 5600 for the Germans and 6100 military deaths for the Allies as well as many civilian casualties.

On the Western Front... The Germans are across the Seine west of Paris. Elements of the French 10th Army are still fighting around St. Valery along with some British forces. Some of these units are evacuated from the town. East of Paris the German advance is also very rapid. Evacuations also begin at Le Havre. In the next three days 11,059 British and some French will be taken off, some to go to Cherbourg but the bulk is bound for Britain. East of Paris the German forces begin to gain ground south of the Aisne.

Tuesday, June 11, 1940

On the Western Front... Paris is declared an open city. Most of what remains of the French forces are retreating in confusion south of the Seine and Marne. The German tank forces take Reims.

In the Mediterranean... The first actions of the war in this theater are some air skirmishes in North Africa and over Malta.

In France... British Prime Minister Churchill meets Reynaud and Weygand at Briare (until June 13). Churchill is unable to instill much of his own fighting spirit into the French leaders. Reynaud would prefer to fight on but has little support. The British are determined to prevent the Germans from obtaining control of the French navy.

Wednesday, June 12, 1940

On the Western Front... Guderian's troops take Chalons-sur-Marne. Here and elsewhere the German advance continues to be very rapid. St. Valery on the Channel coast is taken. A large part of the British 51st Highland Division is captured.

In the Mediterranean... A British cruiser and destroyer force shells the Italian base at Tobruk. The main force of Admiral Cunningham's Mediterranean Fleet is in support. An Italian force of cruisers is sent to engage the bombardment group but does not make contact. In a different action off Crete the cruiser Calypso is sunk by an Italian submarine. Turin and Genoa are bombed by the RAF.

From Moscow... The Soviet government issues an ultimatum to Lithuania demanding territory and the establishment of a new government.

Thursday, June 13, 1940

On the 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.

In Washington... Roosevelt signs a new $1,300,000,000 Navy bill providing for much extra construction. Meanwhile, in response to Churchill's pleas in his telegrams to President Roosevelt, surplus stocks of artillery weapons and rifles have been assembled from US government stores. The first shipment now leaves the USA on the SS Eastern Prince for the voyage to Britain. The US Neutrality Laws have been subverted by first "selling" the arms to a steel company and then reselling them to the British government.

Friday, June 14, 1940

On the Western Front... Paris falls to the Germans. New instructions are issued to the German armies. While most of the armored forces are to continue their advance into the center of the country, Guderian's two corps are to swing east to cut off any attempt by the Maginot garrisons to retreat. Army Group C, General Leeb, attacks and breaks through the Maginot defenses in some places.

In the Mediterranean... A force of French cruisers and destroyers shells the Italian ports of Genoa and Vado.

Saturday, June 15, 1940

On the Western Front... Strasbourg and Verdun are taken in the converging German advance on the Maginot defenses. On the Channel coast evacuations begin from Cherbourg. In the next three days 30,630 British and Canadian troops are evacuated from the continent without loss.

In Washington... Another Navy bill passes into law. This provides for a much expanded air corps, with 10,000 planes and 16,000 more aircrew.

In Lithuania... Kaunas and Vilna are occupied by Soviet troops.

Sunday, June 16, 1940

In France... Reynaud has lost the support of his Cabinet and resigns. Petain is chosen to replace him.

In London... France asks Britain to be released from the obligation not to make a separate peace. In return the British make an offer to establish a state of union between the two countries, but this rather wild scheme is rejected by the French.

On the Western Front... Dijon is taken and to the east Guderian's units have reached the Saone. The Maginot Line is breached near Colmar in Alsace. On the Channel coast there are more evacuations. From St. Molo during the next two days 21,474 Allied troops are taken off and from Brest 32,584. The evacuations from St. Nazaire and Nantes take three days and carry 57,235 away but over 3000 are lost when the Lancastria is sunk by German bombers.

In Vilnius... A new, pro-Soviet, government is installed in Lithuania.

From Moscow... Similar demands are made of Estonia and Latvia.

Monday, June 17, 1940

In Britain... Churchill broadcasts saying that the Battle of France is over and that the Battle of Britain is about to begin. His message is "Let us so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, This was their finest hour."

In France... The Petain Cabinet takes office. Weygand is Minister of Defense. They announce that they are asking Germany for armistice terms. The British government understands that these will only be accepted on the condition that the French Fleet does not fall into German hands. Equally it is the German policy to stop the French Fleet and colonies from joining Britain and this is the reason for their comparative leniency in allowing the establishment of Vichy as a focus for the loyalty for the French. French representatives in the USA do allow the British to take up arms orders they have made under the "Cash and Carry" rules.

On the Western Front... Pontarlier, almost on the Swiss border, is reached by Guderian's forces. Other units have nearly reached the Loire and still more are advancing in Brittany and Normandy.

Tuesday, June 18, 1940

On the Western Front... The German advance continues inexorably. The 7th Panzer Division takes Cherbourg, 5th Panzer Division occupies Brest. Among other towns captured are Le Mans, Briare, Le Creusot, Belfort, Dijon and Colmar.

Over Germany... The RAF bomb Hamburg and Bremen.

From London... General de Gaulle, as yet comparatively unknown to the majority of his countrymen, makes a radio address urging the French to fight on, saying that only a battle and not the whole war has been lost.

Wednesday, June 19, 1940

On the Western Front... On the Loire Nates and Saumur are taken. In Brittany Brest falls and in central France, between the Saone and the Loire, the Germans are approaching Lyons. There are more evacuations from the west coast. In the following week 19,000, mostly Poles, are taken off from Bayonne and St. Jean-de-Luz. Since Dunkirk 144,171 British, 18,246 French, 24,352 Poles, 4938 Czechs and a few Belgians have got away.

Thursday, June 20, 1940

On the Western Front... Lyons and Vichy are captured.

In the Norwegian Sea... The German battle cruiser Gneisenau is seriously damaged in a torpedo attack by the British submarine Clyde off Trondheim.

In France... The French delegation sets out for the armistice talks which are to be held at Compiegne in the same railroad carriage and on the same site as the negotiations which ended World War I.

In Washington... President Roosevelt strengthens his Cabinet by bringing in two prominent Republicans. Henry Stimson becomes Secretary for War and Frank Knox becomes Secretary for the Navy. Stimson is strongly against America's isolationist tradition and will be a champion of Lend-Lease.

In Tallin... Estonia meets Soviet demands for a new government and territorial adjustments.

Friday, June 21, 1940

On the Western Front... There are Italian attacks in some of the Alpine passes which are easily beaten off despite the weakness of the French forces which are left in these areas.

In Occupied France... The German armistice terms are given to the French delegation. The Germans will permit no discussion. In addition to the provisions for establishing a vestigial French state and for demobilizing the French armed forces there are stringent financial clauses. The French representatives are allowed to consult briefly with their government.

In London... RV Jones, who heads British Scientific Intelligence, gives evidence to an important investigating committee concerning a German radio navigation aid code named Knickebein. Churchill gives orders for countermeasures to be developed. Vital progress in this field is soon made and plays a large part in mitigated the effects of the German Blitz in the coming months. Henry Tizard, who, more than any other, has been responsible for organizing the British use of radar, resigns because his advice is disregarded. His resignation confirms the position of the less reliable Frederick Lindmann (Lord Cherwell) as Churchill's principal scientific advisor.

Saturday, June 22, 1940

In Occupied France... General Huntziger, who leads the French delegation, signs the armistice with Germany in the Compiegne railroad carriage specially taken out of its museum. It is perhaps appropriate that Huntziger, who led the 2nd Army at Sedan at the start of the campaign, should be involved in the final act. The French forces which have been driven out of the Maginot Line but are still resisting, finally surrender on Weygand's order.

In Riga... Latvia meets Soviet demands for a new government and territorial adjustments. There have been Soviet garrisons based in the Baltic states since October 1939.

Sunday, June 23, 1940

In France

... Pierre Laval is appointed Deputy Premier by Petain. Incidentally de Gaulle is also officially cashiered by General Weygand on this day.

Monday, June 24, 1940

In Occupied France... The Franco-Italian armistice is concluded.

In the United States... The Republican Party convention at Philadelphia begins.

Wednesday, June 25, 1940

In French Indochina... The Japanese put pressure on the French authorities in Indochina to block the transit of supplies to the Chinese Nationalists. They wish the rail line into China closed and a Japanese mission to be allowed in to inspect this.

In the United States... New considerably increased taxes are introduced which bring an additional 2,200,000 into the tax roll who have never formerly paid income tax. These increases of course reflect the armament expenditure.

On the Western Front... The Franco-German armistice comes into force.

Thursday, June 26, 1940

In Bucharest... The Soviets present an ultimatum to Romania demanding the cession of territory in Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina. Germany reluctantly intervenes to help persuade the Romanians to give in.

Friday, June 27, 1940

In Washington... A confidential meeting is held between British and Australian representatives and the United States Secretary of State Cordell Hull. The British and Australians ask for help in standing up to Japan. They wish the USA to take economic measures or to move more units of the fleet to Malaysian and Philippine waters or to offer to mediate between China and Japan. Hull is unable to agree to any of these moves which would involve a more active foreign policy than the American public is prepared to contemplate at this time.

Friday, June 28, 1940

In London... General de Gaulle is recognized by the British government as "Leader of All Free Frenchmen."

In Libya... Marshal Balbo, Italian Governor and Commander in Chief in Libya, is killed by friendly antiaircraft fire while flying over Tobruk during a British air raid. Marshal Graziani is appointed to replace him.

Saturday, June 29, 1940

In Berlin... The German government publishes the "White Book" which contains details of Allied plans to intervene in the Low Countries.

Sunday, June 30, 1940

In the English Channel... The German forces begin to occupy the Channel Islands, the only British territory which they will conquer.

In Bucharest... The Romanian government concedes to Soviet territorial demands presented the previous day.

In the United States... In the Republican Party convention at Philadelphia Wendell Willkie is selected as the presidential candidate after the sixth ballot by a margin of 654 to 318 over Senator Taft. The convention is overwhelmingly in favor of a policy of nonintervention in the war.