The Hammer Falls in western Europe.
Adolph Hitler broadcasts: “Soldiers of the western front! The hour has struck for the crucial battle for the future of the German nation…. The battle which is beginning today will decide the fate of the German nation for the next thousand years.”
Germany invaded France and the Low Countries at dawn. The Battles of France, the Netherlands, and Belgium began. Fall Gelb (Case Yellow), the invasion of Western Europe, begins as 76 German divisions cross a 175-mile front into Holland, Belgium, and Luxembourg. German forces completely overrun Luxembourg and captured Maastrich in the Netherlands. The allies immediately responded to Dutch and Belgian appeals for military aid. The German air force descended in swarms on dozens of cities, bombed airdromes and landed hundreds of parachute troops heavily armed with automatic weapons. There were unconfirmed reports of heavy casualties resulting from the first German air raid on Brussels. The Luftwaffe flew more than 1,000 bombing sorties in support of offensive operations. The German code word for the general attack is “Danzig.”
The Battles of Rotterdam and Zeeland began in the Netherlands.
Rotterdam had no prepared defences and had not been included in any strategic defence plan. It was relatively far from the boundaries of Fortress Holland and some distance from the coast. The troops stationed in Rotterdam belonged to training establishments and some smaller miscellaneous units. In the early morning hours of 10 May, 12 Heinkel He 59 seaplanes landed on the Nieuwe Maas. Rubber dinghies were launched. Each could carry six soldiers and their equipment; about 80 German soldiers landed on both banks of the river and an island. The Germans quickly seized some of the bridges, which were not guarded. The only resistance they met was from some Dutch policemen.
Oberstleutnant Dietrich von Choltitz, the commander of the 3rd Battalion of the 16th Air Landing Regiment, began to organise his troops after landing them at Waalhaven Air Force Base. He sent them to the bridges in Rotterdam. The Dutch had not stationed many soldiers in the southern part of the city. One unit was made up of butchers, bakers and about 90 infantrymen, the latter being reinforced by riflemen who had withdrawn from the airfield. The Dutch troops hid in houses that were on the route to the bridges. There they ambushed the approaching German troops. Both sides suffered casualties. The Germans managed to bring up a PaK anti-tank gun. The Dutch had to yield under the ever-increasing pressure. The German force then moved on to the bridges, quickly followed by the bulk of 9th Company of the 16th Air Landing Regiment.
The first Dutch counter measures were executed by a small delegation of Dutch Marines and an incomplete army engineers company. The Dutch took positions around the small German pocket north of the bridges and started deploying machine guns at numerous strategic points. Soon, the first serious fire exchanges between the invaders and regular Dutch army units were seen and heard. Gradually, the Germans were pushed back to the confines of the narrow perimeter around the traffic bridge. Both sides suffered considerable losses.
Gradually, the Dutch forced the German troops at the bridgehead into a quickly shrinking pocket. Many civilians watched the battle. Halfway through the morning, the Dutch Navy assigned two small navy vessels — a small obsolete gunboat and a motor torpedo boat (Z 5 and TM51) — to assist the defenders at the bridges. Twice, the gunboat attacked the Germans at the traffic bridge on the north side of the Noordereiland (an island in the river), the second time accompanied by the motor torpedo boat. About 75 shells of 75 mm (2.95 in) were unleashed on the invaders, but with little effect. During the second attempt, the Luftwaffe dropped a number of bombs on the navy ships that caused substantial damage to the motor torpedo boat. Both ships retired after the bomb attack. They had suffered three men killed in action.
Meanwhile, the Germans had been reinforced with a number of 37 mm (1.46 in) PaK 36 anti-tank guns and a few infantry guns (7.5 cm leichtes Infanteriegeschütz 18). They manned the houses along the north side of the island with heavy machine gun (MG 34 in Lafette 34 tripod) crews and placed a few 80 mm (3.15 in) mortars (8 cm Granatwerfer 34) in the center of the island. The continuous battle for the northern river bank caused the Germans to withdraw to the large National Life Insurance Company building, at the head of the traffic bridge. Due to the bad firing angles, the Dutch had on the building, the Germans were able to hold the building without much difficulty. Dutch troops occupying nearby houses were forced to fall back, due to accurate and sustained mortar fire. That stalemate—commencing in the afternoon of 10 May—would remain unchanged until the surrender of the Netherlands on 14 May. Dutch Colonel Scharroo — aware that his small garrison was dealing with a serious German attack — had requested substantial reinforcements in The Hague. Many reinforcements would be sent, all coming from the reserves behind the Grebbe line or from the eastern front of the Fortress Holland.
On the first day in Zeeland, neither sides’ troops engaged each other. The Germans were awaiting reinforcements from other sectors of their occupied territory, the Dutch were improving their defenses and waiting for the arrival of a contingent of French troops. The only action that occurred was the repeated strafing of the Dutch positions by German planes.
During the morning of 10 May, Fallschirmjäger (paratroopers) from the 7th Flieger and 22nd Luftlande Divisions under Kurt Student executed surprise landings at The Hague, on the road to Rotterdam and against the Belgian fort at Eben-Emael in order to facilitate Army Group B’s advance.
In the Netherlands, German paratroopers quickly secured key bridges and airfields around Rotterdam and the Hague, but the plan to land troops at the Ypenburg airfield to capture the Dutch political leaders was foiled when Dutch fighters shot down 18 German Ju 52 transport planes.
In Belgium, 10 gliders landed 78 airborne soldiers of the German 7th Flieger Division atop Fort Ében-Émael at the crossings of the Albert Canal and the River Meusse, pinning down the 700 Belgian defenders. The Germans will soon begin attacking it from the roof with explosive charges.
The Battle of Fort Ében-Émael began in Belgium. An assault force of German paratroopers, Fallschirmjäger, was tasked with assaulting and capturing Fort Ében-Émael, a Belgian fortress whose strategic position and strong artillery emplacements dominated several important bridges over the Albert Canal. These carried roads which led into the Belgian heartland and were what the German forces intended to use to advance. As some of the German airborne forces assaulted the fortress and disabled the garrison and the artillery pieces inside it, others simultaneously captured three bridges over the canal. Having disabled the fortress, the airborne troops were then ordered to protect the bridges against Belgian counter-attacks until they linked up with ground forces from the German 18th Army.
The battle was a strategic victory for the German forces, with the airborne troops landing on top of the fortress with gliders and using explosives and flamethrowers to disable the outer defences of the fortress. The Fallschirmjäger then entered the fortress, killing some defenders and containing the rest in the lower sections of the fortress. Simultaneously, the rest of the German assault force had landed near the three bridges over the canal, destroyed several pillboxes and defensive positions and defeated the Belgian forces guarding the bridges, capturing them and bringing them under German control. The airborne troops suffered heavy casualties during the operation, but succeeded in holding the bridges until the arrival of German ground forces, who then aided the airborne troops in assaulting the fortress a second time and forcing the surrender of the remaining members of the garrison. German forces were then able to use two bridges over the canal to bypass Belgian defensive positions and advance into Belgium to aid in the invasion of the country. The bridge at Kanne was destroyed, forcing German engineers to construct a new bridge.
The Battle of Maastricht resulted in German victory. The German attempt to take the bridges over the Maas intact failed; but German numerical superiority soon forced the Dutch to retreat. The territorial commander in Limburg, faced with a German Panzer division, and having no anti-tank weapons, was forced to capitulate. The battle in South-Limburg (Sector Roosteren – Maastricht) had cost the lives of 47 Dutch soldiers (two officers, seven NCOs, 38 corporals and soldiers). The German losses are again not known in detail, although at some scenes accurate figures are available. It is estimated that between 130–190 Germans died due to the fighting in the south. After the battle, it was reported that 186 German bodies were found. It is confirmed from German material-states that nine armored cars and tanks were destroyed in Limburg. Also, 10 German aircraft — mainly Junkers Ju 52s and Ju 87s — crashed or were shot down in Zuid-Limburg.
The Battle for The Hague resulted in tactical Dutch victory. German Fallschirmjäger units were dropped in and around The Hague to capture Dutch airfields and the city itself. Although the German troops had managed to capture the three airfields, they failed in their primary objectives of taking the city of The Hague and of forcing the Dutch to surrender. Accordingly, the Dutch Army launched a counter-offensive from Ypenburg several hours later. Outnumbered and relying on captured ammunition, the Dutch Grenadier Guards fought their way into a position suitable enough to launch artillery attacks against the airstrip and heavily damaged it. German troops were forced to evacuate the burning buildings and so lost their strong defensive position. The Dutch grenadiers managed to recapture the airstrip and to capture many German soldiers in subsequent skirmishes.
Four Dutch Fokker T.Vs bombed the Ockenburg airstrip and destroyed idle Junkers Ju 52s. The Dutch troops then followed up with an assault and forced the Germans to retreat. The Dutch still managed to capture several prisoners-of-war. However, a pocket of German troops withdrew to the nearby woods and successfully held off any additional attacks by Dutch troops, who soon disengaged and were redirected towards Loosduinen. That allowed the Germans to head back toward Rotterdam.
Having sealed off Leiden and Wassenaar, the Dutch recaptured an important bridge near Valkenburg. After the arrival of reinforcements, they began to harass the Germans on the ground. Meanwhile, Dutch bombers managed to destroy grounded German transport planes. The Germans put up a defense on the outskirts of the airfield but were forced to retreat because of the heavy concentrated fire. By 17:30 the Dutch had secured the area, and the Germans had evacuated to the nearby village. Several skirmishes to liberate occupied positions were fought between small pockets on both sides. The Dutch used artillery support from the nearby village of Oegstgeest, which was heavily damaged as result.
By the end of the day, Dutch forces had retaken the airfields, but the tactical victory was shortlived. On 14 May, the bombing of Rotterdam by the Luftwaffe forced General Winkelman to capitulate.
The German ambassador, weeping, informs the Dutch government the invasion has begun and asks that the Netherlands not resist.
The Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Colonies depart for London to coordinate with Allies and prepare for the worst.
Kuchler’s German 18th Army and elements of Reichenau’s 6th Army of Bock’s German Army Group B invade the Netherlands.
Holland formally declared war on Germany and pledged never to enter negotiations with the enemy. Dutch authorities said the dykes had been opened and inundation of a large part of the country carried out according to defense plans.
Dutch naval vessels not required for immediate defense purposes begin evacuating to the UK.
Kluge’s 4th Army of Rundstedt’s German Army Group A and elements of Reichenau’s 6th Army of German Army Group B invade Belgium.
United States Minister to the Netherlands George A. Gordon escaped injury tonight when German planes, bombing this seat of government, dropped a bomb near him. A German transport plane carrying 19 soldiers, all in Dutch uniform, fell through the roof of a house here after it had been shot down by anti-aircraft guns. Air raid sirens screamed all evening in The Hague, at half-hour intervals. The Germans landed troops at two small airports near the city and took control of these fields, Okkenburg and Ypenburg. Only a few soldiers landed, however, and they immediately were surrounded by Dutch troops. Many small towns in south Holland were bombed. A number of houses were destroyed in Tilburg and several civilians killed or wounded; in the village of Etta, near Breda, all windows in the place were broken and the roof torn off the church.
German tanks have penetrated more than 10 miles over the Dutch border by the end of the day.
New waves of German parachute troops were landed in the Dordrecht area near the vital Moerdyk railroad bridge connecting Holland and Belgium at dawn today, the Dutch radio reported at 7:22 a.m. The announcement said that between 4 a.m. and 7:20 a.m., several hundred German “blitztroops,” heavily armed with automatic weapons and explosives, were landed in this region. Other parachute landings were reported at several points.
Belgian government issues request for French and British military forces to advance into the country and provide assistance.
General mobilization was proclaimed in Belgium today to meet the German invasion.
Rexist (pro-Nazi) politician Leon Degrelle and other Belgian dissidents arrested and deported to France for imprisonment.
The governments of Belgium and Luxembourg declared a state of war with Germany.
In the Ardennes sector, the progress of German Army Group A was to be delayed by Belgian motorized infantry and French mechanized cavalry divisions (Divisions Légères de Cavalerie) advancing into the Ardennes. The main resistance came from the Belgian 1st Chasseurs Ardennais along with the 5th French Light Cavalry Division (DLC). These forces had insufficient anti-tank capacity to block the surprisingly large number of German tanks they encountered and quickly gave way, withdrawing behind the Meuse. The German advance was greatly hampered by the sheer number of troops trying to force their way along the poor road network. Kleist’s Panzergruppe had more than 41,000 vehicles. This huge armada had been allocated only four march routes through the Ardennes. The time-tables proved to be wildly optimistic and there was soon heavy congestion, beginning well over the Rhine to the east, which would last for almost two weeks. This made Army Group A very vulnerable to French air attacks, but these did not materialize. Although Gamelin was well aware of the situation, the French bomber force was simply far too weak to challenge German air superiority so close to the German border.
French 1st Army, 7th Army, 9th Army, and the British Expeditionary Force begin advancing into Belgium to take up defensive positions on the Dyle Line.
General Bernard Montgomery’s forward units arrive, just after dark, to take up their designated positions on the eastern approaches to Brussels. They are then fired upon by Belgian soldiers who take them for German infiltrators.
All leaves of French army officers were suspended this morning and they were asked to return to their posts immediately.
Awakened at 1:00 AM with reports of German activity, French General Gamelin decides the news does not justify an alert.
German planes bombed the airport at Lyons, France, this morning. The Bron airport at Lyons was bombed, the first bombing In France since the war started.
Witzleben’s 1st Army and Dollman’s 7th Army of Leeb’s German Army Group C mask the Maginot Line and upper Rhine.
German and French troops battled fiercely tonight along the border of invaded Luxembourg in “the first real battle of the western front” while French cities and towns counted a rapidly mounting toll of dead from waves of Nazi air raids. French officials claimed that about 140 German planes had been shot down during the day by the British, French, Belgians and Dutch. Tonight’s war office communique said 44 planes were shot down on French territory after bombing more than a score of cities and towns. Many of these claims will later turn out to have been in error or inflated. British and French troops are advancing deep into Belgium along the entire front from the North Sea coast to the Luxembourg-German border at the Moselle River, the communique said. French officials estimated that Adolf Hitler had sent a mighty air armada of at least 1.000 planes over the Low Countries, Luxembourg and France during the past 24 hours. French military dispatches indicated that the German army, by the swiftness of its invasions of Luxembourg, Belgium and Holland, had completely overrun Luxembourg and pushed across the border to French soil at some points. At least 20 French cities and towns were bombed by German planes with a total of at least 125 civilian casualties.
Germany conquered Luxembourg within the day.
The Luftwaffe mistakenly bombs Freiburg by mistake, killing 57 civilians. Propaganda Minister Goebbels promptly blames the French.
There is a major dogfight over Belgium as Nine Belgian Fairey Fox biplane fighters intercept a group of Bf 109s. The biplanes manage to shoot one Messerschmitt down for three of their own number.
Thirty-three RAF Bristol Blenheim light bombers attacked German forces in Holland, losing 3 aircraft in the process. Later that day, 32 Fairey Battle light bomber attempted to attack German columns advancing through Luxembourg. 13 bombers were lost to anti-aircraft fire and 10 were shot down by Luftwaffe fighters. During the night, Whitley medium bombers attacked enemy communications in the RAF’s first attack on mainland Germany.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches aircraft to attack Rhine bridges overnight. During the night, the RAF bombs the Wehrmacht lines of communications to the east of the Holland/German border. This is the first attack by the RAF on German soil.
The Royal Netherlands Navy Admiralen-class destroyer HNLMS Van Galen is bombed by Luftwaffe aircraft in the Waalhaven, Rotterdam by Luftwaffe aircraft. She later sank in the Merwedehaven. The ship was raised by the Germans on 23 October 1941, and being not worth repairing she was scrapped in Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht.
The Royal Netherlands Navy tug HNLMS de Oceaan was scuttled in the Wadden Sea between Ameland and Terschelling.
The Dutch cargo ship Boschdijk was bombed and sunk at Rotterdam by Luftwaffe aircraft.
The French tug Calaisien was bombed and sunk at Calais, Pas-de-Calais by Luftwaffe aircraft.
The German troopship Campinas struck a mine in the Kattegat off Drogden, Denmark and sank.
Destroyers HMS Whitshed and HMS Verity were recalled from patrol to embark demolition parties for the Dutch ports. Destroyer Whitshed departed Dover with the demolition party XD.A (commanded by Cdr M. G. Goodenough) of 158 naval ratings and sappers for the locks at Ijmuiden and the oil reserves at Amsterdam. In numerous air attacks at Ijmuiden, destroyer Whitshed was damaged by near misses and set afire. Four ratings were killed and one officer and seven ratings were wounded. She departed Ijmuiden that night for Dover, arriving at 0530/11th. Destroyer Whitshed was repaired alongside depot ship HMS Sandhurst in twenty four hours. In Operation XD, departing Dover at 1200/10th were destroyers Verity carrying demolition party XD.C (Cdr P. G. L. Cazalet) for the port of Flushing, HMS Wild Swan with XD.B (Cdr J. A. C. Hill) for the Hook of Holland, HMS Brilliant with XD D.(Cdr A. C. Stanford) for Antwerp. Destroyers Verity and Brilliant arrived at Flushing at 1620. Destroyer Brilliant proceeded on to Antwerp. Destroyer Verity departed Flushing at 0545 arrived back at Dover at 1110/11th. Destroyers Wild Swan and Brilliant remained at their ports to support the evacuations. During the afternoon of 11 May, destroyer Wild Swan bombarded a wooded area to the east of Hook Of Holland. Destroyers Wild Swan and Brilliant arrived back at Dover at 2130/12th. Destroyer HMS Hyperion at sea was ordered to land a party for the demolition of the port of Rotterdam. Near Hook of Holland, the commercial seaport of Rotterdam, was a Dutch airfield at Waalhaven that the Germans were striving to overrun at the start of the campaign. Destroyers HMS Hyperion and HMS Havock of the Birmingham force from Harwich and HMS Wild Swan and HMS Wivern from Dover were ordered on the 11th to Rotterdam to assist in resisting the Germans and neutralizing the airfield at Waalhaven. However, they were redeployed off Hook of Holland in view of Dutch destroyer HNLMS Van Galen’s fate and German air supremacy in the area.
Submarines L.23, L.26, H.28, H.44, H.49, and H.50 were ordered to depart the Downs to patrol off the Dutch coast. Submarines L.23 and L.26 departed on the 10th escorted by armed yacht HMS Warrior II (266grt) for patrol. On 11 May, H.28, H.44, H.49, and H.50 departed the Downs escorted by sloop HMS Foxglove for patrol.
The British Admiralty initiates plans to withdraw shipping from the Low Countries, to block the main ports and demolish installations, and to remove gold and diamonds.
Though the scope and exact objectives of Germany’s sudden invasion of the Low Countries cannot be defined this early, military leaders express complete confidence in the ability of the British and French to defeat Germany if the new operation takes the nature of a wheel into Northern France, such as Britain’s little army faced in 1914.
[Ed: But that’s the rub. It isn’t the same old wheel…]
British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain resigns at 18:00 after the Labour Party at 17:00 reports that it will only agree to support a coalition government led by someone other than Chamberlain. Winston Churchill is voted in as the new Prime Minister, visits the King, and forms a coalition government. King George VI asked Winston Churchill to form the next government, and Churchill accepted.
Neville Chamberlain, aged “apostle of appeasement,” resigned as head of the British government tonight to make way for Winston Churchill, Britain’s war lord, in the nation’s hour of greatest danger. The lightning German invasion of Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg, and British fears that their isles were next on Adolf Hitler’s war program forced Chamberlain out after three years in office most of them devoted to efforts to appease the dictators. The tall, gaunt Chamberlain, now 71, drove from historic No. 10 Downing Street to Buckingham palace and told King George VI that he could not carry on against demands for a new government. The king accepted his resignation and invited Churchill, dynamic first lord of the admiralty and senior service officer, to form a cabinet. Churchill arrived at Buckingham palace five minutes after Chamberlain drove away and accepted immediately. Chamberlain in a short but moving radiocast to the nation said he saw it was his duty to resign, announced his willingness to serve in Churchill’s cabinet and urged the British people to unite behind the new prime minister. After denouncing Adolf Hitler as a “wild beast,” Chamberlain ended his speech abruptly in the most savage tone of voice ever employed over the British broadcasting system. Churchill officially takes office as Prime Minister. Churchill quickly formed a new coalition. Clement Attlee was made Lord Privy Seal, Arthur Greenwood was made a Minister Without-Portfolio, Anthony Eden was made Secretary of State for War, and Sir Archibald Sinclair was made Air Secretary.
Neville Chamberlain serves in the government as Lord President of the Council.
General Ismay serves as Secretary of the Imperial Defense Chiefs of Staff Committee, Deputy Secretary of the War Cabinet, and Chief of Staff to Churchill in his role as Minister of Defense.
Actions in Nordland continue. Early in the morning of 10 May, the leading German troops (from the 181st Infantry Division) advanced incautiously by bicycle up the road and were ambushed and destroyed by a platoon commanded by Captain John Prendergast, one of eight Indian Army officers attached to the Independent Companies, losing some fifty casualties. Later in the morning, the German main body drove the British and Norwegians from this position, while Austrian ski troops outflanked the defenders. Gubbins, who was present, agreed with the Norwegian commander that there was no other suitable defensive position closer to Mosjøen. The two Independent Companies and the British light anti-aircraft detachment (which had to abandon its anti-aircraft guns) were evacuated in the early hours of 11 May aboard the Norwegian steamer Erling Jarl, which Gubbins had chartered for 5000 krone, escorted by two destroyers. The Norwegians withdrew up the road to the north.
Elements of German 2nd Mountain Division are attacking toward Mosjoen, Norway.
British No. 4 and No. 5 Independent Companies evacuate Mosjoen by sea to Bodø.
In operation WILDENTE, German troops from Trondheim were embarked on the Norwegian coastal steamer Nordnorge (991grt), manned by personnel from damaged destroyers Jacobi and Riedel. These troops were landed at Ranfjord on the 10th and their presence facilitated the capture of Mosjoen by German troops. The only British warships in a position to intercept were the anti-aircraft cruiser HMS Calcutta, escorting convoy NS.2 fifty miles to seaward, destroyer HMS Zulu at Skelfjord. By the time, destroyer Zulu arrived at 2050, the 300 German troops had been completely disembarked at Hemnes. However, Zulu was able to sink Nordnorge (991grt) at Hemnesberget in Ranfjord with all the supplies for the German troops aboard. Anti-aircraft cruiser Calcutta soon arrived and participated in the British bombardment of the village. Hemnes was set afire and the petrol stores were blown up. Destroyer Zulu embarked the survivors of No. 3 Platoon of No. 1 Independent Company which had been holding the village before the German landing.
Iceland has declared its de facto independence from Denmark, but the British are not taking any chances. Four British warships carrying a force of about 800 Royal Marines of the 2nd Royal Marine Battalion under Force Sturges landed in Reykjavik. The Marines arrested German citizens and sympathizers and closed down the German embassy as they set up defensive positions around the harbor. The Icelandic government issued a formal protest to Britain about the invasion but, facing the inevitable, also issued a plea to the citizens of Iceland to treat the British invaders as “guests.” This operation was not a response to the German invasion of Western Europe. Winston Churchill, as First Lord of the British Admiralty, feared that Germany would seize Iceland to make it a mid-Atlantic fortress and air base to cut off Britain’s sea lane supply routes to North America. To prevent such a disastrous event, Churchill put into motion the invasion plans that happened to coincide with the start of “Fall Gelb.”
Norwegian foreign minister and defense minister consult with Halifax in London.
The German-controlled Norwegian troopship Nordnorge was sunk at Hemnesberget by British warships.
In a German air raid on Skelfjord, light cruiser HMS Penelope was damaged by splinters from near misses and destroyer HMS Vansittart was hit by a small bomb putting her after guns out of action. The light cruiser had Paymaster Cdr W. A. Sharp and four ratings killed in the attack. Destroyer Vansittart lost S/Lt C. C. Butt and Midshipman A. B. Meria RNR and Lt Cdr W. Evershed and S/Lt D. C. S. Currey were wounded.
French submarine Rubis, which departed Harwich on the 3rd, laid mines on the 10th in minefield FD.14 south of Egersund in 58 21N, 06 01E.
Aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, finding herself immersed in the middle of a gale, is unable to operate aircraft. Finally, at 1300, in position 70.50 N, 16.30 E, as the weather begins to abate RD/F picks up a group of German aircraft some 50 miles off. In response, at 1320, a trio of Skuas is sent up, but the enemy disappears before they can close. While this is going on the ship begins sending off fighter patrols for Narvik, Lieutenant (A) W. H. Martyn, RN departing with three 801 Squadron Skuas at 1400. They gave chase to a single He-115 over Harstad, but it escaped in the low clouds. At 1505, Lieutenant W. P. Lucy, RN led his three-plane section of 803 Squadron off on the next patrol. One of the sections again managed to intercept a solitary He-111, but it also escaped into the clouds. Two further patrols, dispatched at 1645 and 1715 sighted nothing of interest. The last patrol returned at 2100 reporting the cloud base was down to 2,000′ and further flights were suspended.
German Propaganda Minister Dr. Joseph Goebbels said in a radiocast that Germany has invaded Holland and Belgium because of plans of the allies and that any resistance would be broken. Dr. Goebbels said Germany knows about the plans of England and France to extend the war to other fronts. Germany frustrated those plans in Scandinavia, Goebbels said. Therefore, he added, Germany has taken action against Belgium and the Netherlands.
The German air force is ready to open its “five-bombs-for-one” air attacks on British and French cities, the official DNB agency said tonight while Nazi leaders boasted that their troops are smashing through Holland and Belgium toward mastery of all Western Europe. The threat of total air attacks on London, Paris and other cities was contained in an allegation that allied planes have attacked the open city of Freiburg-im-Ereisgau, 15 miles across the Rhine opposite the French town of Colmar on the upper Rhine flank of the western front, and killed 21 civilians. “As reprisal for this crime against international law the German air force will answer in the same way,” said the D.N.B. “From now on every systematic bombing attack on the German population will be retaliated five-fold by German planes over English and French cities.”
The first German bombs of the war fall on England at Chilham and Petham, in Kent.
Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands said today in a statement on the German invasion of the country that “I and my government will do our duty.” The beloved queen, in a proclamation to her people, said: “After our country, with scrupulous conscientiousness, had observed strict neutrality during all these months, and while Holland had no other plan than to maintain strictly this attitude, Germany, last night, made a sudden attack on our territory without any warning. “This was done notwithstanding a solemn promise that the neutrality of our country would he respected so long as we ourselves maintained that neutrality. “I herewith direct a flaming protest against this unprecedented violation of good faith and violation of all that is decent in relations between cultured states. “I and my government now will do our duty. “Do your duty everywhere and under all circumstances. And let everyone go to the post to which he has been appointed, and, with the utmost vigilance and with that inner calm and serenity which comes from a clear conscience, do his work.”
Italy appeared tonight to hold more than ever the key position in warring Europe following Germany’s invasion of Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg. The man in the street believed the war had been brought near Italy’s doorstop. Informed quarters believed Italy’s buffer against the war spreading to southeastern Europe, on which Rome has been busy since hostilities broke out, was undergoing its supreme test. The majority of observers believed this test would result in a continuance of peace in the Mediterranean basin and there was little indication Italy would be drawn into the war soon. The Italian press was unanimous In supporting Germany’s latest move.
Germany’s invasion of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg has deeply shocked Pope Pius, who is expected to make an official condemnation tomorrow.
Despite German invasion of the West, Irish leader Eamon De Valera refuses to join the Allies, asking why should Ireland fight on behalf of freedom when freedom is denied to part of Ireland.
Sweden, which since the invasion of Norway has not felt safe herself, was shocked today by the sudden attack on three other neutrals who once were associates of Sweden among the Oslo powers. The moral drawn was that neutrality is not enough—for none here accepts the German contention that Belgium and the Netherlands were unneutral—and that Sweden must keep her defense preparations at the high though costly level lately attained.
Foreign Minister Ciano and Ustashi leader Ante Pavelic discuss plans for Croatian insurrection and separation from Yugoslavia.
RAF Kirton in Lindsey was officially opened as the Fighter Command base responsible for the air defense of the Humber area in northern England, United Kingdom. It had its satellites Coleby Grange, south of Lincoln, and Hibaldstow, just three miles away. No. 222 Squadron, whose pilots included the legendary Douglas Bader, were moved north with their Spitfire fighters from Duxford and were joined by the Hurricane fighters of No. 253 Squadron from Kenley. Bader was later to recall his time at Kirton as the period of “fun” for the squadron.
The RAF commences the much-delayed Operation Marine, the mining of the Rhine River.
On this date, of the surviving ten German destroyers, seven were repairing defects and damages in Germany. Late on the 7th, destroyer Jacobi departed Trondheim and arrived at Wilhelmshaven on the 9th for repairs and refitting. Destroyer Riedel at Trondheim with serious defects did not leave until 8 June to return to Wilhelmshaven. Finally, only destroyer Schoemann was operational and capable of duty.
The British collier Henry Woodall struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) off Withernsea, Yorkshire with the loss of seven of her 14 crew. The survivors were rescued by the Estonia n ship Viiu.
Over a period of four and a half hours in the evening the German commerce raider / armed merchant cruiser Atlantis laid ninety-two horned magnetic contact mines off Cape Agulhas (the official dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans) in South Africa, to disrupt the Allied shipping lanes around the Cape. The mines were laid in a way to suggest that a U-boat has laid them. The minefield was successful, but the deception was foiled and the ship’s presence revealed several days later by a German propaganda broadcast boasting that “a minefield, sown by a German raider” had sunk no fewer than eight merchant ships, three more were overdue, three minesweepers were involved, and the Royal Navy was not capable of finding “a solitary raider” operating in “its own back yard.”
German raider Orion heads for Cape Horn and the Pacific.
Battleship HMS Warspite passed Gibraltar on the 5th, escorted by destroyers HMS Douglas and HMS Vortigern, which were relieved by destroyers HMS Velox, HMS Vortigern, and HMS Keppel. On the 7th, she departed Malta escorted by Australian destroyers HMAS Vendetta, HMAS Voyager, and HMAS Waterhen. On the 10th, battleship Warspite arrived at Alexandria. Her destroyer escort was detached for patrol as she entered harbor and arrived later in the day. Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham rehoisted his flag on Warspite on the 11th. With the arrival of Warspite and subsequent heavy reinforcements, French battleships Provence and Bretagne, under the command of Contre Amiral Bouxin, which had arrived on the 3rd, returned to Mers el Kebir in the third week of May.
Convoy OA.145G departs Southend.
Convoy OB.145 departs Liverpool.
Convoy FN.168 departed Southend. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 12th.
Convoy FN.167 had departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer HMS Vivien on the 9th, but was forced to return due to suspected mining. The destroyer was replaced by sloop HMS Egret. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 12th.
Convoy TM.66 arrived at Rosyth, escorted by destroyers HMS Vivien and HMS Vimiera.
Destroyers HMS Decoy and HMS Defender departed Aden and joined Australian troop convoy US.2 as it entered the Red Sea on the 12th.
The War at Sea, Friday, 10 May 1940 (naval-history.net)
On this date, of the surviving ten German destroyers, seven were repairing defects and damages in Germany.
Late on the 7th, destroyer JACOBI departed Trondheim and arrived at Wilhelmshaven on the 9th for repairs and refitting.
Destroyer RIEDEL at Trondheim with serious defects did not leave until 8 June to return to Wilhelmshaven.
Finally, only destroyer SCHOEMANN was operational and capable of duty.
In operation WILDENTE, German troops from Trondheim were embarked on the Norwegian coastal steamer NORDNORGE (991grt), manned by personnel from destroyers JACOBI and RIEDEL.
These troops were landed at Ranfjord on the 10th and their presence facilitated the capture of Mosjoen by German troops.
The only British warships in a position to intercept were the anti-aircraft cruiser CALCUTTA, escorting convoy NS.2 fifty miles to seaward, destroyer ZULU at Skelfjord.
By the time, destroyer ZULU arrived at 2050, the 300 German troops had been completely disembarked at Hemnes. However, ZULU was able to sink NORDNORGE (991grt) at Hemnesberget in Ranfjord with all the supplies for the German troops aboard.
Anti-aircraft cruiser CALCUTTA soon arrived and participated in the British bombardment of the village. Hemnes was set afire and the petrol stores were blown up.
Destroyer ZULU embarked the survivors of No. 3 Platoon of No. 1 Independent Company which had been holding the village before the German landing.
The British Harstad Force at this time was composed of Battleship RESOLUTION, light cruisers AURORA (damaged), EFFINGHAM, and ENTERPRISE, anti-aircraft cruisers CAIRO, COVENTRY, and CURLEW, various destroyers.
In a German air raid on Skelfjord, light cruiser PENELOPE was damaged by splinters from near misses and destroyer VANSITTART was hit by a small bomb putting her after guns out of action.
The light cruiser had Paymaster Cdr W. A. Sharp and four ratings killed in the attack. Destroyer VANSITTART lost S/Lt C. C. Butt and Midshipman A. B. Meria RNR and Lt Cdr W. Evershed and S/Lt D. C. S. Currey were wounded.
At 2237/10th, light cruiser PENELOPE departed Skelfjord towed by tug BANDIT (840grt).
Also, departing was Destroyer ISIS, which had damaged propellers, under the tow of tug BUCCANEER (840grt). British steamer LOCHEE (964grt) and tanker BRITISH VALOUR (6952grt) proceeded in this convoy.
Destroyers CAMPBELL and WITCH and anti-submarine trawler ST LOMAN (565grt) provided protection for the convoy. The convoy was taken under German air attack on the 10th and anti-aircraft cruiser COVENTRY joined the convoy for support. Following this duty, anti-aircraft COVENTRY arrived in the Lofotens on the 11th.
Anti-aircraft cruiser CALCUTTA was also with the convoy on the 10th after she had dealt with the German steamer NORD NORGE at Ranfjord.
After arriving in Vestfjord at 1100/11th, destroyer ESCORT was detached to join the convoy.
Destroyer ZULU joined the convoy on the 11th from Hemnes.
At 0600/14th, light cruiser PENELOPE, destroyer ISIS, tugs BUCCANEER and BANDIT, destroyers ZULU, ESCORT, and WITCH, tanker BRITISH VALOUR, steamer LOCHEE, anti-submarine trawler ST LOMAN were in 62-45N, 4-40W.
Destroyer ACASTA departed Scapa Flow at 1222/14th to relieve destroyer ZULU.
Destroyer CAMPBELL was detached to refuel at Sullom Voe and arrived at 0600. She departed to join at 1030/14th.
Destroyer WITCH refueled at Scapa Flow arriving at 0430/15th. She departed to rejoin the convoy at 0730/15th.
The ships all safely arrived at the Clyde late on the 16th.
At 2100/16th, light cruiser PENELOPE under tow of tug BANDIT with destroyers ACASTA and ESCORT arrived at Greenock.
At 2369/16th, destroyers CAMPBELL, WITCH, and ISIS under tow of tug BUCCANEER arrived at Greenock.
At 1300/18th, destroyer ISIS departed the Clyde under the tow of tug BUCCANEER and escorted by destroyer WITCH. They safely arrived at Falmouth on the 20th.
Destroyer WITCH was detached to Plymouth to boiler and repair arriving at 1810/21st.
Destroyer ISIS was under repair until 13 June when she was taken to Plymouth repairing until 12 September.
French steamers COLOMBIE (13,931grt), MEXIQUE (12,220grt), CHENONCEAUX (14,825grt), and ST FIRMIN (4528grt), British steamers BELLEROPHON (9019grt), and LYCAON (7350grt), tanker BRITISH LORD (6098grt) escorted by destroyers EPERVIER, ELECTRA, and ILEX departed Narvik during the forenoon for the Clyde.
On arrival in North Channel, destroyer ILEX took tanker BRITISH LORD to Liverpool.
At 0700/17th, the British steamers and French steamer ST FIRMIN with destroyer ELECTRA arrived at Greenock.
The French destroyer and the French steamers proceeded ahead of the convoy from 70N, 10E and proceeded to return to France.
French destroyers BRESTOIS and BOULONNAIS and destroyer WITHERINGTON departed Scapa Flow at 0600 escorting British steamers MONARCH OF BERMUDA (22,424grt) and EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA (19,665grt), French steamer VILLE D’ALGER (10,172grt), French tanker LOT to the Clyde, where they arrived at 1330/11th.
Destroyers HASTY and HAVANT departed Scapa Flow at 2330 for Aberdeen to escort British steamers LOCHNAGAR (1619grt), HORSA (979grt), and MACCLESFIELD (1018grt).
The rendezvous was made off Aberdeen at 0500/11th. All the ships arrived safely at Lerwick at 0025/12th.
Destroyer HAVANT was diverted to the Clyde, where she arrived at 2230/12th.
Destroyer HASTY was to wait to escort cable ship MONARCH to Scapa Flow.
At 0815/13th, destroyer HASTY and the cable ship arrived at Scapa Flow from Lerwick.
Polish troopship CHROBRY (11,442grt) with destroyers SOMALI and ESCORT arrived at Harstad.
Destroyers HOSTILE and FORESIGHT arrived at the Humber to refuel at 2140.
Destroyer VISCOUNT departed Scapa Flow at 2330/10th for aircraft carrier escort. She arrived in the Clyde at 1530/11th.
Polish destroyers ORP BŁYSKAWICA and ORP BURZA and destroyer GRAFTON departed Vestfjord at 2159 for Scapa Flow arriving at 1820/12th.
Destroyer BŁYSKAWICA’s steering gear was out of order. She was towed by tug MENDON alongside depot ship WOOLWICH.
Destroyer BŁYSKAWICA boiler cleaned from depot ship WOOLWICH before departing Scapa Flow at 1500/16th for Harwich.
Anti-submarine trawler PRESTON NORTHEND, escorting oiler ATHOL EMPRESS to Cape Wrath, attacked a submarine contact in 58-48N, 03-48W.
French submarine RUBIS, which departed Harwich on the 3rd, laid mines on the 10th in minefield FD.14 south of Egersund in 58 21N, 06 01E.
Norwegian trawler VANSO (54grt) on the 26th was lost on this minefield.
Norwegian steamer ALMORA (2433grt) was damaged on 7 July.
Norwegian steamer KEM (1706grt) was sunk on the minefield on 24 July, but was later raised and repaired.
Norwegian steamer ARGO (412grt) was sunk on 28 July.
Submarine RUBIS arrived at Dundee on the 14th.
Convoy FN.168 departed Southend. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 12th.
Convoy FN.167 had departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer VIVIEN on the 9th, but was forced to return due to suspected mining. The destroyer was replaced by sloop EGRET. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 12th.
Convoy TM.66 arrived at Rosyth, escorted by destroyers VIVIEN and VIMIERA.
Destroyers DECOY and DEFENDER departed Aden and joined Australian troop convoy US.2 as it entered the Red Sea on the 12th.
German armed merchant cruiser ATLANTIS laid mines off Cape Algulhas, near Capetown, South Africa.
This minefield was discovered by South African minesweeping trawler ARISTEA (261grt) before any damage was done.
Battleship WARSPITE passed Gibraltar on the 5th, escorted by destroyers DOUGLAS and VORTIGERN, which were relieved by destroyers VELOX, VORTIGERN, and KEPPEL. On the 7th, she departed Malta escorted by Australian destroyers HMAS VENDETTA, HMAS VOYAGER, and HMAS WATERHEN.
On the 10th, battleship WARSPITE arrived at Alexandria. Her destroyer escort was detached for patrol as she entered harbour and arrived later in the day.
Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham rehoisted his flag on WARSPITE on the 11th.
With the arrival of WARSPITE and subsequent heavy reinforcements, French battleships PROVENCE and BRETAGNE, under the command of Contre Amiral Bouxin, which had arrived on the 3rd, returned to Mer el Kebir in the third week of May.
German forces invaded Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, France.
Destroyers ESK, EXPRESS, and INTREPID of the 20th Destroyer Flotilla were at sea laying minefield ZMC off Heligoland.
On their return to Humber, they were ordered to join minelayer PRINCESS VICTORIA which was being escorted by patrol sloops PUFFIN, SHELDRAKE, and WIDGEON en route to lay mines off Egmond near Ijmuiden.
The destroyers relieved the patrol sloops and the minefield, under operation CBX, was successfully laid at 2107 in a 6.06-mile line 280° from 52 33N, 6 28E.
The minelayer and destroyers were back in the Humber at 0930/11th.
On 12 May, destroyers ESK, EXPRESS, and INTREPID laid another minefield, designated BS 3, off the Dutch coast.
During the night of 14/15 May, destroyers ESK, EXPRESS, and INTREPID and minelayer PRINCESS VICTORIA laid minefield BS 4 off the Dutch coast.
Light cruisers ARETHUSA and GALATEA departed the Nore to support naval operations off Holland. Destroyers KEITH and BOREAS departed Dover at 0840 to provide escort for the cruisers.
Light cruiser BIRMINGHAM and most of the destroyers which departed Rosyth and Scapa Flow on the 9th were still at sea and operated off Terschelling.
These ships came under the command of the Commander in Chief Nore at 0926/10th.
Destroyers of this force, including MOHAWK, bombarded the Dutch coast to prevent German gliders from landing on the flat beaches.
Destroyer MOHAWK was near missed in German bombing in the North Sea off the Dutch coast and later required repair from the damage when her rudder failed.
The destroyers of the 1st, 5th, 7th Destroyer Flotillas to join the Nore Command. The destroyers of the 2nd, 4th, 8th Destroyer Flotillas were to be released when relieved.
Destroyers WHITSHED and VERITY were recalled from patrol to embark demolition parties for the Dutch ports.
Destroyer WHITSHED departed Dover with the demolition party XD.A (commanded by Cdr M. G. Goodenough) of 158 naval ratings and sappers for the locks at Ijmuiden and the oil reserves at Amsterdam.
In numerous air attacks at Ijmuiden, destroyer WHITSHED was damaged by near misses and set afire. Four ratings were killed and one officer and seven ratings were wounded. She departed Ijmuiden that night for Dover, arriving at 0530/11th.
Destroyer WHITSHED was repaired alongside depot ship SANDHURST in twenty-four hours.
In Operation XD, departing Dover at 1200/10th were destroyers VERITY carrying demolition party XD.C (Cdr P. G. L. Cazalet) for the port of Flushing, WILD SWAN with XD.B (Cdr J. A. C. Hill) for the Hook of Holland, and BRILLIANT with XD D.(Cdr A. C. Stanford) for Antwerp.
Destroyers VERITY and BRILLIANT arrived at Flushing at 1620. Destroyer BRILLIANT proceeded on to Antwerp.
Destroyer VERITY departed Flushing at 0545 arrived back at Dover at 1110/11th. Destroyers WILD SWAN and BRILLIANT remained at their ports to support the evacuations.
During the afternoon of 11 May, destroyer WILD SWAN bombarded a wooded area to the east of Hook Of Holland.
Destroyers WILD SWAN and BRILLIANT arrived back at Dover at 2130/12th.
Destroyer HYPERION at sea was ordered to land a party for the demolition of the port of Rotterdam.
Near Hook of Holland, the commercial seaport of Rotterdam, was a Dutch airfield at Waalhaven that the Germans were striving to overrun at the start of the campaign.
Dutch destroyer VAN GALEN, returning from the East Indies, had arrived in the Downs on the 5th from Lisbon. She continued on the 6th for Rotterdam arriving on the 8th for a refit at Den Helder. The Dutch destroyer was sunk by German bombing as she arrived to bombard the airfield.
Destroyers HYPERION and HAVOCK of the BIRMINGHAM force from Harwich and WILD SWAN and WIVERN from Dover were ordered on the 11th to Rotterdam to assist in resisting the Germans and neutralizing the airfield at Waalhaven. However, they were redeployed off Hook of Holland in view of VAN GALEN’s fate and German air supremacy in the area.
In addition to the destroyers detached from the Home Fleet, already mentioned, for operations in the southern North Sea, fast escort ship VIVIEN of Convoy C was detached from the Rosyth Command, destroyers VIMY, VERSATILE, WESSEX, WALPOLE, WINDSOR, VESPER, VIVACIOUS, and VENETIA came from various Western Approaches Flotillas to come under the command of the Commander in Chief Nore by 10 May.
Destroyer VENETIA had arrived as an escort for an outbound convoy, but she was retained for operations in the North Sea. The destroyer departed Dover at 0400/11th for Harwich.
Destroyer VIMY of the 11th Destroyer Flotilla departed Liverpool on the 7th. Destroyer VERSATILE of the 11th Destroyer Flotilla departed Liverpool on the 8th. Destroyers WINDSOR of the 18th Destroyer Flotilla and VESPER of the 17th Destroyer Flotilla departed Plymouth on the 8th. Destroyers WESSEX of the 17th Destroyer Flotilla and WALPOLE of the 11th Destroyer Flotilla departed Plymouth on the 9th.
Destroyers VIVACIOUS and VENETIA were already at Sheerness on the 10th.
Destroyers VIMY and WINDSOR arrived at Dover at 1925/11th.
Destroyers VERSATILE, VESPER, WALPOLE, WESSEX, and WOLSEY arrived at Dover on the 12th.
Within a few days, destroyers CODRINGTON, GALLANT, GRIFFIN, WOLFHOUND, MOHAWK, VALOROUS, VEGA, VANESSA, and VERITY also came under his command.
Destroyer CODRINGTON (Captain G. E. Creasy, D.1) departed Scapa Flow at 0910/10th and arrived at 0750/11th at Dover to join the Nore Command.
Following refueling, she departed at 1420/11th for Ijmuiden to evacuate Dutch Princess Juliana and her family to England on the 12th.
Destroyer GRIFFIN departed Rosyth and arrived at Dover at 1136/11th to join the Nore Command.
Following refueling, destroyer GRIFFIN departed Dover at 1420/11th for operations off the Dutch coast.
Destroyer GALLANT departed Scapa Flow for Dover on the 9th.
Destroyer WOLFHOUND departed Portland after working up on the 14th and arrived at Sheerness on the 15th.
Destroyer VANESSA was refitting at Plymouth and did not participate.
Destroyer MALCOLM was on North Goodwins patrol.
French steamer COTE D’AZUR (3047grt) departed Dunkirk, escorted by destroyers FOUGUEUX, FRONDEUR, INCOMPRISE, and BRANLEBAS. The escort was joined by destroyers BOUCLIER and MELPOMENE. The steamer arrived at Flushing 11 May.
Patrol sloop PINTAIL escorting Submarine TIGRIS passed Dover westbound.
Submarine SEVERN arrived at Dundee after patrol.
Submarines L.23, L.26, H.28, H.44, H.49, and H.50 were ordered to depart the Downs to patrol off the Dutch coast.
Submarines L.23 and L.26 departed on the 10th escorted by armed yacht WARRIOR II (266grt) for patrol.
On 11 May, H.28, H.44, H.49, and H.50 departed the Downs escorted by sloop FOXGLOVE for patrol.
Dutch steamer BOSCHDIJK (6872grt) was sunk by German bombing at Rotterdam.
French tug CALAISIEN (202grt) was sunk by German bombing in Calais Harbour.
British steamer HENRY WOODALL (625grt) was sunk by mining three miles east of Withernsea.
Six crew and one gunner were lost with the steamer. The survivors were picked up by Estonian steamer VIIU (1908grt), which was sunk herself the next day.
German steamer CAMPINAS (4541grt) was sunk in mining at Drogden.
Boarding parties of the Dutch sloop VAN KINSBERGEN captured German steamers ESTE (7,915grt), VANCOUVER (8,269 tons), HENRY HORN (3,164 tons), PATRICIA (3,979 tons), FRISIA (561 tons), KARIBIA (428 tons), and ALEMANIA (1380 tons) at Curacao.
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt learned of the German attack at 11:00 p.m. (23:00) on May 9, Washington time. He phoned his Treasury Secretary, Henry Morgenthau Jr., and told him to freeze Belgian, Dutch, and Luxembourger assets in the United States to keep them out of Germany’s hands. Roosevelt could do little more that night, since phone calls to Paris and Brussels were rarely getting through, so he went to bed at 2:40 a.m. (02:40).
Today in Washington, President Roosevelt endorsed Queen Wilhelmina’s statement and received representatives of invaded neutral countries, while organizing machinery to keep this country neutral. He assailed aggressors in a speech before Pan-American scientists and said that the latest aggression gives warning that Pan-American countries no longer are safe.
The Senate was in recess. The Reorganization Committee rejected, 5 to 3, a resolution to disapprove the President’s fourth reorganization plan; the Campaign Expenditures Committee ordered agents into Ohio and Wisconsin; the Appropriations Committee heard testimony on army barracks needs and the Military Affairs group heard witnesses in support of a bill to prohibit formation of private military groups.
The House passed bills appropriating funds to support United States exhibits at the New York and San Francisco Fairs, heard. discussions of the European war and American neutrality, received a resolution by Edith Nourse Rogers providing that Congress remain in session and adjourned at 3:48 PM until noon Monday. The Smith committee investigating the NLRB heard testimony by David Dubinsky.
President Roosevelt today ordered all Belgian, Dutch, and Luxembourg credits and cash balances in this country “frozen” and summoned chiefs of the state, war, and navy services to a 10:30 a.m. conference to consider pressing problems on neutrality. In a telephone call to Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau Jr. early this morning, Mr. Roosevelt instructed him to take action before the markets open this morning to “impound” credits and cash balances held by the neutral lowland countries into which the war extended last night.
President Roosevelt twice today condemned Germany’s invasion of Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg as an unwarranted aggression on neutral countries and as threatening the cultural and scientific civilization of the world. President Roosevelt warned the Americas tonight that modern conquerors seek to dominate “every mile of the earth’s surface” and disputed any contention that this hemisphere’s distance from Europe gives it a “mystic immunity.” In terms of modern Invention, he asserted, the distance is less than that covered by the “chariots of Alexander” rolling from Macedonia to Persia, or the “ships and legions of Caesar” moving “from Rome to Spain or Britain.” He questioned whether the new world could continue its policy of “peaceful construction” if another principle of life spread over all the rest of the globe.
Congressional approval of a war preparedness program unparalleled in United States history appeared to be certain tonight as an imminent result of Germany’s invasion of Holland and Belgium. Coincidental with a hastily-called conference between President Roosevelt and his defense chieftains, Republican and Democratic legislators alike joined in demanding prompt and liberal appropriations for the nation’s armed forces. A complete reconsideration of defense problems and necessities, with speeding up of army and navy expansion programs the probable outcome, seemed assured. The special White House meeting found Admiral Harold R. Stark, chief of naval operations, and Gen. George C. Marshall, chief of staff, summoned to discuss problems posed by the German march into the Low Countries. They declined to comment on the talk, as did Mr. Roosevelt during his subsequent press conference. Chairman Elmer Thomas of the senate appropriations subcommittee, which is considering the $785,000,000 army supply bill, proposed that his group meet with Mr. Roosevelt on Monday to canvass defense needs. He indicated he has advance information that the army will request an emergency appropriation.
An explosion felt over a large part of the Philadelphia area damaged an ammunition packing shed at the Frankford Arsenal tonight, killing one civilian workman and seriously injuring another.
The biographical film “Edison, the Man,” starring Spencer Tracy, was released.
Major League Baseball:
The Brooklyn Dodgers, red-hot at the start of the season, continue their recent slide by losing to Harry Gumbert and the New York Giants, 7–2. The Dodgers’ national league lead over the Reds is down to a half-game.
The Pirates snapped their nine-game losing streak with an 8–3 victory today over the Cubs, gained on Mace Brown’s five-hit pitching and a five-run attack on Bill Lee and Charley Root in the sixth inning.
The Red Sox edge the Yankees, 3–2, in ten innings. Three Yankees errors proved their undoing, including one by Frankie Crosetti that started the winning Boston rally.
Big Louie (Buck) Newsom pitched the Tigers to their first shutout victory of the year as he scattered seven hits to beat the White Sox today, 3–0.
The Indians spotted the Browns four runs today, then produced two welltimed barrages for a 9–4 victory in the opener of a three-game series.
Bob Johnson, hard-hitting outfielder, drove in five runs with his fifth homer of the season, a double and two singles today as he led the Philadelphia Athletics to an 8–7 victory over the Senators. Johnson’s double with the bases full in the eighth was the climax of a three-run rally that gave Chubby Dean his third victory of the season.
New York Giants 7, Brooklyn Dodgers 2
Pittsburgh Pirates 8, Chicago Cubs 3
St. Louis Browns 4, Cleveland Indians 9
Chicago White Sox 0, Detroit Tigers 3
Boston Red Sox 3, New York Yankees 2
Washington Senators 7, Philadelphia Athletics 8
180 French marines arrived on Aruba to assist the local military defend the Lago oil refinery at San Nicolas.
The German cargo ship Goslar was scuttled at Paramaribo, Suriname to avoid capture by Dutch forces.
Battle of Tsaoyang-Ichang: Chinese 5th War Area is isolating elements of Japanese 11th Army.
Jonkheer van Starkenborgh, colonial Governor-General of the Netherlands East Indies, declared martial law in the Dutch East Indies, ordering 19 German cargo ships to be seized and all German nationals to be interned pending the liberation of the Netherlands.
The German cargo ship Sophie Rickmers was scuttled in the Netherlands East Indies to avoid capture by Dutch forces. Raised, repaired and put in Dutch service as Toendjoek.
U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull reiterated that the United States would not stand for any country establishing a protectorate over the Netherlands East Indies. The Japanese Foreign Minister indicated his country’s desire to maintain the political and economic status quo in the Pacific region.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 144.77 (-3.4)
Born:
Taurean Blacque [Herbert Middleton Jr], American stage and screen actor (“Detective Neal Washington” – “Hill Street Blues”), and adoption advocate, in Newark, New Jersey (d. 2022).
Wayne Dyer, self-help author and motivational speaker, in Detroit, Michigan (d. 2015).
Arthur Alexander, American singer-songwriter (“Lonely Just Like Me”), whose songs were covered by The Beatles (“Anna”), The Rolling Stones (“You Better Move On”), and Bob Dylan (“Sally Sue Brown”), in Sheffield, Alabama (d. 1993).
Naval Construction:
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type IXC U-boat U-125 is laid down by AG Weser, Bremen (werk 988).
The Royal Navy Bar-class boom defense vessel HMS Barcliff (Z 70) is launched by Lobnitz & Co. Ltd. (Renfrew, Scotland).
The Royal Navy “T”-class (First Group) submarine HMS Tuna (N 94) is launched by the Scotts Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. (Greenock, Scotland).
The Koninklijke Marine (Royal Netherlands Navy) submarine HrMs (HNMS) O 21 is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Luitenant ter zee 1e klasse (Lt. Commander) Johannes Frans van Dulm, RNN.
The Koninklijke Marine (Royal Netherlands Navy) submarine HrMs (HNMS) O 22 is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Luitenant ter zee 1e klasse (Lt. Commander) Albertus Marinus Valkenburg, RNN.
History Diaries 