The Battle of Hannut ended in tactical French victory but strategic and operational German victory. The German attack on Perwez came in the morning of 14 May. General Stumpff’s 3rd Pz. Div. was to engage the new Allied line near Gembloux, whilst General Stever and the 4th Pz. Div. were to break through its centre at Perwez. Hoepner ordered the attack to commence without infantry support, but could not break through the French positions.
The 4th Pz. Div. engaged French armour, which resisted heavily in wooded areas around Perwez. After hard fighting the French defences were destroyed with the help of German infantry. The French First Army had redistributed and spread its tank battalions behind the infantry. Spread out and unsupported, they were defeated by the concentration of numerically superior German combined arms teams.
The 3rd Pz. Div. was halted due to fierce resistance from 2nd DLM. Bitter fighting resulted and the appearance of large numbers of French tanks panicked the German Command into thinking a major counter-attack was developing, when in fact they were just rearguard actions. Both sides suffered significant losses in armor, but as night fell the 2nd DLM halted rearguard actions and the German Command regained its composure. The Allied forces had gained themselves time to reorganize their forces to respond to another major German assault on 15 May.
The German PzKpfw III and IV were the only German tanks that could outmatch the SOMUA S35 in battle. The SOMUA S35 was generally considered to be one of the most formidable tanks during the campaign in the west. German tactics proved superior; by using radio to coordinate maneuvers, the Germans outwitted the French who were limited to rigid, static positioning as in the First World War. The French tanks could not communicate with such fluidity or rapidity. The French missed tactical and operational opportunities and were poorly coordinated. The German tanks also had more crew members, so the commander could concentrate on command tasks but French commanders had to act as gunner and assistant gunner.
The German plan failed to forestall the French First Army at Gembloux, despite their victory over the 3rd DLM. The German advance to the Belgian plain tied down the Cavalry Corps and part of the French First Army while the main German assault crossed the Meuse at Sedan to the southeast. The Germans had hoped that Hoepner’s panzers and their neighbouring corps would tie down and neutralize the threat of the First Army but on 15 May, forces of the First Army properly settled into position, checked the Panzerwaffe, gaining time and space to maneuver. Part of the First Army sacrificed itself at the Siege of Lille and held up the bulk of the panzers, which had broken through to the southeast, enabling the British Expeditionary Force and other French units to escape from Dunkirk.
The Battle of Gembloux began in Belgium. Unaware that the German invasion of the Low Countries was a decoy, the French Army intended to halt the German advance into central Belgium and France on two defensive positions at the towns of Hannut and Gembloux. The French First Army, the most powerful Allied army, was to defend the Gembloux–Wavre axis. The French Corps de Cavalerie (Général René Prioux), advanced to Hannut, to screen the deployment of the rest of the First Army at Gembloux, by delaying a German advance.
After the Battle of Hannut, some 35 km (22 mi) to the northeast, the French retired towards Gembloux and the principal defensive position for the French on the Belgian front. The Panzers moved out on 14 May to overrun the Dyle position. At least until 09:20 (French time), air reconnaissances indicated that the position was unoccupied. At that hour, Hoepner was with 4th Panzer Division urging that unit to break through on both sides of Ernage without waiting for 3rd Panzer. The 35th Infantry and 20th Motorized Divisions were both behind the Panzers, respectively on their right and left flanks. The 4th Panzer Division ordered an advance with Panzer and Rifle Brigades operating together. The left flank of the division would be covered by the reconnaissance battalion, a machine-gun battalion and most of an anti-tank battalion. At 11:30, Eighth Company, 35th Panzer Regiment with some 30 tanks attacked from Baudeset toward the rail line south of Ernage but was stopped with the loss of nine tanks by enemy artillery fire and withdrew. The 6th Company was unable to aid it because of the “annihilating defensive fire”.
At 13:30, the 4th Panzer Brigade ran into enemy positions between the rail line and the highway from Wavre to Gembloux. The Dyle position was defended. The action of 3rd Panzer Division on 14 May is much less clear. That morning, 3rd Panzer Brigade crossed the Belgian anti-tank obstacle behind the 4th Panzer Division, with 5th Panzer Regiment on the right and 6th Panzer Regiment on the left. Colonel Kuhn — the brigade commander — was with 6th Panzer Regiment which became involved in the fighting in Ernage and on the Wavre-Gembloux road, the tanks being taken under “lively” artillery and anti-tank fire. Kuhn decided to wait for infantry support to arrive. While the Panzers blundered into the French defence, 6th Army pressed its infantry corps forward to cover their flanks.
Schwedler’s IV Corps was to cover the Panzers’ right flank as it had done against the French cavalry on 13 May (at Hannut). The infantry made good progress against virtually no resistance early on 14 May and advance guards of the 31st, 7th and 18th Infantry Divisions contacted the Dyle position that afternoon and evening. At 21:50, the Chief of Staff of the 6th Army urged the infantry forward in support of 3rd Panzer Division which was involved in heavy fighting at Walhain and Ernage. By the end of 14 May, the divisions reported the Dyle position to be occupied. The corps found demolitions and mining on the approach routes difficult to negotiate. As German forces moved into contact, the French First Army suffered the attentions of the Luftwaffe. French fighters could barely cover the three or so reconnaissance missions flown into the area beginning that morning (most of the reconnaissance planes were lost). The retreating Cavalry Corps detailed the enemy advance and delayed the Panzers north of Ernage (near the positions of the 3rd DLM) and around Grand Leez (near 2nd DLM). As the cavalry left the field, Blanchard ordered its tanks to remain nearby in reserve. Meanwhile, the German thrust continued to develop to the south.
That evening, Billotte’s headquarters warned First Army to prepare for a possible retreat, but the formations in the field knew nothing of this. The 1st DIM was disturbed by the retreat of the cavalry and Belgian infantry and refugees in the afternoon of 14 May. The first Stuka attack made a great impression on the troops, for whom this was their baptism of fire. False rumours of parachutists led to brief friendly fire incidents in which several artillery men were killed. By that evening, de La Laurencie’s III Corps and units of the British and the Belgian Army on the Dyle position and at Namur made contact with German patrols.
Hoepner had discovered that the Dyle position was defended. Nonetheless, until at least 16:50, superior headquarters urged him to pursue the “defeated” enemy. To the north, 3rd Panzer Division became locked in fighting on its right flank as noted above. At 14:00, XVI Corps ordered the 35th Infantry Division to move in that direction, while the 20th Motorized Division was to move to the other flank of the corps and the arrival of the 269th Infantry Division from XVII Corps on the north edge of the Namur fortress relieved fears from that direction. At 14:05, General Stever — commanding the 4th Panzer Division — ordered 5th Panzer Brigade supported by a rifle battalion to attack on a narrow front south of Ernage, to reach hills east of St. Gery. The divisional artillery would neutralize flanking fires from Ernage and Gembloux. At 16:00, he delayed the attack so that 3rd Panzer Division could prepare. At 16:50, Stumpff radioed 4th Panzer Division that he would inform them when he was ready, but in the meantime began his own attack in the Ernage area alone. After 18:00, XVI Corps again pressed its divisions to attack, but French defensive barrages were so dense that a poison gas alert was mistakenly declared, which stopped these attacks. At 20:50, Hoepner radioed his division commanders to halt their offensive until the next morning.
For two days French defeated attacks by elements of the 6th Army. The German surprise attack through the Ardennes and the crossing of the Meuse at Sedan, forced the First Army to retreat from Gembloux, then back over the French frontier towards Lille. The retreat disorganized the Allied defence on the central sector of the Belgian front and the German armies occupied central Belgium. Strategically the battle was inconclusive; it diverted the First Army from Sedan, which allowed the Germans to achieve the strategic goals of Fall Gelb, but the First Army survived and during the Siege of Lille diverted German forces from the Battle of Dunkirk, which allowed the British Expeditionary Force and a substantial French contingent to escape.
The Battle of Rotterdam ended in German victory. The Luftwaffe conducted the Rotterdam Blitz. A Luftwaffe raid on Rotterdam city center by 57 Heinkel He 111 medium bombers resulted in 814 civilian casualties and caused a massive outcry from neutral countries. General Rudolf Schmidt’s German 9th Panzer Corps threatened the Dutch city of Rotterdam with aerial bombardment, and the Dutch garrison surrendered; some Luftwaffe aircraft, however, did not get the order to abort; 95 tons of bombs were dropped on Rotterdam, killing over 800 civilians and rendering about 85,000 homeless.
On the morning of 14 May, General Schmidt prepared a quick note in the form of an ultimatum, which was to be handed over to the Dutch commander of Rotterdam. The text of the ultimatum was set in Dutch. Three German negotiators carried the ultimatum to the Maas bridges. The three men held the banner of truce, but were nevertheless treated harshly by the Dutch. They were stripped of all their weapons, which were thrown into the water, and then blindfolded. The men were then guided to the command post of Colonel Scharroo in the city.
Scharroo was handed the letter, which said that if resistance did not cease the Germans would destroy Rotterdam. Scharroo called General Headquarters and was shortly after called back with instructions from General Winkelman. The ultimatum had to be returned to the German commander with the reply that only a duly undersigned ultimatum, together with statement of name and rank of the commanding officer would be accepted by the Dutch as a legitimate parliamentary letter of ultimatum.
Colonel Scharroo sent his adjutant, Captain J. D. Backer, to the Germans with the Dutch reply. Meanwhile, Göring had ordered the Kampfgeschwader 54 (KG 54) — with its 90 Heinkel He 111 bombers — to take off from three bases near Bremen. Geschwader commander Oberst Walter Lackner led two thirds of his wing on to a course that would bring them on to the target from a northeastern angle. The other 27 bombers were commanded by Oberstleutnant Friedrich Höhne and approached Rotterdam from the south. Estimated time of arrival over the target was 13:20, Dutch time.
The Germans accepted the reply from Scharroo. General Schmidt had his interpreter quickly draw up a new letter, more extended than the first one, giving the Dutch until 16:20 to comply. He undersigned the new ultimatum with his name and rank. When Captain Backer was being escorted back by Oberstleutnant von Choltitzt to the Maas bridges, German bombers appeared from the south. General Schmidt, who was joined by the two Generals von Hubicki and Student, saw the planes and cried out “My God, this is going to be a catastrophe!”
Panic struck German soldiers on the Noordereiland, most of which were totally unaware of the events being played out between the top brass of both sides. They feared being attacked by their own bombers. Von Choltitz ordered red flares to be launched, and when the first three bombers overhead dropped their bombs the red flares were obscured by smoke. The next 24 bombers of the southern formation closed their bomb hatches and turned westwards.
The other much larger formation came from the northeast. It comprised 60 bombers under Oberst Lackner. Due to the dense smoke, the formation had been ordered to lower the flight plan and as such the angle with the Noordereiland in the south decreased dramatically. There was not a chance that the red flares — if at all seen — would be spotted in time before the bombs would be dropped. Indeed, the entire formation unloaded over the Rotterdam city center. A mixture of 250 kg (550 lb) and 50 kg (110 lb) bombs rained over the defenceless city.
Eight hundred to nine hundred people were killed, over 80,000 people lost their homes and more than 25,000 buildings were destroyed.
The Battle of the Afsluitdijk ended in Dutch victory. Despite finding themselves outmanned and outgunned, Royal Dutch Army troops commanded by Captain Christiaan Boers, under the overall command of rear-Admiral Hoyte Jolles, managed to successfully hold back the attackers at Fort Kornwerderzand, protected by modernized heavily fortified defensive positions. The German Army was thus prevented from immediately concentrating its full strength on the country’s most vital area.
On the early morning of 14 May, the Germans once again fired their artillery at the fortress, but during the night Rear-Admiral Jolles had ordered the gunboat HNMS Johan Maurits van Nassau, which returned fire with her three heavy 150 mm guns from her position in the Wadden Sea; approximately 18 kilometers (11 mi) from the German positions. Attack coordinates were phoned in from the fortress to the Navy Command in Den Helder, then sent by wireless radio to the gunboat. This barrage silenced the German guns in less than an hour and shocked General Kurt Feldt, who was unaware of the presence of any Dutch artillery in the area, let alone such a heavy caliber.
The pinned down German forces were eventually forced to retreat and subsequently routed their attack across the IJsselmeer, bypassing the Afsluitdijk and landing north of Amsterdam. The Dutch garrison capitulated after the bombing of Rotterdam. Kornwerderzand was the only line of defense that successfully withstood an enemy attack during the conflict, and was one of the few Blitzkrieg defeats suffered by the Wehrmacht.
Late in the day, the Dutch surrender in all provinces except Zeeland, where they continue to fight. They have lost 2300 KIA, 7000 wounded, 3000 civilians dead. The Germans on that front have lost 2900 KIA, 7000 wounded and 1300 paratroopers captured and taken to Great Britain.
News of the Dutch surrender was broadcast by all German radio stations. The announcement was followed by the song, “We Are Sailing Against England,” and a series of German army marches. Authorized spokesmen said that no details were available on how the Dutch troops had surrendered. “Further tremendous reports are to be expected momentarily,” the radio announcer said at the conclusion of the broadcast.
The Dutch Navy scuttled many ships to prevent capture by German forces. The Germans later salvaged the submarines O 8, O 11, O 25, O 26 and O 27 and put them into service.
2nd Battalion of Irish Guards Regiment evacuated by sea from Hook of Holland.
It is a bad day at French headquarters, where General Georges sobs openly. The Germans are across the Meuse in force, and many French units supposedly opposing them have melted away. General Touchon becomes commander of the French reserves, who must be rushed into battle to fill gaps in the line between the French 2nd (General Andre Georges Corap) and 9th (General Charles Huntziger) Armies near Sedan.
The Germans broke through at Sedan and Dinant and cut a huge gap between the French 9th Army, under command of General Andre Georges Corap, and the French 2nd Army, under command of General Charles Huntziger. Huntziger’s French 2nd Army is withdrawing as German 12th Army pushes forward from Sedan.
Within the city of Sedan itself, the last French holdouts surrender after dark. Local French counterattacks fail.
In Belgium, Erwin Rommel personally led a 30-tank charge near Dinant, pushing back French and Belgian forces three miles. Near Sedan, France, Heinz Guderian’s three armored divisions crossed the Meuse River. French artillery and antitank guns hit Erwin Rommel’s tank near the Belgian village of Onhaye. Rommel was wounded in the right cheek by a small shell splinter as the tank slid down a slope and rolled over on its side, but he escaped serious injury. He breaks through the French Second Army, heading southwestward to Philippeville.
Among other things, the breakthrough over the Meuse threatens the Belgian K-W Line. This recent defensive line (first established after the beginning of the war) starts with the National Redoubt at Antwerp runs south along the River Dijle, then to just behind the main Fortified Position of Liège. Travel on the roads is becoming virtually impossible, as they are clogged with an estimated 2 million refugees.
Guderian turned two armored divisions, the 1st and 2nd Panzer Divisions, sharply to the west. They began to advance at speed to the English Channel. Guderian wants to sprint forward with his mobile forces — the opening is there. Previously on 12 May, he had requested permission to establish a large bridgehead. The OKW has been considering this, but this morning at 11:45 Guderian’s superior General von Kleist rejects his request and orders him to maintain a bridgehead of 8 km (5 miles). However, Guderian slyly gets von Kleist, who is almost certainly only parroting what Hitler has ordered, to agree that he may engage in “reconnaissance in force” (Guderian threatens to resign, which is a fairly common tactic of his). The result is that there is no halt order, and Guderian sprints ahead anyway — to his own glory or peril, as the case may be.
Guderian, however, has more in mind than just lunging westward. He sends the 10th Panzer Division and Großdeutschland infantry regiment southeast in a feint to take the Maginot Line from the rear. French General Huntziger was going to use the direction — the same road, in fact — to attack Guderian’s left flank. The German panzers run head-on into the armored 3e Division Cuirassée (DCR) at the Stonne plateau. This results in a stalemate on the German flank, with the main Wehrmacht effort to the west unhindered.
Guderian’s westward thrust is wildly successful. He eviscerates the French Sixth Army west of Sedan, eliminating the flank protection of the French Ninth Army. The entire French Ninth Army collapses and begins to surrender. This unhinges the flank of the French 102nd Fortress Division at Monthermé, which the 6th and 8th Panzer Divisions destroy.
The French 4th Army, under command of General Charles de Gaulle, made a counterattack on the German bridgeheads on the Meuse but was driven back.
The French order some portions of the vaunted Maginot Line which have been outflanked to retreat. This demoralizes the troops involved, who believe in the fortifications. Most of the Maginot Line to the south, however, remains intact and unbreached.
Werner Mölders was shot down over Sedan, France, but was able to bail out to safety.
63 RAF Fairey Battle light bombers and 8 Bristol Blenheim light bombers raided German bridgeheads over the Meuse River. There were heavy losses as 40+ of the attacking planes were shot down. The Luftwaffe is busy with the Blitzkrieg. Bf 109s have a field day picking off Allied bombers, as the Allies are sending everything they have — dozens of bombers — in broad daylight in a frantic effort to stop the Meuse river crossings. The Luftwaffe fighters shoot down 45 RAF bombers and 5 French bombers (many obsolete Fairey Battles and Amiot 143s) (sources vary). At the end of the day, the bridges are intact, the allied air forces somewhat less so.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 30 aircraft to attack Monchengladbach and Aachen overnight.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 12 aircraft to attack Breda and Roosendaal overnight.
Royal Netherlands Navy light cruisers HNLMS Sumatra and HNLMS Jacob Van Heemskerck departed Holland for England rather than be scuttled or fall into German hands. Light cruiser Jacob Van Heemskerck, fitting out at Amsterdam, was towed away on the 10th. She arrived in the Downs on the 11th. Light cruiser Sumatra arrived in the Humber on the 11th. Dutch destroyer HNLMS Isaac Sweers, also incomplete, was also towed from Flushing on the 10th by Dutch tug Zwartsee to England. The destroyer and tug arrived at the Downs on the 11th in the company of submarines O.21, O.22, tug Scheldt. Submarine O.21 departed Flushing on the 10th escorted by Dutch tug Schelde. They arrived in the Downs on the 11th. Submarine O.22 departed Flushing on the 10th in tow for Dover. The submarine arrived in the Downs on the 11th. Light cruiser Jacob Van Heemskerck and destroyer Isaac Sweers were sent on to Spithead, arriving on the 12th. The light cruiser was able to accompany light cruiser Sumatra in June on a voyage to Halifax, but returned to complete construction 17 February 1941.
Dutch submarines O.9, O.10, O.13, O.21, O.22, O.23, O.24 were able to escape to England. Submarines O.23 and O.24 departed Rotterdam late on the 13th. Submarine O.13 arrived at Dover on the 12th escorted by Dutch minesweeper HNLMS Jan Van Gelder. Dutch submarines O.13, O.21, O.22 and minesweeper Jan Van Gelder arrived at Portsmouth on the 12th. Dutch submarines O.9, O.10, O.24 arrived in the Downs on the 13th escorted by minelayer HNLMS Willem Van Der Zaan. Dutch submarine O.23 arrived unescorted in the Downs on the 13th. Submarines O.9, O.10, O.23, O24 arrived at Portsmouth, via Dover, on the 16th. In addition O.14 and O.15, which were in the Dutch Indies on escort duties, were taken under the control of Commander in Chief, American and West Indies Command. However, not all naval craft were gotten away. Light cruisers HNLMS De Zevern Provicien and HNLMS Eendracht, building at Wilton-Fijenoord and Rotterdam, respectively, were captured on the building slips.
Incomplete destroyers HNLMS Gerald Callenberg at Rotterdam and HNLMS Tjerk Hiddes at Nieuwe Waterweg were scuttled. Submarines O.8, O.11, O.12, under repair at Den Helder, O.25, on the slip at Schiedam, were scuttled. Submarine O.8 was salved as German UD 1 and commissioned on 21 November 1940; O.12 was salved as UD.2 and commissioned on 14 January 1943; O.25, which had only been launched on the 1st 1940, was commissioned as UD.3 on 8 June 1941; O.26 was launched on 23 November 1940 and commissioned as UD.4 on 28 January 1941; and O.27 was launched on 26 September 1941 and commissioned as UD.5 on 1 November 1941. None of these submarines were deployed in war patrols.
Also, a number of other small ships were scuttled because they were blocked in ports by ships that had been sunk by mines or bombers or to block channels. Dutch steamer Jan Pieterszoon (1140grt) was sunk as a blockship at Ijmiuden. Dutch naval tug HNLMS Noordzee (260grt) was sunk by a mine at Flushing. Royal Netherlands Navy Jan van Amstel-class minesweeper HNLMS Abraham van der Hulst was scuttled at Enkhuizen, Noord Holland. She was subsequently salvaged by the Germans, repaired and entered service as M 552. Batterijschip IJmuiden , the former coastal defense ship Jacob Van Heemskerck was scuttled at IJmuiden to prevent capture by German forces. She was subsequently salvaged by the Germans, repaired and entered service as Undine. The Brinio-class gunboat HNLMS Brinio was bombed and damaged in the IJsselmeer by Luftwaffe aircraft and subsequently scuttled.
The sloop HNLMS Johan Maurits van Nassau was bombed and sunk in the North Sea 10 nautical miles (19 km) west of Callantsoog, North Holland, by Luftwaffe aircraft with the loss of eight of her 124 crew. The G 13-class torpedo boat HNLMS G 16 was scuttled at Den Helder. The M-class minesweeper HNLMS M 1 was scuttled at IJmuiden. The M-class minesweeper HNLMS M 3 was scuttled as a blockship at IJmuiden. The M-class minesweeper HNLMS M 4 was also scuttled at IJmuiden. The Jan van Amstel-class minesweeper HNLMS Pieter Florisz was scuttled at Enkhuizen. She was subsequently salvaged by the Germans, repaired and entered service as M 551. The Z 1-class torpedo boat HNLMS Z 3 was scuttled in the IJsselmeer off Enkhuizen.
The Belgian ocean liner Ville de Bruges was severely damaged in a Luftwaffe air raid whilst in the Scheldt, between Lillo and Doel. She was beached and burnt out with the loss of four crew of the 117 people aboard. The ship was scrapped in situ 1941–46, final remains removed 1951–52.
Early on the 14th, destroyer HMS Valentine embarked ammunition brought to Dunkirk by destroyer HMS Whitshed. Destroyers HMS Winchester and Whitshed departed Dunkirk to join destroyer HMS Keith for Operation ORDNANCE, evacuation of the Hook of Holland. Destroyers HMS Whitley and HMS Westminster from Flushing were also ordered to ORDNANCE. At 1115, destroyer Westminster departed Flushing for the Hook of Holland. Destroyers HMS Whitley and HMS Vimiera were actively engaging German aircraft while patrolling off Flushing. Destroyer HMS Valentine arrived back at Flushing from Dunkirk at 2030 to take over duties as SNO. In Operation ORDNANCE, destroyers HMS Keith (Captain D. J. R. Simson, D.17), HMS Boreas (Lt Cdr M. W. Tomkinson), HMS Brilliant (Lt Cdr F. C. Brodrick), HMS Verity (Lt Cdr A. R. M. Black), HMS Wivern (Cdr W. C. Bushell), and HMS Wolsey (Lt Cdr C. H.Campbell) departed Dover at 0947 to evacuate troops at Hook of Holland. They rendezvoused at sea off the Maas Light Vessel with destroyers Whitley (Lt Cdr G. N. Rolfe), Whitshed (Cdr E. R. Conder), Winchester (Lt Cdr S. E. Crewe-Read) which came up from Dunkirk.
The destroyers joined Destroyers HMS Malcolm (Captain T. E. Halsey, D.16, Senior Naval Officer), HMS Vesper (Lt Cdr W. F. E. Hussey), and Westminster (Lt Cdr A. A. C. Ouvry) which were already at Hook of Holland and the evacuation took place as planned. Four Blenheims and twelve Hurricanes operated in support. Destroyer Whitshed was the first embarked and she departed at 1230/14th. Destroyer Vesper was damaged by near misses of German air bombing. Destroyer Vesper was repaired at Dover, completing repairs on 3 June. Destroyer Malcolm sustained some damage from near misses of German bombs. Destroyer Whitshed, which departed Dover at 0430/14th, evacuated 300 of the Guards Battalion, the Heywood Mission, consular officials left Hook of Holland arrived at Dover at 1900/14th. Destroyers Boreas ran into destroyer Brilliant’s stern off the Hook of Holland.
The destroyers were escorted by destroyer Winchester as far as the West Hinder Buoy. They reached the Downs that evening and anchored for the night. Destroyers Boreas and Brilliant were repaired at Blackwall, completed on 17 June and 19 June, respectively. After escorting the damaged Boreas and Brilliant, destroyer Winchester proceeded to Flushing. Destroyers Malcolm, Vesper, and Westminster arrived at Dover at 2357/14th with the first load of evacuees, the Marines landing party, the XD Hook of Holland demolition party, civilians, 150,000 pounds sterling in diamonds on board destroyer Malcolm. At 2230, the remaining 350 Guards were embarked at Hook of Holland on destroyer Vesper. To block the Hook of Holland, torpedoes were to be fired at the North Breakwater to silt up the harbour. Destroyers Keith, Wivern, Verity, and Wolsey were detached for this duty.
Destroyer Wivern was damaged by the near miss of two air bombs with Midshipman K. T. Briggs RNR, Probationary Temporary S/Lt R. S. Brown RNVR, twenty five ratings killed and thirty two wounded, including Lt S. E. Pritchard. Destroyer Wivern fired one torpedo due to damage. The other three destroyers fired a total of ten torpedoes. Destroyer Wivern returned to Dover arriving at 2330/14th. Destroyer Wivern departed Dover at 1519/16th for Portsmouth for repairs completed on 20 June. Early on the 15th, destroyers Westminster and Vimiera (Lt Cdr R. B. N. Hicks) arrived at Dover. Destroyer HMS Venomous (Cdr J. E. H.McBeath), which had picked up some of the XD AIjmuiden demolition party and fifty civilians at sea from a tug and a motor launch, arrived at Dover at 1825. The evacuation was declared completed.
French torpedo boat L’incomprise was bombed and damaged while supporting the defense of Bergen op Zoom, Holland. Despite the efforts of troops ashore and of L’incomprise, French submarine chasers CH.6, CH.9, CH.41, Bergen op Zoom fell to German forces. As the fighting progressed in Zuid Beveland towards Walcheren, French destroyers Fougueux and Frondeur arrived on the 16th to support troops ashore. They were joined by destroyers HMS Wolsey and HMS Vimiera. The French destroyers bombarded the Germans advancing on South Beveland. The Destroyers do not appear to have opened fire. French destroyers Cyclone and Sirocco departed Dover on the 16th with Prince Bernhard and arrived on the 17th. During the forenoon of 17 May, the French destroyers bombarded German troops. Destroyers Wolsey and Vimiera provided anti-aircraft protection. Finally, allied troops were withdrawn to Walcheren and some three hundred more arrived from Zuid Beveland. French Vice Admiral Charles Platon was placed in charge of the evacuation and before Walcheren fell on the 18th, 1800 allied troops were evacuated by French torpedo boats Bouclier, Branlebas, Flore, Cordeliere, and Melpomene.
Hitler issues Führer Directive No. 11 regarding campaign in the West:
The Leader And Supreme Commander Of The Armed Forces.
Headquarters. 14th May, 1939. 5 copies
Directive No. 11
- The progress of the offensive to date shows that the enemy has failed to appreciate in time the basic idea of our operations. He continues to throw strong forces against the line Namur-Antwerp and appears to be neglecting the sector facing Army Group A.
- This fact and the swift forcing of the Meuse River crossing in the sector of Army Group A have established the first essentials for a thrust in all possible strength north of the Aisne and in a northwesterly direction, as laid down in Directive No. 10. Such a thrust might produce a major success. It is the task of forces engaged north of the line Liège-Namur to deceive and hold down the greatest number of enemy forces by attacking them with their own resources.
- On the northern flank the Dutch Army has shown itself capable of a stronger resistance than had been supposed. For political and military reasons, this resistance must be broken quickly. It is the task of the Army, by moving strong forces from the south in conjunction with an attack against the eastern front, to bring about the speedy fall of Fortress Holland.
- All available motorized divisions will be transferred to the operational area of Army Group A as soon as possible. Armoured and motorized divisions of Army Group B will also be switched to the left flank as soon as there are no further prospects of effective operations in their own sector and as the situation allows.
- The task of the Air Force is to concentrate strong offensive and defensive forces for action, with the focal point at Army Group A, in order to prevent the transfer of enemy reinforcements to the front and to give direct support to our own forces. In addition the rapid reduction of Fortress Holland will be assisted by the deliberate weakening of forces hitherto operating ahead of 6th Army.
- The Navy will operate against sea traffic in the Hoofden and in the Channel as opportunity offers.
(Signed) Adolf Hitler.
Polish troopship Chrobry (11,442grt), with 1st Battalion of Irish Guards Regiment aboard, departed Tjelsundet for Bodø with Destroyer HMS Wolverine and sloop HMS Stork escorting and screened by anti-aircraft cruiser HMS Curlew. In low level bombing attacks, troopship Chrobry was hit by two or three bombs at 2350/14th in 67 40N, 13 50E in Vestfjord and was badly damaged. The troopship was set afire by the bombing and abandoned. Eleven of her crew were lost on the Polish troopship. Destroyer Wolverine and sloop Stork took off the 1000 survivors and Aircraft from aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal scuttled the wreck midday on the 15th. The survivors were returned to Harstad.
Luftwaffe transport aircraft drop 66 troops of 1st Fallschirmjaeger Regiment to reinforce German forces around Narvik.
Swedish steamer Framnas (721grt) was seized by German forces at Stavanger and renamed Borgen for German service.
Light cruiser HMS Aurora, anti-aircraft cruiser HMS Coventry, destroyers HMS Fame and HMS Wren bombarded Narvik.
Destroyer HMS Somali (D.6) and French destroyer Foudroyant departed Harstad, bound for Norway with ammunition for allied troops at Mo. The ammunition was delivered. The destroyers operated in area of Bodø, Ranenfjord, Mo, Hemnes during the day. Destroyer Foudroyant bombarded German targets at Hemnes and Sund. The ships returned towards Harstad early the next day.
HMS Glorious and HMS Furious finally depart Greenock and begin the voyage to Norway. The ships are primarily acting as transports for the two RAF Squadrons and the Walrus amphibians of 701 Squadron. Glorious carried but five Sea Gladiators of 802 Squadron for self-defense and six Swordfish of 823 Squadron for ASW and strike duties, while Furious carried six Sea Gladiators of 804 Squadron and nine Swordfish of 818 Squadron for A/S and strike duties.
HMS Ark Royal conducts air strikes on German positions in Norway. In air combat off Skaanland near Tranoy, two Skuas of 803 Squadron from aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal were lost. Lt W. P. Lucy DSO, Lt M. C. E. Hanson DSC, in one aircraft were shot down and lost. Lt T. E. Gray and Leading Airman A. G. Clayton ran out of fuel and were forced to land the other aircraft, but were rescued by destroyer HMS Encounter.
In Operation ALABASTER, British troopships Lancastria (16,243grt) and Franconia (20,175grt) departed the Clyde at 1900 with troops to relieve the Marine garrison taken to Iceland the week before. The troopships were escorted by destroyers HMS Foxhound and HMS Havant. Destroyer Foxhound departed Reykavik at 1200/19th and landed troops at Akreyri during the morning of 20 May. After safely delivering the troops, the British force arrived back in the Clyde on the 25th at 0540.
The Local Defence Volunteers organization was created in Britain. Recruiting begins for a volunteer home-defense force from men in reserve occupations or too old or young for military service. This force is to be called the Local Defence Volunteers. In July the far more effective title of Home Guard is chosen.
Anthony Eden, the British Secretary of State for War, made a radio announcement asking for volunteers between the ages of 17 and 65 to form a new force named the Local Defense Volunteers. This organization would later be renamed the Home Guard.
The makeup of the new British cabinet, which included Labour, Liberal, and Conservative members, was made public.
Lord Beaverbrook is appointed Minister of Aircraft Production. Lord Beaverbrook became Minister of Aircraft Production and Ernest Bevin became Minister of Labour.
The British Admiralty required the owner of large boats to send in specifications within two weeks.
Winston Churchill told American Ambassador to the United Kingdom Joseph Kennedy that even if Britain was to be conquered by Germany, the British government would continue the fight from Canada with the Royal Navy.
News of the virtual capitulation of the Netherlands to the German jackboot brought home to the British public today something for which the government has been preparing them since last week — serious reverses in the Low Countries.
The war is creeping closer to the United States, London morning papers said editorially today. The Daily Telegraph said: “The wantonness of the invasion of Holland and Belgium stirred not only indignation but uneasy reflection in the United States, where there is a growing understanding of the fact which was apparent to us for years that for free peoples, security and neutrality are not enough.” The Daily Express: “If, as a result of a German victory in the Low Countries, we lose our fleet or the power to make the fleet effective, hence the danger to the United States becomes acute. When Britain ceases to control the Atlantic, the possibility of the invasion of America is at hand. Americans, therefore, have a period wherein to make preparations. They should do so on a scale bigger than anything ever known.” The Daily Mirror said: “American sympathy is precious to the fighters in the front line, but sympathy one day may not be enough for Americans themselves. They will need arms. It will not be enough to rely on cash and carry, on Wall Street and on loans. As the beast rains bombs on skyscrapers and great cities, it won’t be enough to shout ‘Well, we loaned them the money, didn’t we?”
France is in the midst of organizing to receive the greatest influx of refugees since the end of the Spanish war. This time it is Belgian allies who will have to be cared for, along with thousands of additional French from the northern border districts.
The war fever mounted in Italy today to alarming dimensions, with demonstrations everywhere fostered by the Fascist party under orders from the Rome Government.
Yugoslavia was reported reliably tonight to have sounded out Greece on what assistance the Greeks might give this country in the event of an Italian attack.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 22 aircraft on minelaying operations overnight.
Minelayers HMS Teviotbank and HMS Plover departed the Humber in convoy FN.172. They were first escorted by destroyers HMS Vimy and HMS Windsor. The minelayers arrived at Rosyth on the 17th, escorted by destroyers HMS Vivien and HMS Valorous. The minelayers departed Rosyth on the 17th escorted by destroyer HMS Sabre and armed patrol yacht HMS Breda. They arrived at Scapa Flow on the 18th. On 18 May, destroyer Sabre obtained a submarine contact in 58 41N, 03 54W. She was joined by destroyer HMS Mashona early on the 19th from Scapa Flow. The minelayers were to have gone to Narvik, but they were held at Scapa Flow. Minelayers Teviotbank and Plover departed Scapa Flow at 1430/29th, escorted by destroyer HMS Atherstone, arrived at Rosyth at 1230/30th.
On 14 May, armed merchant cruisers HMS Patroclus, HMS Asturias, HMS Carinthia, HMS Derbyshire, and HMS Cheshire were ordered to assume patrol off Vigo and Lisbon in readiness to intercept Italian merchant ships if Italy entered the war. Four armed merchant cruisers, HMS Canton, HMS Corfu, HMS Maloja, and HMS Montclare, were ordered on the 21st to replace the armed merchant cruisers on this detail. Armed merchant cruiser Asturias’ assignment was unaffected. The patrol was maintained by Commander in Chief Western Approaches after this duty. This patrol was cancelled on the 31st.
In the South Atlantic, German raider Orion refueled from German tanker Winnetou (5113grt), which had departed Las Palmas on 9 April. German tanker Winnetou went on to refuel armed merchant cruiser Orion again on 20 June before setting off for Japan.
Convoy OA.148GF departs Southend.
Convoy OB.148 departs Liverpool.
Convoy FN.171 departed Southend, unescorted due to lack of escort vessels. The convoy was met en route by armed patrol yacht HMS Breda from convoy FS.170. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 16th.
Convoy FS.170 departed the Tyne, escorted by sloop HMS Grimsby and armed patrol yacht HMS Breda. The yacht was detached en route to convoy FN.171. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 16th.
The War at Sea, Tuesday, 14 May 1940 (naval-history.net)
Aircraft carriers FURIOUS and GLORIOUS departed the Clyde at 2130 escorted by destroyers DIANA, VETERAN, VISCOUNT, and WITHERINGTON for operations off Norway.
Destroyer AMAZON was recalled from an anti-submarine force at 1155/14th. She departed Scapa Flow at 2200 to relieve WITHERINGTON.
Light cruiser AURORA, anti-aircraft cruiser COVENTRY, destroyers FAME and WREN bombarded Narvik.
Destroyer SOMALI (D.6) and French destroyer FOUDROYANT departed Harstad with ammunition for allied troops at Mo. The ammunition was delivered.
The destroyers operated in area of Bodø, Ranenfjord, Mo, Hemnes during the day. Destroyer FOUDROYANT bombarded German targets at Hemnes and Sund.
The ships returned towards Harstad early the next day.
Polish troopship CHROBRY (11,442grt) departed Tjelsundet for Bodø with Destroyer WOLVERINE and sloop STORK escorting and screened by anti-aircraft cruiser CURLEW.
In low level bombing attacks, troopship CHROBRY was hit by two or three bombs at 2350/14th in 67 40N, 13 50E in Vestfjord and was badly damaged. The troopship was set afire by the bombing and abandoned.
Eleven crew were lost on the Polish troopship. Temporary Lt Cdr J. D. Arrowsmith RNR, of VICTORY was lost on the troopship.
Destroyer WOLVERINE and sloop STORK took off the 1000 survivors and Aircraft from aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL scuttled the wreck midday on the 15th.
The survivors were returned to Harstad.
In air combat off Skaanland near Tranoy, two Skuas of 803 Squadron from aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL were lost.
Lt W. P. Lucy DSO, Lt M. C. E. Hanson DSC, in one aircraft were shot down and lost. Lt T. E. Gray and Leading Airman A. G. Clayton ran out of fuel and force landed the other aircraft, but were rescued by destroyer ENCOUNTER.
Destroyer FEARLESS departed Scapa Flow at 1800 for Middlesbrough for refitting.
Destroyer FEARLESS arrived at 0700/15th.
Destroyer HASTY departed Scapa Flow at 1500 for Plymouth en route to Mediterranean Fleet duty.
Destroyers JACKAL and JAVELIN departed Scapa Flow for Harwich.
Destroyer NUBIAN departed Scapa Flow at 2130 with 1200 extra high explosive shells.
Destroyer NUBIAN arrived at Plymouth en route to duty with the Mediterranean Fleet.
Destroyer KANDAHAR departed the Tyne at 1450 for Plymouth en route to duty in the Mediterranean Fleet.
Destroyer GALLANT departed the Tyne at 1330 for Harwich for duty with the Commander in Chief, Nore.
Destroyer GRENADE departed Liverpool on the 13th and arrived at Dover on the 14th.
As destroyer GRENADE was entered the port at 0930, she collided with Anti-submarine trawler CAYTON WYKE (373grt), which had just left Dover.
Destroyer GRENADE was not watertight above the water line and required docking which was done at Harwich. Boiler cleaning was also accomplished during this docking period, completing on the 25th.
Destroyers INGLEFIELD and SIKH were detached from Vice Admiral Aircraft Carrier’s screen for Plymouth.
Destroyer INGLEFIELD arrived at Plymouth for refitting at 1530/17th.
Following the refitting, destroyer INGLEFIELD arrived back at Scapa Flow at 2215 on 8 June.
Destroyer SIKH for boiler cleaning. She was diverted en route to Scapa Flow, where she arrived at 1400/16th.
French light cruiser MONTCALM and destroyers BRESTOIS and BOULONNAIS departed the Clyde to return to Brest, arriving on the 15th.
Destroyers serving with the Home Fleet to reassigned to duties with the Nore Command the Mediterranean Fleet.
To the Nore Command,
1st Destroyer Flotilla, Destroyers CODRINGTON (D.1), GRAFTON, GRENADE, GRIFFIN, GREYHOUND, and ORP BURZA. (Destroyer ORP BŁYSKAWICA on completion of repairs from depot ship WOOLWICH to join).
7th Destroyer Flotilla, Destroyers JACKAL, JAVELIN, and JAGUAR. (Destroyers JERVIS, JERSEY, and JUPITER on completion of repairs and refittings).
To the Mediterranean Fleet,
2nd Destroyer Flotilla, Destroyers HYPERION, HOSTILE, HEREWARD, and HAVOCK. (Destroyers HASTY and HERO temporarily attached).
3rd Destroyer Flotilla, Destroyers ILEX and IMPERIAL.
4th Destroyer Flotilla, Destroyers NUBIAN and MOHAWK.
5th Destroyer Flotilla, Destroyers KANDAHAR, KHARTOUM, KINGSTON, and KIMBERLEY.
7th Destroyer Flotilla, Destroyers JANUS and JUNO.
French torpedo boat L’INCOMPRISE was bombed and damaged while supporting the defense of Bergen op Zoom, Holland.
Despite the efforts of troops ashore and of L’INCOMPRISE, French submarine chasers CH.6, CH.9, CH.41, Bergen op Zoom fell to German forces.
As the fighting progressed in Zuid Beveland towards Walcheren, French destroyers FOUGUEUX and FRONDEUR arrived on the 16th to support troops ashore. They were joined by destroyers WOLSEY and VIMIERA. The French destroyers bombarded the Germans advancing on South Beveland. The Destroyers do not appear to have opened fire.
French destroyers CYCLONE and SIROCCO departed Dover on the 16th with Prince Bernhard and arrived on the 17th. During the forenoon of 17 May, the French destroyers bombarded German troops. Destroyers WOLSEY and VIMIERA provided anti-aircraft protection.
Finally, allied troops were withdrawn to Walcheren and some three hundred more arrived from Zuid Beveland. French Vice Amiral Charles Platon was placed in charge of the evacuation and before Walcheren fell on the 18th, 1800 allied troops were evacuated by French torpedo boats BOUCLIER, BRANLEBAS, FLORE, CORDELIERE, and MELPOMENE.
Destroyer VESPER arrived at Ijmuiden at 0700/14th with messages.
At 1330/14th, destroyer HAVOCK entered Ijmuiden and soon departed with some refugees after disembarking an officer on a special mission.
At 2200/14th, destroyer HAVOCK again entered Ijmuiden.
Early on the 14th, destroyer VALENTINE embarked ammunition brought to Dunkirk by destroyer WHITSHED.
Destroyers WINCHESTER and WHITSHED departed Dunkirk to join destroyer KEITH for Operation ORDNANCE, evacuation of the Hook of Holland.
Destroyers WHITLEY and WESTMINSTER from Flushing were also ordered to ORDNANCE.
At 1115, destroyer WESTMINSTER departed Flushing for the Hook of Holland. Destroyers WHITLEY and VIMIERA were actively engaging German aircraft while patrolling off Flushing.
Destroyer VALENTINE arrived back at Flushing from Dunkirk at 2030 to take over duties as SNO.
In Operation ORDNANCE, destroyers KEITH (Captain D. J. R. Simson, D.17), BOREAS (Lt Cdr M. W. Tomkinson), BRILLIANT (Lt Cdr F. C. Brodrick), VERITY (Lt Cdr A. R. M. Black), WIVERN (Cdr W. C. Bushell), and WOLSEY (Lt Cdr C. H.Campbell) departed Dover at 0947 to evacuate troops at Hook of Holland. They rendezvoused at sea off the Maas Light Vessel with destroyers WHITLEY (Lt Cdr G. N. Rolfe), WHITSHED (Cdr E. R. Conder), and WINCHESTER (Lt Cdr S. E. Crewe-Read) which came up from Dunkirk.
The destroyers joined Destroyers MALCOLM (Captain T. E. Halsey, D.16, Senior Naval Officer), VESPER (Lt Cdr W. F. E. Hussey), and WESTMINSTER (Lt Cdr A. A. C. Ouvry) which were already at Hook of Holland and the evacuation took place as planned.
Four Blenheims and twelve Hurricanes operated in support.
Destroyer WHITSHED was the first embarked and she departed at 1230/14th.
Destroyer VESPER was damaged by near misses of German air bombing. Destroyer VESPER was repaired at Dover, completing repairs on 3 June.
Destroyer MALCOLM sustained some damage from near misses of German bombs.
Destroyer WHITSHED, which departed Dover at 0430/14th, evacuated 300 of the Guards Battalion, the Heywood Mission, consular officials left Hook of Holland arrived at Dover at 1900/14th.
Destroyers BOREAS ran into destroyer BRILLIANT’s stern off the Hook of Holland.
The destroyers were escorted by destroyer WINCHESTER as far as the West Hinder Buoy. They reached the Downs that evening and anchored for the night.
Destroyers BOREAS and BRILLIANT were repaired at Blackwall, completed on 17 June and 19 June, respectively.
After escorting the damaged BOREAS and BRILLIANT, destroyer WINCHESTER proceeded to Flushing.
Destroyers MALCOLM, VESPER, and WESTMINSTER arrived at Dover at 2357/14th with the first load of evacuatees, the Marines landing party, the XD Hook of Holland demolition party, civilians, 150,000 pounds sterling in diamonds on board destroyer MALCOLM.
At 2230, the remaining 350 Guards were embarked at Hook of Holland on destroyer VESPER.
To block the Hook of Holland, torpedoes were to be fired at the North Breakwater to silt up the harbour.
Destroyers KEITH, WIVERN, VERITY, and WOLSEY were detached for this duty.
Destroyer WIVERN was damaged by the near miss of two air bombs with Midshipman K. T. Briggs RNR, Probationary Temporary S/Lt R. S. Brown RNVR, twenty-five ratings killed and thirty-two wounded, including Lt S. E. Pritchard.
Destroyer WIVERN fired one torpedo due to damage. The other three destroyers fired a total of ten torpedoes.
Destroyer WIVERN returned to Dover arriving at 2330/14th.
Destroyer WIVERN departed Dover at 1519/16th for Portsmouth for repairs completed on 20 June.
Early on the 15th, destroyers WESTMINSTER and VIMIERA (Lt Cdr R. B. N. Hicks) arrived at Dover. Destroyer VENOMOUS (Cdr J. E. H.McBeath), which had picked up some of the XD AIjmuiden demolition party and fifty civilians at sea from a tug and a motor launch, arrived at Dover at 1825.
The evacuation was declared completed.
Destroyers KEITH, VERITY, and WOLSEY were withdrawn from the Hook of Holland at 1730/14th for Dover. At 1825, the destroyers were ordered to embark Dutch troops at Scheveringen and the Hook of Holland.
British steamers CANTERBURY, MONA’S ISLE, MAID OF ORLEANS, and KING GEORGE V and destroyers were sent to Ijmuiden and Texel.
At 2200/14th, the Dutch ceased resistance and the final treaty was signed at 0930/15th. The plans to evacuate Dutch troops from Hook of Holland, Ijmuiden, Schweningen, Texel were abandoned.
The steamers were released for other duties.
Destroyer WESSEX arrived at Dover at 1616 with Vice Admiral Sir Gerald C. Dickens, KCVO, CB, CMB (ret), the naval attache at the Hague, two Dutch engineers.
Belgian steamer VILLE DE BRUGES (13,869grt) was badly damaged by German bombing in the River Scheldt, ten miles from Antwerp.
Two crew were killed and one later died of wounds.
The steamer beached, caught fire, was abandoned a total loss.
Dutch light cruisers SUMATRA and JACOB VAN HEEMSKERCK departed Holland for England rather than be scuttled or fall into German hands.
Light cruiser JACOB VAN HEEMSKERCK, fitting out at Amsterdam, was towed away on the 10th. She arrived in the Downs on the 11th.
Light cruiser SUMATRA arrived in the Humber on the 11th.
Dutch destroyer ISAAC SWEERS, also incomplete, was also towed from Flushing on the 10th by Dutch tug ZWARTSEE to England. The destroyer and tug arrived at the Downs on the 11th in the company of submarines O.21, O.22, and tug SCHELDT.
Submarine O.21 departed Flushing on the 10th escorted by Dutch tug SCHELDE. They arrived in the Downs on the 11th.
Submarine O.22 departed Flushing on the 10th in tow for Dover. The submarine arrived in the Downs on the 11th.
Light cruiser JACOB VAN HEEMSKERCK and destroyer ISAAC SWEERS were sent on to Spithead, arriving on the 12th. The light cruiser was able to accompany light cruiser SUMATRA in June on a voyage to Halifax, but returned to complete construction 17 February 1941.
Dutch submarines O.9, O.10, O.13, O.21, O.22, O.23, and O.24 were able to escape to England. Submarines O.23 and O.24 departed Rotterdam late on the 13th.
Submarine O.13 arrived at Dover on the 12th escorted by Dutch minesweeper JAN VAN GELDER.
Dutch submarines O.13, O.21, and O.22 and minesweeper JAN VAN GELDER arrived at Portsmouth on the 12th.
Dutch submarines O.9, O.10, and O.24 arrived in the Downs on the 13th escorted by minelayer WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN.
Dutch submarine O.23 arrived unescorted in the Downs on the 13th.
Submarines O.9, O.10, O.23, and O24 arrived at Portsmouth, via Dover, on the 16th.
In addition, O.14 and O.15, which were in the Dutch Indies on escort duties, were taken under the control of Commander in Chief, American and West Indies Command.
However, not all naval craft were gotten away. Light cruisers DE ZEVERN PROVICIEN and EENDRACHT, building at Wilton-Fijenoord and Rotterdam, respectively, were captured on the building slips.
Incomplete destroyers GERALD CALLENBERG at Rotterdam and TJERK HIDDES at Nieuwe Waterweg were scuttled.
Submarines O.8, O.11, and O.12, under repair at Den Helder, O.25, on the slip at Schiedam, were scuttled.
Submarine O.8 was salved as German UD 1 and commissioned on 21 November 1940; O.12 was salved as UD.2 and commissioned on 14 January 1943; O.25, which had only been launched on the 1st 1940, was commissioned as UD.3 on 8 June 1941; O.26 was launched on 23 November 1940 and commissioned as UD.4 on 28 January 1941; and O.27 was launched on 26 September 1941 and commissioned as UD.5 on 1 November 1941.
None of these submarines were deployed in war patrols.
Also, a number of other small ships were scuttled because they were blocked in ports by ships that had been sunk by mines or bombers or to block channels.
Dutch steamer JAN PIETERSZOON (1140grt) was sunk as a blockship at Ijmiuden.
Dutch tug NOORDZEE (260grt) was sunk by a mine at Flushing.
Swedish steamer FRAMNAS (721grt) was seized by German forces at Stavanger and renamed BORGEN for German service.
On Operation ALABASTER, British troopships LANCASTRIA (16,243grt) and FRANCONIA (20,175grt) departed the Clyde at 1900 with troops to relieve the Marine garrison taken to Iceland the week before. The troopships were escorted by destroyers FOXHOUND and HAVANT.
Destroyer FOXHOUND departed Reykavik at 1200/19th and landed troops at Akreyri during the morning of 20 May.
After safely delivering the troops, the British force arrived back in the Clyde on the 25th at 0540.
Minelayers TEVIOTBANK and PLOVER departed the Humber in convoy FN.172. They were first escorted by destroyers VIMY and WINDSOR. The minelayers arrived at Rosyth on the 17th, escorted by destroyers VIVIEN and VALOROUS.
The minelayers departed Rosyth on the 17th escorted by destroyer SABRE and armed patrol yacht BREDA. They arrived at Scapa Flow on the 18th.
On 18 May, destroyer SABRE obtained a submarine contact in 58 41N, 03 54W. She was joined by destroyer MASHONA early on the 19th from Scapa Flow.
The minelayers were to have gone to Narvik, but they were held at Scapa Flow.
Minelayers TEVIOTBANK and PLOVER departed Scapa Flow at 1430/29th, escorted by destroyer ATHERSTONE, arrived at Rosyth at 1230/30th.
Submarine SALMON arrived at Harwich after refitting at Chatham.
Submarine CLYDE sighted an enemy transport ship west of Stadlandet. However, the contact was lost in low visibility before the submarine could attack.
French submarine CASABIANCA sighted a German convoy off Lister, but it was too distant to attack.
On 14 May, armed merchant cruisers PATROCLUS, AUSTURIAS, CARINTHIA, and DERBYSHIRE, CHESHIRE were ordered to assume patrol off Vigo and Lisbon in readiness to intercept Italian merchant ships if Italy entered the war.
Four armed merchant cruisers, CANTON, CORFU, MALOJA, and MONTCLARE, were ordered on the 21st to replace the armed merchant cruisers on this detail. Armed merchant cruiser ASTURIAS’ assignment was unaffected. The patrol was maintained by Commander in Chief Western Approaches after this duty.
This patrol was cancelled on the 31st.
Convoy FN.171 departed Southend, unescorted due to lack of escort vessels. The convoy was met en route by armed patrol yacht BREDA from convoy FS.170. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 16th.
Convoy FS.170 departed the Tyne, escorted by sloop GRIMSBY and armed patrol yacht BREDA. The yacht was detached en route to convoy FN.171. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 16th.
In the South Atlantic, German raider ORION refueled from German tanker WINNETOU (5113grt), which had departed Las Palmas on 9 April.
German tanker WINNETOU went on to refuel armed merchant cruiser ORION again on 20 June before setting off for Japan.
President Roosevelt conferred with War Department, Navy, Treasury, budget and Congressional leaders in Washington today on the national defense problems with which he will deal in a message he plans to send to Congress tomorrow or Thursday and stated at his press conference that he was not especially concerned whether Congress raised the necessary funds by taxation or by increasing the national debt limit. He also conferred with Josephus Daniels, Ambassador to Mexico, and Governor Lehman of New York.
The Senate approved the Fourth Reorganization order and the conference report on the $135,684,330 Interior Department Appropriation Bill, confirmed the nomination of J. Monroe Johnson to be a member of the I.C.C., received the Vinson bill authorizing an 11 percent expansion in naval strength and recessed at 5:15 PM until noon tomorrow.
The House returned to conference the Labor Department-Federal Security Administration Appropriation Bill, considered the conference report on the Department of Agriculture Appropriation Bill and adjourned at 5:52 PM until noon tomorrow. The Judiciary Committee approved five changes in the Hatch Bill and the Naval Affairs Committee heard Rear Admiral Robinson on navy needs.
An extraordinary arms program boosting next fiscal year’s defense spending to over $2,500,000,000 was reported in the making tonight after President Roosevelt had asserted, with the utmost emphasis, that European events dictated an immediate expansion and modernization of America’s armed forces. Coatless, seated behind a desk piled high with papers as the result of long conferences on the subject, Mr. Roosevelt informed reporters that the program may cost a great deal of money, but must be undertaken in any event. He said that whether the money was raised by borrowing, increasing the $45,000,000,000 legal limit on the national debt or by taxation was a minor detail. The important thing, he said, was the national defense, and the main thing was to get the money to work making America’s defense impregnable. An official message to congress detailing his recommendations will go to the capitol tomorrow if he can finish it by then, he said, and if not will be dispatched by Thursday. There was no official word as to what sum it would ask, but estimates in high quarters ranged from $750,000,000 to roughly $1,000,000.000. Even the lower figure, when added to sums already voted or pending, would raise the total defense outlay for the year starting July 1 above $2,500,000,000.
President Roosevelt’s reorganization plan No. Four, which will transfer the Civil Aeronautics Authority to the Department of Commerce, survived one of the sharpest contests of the session today when the Senate voted down, 46 to 34, a resolution to invalidate it.
General John J. Pershing, commander of American forces in France in the First World War, said in a formal statement that “every energy in this country” should be devoted to “preparedness against the possibility of war.”
The U.S. Navy recommended an immediate appropriation of $300,000,000 for expediting work on 68 combat and auxiliary vessels, now under construction, with the work week of shipyard employees increased from 32 or 40 to 48 hours and three shifts on the job.
Senator Taft, Ohio Republican, accused the administration of using the emergency defense situation as “an excuse to exceed the debt limit, which is really being broken through its own domestic extravagance.” Senator LaFollette, Wisconsin Progressive, demanded an “intelligent tax program.” Senator McNary of Oregon, the Republican leader, said he was opposed to raising the debt limit; that additional defense needs should be met through new taxes. Senator Lodge, Massachusetts Republican, noting the tremendous effectiveness of Germany’s aviation, called for the establishment of “at least three new training centers in the United States so that our production of pilots will keep pace with our production of airplanes.”
With national attention directed more and more toward foreign affairs, Secretary of State Cordell Hull has become the leading choice for the Presidency among Democrats, if President Roosevelt fails to run for a third term, according to a survey by the American Institute of Public Opinion.
The New York Times says that Great Britain and France have placed “large orders” of steel in the United States during the last few days to compensate for an estimated loss of between 2,000,000 and 2,500,000 tons imported annually from Scandinavia, Belgium and Luxembourg. Details of tonnages and destination are “closely guarded secrets” of American producers, it adds.
Major League Baseball:
Boston’s Jimmie Foxx blasts a 10th inning home run off White Sox pitcher Johnny Rigney to give first place Boston a 7–6 win. The ball goes over the left field roof, the longest poke in Comiskey Park history. It was the seocnd home run of the game for Foxx.
Effective pitching by Emil (Dutch) Leonard in the pinches and the hard hitting of Gerald Walker enabled the Senators to down the Tigers, 4–2, today.
Al Simmons’s ninth-inning pinch single with the bases full gave the Philadelphia Athletics two runs and a 9–7 victory in its series opener with the Cleveland Indians today, the Athletics shelling Bob Feller from the mound and pounding two other hurlers for a total of fifteen hits.
At the Polo Grounds, the Pirates spot the Giants two runs then come back to win 7–2 behind Bob Klinger. Elbie Fletcher hits a grand slam in the Bucs five-run 6th. The loss snapped a six-game winning streak for the Giants.
The Dodgers edged the Reds in 13 innings today to move back into first place in the National League. Gene Moore scored the winning run on a sacrifice fly to give Brooklyn the 6–5 win.
Right-hander Hugh Mulcahy shut out the Cardinals with nine hits and drove in three runs today in the Phillies’ 4–0 triumph over the St. Louis club.
Cincinnati Reds 5, Brooklyn Dodgers 6
Boston Red Sox 7, Chicago White Sox 6
Philadelphia Athletics 9, Cleveland Indians 7
Washington Senators 4, Detroit Tigers 2
Pittsburgh Pirates 7, New York Giants 2
St. Louis Cardinals 0, Philadelphia Phillies 4
The U.S. State Department informed the Uruguayan Government and Narciso Garay, Foreign Minister of Panama, today that the United States “will be glad” to join with Uruguay and the nineteen other American republics in a declaration of protest against the German invasion of the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.
Lessened tension over the Netherlands Indies is revealed in the Japanese press this morning as a result of guarantees that Japan’s supplies of essential materials, including oil, will not be diminished.
The Australian sailing ship Scalaria sank in the Pacific Ocean off Wyndham, Western Australia.
Prices of securities and commodities crumbled yesterday under the weight of war developments adverse to the Allies. Stocks crashed 3 to 19 points on a volume of 3,680,410 shares on the New York Stock Exchange, the heaviest there since last September.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 128.27 (-9.36)
Born:
H. Jones, British Army officer and posthumous recipient of the Victoria Cross, in Putney, London, England, United Kingdom (d. 1982). He was awarded the VC after being killed in action during the Battle of Goose Green for his actions as commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, during the Falklands War.
Charles “Chay” Blyth, Scottish yachtsman and rower, first person to sail singlehanded around the world (1971), in Hawick, Scotland, United Kingdom.
Died:
Emma Goldman, 70, Russian-American anarchist, writer (“Anarchism and Other Essays”; “Living My Life”), publisher (“Mother Earth”), and feminist, from stroke complications.
Willem Johannes Leyds, 81, Dutch-South Africa lawyer and diplomat (State Secretary of the South African Republic).
Naval Construction:
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type XIV U-boats U-459, U-460, U-461, and U-462 are ordered from Deutsche Werke AG, Kiel (werk 290-293) .
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary Ranger-class fleet support tanker RFA Gold Ranger (A 130) is laid down by Caledon Shipbuilding Co Ltd. (Dundee, Scotland).
The U.S. Navy Lassen-class ammunition ship USS Rainier (AE-5) is laid down by the Tampa Shipbuilding Co. (Tampa, Florida).
The U.S. Navy 81-foot Higgins patrol motor torpedo boat USS PT-6, sole boat of her type, is laid down by by Higgins Industries (New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A.).
The U.S. Navy prototype (110-foot wooden hull) submarine chaser USS SC-449 is launched by Luders Marine Construction Co. (Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.A.).
History Diaries 