British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Foreign Minister Anthony Eden traveled to France for a Supreme War Council meeting at Chateau du Muguet near Briare. The Anglo-French Supreme War Council met at a chateau in Briare which General Maxime Weygand was using as a military headquarters. Weygand wanted Churchill to send the entire Royal Air Force to France, but Churchill disagreed, saying that if the Germans would divert their air power to the skies over Britain, the French Army would get a chance to regroup. Churchill defers to Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding, who refuses to send more squadrons. Churchill renews his vow to defend France, but also strongly hints at his true view of the situation by encouraging the French to begin guerrilla warfare. He pointedly reminds the French of their 28 March 1940 agreement not to make a separate peace.
Churchill expressed determination to fight on until all of France’s territory was recovered, no matter how much of it fell to the Germans in the interim, and suggested that the French could resort to guerrilla warfare if the time came when traditional military operations were no longer possible. The French were not receptive to this proposal, alarmed at the prospect of Paris being reduced to ruins while the general outcome of the war remained unchanged. Churchill brought up the question of what the French Navy would do if the Army suspended fighting, but Paul Reynaud ended the meeting by stating that the French were as determined to continue fighting as the British were. French Navy Admiral François Darlan assured Churchill that the French fleet would not fall into German hands.
Churchill arrived here this afternoon with senior figures including Mr. Anthony Eden and Sir John Dill, Chief of the Imperial General Staff, to find out what the French are planning to do. Weygand, established in a railway carriage, greeted the British with the news the “the last line of defense has been pierced… We are going to have to ask how France can continue the war.”
There is an air of unreality to the proceedings, almost as if everyone is just going through the motions and disconnected from the awful reality. French Marshal Pétain (84) interrupts the conference with his own take on strategy: “We don’t seem to be making much use of carrier pigeons.”
This evening, after dinner, Reynaud told Churchill that Marshal Petain had already written down an appeal to the Germans for an armistice, but, Reynaud said: “He is ashamed to show it to me.” Churchill told the gloomy French leaders that no matter what they did “we shall fight on forever.”
The conference continues on the 12th. General Spears, along with Churchill, notes: “I was suddenly aware that the battle of France was over and that no one believed in miracles.”
The French government moved to Tours.
German 7th Panzer Division under Rommel captured Le Havre, France, then turned back and drove 30 miles to the northeast to St-Valery-en-Caux, where the German troops succeeded in encircling 46,000 French and British troops (51st Highland Division).
In northern France, troops under Guderian captured Reims.
German 4th Army pushes bridgeheads over the Seine River between Rouen and Paris. Wehrmacht troops of the 4th Army enter the distant Paris suburbs at Pontoise, northwest of the city.
The Germans have established three bridgeheads across the Seine and have crossed the Marne, thus separating the French 4th and 6th Armies. Panzer Group Guderian takes Reims.
At Soissons, the French Army pulls back across the Aisne River.
Late in the day, Kleist’s forces crossed the Marne at Château-Thierry. The German 18th Army is approaching Paris. Faced with an unstoppable pincer attack, the French government declares Paris an open city.
The military governor, General Hering, declares Paris an open city. Meanwhile, a great exodus of citizens has been underway, organized by George Mandel, the Minister of the Interior.
The refugee crisis hits Paris, as long lines of traffic snakes out of the city with headlights dimmed, packed with gear, and mattresses on the roofs.
In the south, Italian troops began tentatively crossing the Alps toward the French border.
The RAF bombed the El Adem airfield in Italian Libya. The Italians responded a few hours later by bombing Malta.
The Siege of Malta began.
The RAF conducted an overnight raid on Turin and Genoa. Bombs intended for the Fiat headquarters and manufacturing plant in Turin missed their targets and killed 14 civilians near the city center, an event the Italians publicized as an act of terrorism.
Armored cars of the British 11th Hussars armored regiment crossed into Libya and capture Italian prisoners who were unaware they were already at war. At 12:01 a.m. on June 11, men of the 11th Hussars begin cutting gaps in the barbed-wire fences marking the frontier, and are soon attacking Italian truck traffic along the coast road.
A British patrol raids Italian positions at Sidi Omar. Ground hostilities in North Africa commence when a British patrol raids Sidi Omar and the Italians also stage raids. The British 11th Hussars send armored cars into Libya and take some Italian troops as prisoners. The Italians do not even realize they are at war yet.
Adolf Hitler gives an interview to German-born UP reporter Carl von Wiegand which is published a couple of days from now. Wiegand had been the first US reporter to interview German crown prince Wilhelm, the first interview given by a German noble during World War I, and Hitler references almost everything back to the Great War. This interview is entitled “Europe for the Europeans: Adolf Hitler on the international situation during the war in France; An interview granted to Karl v. Wiegand, Führer’s Headquarters, June 11, 1940.” Hitler expresses his desire not to destroy the British Empire, but instead to “destroy those who are destroying that Empire.” He believes that US aid to Britain will not affect the outcome of the war.
Official circles in London today welcomed President Roosevelt’s speech on the Italian Entry into the war, declaring it would “hearten and encourage those whom he describes as ‘giving their lifeblood in a combat against gods of force and hate.’” These circles said the allies “will fight with all the greater confidence now that they have heard the president’s uncompromising championship of their cause. The material resources of the United States, added to those of the allies will prove to be a vital factor in the struggle now going on between democracies of the west and the anti-Christian forces of barbarism.”
Clement Attlee, Lord Privy Seal, addresses the House of Commons about (among other things) the Italian entry into the war. He uses quite colorful metaphors, comparing the Duce to a “jackal” and a “sneak-thief”:
“Signor Mussolini thinks that he sees a chance of securing some spoils at the expense of the Western democracies now that they are at grips with the brute forces of Germany. Signor Mussolini uses the argument of the jackal which scents the possibility of getting some scraps from another beast’s kill. He puts forward the argument of the petty sneak-thief to rob and rifle the pockets of the murderer’s victim.”
He concludes that Mussolini’s aim, like Hitler’s, is to “destroy democracy.”
The British government extends its internment policy to include all male Italians, 16 and over, who have lived in the country for fewer than 20 years. There is no trial, and some are political refugees who fled Mussolini’s regime.
The Polish Government in Exile signed an agreement with the British Government to form a Polish Army in Great Britain and, specifically, a Polish Air Force in Great Britain.
British law dictated that all British citizens who owned an Anderson shelter must have it installed by this date.
The exiled Ethiopian Emperor, Haile Selassie, reappeared on the scene today after four years of obscurity in an apparent attempt to regain his throne. On the news that Italy had entered the war he left his home in Bath, England, and hurried to London.
Large numbers of Italian troops were reported early today to have been landed along the Yugoslav coast at two Italian points and the Belgrade government prepared to fight in defense of her territory if necessary. Reports from Split on the Adriatic coast said that large forces of Italian troops had been landed at the Italian port of Zara, which is a small “island” of Italian territory on the Yugoslavian mainland, and on the Italian island of Lagosta.
The Vatican maintained an attitude of absolute reserve tonight in the face of Italy’s entrance into the war. The Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, published only official communications, and added no comment. A Vatican source commented: “Naturally the Vatican’s attitude and responsibility are quite different from that of the Italian clergy and Catholics. While the Holy See is responsible before Catholics of all nations and the responsibility must shape its attitude, the Italian clergy and Catholics have their own special duties toward their country.”
Cardinal Eugene Tisserant,a high official of the Vatican library, writes to Cardinal Suhard, Archbishop of Paris, that “our superiors do not want to understand the real nature of this conflict.” Tisserant says he has pleaded with Pope Pius XII, without success, to issue an encyclical, but “I fear that history will reproach the Holy See with having practiced a policy of selfish convenience and not much else.”
Italy severed relations with Norway.
The Balkans spent a quiet day awaiting the development of Italy’s hostility on a truly warlike scale and watching Ankara and Moscow for signs of their future policies. Contradictory reports continue concerning Turkish plans, but nothing appears certain yet.
RAF aircraft attacked German vessels at Trondheim, Norway.
In North Africa, the RAF launched two raids against the Italian airfield at El Adem, Libya, destroying all 18 enemy aircraft on the ground.
Italian troops tonight were reported driving upon France’s strategic East African port of Djibouti after air bombings of Great Britain’s bases at Malta and Aden in an effort to cut the Allies’ empire communications.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 36 Whitley aircraft to attack targets in Turin and Genoa overnight. From bases in the Channel Island, RAF Whitley bombers attacked the Italian city of Turin and bombed the Fiat factories, and also bombed Genoa in Italy.
The French in Marseilles demonstrate seeming ambivalence, or perhaps outright despair, about the course of the war when they block runways to prevent their use by RAF Wellington bombers. Their apparent objective is to prevent Italian reprisal raids. Marseilles already has suffered damage in Luftwaffe raids, but Marseilles is a much easier target from northern Italy than from Germany.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches aircraft to attack German troops and lines of communication during the day.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches aircraft to attack various targets overnight.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches aircraft to attack the Black Forest overnight in an effort to cause fires.
The first Hurricane Mk II prototype aircraft, actually a converted production Mk I example, took its first flight.
Luftwaffe bombers attacked Paris, France.
The Luftwaffe establishes liaison staff attached to Regia Aeronautica.
Italian bombers attack French targets, including Toulon.
The Italians made the first of seven attacks against Malta. Ten Italian Z.1007 Alcione bombers attacked Grand Harbour, RAF Hal Far, and Kalafrana in Malta, killing 1 civilian and 6 soldiers. RAF Hal Far was the first of the three major Malta airfields to be attacked during the war. The entire RAF fighter defense of 4 Gloster Sea Gladiators on the island of Malta only managed to damage one enemy aircraft. The raid destroys one of the four Sea Gladiator fighters defending the island. The islanders or airmen will not name the remaining three. However ‘Faith’, ‘Hope’ and ‘Charity’ are the names bestowed by newsmen. These names have been repeated and become part of the lore about WWII. The three obsolete fighters are flown by flying-boat pilots as the RAF has no presence on the island.
An Italian air raid is made on Tunisia.
Italian bombers attack the British base at Aden.
An Italian air raid strikes Port Sudan.
Norwegian trawler Borgund rescued 37 survivors of sunken HMS Glorious and 2 survivors of sunken HMS Acasta.
Aboard HMS Ark Royal, 0800 saw the departure of another search, this time by nine Swordfish out to 120 miles between 181 northward to 359 degrees. Nothing was sighted, but thick weather ahead was reported.
At 0830, Lt. G. E. D. Finch-Noyes section of 800 Squadron (three Skuas) went up after another snooper but it was a friendly Coastal Command flying boat. At 1200, Ark Royal entered the weather front and flying was suspended.
Meanwhile, word had come in via Coastal Command photo recon efforts that the elusive German warships which had sunk HMS Glorious (by now the Germans had announced their success to the world) were in Trondheim harbor. In an effort to rid themselves of the enemy’s remaining capital ships, Ark Royal was going to strike the enemy where they lay. Unfortunately, for the FAA crews that would be involved, Trondheim is not Bergen.
At 0540, destroyers HMS Veteran and HMS Vanoc were ordered to assist Vice Admiral Northern Patrol in rounding up Italian merchant ships.
Destroyers HMS Wolverine and HMS Witherington, en route to Sullom Voe, were ordered at 1310 to 59-58N, 0-10W to rescue the crew of a Sunderland down in the water. They were later advised the plane had taken off again, and arrived at Sullom Voe at 1900.
Troopship Britannic (26,943grt) departed Liverpool escorted by destroyers HMS Warwick and HMS Witch for Bermuda.
After a Wellington went down in the sea in 51-47N, 1-57E, destroyers HMS Jackal and HMS Foresight were sent to search.
Dutch submarine O-13 arrived at Aberdeen and departed that day on patrol.
Destroyer HMS Wanderer departed Dover at 1225 for Plymouth. This left only destroyer HMS Vesper available at Dover. She was on patrol from South Goodwins to Dungeness.
Canadian destroyers HMCS Restigouche and HMCS St Laurent and destroyer HMS Broke operated off St Valery en Caux. Broke and corvette HMS Gardenia embarked wounded from St Valery and took them to Portsmouth.
Destroyer HMS Harvester was shelled ten miles west of Havre, but sustained no damage.
HMCS St Laurent and HMCS Restigouche exchanged fire with German artillery battery at St. Valery-en-Caux during the evacuation of the British 51st Highland Division & French troops. These were the first shots fired in anger by the RCN during World War II. Restigouche and St Laurent bombarded German targets at Veules. At Veules, 2,137 British troops and 1,184 French troops were evacuated on the 11th. Restigouche embarked troops off the beach at Veules. Canadian destroyer St Laurent, sloop HMS Wellington, tugs HMS Stalwart and HMS Resolve, drifters HMS Golden Harvest and HMS Golden News were unable to stay in St Valery Harbor during low water and returned to Havre.
The total number of troops evacuated in CYCLE (French north coast) and the later AERIAL (French Biscay coast), which began on the 17th, was 191,870.
French auxiliary patrol vessel Patrice II (247grt) was sunk by German gunfire off Fecamp.
French auxiliary minesweeper La Bretonniere (628grt) was scuttled at Le Havre.
Steamer Bruges (2949grt) was hit by German bombing off Le Havre, and was beached to avoid sinking. Seventy two men were rescued.
French steamers General Metzinger (9345grt), Niobe (1684grt), and Syrie (2460grt) were sunk by German bombing at Le Havre.
Belgian steamers Albertville (11,047grt) and Piriapolis (7340grt) were sunk by German bombing off Le Havre. Albertville was en route to Le Havre from Bordeaux to embark troops.
Norwegian steamer Ellavore (1302grt) was sunk by German bombing at Le Havre. The entire crew was rescued.
The first Italian air raid on Malta occurred. Monitor HMS Terror and gunboats HMS Aphis and HMS Ladybird were in Grand Harbor. Australian destroyer HMAS Vendetta and submarines HMS Otus and HMS Olympus were in the dockyard. Lt (E) E. E. Wellman DSC Rtd and three ratings from HMS St Angelo were killed on the 11th and two more ratings died from wounds the next day from this air raid. There was no damage to any of these vessels. However, after further air raids, Malta was abandoned on the 21st as a submarine base until the anti-aircraft protection could be augmented. The submarines did return to Malta as a base in September.
7th Cruiser Squadron of light cruisers HMS Orion, HMS Neptune, HMAS Sydney, HMS Liverpool, and HMS Gloucester sortied from Alexandria at 0100 ahead of the Main Fleet. The Mediterranean Fleet departed Alexandria at 0230 with battleships HMS Warspite and HMS Malaya, aircraft carrier HMS Eagle, and destroyers HMAS Stuart, HMAS Vampire, HMAS Voyager, HMS Dainty, HMS Hasty, HMS Ilex, HMS Janus, HMS Juno, and HMS Nubian. Light cruiser HMS Caledon joined the fleet at 0840. Light cruiser HMS Calypso, which departed Port Said on the 10th, joined at 1325. Destroyer HMS Mohawk, which departed Alexandria on the 11th after the fleet, joined that afternoon. The Australian destroyers were detached at 1953, and relieved by destroyers HMS Havock, HMS Hyperion, HMS Hero, HMS Hereward, HMS Hostile and HMS Imperial which joined at 1840 after refueling. Destroyer HMS Diamond, which had departed Malta on the 10th, joined the Fleet at sea.
French heavy cruisers Suffren, Duquesne, and Tourville, light cruiser Duguay Trouin, and destroyers Forbin, Fortune, and Basque under Amiral Godfroy departed Beirut to operate in the Kaso Strait as a diversion for the “VADO” operation in the western Mediterranean.
On the 12th, Australian destroyers HMAS Stuart, HMAS Vampire, HMAS Voyager, and HMAS Waterhen departed Alexandria on anti-submarine patrol. Voyager claimed sinking a submarine soon after the destroyers’ departure at dawn off Alexandria. Late on the afternoon of the 12th, Stuart found the minefield laid by Italian submarine Micca earlier on the 12th. She summoned minesweepers HMS Abingdon and HMS Bagshot which cleared a channel for light cruiser HMS Caledon and destroyer HMS Dainty which later arrived at Alexandria from Crete.
Destroyers HMS Watchman, HMS Velox, HMS Keppel, HMS Sturdy, HMS Wishart and HMS Wrestler were deployed to the west of the Straits of Gibraltar to intercept and engage any enemy surface ships trying to pass.
Cable ship HMS Mirror, escorted by destroyer HMS Active and anti-submarine trawler HMS Leyland, proceeded on cable cutting operations. They returned later that day. Danish tug Valkyrian, escorted by destroyer HMS Wrestler and anti-submarine trawler HMS Lord Hotham, departed to cut the Malaga-Rome and Malaga-Barcelona cables. Cover was provided by light cruiser HMS Arethusa and a French submarine. On the 12th, Mirror, escorted by anti-submarine trawler HMS Kingston Chrysolite, sailed to replace Valkyrian, which reported her gear was not suitable to the task. The tug and Lord Hotham returned to Gibraltar, as did Arethusa. Mirror returned to Gibraltar on the 14th after successfully cutting the cables.
Australian light cruiser HMAS Hobart and destroyers HMS Kingston and HMS Khartoum departed Aden to sweep in the Red Sea off the Italian Somali coast. Italian bombers attacked them, but caused no damage. They arrived back late on the 12th without contact.
Late on the 11th Italian heavy cruisers Bolzano, Pola, and Trento of the 3rd Cruiser Division with destroyers Artigliere, Camicia Nera, Aviere, and Geniere of the 11th Destroyer Division and light cruisers D’Aosta and Attendolo of the 7th Cruiser Division with destroyers Lanciere, Carabiniere, Corazziere, and Ascari of the 12th Destroyer Division carried out sweeps in the Sicilian Channel.
Italian steamers Timavo (7549grt) and Gerusalemme (8052grt) departed Durban during the night of 9/10 June. On the 11th, aerial strafing drove Timavo ashore five miles north of St Mary’s Hill, north, northeast of Durban. Gerusalemme was intercepted by armed merchant cruiser Ranchi and ran herself ashore near Oro Point, Mozambique. She was later refloated and taken to Lourenco Marques.
Greek steamers Zinovia (2975grt) and Makis (3546grt) were sunk by mines twenty miles and fifteen miles north of Pantellaria Island, respectively, in the Mediterranean. Two crew was missing from Zinovia, but the entire crew of Makis was rescued.
At 0110 hours, U-48, commanded by Korvettenkapitän Hans Rudolf Rösing, torpedoed and sank Greek steamer Violando N. Goulandris (3598grt) at 44 04N, 12 30W. Violando N. Goulandris (Master Konstantinos L. Vestarchis) was hit on starboard side aft by one G7e torpedo from U-48 while steaming on a non-evasive course at 8 knots in a clear night about 160 miles west-northwest of Cape Finisterre. The ship quickly settled aft and sank by the stern after 15 minutes. The master and five crew members were lost. The survivors had abandoned ship in one lifeboat and managed to reach Cape Finisterre after four days. Of the ship’s complement, 6 died and 22 survived. The 3,598-ton Violando N. Goulandris was carrying wheat and was headed for Waterford, Ireland.
U-101, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Fritz Frauenheim, torpedoed and sank Greek steamer Mount Hymettus (5820grt) at 42 12N, 11 20W. At 2303 hours on 10 June 1940 the Mount Hymettus was stopped by U-101, which had chased the ship since 18.00 hours and the master was ordered to come to the U-boat with the papers. At 00.30 hours, Frauenheim spotted another U-boat and was not sure about its identity, dived when he observed that the unknown U-boat dived and fired a torpedo at the steamer, but it understeered the target. The other U-boat was U-43 (Ambrosius). Frauenheim decided to wait until dawn to sink the steamer, but when he tried to stop the nearest steamer at 0630 hours the ship did not react and morsed that they don’t understand his orders. But then Frauenheim noticed that he had tried to stop the American steam merchant Washington, apologized his mistake and wished the ship a good journey. At 0830 hours on the 11th, U-101 found the Mount Hymettus again, ordered the crew to leave the ship and transferred the master into one of the lifeboats. At 1117 hours, the U-boat hit the ship with one torpedo in the stern, but it remained afloat and had to be sunk with 78 rounds of gunfire. The entire crew of 24 was rescued. The 5,820-ton Mount Hymettus was carrying ballast and was headed for New York, New York.
U-46, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Engelbert Endrass, torpedoed and damaged Motor tanker Athelprince (8782grt) in convoy OG.33F at 43 42N, 13 20W. At 2304 hours on 11 June 1940 the Athelprince in a group of three detached ships from convoy OG-33F was hit aft by one G7a torpedo from U-46 west of Cape Finisterre. The tanker continued after the hit, but its back broke after being hit amidships by one G7e torpedo at 2330 hours. Endrass did not wait for the ship to sink. The Athelprince was salvaged, repaired and returned to service in January 1941. Of the ship’s complement, all 59 survived. The 8,782-ton Athelprince was carrying ballast and was bound for Cienfuegos, Cuba.
Steamer St Ronaig (509grt) was sunk on a mine one mile 132° from West Breakwater Light, Newhaven. Two crewmen were killed, two missing and four crew were rescued.
Convoy OA.166G departs Southend.
Convoy OB.166 departs Liverpool.
Convoy FS.192 departed the Tyne, escorted by sloops HMS Black Swan and HMS Hastings. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 12th.
The War at Sea, Tuesday, 11 June 1940 (naval-history.net)
At 0540, destroyers VETERAN and VANOC were ordered to assist Vice Admiral Northern Patrol in rounding up Italian merchant ships.
At 1030, destroyers ATHERSTONE and VOLUNTEER were ordered to Scapa Flow. ATHERSTONE arrived at 1315. VOLUNTEER departed Sullom Voe at 1300 for Scapa Flow, arrived at 2200, then departed for Liverpool for boiler cleaning and repairs.
Destroyers WOLVERINE and WITHERINGTON, en route to Sullom Voe, were ordered at 1310 to 59-58N, 0-10W to rescue the crew of a Sunderland down in the water. They were later advised the plane had taken off again, and arrived at Sullom Voe at 1900.
Troopship BRITANNIC (26,943grt) departed Liverpool escorted by destroyers WARWICK and WITCH for Bermuda.
After a Wellington went down in the sea in 51-47N, 1-57E, destroyers JACKAL and FORESIGHT were sent to search.
Dutch submarine O.13 arrived at Aberdeen and departed that day on patrol.
Submarine SHARK departed Rosyth on patrol.
Submarines SEALION, SALMON, and SNAPPER departed Rosyth on exercises, and returned later that same day.
Convoy FS.192 departed the Tyne, escorted by sloops BLACK SWAN and HASTINGS. The convoy arrived at Southend on the 12th.
Canadian troop convoy TC.5 departed Halifax, escorted by Canadian destroyers HMCS ASSINIBOINE and HMCS SAGUENAY, at 0900 with troopships DUCHESS OF ATHOLL (20,119grt), SAMARIA (19,597grt), and DUCHESS OF BEDFORD (20,123grt) carrying 1173, 787, and 1792 troops, respectively.
DUCHESS OF ATHOLL came from Montreal departing on the 8th and joined the other two liners at Halifax.
Troopship EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA (21,833grt) departed Halifax with the convoy and was detached on the third day to Iceland. ASSINIBOINE and SAGUENAY were detached at 1800/12th. Battleship REVENGE was the ocean escort.
Convoy TC.5 safely arrived at Liverpool on the 20th escorted by destroyers WANDERER and WITCH and Canadian destroyers HMCS ST LAURENT, HMCS SKEENA, HMCS RESTIGOUCHE, and HMCS FRASER. On the 21st, REVENGE arrived at Plymouth at 0645 and the Canadian destroyers arrived at Plymouth at 0640.
Destroyer WANDERER departed Dover at 1225 for Plymouth. This left only destroyer VESPER available at Dover. She was on patrol from South Goodwins to Dungeness.
Canadian destroyers RESTIGOUCHE and ST LAURENT and destroyer BROKE operated off St Valery en Caux. BROKE and corvette GARDENIA embarked wounded from St Valery and took them to Portsmouth.
Destroyer HARVESTER was shelled ten miles west of Havre, but sustained no damage.
RESTIGOUCHE and ST LAURENT bombarded German targets at Veules. At Veules, 2137 British troops and 1184 French troops were evacuated on the 11th. RESTIGOUCHE embarked troops off the beach at Veules.
The demolition party for Le Havre and Veules was XD J (Cdr C. A. N. Chatwin) .
Canadian destroyer ST LAURENT, sloop WELLINGTON, tugs STALWART and RESOLVE, and drifters GOLDEN HARVEST and GOLDEN NEWS were unable to stay in St Valery Harbour during low water and returned to Havre.
The total number of troops evacuated in CYCLE (French north coast) and the later AERIAL (French Biscay coast), which began on the 17th, was 191,870.
French auxiliary patrol vessel PATRICE II (247grt) was sunk by German gunfire off Fecamp.
French auxiliary minesweeper LA BRETONNIERE (628grt) was scuttled at Le Havre.
Steamer BRUGES (2949grt) was hit by German bombing off Le Havre, and was beached to avoid sinking. Seventy-two men were rescued.
French steamers GENERAL METZINGER (9345grt), NIOBE (1684grt), SYRIE (2460grt) were sunk by German bombing at Le Havre.
Belgian steamers ALBERTVILLE (11,047grt) and PIRIAPOLIS (7340grt) were sunk by German bombing off Le Havre. ALBERTVILLE was en route to Le Havre from Bordeaux to embark troops.
Norwegian steamer ELLAVORE (1302grt) was sunk by German bombing at Le Havre. The entire crew was rescued.
The first Italian air raid on Malta occurred. Monitor TERROR and gunboats APHIS and LADYBIRD were in Grand Harbour. Australian destroyer VENDETTA and submarines OTUS and OLYMPUS were in the dockyard.
Lt (E) E. E. Wellman DSC Rtd and three ratings from ST ANGELO were killed on the 11th and two more ratings died from wounds the next day from this air raid. There was no damage to any of these vessels. However, after further air raids, Malta was abandoned on the 21st as a submarine base until the anti-aircraft protection could be augmented. The submarines did return to Malta as a base in September.
7th Cruiser Squadron of light cruisers ORION, NEPTUNE, SYDNEY, LIVERPOOL, and GLOUCESTER departed Alexandria at 0100 ahead of the Main Fleet. The Mediterranean Fleet departed Alexandria at 0230 with battleships WARSPITE and MALAYA, aircraft carrier EAGLE, and destroyers HMAS STUART, HMAS VAMPIRE, HMAS VOYAGER, DAINTY, HASTY, ILEX, JANUS, JUNO, and NUBIAN.
Light cruiser CALEDON joined the fleet at 0840. Light cruiser CALYPSO, which departed Port Said on the 10th, joined at 1325. Destroyer MOHAWK, which departed Alexandria on the 11th after the fleet, joined that afternoon.
The Australian destroyers were detached at 1953, and relieved by destroyers HAVOCK, HYPERION, HERO, HEREWARD, HOSTILE, and IMPERIAL which joined at 1840 after refueling. Destroyer DIAMOND, which had departed Malta on the 10th, joined the Fleet at sea.
French heavy cruisers SUFFREN, DUQUESNE, and TOURVILLE, light cruiser DUGUAY TROUIN, and destroyers FORBIN, FORTUNE, and BASQUE under Amiral Godfroy departed Beirut to operate in the Kaso Strait as a diversion for the “VADO” operation in the western Mediterranean.
On the 12th, Australian destroyers HMAS STUART, HMAS VAMPIRE, HMAS VOYAGER, and HMAS WATERHEN departed Alexandria on anti-submarine patrol. VOYAGER claimed sinking a submarine soon after the destroyers’ departure at dawn off Alexandria. Late on the afternoon of the 12th, STUART found the minefield laid by Italian submarine MICCA earlier on the 12th. She summoned minesweepers ABINGDON and BAGSHOT which cleared a channel for light cruiser CALEDON and destroyer DAINTY which later arrived at Alexandria from Crete.
Light cruiser DELHI arrived at Gibraltar.
Destroyers WATCHMAN, VELOX, KEPPEL, STURDY, WISHART, and WRESTLER were deployed to the west of the Straits of Gibraltar to intercept and engage any enemy surface ships trying to pass.
Cable ship MIRROR, escorted by destroyer ACTIVE and anti-submarine trawler LEYLAND, proceeded on cable cutting operations. They returned later that day.
Danish tug VALKYRIAN, escorted by destroyer WRESTLER and anti-submarine trawler LORD HOTHAM, departed to cut the Malaga-Rome and Malaga-Barcelona cables. Cover was provided by light cruiser ARETHUSA and a French submarine.
On the 12th, MIRROR, escorted by anti-submarine trawler KINGSTON CHRYSOLITE, sailed to replaced VALKYRIAN, which reported her gear was not suitable to the task. The tug and LORD HOTHAM returned to Gibraltar, as did ARETHUSA. MIRROR returned to Gibraltar on the 14th after successfully cutting the cables.
Australian light cruiser HMAS HOBART and destroyers KINGSTON and KHARTOUM departed Aden to sweep in the Red Sea off the Italian Somali coast. Italian bombers attacked them, but caused no damage. They arrived back late on the 12th without contact.
Late on the 11th Italian heavy cruisers BOLZANO, POLA, and TRENTO of the 3rd Cruiser Division with destroyers ARTIGLIERE, CAMICIA NERA, AVIERE, and GENIERE of the 11th Destroyer Division and light cruisers D’AOSTA and ATTENDOLO of the 7th Cruiser Division with destroyers LANCIERE, CARABINIERE, CORAZZIERE, and ASCARI of the 12th Destroyer Division carried out sweeps in the Sicilian Channel.
Italian steamers TIMAVO (7549grt) and GERUSALEMME (8052grt) departed Durban during the night of 9/10 June. On the 11th, aerial strafing drove TIMAVO ashore five miles north of St Mary’s Hill, north, northeast of Durban. GERUSALEMME was intercepted by armed merchant cruiser RANCHI and ran herself ashore near Oro Point, Mozambique. She was later refloated and taken to Lourenco Marques.
Greek steamers ZINOVIA (2975grt) and MAKIS (3546grt) were sunk by mines twenty miles and fifteen miles north of Pantellaria Island, respectively, in the Mediterranean. Two crew was missing from ZINOVIA, but the entire crew of MAKIS was rescued.
U-48 sank Greek steamer VIOLANDO N. GOULANDRIS (3598grt) in 44‑04N, 12‑30W. Six crew were missing.
U-101 sank Greek steamer MOUNT HYMETTUS (5820grt) in 42‑12N, 11‑20W. The entire crew was rescued.
U-46 damaged Motor tanker ATHELPRINCE (8782grt) in convoy OG.33F in 43‑42N, 13‑20W.
Steamer ST RONAIG (509grt) was sunk on a mine one mile 132° from West Breakwater Light, Newhaven. Two crew were killed, two missing and four crew were rescued.
British Prime Minister Churchill, in a telegram to U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, sent via the British Embassy in Washington, again raised the need for destroyers, because of the Italian entry into the war and the possibility of having to deal with more submarines. “To this,” Churchill declared, “the only counter is destroyers. Nothing is so important as for us to have 30 or 40 old destroyers you have already had reconditioned.”
Roosevelt expresses serious reservations with permitting the UK royals to transfer to Canada, fearing the public relations effect of allowing the monarchy to set up shop in North America.
In Washington, President Roosevelt proclaimed the Mediterranean Sea a combat zone from which American ships and citizens are barred, sent to Congress a letter requesting an addition to the relief bill of $50,000,000 to aid European refugees, conferred with Louis Renault, French automobile manufacturer, and ordered a resurvey of surplus materiel which this country might make available to the Allies.
The Senate completed Congressional action on the $1,823,000,000 Army Appropriation Bill, passed the bill authorizing increased provisioning of the Army, trading-in of surplus war stocks as an aid to the Allies and increasing the air corps, considered the Relief Bill, received the Pepper-Lee resolution to authorize suspension of the Johnson Act and the Neutrality Act to aid the Allies and recessed at 5:21 PM until noon tomorrow.
The House passed the bill increasing taxes and raising the national debt limit, completed Congressional action on the Vinson bill for an 11 percent expansion of the Navy and on the bill expanding the naval air force, and adjourned at 7:41 PM until noon tomorrow, The Appropriations Committee reported the $1,706,053,908 supplemental Defense Bill.
The U.S. State Department announced the extension of the Neutrality Act combat zone by President Roosevelt late today closing all of the Mediterranean to American shipping but leaving open the west coast of Portugal and Spain. Outside the prohibited zone is Lisbon, the eastern terminus of the transatlantic clippers, which possibly may become the main European port for American ships since the entry of Italy into the war. The proclamation by the president, however, leaves the ports along the northwest Spanish coast also open to American shipping.
With the same speed and unity in which Congress has moved on defense measures since the opening of the total war in Europe, the House late today passed and sent to the Senate the Administration’s Emergency Revenue Bill, raising the national debt limit from $45,000,000,000 to $49,000,000,000 and levying $1,004,000,000 in additional annual taxes to help finance the expanded rearmament program. Passage was by the overwhelming majority of 396 to 6, and came in two weeks, less one day, from the time the bill was introduced. For both speed and unity this action was hailed by Congressional leaders as an all-time record for tax measures of anything like this magnitude. The only members to vote “no” on final passage were Representatives Crawford and Wolcott of Michigan, Thill of Wisconsin, Alexander of Minnesota and Thorkelson of Montana, Republicans, and Marcantonio of New York, American Labor party.
The House Appropriations Committee recommended an additional $1,706,053,908 outlay for national defense today.
Under a deal effected by the War Department and the U.S. Steel Export company, the allies will get $37,600,000 worth of surplus munitions, equipment and ordnance, it was announced tonight by the United States Steel corporation. Local steel sources said the transaction signalized an important step in line with President Roosevelt’s pledge to the allies of the nation’s full material aid. In acting as the medium for transfer of the war material, the steel corporation said its export subsidiary would derive no profit.
A proposal to extend the suggested universal military training program by building up a home defense force made up of men conscripted below and above the regular Army draft ages was made yesterday in New York by United States Senator Styles Bridges.
Edsel Ford, president of the Ford Motor Company, conferred today with his chief competitor, William S. Knudsen, president of General Motors Corporation, in the interest of national defense. Mr. Ford came to Washington to follow up the War Department’s delivery of a sample high-speed fighting plane of the P-40 type to the company’s River Rouge plant. His father, Henry Ford, had stated his interest in making planes for national defense, indicating his belief that the company could turn out 1,000 a day in the absence of “governmental red tape” and interference. Edsel Ford arrived by plane this morning to talk with Mr. Knudsen, who is the member of the National Defense Advisory Committee in charge of manufacturing and production. Afterward Mr. Ford told reporters that he saw no reason why the P-40 or some similar plane could not be adapted to mass production. He said his company was prepared to begin production as soon as the government indicated how many planes it wanted and what kind.
In anticipation of early enactment of legislation to increase the enlisted strength of the regular army to 280,000 men, the recruiting service of the Army is ready to begin the most intensive campaign for recruits in the peacetime history of the country.
Secretary of State Cordell Hull today officially informed the Italian Ambassador, Prince Ascanio dei principi Colonna, of his great disappointment over Italy’s entry into the war.
New York District Attorney Thomas E. Dewey, Republican presidential possibility, criticized President Roosevelt’s speech in a statement issued at the Dewey-for-president headquarters early today. Following is the text of the statement: “President Roosevelt’s speech gives cause for grave concern. The words may be the words of a neutral, but the voice is the voice of a belligerent. “The president has seldom spoken with more emotion. In our admittedly unprepared state our greatest need is not emotion, but a cool head. “The experience of 1917 showed that before the American people could be taken into war they had to be educated for war. Are we now being educated for a new war? “If the president intends to involve us in this war he should say so openly. That is an issue for the people to decide.”
The U.S. passenger liner Washington, en route from Lisbon, Portugal, to Galway, Ireland, with 1,020 U.S. passengers, to embark more American citizens returning to the United States, is stopped by German submarine U-101 at 42°12’N, 12°50’W. The submarine, mistakenly believing the ship to be a Greek vessel, orders Washington abandoned preparatory to being sunk. Blinker signals exchanged between the two ships soon result in the Germans’ confirming Washington’s neutral identity and allowing her to proceed without further hindrance (see 15 June).
Major League Baseball:
In Boston, the Indians chase Bob Feller, 9–2, on homers by Williams and Cronin. Williams adds a triple, while Finney has four hits including a pair of doubles. During the game, Tribe manager Oscar Vitt openly criticizes Feller, saying “Look at him. He’s supposed to be my ace. How am I supposed to win a pennant with that kind of pitching.” The Boston win keeps the Sox a game ahead of Detroit and Cleveland.
Tommy Bridges, Detroit righthander, pitching superbly all the way, held the Yankees to five hits and beat them, 6–1, as the Tigers hopped up a notch to second place, eight percentage points ahead of the Indians, whom they displaced, and only one game behind the league-leading Red Sox. Atley Donald, who surrendered homers to Dick Bartell, Charlie Gehringer, and Bruce Campbell, took the loss for New York.
A home run by Pinch Hitter Julius Solters with one on in the ninth inning gave the White Sox a 5–4 victory over the Athletics in a seesaw game before 10.144 at Shibe Park tonight.
Although outhit, the Browns took advantage of five walks by Dutch Leonard and won their fifth straight game today, and their second in two days from the Senators. The score was 5–2. Vernon Kennedy scattered nine Washington hits, while Leonard was giving eight. A four-run splurge in the seventh clinched the issue for the Browns.
In the second of two, Paul Dean debuts with the Giants and beats the Cubs, 3–1, on four hits. Joe Moore runs his hitting streak to 14 games when he belts an 8th inning homer off Claude Passeau. The Giants win the opener of the doubleheader, 4–0, behind Bill Lohrman’s five-hitter to pull within 1 ½ games of the Reds and Dodgers. Bill Lee is the losing Cubs hurler in that one.
Bucky Walters of the Reds, who ran up a nine-game winning streak before stopping, extended his losing streak to two today as the Phillies pounded him for nine hits and a 4–1 victory.
Cleveland Indians 2, Boston Red Sox 9
New York Giants 4, Chicago Cubs 0
New York Giants 3, Chicago Cubs 1
Philadelphia Phillies 4, Cincinnati Reds 1
Detroit Tigers 6, New York Yankees 1
Chicago White Sox 5, Philadelphia Athletics 4
St. Louis Browns 5, Washington Senators 2
Canadian troop convoy TC.5 departed Halifax, escorted by Canadian destroyers HMCS Assiniboine and HMCS Saguenay, at 0900 with troopships Duchess of Atholl (20,119grt), Samaria (19,597grt), and Duchess Of Bedford (20,123grt) carrying 1173, 787, and 1792 troops, respectively. Duchess of Atholl came from Montreal departing on the 8th and joined the other two liners at Halifax. Troopship Empress of Australia (21,833grt) departed Halifax with the convoy and was detached on the third day to Iceland. Assiniboine and Saguenay were detached at 1800/12th. Battleship HMS Revenge was the ocean escort. Convoy TC.5 safely arrived at Liverpool on the 20th escorted by destroyers HMS Wanderer and HMS Witch and Canadian destroyers HMCS St Laurent, HMCS Skeena, HMCS Restigouche and HMCS Fraser. On the 21st, Revenge arrived at Plymouth at 0645 and the Canadian destroyers arrived at Plymouth at 0640.
Mexican Minister of the Interior Manuel Garcia Tellez today summoned the publishers and managers of all capital newspapers to an unusual meeting at the Ministry at which he unequivocally expounded Mexico’s foreign policy as pro-Allied and one of cooperation with the United States.
A violent anti-Italian demonstration, in which an estimated 4.000 persons joined, broke out in Bogota, Colombia, today when the word came that Italy had declared war on Britain and France. Italian commercial establishments were attacked and several were damaged badly. All German employees of Avianca, new national airlines company created by merger of the Scadta and Saco lines, were dismissed today.
Japanese dispatches reported that Japanese troops late today entered Ichang, the most important port on the Middle Yangtze between Hankow and Chungking. scoring Japan’s most important military success in China since last Autumn’s campaign in Kwangsi. Two Japanese columns that had been moving in from the north and northeast reached Ichang, in Western Hupeh Province, almost simultaneously, the dispatches said.
Ichang had been the objective of the largest Japanese military effort of 1940. It may provide a base for a further drive toward Chungking, China’s provisional capital, about 300 miles farther up the Yangtze. The Japanese infantry was reportedly greatly aided by hundreds of bombing planes, which took the place of artillery in smashing the Chinese lines in imitation of German tactics in France. Dispatches said 3,500 Chinese were killed in fighting for Ichang Sunday and Monday and 800 surrendered.
The United States Marines, part of the defense forces of the International Settlement in Shanghai, took up precautionary patrols in their sector today to preserve order amidst increased tension arising out of Italy’s entry into the European war. The British, French and Italian forces acted similarly in their defense areas.
A Japanese bomb fell within 30 yards of the United States embassy in Chungking today in a two-wave raid which destroyed at least 300 houses and caused 50 casualties in the city. The Soviet embassy was partly demolished in the attack, heaviest to which this provisional Chinese capital has been subjected since May of last year.
The government of the British crown colony of Hong Kong today took over all Italian property of the colony
Italy’s entrance into the war is not likely to change Japan’s policy of non-involvement for the time being, competent diplomatic observers said today, but it is certain that this country’s attitude towards the United States, Britain and France will be stiffened especially with regard to China. It may be taken for granted, observers said, that the activities of ultra-nationalist groups in this country, who long have favored military alliance with Germany and Italy, will be intensified.
Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa declared war on Italy.
Police and defense officials in Australia today began a roundup of Italians following Italy’s entry into the European war. There are 27,453 Italians in Australia, of whom 14,000 are naturalized.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 115.97 (+4.13)
Born:
Joey Dee [DiNicola] American singer (The Starliters – “Peppermint Twist”), in Passaic, New Jersey.
Michael Wilkes, British commander (UK Field Army), in Steep, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom (d. 2013).
Gunnar Harding, poet, in Sundsvall, Sweden.
Died:
Alfred S. Alschuler, 63 or 64, American architect.
Naval Construction:
The Royal Navy Bangor-class (Reciprocating engined) minesweeper HMS Sidmouth (J 47) is laid down by Henry Robb Ltd. (Leith, U.K.); completed by Plenty.
The Royal Navy Flower-class corvette HMS Starwort (K 20) is laid down by A & J Inglis Ltd. (Glasgow, Scotland); completed by Kincaid.
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type IXB U-boat U-124 was commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Kapitänleutnant Georg-Wilhelm Schulz.
History Diaries 