This Day in the War in Europe: The Beginning

[Njaco]

May 12 Sunday (continued)
At 1100 hours, JG 27's Operations Officer, Hptm. Adolf Galland of 3./JG 27 and his wingman, Lt. Gustav Rödel bounce a flight of eight RAF Hurricanes. Hptm. Galland shoots down two Hurricanes including a Hurricane flown by Sgt. Frank Howell of RAF No. 87 Squadron. Another British Hurricane falls to Hptm. Galland later on a patrol near Tienen, beginning his victory tally with a total of three kills,. Hptm. Galland's wingman, Lt. Gustav Rödel, brings down a fourth Hurricane. The fighters of JG 27 claim twenty-eight victories for the day.

Four Bf 109's from II(J)./ TrGr 186 are lost to Dutch anti-aircraft fire while a Bf 109 from 2./JG 26 force lands at Waalhaven with flak damage.

Future Experte, Oberst Theo Osterkamp, Kommodore of JG 51, obtains his first kill of the campaign, a twin-boom Fokker G-Ia of the Dutch Air Force. Oberst Osterkamp was a pilot during World War I scoring thirty-two kills flying biplanes and was awarded the 'Pour le Merite' or "Blue Max".

Flying with 8 Staffel of the recently formed III./JG 52, Günther Rall begins his amazing scoring by destroying a French P-36 in battle over Diedenhoven.

KG 55 loses two bombers over France. A He 111 from 4./KG 55 is shot down near Rethel with all crewmembers killed except Uffz. Ernst Rasper. On the return flight from Rethel, the German bomber formations are attacked by British fighters and lose a He 111 from 5./KG 55 shot down , resulting in Uffz. Josef Bartholmes becoming injured.

Spain's Foreign Ministry issues a communiqué reaffirming its policy of neutrality.

NORTHERN EUROPE: At dawn on Sunday the 12th, two tugs arrived to assist HMS 'Kelly". The volunteer party rejoined their ship and a tow was soon under way. Once again the weather worsened, and at noon she was subject to more air attacks. The guns crews working the guns by hand and running from one gun to another as each gunner came to bear on the target. Even when darkness fell for the fourth night that little band of men were still cheerful and enthusiastic.

Sweden begins nation-wide city blackouts.

GERMANY: British Royal Air Force planes bomb Essen and two other German towns.

MEDITERRANEAN: Italian Premier Benito Mussolini instructs the Chief of Army Staff and Under-Secretary of War to further perfect the western Alpine frontier defenses.

UNITED KINGDOM: The United Kingdom began the internment of German civilians.

Winston Churchill appointed the newly created Viscount Simon (former Sir John Simon) to the post of Lord High Chancellor, the Chief Law Officer to the Government, succeeding the Viscount Caldecote.

.

 

[nuuumannn]

12 May 1940; the Boulton Paul Defiant first fires its guns in anger. 'A' Flight of 264 Sqn based at RAF Duxford, Cambridgeshire on patrol off the Hague in company with six Spitfires of 66 Sqn encounter a single Ju 88, which was shot down by the Defiants during a co-ordinated cross over attack below the bomber. The attack employed standard tactics for bomber interception by the turret fighter, with single seat fighters to catch stragglers that were to deviate away from the formation, although there was only one aircraft present. The lack of fighter escort was also noticeable, but this was the environment for which the Defiant was designed. The next day, the 13th was to spell disaster for the type however, during its first encounter with the Messerschmitt Bf 109.

 

[parsifal]

13 May 1940 (Part I)
Known Reinforcements
Allied
RNeN O-21 Class Subs O-23 and O24

When Germany invaded the Ne O 23 and her sister ship O 24 were both still at their builders yard at Rotterdam. Both ships were incompleted. O-23 had run her trials but O-24 had not, she had even never submerged. In the early morning hours both subs departed the builders yard for a place nearby where they were camouflaged and prepared for evacuation to the U.K. On the 13 May at around 2100 hours O 23 and O-24 cleared Lekhaven in Rotterdam bound for the U.K. Both subs arrived safely at the Downs on the 15th. Many other vessels of the Netherlands had already arrived, more wee to come in the coming days. Of greatest immediate value were the Dutch flat bottomed Schuits which were to prove vital in the coming evacuations.

The Dutch warships contained many innovations that were of great assistance to British warship design

Losses
Steamer EDDA (SD 1652 grt) was seized by German forces at Stavanger.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Steamer CITY OF BRUSSELS (UK 629 grt) was seized by German forces at Brussels.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Steamer GORM (Den 2156 grt) was being transferred by a Belgian crew to the port of Ostend when sunk on a mine 1. 3 miles 20° from the South Mole Light at Zeebrugge.

Pre- WWI TB CHRISTIAAN CORNELUS (RNeN 47 grt) The K class Torpedo Boat was scuttled at Rotterdam following severe battle damage.

MV KYLE FIRTH (UK 450 grt) The cargo ship ran aground on Holy Island, Anglesey and was wrecked.

MSW M 2 (RNeN 202 grt) The M-class minesweeper struck a mine in the North Sea off IJmuiden, North Holland and sank.

MSW M-1. Similar appearance to the M-2 but about 50 grt lighter

Aux MSW VILLE DU BIZERTE (Fr 32 grt) was sunk on a mine near Cape Guardia in the Bizerte area.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

DKM War Diary
Selected Extracts

British and French destroyers are engaged on patrol and escort duties off the Dutch and Belgian coasts and some of them are assisting the operations on land. Most of the British destroyers are' vessels of the old "V-W" class converted for anti-aircraft
duties (four 10.2 cm. anti-aircraft guns and eight h cm, guns). The main base for taking on supplies and ammunition is Dunkirk,

French troops are holding tlfce island of Walcheren. French ships have" been instructed to keep a look-out for enemy landings
on the neighboring islands

Admiral, North obviously intends to carry out a river operation (possibly in the mouth of the Maas against the bridge at Moerdyk) and is preparing a number of small vessels for this, in view of this operation the 18th Army Command makes an urgent
request for minelaying of the river estuary, concentrating on protection of the bridges at Moerdyk, Unfortunately naval forces
cannot participate in repulsing enemy attempts at attack. The only possibility is to drop more aerial mines. The 9th Air
Division has ordered concentration on this in minelaying during the night of 13 May.

Air reconnaissance detected that Belgian and Dutch harbors were generally not so full as on 12 May. Forces have been warned
about the danger of magnetic mines in the outer harbor of Dunkirk, (One ship lying outside the- channel in the outer harbor broke up and sank after striking a mine.)

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

U 43 sailed for Trondheim with supplies for "Theodor Riedel" and will later proceed into the Atlantic. U 65 entered port via Heligoland. She was operating in the Vaagsfjord and in the area Faroes-Shetlands-Minch. She scored no successes.

Departures
Wilhelmshaven: U-43

At Sea 13 May 1940
U-7, U-9, U-32, U-43, U-65.
5 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
Baltic
Western Baltic
Troopship ANHALT (Ger) The troopship struck a mine and was beached off the coast of Sweden. She was later repaired and returned to service.

North Sea
MV BUSSUM (Ne)The cargo ship was bombed and damaged in the Nth Sea off the Noord Hinder Lightship . She was abandoned by her 29 crew, who were rescued by BOUCLIER ( Fr Navy). BUSSUM was towed to London and was subsequently repaired and returned to service. Sub CLYDE, on patrol in the North Sea sighted DKM Raider WIDDER. CLYDE fired 60 rounds from her deck gun, but the range remained extreme and no hits were achived. WIDDER returned fire and kept submarine CLYDE out of range until she could escape into a rain squall. WIDDER arrived at Trondheim to avoid further contact. FN.170 departed Southend, escort sloop EGRET. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on the 15th. Steamer HIRD (Nor) was badly damaged at Dunkirk by the LW. She did not depart Dunkirk until 28 May and was constantly bombed in that period, but did not receive any more significant damage.

Operations Off the Dutch Coast
DD MALCOLM arrived at Hook of Holland pre-dawn on the 13th to relieve DD WILD SWAN and take charge of the evacuation of the port. In Operation HARPOON, British steamers CANTERBURY and MAID OF ORLEANS escort DDs KEITH, WOLSEY, WIVERN, BOREAS arrived at Hook of Holland early on the 13th. The steamers carried a composite bn of Gds to support the Royal Marines in the port. After unloading, the force returned to Dover arriving late on the 13th. DDs VALENTINE and WINCHESTER departed Dunkirk in the early morning of the 13th for Nieuport. DD WINCHESTER was detached 6 hrs later to complete replenishing ammunition brought to Dunkirk by DD WHITLEY, which had arrived at Dunkirk that morning. WINCHESTER departed Dunkirk that afternoon to relieve DD WESTMINSTER off Flushing. Dutch steamer PERSEUS, carrying bullion, departed Ijmuiden at 0400 escort DD VIMY. DD HEREWARD, escort DD VESPER, evacuated Queen Wilhelmena of Holland from Hook of Holland at noon and took her to Harwich. 6 DDs began the evacuation of Hook of Holland at on the evening of the 13th. DD WINDSOR evacuated the Dutch govt, British, Belgian, Norwegian legation staffs, 400 refugees (mostly Jews and Poles) were boarded from Hook of Holland during the evening.

DD VERSATILE followed DD MOHAWK's turn at the pier. DD VERSATILE, while alongside the pier, was damaged by one bomb hit off Hook of Holland. The ship could neither steer or steam. 7 crew were killed and 13 wounded. VERSATILE was towed away from the jetty by MALCOLM and escorted by HYPERION. VERSATILE was taken in tow by DD JANUS outside the harbour. VERSATILE (by now under her own power, with one engine working) was under repair until 20 June. The last party of refugees was embarked on DD MALCOLM very late on the 13th. These were transferred to DD JANUS (after she wasnt required to tow the VERSATILE) outside the harbour and MALCOLM returned to the Hook arriving in the early morning of the 14th. DDs WINDSOR, VIVIEN, MOHAWK arrived early the next morning from Hook of Holland at Southend. DD WALPOLE evacuated from Ijmuiden the Dutch industrial diamonds, brought from Amsterdam to prevent their falling into German hands. Also, at Ijmuiden that evening were DDs VIVIEN which arrived back at Southend on the 14th and DD KIMBERLEY. DD WHITSHED arrived back at Dover from Dunkirk under darkness. DD WHITSHED departed again at 0430 on the 14th with more ammunition for the FA ships at Dunkirk and MSW gear for the MSWs working off the Dutch coast from Zeebrugge.

 

[parsifal]

13 May 1940 (Part II)
OPERATIONS [CONT'D]
North Sea (Cont'd)
Operations Off the Dutch Coast (Cont'd)
DD WHITLEY, which had arrived during the evening of 12 May, departed Dover for Dunkirk at 0445 with ammunition and to operate with Force FA. DD WILD SWAN arrived at Dover at 0700 from Hook of Holland with a broken propeller blade on her starboard propeller. She was under repair until the 17th. MSW Flot 6 was sweeping mines off the Dutch coast. After the opn, MSW HARRIER proceeded to Dover for boiler cleaning. The rest of the Flotilla proceeded to Harwich arriving later that day. Dutch steamer PHRONTIS departed Ijmuiden on the 13th with 800 PoWs. PHRONTIS proceeded unescorted to the Downs arriving on the 14th. She then proceeded to Dover where the prisoners were landed.

Northern Waters
NS.3 escort DDs FIREDRAKE and FOXHOUND departed Scapa with 3 tkrs, a collier and Fr PV BELFORT. Another element of the convoy (the Clyde section) had departed the day previous escort DDs WALKER and BEAGLE with 7 steamers. A further Tkr and Norwegian Steamer (replacing a brit Steramer that run aground) joined the convoy in Nth Channel. A further section (the Rosyth section) departed Leith on the 12th escort DDss HERO and FOXHOUND. This convoy included a slow British steamer which delayed the planned arrivals of the convoy. DD FOXHOUND was detached to arrive at Hoxa Gate (main waterway into Scapa) to escort the Scapa detachment from this convoy (2 ships). When the two sections rendezvoused, DD FOXHOUND was detached to return to Greenock and arrived in the Clyde on the 14th. The convoy was split for the passage into fast and slow sections, with the fast escorted by FIREDRAKE and WALKER with 2 tkrs and 5 MVs. The slow section was escorted by BEAGLE and 2 MSW trawlers and was composed of 5 MVs. In Pentland Firth, DD HERO escorting the steamer REDCAR joined Nor steamers GRO, INGERFIRE, SPICA from Kirkwall to join the convoy. This section rendezvoused with the convoy on the 13th. DD HERO was detached on the 14th and proceeded to Plymouth. WALKER and FIREDRAKE with 4 steamers arrived at Harstad on the 17th. The rest of the convoy remained at sea to await orders.

NP.3 departed Scapa for Narvik with Polish troopships BATORY and SOBIESKI escort DDs DELIGHT and ANTELOPE and Fr DD MILAN. The convoy arrived on the 17th escort DDs ANTELOPE, DELIGHT, MILAN. On the 13th, 1 steamer, escort DD MATABELE, arrived at Bodo and landed 290 troops in a SCISSORS landing. These ships had departed the Firth of Forth on the 10th. Late on the 13th, BB RESOLUTION, CL EFFINGHAM, repair ship VINDICTIVE, DDs HAVELOCK, SOMALI, FAME, BASILISK, WREN, assisted by a/c from ARK ROYAL, bombarded Narvik in opn OB. Following a recce, when the weather was too bad to land on the ARK ROYAL, a Skua of 800 Sqn forced landed sth of Harstad in the sea. PO L. E. Burston and LS G. W. Halifax were picked up by DD BRAZEN. A 2nd Skua of this opn force landed at Sandsoy, nth of Harstad. Lt J. A. Rooper and PO W. Crawford were rescued unhurt.

A Swordfish of 810 Squadron from ARK ROYAL force landed on a forzen lake near Reisenvann. Crew and aircraft were unhurt and rescued some time later. The a/c later taken to Harstad and returned to the UK . A second Swordfsish also force landed at Skaanland. Crew was unhurt and a/c later recovered. A Swordfish of 820 Squadron force landed during a bombing raid of Silvik. Crew were unhurt and recovered . A second Swordfish force landed two miles south of Harstad. Crew unhurt. All a/c were recovered and repaired. A testament to the rough strip handling characteristics of the Stringbag.

A periscope was sighted by a shore battery at Holm and somewhat later a report of a crossing on the indicator loops outside the eastern entrance to Scapa was also reported, prompting a vigorous response. DDs JACKAL and JAVELIN departed Scapa to patrol on the line Roseness to Grimness. DDs NUBIAN, AMAZON, ACASTA searched the anchorage itself near Water Sound and Kirk Sound.
DDs JACKAL and JAVELIN attacked several contacts later determined to be the wreck of tanker DAGHESTAN (sunk on 25 March).
Early on the 14th, the sweeps were abandoned.

DDs JUNO, JAGUAR, GRAFTON and ORP BURZA departed Scapa for Harwich. DD JUNO was detached en route to run the D. G. range at Inchkeith.

Fr sub ACHILLE during an attack approach on 2 German transports near Lindesnes was near missed by bombs dropped from an enemy a/c.

West Coast UK
DD GRENADE departed Liverpool after boiler cleaning for Harwich.

Med- Biscay
MSW FERMOY departed Gib for Malta to rejoin the Med Flt. Fr DD VOLTA passed Gib en route from Brest to Oran, where she arrived on the 14th. Sub GRAMPUS departed Alexandria on the 9th and arrived at Malta on the 13th for duty with the Med Flt.

 

[parsifal]

13 May 1940 - RAF Air Ops
[UNFINISHED]

1 sqn (Hurri)
Sqn attacks a formation of Me110's and He111 near Vouziers.F/O. 2 Me110s and 3 He111s claimed.

3 Sqn
F/O W.S.C. Adams, in L2564 collided with aircraft of F/O Lines Roberts (S/N not reported). Both planes exploded, Both pilots lost.
F/O (Pilot) Albert R. Ball, RAF (Cdn), 'Dickie' Ball. Shot down by a Do17, crash-landed and captured. Died of wounds 04/06/1940.

4 Sqn (Lysander)
P/O P W. Vaughan, KIA, Took off 07.30 hrs from Monchy-la-Gache. Flew over German positions on banks of Gete river. Shot down by Lt Horst Braxator from 2./JG1. (De Decker/Roba: 1.JG1).

17 Sqn (Hurri)
Hurricanes N3403, N2454, N2405 and N2407 all lost on the ground or abandoned

53 sqn (Blen)
Recon, B. 1 a/c damaged, 1 WIA. Took off from Poix. Damaged by ground fire and forced-landed on one engine at Vitry. A/C repairable.

57 sqn (Blen)
Recon 1 Plane lost, 1 KIA, 2 POW, Shot down by AA fire during reconnaissance sortie over Belgium. Crashed between Vlijtingen and Kesselt

66 sqn (Spit), 264 sqn (Defiant)
In the evening the RAF had planned a strafing mission of 6 Defiants and 6 Spits along the Dutch coast. They drew fire from Dutch AA at the Coast, As this combined squadron approached the Dutch coast, no damage. Over the Hague and Rotterdam, a total of 7 Stuka's from 12 Staffel, Lehr Geschwader 1 are spotted and engaged, as the stukas dive towards Dutch positions at Alblasserdam. Succeed in breaking up the attack. LG 1 request immediate ftr protection from the nearby patrol (firing a red flare). 24 to 27 Me 109s of JG26 turns the tables. After the intensive clash between the two forces (together about 45 planes) 5 Ju87s are lost [RAF claimed seven - only 5 wreckages were identified], 2 Me-109's and 5 Defiants are lost in exchange

73 sqn (Hurri)
Interception, F. 1 Plane lost, 1 WIA, a flt of Hurris intercepted He111Ps of KG55 and Bf110Cs as they approached. 2 He111s shot down, 1 Hurri badly damaged and written off by enemy escort.

103 sqn (Battle)
Airfield and village bombed by a large unescorted enemy bomber formation. There were no losses to the sqn (either personnel or a/c), but 81 villagers were killed or injured. Villages were angry that no warning was given, and parked vehicles on runway to prevent further ops. 3 enemy a/c were lost in the attacks

 

[parsifal]

13 May 1940

The newly appointed British PM, Winston Churchill rises in the House of Commons, to give his first speech a PM. In part he states

I would say to the House, as I said to those who have joined this government: "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat."

We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask, what is our policy? I can say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: It is victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival. Let that be realised; no survival for the British Empire, no survival for all that the British Empire has stood for, no survival for the urge and impulse of the ages, that mankind will move forward towards its goal. But I take up my task with buoyancy and hope. I feel sure that our cause will not be suffered to fail among men. At this time I feel entitled to claim the aid of all, and I say, "come then, let us go forward together with our united strength."

It marks, in the clearest possible terms, a fundamental change in the nature britain intends to prosecute the war from that point.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVg7rnRheK8

Sadly, in the years since, there are many, often with sympathies to the Nazi cause to denigrate this famous call to arms.

At about the same time as Churchill is delivering his momentous address, the first German units reached the Meuse on the French border. One of the first divisional formation to make the crossing was Rommels 7th "Ghost" Div somewhat to the north of Sedan.

 

[Marcel]

North
The lightly armed, but heavily armoured "Stelling Kornwerderzand" at the entance of the Afsluitdijk proved to be too much for the attacking German troops. The lack of tanks and aroured cars cost dearly in dense machinegun fire of the defenders. Air attack by stukas and shelling by 88mm guns don't make an impression in the only modern Dutch defence position in existance.

German artillery near the Afsluitdijk

German infantry on the "totesdam", the Afsluitdijk. They would not get past the Kornwerderzand position.

Today, the damage by German fire can still be seen on the bunkers of Kornwerderzand

Grebbeberg
A Dutch counterattack in the early morning fails due to lack of artillery support and heavy attacks by Stuka bombers. Later that day, the Germans break through the stopline, 2nd line of defence. THis however was not used for a quick advance, they stop in the evening at the village of Rhenen, ony 1 km further. The rest ofthe line holds well, but the Dutch High command decides to fall back on the unfinished waterline, further west, because of the dire situation at the Grebbeberg. The evacuation of the troops from the Grebbeline to the Waterline during te night is a total succes, unnoticed by the Germans. The new line, however, hardly exists and probably not very effective.

Rhenen on May 13th. Just the cuneratoren is standing between the ruins of the houses.

SS at the sluice at the foot of the Grebbeberg

Dutch defenders in a defence line

South
German panzers cross the Moerdijk bridge under heavy shelling. On the island of Dordrecht, the Dutch light division puts up a fierce defence and although much of the fighting takes place in the streets of the old city, the city never falls in German hands. At the end of the day, however, the remaining defenders get the order to abandon the island and retreat over the Merwede river.

Rotterdam
Dutch marines reach the access to the Willemsbrug. Small groups of them will remain there until the capitulation, the next day. Theseactions would earn them the nickname 'Swartze teufel', black devils, because of their black outfit and courage. The city itself is mostly cleaned from German troops, apart form the vital Willemsbrug and Waalhaven airport. Torpedoboat Z5 is in action at the bridge, but fails to push back the german troops.

The Hague
Queen Wilhelmina , although very upposed to leving the country, is persuaded by the government to leave the country. She leaves for Hoek van Holland where she is picked up by British destroyer HMS Hereward. She was able to continue the war from London and later proved invaluable to the Dutch troops in exile later in the war.
Fighting continued around the village of Valkenburg. But the remaining Airb troops are isolated and Dutch troops are transferred to the south front to strengthen that, more important, part of the defence.

Ju52s landed on the Highway between Rotterdam and The Hague

Airforce:
At 5.19h, the LVA (dutch airforce) dispatched the very last Dutch bomber, the Fokker T.V 856 to bomb the Moerdijk Bridges with 2 bombs of 300 kg. The bomber was escorted by 2 Fokker G.I's (numbers 315 and 308 ), the most potent fighter in the LVA.

The 3 planes very low to avoid the German fighters. When passing Dordrecht, they ascended to an altitude of about 1000m. Shortly before they reached the bridges, they were attacked bij 8 Bf109's of JG26. While being attacked, the 3 planes first flew over the water, made a 180° turn to the north and attacked the bridge with one of the bombs. They missed the bridge by a mere 50m. They saw that they missed, so they turned and headed back south again. Then they made another 180° tun and attacked the bridge again. They threw the second bomb and this time they hit the bridge. Unfortunately the bomb didn't explode. After this, the 3 planes flew over Dordrecht, back to Schiphol. They were chased by several Bf109's. One of the G.I's was attacked by 4 Messerschmitts, finally killing the pilot, lt. Schoute. The plane crashed in a polder. The gunner tried to bail out, but fell to the ground and died as well.

The T.V Was attacked several times and finally crashed near Ridderkerk, killing all 5 crewmembers. One G.I could escape and safely landed at Schiphol airport at 6 o'clock.
One last strange note. The G.I and the T.V were declared been shot down by Hauptmann Karl Ebbinghausen. His Messerschmitt Bf109 still seems to be on display at the Militairy airforce museum at Duxford, England.

Wreck of the T.V near Ridderkerk

The remaining airforce, 2 G-1's, 5 D-XXI's and 4 C-X aircraft flew sorties near the Grebbeberg.

RAF Defiants of 264th squadron and Spitfires of 66th squadron operate over The Netherlands. It's not a succes:
According to the General Fighter Command Report, the aircraft took off at 0415h from Martlesham Heath. They made landfall over the Dutch coast at Ijmuiden. They are immediately shelled by Dutch AA guns, which is very accurate. Fortunately the Dutch understand the friendly aircraft signall and the shelling stops. The Spitfires fly to Rotterdam, while the Defiants take a course sourth-east, towards Dordrecht. Over Albasserdam, Stuka's of
12./LG.1 are spotted, while divebombing. They Defiants claim 4 Ju-87's shot down, after which they are attacked by 27 Bf109's. The last number seems to be exagerated, as only 9 bf109's of II./JG 26 got the order to escort the Ju87's. The fight dispersed to become spearate fights. 5 of the 6 Defiants are shot down.
The 6 Spitfires also took part in the fighting, claiming 8 Ju-87's and 2 Bf109's. One of the Spitfires was shot down, the rest could escape.

British claims: Conclusive: 5 Ju-87's, Inconclusive: 5 Ju-87's an 2 Bf109's
Real German loss: 4 Ju87's

German claims: 8 Spitfires, 1 Defiant
Real British loss: 5 Defiants, 1 Spitfire.

Pictures, source the Internet:
Defiant Blue3 crashed in the Biesbosch. On the wreckage we can se the policeman of the small vilage of Made, an official and a guard from Drimmelen.
View attachment 205372

Blue1 crashed into the river near Geertruidenberg. Wreckage stayed there untill well into 1941.
View attachment 205373

 

[Njaco]

May 13 Monday
WESTERN FRONT: German Heeresgruppe B established bridgeheads at the Meuse River near Dinant and Sedan after penetrating a 50-mile gap in French defensive lines. In the morning, 7.Panzerdivision commander General Erwin Rommel sends motorcycle troops across River Meuse over a lock gate at Dinant, while Guderian's troops cross in rubber boats at Sedan in the afternoon following intensive bombing of French defensive positions. Despite French artillery bombardment, they both establish bridgeheads. The French troops opposing them have not prepared their positions properly and are quickly demoralized and terrorized by heavy dive-bomber attacks. By the evening, pontoon bridges were set up for tanks to cross. Engineers complete a bridge across the river by daybreak. German 1.Schützen-Regiment of 19.Panzertruppe crosses the Meuse River at Sedan, under cover of continuous light Luftwaffe attacks on defenders.

Farther north the Germans take Liege and in Holland the defense has now been totally disrupted. German 9.Panzerdivision breaks through the frontier with Netherlands, and rushes to bridges in the Dordrecht - Moerdijk - Rotterdam area, cutting the Netherlands in two. The division reaches the outskirts of Rotterdam and 22.Fliegerdivision holds onto bridges in the city. Netherland forces regain control of Rotterdam north of the Maas River, and Noorder Island. The German Luftwaffe concentrates an attack on the city center of Rotterdam, Netherlands, without regard for civilian casualties. About 1000 civilians are killed. Amsterdam, Netherlands, is hit by over fifty aerial bombs.

German units passing through Luxembourg, advance into Belgium through the Ardennes forest, crossing River Ourthe, heading to River Semoy. German forces bypass Liége forts in Belgium, capturing Liége itself. A German mechanized column clashes with Allied armored forces near St. Trond, 22 miles northwest of Liége.

French artillery and Allied air bombs destroy part of the Istein railroad tunnel, five miles north of the Swiss border, cutting off a section of vital army rail transportation to part of the German Westwall fortifications.

Elements of JG 26 engage the last of the Dutch air forces and the first of the British air force. Oblt. Ebbighausen, Staffelkapitän of 4./JG 26 destroys the last operational Fokker T-V bomber of the Dutch Air Force along with two escorting G-Ia twin-engined fighters near Dordrecht although one of the two G-1s made it home to Schiphol without a scratch. Warplanes of 5 Staffel of JG 26 encounter six RAF Defiants of No. 264 Squadron and a Spitfire escort from RAF No. 66 Squadron. The pilots of the Staffel shoot down five of the Defiants and Lt. Hans Krug of shoots down two Spitfires. The Staffel's only loss is Lt. Karl Borris who is shot down but returns to the unit after four days avoiding capture. Hptm. Dietrich Hrabak of JG 54 claims his first victory, a French Potez 63.

Bf 110s do not fare so well this day when six of the twin-engined Zerstörers are shot down by six French MS 406s in twenty seconds. James Lacey of No. 501 Squadron RAF, shot down a German He 111 bomber, a Bf 109 fighter, and a Bf 110 fighter over Sedan.

The bombers from KG 55 again suffer heavy losses. On an attack on the railway station at Rethel, the Stab and 8 Staffel lose three He 111s near Charleville-Mezieres with several crews killed, injured or taken prisoner. The 6 Staffel loses four He 111s while one bomber each from the 5 Staffel and Stab II Gruppe are destroyed. An He 111 from 5./KG 55 is attacked by five French MS 406s that damages the port engine. The bomber is able to continue flying till it reaches Belgium where the Heinkel crashes near Attert. The Stab bomber is damaged by anti-aircraft fire near Rethel.

.

 

[Njaco]

May 13 Monday (continued)
THE BATTLE OF HANNUT – DAY TWO: While on the previous day the inferior German tanks suffered against their French counterparts in Belgium, German tank commanders amassed their tanks (while the French commanders decided to divide their tanks to cover a wider front) and punched a hole in the French lines. To the north, General Hoepner launched spoiling attacks and tied down the powerful French First Army, so that it could not intervene in the day's operations. Hoepner believed the newly arrived 3rd Pz. Div. had only weak enemy forces before it. The 4th Pz. Div. on the other hand, he believed, faced strong French mechanized forces at Hannut and Thisnes—which the French had in fact already abandoned—and possibly a second French mechanized division south of the Mehaigne. The 3rd Pz. Div. advanced on Thorembais. The 4th Pz. Div. was to move in parallel on Perwez, against an expected strong Belgian anti-tank line. XVI Army Corps thus fell back on the 6.Armee's instruction to push immediately on Gembloux. The French 12th Cuirassiers and to the south the 3rd Battalion of the 11th Dragoons, fought off waves of German infantry supported by armored vehicles. The German 18.Infanterie-Division still penetrated their positions. The 2nd DLM was positioned just south of the planned axis of Hoepner's attack. In the early morning the 2nd DLM sent some 30 SOMUA S-35s from the Mehaigne to the line Merdorp-Crehen to relieve the pressure on the 3rd DLM. The attack was repulsed by heavy enemy tank and anti-tank fire near Crehen with crippling losses. General Bougrain, commanding the 2nd DLM, signaled enemy infiltrations and attacks by armored cars over the Mehaigne river at Moha and Wanze, just north of Huy. At 1500 hours a French reconnaissance aircraft reported large concentrations of German armor south-east of Crehen. The 2nd DLM no longer had reserves available to intervene. In the afternoon the French command ordered a retreat. Bougrain's Dragoons and motorized infantry were strung out in a series of isolated strongpoints and thus were vulnerable to infiltration. Bougrain refused the offer of the Belgian III Corps, retreating through his front from the Liege area, to reinforce his troops on the Mehaigne river. The German command for its part, worried by the potential of the 2d DLM to interfere with its main attack, juggled infantry units between its XVI and XXVII Corps and scraped together four units from the 35., 61., and 269.Infanterie-Divisions advancing via Liege, along with air support and some armored cars. These forces infiltrated between the French strongpoints north of Huy and drew out Bougrain's armour. Hoepner concentrated all of his Corps's Panzer and rifle battalions, including about 560 operational tanks, aided on their right by the 18.Infanterie-Division of the IV Corps, on a front of some 12 kilometers. The 3rd Pz. Div. on the north facing Marilles and Orp, the 4th Pz. Div. facing Thisnes and Merdorp. The 3.Panzer-Brigade of the 3.PanzerDivision moved out at about 1130 hours. With its 5.Panzerregiment on the right and its 6.Panzerregiment on the left, the Brigade Commander moved forward with the 5.Panzerregiment. By noon the tanks were in action in the barricaded and mined towns along the Petite Gette river. After 90 minutes of heavy fighting, both Panzer regiments succeeded in pushing elements of the French defenders over the stream, the 5.Panzerregiment before Marilles, the 6.Panzerregiment at Orp. The German command ordered most of the 6.Panzerregiment to turn south toward Jandrain and Jandrenouille, where the terrain was more favourable and they could aid the 4.PanzerDivision. Operating on the east and west bank of the Petite Gette, the 6.Panzerregiment ran into French armour in the Orp area, and was then attacked by further French armour. The German battalions combined to defeat the attack. The German forces attacked in the afternoon. The 3rd Pz. Div. on the north facing Marilles and Orp, the 4th Pz. Div. facing Thisnes and Merdorp. The 5th and 6th Panzer-Brigade of the 3.PanzerDivision faced an attack by French armour, and both sides clashed while on the offensive. The Panzers were numerically superior and could be seen moving in large formations while the French operated in small groups and fired more slowly. The 2nd Battalion, 5.Panzerregiment, still opposite Marilles, suddenly found itself attacked in the flank and rear by "superior" French armoured forces. The 3.Panzer-Brigade war diary recorded the 15 minutes during which the 2nd Battalion stood alone. The 1st Battalion, 5.Panzerregiment, seeing victory on the left, sent the 1st Battalion back to his right, bringing the fight before Marilles to a successful conclusion at about 1600 hours.

.

 

[Njaco]

May 13 Monday (continued)
Meanwhile, that morning the strongpoints of the 2d Battalion, 11th Dragoons suffered serious losses to air and artillery bombardment, while German motorcyclists searched for infiltration and crossing points. The dragoons defended their strongpoints supported by their organic Hotchkiss squadron, but their resistance began to crumple at about 1330 hours as German numbers and lack of munitions told. Colonel Dodart des Loges, commanding the northern sector of the 3rd DLM front, ordered a retreat. As the remaining dragoons withdrew, their Hotchkiss H35 tanks together with two Hotchkiss squadrons from the 1st Cuirassiers counter-attacked. The French pushed the German armor back to the stream. This offensive was the principal effort of the 3rd DLM to check the 3rd Pz. Div. The 2nd DLM launched raids against the still vulnerable flanks of the 4th Pz. Div., and some small groups of French tanks broke through but were quickly dealt with by the German 654.Anti-Panzerbataillon, attached to the 4 Pz. Div. In the afternoon the 4th Pz. Div. began an assault on Medorp. As the French artillery opened fire and German artillery responded, the French pushed armour into the abandoned town and skillfully changed position making the Panzers struggle to strike their targets. The German tanks decided to bypass the town around its left flank. Initially the French held the advantage due to their superior armor and firepower, but German tactics of schwerpunkt, concentrating their armor on the vital point, began to tell. At this point the 3rd Pz. Div. and 4th Pz. Div. were advancing to Jandrain. Outside the town a bitter tank battle took place. The Panzers prevailed through numbers and reported 22 French SOMUA S-35s totally destroyed. The French forces, the 2nd and 3rd DLM, began a general retreat westward. The Panzer Divisions, no longer fearing an attack on their flanks, advanced and engaged the remnants of the enemy in the evening. The 3.Panzer-Brigade claimed a tally for the day of 54 French tanks knocked out, 36 by the 5.PanzerRegiment and 18 by the 3.PanzerRegiment. The next morning the 2nd DLM fell back into line south of Perwez. French troops began falling back toward Gembloux.

Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands escapes to London, England, on British destroyer "Hereword". The Netherlands government and others embark British destroyer "Windsor" for England.

The German government warns Great Britain, Belgium, France, and the Netherlands that for any German parachute soldier shot contrary to international law, ten surrendered French soldiers would be shot.

UNITED KINGDOM: Winston Churchill first enters the House of Commons as Prime Minister, accompanied by his predecessor Chamberlain who receives a better reception by far. Churchill gives his "Blood, toil, tears and sweat" speech in the House of Commons, including;

"... I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat. If you ask me, what our war aim is, I give you only one answer: Victory! Victory whatever the cost!"

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill makes Bill Stephenson his prime connection with American President Franklin Roosevelt, naming him Intrepid, and sending him to Washington.

On Monday the 13th in the afternoon, having been a hazardous 91 hours in tow or hove to, 'Kelly' and her escort arrived at a repair yard on Tyneside, through miles of cheering spectators on the river bank, who knew they had built a good 'un when they built HMS 'Kelly'.

GERMANY: Adolf Hitler awards the Knight's Cross of the Order of the Iron Cross to Captain Koch and seven others for the successful attack of the Eben Emael Fort near Liége, Belgium, and bridges over the Albert Canal.

Munich, Germany, radio station reports Adolf Hitler saying Germany possesses a "death-dealing" wave or ray, obtained from splitting atoms, which can exterminate any living creature within a 1000-foot radius, for which no known protection has yet been discovered.

NORTHERN EUROPE: Allies launch their first amphibious assault of WWII to capture Bjerkvik and Øyjord, seven miles north of Narvik, for use as staging post for landings at Narvik across the Rombaksfjord. At midnight, which was light due to the latitude, British cruiser HMS "Aurora", cruiser HMS "Effingham", and battleship HMS "Resolution" bombarded Narvik, Norway in preparation for the 0100-hour amphibious operation. Three battalions of French alpine troops, a Norwegian battalion and light tanks came ashore at Bjerkvik in landing craft, suffering 36 casualties. Many Norwegian civilians died during the attack. French motorcycle troops ride along the coast and take Øyjord unopposed.

ASIA: The governments of Great Britain, Netherlands, and France assure Japan that no change of control of the Netherlands Indies is intended.

.

 

[nuuumannn]

12 May, aside from the Ju 88 shot down by 264 Sqn Defiants, Flt Lt Nicholas Cooke leading Yellow Section's gunner Cpl Albert Lippert claims an He 111. The Ju 88 is credited to Sqn Ldr Philip Hunter's gunner LAC Fred King.

RAF Defiants of 264th squadron and Spitfires of 66th squadron operate over The Netherlands. It's not a success: According to the General Fighter Command Report, the aircraft took off at 0415h from Martlesham Heath. They made landfall over the Dutch coast at Ijmuiden. They are immediately shelled by Dutch AA guns, which is very accurate. Fortunately the Dutch understand the friendly aircraft signall and the shelling stops. The Spitfires fly to Rotterdam, while the Defiants take a course sourth-east, towards Dordrecht. Over Albasserdam, Stukas of 12./LG.1 are spotted, while dive bombing. The Defiants claim 2 Ju 87s shot down, after which they are attacked by 27 Bf 109s. The last number seems to be exagerated, as only 9 Bf109's of II./JG 26 got the order to escort the Ju87's. The fight dispersed to become separate fights. 5 of the 6 Defiants are shot down. The 6 Spitfires also took part in the fighting, claiming 8 Ju 87s and 2 Bf 109s. One of the Spitfires was shot down, the rest could escape.

On 13 May, 264 Sqn Defiants claimed four Ju 87s, not two. This is the day in which it is often claimed that Defiants were being chased by Ju 87s, but because the Defiant's armament was located in a rear firing turret, this plaed them in an attacking situation. To round off a bad day, a sixth Defiant, of A Flight is damaged after landing at Manston; the pilot retracting his undercarriage instead of his flaps while taxying. Sqn Ldr Hunter orders the pilot away for further operational training on type. Thus far the Defiant's innings was not to be proud of, despite being in credit by one; six E/A claimed for the loss of five Defiants in two combat encounters.

Marcel, could you please advise me of the reference number/name/date of the Fighter Command diary in which the claim of 27 Bf 109s is made? I don't have a claimed figure. The nine escorts to the Ju 87s is useful, thanks.

 

[Marcel]

Hi Nuuman,

I got this from the book "Luchtgevechten boven West Brabant en de Biesbosch" about exactly this incident. This particular part, both about chasing Ju87's and the 27 Messerschmitts comes from the combat report of J.E. Hatfield ( Rear gunner of Blue 1), d.d. May 15th 1940 which seems to be in the Public Record Office in London. Unfortunately I don't have the original text but a translated one. This could be an error in translation, but I have no way to tell.

General Fighter command Report R 1506. 16.5.40 claims "Approx. 12 Ju.87's, 1 Ju.88 and 30 Me.109's and claims the German casualties as "Conclusive: 5 Ju87's and Inconclusive: 5 Ju.87 and 2 Me.109". I can send you a scan of the report if you like, but pm me your email adres. The same is about the 4 Ju87's which I took from the Operations Record Book of No.264 Squadron which also claimes 1 Bf109, I can scan and email that one as well.

I actually can trace reports of 4 separate Ju87 crashes in the area at that moment, so the 4-5 seems accurate.

So you're right about the fact that 2 Ju87 claimed is not accurate, thanks for the correction.

 

[parsifal]

14 May 1940 (Part I)
Losses
Transport CHOBRY (ORP 11400 grt) The ship was used as a transport during the Norwegian Campaign, in the area around Narvik. On 14 May 1940 she sailed from Tjeldsundet transporting British troops to Bodø. Just before midnight German dive bombers attacked the ship 3 times in the middle of the Vestfjorden, setting the ship on fire, exploding ammunition, and killing several army officers and men. DD HMS WOLVERINE, took off 700 survivors from the ship, while sloop STORK, stood on guard and drove off other LW attacks, then took off the remaining survivors. Both escorts, loaded with survivors, sailed for Harstad. The abandoned Chrobry was scuttled by a/c from the ARK ROYAL on 16 May. A considerable amount of equipment went down with the ship, but casualties were surprisingly light.

MSW ABRAHAM VAN DER HULST (RNeN 525 grt) Jan van Amstel-class MSW was scuttled at Enkhuizen. She was subsequently salvaged by the Germans, repaired and entered service as M 552. MSW PIETER FLORISZ (RNeN 525 grt) also an Amstel Class MSW was also scuttled then salvaged as the DKM M 551

Coast Defence Ship JACOB VAN HEEMSKERCK( RNeN 5000 grt) was scuttled at IJmuiden to prevent capture by German forces. She was subsequently salvaged by the Germans July 1940, repaired, and entered service as Undine in mid 1941.

Gunboat BRINIO (RNeN 542 grt) The Brinio-class gunboat was bombed and damaged in the IJsselmeer by the LW and subsequently scuttled.

Gunboat FREYR (RNeN 280 grt) , Gunboat HEFRING (RNeN 270 grt) , Gunboat TYR (RNeN 280 grt) These gunboats were scuttled at the conclusion of hostilities with Germany . All vessels were raised and re-used by the Germans

DD GERARD CALLENBURGH (RNeN 1604 grt) and DD TJERK HIDDES (RNeN 1604 grt). A third member of the class ISAAC SWEERS was towed to England and completed under Allied control. The type featured an advanced AA stabilsation system in a mounting known as a Hazemeyer mount. The two hulls left in Dutch waters were both scuttled on the 14 May. The Germans raised them both, completeing the GERARD CALLENBURGH as the DKM ZH_1. ISAAC Sweers was also raised and completion attempted, however sabotage and materials shortages prevented her completion and she was broken up on the slip in 1942-3

Pre WWI TB G1 Class JAN DANIELSON VAN DE RIJN (RNeN 145 grt) The G1 Class TB was scuttled at Rotterdam. She was later salvaged by the Germans and entered service as TFA 10.

Sloop JOHAN MAURITS VAN NASSAU (RNeN 1537 grt): On May 14, MAURITS bombarded a German 88mm bty at a range of almost 18 km and knocked out the bty. On the return journey, the ship was heavily bombed, but for the moment escaped undamaged. At that point is was decided to make a run for England along with TBs G13 and G-15 and MLs JAN VAN BRAKEL, DOUVE AUKES and NAUTILUS. In the afternoon, this force came under severe air attack about 10 miles west of Callantsoog. She received two or three hits, one of which caused a fire near an ammo stack. Abandon ship was ordered, and most of the crew managed to leave the ship. 17 crewmen were killed during the attack or died of their wounds (of a complement of 124). Later, most of those crewmembers were transported back to Den Helder by the rescue vessel DORUS RIJKERS, but a few managed to hitch rides to England on the surviving ships. but the ship was lost .

JAN PIETERSEN COEN (Ne 11640 grt) The passenger ship was scuttled as a Blockship at IJmuiden.

JAN PIETERSEN COEN being put into position before setting the scuttling charges

WWI TB G 16 ( RNeN 230 grt) The G 13-class torpedo boat was scuttled at Den Helder. She was later salvaged by the Germans and entered service as TFA 9.

M Class MSW M 1 (RNeN 230 grt), M3 (RNeN 230 grt), M4 (RNeN 230 grt) These M-class MSWs were scuttled at IJmuiden. M1 and M4 were both salvaged and put into service by the Germans.

Tug NORDZEE II (RNeN 260 grt) The naval tug struck a mine and sank in the Westerschelde.

Sub O 8 (RNeN 343 grt) The O 8-class sub was scuttled at Den Helder, North Holland to prevent capture by German forces, however she was subsequently salvaged by the Germans, repaired and entered service as U-D1.

O-8 was Ex-HMS H-6 which had been interned in 1916 and purchased postwar by the Dutch. H-Class pictured

Sub O 11 (RNeN 526 grt) The O 9-class submarine was was under repair at the time of surrender. she was scuttled at Den Helder to prevent capture by German forces, however she was subsequently salvaged by the Germans, repaired and entered service as U-D2. She was sunk late in 1944.

Sub O 12 (RNeN 715 grt) The O 12-class submarine was scuttled at Den Helder while undergoing maintenance at the Rijkswerf shipyard to prevent capture by German forces. Not salvaged

O 21 Class Subs O 25 (RNeN 990 grt), O-26 (RNeN 990 grt), O-27 (RNeN 990 grt) The O 21-class submarines were scuttled at Schiedam, to prevent capture by German Forces. They were subsequently salvaged by the Germans, repaired and entered service as UD-3, UD-4, and UD-5. .

From left to right, O-25 1 May 1940, O-25 as the UD-4 (right, next to a Type VIIc on left), O-27 at Rotterdam post war

TB Z 3 ( RNeN 322 grt) The Z 1-class torpedo boat was scuttled in the IJsselmeer off Enkhuizen

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Lugger SCALARIA (Aus 120 grt (est)) The sailing ship sank in the Pacific Ocean off Wyndham, Western Australia.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

LINER VILLE DE BRUGES (Be 11869 grt) The ocean liner was severely damaged in a LW 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.

VILLE DE BRUGES alight and sinking after LW airstrikes hit her repeatedly

Steamer FRAMNAS (SD 721 grt) was seized by German forces at Stavanger and renamed BORGEN for German service.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

DKM War Diary
Selected Extracts

On the evening of l4 May, the Dutch Commander in Chief, General Winkelmann, declared that in order to spare the population and avoid further bloodshed he was prepared to cease hostilities. The Dutch Army capitulated unconditionally.

Lively activity by British and French destroyers off the Dutch and Belgian coasts,, The operations by French naval forces are commanded by Admiral, North at Dunkirk. The 2nd, 6th 11th and l3th Destroyer Divisions have been detected in.his area intercepted the destroyer MALCOLM and nine old-type destroyers in the Thames area. Radio intelligence gives us a good picture of the separate destroyer opeations. From different radio messages it seems that the destroyers are assisting in the evacuation of the Hook of Holland area and the. island of Walcheren. ' Their main base Is Dunkirk. Following some heavy shelling of shore targets, their supplies of ammunition and other stocks are low. Messages from a Dutch naval radio station reveal that the gunfire from warships against targets ashore is directed by radio from land.

UBOATS
Kriegstagebücher (KTB) - War Diary

Recently war logs and verbal reports have shown that the mainly good hydrophone results obtained have often misled the C.O.'s into diving, even in the open sea area, without there being any great enemy activity and thus certainly missing some good opportunities to attack. Instructions covering this have therefore been given to the Flotillas for the boats (B.d.U. Most Secret 834 of 18.5 1940). Contents: Hydrophones should only be used as auxiliaries and the commanding officer must control their activity. The human eye is always a better means of obtaining data as a basis for tactical procedure.

Arrivals
Wilhelmshaven: U-32, U-65

At Sea 14 May 1940
U-7, U-9, U-43.
3 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
DD KANDAHAR departed the Tyne for duty in the Med Flt. DD GALLANT departed the Tyne for duty with Nore command. MLs TEVIOTBANK and PLOVER departed the Humber in convoy FN.172. They were first escorted by DDs VIMY and WINDSOR. The MLss arrived at Rosyth on the 17th, escort DDs VIVIEN and VALOROUS. The MLs departed Rosyth on the 17th escort DD SABRE and PV BREDA. They arrived at Scapa on the 18th. On that day DD SABRE acquired a Uboat contact . She was joined by DD MASHONA early on the 19th from Scapa. The MLs were to have gone to Narvik, but they were held at Scapa
MLs TEVIOTBANK and PLOVER departed Scapa on the 29th, escorted by DD ATHERSTONE, arrived at Rosyth on the 30th. Sub SALMON arrived at Harwich after refitting at Chatham. Sub CLYDE sighted an enemy transport ship west of Stadlandet. However, the contact was lost in low visibility before the sub could attack. Fr sub CASABIANCA sighted a German convoy off Lister, but it was too distant to attack. FN.171 departed Southend, unescorted due to lack of escort vessels. The convoy was met en route by PV BREDA from convoy FS.170, and arrived at the Tyne 16th. FS.170 departed the Tyne, escort sloop GRIMSBY and BREDA, which detached en route to FN.171, arriving Southend 16th.

 

[parsifal]

14 May 1940 (Part II)
OPERATIONS [CONT'D]
North Sea (Part II)
Dutch Waters
Fr TB 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, Fr SCs CH.6, CH.9, CH.41, Bergen op Zoom fell to German forces. As the fighting progressed in Zuid Beveland towards Walcheren, Fr DDs FOUGUEUX and FRONDEUR arrived on the 16th to support troops ashore. They were joined by DDs WOLSEY and VIMIERA. The Fr DDs bombarded the Germans advancing on Sth Beveland.

Fr DDs CYCLONE and SIROCCO departed Dover and arrived off the Dutch Coast on the 17th. During the forenoon of 17 May, the Fr DDs bombarded German troops. DDs WOLSEY and VIMIERA provided AA protection. Allied troops were withdrawn to Walcheren and some 300 more arrived from Zuid Beveland. Before Walcheren fell on the 18th, 1800 allied troops were evacuated by Fr TBs BOUCLIER, BRANLEBAS, FLORE, CORDELIERE, MELPOMENE. On the 14th, DD HAVOCK entered Ijmuiden and soon departed with some refugees after disembarking an agent on a special mission. Late that evening HAVOCK again entered Ijmuiden. Early on the 14th, DD VALENTINE embarked ammunition brought to Dunkirk by DD WHITSHED.

DDs WINCHESTER and WHITSHED departed Dunkirk to join DD KEITH for Operation ORDNANCE, evacuation of the Hook of Holland.
DDs WHITLEY and WESTMINSTER from Flushing were also ordered to ORDNANCE. DD WESTMINSTER departed Flushing for the Hook of Holland. DDs WHITLEY and VIMIERA were already firing on attacking LW a/c while patrolling off Flushing. DD VALENTINE arrived back at Flushing from Dunkirk at 2030. In Operation ORDNANCE, DD KEITH , BOREAS , BRILLIANT , VERITY , WIVERN WOLSEY departed Dover in the morning to evacuate troops at Hook of Holland. They rendezvoused at sea with DDs WHITLEY , WHITSHED WINCHESTER which came from Dunkirk. The DDs joined MALCOLM, VESPER , WESTMINSTER which were already at Hook of Holland and the evacuation took place as planned. The naval operation was supported by 4 Blenheims and 12 Hurricanes. DD WHITSHED was the first embarked and she departed at 1230 on the 14th. DD VESPER was damaged by near misses at about this time. DD VESPER was repaired at Dover, completing repairs on 3 June. MALCOLM sustained some damage from near misses as well. DD WHITSHED, which departed Dover at 0430/14th, evacuated 300 of the Gds Bn, the Heywood Mission, consular officials left Hook of Holland arrived at Dover at 1900/14th. DD BOREAS ran into stern of DD BRILLIANT's. The DDs were escorted by DD WINCHESTER as far as the West Hinder Buoy. They reached the Downs that evening and anchored for the night. DDs BOREAS and BRILLIANT were repaired at Blackwall, completing 17-19 June. After escorting the damaged BOREAS and BRILLIANT, DD WINCHESTER proceeded to Flushing. DDs MALCOLM, VESPER, WESTMINSTER arrived at Dover late on the 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 DD MALCOLM.

Just after the Dutch surrender came into effect at 2200, the remaining 350 Gds were embarked at Hook of Holland on DD VESPER.
To block the Hook of Holland, torpedoes were to be fired at the North Breakwater to try and silt up the harbour. DDs KEITH, WIVERN, VERITY, WOLSEY were detached for this duty. DD WIVERN was damaged by the near misses by the LW A total of 11 torps were fired. The damaged WIVERN returned to Dover arriving on the 14th. She was repaired at Portsmouth completing repairs on 20 June. Early on the 15th, WESTMINSTER and VIMIERA arrived at Dover. VENOMOUS, which had picked up some of the XD AIjmuiden demolition party and 50 civilians at sea from a tug and a motor launch, arrived at Dover on the evening of the 15th. The evacuation was declared completed. DDs KEITH, VERITY, WOLSEY were withdrawn from the Hook of Holland setting course for Dover. However at the last minute the DDs were ordered to embark Dutch troops at Scheveringen and the Hook of Holland. British steamers CANTERBURY, MONA'S ISLE, MAID OF ORLEANS, KING GEORGE V and DDs were sent to Ijmuiden and Texel. Formal surrender was signed on the 15th, which prevented this last minute evac. The opn was cancelled. DD WESSEX arrived at Dover.

Significant elements of the Dutch Navy managed to escape. CL JACOB VAN HEEMSKERCK, was towed away on the 10th, and arrived in the Downs on the 11th. CL SUMATRA arrived in the Humber on the 11th. Ne DD ISAAC SWEERS, also incomplete, was also towed from Flushing on the 10th by Ne tug ZWARTSEE to England. The DD and tug arrived at the Downs on the 11th in the company of subs O.21, O.22, tug SCHELDT. Sub O.21 departed Flushing on the 10th escorted by Dutch tug SCHELDE. They arrived in the Downs on the 11th. Sub O.22 departed Flushing on the 10th in tow for Dover. The submarine arrived in the Downs on the 11th. CL JACOB VAN HEEMSKERCK and DD ISAAC SWEERS were sent on to Spithead, arriving on the 12th. The CL was able to accompany CL SUMATRA in June on a voyage to Halifax, but returned to complete construction 17 February 1941. Ne subs O.9, O.10, O.13, O.21, O.22, O.23, O.24 were able to escape to England. Subs O.23 and O.24 departed Rotterdam late on the 13th.
Sub O.13 arrived at Dover on the 12th escorted by Ne MSW JAN VAN GELDER. Ne Subs O.13, O.21, O.22 and MSW JAN VAN GELDER arrived at Portsmouth on the 12th. Ne Subs O.9, O.10, O.24 arrived in the Downs on the 13th escorted by ML WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN. Ne Sub O.23 arrived unescorted in the Downs on the 13th. Subs O.9, O.10, O.23, O24 arrived at Portsmouth, via Dover, on the 16th. In addition O.14 and O.15, which were sent to the NEI.

Northern Waters
FURIOUS and GLORIOUS departed the Clyde escort DDs DIANA, VETERAN, VISCOUNT, WITHERINGTON for ops off Norway. DD AMAZON was recalled from an ASW sweep on the 14th. She departed Scapa to relieve WITHERINGTON. CL AURORA, CLA COVENTRY, DD FAME and WREN bombarded Narvik. DD SOMALI and Fr DD FOUDROYANT departed Harstad with ammunition for allied troops at Mo. These DDs operated in area of Bodo, Ranenfjord, Mo, Hemnes during the day. DD FOUDROYANT bombarded German targets at Hemnes and Sund. The ships returned towards Harstad early the next day. ORP troopship CHROBRY departed Tjelsundet for Bodo with DD WOLVERINE and sloop STORK escorting and screened by CLA CURLEW. In low level bombing attacks, troopship CHROBRY was hit and eventually lost. The survivors were returned to Harstad.

In air combat off Skaanland near Tranoy, 2 Skuas of 803 Squadron from aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL were lost. One crew was shot down, and KIA, the other ran out of fuel and ditched. They survived, but the A/C was lost. DD FEARLESS departed Scapa for Middlesbrough for refitting arriving on the 15th. DD HASTY departed Scapa for Plymouth en route to the Med Flt.
DD JACKAL and JAVELIN departed Scapa for Harwich. DD NUBIAN departed Scapa for Plymouth and then on to the Med with 1200 extra HE shells than normal load out.

West Coast UK
DD GRENADE departed Liverpool on the 13th and arrived at Dover on the 14th, but as she entered the port, she collided with ASW trawler CAYTON WYKE. GRENADEs watertight integrity was compromised and required docking which was undertaken at done at Harwich, completing on the 25th.

SW Approaches
AMCs PATROCLUS, AUSTURIAS, CARINTHIA, DERBYSHIRE, CHESHIRE were ordered to patrol off Vigo and Lisbon in readiness to intercept Italian merchant ships if Italy entered the war. 4 AMCs, CANTON, CORFU, MALOJA, MONTCLARE, were ordered on the 21st to relieve these AMCs on this detail. AMC ASTURIAS' assignment was unaffected. The patrol was maintained until the 31st.

Channel
DDs INGLEFIELD and SIKH were detached from their duties as escort screen for the Carriers for Plymouth, arriving at Plymouth for refitting on the 17th, which lasted until 8 June. SIKH for boiler cleaning. She was diverted en route to Scapa, where she arrived on the 16th. Fr CL MONTCALM and DDs BRESTOIS and BOULONNAIS departed the Clyde to return to Brest, arriving on the 15th.

Nth Atlantic
2 Brit Troopships departed the Clyde at 1900 with troops to relieve the Marine garrison taken to Iceland the week before. Escort was provided by FOXHOUND and HAVANT. DD FOXHOUND departed Reykavik on the 19th and landed troops at Akreyri during the morning of 20 May. After safe delivery of the troops, the British force arrived back in the Clyde on the 25th.

Sth Atlantic
In the Sth Atlantic, DKM Raider ORION refuelled from DKM tkr WINNETOU , which had departed Las Palmas on 9 April. WINNETOU went on to refuel ORION again on 20 June before setting off for Japan.

Other
DD Transfers from the Home Flt:
To the Nore Command,
DesFlot 1 DDs CODRINGTON , GRAFTON, GRENADE, GRIFFIN, GREYHOUND, BURZA, BLYSKAWICA (on completion of repairs from depot ship WOOLWICH).
DesFlot 7, DDs JACKAL, JAVELIN, JAGUAR. DDs JERVIS, JERSEY, JUPITER (on completion of repairs and refittings).

To the Med Flt,
DesFlot 2, DDs HYPERION, HOSTILE, HEREWARD, HAVOCK, HASTY and HERO
DesFlot 3, DDs ILEX and IMPERIAL.
DesFlot 4, DDs NUBIAN and MOHAWK.
DesFlot 5, DDs KANDAHAR, KHARTOUM, KINGSTON, KIMBERLEY.
DesFlot 7, DDs JANUS and JUNO

 

[parsifal]

14 May RAF Air Operations
[UNFINISHED]

1 Sqn (Hurri)
Sedan, 3 a/c lost, 1 KIA, 1 MIA, all believed lost to Me 110s of ZG 26 in the disastrous attacks on Sedan. F/O Clisbie (an Australian) is killed when he bales out. He was the first Australian ace of the war.
3 Sqn
Sgt D. A. Allen, in L1591 shot down by Ju 87 and killed near Sedan.
P/O F R. Carey, in L1932 was – WIA but safe A/C damaged by Do17 of 3(F)/11 near Hamme-Mille. Made a forced landing. Injured. A/c later burnt.
P/O M.M. Stephens in L2541 - Made a forced landing near Sedan, south of Annelles. Pilot safe, A/C burnt.
P/O C.G. Jeffries in L2908 Damaged by Me110 in Sedan area, bailed out and returned to unit

4 Sqn (Lysander)
4 Sqn conducts recce flights above the KW Line. The airmen report that refugees from Brussels and Louvain (Leuven) are being fired upon by LW strafers so as to increase panic. P/O Hankey - believed safe. Sgt Lewis - believed safe in P1711 a/c crashed at Outer, near Aspelaere advanced landing ground, a/c a write-off.

F/O T C. Clarke, , A/Cman W S. Rodulson, Both KIA. Took off at 17.20 hrs. Presumed to have been shot down by Oberlt Kupka, Me 109, 9./JG3 during sortie over Gembloux, 18.30 hrs. The Lysander crashed in the village Campagne du Reck, near St.-Remigius-Geest.

P/O D M. Barbour, L4745 Tac Recon over Brussels, Failed to return, 18.30 hrs.

12 Sqn (Battle)
A disastrous raid on 14 May saw another 5 out of 6 aircraft lost, and the withdrawal of the Battle sqns from the daytime war. The Squadron moved to Echimines, where a few night raids were flown, with mixed success.

15 Sqn (Blen), 50 Sqn, 144 Sqn and 61 Sqn (Hampden)
7 Blens (from 15 sqn) by day and 12 Hampdens (by nigh)t participated in the second series of raids on the bridges in Maastricht. 6 Blens were lost in the daylight attacks, 1 returned, but was judged too damaged to repair. 14 aircrew dead, 4 PoWs, 1 WIA, 2 survived. No losses to the night attackers. 3 a/c of No. 144 Sqn and 3 of No. 61 Sqn, bombed German lines of communication between Eindhoven and the German city Aachen. 6 a/c of No. 50 Sqn bombed the bridges at Maastricht and Maaseyk. 2 a/c returned with their loads still onboard, for they had not been able to locate any targets. The results of these missions are unknown.

2 Gp (21, 107 and 110 Sqns)
After attacks of Sqns 12, 105, 139, 150 and 218 came an attack by Blenheim sqns of Uk based 2 Gp.21, 107 and 110 Sqns tasked 30 Blenheims to bomb targets at Sedan and were provided with a ftr escort by the RAF and FAF. The a/c of 107 Squadron all bombed enemy columns despite being subjected to moderate flak, which damaged 5 a/c. All returned to base. 110 Squadron encountered Bf 109s and intense flak whilst making low level bombing attacks on enemy columns losing 5 of their number. 21 Sqn met similar opposition attacking pontoon bridges and troop columns. 1 Blen was shot down and 2 returned to base, but subsequently written off.

26 sqn (Lysander)
Reconnaissance, 1 Plane lost, 1 WIA

32 sqn (Hurri)
During the Battle for France F/O Mike N. Crossley of 32 Sqdn. shot down 7 enemy a/c, including 4 Bf 109's, and was awarded the D.F.C. on the 21st of June 1940.
The first recorded mission was on the 14 May. On this day 11 Hurris carried out the sqns first patrol over the continent, with no loss

57 sqn (Blen)
recon NL. 1 Plane lost, 3 KIA, a/c shot down by a Me109, flown by Leutnant Liegnitz of 1/JG20, over Babberich (Gelderland, NL).
Recon 1 Plane lost, 1 KIA, Crashed 0800 near the Baaasrode - Dendermonde road (Oost-Vlaanderen), 25 km ESE of Genk.

59 sqn (Blen)
2 Planes lost, 6 MIA, Unknown Mission details or cause of loss

73 sqn (Hurri)
4 Planes lost, 3 KIA, 5 Hurris scrambled in pursuit of bombers reported attacking a convoy on the Givet-Namur road. They however became involved in combat with German fighters from numerous locations (Me 109s and 110s, multiple stafelns). 1 enemy Me110 is brought down (possibly from III/ZG26), but out of ammo lose 3 on the return and 1 written off.

77Sqn 102 sqn (Whitley)
18 Wellingtons, 12 Whitleys and 12 Hampdens in various ops attack Aachen, München-Gladbach and Breda and Roosendaal respectively. 1 Hampden lost. Minelaying carried out by 22 Hampdens off German and Danish coasts.RAF Bomber Command: 4 Group (Whitley). Bombing - road/rail communications - Monchen-Gladbach. 77 Sqn. 7 aircraft all bombed, moderate opposition. 102 Sqn. 5 aircraft all bombed, moderate opposition.

57 sqn (Blen)
recon NL. 1 Plane lost, 3 KIA, a/c shot down by a Me109, flown by Leutnant Liegnitz of 1/JG20, over Babberich (Gelderland, NL).
Recon 1 Plane lost, 1 KIA, Crashed 0800 near the Baaasrode - Dendermonde road (Oost-Vlaanderen), 25 km ESE of Genk.

59 sqn (Blen)
2 Planes lost, 6 MIA, Unknown Mission details or cause of loss


79 sqn (Hurri)
Patrol. 2 Planes lost, 1 MIA, 1 WIA, no details on MIA, P/O J.E.R. Wood bailed out after a bringing down a Ju 88, nth of Leuze. Injured.

82 sqn (Blen)
Breda, NL, 6 Blen Mk.IV bombers of No.82 attacked German targets on the roads nth of Breda and Tilburg. All returned home safely.


103 sqn (Battle)
bridges, 1 DOW At around 0800, 8 Battles, led by Flying Officer J R Havers, took off shortly after 05:00 to attack 3 pontoon bridges over the Meuse between Neuvion and Douzy. The a/c were subjected to heavy flak over the target but 1 bridge was claimed as hit. The Battle of Sgt C D. Perry was hit by flak and badly damaged. The pilot was severely wounded in the thigh and stomach but he was able to return the a/c back to the vicinity of the airfield and crash land when he felt he was about to pass out. Sgt Perry immediately evacuated to England but died hospital in June 1940. He was awarded a DFM for his bravery.

Sedan, 3 a/c lost, 2 KIA , at 15:30 8 Battles took off to bomb bridges in the Sedan area where they encountered fierce flak and ftr opposition and 3 a/c were lost. 1 was brought down by flak with crew lost, as was another after release of bombload, with crew wounded, the 3rd loss was to a Bf 109, crew survived.

105 sqn (Battle)
Sedan 7 a/c lost, 9 KIA, 3 MIA, 3 POW. As the numbers show, the sqn suffered horrendous losses on this day. Between 1500 and 1600 hours the entire force of available Battles and Blenheims was flung against the same objectives as had decimated the FAF that morning. The Me.109's absent in the morning, were now on guard. No. 12 Sqn lost 4 a/c out of 5; No. 105 Squadron, 7 out of 11; No. 150 Squadron, 4 out of 4; No. 139 Squadron, 4 out of 6; No. 218 Squadron, 10 out of 11. In all, from the 71 bombers which took off, 40 did not return. No higher rate of loss in an operation of comparable size has ever been experienced by the Royal Air Force before or since. It is literally the worst day in the history of the RAF

107 sqn (Blen)
After attacks of Sqns No. 12, 103, 105, 139, 150 and 218 came an attack by Blenheim sqns of Uk based 2 Gp. 21 Sqn, 107 Sqn and 110 Sqn tasked 30 Blenheims to bomb targets at Sedan and were provided with a fighter escort by the RAF and FAF. The a/c of 107 Sqn all bombed enemy columns despite being subjected to moderate flak, which damaged 5 a/c. All returned to base. 110 Sqn encountered Bf 109s and intense flak whilst making low level bombing attacks on enemy columns losing 5 of their number. 21 Sqn met similar opposition attacking pontoon bridges and troop columns. 2 Blens were lost to fighter attack and another was written off in a crash landing on return to base at Bodney. The returning air gunners claimed several Bf 109s shot down.

 

[parsifal]

14 May - The BEF

In one of the great mysteries of the war, the following an announcement on the BBC news service:

"The admiralty have made an order requiring all owners of self propelled pleasure craft between 30 and 100 feet to send any further particulars of them to the Admiraltywithin 14 days, if these craft have not already been offered or requisitioned".

That in reality was the beginning of Operation Dynamo. But that simple order is one of the miracles of the war. It was made by some very far sighted and unknown naval officer in the Admiralty read out as part of the 9pm evening news. It was amazing because no requisition for the announcement has ever been found, the identity of the person making the announcement never established, and was made at a time when, for the BEF no crisis existed. Yet somewhere in Whitehall, a staff officer had the foresight to be able to see the possible outcome of current operations and take the momentous step of making the announcement. Moreover without that precious 5 days of organizing and collating, it would not have been possible for the navy to achieve what it did

For the next five days the Admiralty busily collated and recorded, gathering details of over 600 additional vessels for a possible eventuality. By the evening of the 19th May the prospect of massive evacuations was fast becoming the nightmare reality for the Navy

Belgian Armour
The Belgian army was largely devoid of armoured support, the Belgians in the pre-war period considered tanks an "offensive" weapon. They placed greater emphasis on defensive fortifications and in the lead up to war invested heavily in modernising the fixed frontier defences. But it is not entirely correct to say the Belgians had no tanks.

In May 1940 the Belgian army could deploy 22 divisions (mostly infantry ones - 100,000 men for the standing army, 440,000 mobilized recruits in 1939, and 900,000 total with reserves in May 1940, an astonishing feat for a 8 million population) and about 200 AFVs spread into "penny packets" among divisions, and nearly 700 towed antitank guns either by artillery tractors, trucks or Ford-based Marmon Herrington armored cars. Total strength was only 2 fully mechanized divisions, one armored regiment and two motorized divisions. Later on until 14 May, withdrawn Belgian units held Liege and Namur, executing demolition mission and delaying actions. Some of these patrols, largely equipped with T13s, scored some kills against nearly all Panzer types involved. The FRC 47 mm (1.85 in) was quite effective at medium and short range and could go through and Panzer III/IV frontal glacis (30 to 50 mm/1.18-1.97 in thick). On the other hand, they fell prey to nearly all German tank and AT gun types involved -with the notable exception of the flimsy Panzer-I, due to their obvious lack of armor.

The known armoured strength of the Belgian army in 1940 was;

T15 : 42 built 1936-38, based on the Vickers Carden-Loyd Mk.VI (6-ton light tank). They were shipped from Britain.

Infantry tanks
- FT18 : Approximately 75 FT-18s (equipped with 37 mm/1.45 in guns) were still in service by 1938, but soon placed in reserve and depots and none was active when the war broke out. They were scheduled for replacement by the French-built ACG-1.
Medium tanks
- ACG-1 : 12 delivered of the 25 ordered in France. Local designation for the AMC-35.

Tank hunters
- SA FRC 47 mm gun carriers : 6 converted to carry the main Belgian antitank gun, built by the "Fonderie Royale de Canons" at Liege.
- T13 B1 : 35 vehicles. Equipped with a semi-traversing turret firing backwards. Same gun.
- T13 B2 : 21 vehicles. Generally similar, converted using Vickers Carden Loyd VI tractors.
- T13 B3 : 250 vehicles. Completely redesigned version, with a fully traversing turret.
Armored cars
- Two vintage Minerva armored cars (Lt. Henkart 1914 makeshift conversion), armed with a single Hotchkiss machine gun.
- 90 Ford/Marmon-Herrington armored cars, built by Ford Antwerp and armored by "Rageno" at Mechelen, unarmed but used for towing the FRC 47 mm (1.85 in) gun.

Other tracked vehicles
- VCL model B Utility tractors. Unknown quantities. Two unarmed types. The infantry model, with short tracks and well armored, and cavalry model, faster, with longer tracks and less armor. They were used to deploy the FRC 47 mm (1.85 in).

Belgian T13 B3 disabled and abandoned, captured and examined by German infantrymen, probably in late May 1940.

 

[Marcel]

North
Heavy shelling on Kornwerderzand by German 88mm guns is stopped by the Dutch gunboat Hr Ms Johan Maurits, sailing on the Waddenzee. The ship is later sunk in an attempt to sail to the UK. The German army at the Afsluitdijk deides to sit this one out and no attempt is made to cross the dam. The dam would remain in Dutch hands until the capitulation. The Luftwaffe bombs Den Helder after the capitulation, later that day.

Hr.Ms. Johan Maurits

Grebbe
Isolated groups still resist at the line, preventing the SS to consolidate their breakthrough. The German army fails to advance to the Waterline, occupied by the retreating Dutch army. As the army is still in fighting condition, the news of the capitulation is recieved in disbelieve. Some groups could only be persuaded to put down arms by their superior officer next day.

Railway Bridge Beesd blown up by retreating Dutch soldiers

South
Defence continues along the river Merwede

Dutch troops fire on Nooder Eiland, Rotterdam. In the back 'De Hef', a railway bridge next to the Willemsbrug, occupied by German para's

Rotterdam
Dutch marines prepare to finally liberate the Willemsbrug. They are stopped in their tracks by the heavy bombardment that follows.
The bombing of Rotterdam is very controversial. Much remains a misery, even now after 75 years. The Dutch version is like this:
In the morning around 10.30h, the German commander Schmidt sends an ultimatum to the Dutch commander Colonel Sharroo. The capitulation of the city should have taken place by 12.30h, or the city would be destroyed. Smidt however fails to sign the document and because of this, the Dutch don't believe it is genuine. The ultimatum is returned with the request of a signed document. General Schmidt calls off the attack and writes a new ultimatum for 16.20h, this time signing it with his full name and rank. Schmidt doesn't know that the bombers are already in the air and fails to take measures to warn the crews to call off the attack. Just minutes after issueing the new ultimatum, German Heinkel 111 bombers appear over the city. Some see the hastly fired flares from the Noorderisland and drop their bombs elsewhere. But 54 bombers miss the fireworks and bomb the historic inner city with a total of 9700 kg bombs. The whole centre is destroyed, 900 people die. The city had no AAA. At 16.00h the city capitulates.

Scenes on the street during the attack.

Devastation after the bombing, Rotterdam would never be the same again

View attachment 292415

Later that day, general Student is shot in the head by a random German shot. Believing he's been shot by the Dutch, German troops start to gather Dutch civilians for a mass execution. This is prevented just in time by General van Choltitz. Student survives the accident.

Threats to also bomb Utrecht and the general militairy situation forces the Dutch high command to capitulate at 17.00h. Capitulation doesn't count for the province of Zeeland, where Dutch and French troops keep resisting until May 19th.

Dutch ordonance bringing the message of the surrender of the city of Rotterdam

Dutch cemetary at the Grebbeberg. Less we forget.....

 

[Njaco]

May 14 Tuesday
WESTERN FRONT: Adolf Hitler issues Directive No. 11. Forces north of Liège to Namur are to hold down the greatest number of enemy forces. The Dutch Army is stronger than expected, and is to be broken quickly. Motorized divisions are to be transferred to Heeresgruppe A as soon as possible.
http://der-fuehrer.org/reden/english/wardirectives/11.html

THE DAY OF THE FIGHTERS: 63 British Battles bombers and eight Blenheim bombers make a series of raids on German bridgeheads over the Meuse River. 40 planes are shot down. In air battles around the Sedan area, as the French try to stop the German breakthrough, the Luftwaffe claim eighty-nine Allied aerial victories.

The fighters of JG 53 under the command of Hans-Jurgen von Cramon-Taubadel are very active over France. The I Gruppe of JG 53, led by Jan von Jansen is one of the more successful as Oblt. Hans-Karl Mayer of I./JG 53 scores a 'five-in-one-day' tally, two Fairey Battles, two Blenheims and a single Hurricane of the Gruppe's total claims of thirteen RAF aircraft destroyed. This adds to his score of eight Spanish victories with the Legion Condor. Hans Ohly of the Gruppe claims three kills. Hptm. Mölders of III./JG 53, who claims his eleventh victory on this date, a Hurricane, is shot down by French fighters but survives without injuries. By the end of the day JG 53 claims a total of forty-three Allied aircraft destroyed. Only thirty-one out of seventy-one RAF bombers, which have taken off to halt the Blitzkrieg, return from their mission. Close to sixty per cent of all the RAF bombers sent into action fail to return, forcing the British to comment;

"No higher rate of loss in an operation of comparable size has ever been experienced by the RAF."

Oblt. Hans 'Assi' Hahn of 4./JG 2 in his first engagement against enemy fighters shoots down two RAF Hurricanes to begin his victory tally as well as Ofw. Erich Rudorffer of I./JG 2 who destroys a French Hawk 75.

As von Kleist's armoured columns move through the Ardennes, so do the supporting Luftwaffe units. Several Gruppen and the Stab of JG 2 leave their forward airfields and arrive at an airbase outside of the city of Bastogne. Obstlt. Von Bülow-Bothkamp's Stab./JG 2 transfer their Bf 109s from Wengerohr while Hptm. Jürgen Roth's I./JG 2 leaves the airfield at Bassenheim for the new airbase. Joining the Stab and I Gruppe at Bastogne is the III./JG 2 led by Major Dr. Erich Mix, who leave the airfield at Ferschweiler. The Bf 109s of II./JG 2 led by Hptm. Wolfgang Schnellmann transfer from Hamminkeln after only a few days and arrive at an airfield near Peer.

THE DESTRUCTION OF ROTTERDAM: One hundred He 111 bombers from KG 54 are sent to bomb Rotterdam. Shortly after noon, a Dutch officer arrives at General Rudolf Schmidt's 9.Panzerkorps headquarters to negotiate the surrender of the city. An attempt is made to recall the bomber force but the order is not received by the aircrews because the radio operators in the bombers are manning their guns. The Heinkels drop their loads and the city is destroyed. Casualties are 814 Dutch civilians killed and 78,000 made homeless. Much of the city is in flames including a margarine factory whose oil feeds the flames for several hours. This "act of force" forces the Danes to sue for peace and German troops begin to enter the city. Netherlands Commander in Chief General Henri Gerard Winkelman orders the cessation of hostilities around Rotterdam and Utrecht. Dutch have 2300 dead, 7000 wounded (plus 3000 civilians killed). German lose 2900 killed and missing, 7000 wounded and 1300 airborne troops, captured on the first day, imprisoned in Britain. The British War Cabinet reacts by removing an order restraining aerial bombers from attacks near civilian areas. General Schmidt will be awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 3 June 1940 for his role in the campaign in Holland.

Rommel secures his narrow bridgehead at Dinant by personally leading 30 tanks to drive French and Belgian troops back 3 miles to the Belgian border village of Onhaye (his tank is hit and a shell splinter wounds his cheek). 7.Panzerdivision crosses the Meuse in strength. French tank units in both areas, but especially at Sedan fail to put in any concerted counterattacks and are brushed aside. Fifteen French light tanks and infantry attack the German 1.Schützen-Regiment bridgehead over the Meuse River around Bulson, France, about five miles south of Sedan. By 0940 hours, with four tanks left, the French retreat south. Once across the river the Germans drive west, cutting a huge gap between the French 9th Army (Corap) and 2nd Army (Huntziger) -- which has no orders on which way to retreat. German forces capture Sedan and Donchery.

.

 

[Njaco]

May 14 Tuesday (continued)
THE BATTLE OF HANNUT – DAY THREE: 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 armour, 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 Battle of Hannut was over.

ASIA: Hong Kong authorities issue a reminder to women and children to register for evacuation in case of emergency.

UNITED KINGDOM: British Secretary of State for War Anthony Eden broadcasts a call 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. Within 24 hours, 250,000 men enroll in what in July will become the far more effective title of Home Guard.

In Great Britain, Lord Beaverbrook is appointed minister of aircraft production. This ministry reported to the War Cabinet, and was responsible for setting aircraft production priorities.

The British Admiralty required the owner of large boats to send in specifications within two weeks. (see parsifal's post above.)

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.

NORTHERN EUROPE: Six British bombers drop four bombs half a mile inside Swedish territory, during a battle at Bjoernfjell, Norway. No damage is done.

A transport carrying a large part of the British 24th Guards Brigade to join the holding forces south of Narvik is bombed and sunk by the Germans. Much equipment is lost.

.

 

[nuuumannn]

Thank you Marcel, have sent you a Pee Emm.