military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (06/02/90)
Friday, 24 May, 1940 German infantry captures the citadel of Boulogne, as tanks close a pocket around Calais. The fortress of Maubeuge surrenders, and Ghent and Tournai are occupied. The French destroyer Chacal is lost to German bombers while shelling enemy positions on the Channel coast. Acting on Hitler's directive, General von Rundstedt, commander of Army Group A, orders his panzercorps to halt. Italy postpones the sailing of several passenger liners, heightening fears that she will enter the war soon. In Mexico City, police fire on the home of Leon Trotsky with submachineguns for nearly five minutes, then attempt to fire the building with an incendiary bomb. Trotsky and his family escape with slight injuries. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@cbnews.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "Ten planes equipped with this vitally important invention would score more direct hits than 100 enemy planes not similarly equipped." - The Toronto Globe and Mail, calling on the US to share its newest bombsight with the Allies.