military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (06/02/90)
Saturday, 18 May, 1940 Panzer units under Guderian reach the River Somme at Peronne, while forces under Rommel reach Cambrai, where tanks were first used (by Britain) in the World War. German troops also enter Antwerp. The battleship HMS Resolution, operating off Narvik, is struck by a bomb from a German Ju 88. The bomb penetrates 3 decks, but damage is light enough to permit continued duty. Premier Reynaud replaces four cabinet ministers; Marshal Petain is recalled for the post of Vice-Premier, and Reynaud himself assumes the role of Defense Minister. Conferences between Japanese and Chinese delegates raise hopes for a truce in China. References: J. Keegan, ed., _The Times Atlas of the Second World War_ C.Argyle, _Chronology of World War II_ J. Piekalkiewicz, _Tank War 1939-1940_ R.Dupuy and T.Dupuy, _The Encyclopedia of Military History_ C.Salmaggi and A.Pallavisini, _2194 Days of War_ C.Messenger, _Atlas of World War Two_ The New York Times, daily editions Time magazine Newsweek -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@cbnews.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "Every soldier agrees that shelling and machine-gunning, as they were done in the last war, had nothing of the terror of these 300-mile-an-hour dives to a height of about 200 feet and the scream and pound, pound, pound of the bombs that are so neatly released by a little automatic switch." - unidentified Frenchman, quoted by P.J. Philip in the NY Times