military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (06/02/90)
Sunday, 19 May, 1940 General Gamelin is dismissed by Premier Reynaud, and General Weygand appointed to succeed him. DeGaulle's tanks make another attack against the German flank between Laon and Montcornet. French armor briefly threatens Guderian's headquarters, until elements of the 10th Panzer division, together with dive-bombers, halt the attack. General Giraud, commander of the French 9th Army, is captured by advancing German tanks. Elsewhere, the German armor spends much of the day reorganizing, halted by orders from high command. General Rommel receives permission to occupy the heights near Arras, which dominate the area west of Cambrai. Count Ciano of Italy declares that Italy awaits only the orders of Premier Mussolini to enter the war. For the first time, air raid precautions are taken in the Milan and Turin industrial areas. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@cbnews.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "I have the secrets of Marshal Foch !" - General Weygand "I could have retorted that I had those of Marshal Joffre and they had not sufficed." - General Gamelin, in his memoirs