military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (06/02/90)
Wednesday, 15 May, 1940 The Army of the Netherlands officially surrenders, although isolated pockets continue to fight. Dutch losses amount to some 5300 dead, nearly half civilians. The first underground newspaper in Holland is printed today. German tanks under General Hoth break out of the Dinant bridgehead across the Meuse and overrun the French 1st DCR (armored division), which is caught while refueling. The 1st DCR loses nearly all of its tanks and ceases to be a fighting force. General Corap, commanding the French 9th Army in this sector, is replaced by General Giraud. General Gamelin, ordered to counterattack yesterday's penetration at Sedan, reports that no units are available for attack, and that the French Army is near collapse. Rumors of the German breakthrough cause panic in Paris; civilians begin to flee, and the Government begins burning documents. Guderian's panzers reach Montcornet, near Laon. The Royal Air Force opens its strategic bombing campaign with a 99-plane raid on a Ruhr oil installation; only slight damage is achieved. The British government opts to concentrate aircraft production on a small number of models. Germany warns that enemy troop movements through Brussels make it a viable military target for aircraft. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker Moderator, sci.military military-request@att.att.com (614) 860-5294 Send submissions to military@att.att.com "We are beaten; we have lost the battle !" - Premier Reynaud, in a telephone conversation with Winston Churchill.