military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (06/02/90)
Monday, 13 May, 1940 Panzer divisions under General Guderian force two crossings of the Meuse River near Sedan. Other crossings are made further north by Reinhardt's panzerkorps. Liege falls to German forces as the Allies complete the occupation of the Dyle line. The Dutch Army, badly shattered by the Wehrmacht, is ordered to retreat to the "Dutch fortress", the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Utrecht region. Queen Wilhelmina and the government evacuate to Britain. Two French light mechanized divisions (DLM's) combat the German XVI Panzerkorps near Namur. Nearly a hundred tanks are lost on both sides, but the Germans hold the field. Prime Minister Churchill makes his first speech before Parliament in his new capacity. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@cbnews.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat." - Winston Churchill