Real Time WWII

[Pumba]

April 26, 1940


From today's Das Schwarze Korps (SS newspaper): a "rebuttal" of an anti-Nazi Superman comic (pic)

www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/superman.htm



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Hitler, furious to hear of British troops landing at Åndalsnes, has ordered Luftwaffe to "raze" the Norwegian town- bombers in the air now

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Astonishing footage of the German bombers, now attacking town of Åndalsnes (even though UK troops have already left):

www.youtube.com/watch?v=35qb5JYB4Ns

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Under constant German air attack, Allies considering leaving Norway; Gen. Wiart refusing extra troops: "It would complicate an evacuation"

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Prices of UK antiques have trebled since war began; joke goes that foreign collectors "hope to buy up Britain cheap before Hitler gets it".

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UK silver, art, rare books & gems in great demand; fearful of wartime taxation & inflation, the rich are buying portable, concealable wealth

[Pumba]

April 27, 1940


King Haakon, in today's War Illustrated: "I will stay as long as there is 1" of Norwegian soil".



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Norway's supreme commander, General Ruge, in his order of the day: "The time for retreating is past! Stand fast- and victory shall be ours!"

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President Roosevelt has declared Norway & Denmark part of the warzone; American neutrality bars ships from ports now controlled by Nazis.

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Hitler "beaming with confidence" at the Allied collapse in Norway, has set 7 May as date for "Fall Gelb": the German invasion of the West

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British War Cabinet now discussing evacuating all troops from Norway & abandoning country to the Nazis: "situation appears hopeless".

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1.45PM A convoy of ships carrying desperately needed anti-aircraft guns to Allied troops in Norway has been forced to turn back by bombing.

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This summer's Olympic Games, scheduled for Helsinki, Finland, have been finally cancelled, due to European war.



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1st Olympic venue, Tokyo, lost games due to Japan's invasion of China. 2nd choice, Finland, was then invaded by USSR.

[Pumba]

April 28, 1940


Germany has claimed that "captured British documents" prove the Allies intended to invade Norway, forcing Germany's "protective occupation".

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Last night, UK pilot Capt. Partridge crash-landed in Norway after shooting down a German plane. Seeking shelter, he met the enemy aircrew.

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"The situation was awkward, but Captain Partridge rose to the occasion & ordered the 3 Germans to come inside" and share a Norwegian hut.

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Germans & Partridge had breakfast together this morning, then were picked up by a Norwegian ski patrol. Full story:

ww2today.com/captain-r-t-partridge-encounters-the-enemy-up-close

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Norwegians were suspicious of Partridge- until they found an amazing coincidence: their officer's sister is married to a close friend of his

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British troops have been ordered to abandon central Norway & evacuate via ports of Namsos and Andalsnes- Norwegians must face Nazis alone.

[Pumba]

April 29, 1940


Allied/Norwegian relations becoming strained: "British officers behave with the arrogance of Prussians, demanding food at gunpoint"

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Marie Vassiltchikov, Berlin office worker: "Bosses puzzled by huge consumption of toilet paper. They thought staff suffering mass diarrhea"

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Marie: "It finally dawned that we were smuggling rationed toilet paper home. Staff now receive an amount judged sufficient for daily needs"

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Soviet officer Vasily Blokhin has been decorated for personally shooting over 7000 Polish prisoners-of-war this month.



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Blokhin is head executioner at Kalinin prison- 1 of 5 NKVD execution centres (incl. Katyn). Over 20,000 Poles have been shot since April 4.

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Blokhin wears apron & long gloves to keep his uniform clean. Using German pistols, he has shot 250 men/night- most prolific executioner ever

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King Haakon & Norwegian government are boarding UK cruiser HMS Glasgow to evacuate to Tromsø- 1 of the few towns still in Norwegian hands.

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King & ministers had to run along aburning quay to board the British ship- Lyftwaffe bombers have been hounding the royals relentlessly.

[Pumba]

April 30, 1940


German troops are now on the outskirts of the town of Trondheim- Allies fighting a bitter retreat to evacuate in time.



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"My dear Signor Mussolini…" Roosevelt, hoping to convince Italy not to enter the war, has sent a personal telegram:

www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/WorldWar2/fdr13.htm

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Ever-more prominent in UK: Winston Churchill, 1st Lord of Admiralty; or, as Life magazine calls him "Britain's Warlord"



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William Shirer, US journalist in Berlin: "I doubt British are taking the Norwegian campaign seriously. What they need is a reverse or two."

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2 weeks after they came to "cleanse Nazi tyranny" from Norway, Allied troops are evacuating from ports of Namsos & Andalsnes.

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Lt. John Adams, with Navy evacuation fleet: "Andalsnes is in indescribable ruins. Not a wall standing- Germans certainly know their stuff."

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Allies in Norway have suffered tremendous casualties; Lt. Adams: "Only 120 men of the Sherwood Foresters left- 1200 came ashore last week!"

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Citizens of Pittsburgh, USA, have offered a $1 million reward, in cash, for delivery of Adolf Hitler for trial by the League of Nations.

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Group is "not over-optimistic" about capturing Hitler, but "even a slim possibility is worth encouraging- it would avert untold suffering".

[Pumba]

May 1, 1940



Royal Navy sloop HMS Bittern, on anti-aircraft duty in Namsos fjord, has been hit by Luftwaffe dive-bombers & set afire



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7.30PM French warship Maillé Brézé has sunk after one of its own torpedos was accidentally fired onto the deck- 25 sailors have died.

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William Shirer, on radio from Berlin: "What kind of war is this, where the world's 2 greatest armies stand facing but refrain from killing?"

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German plane has crashed on seaside resort of Clacton, killing Fred & Dorothy Gill: 1st civilians to die in England.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz34ZrHIWGM&feature=player_embedded

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Lodz Ghetto is now sealed; Nazis announce they will give 230,000 imprisoned Jews food only if they are a "useful workforce."

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US writer William Shirer, touring Western front: "200 yards from the Rhine, in sight of a French blockhouse, German soldiers play football."

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Hitler, self-described "1st soldier of the Reich" has issued congratulations to German troops in Norway on "inexorable advance to victory".

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The Republic of Ireland has refused a British offer of a "defence alliance" & appealed to the USA to guarantee Irish neutrality.

[Pumba]

May 2, 1940


Rudolf Höss today takes up his post as Commandant of a new concentration camp in occupied Poland: Auschwitz.

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Höss comes from Sachsenhausen prison camp; there, in January this year, 145 infirm prisoners were left to freeze to death at his order.

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Höss: Auschwitz is just "lice-ridden barracks", but it will be the most efficient camp in the Reich: "Here, we shall do things differently."

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In Hegra Fortess- one of the last uncaptured positions in southern Norway- bread has just run out. Mountain fort now under siege for 21 days

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Sweden opening secret talks with Germany for return of its Crown Jewels- they were sent to Norway "for safety" in case of Soviet invasion.

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UK PM Neville Chamberlain announcing to Parliament that all UK troops at Aandalsnes have been evacuated- halving Allies' strength in Norway.

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Chamberlain: Allies still fighting in northern Norway are not a "sideshow", nor a "quixotic adventure" to distract from Western front.

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General Carton de Wiart commands remaining UK troops in Norway: "I am now the only unenvied pebble on the beach. Alone against German might"

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Norwegian General Ruge, just told of British evacuation: "So Norway is to share Poland's fate? But why? Your troops haven't been defeated!"

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4PM Wehrmacht have marched into Norwegian port of Aandalanes, abandoned by fleeing Allies. They're raising a Swastika flag over gutted town.

[Pumba]

May 3, 1940


While French & British eyes are fixed on inglorious Allied retreat from Norway, 93 German divisions are secretly assembling on Western front

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"Phony War" broken by Allied failures; UK teen Pamela Street: "The war goes on like a great big weight that gets a little heavier every day"

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General de Wiart, from Norway: "Navy promised to evacuate my troops tonight. I thought it impossible, but the Navy do not know the word."

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HMS Afridi, UK evacuation fleet, has been sunk by German bombers. De Wiart: "I'm sorry I wasn't on board- I've missed a great experience!"

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Hitler now lecturing new officers in Berlin: "The earth is a challenge cup: it goes to those who deserve it…"

der-fuehrer.org/reden/english/40-05-03.htm

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UK cabinet minister Sir Alfred Herbert has accused women of "dragging their feet" by not signing up for factory work "at this grave time".

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Ardent anti-Nazi German, Col. Hans Oster, has secretly sent word to the Dutch: expect invasion this week. They've decided not to tell Allies

[Pumba]

May 4, 1940


Surrounded by Germans after Allied retreat & down to 1 day's ammunition, 2,500 Norwegian troops- last in southern Norway- have surrendered.

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Editorial in Italian newspaper La Stampa: German success in Norway shows the Nazis are "invincible" & can successfully invade British Isles.

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RAF pilot Douglas Bader, who lost his legs in a crash 9 years ago, is back to flying fighter missions (with metal legs)



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Bader (centre) can cope with higher G-forces during air battles, without passing out: blood doesn't pool in his legs.

[Pumba]

May 5, 1940


Polish destroyer Grom has been sunk by German bombers off the coast of Norway; 56 crewmen are dead. Watch a newsreel:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCyG7bHFDUY

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The Pope, Pius XII, has declared in a public anti-war prayer: "Christ, leass stop the whirlwind of death which is crushing humanity".

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William Shirer, US journalist in Berlin: "More bans on private cars. Why is Germany saving oil? Do they need it for some big military plan?"

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Shirer: "To escape, I'm reading Goethe- he keeps saying the European Spirit will triumph. But today, where is that spirit in Germany? Dead"

[Pumba]

May 6, 1940


UK submarine HMS Seal now trapped on floor of North Sea for 24 hours after hitting a mine- air running short. Merely breathing is exhausting

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HMS Seal has finally managed to surface- crew crippled by oxygen-starvation headaches as they taste fresh air. German ships surrounding sub.

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Believing Seal is sinking, crew have surrendered ship, using tablecloth as white flag: 1st UK submarine ever captured.

[Pumba]

May 7, 1940


Hegra Fortress- the last Norwegian force fighting in southern Norway- has surrendered. 190 men & 1 woman now prisoners.



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Pres. Roosevelt has cut short a vacation due to self-described "case of nerves"; he has a hunch that something is about to happen in Europe.

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Marie-José, Princess of Belgium, told by Pope of imminent German attack; but her brother the King will not tell Allies.



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Allies admit Nazis have sunk 3 Destroyers in last 3 days: French Bison, UK Afridi & Polish Grom; newsreel of last:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCyG7bHFDUY

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Allies have surrounded Narvik, Norway's northernmost port- German troops there (photo) are now cut off.



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Rest of Norway, however, remains in German hands- Norwegian gold reserve is being evacuated to Britain alongside fleeing Allied troops.

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Fall Gelb, German plan to invade the West, has been postponed for 3 days due to bad weather. General Jodl: "Hitler is greatly agitated."

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Dutch Army just cancelled all leave, mobilised all reservists, and ordered border- & coast-guards to occupy its frontiers.

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Dutch warned of a planned German attack, but have not told British & French; Dutch civil servant Snouck Hurgronje: "They're not our Allies."

[Pumba]

May 8, 1940


"To deter Japanese aggression", Pres. Roosevelt orders US Pacific fleet be based in Hawaii, at port named Pearl Harbor.



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John Steinbeck, who yesterday won the Pulitzer Prize for The Grapes of Wrath, has been asked whether his novel is "Jewish propaganda".

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Steinbeck: "It happens I can prove I'm not Jewish- but when I shall have to, American democracy will have disappeared"

www.lettersofnote.com/2012/04/american-democracy-will-have.html

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See also JRR Tolkein's response, 2 years ago: "I regret I have no ancestors of that gifted people."

www.lettersofnote.com/2012/03/i-have-no-ancestors-of-that-gifted.html

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UK Parliament now debating the Nazi victory- and British defeat- in Norway; Prime Minister Chamberlain looking tired, nervous & discouraged.

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MP Leo Amery condemning PM in famous words of Oliver Cromwell: "You've sat here too long for any good you've done. In the name of God, go!"

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House of Commons has broken down into shouting; opposition MPs jeer "He missed the bus!", mocking PM. Debate will conclude tomorrow morning.

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Nazis claim Dutch mobilisation (today phone calls to other countries were banned, for fear of spies) is proof Allies plan to invade Holland.

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William Shirer advises Associated Press not to send their Amsterdam correspondent to Norway: "The war will come to him, soon enough."

[Pumba]

May 9, 1940


UK Parliament continuing last night's debate on bungled Norway invasion- Herbert Morrison, Labour MP, calls for vote against the Government.

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After sitting yawning through the debate, Chamberlain rises to defend himself; MP Hugh Dalton: "He's showing his teeth like a cornered rat!"

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Chamberlain: "I accept the challenge! I call on my friends to support me tonight!" Angry hubub-how dare PM put personal loyalty over nation?

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While a war of words flies in the House of Commons, the Imperial Japanese Army is on the offensive once again in China.



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Former PM David Lloyd George rises to sudden hush: "We are in the worst strategic position this country has ever faced"

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Winston Churchill tries to defend Chamberlain; Lloyd George interrupts: "You must not be an air-raid shelter to defend your colleagues."

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Vote of confidence in Chamberlain's government now. Every officer in Parliament voting against them. 1 Norway veteran: "I voted for my men"

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11.30PM Government has won by 81 votes- but their usual majority is over 200. Chamberlain, smiling wanly, is leaving, as Opposition shouts.

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Belgium has declared a state of emergency & put army on alert, after "worrying" skirmishes with German border guards.



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Rejected by Parliament, UK PM Chamberlain now seeking coalition to remain in power. MP Hugh Dalton: "He clings like a leech on a corpse."

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More restrictions announced on Jews in Warsaw; 1 jokes to Chaim Kaplan: "Let them make any law they like, as long as they don't ban eating."

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Jews in Warsaw (& other Nazi-occupied land) now banned from: restaurants, parks, museums, trains, owning land. 5pm curfew, "badge of shame".

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Chaim Kaplan: "My own eyes saw a `badge of shame': a yellow patch saying 'Jew'. I advise everyone add, next to 'Jew', the words: My Pride”

[Pumba]

May 10, 1940


French spy planes report huge German troop movements through Ardennes forest, on French border; High Command thinks Ardennes "impassable".

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Chamberlain now meeting his 2 potential successors as Prime Minister: Winston Churchill & Foreign Minister Lord Halifax



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Halifax is more popular with Conservative party than maverick Churchill- but supported appeasement & has suggested peace talks with Germany.

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Chamberlain: "Can you see a reason, Winston, why a peer should not be Prime Minister?" If Churchill says no, Halifax will be offered the job

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Churchill: "Usually I talk a great deal, but on this occasion I was silent. A very long silence- longer than 2 minutes' of Armistice Day."

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Halifax: As a Lord, who cannot speak to the House of Commons, "I should be a cipher. An impossible position- Winston is the better choice."

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Hitler heading for front-line headquarters at Felsennest, aboard special "Führer Train". He has already given code-word for invasion of West

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Anti-Nazi German Col. Hans Oster just told Bert Sas, Dutch diplomat, of coming invasion: "Tomorrow at dawn: be firm. You know what I mean."

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3.30AM Army posts on Belgian-German frontier are passing a code-word along the line: "René, René." "We have been attacked by Germany."

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4.35AM German armies are now advancing into the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, & France. "Fall Gelb"- invasion of the west- has begun.

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Charles Jean, French cavalry officer: "I'm woken by a fearful noise- like a storm & earthquake. Just realised it's an artillery bombardment"

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Luftwaffe are now bombing & strafing Belgian & Dutch airfields, hoping to wipe out enemy planes on the ground- & soften up for paratroopers.

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5:25AM Gliders pulled by Luftwaffe planes just landed a team of German commandos on roof of Eben Emael- Belgium's "unbreakable fortress".

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German commandos are equipped with cutting-edge "shaped charges" to disable gun turrets, & detailed blueprints of the German-built fortress.

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Germans have blasted armour of Eben Emael fortress, trapping Belgian troops inside. Belgium's defensive line is cracked- open to Wehrmacht.

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6AM Farmers, milkmen & early risers in the Hague astonished & horrified- German paratroopers are descending on the Dutch capital.

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6.30AM 2 hours after start of invasion, French commander Gamelin has finally been woken. He's relaxed at news- "humming a martial air".

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Gamelin: "Yes, this accords with our plans. Activate manoeuvre Dyle." Allies will counter-invade Belgium & Holland to stop German advance.

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Allies are reacting just as German High Command anticipated. Huge force waits to encircle Allied troops, to trap them in Low Countries.

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French General Georges Boris just heard guns firing: "Oh, where are they holding the manoeuvres?" Aide replies: "That is the German attack."

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Hitler's Order of the Day to invasion troops: "Your hour has come. The fight which begins today decides Germany's destiny for 1000 years."

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German troops have now fully occupied Luxembourg, facing little resistance- 7 Luxembourgers wounded. Tiny state was relying on neutrality.

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Dutch girl Ida van de Criendt (13) is angry her mother won't let her play outside; she envies the soldiers she sees in streets of the Hague.

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1st setback for Germans: Dutch troops have shot down 18 troop planes trying to capture Ypenburg Airfield, the Hague.



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William Shirer, reporting from Berlin: "Censors won't let me say 'invasion'- I say 'marched in'. America knows an invasion when it sees one"

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Shirer: "German 'justification' of invasion ('protecting neutrality') sets new records for cynicism & downright impudence- even for Hitler."

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Dutch military blowing up bridges over River Meuse: trying to create "Fortress Holland", trapping Germans behind water.



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Fortress Holland's 1st "moat"- the river Meuse- is already crossed. Germans using boats, pontoon bridges- even swimming