Diary May 12, 1940

War Diary, 05-1940, Diary WW2, Year 1940 / 1 minute of reading

Panzer division is moving into France — A Panzer division is moving to France, 1940. In front are Panzer 38 (t), close to Panzer II and one Panzer IV.

Diary for Sunday, May 12, 1940:

Western Front

French light mechanized units withdraw and all the bridges over river Meuse are blown up, except those at Mezieres, where French fortress troops continue to hold both banks. Advance guards of three Panzer corps reach the Meuse later in the day along 80 miles (ca. 129 km) front, from Dinant to Sedan, having advanced 80 miles (ca. 129 km) in three days.
French 7th Army comes under severe pressure from 9th Panzer division and Ju 87 Stukas and is forced to retreat from Breda and Tilburg to Antwerp.

Norway

French Foreign Legion (2 battalions) land at Bjerkvik, near Narvik.

Air War

Five Battles flown by volunteers make suicidal attack on Vroenhoven and Veldwezelt bridges over Albert Canal, Belgium. All shot down by flak; Veldwezelt bridge damaged.

Home Fronts

Britain: 3,000 enemy aliens and 11,000 non-enemy aliens interned.
Kingsley Wood, Chancellor of Exchequer; Anderson, Home Secretary; Morrison, Minister of Supply.

Neutrals

Spain: General Franco issues Note affirming Spain’s continued adherence to the policy of ‘strict neutrality’, decreed on September 5, 1939.

About The Author

Kretaner

My name is Norman 'Kretaner' and since my childhood I am interested in history and strategy games. Later, I have learned programming and the development of computer games, and finally with the Internet, also web design. I'm in the fortunate position to combine all my interests with my work and to live on a place of my choice, on Crete. All information, figures, specifications and statistics used here had been compiled from a variety of sources and the large, over decades collected, library of the author about military history, WW2 and weapons.