Diary May 21, 1940

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

Some few Matilda II tanks of the BEF are burning after being hit.

Diary for Tuesday, May 21, 1940:

Western Front

British and French armor counter-attack Rommel’s 7th Panzer division at Arras. After initial success attacks fail and end May 23. Germans besiege Maubeuge on river Sambre, west of Dinant.
Anglo-French Army commanders, Weygand, Billotte and Gort, confer at Ypres. While returning to his HQ, Billotte is injured in a car accident (he never regains consciousness and dies May 23). General Blanchard, CO of French 1st Army, assumes command of Anglo-French Army Group 1.
Belgian government move to Bruges.

Air War

Intensive RAF daylight operations over battle fronts in south Belgium and north France. Night raids on road and rail targets in Namur, Dinant and Aachen and troop concentrations at Arras (night May 21-22).

Sea War

French destroyer L’Adroit bombed and sunk off Dunkirk.

Home Fronts

France: Premier Reynaud tells Senate: ‘France cannot die ! …. if I were told tomorrow that only a miracle could save France, I should reply: I believe in miracles because I believe in France ! ‘.

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.