CHURCHILL DIRECTS BOARD OF STRATEGY IN BRITISH SHAKE-UP (4/4/40)

Microfiche-New York Times archives, Cabrillo College Library | 4/4/40 | Raymond Daniell, C. Brooks Peters, Otto D. Tolischus

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents World War II Plus 70 Years: Seminar and Discussion Forum
First session: September 1, 2009. Last date to add: September 2, 2015.
Reading assignment: New York Times articles delivered daily to students on the 70th anniversary of original publication date. (Previously posted articles can be found by searching on keyword “realtime” Or view Homer’s posting history .)
To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by freepmail. Those on the Realtime +/- 70 Years ping list are automatically enrolled. Course description, prerequisites and tuition information is available at the bottom of Homer’s profile.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Selections from West Point Atlas for the Second World War
Evolution of Plan Yellow, October 1939-January 1940
The Far East and the Pacific, 1941 – The Imperial Powers, 1 September 1939

[Homer_J_Simpson]

* * * *

Winston S. Churchill, The Gathering Storm

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Happy Easter, one and all.

Churchill Directs Board of Strategy in British Shake-Up – 2-4
The International Situation – 3
Air Ministry Shift Popular in Service – 5
French Law Saves Soldiers’ Old Jobs – 5
Reynaud Asserts Allies Will Win; Bars ‘Phoney’ Peace With Hitler – 7
Goering Predicts ‘Blow in the West’ – 9
Scandinavians See Respite from War – 11
Chamberlain Speech Rouses Swiss Fears – 11
British Deny Wish to Harm Neutrals – 12
Reich Farms Said to Grow 83% of Country’s Needs – 12
Reich to Distribute Coal on New Basis – 12
North Sea Battle Held Developing – 13
Nazis Seen Shelving Old-Age Pension Plan – 13
Incidents in European Conflict - 14

[abb]

Very revealing that Goering telegraphed the punch for the Western Offensive.

[mainepatsfan]

Reynaud Asserts Allies Will Win; Bars ‘Phoney’ Peace With Hitler

Instead they settled for a real peace deal with him.

[abb]

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1940/apr40/f04apr40.htm

Norwegian liner reaches safety
Thursday, April 4, 1940 www.onwar.com

In Norway... The passenger ship Mira reaches its home port after numerous German air strikes during a six day crossing of the North Sea. None of the 107 passengers and crew are seriously injured.

In London... The British Treasury forms a company to trade with the Balkans in an effort to counter German economic penetration in the region.

In Germany... RAF bombers strike at German destroyers off Wilhelmshaven.

From Berlin... Goring broadcasts an appeal aimed at German youth which notes that Germany will defeat Britain and France and create the greatest empire in the world. He notes that German young people must behave with decency and morality.

[abb]

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/04.htm

April 4th, 1940

UNITED KINGDOM: Churchill leaves for Paris to attempt to get more French co-operation in mining Norwegian waters.

NORWEGIAN CAMPAIGN:

Operation Wilfrid commences under the command of Vice-Admiral William “Jock” Whitworth, a veteran of World War 1. 16 submarines begin moving from the North Sea into the Skagerrak and the Kattegat.

U.S.A.: The motion picture “Dark Command” is released in the U.S. This western, directed by Raoul Walsh, starred Claire Trevor, John Wayne, Walter Pidegeon, Roy Rogers and George “Gabby” Hayes. The plot is about William Contrell (Walter Pidegeon), the Civil War era despot, who launches his terror raids after clashing with Marshall John Wayne. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards. (Jack McKillop)

[PAR35]

Very revealing that Goering telegraphed the punch for the Western Offensive.

I wonder if that was to distract the British from the Norway operation.

[PzLdr]

In “Dark Command”, Pidgeon played William Quantrill [why the misspelling, who knows]. For reasons beyond bizarre, they decided to premiere the movie in Lawrence, Kansas [featured in the movie], which Quantrill largely destroyed [along with murdering approximately 162 men and boys] in the summer of 1863 [when it was the capital of Kansas.

[CougarGA7]

I see our reporter Otto has turned up in Oslo. There sure isn’t much word on his being ejected from Germany at least in the press.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Marshall Goering said that Chancellor Hitler had prepared the Reich's forces "for a decisive blow in the west."

"It is there," he went on, "that the decisive blow must be struck. Tomorrow you may have to take the places of your fathers and brothers who have fallen."

I don't know, Hermann. You might want to try for a more positive spin if your aim is to fill the youth with optimism and fighting spirit for the coming struggle.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

I see our reporter Otto has turned up in Oslo. There sure isn’t much word on his being ejected from Germany at least in the press.

Maybe the media were more inclined to report the news than be the news back then.

[CougarGA7]

Good point. And really in the grand scheme of things that would be a welcome change.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

For reasons beyond bizarre, they decided to premiere the movie in Lawrence, Kansas

I notice that the studios did that frequently with their high profile productions. "Gone With the Wind" had an early premier in Atlanta. "Dodge City" had an early premier in, of course Dodge City. The current issue of Life magazine has a spread on an appearance by the stars of "Virginia City" in that location. (It didn't mention a premier - maybe there was no theatre in town then.) Anyhow, the New York premier of "Dark Command" won't be until April 15. I didn't see a review on Tuesday the 16th, but maybe there will be one later in the week. I never suspected Roy Rogers and John Wayne ever appeared in the same film.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://worldwar2daybyday.blogspot.com/

Day 217 April 4, 1940

British submarine HMS Snapper departs Harwich naval base for the Skagerrak, between Denmark and Norway. French submarines Amazone and Antiope, also under the command of British Vice-Admiral Max Horton, leave Harwich to patrol the Frisian Islands and Heligoland.

Churchill is dismayed by the general lack of Allied action, and French political feuding in particular, leading to inactivity in Norway. He flies to Paris to assess the situation and resurrect his plan to lay mines in Norwegian coastal waters (Operation Wilfred). He concludes that “Wilfred should go forward notwithstanding the French refusal of Royal Marine (mining of the Rhine)”. British War cabinet is informed and agrees with his assessment.

British newspapers report concentrations of troops in German ports. This seems to go unnoticed by the military.