William L. Shirer, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich
Posted on 05/14/2010 5:16:07 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
William L. Shirer, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich
* Anyone who hasn’t heard this speech is directed to visit yesterday’s thread and listen to the audio link Cougar posted at reply #27. You will notice the accompanying transcript is more accurate than the Times’ version.
4-What is regarded in military circles as a "holding action" by the Germans through Luxembourg...
This part made me roll my eyes:Moreover it indicated that tank tactics have been well studied by the French.
The French got it all wrong. They saw tanks mainly as infantry support weapons so they had nothing equivalent to the Nazi Panzer divisions.
Paris is confident
scary
The defenders did a magnificent job, the French are already awarding medals for the 1, 10, 100 and 200 kilometer retreat events.
I am so relieved that the Japanese don’t have to worry about all those little islands needing beefed up defenses.
http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1940/may40/f14may40.htm
Germans bomb Rotterdam
Tuesday, May 14, 1940 www.onwar.com
On the Western Front... After a surrender demand has been submitted but before it has expired, Rotterdam is very heavily bombed by the Luftwaffe. The Dutch Commander in Chief, General Winkelmans, decides that he must surrender. Meanwhile, German armor pours across the Meuse River at Sedan and Dinant. French tank units in both areas, but especially at Sedan fail to put in any concerted counterattacks and are brushed aside. There are considerable air attacks on the German bridgeheads by both British and French bombers. Many of the attacking planes are shot down. Once across the river the Germans drive west, cutting a huge gap between the French 9th Army (Corap) and 2nd Army (Huntziger) — which has no orders on which way to retreat.
Britain... Recruiting begins for a volunteer home-defense force from men in reserve occupations or too old or young for military service. This force is to be called the Local Defence Volunteers. In July the far more effective title of Home Guard is chosen.
Invasion of Norway... A transport carrying a large part of the British 24th Guards Brigade to join the holding forces south of Narvik is bombed and sunk by the Germans. Much equipment is lost.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/14.htm
May 14th, 1940
UNITED KINGDOM:
Recruiting begins for the Local Defence Volunteers (Dad’s Army).
RAF Bomber Command: 4 Group (Whitley). Bombing - road/rail communications - Monchen-Gladbach. 77 Sqn. 7 aircraft all bombed, moderate opposition. 102 Sqn. 5 aircraft all bombed, moderate opposition.
Westminster: Churchill, signing himself, “Former naval person”, writes to Roosevelt asking for aid.
Westminster: Churchill has now filled most of the major posts in the new coalition government. Political foes - Tory, Labour and Liberal - are sitting shoulder-to-shoulder at the cabinet table. “A crowd of able men” he is calling them. First the Prime Minister announced his inner war cabinet - himself as Minister of Defence, the ex-premier Chamberlain as Lord President of the Council, Lord Halifax staying as Foreign Secretary, Clement Attlee, who will be Lord Privy Seal and deputy Prime Minister, and Arthur Greenwood as Minister without Portfolio. The former Foreign Secretary, Anthony Eden, Dominions Secretary since war broke out, becomes Secretary for War. Labour’s A V Alexander is First Lord of the Admiralty, and the Liberal leader Sir Archibald Sinclair is Secretary for Air. Other important appointments go to two of Labour’s senior men - Herbert Morrison as Minister of Supply and Hugh Dalton as Minister for Economic Warfare. The Trade Union leader Ernest Bevin becomes Minister of Labour and National Service in charge of the nation’s manpower. A new Ministry for Aircraft Production has been created, which goes to the fiery newspaper proprietor Lord Beaverbrook, a friend of Mr. Churchill.
NETHERLANDS:
Gunboat HNLMS Johan Maurits van Nassau bombed and sunk by German aircraft. (Dave Shirlaw)
The Wehrmacht High Command announced:
Under the overwhelming impact of German dive bombing attacks, and of the impending tank assault on the city, Rotterdam has surrendered and thus saved itself from destruction.
Hilversum: At dawn today the Dutch were still hoping to hold on. The German airborne troops at The Hague had been captured or driven off, and Rotterdam, the key to the defence of Fortress Holland, still held out.
On the previous evening, General von Kuchler, commander of 18th Army in Holland, ordered that resistance at Rotterdam be broken by an armoured attack. To precede this, artillery fire and aerial bombardment would paralyse the Dutch defence. The bombers were to drop their load within a triangle to the north of the Meuse bridges, in the old town, where it was known that the Dutch had established one of their major zones of resistance. The operation was not intended to induce surrender through terror, but to aid the progress of the ground forces in their attack. As von Kuchler stipulated, ‘all means to prevent unnecessary bloodshed among the Dutch population.’ were to be used, and no incendiary bombs would be dropped. Indeed, beforehand, an attempt would be made to persuade the Dutch authorities to surrender, and emissaries were sent immediately to Rotterdam with that aim.
However, the Dutch commandant saw no reason to surrender at once, and the German demand was answered evasively. But some time after 1 pm the German commander in charge of the attack, General Schmidt, sent a radio message to Luftlotte 2: ‘Attack postponed owing to parley’. Negotiations were not over. The aerial bombardment, scheduled for 3 pm was to be called off. The message arrived 45 minutes too late for the attacking Kampfgeschwader (KG 54, under Colonel Lackner); its He-111s were already over the Dutch border, just as the talks were coming to a head. All attempts to contact the aircraft in the air failed. However, to meet a situation such as this, the Germans had instituted a system whereby red Very lights shot for the Meuse island would signal that the attack had been called off. The men on the ground could only hope that the aircrews would see the lights through the mist, smoke and anti-aircraft fire that was over Rotterdam. As it was only one of the two attacking formations of the Kampfgeshwader saw the flares, and turned away in time. The other 57 bombers flew in at 2000 feet and dropped 97 tons if high explosive. Killing 980 and making 80,000 homeless.
With the loss of Rotterdam, General Henri G Winkelman, the Dutch C-in-C, decided further resistance would lead only to the complete destruction of the country. He broadcast his surrender on Hilversum radio this evening. “By vast superiority of the most modern arms, the enemy has been able to break our resistance,” he said, “But ultimately the Netherlands will rise again as a free nation. Long live our Queen!”
So the fight goes on. Queen Wilhelmina and her cabinet, brought to England by the Royal Navy, have proclaimed London to be the seat of the Netherlands government. Wilhelmina, in a navy coat and skirt and with a gas mask slung from her shoulder, arrived at Liverpool Street station with officers of the Royal guard and was met by King George, who kissed her on both cheeks. She told him that the Dutch people in the colonies overseas would continue to fight alongside the Allies.
FRANCE:
Sedan: “Impenetrable” was the word the French strategists used for the Ardennes, with its narrow roads winding through wooded hills; so they left the area to be defended by a light screen of cavalry. Now Lt-Gen. Heinz Guderian, known as “Father of the Panzers” has come out of the hills with XIX Pz. K. with three Panzer divisions with a total strength of 787 tanks, 509 of which are obsolescent models and unarmed command vehicles. The French have been severely mauled.
Panzergruppe von Kleist, of which Guderian is subordinated, has a total of five Panzer Divisions with a total of 1,252 tanks.
Less than three days after his force was spotted by French scouts, he has reached the Meuse on an 80-mile front. The French General Andre Corap, on the left bank, has two divisions there; the rest of his Ninth Army is some 60 miles distant. “So the Germans have reached the Meuse,” he remarked, for he was confident that the decisive battle was being fought elsewhere, in Belgium; the Meuse was impassable.
But this morning Guderian’s Panzers cut through the centre of the French covering line, on the Perwez-Gembloux axis and had three bridgeheads, backed by an armoured brigade, across the Meuse. At last the French counter-attacked, to be ripped apart by German tanks swarming across the river. So this afternoon Guderian has smashed a mighty hole in the French defences. Corap’s Ninth Army, its artillery paralysed, its horses slaughtered by low-flying fighters, its HQ bombed and its communications in ruins, is in full retreat.
The French and British have thrown all the aircraft they can muster at the Sedan breakthrough. 40 French and 70 British (including 36 Fairey Battles) aircraft have been lost, 60% of British bombers failed to return. By the evening the RAF has only 206 aircraft fit to fly in France, out of its initial force of 474
Vincennes: Gamelin was astonished to find out that there had been no reserve on the plateau south of Sedan at the time of the German attack, and that no counter-attacks had been made at Sedan or Dinant. Reserves are still being sent north of the Sambre, to the First Army, where they are not needed.
GERMANY:
Secret Report of the SS Secret Service on German internal affairs, No. 87:
I. General comments: The sudden German entry into Belgium and Holland came as a surprise to the [German] population ... Their initial enthusiasm changed to a deep solemnity after public announcement of the Fuhrer’s appeal to the soldiers of the West Army ... The rapid seizure of the strong Belgian fort of Eben Emael, and the capture of its garrison, came as a particularly happy surprise. The bombing assaults on the open cities of the Ruhr district, and on Freiburg above all, have caused universal outrage, and in the latter case have aroused a hatred of France. there is a firm expectation that henceforth, any such action will immediately receive the compensation it deserves.
OKW issues Führer Directive #11. (i) The progress of the Western Offensive indicates the enemy has failed to appreciate in time the basic idea of our operations, strong forces continue to be directed into Belgium and the sector facing Army Group A has been neglected. (ii) The swift forcing of the Meuse has established the essentials for the strong north-westerly drive laid down in Directive #10, which might produce major success. All available motorized divisions will be transferred to Army Group A as soon as possible. Those operating in Army Group B will be switched to the left flank as soon as the situation allows. (iii) Dutch resistance has been stronger than supposed. For political and military reasons this resistance must be broken quickly and ‘Fortress Holland’
occupied. (iv) The Luftwaffe will concentrate strong forces for action with the focal point at Army Group A, in order to prevent the transfer of enemy reinforcements to the area and to give direct support to our own forces.
The Kriegsmarine will operate against sea traffic in the Channel and the Hoofden as opportunity offers. (Marc Roberts)
U-459, U-460, U-461, U-462 ordered. (Dave Shirlaw)
NORWEGIAN CAMPAIGN: The British and French advance towards Narvik from Harstad in Norway.
French forces land 10 miles north of Narvik, at Bjerkuick, Norway
Mark Horan adds: HMS Glorious and HMS Furious finally depart Greenock and begin the voyage to Norway. The ships are primarily acting as transports for the two RAF Squadrons
and the Walrus amphibians of 701 Squadron. Glorious carried but five Sea Gladiators of 802 Squadron for self defence and six Swordfish of 823 Squadron for A/S and strike duties, while Furous carried six Sea Gladiators of 804 Squadron and nine Swordfish of 818 Squadron for A/S and strike duties.
806 Squadron at HMS Sparrowhawk (RNAS Hatston) has orders to remain on the ground pending transfer South to operate of the Channel.
HMS Ark Royal spends the early hours of the day closing Narvik to ensure longer time over the target and to find clearer weather. At 1000, with the ship in position 71.11N, 16.24E, the first fighter patrol, a trio of 801 Squadron Skuas led by Lt.Cdr. H. P. Bramwell, RN, left for Narvik at 1100. Seeing no enemy aircraft, they opted to strafe some abandoned German transport aircraft on Lake Hartvig (North of Narvik) before returning.
At 1330 Lt. W. P. Lucy, RN led off three 803 Squadron Skuas. Each aircraft carried a single 100 lb bomb, and the section had orders to use them to crack the ice around the transports on Lake Hartvig. After doing so, the section headed for the fleet, arriving over HMS Resolution at 17,000 feet. They ran off two solitary bombers, then observed five He-111s of Stab/KG 26 approaching from slightly above. The section hit one He-111 and sent it down with one engine afire, claiming a probable (the bomber managed to crash land back at Vaernes).
Then Lucy plunged down to low altitude in pursuit of two low flying Heinkels. Sweeping in in a firing pass, Lucy’s 8F:L2925 was seen to explode at 50 feet over Ofotfjord, showering the sea with debris. One of his wingman, Lt. T. E. Gray hastened over to a nearby destroyer, HMS Whirlwind, and led her to the scene, but all she recovered was the body of the gallant Lt. William Paulet Lucy DSO, MiD, RN. Lost with him was Squadron Observer Lt. Michael Charles Edward Hanson DSC, MiD, RN. Having spent too long orbiting the wreckage and bring the destroyer to the scene, Lt. Gray had to make a force-land 8G:L2918 on the shore at
Breivik. He and his TAG, Leading Airman A. G. Clayton, RN were rescued by HMS Encounter.
At 1535, another pair from 803 Squadron, led by Lt. L. A. Harris, RM was dispatched over Narvik, again armed with a single 100 lb bomb for Lake Hartvig. The duo encountered a scattered formation of seven He-111s of II/KG 26, badly damaging two solitary 5 Staffel machines. Subsequent patrols sent off at 1700 (Lt. J. M. Chriatian, RN with three 803 Squadron Suas) and 1900 (Lt. G. E. D. Finch-Noyes, RN with three 800 Squadron Skuas) sighted no foes, all aircraft returning safely.
With the close of air operations on the 14th, Operation “OB” ended. HMS Ark Royal had 34 aircraft on board for subsequent operations:
810 Squadron: 7 Swordfish
820 Squadron: 6 Swordfish
800 Squadron: 6 Skuas
801 Squadron: 9 Skuas - 1 unserviceable
803 Squadron: 6 Skuas
U.S.A.: The motion picture “Waterloo Bridge” is released in the U.S. Directed by Mervyn LeRoy, this film, based on the play by Robert E. Sherwood, stars Vivien Leigh and Robert Taylor. This romantic drama is about the trials and tribulations of a World War I British officer who meets and falls in love with a ballet dancer. The film was nominated for two technical Academy Awards. (Jack McKillop)
http://worldwar2daybyday.blogspot.com/
Day 257 May 14, 1940
Holland capitulates. 9th Panzer’s Corps commander General Rudolf Schmidt threatens to bomb Rotterdam unless the Dutch garrison surrenders. Although the surrender is agreed, Luftwaffe planes do not get the order to abort & drop 95 tons of bombs destroying most of the city (1000 civilians killed, 85000 made homeless). General Schmidt will be awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross on 3 June 1940for his role in the campaign in Holland.
Dutch Commander-in-Chief General Winkelman instructs his forces to lay down arms, although sporadic fighting continues for a few days. Dutch have 2300 dead, 7000 wounded (plus 3000 civilians killed). German lose 2900 killed and missing, 7000 wounded and 1300 airborne troops, captured on the first day, imprisoned in Britain.
Rommel secures his narrow bridgehead at Dinant by personally leading 30 tanks to drive French and Belgian troops back 3 miles to the Belgian border village of Onhaye (his tank is hit & a shell splinter wounds his cheek). 7th Panzer crosses the Meuse in strength. Further South at Sedan, Guderian also has his 3 divisions of Panzers across.
In central Belgium, General Erich Hoepner rashly sends 3rd & 4th Panzer Divisions in pursuit of Prioux’s Corps de Cavalerie. At Gembloux they come under fire from emplaced French artillery, losing many tanks.
Not much information in English available on Alfredo Oriani, but this cannot be a new book -- since he died in 1909.
Mussolini's admiration of Oriani included the new preface and naming an Italian Navy ship after him, launched in 1936, lost in 1943:
Point is, the Oriani book banned by the Vatican was likely nowhere nearly as racist as, for example, Hitler's Mein Kampf.
And the point of that is: claims by some historians that the Vatican in general, and this Pope in particular, were somehow friendly or comfortable with Fascism, are at best, well, exaggerated.
Headline: "Japan is Assured on Status of Indies – 6"
In the buildup to Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt will tell the Dutch to cut off oil shipments to Japan from the East Indies. The Japanese were not amused.
Headline: "Italy May Declare Rome Open City if War Comes – 6"
This is astonishing for 1940, considering that in 1943 it is pretty-much just what happened.
Headline: "Warships of Land Charge In Epic Battle Near Liege – 9"
And talk about your eerie time-warps -- how is it that the New York Times is here reporting on the Battle of Kursk?!
I am so confused. Who were these people in their "warships of the land"?
Headline: "Text of Churchill’s Commons Speech – 13 *"
Well worth repeating and remembering. One of Churchill's finest hours:
Actually, the Germans had prepared a signal fire to call off the bombing, if the Dutch surrendered. Half of the bomber force saw it and aborted the mission. Because of smoke or fog, the other half didn’t and completed the mission.
Of somewhat greater import, from the German point of view, General Kurt Student, CG of the Fallschirmjaeger, was seriously wounded in Rotterdam by friendly fire [troops of the 1st SS-LEIBSTANDARTE SS ADOLF HITLER Regiment]. He was out of action for a year [returning to command OPERATION MERKUR]. They could have used his input for SEA LION, as well as his commans abilities.
And Student wound up the war commanding the German defense of Holland.
As in Poland, where Germans bombed Warsaw to help secure victory, again in Holland.
Total civilian deaths -- this early in the war -- were still in the thousands, not yet tens or hundreds of thousands.
In the Battle of Britain German bombings will increase civilian death tolls to the tens of thousands.
In 1941 and 1942, German bombings of Belgrade, Yugoslavia and then Soviet cities increased civilian deaths to the hundreds of thousands.
Point is: since the war, defenders of Nazism have drawn the moral equivalence between allied bombings of Germany -- a literal "holocaust" -- and the Nazi Holocaust against Jews.
It's a false moral equivalence.
The true moral equivalence is this:
allied bombings of German cities eventually killed roughly the same number of German civilians as German bombings of allied cities had previously killed of allied civilians.
intersting about he french tanks. i had read that in both numbers and quality the french were superior to the germans at the outset. what the germans innovated was the tank division, rather than integrated with infantry, and thereby were more highly mobile and concentrated.
It is pretty interesting isn’t it. The first signs of the German thrust coming through the Ardennes are showing itself, but in both the press account and the communique release from the French High Command both don’t realize the scope of it. They say its significant, but the key danger area is north at Maastricht. With were the main force is coming, that is about the worse place you can go.
The vast majority of German tanks at this point were bad. Their best tank were captured from the Czechs. The French had an excellent medium tank and heavy tank that could of easily beaten the Germans if used properly.
The battle described in the NYT article is variously known as “The Battle of Hannut” or “The Battle of the Gembloux Gap.” It was essentially a “meeting engagement” between Prioux’s French armored corps and the German 4th and 6th Panzer Divisions. Prioux’ task was to operate as a forward screen to allow the French 1st Army to take up and organize it’s main defenses as part of the Dyle Plan. In so doing, it ran into the German Panzers. By all accounts, the French tanks and artillery got the best of the Germans, with 4th Panzer in particular being mauled. It was indeed the first significant clash of armor in WW2.
Prioux’ troops were somewhat dispirited with having to surrender the field after believing they had won the fight (which they had). But he had accomplished his mission to perfection; the French 1st Army had time to organize a well defended line.
On May 15, German 6th Army under Reichenau will test those defenses with an all-out infantry assault, and the French will stop them cold. Both engagements are proof that well-led and motivated French forces are capable of putting up a stiff fight against the Germans. Unfortunately, the Battle for France was not decided there but farther south along the Meuse.
After successfully fighting off the Germans during both engagements, the French forces are surprised to receive orders for a precipitate retreat on the night of May 15.
You are correct. Another thing that the Germans had that made all the difference was radios in their tanks. By using the radio they could coordinate the attacks of these independent panzer divisions. The French on the other hand had a command structure so polluted that it was almost impossible to get an order to even move much less coordinate a tank unit.
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