http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1940/jun40/f10jun40.htm
Italy declares war on Britain, France
Monday, June 10, 1940 www.onwar.com
From Rome... Mussolini issues declarations of war to Britain and France. Neither the Italian economy nor the Italian people are particularly well prepared for war. Their fleet is, however, of considerable strength and strategic significance. They have two battleships immediately available, with four more modern ships nearly completed. They also have a powerful force of cruisers and destroyers and the largest submarine force in the world, 116 strong. These forces, when all the battleships are available, will be comfortably stronger than the British and French forces in the Mediterranean, the more so when Britain is fighting alone. The only class of ship which the Italians do not have is the aircraft carrier. Two British ships of this type are in the Mediterranean at this time. The Italian army is not a formidable as the fleet. Although of considerable size its units are usually under strength and, as the coming battles will show, badly led and poorly equipped.
From Paris... French Prime Minister Reynaud appeals to President Roosevelt to intervene in the war in Europe. This appeal is repeated on June 13th but without success.
In Norway... The Allied campaign comes to an end. Strategically the campaign has been most significant for the naval losses on each side and the transformation it has helped to bring about in the potential of the available bases for the German fleets. The Allies have lost one carrier, two cruisers, nine destroyers and many smaller craft, also many ships were damaged. These losses do nothing to help the British ability to protect the trade routes. The Germans have lost three cruisers, 10 destroyers and several submarines. This forms a large proportion of the Kriegsmarine fleet and this loss cannot be replaced at all quickly. It limits ability German navy capability to help protect, for example, an invasion of Britain. Manpower losses in the Norwegian campaign are about 5600 for the Germans and 6100 military deaths for the Allies as well as many civilian casualties.
On the Western Front... The Germans are across the Seine west of Paris. Elements of the French 10th Army are still fighting around St. Valery along with some British forces. Some of these units are evacuated from the town. East of Paris the German advance is also very rapid. Evacuations also begin at Le Havre. In the next three days 11,059 British and some French will be taken off, some to go to Cherbourg but the bulk is bound for Britain. East of Paris the German forces begin to gain ground south of the Aisne.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/10.htm
June 10th, 1940
UNITED KINGDOM:
RAF Bomber Command: 4 Group (Whitley). Bombing road and rail communications in France.
58 Sqn. Six aircraft to Forges and Dumale. One returned early, five bombed.
77 Sqn. Three aircraft to Fleury and Gournay. All bombed.
102 Sqn. Seven aircraft to Abbeville. All bombed.
Greenock, Scotland: HMS DEVONSHIRE arrives in port with King Haakon and Crown Prince Olaf of Norway, and the Norwegian government aboard after a 64 hour journey from Tromsø. They then board a train to arrive in London at 2300. (Alex Gordon)
FRANCE:
French Prime Minister Reynaud appeals to US President Roosevelt to intervene in the war.
RN begins operation ‘Cycle’ the evacuation of 11,000 British and Allied troops from Le Havre.
Joinville: After fighting for two hours, French reserves fail to stop the Germans crossing the Aisne.
Chateau-Porcien: After a brief artillery preparation, the 1st Panzers together with infantry break out and advance towards the Retourne river, which they manage to cross by 4pm.
At 5 pm a French armoured group of two divisions counter-attacks along both banks of the Retourne. While the 1st Panzers were held up, and even repelled, the 2nd Panzers advanced towards Reims.
HMCS St Laurent and Restigouche exchanged fire with a German artillery battery at St Valery-en-Caux during the evacuation of the British 51st Highland Division. These were the first shots fired in anger by the RCN during World War II. (Dave Shirlaw)
NORWEGIAN CAMPAIGN:
The Allied operations in Norway end. This has cost the British and French 1 carrier; 2 cruisers; and 9 destroyers plus other smaller craft. There were 6100 KIA.
The cost for the Germans was 3 cruisers; 10 destroyers, and several U-Boats. There were 5600 KIA.
There were also many Norwegian casualties.
(Mark Horan) Continuing to shepherd the troop convoy’s home to England, Ark made her first true effort to both cover the convoy and to look for what must be out there somewhere, survivors from the missing ships, which at this point included HMS Glorious, HMS Acasta, HMS Ardent, SS Orama, ST Oilpioneer, and HMS Jupiter. At 0245 she put up a 360 degree search, out to 120 miles, using 10 Swordfish. One Swordfish failed top return, signalling it was making a deferred forced landing at sea. While continuing to maintain a fighter patrol over the convoy, she next sent off three Walrus amphibians to search for the crew of the missing Swordfish, but found nothing ( Fortunately, the missing trio, S-Lt.(A) R. C. Eborn, RN, Mid.(A) G. T. Shaddick, RN, and LA P. W. Clitheroe, RN had been rescued by the fishing vessel Syrian and would make it safely home on her.)
At 1100, her service escorting the convoy was deemed complete and the ship separated, steaming for a rendezvous with C-in-C Home Fleet, joining at 1440. Thus ended Operation “Alphabet”, the evacuation of Norway. Ark’s next job would close out the campaign on a very negative note - but that lies in the future. for now ...
At 1530 a snooper was sighted by the bridge personnel, and 10 minutes later a trio of Skuas from 800 Squadron, led by Lt. K. V. V. Spurway zoomed into the air to run it down. The patrol spotted and attacked the He-115, but unable to close the range sufficiently, the German pilot skilfully using the low cloud to escape destruction. At 1650, a further trio, Lt.Cdr. J. Casson’s section of 803 took off to run down the still elusive He-115. This time they were able to get in a few telling bursts, and the snooper left leaving a trail of smoke behind it.
After a relief fighter patrol was sent up, at 2000 nine Swordfish search was put up to cover the sector ahead of the Task Force, from 020 eastward to 210 degrees, still looking for the elusive German battleships which were, by now, safely in Trondheim harbour. That ended flying for the day.
ITALY:
Rome: After months of indecision, Benito Mussolini, today tagged his forces onto the victorious Germans and declared war on the Allies. Informed sources here believe that the Duces greatest fear is peace, which will prevent him from winning glory.
British and French ambassadors here were informed of the Italian decision here today by Count Ciano, the foreign minister. Asked why Italy should enter the war, he replied: “Mussolini is only carrying out the plans he has made with Hitler.”
Mussolini was not even able to choose his own date for the declaration. Five days ago he pleaded with Hitler to be allowed to join the fight against France. Hitler prevailed upon him to hold back until the French air force was destroyed. Hitler is insistent on a complete German victory. Nor, should France fall, will Mussolini be allowed to join Germany in armistice talks. More than 250,000 cheering and flag-waving people heard the Duce declare war from the balcony of his official residence the Palazzo Venezia. “We will conquer,” he roared. “People of Italy, to arms! Show your tenacity, your courage, your worth.”
PORTUGAL: The U.S. passenger liner SS Washington arrives at Lisbon to board any Americans wishing to return to the U.S. The destroyer USS Dickerson (DD-157) also arrives in Lisbon from Casablanca transporting Americans wishing to board the SS Washington. (Jack McKillop)
FRENCH MOROCCO: The USN’s heavy cruiser USS Vincennes (CA-44), escorted by two destroyers, gets underway from Casasblanca for New York City carrying 200 tons of gold, the Bank of France’s gold reserves. (Jack McKillop)
CHINA: Japanese forces attack Ichang on the Yangtze River.
CANADA declares war on Italy. (Jack McKillop)
Minesweeper (ex-fishing vessel) HMCS BC Lady commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)
ATLANTIC OCEAN: Patrol vessel HMCS Brad D’Or intercepted and seized Italian freighter Capo Noli. (Dave Shirlaw)