That's a shame for the disparition of the english website
They are in April 1944 on the french one, so you can look forward to a lot of brand new materiel Fantasque Time Line (France Fights On) - English Translation
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They are in April 1944 on the french one, so you can look forward to a lot of brand new materiel As a query/comment: is 'attachment' a specific Italian political slang of that time-period, or should this have maybe been 'annexation'?
The word used in the french version wasn't as harsh as annexation, but I realized that there weren't any other real alternatives. Fixed.
My sincere thanks for your work on this. I have been wanting to read this TL for some time but my French is only sufficient to read the part where Weygand asks de Gaulle how to get to the library.
052
June 13th, 1940
Tours, 1030 - Mandel sends a telegram to all the prefects who can still be reached. He orders them to "do everything possible, in concert with the military authorities, to ensure the
defense of the metropolitan territory as long as possible and to prepare the transfer to North Africa of the personnel essential to the National Defense (...) You will fight defeatism wherever it occurs with the utmost rigor. (...) Any breach of these obligations will result in the immediate dismissal of the prefect at fault. (...) " These strong provisions will not be appreciated by everyone.
"Those close to Chautemps will bitterly resent Mandel for having unnecessarily largened the divisions resulting from the dramatic Council of the night of June 12th to 13th. It is certain that Mandel acted brutally at the time and some prefects even went beyond his demands. However, to claim, as Laval did at his trial, that this text was the cause of the anti-Semitic persecutions in France between 1940 and 1944 is far from the truth. The publications of Doriot, Déat and the far right were full of virulent anti-Semitic attacks since 1936. Didn't Déat's militants sing as early as 1939, to the tune of the tune of the Internationale: "And if they persist, these cannibals / In making heroes of us / They will soon see that our bullets / Are for Mandel, Blum and Reynaud"?
It should be recognized here that the decision to arrest Marshal Pétain provoked immense shock and profound confusion in certain circles. Seeing the socialists rally around Mandel and Reynaud was, for people who had never accepted the Popular Front, a real declaration of war. But the measures taken by Mandel on June 13th and June 14th, although they added to the resentment of a fraction of the political class, had the the immense merit of bringing the French administration out of its wait-and-see attitude and remobilizing it around the objectives of the new government. As for the decree-law on internal security, also denounced by some, it had been part of the accepted procedures of the Third Republic since 1938. (J. Chapsal and A. Lancelot, La vie politique en France de 1939 à 1944, Éditions Cujas, Paris, 1970).
Tours, 1030 - Mandel sends a telegram to all the prefects who can still be reached. He orders them to "do everything possible, in concert with the military authorities, to ensure the
defense of the metropolitan territory as long as possible and to prepare the transfer to North Africa of the personnel essential to the National Defense (...) You will fight defeatism wherever it occurs with the utmost rigor. (...) Any breach of these obligations will result in the immediate dismissal of the prefect at fault. (...) " These strong provisions will not be appreciated by everyone.
"Those close to Chautemps will bitterly resent Mandel for having unnecessarily largened the divisions resulting from the dramatic Council of the night of June 12th to 13th. It is certain that Mandel acted brutally at the time and some prefects even went beyond his demands. However, to claim, as Laval did at his trial, that this text was the cause of the anti-Semitic persecutions in France between 1940 and 1944 is far from the truth. The publications of Doriot, Déat and the far right were full of virulent anti-Semitic attacks since 1936. Didn't Déat's militants sing as early as 1939, to the tune of the tune of the Internationale: "And if they persist, these cannibals / In making heroes of us / They will soon see that our bullets / Are for Mandel, Blum and Reynaud"?
It should be recognized here that the decision to arrest Marshal Pétain provoked immense shock and profound confusion in certain circles. Seeing the socialists rally around Mandel and Reynaud was, for people who had never accepted the Popular Front, a real declaration of war. But the measures taken by Mandel on June 13th and June 14th, although they added to the resentment of a fraction of the political class, had the the immense merit of bringing the French administration out of its wait-and-see attitude and remobilizing it around the objectives of the new government. As for the decree-law on internal security, also denounced by some, it had been part of the accepted procedures of the Third Republic since 1938. (J. Chapsal and A. Lancelot, La vie politique en France de 1939 à 1944, Éditions Cujas, Paris, 1970).
053
June 13th, 1940
Tours City Hall, 1145 - Reynaud, Mandel, Blum and De Gaulle decide to prepare the transfer of government services to Toulouse, because Bordeaux is too far from the Mediterranean and Marseille is impractical if the evacuation was not to be hindered. The Minister of the Air Laurent Eynac, was sent to Toulouse by plane with Albert Caquot (Technical Director of the Aeronautical Industries) to prepare the installation of the administrations and to accelerate production in the factories of the region, while providing for the transfer of transportable equipment and the destruction of the rest.
1200 - The President of the Republic, Albert Lebrun, announces on the radio, whose offices and transmitters had been withdrawn to Tours, Lyon, Bordeaux and Toulouse, the government reshuffle and the "resignation for health reasons" of Philippe Pétain. Then Reynaud, Blum and Mandel each gave an address. Reynaud's was firm but dull:
"Be strong, victory will be at the end of our efforts!" can sum it up. Blum surprised everyone with a brief but energetic speech: "This war, my dear compatriots, is not a struggle between France and Germany, but between Freedom and the worst Tyranny that Europe has ever known. It is up to us, the French people, to be the first to dare to stand in its way.
to stand in its way. Whatever the tragedies and obstacles, we will not fail in this sacred mission." Finally, Mandel, flamboyant, managed to resurrect the legacy of
his mentor Georges Clemenceau, the "Tigre", whose inaugural speech in 1917 inspired him: "For the second time in a quarter of a century, we have been forced to throw ourselves into battle, and we only have one thought left: full-scale war and victory. From now on, the government of France knows only one policy: War. The War on the battlefields, the War that we will support with all our strength in the in the rear and in our colonies. We know today the hardness and the misfortune, and Paris wears the mourning. But a day will come when, from Paris freed to the most humble village liberated, our standards twisted in blood once more, bathed in tears once more, torn apart by shells once more, but victorious once more, will be greeted by the cheers of all the French people!"
These statements reinforce the effect of Mandel's telegram to the prefects, supplemented by multiple telephone calls. At last, the civil administration receives clear orders!
1300 - The War Committee meets to draw up a plan for the evacuation to NAF and for the defense of the Metropolitan territory.
As Admiral Darlan was late, the Committee first considers the situation of the air force. The transfer of the 2,070 officers and students and the 7,500 non-commissioned officers and students of the Air Force schools to Morocco is decided. The personnel of the Training Centers will follow, except for those whose level is such that they could be immediately assigned to combat units. The 6,855 officers, non-commissioned officers and enlisted men of the DIAP (Polish Air Force Training Division) stationed at Lyon-Bron will move to Marseille for their evacuation to Morocco. The same goes for Czech, Dutch and Norwegian airmen stationed in France. The case of the Belgian airmen should be settled as soon as possible, in agreement with the civil and military authorities.
On the ground, the Zone d'Opérations Aériennes Centre (ZOAC) created on June 6th, absorbs the ZOA Nord (ZOAN), whose commander, General d'Astier de La Vigerie, then takes command of the ZOAC. Finally, it is decided that the ZOA East (commanded by General Bouscat) would deploy on the grounds of the ZOA South to cover the Burgundy Locks.
As far as the ground forces were concerned, the order given to the GA 2 to leave only the personnel strictly necessary for the defense of the works and the delaying of the enemy and to move to a line Epinal-Chaumont-Auxerre is confirmed. Huntziger and Georges insist on the creation of a "cork" in the Burgundy Locks in order to leave a possibility of retreat for the armies in the east. De Gaulle also reaffirms to Huntziger that it was imperative to recover the BCCs of the GA 2 equipped with R-35s, a little annoyed that this order had not yet been carried out. Huntziger immediately informed Prételat.
As for the Army of the Alps, it is asked to take from forces facing Italy to form a defensive curtain starting from Bourg-en-Bresse.
1400 - Admiral Darlan arrives an hour late. Almost immediately, he has the first of a long series of clashes with De Gaulle. It is the appointment of Muselier that provides the subject of this standoff. Some time earlier, Darlan had been instrumental in the retirement of Muselier (for reasons that are still controversial to this day) and the two men did not like each other very much!
In order to settle this dispute, the secretary of the Committee for War, Philippe Serre, proposes that after the decree of June 8th, "the maritime and river ports located from the mouth of the Somme to the Bidasoa [...] under the authority of the Admiral of the Fleet, Commander-in-Chief of the maritime forces", another decree taken immediately did the same for the ports of the Mediterranean coast and those of Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco.
The maritime prefects and other representatives of the Admiralty were thus responsible for the maritime and land defense of the ports and, to this end, have the right to requisition men and goods. This measure is a courtesy to Darlan and made Muselier's task easier. Paul Reynaud then proposes to entrust the General Staff of the National Defense the task of organizing what was soon to be called the "Grand Déménagement", while Muselier continued to gather the necessary means. To complete these
measures, the members of the administrations concerned (prefecture, police, PTT, SNCF) receive orders from their ministers to remain at their posts until the end "even at the risk of falling into the hands of the enemy" and to obey the orders of the local military authorities. These proposals receive general approval (with more or less ulterior motives).
François Darlan - Admiral of the Fleet in June 1940. Member of the War Committee and then of the National Defense Council. Appointed Minister of the Navy in the Algiers government on September 17th, 1940 to allow the appointment of Admiral Emmanuel Ollive as Commander-in-Chief of the Marine Nationale.
He regularly clashed with the Minister of War, General de Gaulle, of whom he contests the views and conduct of the armed forces. After having been supported for a while by some socialists (Jules Moch in particular), who saw in him "an antidote to De Gaulle", he eventually tired Reynaud, Mandel and Blum. He resigned in January 1941 and was replaced by Henry de Kérillis (whose competences were largely limited to the Merchant Navy).
Remaining available, he led a mission to the United States in February 1941 at the request of the Chief of Staff of the National Defense, in order to identify the assistance and support that the US Navy and American industry could provide to the French Navy.
In March 1941, he was appointed deputy commander of the new Combined Operations Interallied Command then Commander of Combined Operations in October 1941, upon the departure of Admiral Keyes. In this capacity, he prepared and led the organization of the landings of 1942 (Greece and then Sicily) and 1943 (Provence) in the Mediterranean.
In July 1943, he was appointed French representative to General Eisenhower and first deputy of SACEUR.
In January 1944, he was appointed French Ambassador in Washington, then in January 1945 Commander-in-Chief of the French Pacific and Commander-in-Chief of the French forces in the Pacific and the Far East and French representative to Admiral Nimitz (CINCPAC). In this capacity, he signed the act of surrender of Japan in Tokyo Bay. Recalled to France at the end of 1945, he chaired the Committee for the Reconstruction of the Navy.
Appointed Minister of Defense in February 1948 in the Blum-Moch cabinet, then Moch (after the resignation of Léon Blum for health reasons). Resigned in October 1948 on the question of military credits (because of the austerity measures demanded by the Minister of Economy and Finance, Pierre Mendès-France). Appointed in December 1948 to the NATO general staff, where he remained until December 1949. He then retired.
Elected to the Académie Française in 1951. Died in November 1953.
Author of "Pour une Marine Nationale" (1948), "La France, sa marine et son avenir" (1950), "La Mer et la République - Mémoires" (1953), "Conversations with Jules Moch" (published after his death in 1954). (Extract from the Grand Larousse de la Seconde Guerre Mondiale, Paris 1965)
Tours City Hall, 1145 - Reynaud, Mandel, Blum and De Gaulle decide to prepare the transfer of government services to Toulouse, because Bordeaux is too far from the Mediterranean and Marseille is impractical if the evacuation was not to be hindered. The Minister of the Air Laurent Eynac, was sent to Toulouse by plane with Albert Caquot (Technical Director of the Aeronautical Industries) to prepare the installation of the administrations and to accelerate production in the factories of the region, while providing for the transfer of transportable equipment and the destruction of the rest.
1200 - The President of the Republic, Albert Lebrun, announces on the radio, whose offices and transmitters had been withdrawn to Tours, Lyon, Bordeaux and Toulouse, the government reshuffle and the "resignation for health reasons" of Philippe Pétain. Then Reynaud, Blum and Mandel each gave an address. Reynaud's was firm but dull:
"Be strong, victory will be at the end of our efforts!" can sum it up. Blum surprised everyone with a brief but energetic speech: "This war, my dear compatriots, is not a struggle between France and Germany, but between Freedom and the worst Tyranny that Europe has ever known. It is up to us, the French people, to be the first to dare to stand in its way.
to stand in its way. Whatever the tragedies and obstacles, we will not fail in this sacred mission." Finally, Mandel, flamboyant, managed to resurrect the legacy of
his mentor Georges Clemenceau, the "Tigre", whose inaugural speech in 1917 inspired him: "For the second time in a quarter of a century, we have been forced to throw ourselves into battle, and we only have one thought left: full-scale war and victory. From now on, the government of France knows only one policy: War. The War on the battlefields, the War that we will support with all our strength in the in the rear and in our colonies. We know today the hardness and the misfortune, and Paris wears the mourning. But a day will come when, from Paris freed to the most humble village liberated, our standards twisted in blood once more, bathed in tears once more, torn apart by shells once more, but victorious once more, will be greeted by the cheers of all the French people!"
These statements reinforce the effect of Mandel's telegram to the prefects, supplemented by multiple telephone calls. At last, the civil administration receives clear orders!
1300 - The War Committee meets to draw up a plan for the evacuation to NAF and for the defense of the Metropolitan territory.
As Admiral Darlan was late, the Committee first considers the situation of the air force. The transfer of the 2,070 officers and students and the 7,500 non-commissioned officers and students of the Air Force schools to Morocco is decided. The personnel of the Training Centers will follow, except for those whose level is such that they could be immediately assigned to combat units. The 6,855 officers, non-commissioned officers and enlisted men of the DIAP (Polish Air Force Training Division) stationed at Lyon-Bron will move to Marseille for their evacuation to Morocco. The same goes for Czech, Dutch and Norwegian airmen stationed in France. The case of the Belgian airmen should be settled as soon as possible, in agreement with the civil and military authorities.
On the ground, the Zone d'Opérations Aériennes Centre (ZOAC) created on June 6th, absorbs the ZOA Nord (ZOAN), whose commander, General d'Astier de La Vigerie, then takes command of the ZOAC. Finally, it is decided that the ZOA East (commanded by General Bouscat) would deploy on the grounds of the ZOA South to cover the Burgundy Locks.
As far as the ground forces were concerned, the order given to the GA 2 to leave only the personnel strictly necessary for the defense of the works and the delaying of the enemy and to move to a line Epinal-Chaumont-Auxerre is confirmed. Huntziger and Georges insist on the creation of a "cork" in the Burgundy Locks in order to leave a possibility of retreat for the armies in the east. De Gaulle also reaffirms to Huntziger that it was imperative to recover the BCCs of the GA 2 equipped with R-35s, a little annoyed that this order had not yet been carried out. Huntziger immediately informed Prételat.
As for the Army of the Alps, it is asked to take from forces facing Italy to form a defensive curtain starting from Bourg-en-Bresse.
1400 - Admiral Darlan arrives an hour late. Almost immediately, he has the first of a long series of clashes with De Gaulle. It is the appointment of Muselier that provides the subject of this standoff. Some time earlier, Darlan had been instrumental in the retirement of Muselier (for reasons that are still controversial to this day) and the two men did not like each other very much!
In order to settle this dispute, the secretary of the Committee for War, Philippe Serre, proposes that after the decree of June 8th, "the maritime and river ports located from the mouth of the Somme to the Bidasoa [...] under the authority of the Admiral of the Fleet, Commander-in-Chief of the maritime forces", another decree taken immediately did the same for the ports of the Mediterranean coast and those of Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco.
The maritime prefects and other representatives of the Admiralty were thus responsible for the maritime and land defense of the ports and, to this end, have the right to requisition men and goods. This measure is a courtesy to Darlan and made Muselier's task easier. Paul Reynaud then proposes to entrust the General Staff of the National Defense the task of organizing what was soon to be called the "Grand Déménagement", while Muselier continued to gather the necessary means. To complete these
measures, the members of the administrations concerned (prefecture, police, PTT, SNCF) receive orders from their ministers to remain at their posts until the end "even at the risk of falling into the hands of the enemy" and to obey the orders of the local military authorities. These proposals receive general approval (with more or less ulterior motives).
François Darlan - Admiral of the Fleet in June 1940. Member of the War Committee and then of the National Defense Council. Appointed Minister of the Navy in the Algiers government on September 17th, 1940 to allow the appointment of Admiral Emmanuel Ollive as Commander-in-Chief of the Marine Nationale.
He regularly clashed with the Minister of War, General de Gaulle, of whom he contests the views and conduct of the armed forces. After having been supported for a while by some socialists (Jules Moch in particular), who saw in him "an antidote to De Gaulle", he eventually tired Reynaud, Mandel and Blum. He resigned in January 1941 and was replaced by Henry de Kérillis (whose competences were largely limited to the Merchant Navy).
Remaining available, he led a mission to the United States in February 1941 at the request of the Chief of Staff of the National Defense, in order to identify the assistance and support that the US Navy and American industry could provide to the French Navy.
In March 1941, he was appointed deputy commander of the new Combined Operations Interallied Command then Commander of Combined Operations in October 1941, upon the departure of Admiral Keyes. In this capacity, he prepared and led the organization of the landings of 1942 (Greece and then Sicily) and 1943 (Provence) in the Mediterranean.
In July 1943, he was appointed French representative to General Eisenhower and first deputy of SACEUR.
In January 1944, he was appointed French Ambassador in Washington, then in January 1945 Commander-in-Chief of the French Pacific and Commander-in-Chief of the French forces in the Pacific and the Far East and French representative to Admiral Nimitz (CINCPAC). In this capacity, he signed the act of surrender of Japan in Tokyo Bay. Recalled to France at the end of 1945, he chaired the Committee for the Reconstruction of the Navy.
Appointed Minister of Defense in February 1948 in the Blum-Moch cabinet, then Moch (after the resignation of Léon Blum for health reasons). Resigned in October 1948 on the question of military credits (because of the austerity measures demanded by the Minister of Economy and Finance, Pierre Mendès-France). Appointed in December 1948 to the NATO general staff, where he remained until December 1949. He then retired.
Elected to the Académie Française in 1951. Died in November 1953.
Author of "Pour une Marine Nationale" (1948), "La France, sa marine et son avenir" (1950), "La Mer et la République - Mémoires" (1953), "Conversations with Jules Moch" (published after his death in 1954). (Extract from the Grand Larousse de la Seconde Guerre Mondiale, Paris 1965)
054
June 13th, 1940
Tours, 1500 - Reynaud takes his leave from the Committee, leaving the chairmanship to De Gaulle, to discuss the diplomatic consequences of the situation with Margerie and Leca. In the morning, an encrypted telegram from Ambassador Labonne (who had just taken up his post in Moscow) suggests to him to contact the Soviet government - in spite of all imaginable reticence on both sides since the German-Soviet Pact and the Winter War between the USSR and Finland - to explain that German military victories were tipping the balance of power in Europe and that the USSR would not fail to feel the consequences of this quickly. Reynaud gives his agreement to this attempt; the encrypted cable authorizing Labonne to act left around 15:30. Molotov will receive Labonne the next day for a two-hour meeting, but he will not promise anything.
Reynaud then has a meeting with the chargé d'affaires of the American embassy, Mr. Biddle (the American ambassador, William Bullitt, had remained in Paris). He informs him of the resolve of the French government to continue the fight by any means, even if it means to withdraw to North Africa when the situation became untenable in France. He transmits to the chargé d'affaires a message inviting President Roosevelt once again to reconsider his position of neutrality or at least to allow France to have the widest possible access to the American industrial power to rebuild its forces after the evacuation. When Biddle asks what the French forces would be at that time, Reynaud throws out a figure of 960,000 men. It seems that he had added the 350,000 men already present in NAF, the 110,000 evacuated from Dunkirk (many of whom had already returned to France) and the 500,000 men who represented the total number of men that the Navy hoped to evacuate to the Mediterranean. [1]
[1] The Admiralty had just transmitted to the government a study (ordered a few days earlier by De Gaulle) on the possibilities of transporting 900,000 men to North Africa, including 250,000 special assignments (who were specialists - engineers, technicians - who remained at their civilian posts and were subject to military jurisdiction) and 150,000 recruits. This report considers several possibilities (Bordeaux-Casablanca, Marseille-Oran, using part of the tonnage to transport freight). It concluded that the operation was unfeasible within the prescribed time frame, and in any case "harmful to the supply of the country". He considers that the necessary means in transport ships to carry out this operation within the time limit are out of proportion with the French resources and that the means of escort are insufficient to ensure the protection of such convoys. The Admiralty "refuses to estimate the consequences of such an operation on the commercial relations and the functioning of the ports, which could not be used for other purposes during the whole operation and perhaps even afterwards, as the fuel stocks in these ports would probably be greatly reduced." The Admiralty apparently did not consider who might then use the ports in question.
Tours, 1500 - Reynaud takes his leave from the Committee, leaving the chairmanship to De Gaulle, to discuss the diplomatic consequences of the situation with Margerie and Leca. In the morning, an encrypted telegram from Ambassador Labonne (who had just taken up his post in Moscow) suggests to him to contact the Soviet government - in spite of all imaginable reticence on both sides since the German-Soviet Pact and the Winter War between the USSR and Finland - to explain that German military victories were tipping the balance of power in Europe and that the USSR would not fail to feel the consequences of this quickly. Reynaud gives his agreement to this attempt; the encrypted cable authorizing Labonne to act left around 15:30. Molotov will receive Labonne the next day for a two-hour meeting, but he will not promise anything.
Reynaud then has a meeting with the chargé d'affaires of the American embassy, Mr. Biddle (the American ambassador, William Bullitt, had remained in Paris). He informs him of the resolve of the French government to continue the fight by any means, even if it means to withdraw to North Africa when the situation became untenable in France. He transmits to the chargé d'affaires a message inviting President Roosevelt once again to reconsider his position of neutrality or at least to allow France to have the widest possible access to the American industrial power to rebuild its forces after the evacuation. When Biddle asks what the French forces would be at that time, Reynaud throws out a figure of 960,000 men. It seems that he had added the 350,000 men already present in NAF, the 110,000 evacuated from Dunkirk (many of whom had already returned to France) and the 500,000 men who represented the total number of men that the Navy hoped to evacuate to the Mediterranean. [1]
[1] The Admiralty had just transmitted to the government a study (ordered a few days earlier by De Gaulle) on the possibilities of transporting 900,000 men to North Africa, including 250,000 special assignments (who were specialists - engineers, technicians - who remained at their civilian posts and were subject to military jurisdiction) and 150,000 recruits. This report considers several possibilities (Bordeaux-Casablanca, Marseille-Oran, using part of the tonnage to transport freight). It concluded that the operation was unfeasible within the prescribed time frame, and in any case "harmful to the supply of the country". He considers that the necessary means in transport ships to carry out this operation within the time limit are out of proportion with the French resources and that the means of escort are insufficient to ensure the protection of such convoys. The Admiralty "refuses to estimate the consequences of such an operation on the commercial relations and the functioning of the ports, which could not be used for other purposes during the whole operation and perhaps even afterwards, as the fuel stocks in these ports would probably be greatly reduced." The Admiralty apparently did not consider who might then use the ports in question.
055
June 13th, 1940
Tours Prefecture, 1700 - New meeting of the Supreme Interallied Council. The British delegation is composed of Winston Churchill, Lord Halifax (Foreign Office), Lord Beaverbrook, Generals Dill, Ismay and Spears, Sir Alexander Cadogan (Foreign Office Secretary) and Ambassador Campbell. The French delegation includes Messrs. Reynaud, Mandel, Blum, De Gaulle, Serre, Margerie, General Huntziger and Admiral Darlan.
Most of the discussions concern the conditions for the French withdrawal from North Africa and operations against Italy in order to ensure Allied control of the Mediterranean. General Dill presents the situation of the Commonwealth forces in Egypt and Sudan and General Huntziger on the situation of the French forces in North Africa. The latter confirms to the British that there it was out of the question to take resources from these forces for the last engagements in France and asked that the troops evacuated from Dunkirk and returning from Norway be transferred as quickly as possible to Algeria and not to Metropolitan France. Hailing the French determination to continue the fight, Winston Churchill announces the arrival the next day of Sir Dudley Pound, First Lord of the Admiralty, for consultations with Admiral Darlan.
After the actual military discussions, Churchill proposed to complete the Reynaud-Chamberlain communiqué with a new declaration by both countries on the aims of the war. While Margerie and Sir Alexander Cadogan leave to prepare a joint text, a "light snack" (dixit Churchill) is served. In the informal discussion that follows, Churchill, who knew nothing of French history, pointed to De Gaulle (who was in the middle of a discussion with Generals Dill, Ismay and Spears on the other side of the table) as "the Connétable of France". The monicker will stick.
At this time, a communication from the Ministry of the Navy causes some excitement: it mentions the constitution of a communist government in Paris and the disarmament of the police and the Republican Guard. General Lanoix and the Prefect of Police Langeron on the phone are contacted on the phone and categorically deny this information.
2000 - The meeting resumes. The text drawn up by Margerie and Cadogan was short and not very amended. Its final wording is as follows:
"France and the United Kingdom, convinced of the absolute necessity of opposing the war of aggression led by Germany and Italy and to defend the principles of democracy, mutually pledge never to sign a separate peace or armistice agreement and to pledge to help each other in every possible way. They affirm in these difficult hours, to fight in a full spirit of unity and to put everything in common in view of the final victory. They affirm that there can be no peace and security in Europe and in the world until the forces of aggression are crushed. They call upon all peace-loving and freedom-loving nations to join them in this struggle."
Tours Prefecture, 1700 - New meeting of the Supreme Interallied Council. The British delegation is composed of Winston Churchill, Lord Halifax (Foreign Office), Lord Beaverbrook, Generals Dill, Ismay and Spears, Sir Alexander Cadogan (Foreign Office Secretary) and Ambassador Campbell. The French delegation includes Messrs. Reynaud, Mandel, Blum, De Gaulle, Serre, Margerie, General Huntziger and Admiral Darlan.
Most of the discussions concern the conditions for the French withdrawal from North Africa and operations against Italy in order to ensure Allied control of the Mediterranean. General Dill presents the situation of the Commonwealth forces in Egypt and Sudan and General Huntziger on the situation of the French forces in North Africa. The latter confirms to the British that there it was out of the question to take resources from these forces for the last engagements in France and asked that the troops evacuated from Dunkirk and returning from Norway be transferred as quickly as possible to Algeria and not to Metropolitan France. Hailing the French determination to continue the fight, Winston Churchill announces the arrival the next day of Sir Dudley Pound, First Lord of the Admiralty, for consultations with Admiral Darlan.
After the actual military discussions, Churchill proposed to complete the Reynaud-Chamberlain communiqué with a new declaration by both countries on the aims of the war. While Margerie and Sir Alexander Cadogan leave to prepare a joint text, a "light snack" (dixit Churchill) is served. In the informal discussion that follows, Churchill, who knew nothing of French history, pointed to De Gaulle (who was in the middle of a discussion with Generals Dill, Ismay and Spears on the other side of the table) as "the Connétable of France". The monicker will stick.
At this time, a communication from the Ministry of the Navy causes some excitement: it mentions the constitution of a communist government in Paris and the disarmament of the police and the Republican Guard. General Lanoix and the Prefect of Police Langeron on the phone are contacted on the phone and categorically deny this information.
2000 - The meeting resumes. The text drawn up by Margerie and Cadogan was short and not very amended. Its final wording is as follows:
"France and the United Kingdom, convinced of the absolute necessity of opposing the war of aggression led by Germany and Italy and to defend the principles of democracy, mutually pledge never to sign a separate peace or armistice agreement and to pledge to help each other in every possible way. They affirm in these difficult hours, to fight in a full spirit of unity and to put everything in common in view of the final victory. They affirm that there can be no peace and security in Europe and in the world until the forces of aggression are crushed. They call upon all peace-loving and freedom-loving nations to join them in this struggle."
056
June 13th, 1940
New York City - The Eastern Prince, the first American freighter carrying weapons for the British, sets sail. Roosevelt had in fact circumvented the American Neutrality Laws by ordering the "sale" of arms and artillery (from the US Army surplus) by his government to a steel company, which sold them to the British government.
Washington, DC - Roosevelt signs a $1.3 billion project aiming for further naval construction.
New York City - The Eastern Prince, the first American freighter carrying weapons for the British, sets sail. Roosevelt had in fact circumvented the American Neutrality Laws by ordering the "sale" of arms and artillery (from the US Army surplus) by his government to a steel company, which sold them to the British government.
Washington, DC - Roosevelt signs a $1.3 billion project aiming for further naval construction.
057
June 13th, 1940
Moscow - The USSR demands that Latvia form a new government ready to ensure "the application of the assistance pact" between the two countries. Molotov informs the German ambassador that the USSR would demand in the next few days that Romania cede them Bessarabia and northern Bukovina.
Moscow - The USSR demands that Latvia form a new government ready to ensure "the application of the assistance pact" between the two countries. Molotov informs the German ambassador that the USSR would demand in the next few days that Romania cede them Bessarabia and northern Bukovina.
058
June 13th, 1940
Aden - Four SM.81 of the 4th Gruppo leave Diredawa and bomb the port and airfieldbof Aden. Two planes are shot down, one by a Gladiator of Sqn 94, the other by the fire of
CLAA HMS Carlisle and CL HMAS Hobart. A Blenheim from Sqn 8 is damaged. So far, the Italian attacks have not caused much damage - the density of the flak is certainly a factor. On the way back, an SM.81 gets lost and lands in a wadi 150 miles east of Aden. Three Vickers Vincent are sent to capture the plane and its Italian crew. After many adventures, the captured SM.81 is put back into service as a liaison aircraft.
Aden - Four SM.81 of the 4th Gruppo leave Diredawa and bomb the port and airfieldbof Aden. Two planes are shot down, one by a Gladiator of Sqn 94, the other by the fire of
CLAA HMS Carlisle and CL HMAS Hobart. A Blenheim from Sqn 8 is damaged. So far, the Italian attacks have not caused much damage - the density of the flak is certainly a factor. On the way back, an SM.81 gets lost and lands in a wadi 150 miles east of Aden. Three Vickers Vincent are sent to capture the plane and its Italian crew. After many adventures, the captured SM.81 is put back into service as a liaison aircraft.
059
June 13th, 1940
Kenya - Early in the morning, three Ca.133 bombers coming from Lugh Ferrandi attack the runway of Wajir, while the Rhodesian pilots of Sqn 237 were preparing for their morning patrol. Two Hawker Audax are severely damaged on the ground and a gasoline depot is burned; there are several casualties. One of the Ca.133 is slightly hit by flak.
The Italians renew their incursions every two or three days. The Rhodesians are forced to note that their Hawker Hardy fighters are cruelly lacking in speed and firepower.
Kenya - Early in the morning, three Ca.133 bombers coming from Lugh Ferrandi attack the runway of Wajir, while the Rhodesian pilots of Sqn 237 were preparing for their morning patrol. Two Hawker Audax are severely damaged on the ground and a gasoline depot is burned; there are several casualties. One of the Ca.133 is slightly hit by flak.
The Italians renew their incursions every two or three days. The Rhodesians are forced to note that their Hawker Hardy fighters are cruelly lacking in speed and firepower.
060
June 13th, 1940
Poole Harbour - On the passenger list for today's BOAC flight to Africa, we find Mr. J. Strong. The other occupants of the big seaplane don't know that this small, dark-skinned, well-dressed man is an unusual fellow traveler. Indeed, it is not every day that one meets an emperor who, after four years of exile, is preparing to regain his throne.
Poole Harbour - On the passenger list for today's BOAC flight to Africa, we find Mr. J. Strong. The other occupants of the big seaplane don't know that this small, dark-skinned, well-dressed man is an unusual fellow traveler. Indeed, it is not every day that one meets an emperor who, after four years of exile, is preparing to regain his throne.
061
June 13th, 1940
Vado Ligure - Eight Bloch 210 of GB II/11 and I/23 attack the gasoline tanks, but only one plane finds its target, while another crashes on landing.
Veneto - After a final mission over Germany three days earlier (Rostock), the Farman 223-4 Jules-Verne bombs the industrial area near Venice. It sets fire to a gasoline tank of the Porto Marghera refinery.
Vado Ligure - Eight Bloch 210 of GB II/11 and I/23 attack the gasoline tanks, but only one plane finds its target, while another crashes on landing.
Veneto - After a final mission over Germany three days earlier (Rostock), the Farman 223-4 Jules-Verne bombs the industrial area near Venice. It sets fire to a gasoline tank of the Porto Marghera refinery.
062
June 13th, 1940
Tunisia - Three airfields are attacked by SM.79 and CR.42 coming from Sicily (the Italian fighters stopped over in Pantelleria). The attack is a failure: two CR.42 are lost in a collision, two bombers are damaged by flak and by an MS-406 and another SM.79 crashes on landing. On the French side, the weak reaction time of the fighters is worrying, the warning system must be seriously improved.
Tunisia - Three airfields are attacked by SM.79 and CR.42 coming from Sicily (the Italian fighters stopped over in Pantelleria). The attack is a failure: two CR.42 are lost in a collision, two bombers are damaged by flak and by an MS-406 and another SM.79 crashes on landing. On the French side, the weak reaction time of the fighters is worrying, the warning system must be seriously improved.
063
June 13th, 1940
Western Mediterranean - Two Cant Z.501s attack French submarine Archimède off the ile du Levant, launching four bombs. The Italians claim the submarine's destruction, but it emerges unscathed from the skirmish.
Off Cape Palos (on the Spanish coast, not far from Cartagena), the Italian submarine Dandolo spots a French squadron composed of cruisers La Galissonnière, Jean-de-Vienne and Marseillaise and destroyers Brestois and Boulonnais. It launches two torpedoes against the Jean-de-Vienne, whichmanages to avoid them by a narrow margin.
The Italians are decidedly unlucky that day: off Bizerte, the French submarine Pascal is also attacked by an Italian bomber, but the damage isn't significant.
Western Mediterranean - Two Cant Z.501s attack French submarine Archimède off the ile du Levant, launching four bombs. The Italians claim the submarine's destruction, but it emerges unscathed from the skirmish.
Off Cape Palos (on the Spanish coast, not far from Cartagena), the Italian submarine Dandolo spots a French squadron composed of cruisers La Galissonnière, Jean-de-Vienne and Marseillaise and destroyers Brestois and Boulonnais. It launches two torpedoes against the Jean-de-Vienne, whichmanages to avoid them by a narrow margin.
The Italians are decidedly unlucky that day: off Bizerte, the French submarine Pascal is also attacked by an Italian bomber, but the damage isn't significant.
066
June 13th, 1940
Eastern Mediterranean - In the early afternoon, the 7th Cruiser Squadron joins the main group of Admiral Cunningham to the west of Crete, who orders to set course for
Alexandria. He soon detaches Tovey's group again to sweep the coast of Cyrenaica towards the east, in the hope of surprising an Italian ship. The cruisers will have to sail at a relative distance from the coast to avoid the minefields.
Destroyers HMAS Voyager and HMS Decoy surprise Italian submarine Foca, who was in the middle of laying mines off Alexandria. The submarine escapes, despite the being depth charged by Voyager.
Eastern Mediterranean - In the early afternoon, the 7th Cruiser Squadron joins the main group of Admiral Cunningham to the west of Crete, who orders to set course for
Alexandria. He soon detaches Tovey's group again to sweep the coast of Cyrenaica towards the east, in the hope of surprising an Italian ship. The cruisers will have to sail at a relative distance from the coast to avoid the minefields.
Destroyers HMAS Voyager and HMS Decoy surprise Italian submarine Foca, who was in the middle of laying mines off Alexandria. The submarine escapes, despite the being depth charged by Voyager.
067
June 13th, 1940
Libya (Cyrenaica) - Ridotta Maddalena falls into the hands of the British forces. Just like the other secondary strongholds, its garrison consisted of an infantry company, a company of machine guns, a platoon of anti-tank guns (4 x 47/32) and a platoon of anti-aircraft guns (4 x 20 mm).
Libya (Cyrenaica) - Ridotta Maddalena falls into the hands of the British forces. Just like the other secondary strongholds, its garrison consisted of an infantry company, a company of machine guns, a platoon of anti-tank guns (4 x 47/32) and a platoon of anti-aircraft guns (4 x 20 mm).
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