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
Very revealing that Goering telegraphed the punch for the Western Offensive.
Instead they settled for a real peace deal with him.
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.
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)
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.