FRENCH CHECK DRIVE, GERMANS SWING TO WEST TOWARD THE CHANNEL PORTS; CAPTURE ANTWERP (5/19/40)

Microfiche-New York Times archives, McHenry Library, U.C. Santa Cruz | 5/19/40 | G.H. Archambault, Harold Denny, George Axelsson, Robert P. Post, P.J. Philip, H. Taylor Henry

[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
CAMPAIGN IN THE WEST, 1940, Situation 21 May, and Operations Since 16 May
The Far East and the Pacific, 1941 – The Imperial Powers, 1 September 1939

[Homer_J_Simpson]

French Retard Foe – 2-4
Liege, Namur Forts Still Holding Out – 3
Nazis Race for Sea – 5-6
King George Says Fliers Guarantee Allied Victory – 6
Giraud Heads Armies Of Allies in Big Battle – 6
London Claims Aerial Hits On Fuel Tanks in Germany – 7-8
Nazi Dive Bombers Terrify Refugees – 9-10
The International Situation – 11
Meeting Tank Attacks, By Hanson W. Baldwin – 12
The Day’s War Communiques – 13

News of the Week in Review
The Total War Rushes On (map) – 15
Total War – 16-17
America Girds – 17-19
Twenty News Questions – 20
The Theatre of the Vast Struggle in the West (map) – 21
Answers to Twenty News Questions – 22
The Meaning of the War Crisis for the U.S. – An Editorial Survey – 23-27

[agere_contra]

Some impressive military analysis this issue, all the more so for being done in real time.

Thanks again for posting these - always much appreciated!

[abb]

Back when real reporters did the news...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanson_W._Baldwin

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Naval Academy - Gad! And to think I have introduced hime here as a West Point Grad. Sorry, Mr. Baldwin.

[Larry381]

I really love this thread and daily look forward to it but I do have a question. How does one actually gain access to these archives?
Once again, thanks Homer.

[henkster]

The French intelligence map showing the locations of German forces for May 20. They have finally identified most of the German formations, but they aren't exactly sure where they are or where they are going. It isn't so much where they are as that the French know where they've been and it's not good. By now it should be apparent that the war is already lost. The Germans beat them with better "team speed." You can also see the Germans are putting up their cordon of infantry divisions on the south side of the penetration.

[Alan Rumack]

I’m not so sure that putting Petain in the government is going to be a good thing...

[PzLdr]

They’re way off [by about a third] on the number of Panzers. And no German tank in 1940 had larger than a 37mm AT gun [Mark III].

The only tank anywhere near what they’re describing is the Mark IV [34 tons]. But it had an infantry support , low velocity short-barreled 75. It would, eventually be upgunned to a long barrelled, high velocity 75mm AT gun [the Mark III would get a 50mm], but guns larger [or longer] than that would not appear until the Tiger I, and the Panther.

[GeronL]

This news is very interesting because [8 words censored] while I’m not able to catch it every single day I [3 words censored] it more than catches my imagination.

heh

[C19fan]

Where did that story about 80-ton “mammoths” Nazi tanks come from? The heaviest tank employed was the Panzer IV which weighed 27.6 tons (assumnig the ton is referred to is 2,000 pounds).

[GeronL]

That map is interesting, although the idea of a French Fortified Zone seems slightly satirical.

[C19fan]

Beat me to the punch, hee hee. I know the Nazis had a so-called Panzer IV “monster” that was shown around for propganda purposes. All this reeks of panic on the Allied side.

[GeronL]

and France’s biggest tanks are 70 tons?

[C19fan]

Actually they did.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Char_2C

[dfwgator]

I’m not so sure that putting Petain in the government is going to be a good thing...

Heh, heh, ya think?

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1940/may40/f19may40.htm

French counterattack cut short

Sunday, May 19, 1940 www.onwar.com

On the Western Front... Most of the German panzer forces halt in positions between Peronne and St. Quentin to regroup but some of Guderian’s troops are still pushing forward. Rommel’s 7th Panzer Division also makes a small advance in the direction of Arras. De Gaulle’s 4th Armored Division again attacks north from around Laon. It makes very good progress against gradually stiffening resistance but is ordered to retire before any real gains can be achieved. The possibility that it will be necessary to evacuate the BEF is raised for the first time in telephone conversations between London and the commanders in the field. The government are still optimistic at this stage. The main British forces are now in positions along the Scheldt.

[GeronL]

Seems a little under gunned

[GeronL]

Does BEF stand for Back End Forward?