Archive - World War II Today

'Destination Dunkirk'

16th May 1940: The BEF begin to 'withdraw' as Churchill flies to Paris to learn the awful truth from the French High Command

15 hrs ago

The unrelenting German advance

15th May 1940: German officers maintain the momentum of advance, often through personal example

May 15

Terror bombing of Rotterdam

14th May 1940: The Dutch government is unnerved by the terrible devastation wrought by the Luftwaffe, as the French face a moment of crisis

May 14

Nothing but "blood, toil, tears and sweat"

13th May 1940: Winston Churchill addresses Parliament for the first time as war leader - in the first of a series of brilliant, rousing speeches

May 13

Outgunned RAF begin to suffer

12th May 1940: The small British Advanced Air Striking Force suffers heavy losses - as a young fighter pilot survives being shot down over France

May 12

A detailed account of how German Special Forces made a surprise attack on 'the most powerful fortress in the world'

May 11

Refugees clog Belgium roads

11th May 1940: The British Expeditionary Force engages with the Germans - but the plight of civilians dominates

May 11

Hitler attacks in the West

10th May 1940: Germany invades Belgium, Luxemburg, the Netherlands and France whilst Britain spends the day appointing a new Prime Minister

May 10

No end to the war on Japan

9th May 1945: Men fighting on Okinawa and in Burma find little to celebrate in the news that the war in Europe is over

May 9

Victory in Europe Day

8th May 1945: A day of mixed emotions in Britain, while in Berlin, the Russians have yet to get their version of the surrender signed

May 8

News leaks of German surrender

7th May 1945: Delay and confusion amongst the Allies over when to announce the end of the war, as Stalin demands a second surrender ceremony

May 7

POWs fly home as Germans delay peace

6th May 1945: Eisenhower refuses to allow further delays to a full surrender of Germany

May 6

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