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Britain's worst Maritime Disaster
17th June 1940: Thousands die as the troopship Lancastria is bombed off St. Nazaire
'For you the war is over'
16th June 1940: Being taken prisoner in France in 1940 was just the start of a five year ordeal
Blitzkrieg Tactics
An excerpt from 'The West Point History of World War II - Volume 1'
British forces to leave France
15th June 1940: The new British commander in France has to forcefully argue with Churchill that the French Army is a lost cause
The Germans enter Paris
14th June 1940: There is no bloodshed as the Germans march into the 'open city' - while the French government remains divided over what to do
The Germans are close
13th June 1940: Confusion and panic spreads through France as the Germans press on - and the government despairs of making a stand
Highland Division Captured
12th June 1940: British troops fighting alongside the French are also outflanked - forcing large numbers to surrender
Churchill tries to stem French despair
11th June 1940: The British try to get the French to fight on - even as there is no counter to the Germans' blitzkrieg tactics
Italy's 'Stab in the Back'
10th June 1940: Mussolini is determined to get into the war despite being unprepared - as Roosevelt warns that America must be ready to defend itself
French Army outflanked
9th June 1940: The rapid German thrust forward again surprises the French, whilst Churchill acknowledges that France is probably lost
'The Dunkirk Evacuation in 100 Objects'
This week's excerpt shines a light on some of the lesser-known aspects of Operation Dynamo
Disaster as HMS Glorious sunk
8th June 1940: A tragic end to the Norway campaign as the carrier and her two destroyer escorts are ambushed by the Scharnhorst
© 2025 Martin Cherrett
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