Air Operations, Europe

Germans bomb the Lyons-Marseilles railway. The British liner Orford (20,000 t) is sunk at Marseilles.

British Liner Orford

China

The Japanese capture Hsiangyang.

Diplomatic Relations

Hitler asks Mussolini to postpone the date of Italy's intervention for a few days. Mussolini replies to Roosevelt's last message: he must enter the war.

Norway

Adm Lord Cork and Orrery (William Boyle), commanding the combined Allied force in Norway, tells King Haakon that they are about to begin their evacuation. They have delayed giving this information on the grounds of security but by doing so they have encouraged the Norwegians to openly resist the Germans, which can only be costly when the Allies leave. It is agreed that the operation can be postponed 24 hours.

Germans Bomb Narvik

Western Front, Dunkirk

German artillery bombards the Dunkirk beaches, while the Luftwaffe launches the most violent attack since the operation began. The RAF sends 8 large patrols to give cover but most of the damage is done in the interval between them. In a few hours time 1 French (Foudroyant) and 3 British destroyers (flagship Keith, Basilisk and Havant) are sunk, together with 2 transports (1 is the Scotia), 1 mine-sweeper and 1 gunboat. 5 destroyers are damaged by bombing. In spite of this increased activity on the German side a total of 64,429 men are evacuated from Dunkirk. On the ground the Germans increase their efforts, breaking the defensive perimeter along the canals at Bergues and forcing retreats in other sectors also. During the night the British authorities decide that the air attacks have made the evacuation too dangerous to continue by day.[MORE]

British Soldiers Waiting To Be Evacuated

An Me-110, Shark Gruppe, Flying Over Dunkirk

Damaged or sunk by German bombing off Dunkirk include the British destroyer Ivanhoe, the destroyer Keith damaged and later sunk by bombing, the tug St Abbs sunk, the destroyer Havant damaged and later scuttled by the minesweeper Saltash, the destroyer Basilisk damaged and later scuttled by the destoyer Whitehall which is damaged later, the minesweeper Skipjack sunk, the French destroyer Foudroyant sunk, the minesweeper Hebe damaged, the minesweeper Halcyon damaged, and the gunboat Mosquito damaged and later scuttled.