Battle of the Atlantic

The British trawler River Ness (203t) is sunk by German bombing 8 miles northeast of the Skerries. 8 of the crew are lost and 2 are rescued.

China

3 Japanese divs attack the Yangtze River port of Ichang, between Hankow and Chungking. The Chinese defenders fall back into the city itself after the Japanese quickly advance to within 5 miles of it.

Diplomatic Relations

Prime Minister Reynaud appeals to Pres Roosevelt to intervene in the war in Europe. This appeal is repeated on June 13 but without success.

Italy

Unable to resist the opportunity to take a share of the glory, Mussolini issues declarations of war to Britain and France. Neither the Italian economy nor the Italian people are particularly well prepared for war. Their fleet is, however, of considerable strength and strategic significance. They have 2 battleships immediately available with 4 more modern ships nearly completed. They also have a powerful force of cruisers and destroyers and the largest submarine force in the world, 116 strong. These forces, when all the battleships are available, will be comfortably stronger than the British and French forces in the Mediterranean, the more so when Britain is fighting alone. The only class of ship which the Italians do not have is the aircraft carrier. 2 British ships of this type are in the Mediterranean at this time.

The Italian army is not as formidable as the fleet. Although of considerable size its units are usually understrength and, as the coming battles will show, badly led and dreadfully equipped.

Italian Leader Benito Mussolini Delivering His War Declaration from the Palazzo Venezia Balcony in Rome, Italy "Soldiers, sailors, and aviators! Blackshirts of the revolution and of the [Fascist] legions! Men and women of Italy, of the Empire, and of the kingdom of Albania! Pay heed! An hour appointed by destiny has struck in the heavens of our fatherland. The declaration of war has already been delivered to the ambassadors of Great Britain and France. We go to battle against the plutocratic and reactionary democracies of the west who, at every moment have hindered the advance and have often endangered the very existence of the Italian people... In a memorable meeting, that which took place in Berlin, I said that according to the laws of Fascist morality, when one has a friend, one marches with him to the end. This we have done with Germany, with its people, with its marvelous armed forces. On this eve of an event of century wide scope, we direct our thought to the majesty of the King and Emperor which as always has understood the soul of the fatherland. And we salute with our voices the Fuhrer, the head of great ally Germany. Proletarian and Fascist Italy stands up a third time, strong, proud, and united as never before... People of Italy! Rush to arms and show your tenacity, your courage, your valor!"

Mediterranean

6 British submarines leave Malta for operations off Italian harbors and naval bases.

Norway

The Allied campaign comes to an end. Strategically the campaign has been most significant for the naval losses on each side and the transformation it has helped to bring about in the potential of the available bases for the German fleets. The Allies have lost 1 carrier, 2 cruisers, 9 destroyers and many smaller craft, also many ships were damaged. These losses do nothing to help the British ability to protect the trade routes. The Germans have lost 3 cruisers, 10 destroyers and several submarines. This forms a large proportion of their fleet, and this loss cannot be replaced at all quickly. It certainly subtracts considerably from the Kriegsmarine's limited ability to help protect, for example, an invasion of Britain.

German casualties in the Norwegian campaign are 1,317 killed, 1,604 wounded, and 2,375 missing or lost at sea. The Allied dead included 4,400 British, 1,335 Norwegian, and 530 French and Polish as well as many civilian casualties.

Western Front

Von Manstein's XXXVIII Inf Corps are across the Seine west of Paris as the French retire on to the Loire in disorder. Elements of the French 10th Army are still fighting around St Valery along with some British forces. Some of these units are evacuated from the town. East of Paris the German advance is also very rapid. The French government leaves Paris for Tours, where information reaches them that Italy is about to declare war on France and Britain. Rommel drives the French IX Corps and the British 51st Highland Div towards the coast north of Le Havre. Evacuations also begin at Le Havre. In the next 3 days 11,059 British and some French will be taken off, some to go to Cherbourg but the bulk is bound for Britain. East of Paris the German forces begin to gain ground south of the Aisne.

There is bitter disagreement among the French military and political leaders. Gen Weygand considers that the defeat of his forces is imminent and thinks they should surrender. Paul Reynaud, however, feels there should be final stand in Brittany.[MORE]