Historical
Germany began the second phase of the conquest of France (“Fall Rot”), attacking South across the Somme and Aisne rivers with 130 infantry divisions and 10 panzer divisions reequipped with fresh tanks. In contrast, France had lost 30 of its best divisions (and the BEF) along with most of its vehicles and armour. The French Commander, General Weygand, had only 66 divisions, including 17 in the fortified Maginot Line defences, to hold a front longer than before the invasion. He organised a series of strongpoints with artillery and anti-tank guns (the so-called “Weygand Line”) in woods and villages along the Somme and Aisne rivers joining the Maginot Line at Montmédy. These ‘hedgehogs’ held up the initial German advance after 10km.
French soldiers evacuated from Dunkirk were returned via channel ports still under French control. To reinforce Weygand, Churchill also sent 1st Canadian Infantry Division to France, joining parts of the British 1st Armoured Division and 51st Highland Division which had been south of the encirclement at Dunkirk.
The French Prime Minister Reynaud ousted ex-Prime Minister Daladier and reshuffled his Cabinet. Charles de Gaulle, promoted to General on 25th May, was made Under-Secretary for Defence.
German fighter ace Werner Mölders was shot down and taken prisoner by the French. He would spend only two weeks in captivity.
At Narvik a further 4,900 allied troops boarded transport ships for evacuation.
U-48 shelled the British armed merchantman Stancor (carrying 300 tons of fish) Northwest of Scotland.
The British government banned all labour strikes. Factories would work a seven day week, but workers were entitled to one day off per week. Miners and farmers were ordered to stay in their current jobs. Plans were laid for transfer of population and communal feeding if it should become necessary.
Wartime emergency legislation in Canada banned sixteen Nazi, Communist and Fascist organizations. In Britain, plans were commenced to ship children to the safety of Canada.
Game day 279. USA
The USA collected 28 Industrial Resources.
The escorted convoy of six warships and seven cargo ships for China docked at the Caroline Islands. Another loaded convoy of three cargo ships escorted by three warships set off from California towards the Hawaiian Islands.
Credits: Historical information: http://www.worldwar2daybyday.blogspot.com, Wikipedia, Chronicle of the Second World War (JL International Publications, 1994). Background image to game maps: Hasbro Ltd.
General Whiskers' semi-historical wanderings 