1940
May 1st
War Office states that at Narvik areas occupied by Allied forces have been extended. British troops near Dombaas have withdrawn. Norwegians claim to have recaptured Roeros and Taoenset. R.A.F. attack aerodromes at Stavanger. Fornebu and Aalborg. Minesweeper “Dunoon" reported sunk by mine.
May 2nd
Announced that Allied troops south of Trondheim have been embarked at Aandalsnes. Submarines “Tarpon" and “Sterlet” overdue and presumed lost. Sloop “Bittern” reported lost. R.A.F. again bomb Stavanger and other aerodromes.
May 3rd
Announced that Allied forces have been evacuated from Namsos without loss. R.A.F. bomb Stavanger, Fornebu and Danish airfield at Ry, North Jutland.
May 4th
Allied guns shelling Narvik from land and sea. Two attacks by Nazi raiders on S.E. coast of England beaten off by R.A.F. and shore defences.
May 5th
Operations continue at Narvik. Fortress of Hegra reported to have surrendered. Norwegian Foreign Minister and Minister of Defence arrive in London to confer with Government.
May 6th
Desperate resistance of Norwegian troops north of Roeros against Germans advancing from Stoeren. Three Allied destroyers, H.M.S. “Afridi” French “Bison" and Polish “Grom" reported sunk by enemy aircraft off Norway. Three British trawlers “Penn,” “Hercules" and “Leonora" overdue and presumed lost.
May 7th
Germans admit that Allied pressure on Narvik has increased. All leave has stopped in Holland and coastal defences strengthened. British collier “Brighton" sunk off Dunkirk.
May 8th
Government criticized in both Houses of Parliament on conduct of Norwegian campaign. As result of a division Government has majority of 81. Six naval trawlers reported lost off Norway.
May 9th
Germans retreating north and north east of Narvik before Allied and Norwegian pressure. R.A.F. Shoot down two Nazi planes off N.E. Scotland. Dutch Government orders closing of all canal locks in Amsterdam area.
May 10th
Germany invades Holland. Belgium and Luxemburg at dawn. Parachute troops land, especially around Rotterdam. Dutch forces hold enemy at Delfzyl in north, and along Yssel and Maas defence lines, where they blow up bridges. Enemy cross Belgian frontier at four points. Bombing raids on many towns, including Brussels and Antwerp. Sharp fighting in Luxemburg. Allied troops cross into Belgium along front from North Sea to Moselle. R.A.F. very active against enemy aircraft, aerodromes and communications. Mr Chamberlain resigns and Mr Churchill succeeds him as Premier. Enemy raiders drop bombs in Kent. British troops land in Iceland. German troopship mined in the Sound.
May 11th
Germans stated to have crossed Yssel near Arnheim. Big battle in progress at Rotterdam. French troops in contact with enemy west of Moselle. Heavy Nazi attack in Maasyricht district Enemy cross Albert Canal, advance to outskirts of Tongres and reach Waremme. R.A.F delivers series of attacks on German troops in Belgium, and Rhineland aerodromes and railway junctions. Mr Churchill sets up War Cabinet of five members.
May 12th
Germans stated to have crossed Meuse in Dutch province of Limbury and penetrated into Belgium, but to have been repulsed at Hasselt. Pressure continues west of Maastricht and in the region of Tongres. Enemy attacks French positions near Forbach. H.M. submarine “Seal" overdue and considered lost.
May 13th
Dutch forces, after delaying Germans at Yssel River for 48 hours withdraw to flooded zone. Germans cross Groningen and Friesland. In south enemy reaches Langstraat and then Moerdyk Bridge Belgian armies on Meuse and Albert Canal fall back on second line of defence. Great mechanized battle taking place near St Trond. Dutch Royal Family arrives in London.
May 14th
Enemy having recaptured Rotterdam. Dutch High Command orders fighting to cease, except in Zeeland. Battle of Meuse continues along 120 mile front. Enemy spread fanwise through broken defences at Maastricht. Heavy attacks between Namur and Givet, in Sedan sector and between Longwy and Montmedy. Dutch Government removes to London. L.D.V. force initiated.
May 15th
Enemy cross Meuse between Mezieres and Namur. Salient driven into French lines near Sedan. Germans occupy The Hague. Amsterdam and other Dutch cities. H. M. Destroyer “Valentine" reported beached off Dutch coast.
May 16th
R.A.F. makes heavy night attack on communications east of Rhine. Heavy fighting between Gembloux and Namur. Allied forces converging on Narvik occupy two villages north of fjord.
May 17th
B.E.F. reported to have withdrawn to Positions west of Brussels. Germans enter Brussels after capturing Louvain and Malines. Massive attack develops between Sambre and Meuse. Heavy fighting on front from Sedan to Rethel. R.A.F. again raid Western Germany. Dutch islands of Walcheren and Beveland in Zeeland evacuated. Belgian liner “Ville de Bruges" sunk by bombing.
May 18th
Fighting continues in regions of Avesnes and Vervins, chiefly round Guise and Landrecies. R.A.F. Continue operations in Belgium. France and Western Germany.
May 19th
Main fighting north of St Quentin and in region of Montmedy Weygand succeeds Gamelin as C. in C. R.A.F. continue attacks on enemy communications in France and Belgium, and oil depots in N. W. Germany.
May 20th
German pressure continues from St Quentin towards Channel ports. Heavy fighting east of Cambrai. Germans capture Laon. Enemy repulsed near Rethel and south of River Scarpe. R.A.F. destroyer “Whitley" reported damaged by bombs and beached.
May 21st
British forces counter attack between Arras and Douai. Heavy fighting in progress between Valenciennes and Cambrai. H.M. trawler “Rifsnes" reported sunk by bombs.
May 23rd
Abbeville in enemy hands and heavy fighting around and in Boulogne. Fierce fighting in Arras sector Germans cross Scheldt at Oudenarde, Allied forces withdraw behind River Lys. R.A.F. bombers attack objectives in Meuse sector, at Namur and north of Aisne. Power station near Leipzig bombed. Sir Oswald Mosley and other Fascists arrested.
May 24th
Violent fighting continues between Valenciennes, Cambrai and Arras. British troops withdraw from Boulogne. Germans clam capture of Tournai and Ghent. R.A.F. bomb communications in Rhineland.
May 25th
Hard fighting continues in Boulogne. Coastal Command aircraft bomb oil tanks at Rotterdam. Enemy aircraft drop bombs during night in North Riding and East Anglia.
May 26th
Enemy launch strong offensive against Belgian forces on left flank of Allies. Germans occupy Boulogne French still holding citadel H.M. destroyer “Wessex" and trawler “Charles Boyes” reported sunk.
May 27th
Violent fighting continues near Courtrai. French forces retire from Valenciennes. Belgians at Courtrai give ground towards Menin. British troops at Aire attack flank of enemy making for Calais. East of Aisne Germans attack persistently.
May 28th
Belgian Army surrenders by order of King Leopold. Belgian Government repudiates his decision. Narvik captured by Allied forces. H. M. trawlers “Melbourne" and “Cape Passaro" sunk.
May 29th
Allied armies fighting desperate rearguard action towards coast. Strong naval and air forces defending port of Dunkirk. Germans clam capture of Ostend. Lille and Ypres.
May 30th
Fighting retreat of B.E.F. and French forces continues. Evacuation from Dunkirk begins. War Office announces that heroic stand of British garrison at Calais has been invaluable. Destroyers “Grafton “ “Grenade “ and “Wakeful” reported sunk off France, as well as transport “Abukir"
May31st
Evacuation proceeding French recapture part of Abbeville. British warship “Curlew" reported sunk.
1941
May 1st
Further enemy attacks on outer defences of Tobruk; British counter attack with success. Night raiders over Merseyside.
May 2nd
Announced that 43,000 men have been withdrawn from Greece. Cantonment at Habbaniya attacked by Iraqi troops. Rutbar near Haifa pipeline. Heavy raid on Merseyside.
May 3rd
Fighting in progress at Habbaniya. Destroyers “Diamond" and “Wryneck" reported sunk during Greek evacuation. Severe raid on Cologne. Third successive attack on Merseyside, 16 raiders down.
May 4th
R.A.F. wreck 23 planes at aerodrome near Baghdad. Heavy attack on German cruisers at Brest. Merseyside again raided. Severe raid on Belfast.
May 5th
Haile Selassie enters Addis Ababa. Raids on Clydeside. Merseyside and Belfast.
May 6th
British drive Iraqi rebels from Habbaniya. Hamburg bombed.
May 7th
Rashid Ali, Iraqi rebel leader flees from Baghdad. Widespread attacks on Britain. 24 night raiders destroyed. We bomb cruisers at Brest.
May 8th
Heaviest raid yet on Hamburg and Bremen. 14. Night raiders destroyed over Britain.
May 9th
Iraqi revolt collapsing. German commerce raider reported sunk by H.M.S. “Cornwall" in Indian Ocean.
May 10th
Severe R.A.F. Attack on Hamburg. Westminster Abbey. Houses of Parliament and British Museum hit during heavy raid 33 enemy aircraft destroyed. Hess flies to Scotland.
May 11th
Six day and 12 night raiders destroyed over Britain. R.A.F. bomb Hamburg and Bremen.
May 12th
Heavy nights attacks on Mannheim. Cologne and Coblenz. Enemy mechanized columns advancing near Sollum driven back.
May 13th
Daylight raids on Heligoland and St. Nazaire.
May 15th
British retake Sollum and occupy Halfaya Pass. Big night raid on Hanover.
May 16th
R.A.F. attack German aircraft on aerodrome at Mosul. Vain night attacks on S.E. aircraft. We bomb Cologne.
May 17th
Australians recapture strong points outside Tobruk. Germans take Capuzzo. Big night raid on French coast and on Cologne.
May 18th
Duke of Aosta surrenders to British at Amba. Alagi. Abyssinia. Heavy bombers attack Kiel and Emden.
May 19th
Egyptian liner “Zamzam" carrying full unit of British American Ambulance Corps, reported sunk in South Atlantic by German raider.
May 20th
German parachutists and air borne troops land in Crete, meeting with strong resistance. British occupy Falluja, 35 miles from Baghdad.
May 21st
Landings of air borne troops in Crete attempts at sea borne landings frustrated by Royal Navy. U Boats sinks U.S. merchantman “Robin Moor”
May 22nd
Further German landings and bomber attacks in Crete. Enemy captures Maleme aerodrome.
May 24th
British Navy intercepts German Naval forces off Greenland H.M.S. “Hood" sunk. German battleship “Bismarck" escapes damaged and is pursued. Mass bombing by Germans of towns in Crete.
May 25th
“Bismarck" hit by “Ark Royal" torpedo aircraft, pursuit continues. Fresh German air borne troops land in Crete. British forced to withdraw to new positions. Lawful Regent now back in Iraq. Attack on Dover balloon barrage.
May 27th
“Bismarck" sunk after pursuit of 1,750 miles. Severe fighting in Crete, particularly in Canea area. Loss off Crete announced of cruisers “Gloucester” and “Fiji” and destroyers “Juno” “Greyhound” “Kelly” and “Kashmir” Roosevelt proclaims unlimited national emergency.
May 28th
British make further withdrawals in Crete. Germans occupy Canea. Announced that British have withdrawn from Halfaya Pass, Libya, R.A.F. Bomb supply ship at Sfax Tunisia.
May 29th
Cruiser “York" reported lost off Crete. Germans capture Heraklion. Further British withdrawals.
May 30th
Evacuation of British forces from Crete begins. In Iraq British troops occupy Ur. Bombs fall on Dublin.
May 31st.
Evacuation from Crete continues. Iraqis sign armistice with Britain. Night raid on Merseyside.
1942
May 1st
Mandalay evacuated. Air offensive begins against Malta. Daylight sweeps and bombing raids by R.A.F. over France and occupied territory.
May 2nd
British troops on north back of Irrawaddy. Dr E. Vatt arrives in Britain. U.S. Lease –Lend extended to Iraq and Persia. Brazil and Paraguay break off relations with Hungary.
May 3rd
Japanese capture Bhamo. Night – U.S. bombers begin series of raids on Rangoon. Germans bomb Alexandria, air raid on Exeter.
May 4th
Japanese invasion fleet attacked off Solomon Is, by U.S. Naval and Air forces. Japanese land on Corregidor. Mr R. G. Casey arrives at Cairo. Uruguay breaks off relations with Hungary. Night Air raids on British south coast towns. R.A.F. bomb Skoda works at Pilsen.
May 5th
British force lands on Madagascar.
May 6th
Loss of H.M. destroyer “Jaguar" announced. Corregidor garrison surrenders.
May 7th
Battle with Japanese fleet resumed in Coral Sea. Lord Gort transferred from Gibraltar to Malta as Governor and C. in C. British occupy Diego Suarez.
May 8th
German offensive in Kerch peninsula. Japanese capture Akyab and Myitkina. Night R.A.F. Bomb Warnemuende.
May 9th
Japanese fleet in Coral Sea. Withdraws northward, having suffered heavy losses. U.S. aircraft carrier “Lexington" and a destroyer lost. U.S. negotiations with Vichy authorities in Martinique.
May 10th
Mr Churchill in a broadcast warns Germany of Allied retaliation if enemy uses gas against Russians.
May 11th
H.M. destroyers “Lively" “Kipling" and “Jackal" sunk by air attack in Mediterranean. Enemy submarine sinks freighter in St Lawrence River.
May 13th
Timoshenko launches offensive in Kharkov region, Russians on Kerch peninsula withdraw.
May 15th
British forces retreating from Burma reach India. Costa Rica declares war on Hungary and Rumania.
May 16th
Germans capture Kerch.
May 17th
Loss of H.M. corvette “Hollyhock” announced. German cruiser “Prinz Eugen" attacked by Fleet Air Arm off Norway.
May 18th
Admiral Sir Henry Harwood apptd to Mediterranean Command (Adm. Cunningham goes to Washington as head of Admiralty delegation.)
May 19th
United Nation’s Air Training Conference in Ottawa. German Counter offensive S.E. of Kharkov. Night R.A.F. raid Mannheim. Air Raid on Hull.
May 20th
Russians attack at Taganrog.
May 21st
Japanese offensive in Chekiang. Heavy R.A.F. Offensive in Libya.
May 24th
General Stilwell with staff reaches Delhi from Burma.
May 25th
Night. R.A.F. begin series of raids on Messina.
May 26th
Anglo- Soviet Treaty signed in London. German offensive in Libya.
May 27th
Reinhardt Heydrich Gestapo chief in Prague wounded by bomb and shots; dies on June 4th.
May 28th
In Libya the Germans withdraw through gaps in British minefields.
May 29th
In Libya, fierce tank battles in Knightsbridge region. Mexico declares war on Axis Powers (As from May 22nd) Night raids by R.A.F. on Gennevilliers power station. The Gnomeet – Rhone works and the Goodrich factory near Paris.
May 30th
General Mason Macfarlane apptd. Governor of Gibraltar. Chinese forces evacuate Kinhwa in Chekiang. Night raid by 1,130 R.A.F .bombers on Cologne.
May 31st
Night air raid on Canterbury. Attack on Sydney harbour by four Japanese midget submarines; all lost.
1943
May 1st
U.S. heavy bombers raided St Nazaire U. Boat base. Dover shelled for 75 mins at night.
May 2nd
R.A.F. Mosquitoes attacked Thionville after flight of 600 miles (400 over enemy territory) at roof top height.
May 3rd
Mateur captured by Allies (Tunisia) U.S. planes attacked Kiska (Aleutians) 9 times.
May 4th
Krymskaya (Kuban) captured by Red Army. New Japanese offensive S. of Yangtze. Concentrated night attack by R.A.F. On Dortmund.
May 5th
Djebel Bou Aoukaz captured by First Army (Tunisia)
May 6th
Massicault captured by First Army. Australians occupied Mubo (New Guinea) 5 attacks on Kiska and 7 on Attu by U.S. planes. 5 U Boats sunk when attacking westbound Atlantic convoy.
May 7th
Tunis Ferryville Bizerta and Pont du Fahs captured by Allies (Tunisia). Japanese cut Maungdaw Buthidaung road (Burma). Heavy Allied air raids on Madang. Finch Hafen and Mubo (New Guinea)
May 8th
Tebourba and Djedeida captured (Tunisia). Withdrawal of Allied forces from Buthidaung (Burma)
May 9th
Unconditional surrender in N.E. Tunisia.
May 10th
Soliman and Grombalia occupied (Tunisia).
May 11th
American forces landed on Attu (Aleutians). Mr Churchill arrived in Washington.
May 11th -12th
Allies withdrew from Maungdaw (Burma)
May 12th
Bomber Command dropped 1,500 tons of bombs by night on Duisburg- Ruhrort. Organized resistance in all Tunisia ceased.
May 13th
Last remaining elements in Tunisia surrendered. Pantelleria bombarded from the sea. Heavy air attacks on Naples. Cagliari (Sardinia). Augusta (Sicily) and communications in the toe of Italy. Night attack by R.A.F. on Bochum.
May 14th
Velsen (N. Holland) .Kiel. Antwerp and Courtrai attacked by day by U.S. Army Eighth Air Force. Civitavecchia (Italy and Palermo) heavily bombed. Australian hospital ship “Centaur" torpedoed and sunk by Japanese. 268 lives lost.
May 17th
Moehne and Eder dams (Ruhr area) breached by air attack.
May 18th
Pantelleria heavily raided from the air. United Nations Food Conference opened at Hot Springs. Virginia ended June 3rd.
May 19th
Kiel and Flensburg attacked by U.S. heavy bombers.
May 20th
Return to India of Brig Wingate’s Chindits reported.
May 21st
Strong day air attacks on Wilhelmshaven and Emden.
May 22nd
Japanese bombers attack Comintern announced from Moscow.
May 23rd
Bomber Command dropped over 2, 000 tons of bombs on Dortmund by night. Three heavy air attacks on Pantelleria in five hours.
May 25th
Powerful R.A.F. force bombed Duesseldorf by night.
May 26th
Allied air offensive against Sicily, Sardinia and Pantelleria maintained. Lae (New Guinea) heavily bombed by Allied planes.
May 27th
First Slovak Motorized Division crossed over to the Red Army. Jena (Thuringia) bombed by Mosquitoes in round flight of over 1,000 miles. British bombers in great strength attacked Essen. Continued Allied air attacks on Sardinia Sicily and Pantelleria. Ichang Hankow highway cut by Chinese, Japanese thrown out of Chihfassu.
May 28th
Heavy daylight attack on Leghorn by U.S. Fortresses based in Africa.
May 29th
Heavy day attacks on U Boat bases of St Nazaire and Le Pallice. Over 1,500 tons dropped at night by R.A.F. on Wuppertal. Chittagong airfield (Bengal) attacked by Japanese bombers. All organized Japanese resistance on Attu collapsed.
May 30th
Frequent German air raids on Leningrad. Daylight raid by 100 U.S. Fortresses on Naples. Chinese counter offensive launched near Hupeh Honan border. Dawn attack by Fortresses on Wewak (New Guinea) talks between De Gaulle and Giraud began (Algiers.)
May 31st
Pantelleria bombed throughout the day by relays of bombers. Lae attacked by two waves of Liberators (New Guinea) Confirmed in London that French warships in Alexandria joined Allies.
1944
May 1st
Over 3,000 Allied planes (1 lost) kept up offensive in Western Europe from dawn to dusk; at night R.A.F. Bomber Command sent out 1,000 planes (10 lost) against seven important targets. Ponape (Carolinas) bombarded by U.S. battleships.
May 2nd
Chinese evacuated Hulao Pass (Honan China)
May 3rd
M.A.A.F. attacked Bucharest.
May 4th
M.A.A.F. Attacked Budapest.
May 5th
Allied landings at Torare Bay and Depapre (New Guinea).
May 6th
Heavy night attack by R.A.F. On Mantes-Gassicourt. M.A.A.F. flew 2,000 sorties mostly over Rumania.
May 7th
Nearly 1,000 U.S. bombers attacked Berlin. 14th Army evacuated Buthidaung (Burma). Guam (Marianas) bombed by U.S, Liberators.
May 8th
2,000 American bombers and fighters attacked Berlin and Brunswick. Guam (Marianas) again bombed. U.S. Senate extended lend lease to June 1945, with amendment forbidding President to make any post war commitment in connection with lend lease.
May 9th
Russians took Sevastopol by storm. Heavy day raids by U.S.A. 8TH A.F. On marshalling yards and airfields in France and Belgium, day and night attacks on Channel coast batteries and other targets in France. Japanese captured Lushan, capital of Honan (China)
May 11th
Soviet bombers made heavy night attacks on Lublin (Poland). Allied assault on Gustav line (Italy)
May 12th
U.S.A. 8TH A.F attacked synthetic oil plants at Brux (Czechoslovakia), Leuna and other German centres. Americans captured Ventosa (Italy). Russians cleared Crimea.
May 13th
U.S.A. 8TH A.F. bombers attacked Totow Osnabrueck, and Stettin. Chinese recaptured Suiping (Honan).
May 14th
M.A.A.F. Flew 2,500 sorties against targets in occupied Italy. Kohima cleared of Japanese (Assam).
May 16th
Indians captured Pignatoro (Italy). Chinese recaptured Chumatien Honan. And passed through Mamien Pass after crossing Salween River, Yunnan.
May 17th
Myitkyina airfield captured by “Merrill’s Marauders" (Burma) Allied landing on Wakde I. (New Guinea)
May 18th
Allies captured Cassino and Monte Cassino (Italy).
May 19th
U.S. heavy bombers attacked Berlin and Brunswick; cross Channel air offensive continued. M.A.A. F. bombed Genoa. Spezia. Leghorn.
May 20th
Nearly 5,000 Allied aircraft attacked targets in France and Belgium. General Eisenhower’s first orders to Europe‘s “underground army" broadcast. Americans captured Itri. Fondi. And Gaeta (Italy).
May 21st
Extensive day air attacks in France
