19th May 1940

[Pdf27]

The leading formations of 1st Army (1er Régiment de Cuirassiers), realising that they have made contact with a German force some distance ahead of them pull back and wait for the rest of their forces to catch up. Reconnaissance troops spread out and identify that they are on the flank of a very large German force travelling south-westwards. This information is rapidly carried backwards to Corps HQ in Laon.
General Prioux discusses the situation with Brooke, who is practically salivating at the prospect of hitting a German infantry force in the flank. Prioux is similarly sanguine – he has been a cavalry officer for his entire career, and what he sees in front of him is almost the dream target of cavalry. They plan an attack for the following morning, with II Corps on the left flank and the Cavalry Corps on the right. The dividing line between the two is to be the Route de Reims.

On the other side of the German thrust, 5th Army launches disorganised attacks on the southern flank of the German attack. They do better than the previous day (some of their artillery has caught up, while their previous day's attack worsened the German traffic problems). However, their day's advance is only from Suippes to to Saint-Hilaire-le-Grand – around 4km against stiffening German opposition.

In reaction to the attack by 5th Army however, Hitler (at OKH) issues orders that evening for the Panzers to stop and consolidate while the thrust from 5th Army is contained. OKH have been nervous about the flanks (particularly the southern flank) for some days now, and this attack has confirmed their worst fears. Panzergruppe Kleist is ordered not to advance beyond Meaux without further orders while 12th Army is ordered to swing south slightly, slow down and pay more attention to flank defence.

In some quarters this respite is very welcome. The advanced Luftwaffe forces are starting to suffer very badly with their logistics. Normally, the Ju-52 force was used to transport fuel, spare parts and munitions to the forward squadrons to enable them to keep up with the advance of the Panzers. The heavy casualties suffered over the Netherlands and the increasing distance they have to fly from their logistics bases in Germany mean that they are increasingly unable to sustain a full effort at the front. The main sufferer from this is the Stuka force, as bombs are relatively heavy, and the Stukas have such a short range they need to fly from near the front. Experiments are started using medium bombers such as the He-111 to fly bombs in, but so far this appears to be even less efficient than using Ju-52s.

In Belgium, Army Group A starts a series of probing attacks against British lines on the Scheldt. These are repelled with light casualties – I and III corps are now fully dug in, and their ammunition dumps are full. 7th Army are not yet engaged, as the Germans haven't quite managed to reach them.

The rump of the Belgian Army has started to re-form in the zone Yper – Roeslare – Kortrijk. They are desperately short of everything, having lost nearly all their artillery, armour and vehicles in the retreat. However, they have managed extract almost 500,000 men from the German offensive – around 200,000 in Flanders and 300,000 in France. If they can reorganise and re-equip they will still have a very powerful force. By comparison the BEF is only 300,000 strong and the entire US Armed Forces stand at 450,000.

Around half of the civilian population have also managed to flee the German assault. This leaves just over 3 million Belgian refugees who are now scratching a living in Flanders and northern France, in addition to the usual inhabitants of Flanders. Around 60% of the Belgian population is still in the free zone, although they have lost the majority of their industry and nearly all of their ability to produce armaments.

In The Hague, the Dutch Prime Minister Dirk Jan de Geer resigns under pressure from Queen Wilhelmina who (along with many members of the cabinet) has been growing deeply concerned with his increasingly defeatist and borderline pro-German sentiments. As a longtime and committed pacifist, his inability to make decisions under the pressures of war has also been causing grave concerns. Many of his tasks have been carried out by Eelco van Kleffens, the foreign secretary.
Under pressure from the Queen (who is unwilling to see the Netherlands without a government in wartime, even for a few hours), the Cabinet agree to a new caretaker government under Mr van Kleffens as Prime Minister. This will hold office until such time as a permanent coalition can be agreed, with all parties agreeing that it is not possible to hold fresh elections while the Germans occupy much of the country.

[jemhouston]

A group gets its strength from the top

Queen Wilhelmina has a steel spine.

[Pdf27]

A group gets its strength from the top

Queen Wilhelmina has a steel spine.

More or less as OTL. Churchill described her as "the only real man among the governments-in-exile" in London, and she was instrumental in de Geer's OTL removal from office. That being said, it wasn't just her - de Geer came badly unstuck in wartime, and this was widely recognised.

[craigr48]

Looking forwards to the Dutch ability to hold on and how the Belgians reform. The Canadians in Netherlands seem to have had
a really positive effect. 20th May soon?