News: CBS: Elmer Davis And The News (excerpts highlighted in gray)
May 15, 1940 (8:55 PM)
3:34
[title]
 
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1). Hitler has defeated the Netherlands. The German strategy is to outflank the strongest defenses. The German airforce has been the principle weapon.


2). Anthony Eden begins organizing a voluntary force, but Germany calls them civilian snipers and will treat them as they did in Poland.

3). Italy has not yet joined the war but Italian citizens continue to burn English and French flags in demonstrations.
4). There is a growing realization that America is not properly prepared to defend this hemisphere.
 
Timeline: May 14, 1940

(0700 hours) Fifteen French light tanks and infantry attack the German 1st Rifle Regiment bridgehead over the Meuse River around Bulson, France, about five miles south of Sedan. (By 0940 hours, with four tanks left, the French retreat south.)

German aircraft bomb Rotterdam, Holland.

German forces capture Sedan and Donchery.

(afternoon) 63 British Battles bombers and eight Blenheim bombers make a series of raids on German bridgeheads over the Meuse River. 40 planes are shot down.

Adolf Hitler issues Directive No. 11. Forces north of Liège to Namur are to hold down the greatest number of enemy forces. The Dutch Army is stronger than expected, and is to be broken quickly. Motorized divisions are to be transferred to Army Group A as soon as possible.

German panzers strike around Gembloux between Wavre on the Dyle River and Namur on the Meuse River. Initially about 150 French tanks hold the panzers back, but withdraw, outnumbered, the following day.

Timeline: May 15, 1940

(morning) French Premier Paul Reynaud phones British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, telling him, "We have been defeated; we have lost the battle".

(morning) The Dutch Army surrenders to Germany.

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill tells US President Franklin Roosevelt "I think myself the battle on land has only just begun."

The British War Cabinet gives Bomber Command permission to bomb the Ruhr area of Germany, east of the Rhine.

(evening) French Premier Paul Reynaud calls Winston Churchill asking for all the troops and planes he can. Churchill decides to go himself to assess the situation.

(evening) French General Maurice-Gustave Gamelin orders a retreat of forces from Belgium.

(evening) British bombing of German ground targets begins. 96 Wellington, Whitley, and Hampden bombers attack industrial targets east of the Rhine river. Only one plane is lost.