Month: June 1940

Press interview with Sversky

Saturday 1st June 1940 12:00

There can be no immediate invasion of England, because while Germany has complete mastery of the air over Scandinavia, she does not have it over England by a long shot. Defensively Britain is greatly superior. Her Spitfire, which I flew last summer, is a superior 'plane to any which the Germans have in great number. Therefore, no invasion of England is possible until that superiority of the air over England is achieved.

Halder records aim of threatening England from the air

Tuesday 4th June 1940 12:00

We may assume that the enemy is expecting our attack to come from the direction of Laon and that he reckons with a strong German right wing, from both the clues furnished by the development of the campaign and our obvious aim to threaten England from the air.

Invasion of England is not mentioned at Raeder's interview with Hitler

12:00

This is the first meeting since the invasion was initially proposed. It has not been disclosed outside Raeder's own headquarters.

Hitler states it is his intention "to dcrease the size of the Army when France has been overthrown and release all older men and skilled workmen" and primises the Navy and Luftwaffe will have "top priority".

II./JG 52 arrive at Peuplingues

12:00

Since late June Hauptmann von Kornatzki’s II./JG 52 have been deployed along Germany’s North Sea coastal belt, during which time it has been able to claim two RAF Blenheim IVs off the Friesian Islands.

Formation of Care And Maintenance Party, Lympne

12:00

OPERATIONS RECORD BOOK of (Unit or Formation) Care and Maintenance Party, Lympne

Place Date Time Summary of Events References to Appendices
Lympne 1940
June 9th		 Formation of CARE AND MAINTENANCE PARTY at R.A.F. STATION, Lympne.
ESTABLISHMENT:- NINE OFFICERS.  234 AIRMEN.  14 CIVILIANS. (WAR/F.C/164 dated 7/6/40)  Arrival of four airmen for essential duties prior to arrival of personnel.

 

Merchant Shipping Division sends a letter to Naval High command discussing transports

12:00

Rhine ships can be available in fourteen days to three weeks. Ten motor passenger vessels, 200 motor tugs, 85 powered barges, 12 motor tankers, 2,000 barges. Rhine vessels are not considered very suitable for transport of troops and equipment due to their lack of seaworthyness and low longitudinal strength.

OKH ordered to reduce the Heer's strength

Saturday 15th June 1940 12:00

Target is reducing by 35 divisions to 120 divisions - which means demobilising roughly 20% of the men under arms - allowing them to return to industry and agriculture where labour is needed. The army are not planned to be used in an invasion of England. This order is confirmed by Hitler a week later

Halder records:

In the morning a Fuehrer directive comes in. It directs immediate initiation of measures to lay the foundations for a reduction of Ground Forces to 120 Divs., including 20 of Armour and 10 of mot. Inf. The directive is based on the assumption that with the now imminent final collapse of the enemy, the Army would have fulfilled its mission and so, while still in enemy country, could comfortably start on work to prepare the projected peacetime organisation. Air Force and Navy alone would be carrying on the war against Britain.

OKW assess invasion of Britain

Monday 17th June 1940 12:00

Warlimont (Jodel's deputy chief of the OKW's Operations Staff) notes that:

With regard to a landing in Britain, the Führer … has not up to now expressed such an intention, as he fully appreciates the unusual difficulties of such an operation. Therefore, even at this time, no preparatory work of any type has been carried out at OKW.

Only the Kriegsmarine has begun provisionally earmarking shipping and collating topographical intelligence about the coast between The Isle of Wight and the Wash.