13 May 1940 | World War II Database

13 May 1940

UK Prime Minister Churchill made the famous "Blood, Sweat, Tears, and Toil" speech. ww2dbase [Winston Churchill | TH]
At midnight, which was light due to the latitude, British cruiser HMS Aurora, cruiser HMS Effingham, and battleship HMS Resolution bombarded Narvik, Norway in preparation of the 0100-hour amphibious operation at Bjerkvik, which was the first of the European War. French Foreign Legion and light tanks came ashore at Bjerkvik in landing craft, suffering 36 casualties, then reached and captured Øyjord unopposed. Many Norwegian civilians died during the attack. ww2dbase [Invasion of Denmark and Norway | CPC]
While on the previous day the inferior German tanks suffered against their French counterparts in Belgium, German tank commanders amassed their tanks (while the French commanders decided to divide their tanks to cover a wider front) and punched a hole in the French lines; French troops began falling back toward Gembloux; the Battle of Hannut ended with the French losing 105 tanks and the Germans 160. The German 9th Division reached the outskirts of Rotterdam, which was a part of the final Dutch defensive line, Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Utrecht. In France, Germany Army Group B established bridgeheads at the Meuse River near Dinant and Sedan after penetrating a 50-mile gap in French defensive lines; by the evening, pontoon bridges were set up for tanks to cross. ww2dbase [Invasion of France and the Low Countries | TH]

Belgium

Six Defiant fighters of B Flight, 264 Squadron RAF set out to attack enemy troop movements in the Netherlands. In the process they attacked a force of Ju 87 aircraft and claimed four of these, but were then bounced by Messerschmitt Bf 109 aircraft who swiftly shot down five of the Defiant aircraft (only two crewmen survived by parachute). The sole remaining Defiant aircraft (Pilot Officer Kay and LAC Jones) managed to land at Knocke, belgium and later returned to England. ww2dbase [Invasion of France and the Low Countries | AC]

China

American river gunboat Tutuila, stranded on a reef in the Yangtze River off Chongqing, China since 8 May, was refloated. ww2dbase [Chongqing | CPC]

France

James Lacey shot down a German He 111 bomber, a Bf 109 fighter, and a Bf 110 fighter over Sedan, Ardennes, France. ww2dbase [James Lacey | Sedan, Champagne-Ardenne | CPC]

Netherlands

Queen Wilhelmina departed the Netherlands at 1200 hours aboard HMS Hereward, arriving in England, United Kingdom later on the same day. ww2dbase [Invasion of France and the Low Countries | Wilhelmina | CPC]

United Kingdom

The Dutch Royal Family and the Dutch government arrived in London, England, United Kingdom. ww2dbase [London, England | CPC]
Winston Churchill appointed Leo Amery as Secretary of State for India and Burma. ww2dbase [Winston Churchill | AC]

United States

The Bell XFL Airabonita prototype aircraft took its maiden flight. ww2dbase [XFL Airabonita | CPC]

Photo(s) dated 13 May 1940

Searaven making full speed while running trials off Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States, 13 May 1940, photo 1 of 3

Searaven making full speed while running trials off Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States, 13 May 1940, photo 2 of 3

Searaven making full speed while running trials off Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States, 13 May 1940, photo 3 of 3

Searaven during trials, off Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States, 13 May 1940, photo 1 of 3

See all photos dated 13 May 1940

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis

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