1 April 1940
The British Broadcasting Corporation broadcast an April Fools'
Day Hoax with German leader Adolf Hitler being impersonated by
the action Martin Miller. |
2 April 1940
The advance party of the 5th Battalion, King's Own Royal
Regiment depart for France to join the British Expeditionary
Force.
Adolf Hitler signed the order for the invasion of Denmark and
Norway. The German Luftwaffe made an air raid on Scapa
Flow, Orkney Islands. |
3 April 1940
The British Cabinet approved Winston Churchill's plan to mine
the sea routes between Norway, Sweden and Germany and for
Anglo-French landings in Norway to forestall a German invasion.
British intelligence advised of a German military build up in
Northern German ports. |
4 April 1940
In response to a question in the House of Commons, the Secretary
of State for war stated that when available all army recruits
under going training would be issued with a second pair of
boots.
Neville Chamberlain gave a speech to the Conservative Party in
London stating that he was confident of victory. |
5 April 1940
The British begin to mine Norwegian waters. |
6 April 1940
The German invasion force for Norway set sail. |
7 April 1940
British reconnaissance aircraft spotted a large German naval
force heading northwards. |
8 April 1940
Norway protested the British Naval mining of its territorial
waters.
The British destroyer HMS Glowworm was sunk by the German
cruiser 'Admiral Hipper' in the Norwegian Sea. Despite
being out gunned Glowworm managed to ram 'Admiral Hipper' and
inflict considerable damage. Captain Gerard Broadmead
Roope earned the first Victoria Cross of the war for his conduct
- but it was only awarded after the war when the 'Admiral
Hipper's' log describing the battle was read by the Royal Navy. |
9 April 1940
At 5.20 a.m. in Norway and 4.20 a.m. in Denmark, German envoys
presented the Norwegian and Danish Governments with a German
ultimatum that they accept the "Protection of the Reich".
Denmark capitulated to avoid bloodshed, and the Germans invaded
within 6 hours.
The Norwegian Government refused and German forces quickly took
control of the ports of Narvik, Trondheim, Bergan, Stavenger and
Oslo. |
10 April 1940
With Denmark occupied by the Germans, Iceland declared
independence.
In Norway, the first Battle of Narvik took place. Two
German destroyers were sunk, but HMS Hardy and HMS Hunter were
lost by the British.
The German cruiser Koningsberg was sunk at Bergan by Blackburn
Skua dive bombers of the British Fleet Air Arm flying from the
Orkney Islands. |
11 April 1940
The British occupied the Danish Faroe Islands. |
12 April 1940
In Norway, at 19:00 a dive bombing attack was made by aircraft
from HMS Furious on ships in Narvik. Five destroyers and
11 merchant ships were seen, two destroyers were hit, one
seriously. One aircraft was forced to land and two failed
to return.
The Cyprus Regiment was formed on this day. |
13 April 1940
In Norway, eight German destroyers and the submarine U64 were
sunk or scuttled in the Second Battle of Narvik.
RAF Bomber Command mounted aerial mine laying operations to lay
sea mines off Denmark. |
14 April 1940
In Norway, 350 Royal Marines landed at Namsos, the first British
troops to land in the country. |
15 April 1940
In Norway, 146th Infantry Brigade landed at Namsos, and advanced
south to Trondheim. The units included the 4th
Lincolnshire Regiment, 1st/4th King's Own Yorkshire Light
Infantry and 4th York and Lancaster Regiment. |
16 April 1940
In Norway, 24th Guards Brigade landed at Harstad, north of
Narvik. The Brigade included 1st Scots Guards, 1st Irish
Guards and 2nd South Wales Borderers.
In response to a question in the House of Commons, the Secretary
of State for War stated that the issued relating to inadequate
supply of camouflage material for anti-tank guns, helmets, huts,
tents and tanks was improving |
17 April 1940
The British ocean liner, Queen Mary arrived in Sydney to be
refitted as a troopship. |
18 April 1940
In Norway, 148th Infantry Brigade landed at Andalsnes to support
the Norwegian army units defending the city of Trondheim.
The Brigade included 1st/5th Leicestershire Regiment and 8th
Sherwood Foresters.
In response to a question in the House of Commons it was stated
that leave could not be given to a soldier of the British
Expeditionary Force for the purpose of attending a funeral,
including the death of a parent. |
19 April 1940
In Norway, the Battle of Dombas ended in a tactical victory for
the Norwegians.
The Germans captured Hamar and Elveram. At Verda British
and German land forces engaged each other for the first time in
the war. |
20 April 1940
In Norway, the 148th Infantry Brigade arrived at Lillehammer and
began moving south.
Adolf Hitler celebrated his 51st birthday. |
21 April 1940
In Norway, German troops landed at Verdal and Kirknessvag.
The British 146th Brigade near Trondheim was in danger of being
encircled. |
22 April 1940
In Norway, the 146th Brigade was ordered to withdrawn to Namsos
to avoid being encircled by the Germans. |
23 April 1940
In Norway, the 148th Brigade tried to make a stand at the
strategic village of Tretten, but could not hold back the German
forces and by the end of the day was in full retreat.
The Battle of Gratangen started.
In the House of Commons there was a question about the German
enemy parachutists landing in Norway with machine guns and
collapsible bicycles and what arrangements existed in Great
Britain for such landings.
It was stated that there were about 74000 aliens (German or
Austrian) in Great Britain. The policy was to intern any
if there was doubt as to his attitude and disposal to the Allied
cause. Members of Nazi organisations had been interned at
the outbreak of the war. |
24 April 1940
In Norway, the British 15th Infantry Brigade landed at Andalsnes,
including the 1st Green Howards, 1st King's Own Yorkshire Light
Infantry and 1st York and Lancaster Regiment. |
25 April 1940
7th Battalion, King's Own Royal Regiment arrive in France to
join the British Expeditionary Force.
In Norway, the Battle of Gratangen ended in German victory.
The British 15th Brigade repulsed an attack by the 196th
Division of the German Army at Kvam. |
26 April 1940
The 6th, 8th and 9th Battalions of the King's Own Royal Regiment
arrive in France to join the British Expeditionary Force.
In Norway, 15th Brigade fell back to Kjorem after there supplied
were destroyed by a full day of bombing from the Germans who had
complete air superiority.
In London consideration was given to a full withdrawal from
Norway.
9th Battalion, King's Own Royal Regiment, arrive at Le Havre for
service in France. |
27 April 1940
In Norway, the 15th Brigade fell back 10 miles to Otta.
Germany declared war on Norway. |
28 April 1940
In Norway, the British government ordered troops at Trondheim to
withdraw, as the 15th Brigade fell back further to Dombas. |
29 April 1940
British destroyers were despatched from Scapa Flow, Orkney, to
evacuate British troops from Namos.
The submarine HMS Unity sailed from the port of Blyth,
Northumberland, to patrol
off Norway, on leaving the port, with visibility down to 50
yards, she collided with the 'Atle Jarl' a Norwegian ship
heading to the Tyne. HMS Unity sank in only five minutes,
two members of the crew died in the flooded control room, they
gave their lives so that rest of the crew could escape the
sinking vessel. |
30 April 1940
In Norway, the German 196th Division captured Dombas as the
British retreated to Andalsnes.
The first British casualties of the German bombing of England
occurred at Clacton on Sea when a German Heinkel Bomber,
carrying sea mines, crashed on the town, killing Frederick and
Dorothy Gill of number 25 Victoria Road and injuring 156 others.
67 houses were badly damaged. |
