Salutations All
Continuations of serial.
16th July 1940: At the Reichtag, Berlin. With Il Duce Benito Musolini and the Japanese Ambassador to Germany attending, French President Marshal Pilippe Petain and Prime Minister & Minister for War Admiral Jean Darlan on behalf of France signs the Tripartite Pact. Germany, Italy and Japan formally recognise the birth of the French fourth republic.
18th July 1940: Fuhrer Adolf Hitler issues Fuhrerdirective 21 which formally approves of Operation Fall Braun (Case Brown) the military defeat of Britian. Fall Braun includes Operation Alder (Eagle) the defeat of the RAF by Axis air units, Operation Haifische (Shark) the occupation and control of the English Channel and Operation Seelowe (Sea Lion) the air and ground invasion of Britain. Fall Braun to be launched early August.
19th July 1940: French Government exits Vichy for Paris. President Marshal Philippe Petain on behalf of France announces that as of 12.00hrs Paris time France formally declares war on Britain. German Luftflottes 1 and 4 are ordered to South of France and Italy respectively.
20th July 1940: With the help of German Army, little known Norwegian Nazi Party leader Vidkum Quisling becomes President, who signs the Tripartite Pact with Germany.
22nd July 1940: 5th & 9th Battleship division of the Royal Italian Navy are ordered to Toulon, France and Tunisia respectively. Regia Aeronautica begins deployment of 35 S.M-79 II Torpedo Bombers to Tunisia, this is re-enforced with 65 fighters.
26th July 1940: Fuhrer Adolf Hitler arrives in Spain to meet with President General Francisco Franco on Spain joining the Axis.
28th July 1940: President General Francisco Franco secretly agrees to join the Axis and will allow the transit of four German divisions through Spain bound for Gibraltar. Fuhrer Adolf Hitler issues Fuhrerdirective 24 approving of Operation Felix, the capture of Gibraltar. Arrival of Royal Italian 5th & 9th Battleship Division in Toulon and Tunisia respectively, vanguard of Luftflotte 4 to Tunisia.
29th July 1940: Vanguard of Luftflotte 1 to Southern Italy. In France, Netherlans, Belgium and Norway Luftflottes 2, 3 & 5 begin to be deployed. President Vidkum Quisling of Norway declares war on Britain for mining her territorial waters while she was neutral.
30th July 1940: Italian 1st Army begins to arrive in the Cherbourg area to take up garrison duties. I Luftlande Korp established in Cuxhaven, containing the 7th Flieger, 22nd Luftlande, 251st Infantrie and Gropfdeutschland Infantrie Divisions, I Luftlande Korp begin intensive training.
31st July 1940: Luftlfottes 1 & 4 complete their deployments to Southern Italy and Tunisia respectively.
To be continued......
Regards
Roddoss72
