Charles de Gaulle

Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle (22 November 1890 – 9 November 1970) was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969. A veteran of World War I, in the 1920s and 1930s de ...

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Documents about Charles de Gaulle

Sunday 9th June 1940

Meeting minutes

extract General Dill: Battle "in progress along the whole Western Front." PM Reynaud again urges fast despatch of UK forces
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Charles de Gaulle
person Paul Reynaud
place Iceland
place Narvik
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Rome
place Libya
organisation United States Congress
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM Churchill: A "chapter in the war" now closing. "We must now concentrate everything on the defence of this island"
extract Eden: French politicians in favour of peace with Germany "might find themselves strong enough" to overthrow PM Reynaud
extract General Weygand to declare Paris an open city. "Full of defenceless people", will "not see it destroyed" by bombardment
extract PM: "Defeatist" Marshal Petain has "made up his mind that peace must be made". He is "a dangerous man at this juncture"
extract General Weygand: French army "almost completely exhausted". General de Gaulle supports "carrying on a guerrilla warfare"
extract PM: Talks with French "studiously polite and dignified" but clear that France "near the end of organised resistance"
extract War Cabinet meeting again on PM's return from talks with French. General Dill reports UK 52nd division now in France
extract UK Ambassador Cairo recommends installing new "loyal" PM in Egypt. If King objects, to be told "comply or get out"
extract Damage from overnight Italian bombing raids on Malta "neglible". RAF attacked targets in Italian Libya, Eritrea
extract French Command blocked some UK planes from bombing runs on Italy overnight. Halifax: "Prompted by fear of reprisals"
extract German advanced elements must be expected in Paris within 24-48 hours. State of the city's defences not known
extract Signs of heavy attack east of Rheims. Situation west of Rouen very obscure. Position of remains of 51st division critical
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Charles de Gaulle
person Stephen King
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
place Greece
place Egypt
place Halifax Peninsula
place Turkey
place Malta
place Eritrea
place Libya
 

Meeting minutes

extract Churchill, Attlee and Sinclair to meet PM Reynaud at "earliest possible moment" to discuss Union and "related questions"
extract PM Reynaud believes he can "hold the position" if UK accepts proposed unity proclamation. War Cabinet approves Union plan
extract French wireless reporting that Council of Ministers will meet at 1700 BST to decide whether further resistance possible
extract Union to "concentrate the whole of its strength" against the enemy no matter where battle may be. "Thus we shall conquer"
extract Halifax presents plan for Anglo-French union drafted with French: joint citizenship, single currency, new constitution
extract PM: General de Gaulle has made clear "some very dramatic move" essential for PM Reynaud to keep France in the war
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Charles de Gaulle
person Winston Churchill
person Paul Reynaud
place Halifax Peninsula
organisation British Army
 

Meeting minutes

extract Belgian PM and 50 staff flown into London from Nantes. 1000 Canadian troops arriving for defence of Iceland today
extract Eden: Report from Information Minister on UK public opinion "not very encouraging". PM to broadcast speech on 18th
extract South African PM calls for UK occupation of Irish ports ahead of Germany. Chamberlain: UK should "insist" on IRA roundup
extract PM Reynaud offers meeting in France this afternoon. Churchill declines, UK sending assent for France to ask for terms
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Charles de Gaulle
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
person Winston Churchill
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
person Neville Chamberlain
person Paul Reynaud
place South Africa
place Halifax Peninsula
place Iceland
place London, Ontario
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
 

Meeting minutes

extract Churchill: “Absolute condition” of granting assent that French fleet sail for Britain "forthwith"
extract Halifax: Ambassador Kennedy hints President saving declaration of war as “last card” if France offered “impossible” terms
extract PM: "Some possibility" that if terms too harsh French Government might carry on the struggle from outside France
extract French government request UK authorisation to enquire "what armistice conditions would be offered to France by the enemy"
person Charles de Gaulle
person Ronnie Campbell
person Winston Churchill
person Jean Bart
place Great Britain
place New York, Lincolnshire
place Alexandria
organisation French Navy
organisation Canadian Forces Maritime Command
organisation French Air Force
organisation French Army
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet Secretary: Cabinet members “consulted again individually” on de Gaulle broadcast. Now agree should be allowed
extract Cabinet adopts plan by Lord Halifax for return of Emperor to Abyssinia. UK to foment anti-Italian action in the country
extract Cabinet agrees de Gaulle should not broadcast as long it remains possible French government may act in Allied interests
extract General de Gaulle has submitted text of broadcast saying France not defeated and inviting French soldiers to rally to him
extract Stafford Cripps in Moscow warns he sees "no prospect of drawing the Soviet Union into a common front against Germany"
extract Navy Vice Chief: SS Lancastria sunk in Loire yesterday with 3,000 troops on board. Not yet possible to assess casualties
extract Evacuation continuing from Cherbourg, St Nazaire, St Malo, Brest. 42,502 personnel returned to UK
extract Chief of Air Staff has despatched aircraft to Bordeaux after Polish reports General Sikorski somewhere in France
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Walter Hines Page
person Herbert Morrison
person Stafford Cripps
person Samuel Hoare
place East Germany
place Halifax Peninsula
place Moscow
place Narvik
place Malta
place Gibraltar
place Kenya
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM orders broadcast denouncing Armistice terms as being of "most murderous character", making France "tool of the enemy"
extract UK Ambassador Bordeaux confirms that France and Germany have signed an Armistice agreement, precise terms unknown
extract Lord Halifax to issue statement for UK consuls in overseas French territories appealing to Colonies to continue the war
extract Cabinet approves broadcast by General de Gaulle at 2200 BST over Admiralty objections that it may alienate many Frenchmen
extract German wireless is reporting that France has signed an Armistice agreement
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Charles de Gaulle
person Duff Cooper
person Jean Bart
place Syria
organisation French Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract Chamberlain: We must keep the ships. Sweden knows that she cannot bully Germany "but might succeed in bullying us"
extract Halifax: Sweden taken "gravest possible view" of UK seizure of Destroyers. Germany may offer "protection" against us
extract Lord Halifax informs Cabinet that British Ambassador and his staff will leave France today for the UK on HMS Galatea
extract HMS Dunedin to intercept French vessel en route to Martinique to seize cargo of £60m in gold.
extract First Sea Lord: Mutiny by Germans being transported to Canada aboard SS Duchess of York. Further rising on vessel feared
extract PM urges War Office "push forward" with creation of a Foreign Legion. General Pownall says action already being taken
extract General Pownall reports 10000 Czech and Pole troops, 8000 French heading to coast for UK. HMS Keppel to arrange transport
person Charles de Gaulle
person Walter Hines Page
person Ronnie Campbell
person Neville Chamberlain
place Hamburg
place Malta
place Europe
place Algeria
place Africa
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation French Foreign Legion
 

Meeting minutes

extract Report former French Cabinet now in Rabat. Information Minister to fly to Morocco to convince group to form government
person Charles de Gaulle
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
place Algeria
place Morocco
place Syria
place Africa
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation New Zealand Treasury
 

Meeting minutes

extract French formally complain about de Gaulle broadcasts, recent statements by PM. Demand recall of UK consuls in N.Africa
extract War Cabinet informed that a Franco-Italian Armistice has been signed. No news is available as to its provisions
extract Halifax argues for return of destroyers to Sweden in exchange for their cancelling US aircraft contracts. Cabinet assents
person Charles de Gaulle
person Stephen King
person William Lyon Mackenzie King
person Clive Anderson
place South Africa
place Great Britain
place Lancaster, Lancashire
place North America
organisation Home Office
organisation Hopatcong High School
organisation Royal Navy
organisation French Foreign Legion
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet orders Halifax to prepare ultimatum to France demanding their fleet be scuttled or UK will "take action by force"
person Charles de Gaulle
person Jean Bart
person Edward Spears
place Plymouth
place Fiji
place London, Ontario
place Alexandria
place Portsmouth
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM Churchill: Relations with France "might well approach very closely to those of two nations at war with each other"
extract Telegram received from former PM Reynaud. Churchill: Clear French government "completely under the thumb of Germany"
extract Aerial reconnaissance over Dortmund-Ems aqueduct shows RAF bombing has failed to damage structure despite being on target
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Charles de Gaulle
person Walter Hines Page
person Samuel Hoare
person Francisco Franco
place Egypt
place Iceland
place Berlin, New York
place Malta
place Gibraltar
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation RAF Fighter Command
organisation French Foreign Legion
 

Meeting minutes

extract Ambassador Kennedy to ask President Roosevelt to put pressure on Irish government to cooperate with UK defence plans
extract Halifax urges bombing of aircraft factories in German-occupied France before air defences are installed. Cabinet approves
extract PM: "Little chance now" of resistance in French Africa. UK mission not permitted to see French ex-Ministers at Rabat
extract Cabinet abandons plans for full scale evacuation of east coast towns. Hopes for voluntary evacuation of 60% of population
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person Charles de Gaulle
person Walter Hines Page
place Gisborne, New Zealand
place East Anglia
place Syria
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation French Army
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet approves broadcast tonight recognising General de Gaulle as "Leader of all free Frenchmen"
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Charles de Gaulle
person Walter Hines Page
person James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon
place Morocco
place Northern Ireland
 

Monday 1st July 1940

Meeting minutes

extract War Cabinet approves despatch of troops from India to Iraq. Colonial Secretary: Early introduction of force "essential"
extract PM: Growth in scheme to evacuate children abroad "defeatist", must be "sternly discouraged". Entry to scheme to be closed
extract General Dill: De Gaulle has been addressing French troops in UK. 1,900 volunteers have been assembled at White City
extract Admiralty reports ten Italian submarines have been sunk in three weeks since Italy joined war
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Clive Anderson
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
person Leo Amery
place Great Britain
place Halifax Peninsula
place Madagascar
place Iraq
place Hong Kong
place British Cameroons
place North America
place Nigeria
place Syria
place Burma
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation French Foreign Legion
 

Meeting minutes

extract French vessels in Algerian ports to be told to either sail to UK or French Caribbean territories or prepare to be sunk
extract SS Arandora Star carrying "enemy internees" torpedoed and sunk. PM: Germans may blame UK, retaliate against British POWs
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person Charles de Gaulle
person Samuel Hoare
person Robert Vansittart, 1st Baron Vansittart
place Guernsey
place Halifax Peninsula
place Syria
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Fighter Command
organisation French Army
 

Meeting minutes

extract War Cabinet informed French ships have refused UK ultimatum. Admiral Gensoul warns he is "prepared to open fire"
extract Admiralty reports takeover of French ships at Portsmouth has resulted in no casualties. Few casualties at Plymouth
extract PM orders air attacks diverted on to German harbours. "Growing feeling" invasion "might be imminent"
person Charles de Gaulle
place Alexandria
place Portsmouth
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation Luftwaffe
organisation French Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract French Admiral at Alexandria has agreed to disable his vessels. PM considering force under General de Gaulle to Senegal
person Charles de Gaulle
person Edward Spears
place Dakar
 

Meeting minutes

extract Minister of Food requests Cabinet approve tea rationing with immediate effect. Margarine to be rationed within two weeks
extract Members of French overseas missions in UK to be temporarily "segregated" at Worcester College, Oxford
extract Chief of Air Staff reports 27 casualties overnight in bomb attacks on south coast ports and shipping in Straits of Dover
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person Charles de Gaulle
person Stafford Cripps
person Richard Kiel
person Robert Vansittart, 1st Baron Vansittart
place Kassala
place Egypt
place Isle of Portland
place Sudan
place Malta
place Gibraltar
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Draft of Proposed Agreement with General de Gaulle.

extract Cabinet Secretary circulates proposal from General de Gaulle for UK to recognise and support his new French force
person Charles de Gaulle
person Winston Churchill
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
organisation Royal Navy
organisation Commonwealth of Nations
organisation French Foreign Legion
 

Meeting minutes

extract Foreign Office inform Cabinet Roumania has left League of Nations. Sign of "complete subservience of Roumania to Germany"
extract Chamberlain rules out guarantee by UK to restore "the independence and territorial integrity of France" and French Empire
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person Charles de Gaulle
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
person Neville Chamberlain
place Portugal
place Madrid
place Europe
place Algeria
place Morocco
place Burma
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place West Germany
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract War Secretary requests leave for the Army be resumed "on a limited scale". Stoppage having "bad effect". Cabinet approves
extract Air Chief: Overnight enemy action slight. Minelaying in Thames Estuary, Harwich areas, attacks on Bristol, Kent, Suffolk
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Clement Attlee
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
place Guernsey
place Halifax Peninsula
place Malta
place Europe
place Gibraltar
place Kenya
place Bristol
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
 

Aliens.

extract Attlee calls management of aliens in UK "not work appropriate for the Home Office". Proposes new committee to organise
person Charles de Gaulle
place Europe
organisation Home Office
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
 

Organisation of Allied Naval, Army and Air contingents.

extract Chiefs of Staff circulate force sizes of Allied French, Poles, Dutch, Czechs, Norwegians, Belgians and anti-Nazi Germans
person Charles de Gaulle
place Portsmouth
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation British Army
organisation United States Navy
organisation Royal Navy
organisation French Foreign Legion
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM suggests scheme for defection of Vichy ministers to N. Africa. Chamberlain: Better de Gaulle "raise his flag there"
person Charles de Gaulle
person Ronnie Campbell
person Neville Chamberlain
place Africa
 

Meeting minutes

extract RAF authorised to bomb objectives in Occupied France. De Gaulle to be approached over attacks on Vichy France oil stocks
person Charles de Gaulle
 

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax: “We delude ourselves” if we think Russia will “by proper treatment be made a warm friend of this country”
extract Halifax: Resuming relations with France unlikely in view of UK bombing, blockade, leaflet drops. Not of great importance
extract Lord Halifax speaking to junior ministers. Tells meeting “We might now be at the turning point of the war”
person Charles de Gaulle
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
person Adolf Hitler
person Farouk of Egypt
place Great Britain
place Lancaster, Lancashire
place Russian Empire
place Egypt
place Singapore
place Europe
place Burma
place West Germany
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet discusses UK response to a future Japanese invasion of Dutch East Indies. Chiefs of Staff cannot agree a policy
extract General de Gaulle to be consulted before Cabinet responds to French complaints over leaflet drops, detention of officials
extract Halifax reports arrest of 9 British citizens in Tokyo. Rumour USSR will shortly extend its control of Polish government
extract Admiralty to examine apparent delay in getting anti-aircraft defences into action when enemy aircraft appear
extract Air Chief: Enemy losses so far today 8 for certain, 8 probable, 6 possible. One UK pilot killed, several machines damaged
person Alexander Cadogan
person Andrew Greenwood
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Stafford Cripps
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
place Tokyo
place Morocco
organisation Home Office
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation House of Commons of Canada
organisation United States Army
organisation Bank of England
 

Relations with France.

extract De Gaulle tells British government "he sees no reason why" UK should not reopen diplomatic relations with Vichy France
person Charles de Gaulle
 

Friday 2nd August 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Attlee warns evacuation of east coast towns bankrupting local authorities. Lowestoft already "in the hands of a bank"
extract HMS Highlander, off the north coast of Scotland, is reporting having brought down two Heinkels by machine-gun fire
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Walter Citrine, 1st Baron Citrine
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
place Gisborne, New Zealand
place Malta
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
 

Situation in the French Colonies in West Africa.

extract Colonial Secretary recommends secret UK support for anti Vichy coup attempt in French Cameroons
person Charles de Gaulle
place British Cameroons
place Nigeria
place Africa
place Chad
 

Operation "Scipio".

extract Cabinet to discuss plan for Operation Scipio. General de Gaulle and Free French to attempt occupation of Dakar, Senegal
person Charles de Gaulle
person Edward Spears
place Gibraltar
place Dakar
place Nigeria
place Africa
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract UK to support French Cameroon anti Vichy coup. De Gaulle to form "Council of Defence" from ranking colonial supporters
extract No official reaction from Japan over UK arrests. Halifax now suggests release of a prisoner to "keep the position fluid"
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Clement Attlee
place Egypt
place Basra
place British Cameroons
place Sudan
place Nigeria
place Africa
organisation Home Office
organisation United States Navy
organisation Canadian Forces Maritime Command
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet approves Operation Scipio. De Gaulle to mobilise a force for N. Africa shortly. Force to set sail by August 23rd
extract 15m incendiaries for aborted Operation Razzle on German crops remain unused. RAF to drop on German heathland near bases
person Charles de Gaulle
place Egypt
place Nigeria
place Algeria
place Morocco
place Africa
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

Meeting minutes

extract Inquiry to be held into the selection of aliens for passage on the Arandora Star and conditions at Huyton Internment Camp
extract Air Chief: Air casualties yesterday 25, 60 enemy confirmed. Number of raids currently in progress including on Portsmouth
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Clement Attlee
person William Anderson (RAAF officer)
place Somaliland
place Isle of Portland
place Gibraltar
place Toulon
organisation Home Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM warns Cabinet that "on the present lay-out we might find ourselves in serious difficulties in the Middle East"
extract PM: "So much stronger" at home can spare armoured brigade for Mid-East. In Somaliland should "stay on and fight it out"
extract PM: Royal Marines will now assist in De Gaulle attack on Dakar ("Operation Menace"). "Every endeavour" to avoid bloodshed
person Charles de Gaulle
place Somaliland
place Egypt
place Dakar
place Kenya
place Khartoum
organisation French Foreign Legion
organisation Royal Marines
 

Meeting minutes

extract French governor of Chad offers to join Free French in return for some military and economic assistance. Cabinet approves
extract Cabinet discusses "considerable numbers of people" made homeless by air raids. Should be possible to rehouse quickly
extract PM again draws attention to continuing heavy losses of merchant shipping. Cargo vessel of 11,445 tons sunk yesterday
extract Cabinet refuses German request 64 vessels be recognised as hospital ships. "No doubt" ships used for reconnaissance
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Andrew Greenwood
person Charles de Gaulle
person Clement Attlee
place Nigeria
place Chad
place Northern Ireland
 

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax: Looks as if whole of French Equatorial Africa and Cameroons as well as Chad territory "swinging away" from Vichy
extract PM Churchill: We can "not afford to allow any of our aerodromes to be out of action"
extract PM complains arrangements for filling aerodrome bomb craters "very inadequate". Runways must be repaired within 24 hours
extract Beaverbrook: Recent air fighting has made considerable inroads on reserves. Effect of bombing on production "not serious"
extract PM: In view of German indiscriminate bombing considering temporary "marked departure" from bombing only military targets
extract Air Chief: Bombing of Berlin targets last night "most successful". PM to send congratulatory message to Bomber Command
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Charles de Gaulle
person William Lyon Mackenzie King
place South Africa
place New Caledonia
place Bermuda
place Caribbean
place British Cameroons
place Washington
place Africa
place Newfoundland, Kentucky
place Chad
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
 

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax: Gabon to follow General de Gaulle in line with the rest of French Equatorial Africa. Hope for New Caledonia coup
extract Cabinet informed of attack on Scilly Isles, now in "state of considerable panic". PM: "Isles must be held at all costs"
extract Cabinet discuss shipping losses. Navy working on deep sea mining and anti-submarine research. More air support hoped for
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Andrew Greenwood
person Charles de Gaulle
place New Caledonia
place North America
place Africa
organisation Ministry of Supply
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation Hopatcong High School
organisation United States Navy
 

Monday 2nd September 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax: Agreement has been reached with the Americans over bases for destroyers. Meeting in London will follow
extract Cabinet notes air raid warnings are now "almost continuous" across SE England. Civilian casualties for August were 700
extract Churchill: Our own Air Force "stronger than ever", "every reason to be optimistic about the 1940 Air Battle of Britain"
extract PM reviews results of recent air fighting before Cabinet: "every right to be satisfied". Enemy may be at "maximum effort"
extract PM Churchill visiting Fighter Command during German air attack today. PM: "Very instructive" to watch deployment
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Charles de Gaulle
person Herbert Morrison
person Samuel Hoare
person Clement Attlee
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
place Fiji
place Tokyo
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation United States Department of State
organisation RAF Fighter Command
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet agree De Gaulle force will instead disembark at Duala, Cameroon and march to Chad. British troops to return to UK
extract Chiefs of Staff: French warships appear to have fortified Dakar against General de Gaulle. PM: Situation "a fiasco"
person Charles de Gaulle
place Freetown
place British Cameroons
place Africa
place Chad
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet inclined to approve attack "if the Commanders on the spot" agree. Chamberlain: "Question of balancing the risks"
extract Cabinet meet to discuss telegram from De Gaulle arguing Operation Menace against Dakar go ahead "as originally planned"
person Alexander Cadogan
person Charles de Gaulle
person Neville Chamberlain
person Edward Spears
place Freetown
place Madrid
place Paris
place Dakar
place Africa
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet tells De Gaulle: "We cannot judge...from here". Gives Commanders full authority to go ahead with attack on Dakar
person Charles de Gaulle
place Libreville
place Gibraltar
place Dakar
 

Situation in Spain.

extract UK Embassy Madrid: Germany now "rather desperate about Spain". Spanish obstinate,"our wonderful fight is impressing them"
person Charles de Gaulle
person Francisco Franco
person Winston Churchill
place Portugal
place Gibraltar
place Morocco
organisation Air Force F.C.
 

Meeting minutes

extract Operation Menace against Dakar to be delayed for 24 hours at request of General de Gaulle
person Charles de Gaulle
place Dakar
place Africa
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: US has now agreed to release 250,000 further rifles to us. Negotiations proceeding over aircraft and flying boats
extract First Sea Lord: Severe loss by enemy attack on convoys approaching UK in last 3 days. 7 ships in one convoy, 4 in another
extract Air Chief: Number of enemy fighters crossed SE coast this morning. Casualties so far 9 aircraft. Enemy 10 (+5 probable)
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person William Lyon Mackenzie King
person Kingsley Wood
person Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope
person Clement Attlee
person Andrew Duncan
place Egypt
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract War Secretary: 850 POWs in UK being added to at rate of 100 a week. Cabinet approves plan to send 1,000 to Newfoundland
extract Halifax: Japanese in Indo-China have "established themselves". Seems Japan has agreement with Vichy over this land force
extract Home Secretary: Overnight bombing "rather more intense than on recent nights". Direct hits sustained by several shelters
extract Air Chief: Air casualties yesterday 11 machines (8 pilots safe). Enemy 12 (+6 probable). 120 bombers despatched to Berlin
extract War Cabinet directs Information Minister to deny reports "emanating from Vichy regarding attempted British landings"
person Anthony Eden
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Herbert Morrison
person Kingsley Wood
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
person Clement Attlee
place South Africa
place City of London
place Newfoundland, Kentucky
organisation United States Navy
 

Spain, Gibraltar and Morocco.

extract Halifax warns of likely German "diversion" against Egypt or Iberian Peninsula. "Great pressure will be placed on Spain"
person Charles de Gaulle
person Francisco Franco
person Adolf Hitler
place Great Britain
place Portugal
place Egypt
place Halifax Peninsula
place Madrid
place Turkey
place Paris
place Europe
place Gibraltar
place Berlin
place Morocco
place Syria
place Africa
place Madrid, New York
organisation German Army
organisation Minister of Economic Warfare
 

Tuesday 1st October 1940

Meeting minutes

extract PM: Agree principle of talks but not "a golden opportunity". Should protect de Gaulle, "assist in any movement" he starts
extract Halifax proposes Vichy talks to secure "healthily anti-German" France. "Not vital" whether Colonies to Vichy or de Gaulle
person Charles de Gaulle
person Samuel Hoare
place Great Britain
place Madrid
place Cairo
place Libreville
place Gibraltar
place Morocco
place Africa
organisation United States Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract Australian PM "much disturbed" over Operation Menace failure. UK approach "strongly criticised". PM Churchill to respond
extract Air Chief: Air casualties yesterday 20 (12 pilots safe). Enemy 46 (+32 probable). Good results for RAF on Ostend, Berlin
person Anthony Eden
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Charles de Gaulle
place Alexandria Troas
place Malta
place Africa
place Libya
place Toulon
 

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax to examine ways UK can inconvenience Japan "without ceasing to act politely". Trade interference already begun
extract PM: Reports of "indescribable conditions" in public shelter in Stepney. "Drastic action" called for to make building safe
extract Home Secretary: Outside London "most serious attacks" on Manchester. "Lucky hits" on railways. Details not yet available
extract Air Chief: 250 enemy aircraft attacked overnight. London main objective also Midlands, S.Wales. Oil plant at Purfleet hit
person Anthony Eden
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Charles de Gaulle
person Samuel Hoare
person Clement Attlee
place South Africa
place Somaliland
place Gibraltar
place Berlin
place Morocco
organisation Home Office
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: "Normal rules" do not apply to our relations with France at present. We may have to "interfere with French convoys"
extract Churchill and Halifax disagree over UK attitude to France. Halifax: We should not interfere with Colonies favouring Vichy
person Charles de Gaulle
person Winston Churchill
place Gibraltar
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM orders ships to be diverted from anti-invasion duties to convoy escort. Winter weather renders invasion "not likely"
extract Air Chief: Only serious damage to De Havilland aircraft factory. All our own operations cancelled due to poor visibility
extract Air Chief: Enemy activity "on a much reduced scale" in past 24 hours, 80 aircraft during the day, 60 overnight
person Anthony Eden
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Herbert Morrison
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
place Great Britain
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Europe
place Gibraltar
place Dakar
place Madrid, New York
organisation Home Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract Message received from de Gaulle. Plans to disembark force at Duala, Cameroon and "get possession" of Libreville, Gabon
person Charles de Gaulle
place Egypt
place Libreville
place Nigeria
place Africa
 

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax: Report Germans "sending train-loads of gas" to Belgium. PM unhappy with UK gas preparations. Attlee to enquire
extract Halifax: UK Ambassador Tokyo has informed Japanese that the Burma Road will reopen. Interview "passed off satisfactorily"
extract Halifax: UK Minister in Bucharest preparing to leave. "No doubt that British subjects being ill-treated in Roumania"
extract First Sea Lord: 5 more US Destroyers received and first 50,000 of 250,000 US rifles delivered. More "on their way"
extract First Sea Lord: Reports of "arrival of certain of General de Gaulle's forces" at ports in French Equatorial Africa
person Anthony Eden
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Herbert Morrison
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Singapore
place London, Ontario
place Africa
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Morning Star (UK newspaper)
organisation Daily Mirror
 

Weekly Resume (No. 58) of the Naval, Military and Air Situation from 12 noon October 3rd to 12 noon October 10th, 1940.

extract Chiefs of Staff: "No reliable details" of German force in Romania. Likely "practically unnoticed" Romania to be occupied
person Charles de Gaulle
place Greece
place Egypt
place Sudan
place Libreville
place Europe
place Gibraltar
place Berlin
place Kenya
place Alexandria
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation Luftwaffe
organisation United States Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM satisfied "central nucleus of Government should not move". Church House Westminster set as alternative for Parliament
extract Home Security Minister: Damage to two tube stations has made public realise "practically no kind of shelter" invulnerable
extract Attlee: Newspaper proprietors recognise some recent articles "mischievous". "Appeared somewhat chastened" after meeting
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Charles de Gaulle
person Herbert Morrison
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
person Leo Amery
person Chiang Kai-shek
place South Africa
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Alexandria
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Indian National Congress
organisation United States Congress
organisation Daily Mirror
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet defers decision on de Gaulle attack on Libreville. Loss of time preferable to "another unsuccessful venture"
person Charles de Gaulle
person Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope
place Libreville
place Africa
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet rejects New Zealand request for air support. UK will supply up-to-date aircraft as soon as it can manage to do so
extract PM: Neither UK "nor the Americans" have received any news on talks between Germany and Vichy. Position "extraordinary"
extract Halifax: General Metaxas asks for our "immediate help" to defend Corfu by sea and Athens by air and for financial aid
extract Cabinet told of unconfirmed reports Athens bombed, 10 Italian divisions ("perhaps 200,000 men") moving into Greece
extract Admiralty: Germans have adopted acoustic mines. Experts "working day and night" to discover secret of these new mines
extract Admiralty: Enemy minelaying taking place on considerable scale in Home Waters. Most ports temporarily closed most nights
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Herbert Morrison
person Kingsley Wood
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
place Kassala
place Athens
place Greece
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Gibraltar
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation British Army
 

Wednesday 6th November 1940

Meeting minutes

extract UK Naval Attaché Washington has seen "hypothetical" US Navy plans for entering war. Far East "second place" to Europe
extract Cabinet told Roosevelt likely to be re-elected "by a large majority". Election may turn out to be "democratic landslide"
extract General Dill: Indications Italian advance in Western Desert may be resumed. We might expect an attack about 9th November
extract Halifax to press Bulgaria for assurance she will not attack Greece, in order to release Greek troops for Albanian front
extract General Dill: Greek army now mobilised, Italian morale low. UK reinforcing Crete so Greek Division can fight on mainland
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Duff Cooper
person Samuel Hoare
person Ernest Bevin
person Kingsley Wood
person John Dill
place Greece
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Europe
place Dakar
place Bulgaria
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation House of Lords
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation United States Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract Morrison: Bombing more severe last 2 nights. "Good many casualties" at Southwark, Wandsworth, Richmond. Penzance attacked
extract Halifax: "Sharp and unhelpful" reply from M. Petain to the King's message. Nothing yet settled between Hitler and Vichy
extract PM: UK cannot tolerate shipping losses on present scale. Will ask Roosevelt to pressure Ireland to abandon neutrality
extract PM: "For the present" Crete appears in no great danger of Italian attack. Possible Australian units could replace Greeks
extract General Dill: Greeks advancing in Pindus sector (Italian morale "bad") but under "heavy pressure" in Epirus sector
extract General Dill: UK forces have captured Gallabat on Sudan/Ethiopia border and resisted Italian counterattack
extract Admiralty: Work on new German acoustic mines now allows certain counter measures. Method still in the experimental stage
extract Admiralty: "No further information" of convoy attacked by the Admiral Scheer. Surviving ships due in home waters tomorrow
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Hugh Dalton
person Adolf Hitler
person Kingsley Wood
person John Dill
person Chiang Kai-shek
person Jean Bart
place Greece
place Egypt
place Halifax Peninsula
place Madrid
place Sudan
place Libreville
place Malta
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet discuss death of Mr Chamberlain. PM: Loss will "be felt most deeply by all those who had worked with him"
extract Halifax "a little anxious" at Molotov visit to Berlin. May be "a face-saving device" or to discuss an anti-Turkish policy
extract Admiralty: General De Gaulle has taken Gabon capital Libreville. Vichy claims UK bombed the city and sunk vessels untrue
extract General Dill: Greeks could hold up Italians for a considerable time. "A different matter" if Germans attack on this front
extract Air Chief: 12 Italian aircraft shot down over UK today. Total enemy losses for the weekend now 47 confirmed, 31 probable
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
person Jean Bart
person Neville Chamberlain
place Greece
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Sudan
place Libreville
place Malta
place Berlin
place Africa
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Relations with Vichy.

extract Vichy Government "between the devil and the deep blue sea" says Foreign Office. "We must get at them individually"
person Charles de Gaulle
place Great Britain
place Paris
place Europe
 

Reports for the Month of October 1940 for India, Burma and the Colonies, Protectorates and Mandated Territories.

extract India Secretary: New outbreak of civil disobedience in Hyderabad State. "Not clear" what Gandhi's next intention might be
person Charles de Gaulle
person William Patrick Stuart-Houston
place South Africa
place Great Britain
place Greece
place Somaliland
place Russian Empire
place Egypt
place Hong Kong
place Caribbean
place Singapore
place Jamaica
place Gibraltar
place Cyprus
place Syria
place Africa
place Burma
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation Indian National Congress
organisation Congress Working Committee
 

Meeting minutes

extract Morrison: Information on Birmingham attack "rather scanty" but though bad, seemingly not so serious as that on Coventry
extract PM Churchill: We are not in a position to increase our air reinforcements
extract General Dill: Greeks holding position. Advance into Albania "hardly practicable" until enemy air attacks countered
extract PM to make further appeal to Roosevelt to ask whether USA could spare more destroyers to counter this "additional strain"
extract Admiralty: U-Boat activity has extended to West Africa coast, a "new and important area". 4 vessels sunk in last few days
extract Air Chief: 400 enemy aircraft over UK overnight. Attacks on London, Birmingham ("considerable damage") Midlands, E.Anglia
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Charles de Gaulle
person Herbert Morrison
person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn
place Freetown
place Greece
place East Anglia
place Berlin
place Albania
place Africa
place Bulgaria
place West Germany
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation Luftwaffe
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Home Fleet
 

Wednesday 11th December 1940

Reports for the Month of November 1940 for the Dominions, India, Burma and the Colonies, Protectorates and Mandated Territories.

extract India Secretary: Civil disobedience continuing and spreading. Mr. Gandhi has extended considerably his anti-war campaign
person Charles de Gaulle
place South Africa
place Greece
place Egypt
place Hong Kong
place Singapore
place Jamaica
place Kenya
place Burma
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation United States Navy
organisation Royal Navy
organisation Government of Canada
 

Contacts with the Vichy Government.

extract Halifax: To go beyond this may be difficult for Vichy. They must be careful "to avoid rousing German suspicions"
extract Halifax: We have received written assurances from Vichy that France will retain her fleet and Empire and not attack UK
person Charles de Gaulle
person Samuel Hoare
person Maxime Weygand
person Adolf Hitler
place Great Britain
place Greece
place Egypt
place Tangier
place Libreville
place Gibraltar
place London, Ontario
place Morocco
place Africa
place Madrid, New York
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
organisation Royal Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM Churchill formally tells Cabinet Lord Halifax is to step down as Foreign Secretary to become UK Ambassador Washington
extract Halifax: Swiss have asked their airspace not be "violated" on Christmas night. Hope it will be possible - for goodwill
extract Air Chief: After enquiries "strongly of the opinion" bombing of Basle "not done by our machines". Halifax to inform Swiss
extract General Dill: 37,000 prisoners now captured in Libya. Greek advance of 4km, 3 Italian bombers downed by small arms fire
person Charles de Gaulle
person John Maffey, 1st Baron Rugby
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
person Winston Churchill
place Freetown
place Greece
place Egypt
place Manchester
place Cranborne
place Liverpool
place Africa
place Dublin
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

Thursday 6th March 1941

Meeting minutes

extract Air Chief: Particulars just received of very heavy air attack on Malta yesterday by over 100 German and Italian aircraft
extract Cabinet refuses any Parliamentary debate of lease of British bases to the United States
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person Charles de Gaulle
person Walter Citrine, 1st Baron Citrine
place Jamaica
place Malta
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Monday 30th June 1941

Meeting minutes

extract Soviet Ambassador told UK with Russia "up to the hilt in all military and economic measures for the defeat of Germany"
extract Cabinet authorises Foreign Secretary Eden to telegraph terms for a cessation of hostilities in Syria
extract Eden: Of utmost importance Syria operation concluded as early as possible. Delay having unhappy effect on other countries
extract General Dill: Russian military position appears very grave although German air and land losses have been considerable
extract General Dill: Palmyra now completely surrounded. Further reinforcements being sent to Syria
extract Air Chief: Heavy losses of bombers over last week "due to phenomenal light conditions". PM: "Our attacks must continue"
person Claude Auchinleck
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person Oliver Lyttelton, 1st Viscount Chandos
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Max Aitken, Lord Beaverbrook
person Walter Hines Page
place South Africa
place Murmansk
place East Germany
place Cranborne
place Iceland
place Moscow
place Cairo
place Turkey
place Syria
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place West Germany
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom