Brussels

City

Brussels, officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region, is the de facto capital of Belgium and of the European Union (EU). It is also the largest urban area in Belgium, comprising 19 municipalities, including the municipality of the City of Brussels, which is the de jure capital of Belgium, in addition to the seat of the French Community of Belgium ...

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Documents about Brussels

Saturday 13th January 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Secret Annexe: War Office warns of new intelligence on German plan for attack on Belgium and Holland
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Adolf Hitler
person Roger Keyes, 1st Baron Keyes
place Brussels
organisation German Army
 

Meeting minutes

extract Progress in Italy talks, Soviets may swap Polish territory for German aid in Finland, explosion at Royal Gunpowder Factory
person Anthony Eden
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Ernest Brown
person Andrew Duncan
person Neville Chamberlain
person Arthur Robinson (Australian politician)
person John Simon, 1st Viscount Simon
person Oliver Stanley
place Greece
place Finland
place Slovakia
place Brussels
organisation United States Navy
 

Friday 2nd February 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet discuss new talks with Indian political leaders. First Australian and NZ troops now en route from Sri Lanka
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Samuel Hoare
person Woodrow Wilson
place Finland
place Brussels
organisation New Zealand Treasury
 

Monday 18th March 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Belgian Foreign Minister calls reports of “vast quantities of German troops” opposite Belgian frontier “disquieting”
extract Churchill suggests bombing shipping in Swedish port of Lulea to block harbour and disrupt German iron ore imports
person Winston Churchill
place Great Britain
place Finland
place Brussels
organisation German Army
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

Assistance to Belgium. Draft Telegrams to His Majesty's Representatives at Brussels and the Hague.

extract Halifax informs Belgians UK might deploy air and ground forces in Belgium to defend Holland without permission
place Brussels
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet approves development of standard men’s suit to save wool. Halifax warns against “depression” over policy failures
person Sumner Welles
person Harold Wilson
person Frederick Marquis, 1st Earl of Woolton
place New York, Lincolnshire
place Finland
place Halifax Peninsula
place Brussels
place Turkey
place Europe
place West Germany
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Scapa
 

Meeting minutes

extract Chief of Imperial General Staff says German offensive most likely on France-Luxembourg frontier
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Ronnie Campbell
person Neville Chamberlain
place Brussels
place Singapore
place Malta
place Libya
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation Scapa
organisation 335th Fighter Squadron
 

Friday 10th May 1940

Seaborne and airborne attack on the United Kingdom.

extract Cabinet gives general approval to plan from Chiefs of Staff on UK's response to sea and air attack
extract Italian aircraft carrier at Suez Canal. Concern a “convenient” ship for blockade. UK to block Canal as “play for time”
extract War Cabinet approves establishment of Netherland government in London
person Adolf Hitler
place Great Britain
place Gisborne, New Zealand
place Brussels
place Northern Ireland
place Denmark
organisation Luftwaffe
organisation French Air Force
 

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax announces signs “some arrangement” with USSR possible. Stafford Cripps to be sent to Moscow to explore agreement
extract Telegram from Ankara warns of secret Italian full mobilisation within 48 hours. Rumour Germans have crossed Brenner Pass
extract Japan has requested “economic advantages” from Dutch East Indies. Halifax to inform US of these “sinister” demands
extract Information Minister reports UK air attacks on Germany “being hushed up”. Suggests they are “not ready to retaliate”
extract PM: “On the whole” military situation in France “better”. RAF have “covered themselves with glory”
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Stafford Cripps
person Samuel Hoare
person Sydney Brenner
place Great Britain
place Ankara
place Egypt
place Brussels
place Madrid
place Iceland
place Moscow
place Cairo
place Madrid, New York
organisation KEF
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM opposed. US “given us practically no help in the war”, keep "everything which would help us for their own defence”
extract British Ambassador to Washington suggests lease of UK bases overseas to America to help pay war debts
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
person John Dill
person Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.
place Halifax Peninsula
place Brussels
place Iceland
place Bermuda
place Washington
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Hopatcong High School
organisation Indian National Congress
 

Saturday 1st June 1940

Meeting minutes

extract BEF Commander in Chief Lord Gort delivers his report on the campaign to Cabinet. PM praises his skill and determination
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person William Lyon Mackenzie King
place Brussels
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation French Army
organisation Belgian Land Component
 

Meeting minutes

extract US State Department warns appeal to US from UK and France counterproductive. Suggests broadcast to the Empire. PM agrees
extract PM: Dunkirk "first real trial of strength" for RAF and Luftwaffe. Germany has "failed consistently", far heavier loss
extract Chief of Air Staff reports 42 confirmed and 14 unconfirmed German aircraft shot down yesterday against 26 British losses
extract PM: "Now clear" embarkation must be completed tonight. "No hope" for French troops outside our perimeter. Navy concur
extract Lord Gort reports shelling and bombing of Dunkirk beaches "extremely severe". General Alexander struggling to hold line
extract Cabinet to consider more help for France. Suggestion to send bombers to southern France ready to attack Italian industry
extract PM informs Cabinet of discussions at Allied War Council in Paris. French satisfied with Dunkirk, Norway evacuation plans
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
place Great Britain
place Afghanistan
place Greece
place Halifax Peninsula
place Brussels
place Dunkirk
place Paris
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation United States Department of State
organisation United States Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract US Embassy in Germany informs government that UK's ambassador to Belgium Sir Laurence Oliphant is a prisoner in Berlin
extract Rumour received from Barcelona of German “secret weapon”: aircraft painted in British colours to attack Royal Navy
extract UK 51st Division “very hard pressed”, situation “cause for considerable anxiety”. No reinforcements for 2-3 days
extract PM: French seem to be resisting German attack “fairly well” in spite of the weight of the assault
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
person Clive Anderson
place Greece
place Brussels
place Berlin, New York
organisation Royal Navy