Calais

City

Calais is a town in northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras. The population of the metropolitan area at the 1999 census was 125,584. Calais overlooks the Strait of Dover, the narrowest point in the ...

Read more at Wikipedia

Documents about Calais

Thursday 23rd May 1940

Meeting minutes

extract King Leopold of Belgium warns that withdrawal of British Expeditionary Force will force “capitulation” of Belgian army
extract Churchill: “Little grounds for confidence”. “No choice” but to follow General Weygand's plan
extract Chiefs of Staff: If BEF fall back “unlikely that more than a small part of the force could be got away”
extract German troops reported three miles from Calais by British tank regiment. Warning ammunition position “serious”
extract PM Churchill: “Best for the BEF to fall back on the Channel ports”. Warns of “catastrophic situation” at Boulogne
extract General Weygand reports he has taken Amiens, Albert and Peronne. "Only solution" to continue this maneouvre
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Maxime Weygand
person Winston Churchill
place Geneva
place Paris
place Calais
place Berlin
organisation Belgian Land Component
 

Meeting minutes

extract Chamberlain circulates proposed new restrictions on enemy and neutral aliens in UK. PM favours deportation
extract US warns of planned German sabotage of UK communication centres. Home Secretary: "All possible steps" already being taken
extract Dunkirk filled with French soldiers. Only “certain small” UK units. General Ironside warns town may not hold more troops
extract Three British battalions holding position in Calais as town is shelled. So far unable to clear forward road to St. Omer
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Franklin D. Roosevelt
person Alan Keyes
place Great Britain
place Halifax Peninsula
place Calais
place Rome
organisation Home Office
organisation Royal Air Force
 

Meeting minutes

extract General Dill: UK forces “still holding out” in Calais, situation now quieter than the previous night
extract Churchill: We “must be prepared” for PM Reynaud “to say that the French could not carry on the fight”.
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Maxime Weygand
person William Lyon Mackenzie King
person Adolf Hitler
person Winston Churchill
person Edward Spears
place Europe
place Calais
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation United States Navy
organisation 335th Fighter Squadron
organisation Belgian Land Component
 

Meeting minutes

extract Chamberlain warns IRA “almost strong enough” to overrun “weak” Eire forces. UK must be ready to send troops
extract PM to send "encouraging message" to PM Reynaud. To focus on RAF success and rumours of low German morale and heavy losses
extract Press reports German paratroops landed near Paris. General Dill doubts this though next German move likely a Paris attack
extract 60,000 men behind perimeter line. Can hold for “two or three days” before Germans move artillery and beaches under fire
extract PM: Latest information that 77,000 men from BEF back in UK, 4000 en route. Conditions difficult, more small boats needed
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Neville Chamberlain
person Edward Spears
person Paul Reynaud
place Great Britain
place Paris
place Calais
 

Saturday 22nd June 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Report from Bordeaux that German armistice conditions have been received. Not possible to telegraph lengthy full text
extract King Farouk refusing to replace Egyptian PM. Situation dangerous. Farouk to be warned Cabinet would "welcome" his removal
extract Halifax: Concentration of Soviet forces in Baltic States "defensive". Sir Stafford Cripps to meet Marshall Stalin shortly
extract PM urges demand to France for information on Germany talks. Inconsistent with French honour to pass equipment to enemy
extract Halifax presents series of contradictory telegrams from France. Fears expressed that government may not now move overseas
person Walter Hines Page
person Ronnie Campbell
person Stafford Cripps
person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn
person Farouk of Egypt
place Great Britain
place Portugal
place East Germany
place Egypt
place Hong Kong
place Cairo
place Calais
place Lisbon, New York
organisation Home Office