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| 13/01/1942 |
The allied conference in London pledges
to punish axis war criminals after victory. |
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| 24/02/1942 |
Parliament begins a two day debate
on the conduct of the war. |
25/02/1942
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The debate in the House
of Commons comes to a close with many speakers being sharply
critical of government policy, with the bombing of Germany
being called in to question. |
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| 18/03/1942 |
Lord Mountbatten is appointed
Chief of Combined Operations. |
| 26/03/1942 |
Churchill tells the conservatives, ‘It
now seems very likely that we and our allies cannot lose this
war, except through our own fault’. |
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| 08/04/1942 |
A US delegation led by
special presidential advisor Harry L. Hopkins and joint Chiefs
of Staff Chairman General George C. Marshall arrive in Britain
to discuss US and British strategy on the Second Front. The
proposal they brought from Roosevelt, was for major landings
on the French coast in the summer of 1943, with Antwerp as
the initial objective, and for a similar but smaller operation
in 1942 to take advantage of a sudden German disintegration
or to stave off an imminent Russian collapse. |
| 23/04/1942 |
In a secret session of the House
of Commons, Churchill delivers a speech declaring that the
liberation of Europe was 'the main war plan' of Britain and
the USA. |
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| 13/05/1942 |
The British Chiefs of
staff approve a major raid against the French port of Dieppe.
Initially code-named 'Rutter', the plan had been under consideration
since March by Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, Chief of Combined
Operations, who wanting to explore the problems of an opposed
landing on the French coast. |
| 23/05/1942 |
The British C-in-C of the Home Forces
orders an end to ‘blood-lust inculcation’ in battle
training. |
| 26/05/1942 |
Britain and Russia sign a treaty in
London. Each county pledges itself to fight Germany until final
victory and not make a separate peace. The also agreed a 20-year
alliance, not to join any coalition or treaty directed against
one of them, and not to interfere with the other states internal
affairs. |
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| 11/06/1942 |
A rehearsal for the raid
against Dieppe operation 'Rutter' is held. General Bernard
Montgomery's South-Eastern Army was tasked with mounting the
attack and he had selected the 2nd Canadian Division for the
job. It was to make a frontal assault on the town with airborne
troops neutralizing the batteries on the headlands each side
of the port. |
| 25/06/1942 |
General Dwight D. Eisenhower
is appointed to command US forces in the European Theatre. |
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| 01/07/1942 |
General Montgomery informs
General Paget, C-in-C of British Home Forces that operation
'Rutter' would be mounted on the 4th July. |
| 02/07/1942 |
A motion of No Confidence in the
government is debated by the House of Commons, but Churchill
easily defeats this by 475 votes to 25. |
| 04/07/1942 |
Bad weather delays operation 'Rutter',
which is now scheduled for the 7th July. |
| 07/07/1942 |
Operation 'Rutter' is again delayed.
The date for the attack is now postponed until the 19th August.
However, General Montgomery calls for the attack to be cancelled
because too many people know about it, but General Paget and
Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten and General Paget insist the
attack should be mounted. Two pro-German spies, Jose Key and
Alphons Timmerman are hanged at Wandsworth prison. |
| 08/07/1942 |
Churchill urges President Roosevelt
to agree to operation 'Gymnast' as the best offensive option
for 1942. THE british had concluded that operation 'Sledgehammer'
would merely detract from operation 'Round Up' and that operation
'Jupiter' was not feasible, although Churchill still wanted
it. |
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| 08/08/1942 |
The commander of US ground
forces, Eisenhower establishes a HQ in the UK. |
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| 04/10/1942 |
A Commando raid on occupied
Sark, in Channel Islands capture's one German soldier. |
| 21/10/1942 |
The South Africa Premier, Field-Marshal
Smuts, makes a historic speech to both Houses of Parliament
saying, ‘The stage is set for the last, for the offensive’. |
| 22/10/1942 |
A Royal Proclamation is signed that
reduces the British call-up age to 18. |
| 23/10/1942 |
Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt arrives in
London for a three-week visit as guest of the King. |
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