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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. |
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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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