May 5th, 1940 (SUNDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: London: The Norwegian defence and foreign ministers arrive for talks.
Light cruiser HMS Fiji commissioned.
FRANCE:
Paris:
The newspaper of the exiled German Social Democratic Party, ‘Neuer Vorwarts’
[New Way Forward], closes down after key members flee to London.
GERMANY:
Fall Gelb is put back one more day to
May 8.
NORWEGIAN CAMPAIGN:
German
forces continue their advance north from Trondheim, Norway.
Submarine HMS Seal successfully lays
mines in the southern Kattegat on the 4th before being damaged by a German mine herself.
Trying to make for neutral Sweden on the surface, she is attacked and captured off the
Skaw by German air and sea patrols. Lt Günther Mehrens, piloting an Ar 196A-3 from
Ku.Fl.Gr.706, spotted HMS Seal. Mehrens attacked with his cannon and bombs, forcing the
submarine's surrender. Mehrens then alighted, picked up the commander Lieu-Cdr R.
Lonsdale and flew him to Aalborg, the Seal being towed into Frederikshavn. There
are no casualties, the entire crew being made PoWs. Two escape during captivity
and reach Switzerland. HMS SEAL is recomissioned as U-B
and put into service for the Kriegsmarine. (Alex Gordon)(108)
French Foreign Legion troops land at
Tromsø .
The German commander, Major General
Valentin Feurstein, begins marching the 2nd Division northward without even waiting for
all his troops to reach Trondheim.
Greenock: HMS Ark Royal proceeding to Norway, HMS Glorious and Furious embarking provisions, ordnance, stores, and supplies form the two RAF Squadrons. (Mark Horan)