Today in World War II History—May 14, 1940 & 1945
Thursday, May 14, 2020 by Sarah Sundin
Destruction in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, late May 1940. (US National Archives: 208-PR-10L-3)
80 Years Ago—May 14, 1940: The Netherlands surrenders to Germany after the Luftwaffe bombs Rotterdam and Utrecht.
From Sedan, France, German tanks under Gen. Heinz Guderian drive west to trap Allied forces in Belgium.
Britain forms Local Defence Volunteers (later called the Home Guard); more than 250,000 men aged 17-65 enroll in the first 24 hours.
Poster for US Seventh War Loan, 14 May-30 June 1945
75 Years Ago—May 14, 1945: US Seventh War Loan starts. [Read more: World War II War Bonds]
