Today in World War II History—May 17, 1940 & 1945

Ipo Dam on Luzon (US Army Center of Military History)
80 Years Ago—May 17, 1940: Germans take Brussels, Belgium.
French 4th Armored Division under Gen. Charles de Gaulle attacks the German southern flank at Laon, France, but fails.
Paris is declared a military zone, martial law is declared, and police begin carrying rifles.
Movie premiere of comedy My Favorite Wife, starring Irene Dunne & Cary Grant
75 Years Ago—May 17, 1945: On Luzon in the Philippines, US Sixth Army takes Ipo Dam intact.
National Gallery in London opens an exhibit of masterpieces returned from wartime storage.