Post by person67 on Oct 10, 2020 11:03:32 GMT
PoD: 28th May 1940, Chamberlain backs Halifax during the second meeting of the war cabinet in pushing for Italian mediation in the war. In the meeting of the outer cabinet though Churchill pushes for a continued fight, the majority as a result of Chamberlain supports mediation through Italy and it is agreed that Reynaud and Giuseppe Bastianini, the Italian ambassador to London, will be told that Britain is open to mediation. They are both informed at the end of the meeting.
Paul Reynaud and Bastianini both make contact with Mussolini asking Mussolini to mediate with Hitler who contacts Hitler with news of the allies request for mediation and his willingness to provide it. Hitler refuses a ceasefire but does offer to send Ribbentrop to Rome to negotiate by tomorrow an end to the war. Ribbentrop is sent to Rome. Mussolini asks Halifax and Daladier to travel to Rome.
29th May: Ribbentrop arrives in Rome. At early morning meetings of the British and French cabinets it is agreed that Halifax and Daladier will set out for Rome and both set off. Fighting continues in Belgium. Daladier arrives in Rome first but refuses to start discussions until Halifax arrives at four thirty. Halifax arrives and joins a meeting between Ribbentrop, Daladier and Mussolini. Mussolini sets out demands for a new border up to the Rhone, Corsica, Tunisia and French Somaliland but Daladier initially refuses and Ribbentrop makes no effort to support Mussolini's claims. Ribbentrop demands the Germans be allowed to occupy Paris before any ceasefire and Daladier refuses believing that German demands would centre on Alsace and Lorraine and recognition of gains in Poland. Both sides leave but word reaches the British and French public of attempted negotiations.
30th May- 8th June: The British successfully evacuate Dunkirk and the Germans then start Fall Rot. Fall Rot breaks through on the 8th June and German forces head towards Paris. Allied forces withdraw from Norway.
9th June: Reynaud asks the British to again attempt mediation as the French resistance to demands have softened. At a meeting though Churchill opposes the French request, news of the previous negotiations has spread to the parliamentary party and it is clear that their own resistance to fight has been weakened. Again Halifax and Chamberlain receive the support of the outer Cabinet. Halifax and Daladier travel to Rome.
10th June: The French government declares Paris an open city but Ribbentrop in Rome makes further demands that France submit to the occupation of three fifths of the country which Daladier refuses again. Italy declares war as a result frustrated by the failure of negotiations and believing France close to collapse. Mussolini publicly blames the failure of negotiations for his entry into the war.
11th June- 15th June: Paris falls and it becomes increasingly clear French resistance will end.
16th June: Petain is appointed Prime Minister and he makes overtures to the Spanish to start negotiations with Hitler.
17th June: The British upon hearing of this debate whether they should attempt to negotiate. Chamberlain and Halifax push for negotiations and Churchill threatens to resign which the Cabinet does not reject. Churchill meets with the King and resigns advising the King to appoint Antony Eden.
18th June: The King appoints Eden who agrees to start negotiations with the Germans through Sweden.
22nd June: The Second Armistice of Compiegne is signed largely on OTL terms.
26th June: Initially arguments occur over the British fleet but the Germans seeing the British unwillingness to compromise on the issue and the Germans wanting to conclude negotiations more than anything else. The Stockholm agreement is signed between Britain and Germany. Britain recognises all German conquests and agreements as well as promising to deploy no troops to the continent of Europe.
28th June: Atlee withdraws from the government of National Unity and calls for an election in the House of Commons now that Britain is at peace.
30th June: Eden agrees to a general election it having been four and a half years since the previous one with the election being held on 22nd August.
31st June- 21st August: Atlee centres his campaign on the defeat of the war being the Conservatives fault and promises to rebuild the armed forces and to bring about full employment as well as raise taxes on the wealthiest. Eden's campaign is hampered by the divisions in the Conservative party. John Nance Garner wins nomination for Democratic candidate for President at the Democratic National Convention in July after Roosevelt does not stand due to peace in Europe.
22nd August: Atlee and the Labour party win 352 seats and Atlee becomes the new Prime Minister.
To be contuined
Paul Reynaud and Bastianini both make contact with Mussolini asking Mussolini to mediate with Hitler who contacts Hitler with news of the allies request for mediation and his willingness to provide it. Hitler refuses a ceasefire but does offer to send Ribbentrop to Rome to negotiate by tomorrow an end to the war. Ribbentrop is sent to Rome. Mussolini asks Halifax and Daladier to travel to Rome.
29th May: Ribbentrop arrives in Rome. At early morning meetings of the British and French cabinets it is agreed that Halifax and Daladier will set out for Rome and both set off. Fighting continues in Belgium. Daladier arrives in Rome first but refuses to start discussions until Halifax arrives at four thirty. Halifax arrives and joins a meeting between Ribbentrop, Daladier and Mussolini. Mussolini sets out demands for a new border up to the Rhone, Corsica, Tunisia and French Somaliland but Daladier initially refuses and Ribbentrop makes no effort to support Mussolini's claims. Ribbentrop demands the Germans be allowed to occupy Paris before any ceasefire and Daladier refuses believing that German demands would centre on Alsace and Lorraine and recognition of gains in Poland. Both sides leave but word reaches the British and French public of attempted negotiations.
30th May- 8th June: The British successfully evacuate Dunkirk and the Germans then start Fall Rot. Fall Rot breaks through on the 8th June and German forces head towards Paris. Allied forces withdraw from Norway.
9th June: Reynaud asks the British to again attempt mediation as the French resistance to demands have softened. At a meeting though Churchill opposes the French request, news of the previous negotiations has spread to the parliamentary party and it is clear that their own resistance to fight has been weakened. Again Halifax and Chamberlain receive the support of the outer Cabinet. Halifax and Daladier travel to Rome.
10th June: The French government declares Paris an open city but Ribbentrop in Rome makes further demands that France submit to the occupation of three fifths of the country which Daladier refuses again. Italy declares war as a result frustrated by the failure of negotiations and believing France close to collapse. Mussolini publicly blames the failure of negotiations for his entry into the war.
11th June- 15th June: Paris falls and it becomes increasingly clear French resistance will end.
16th June: Petain is appointed Prime Minister and he makes overtures to the Spanish to start negotiations with Hitler.
17th June: The British upon hearing of this debate whether they should attempt to negotiate. Chamberlain and Halifax push for negotiations and Churchill threatens to resign which the Cabinet does not reject. Churchill meets with the King and resigns advising the King to appoint Antony Eden.
18th June: The King appoints Eden who agrees to start negotiations with the Germans through Sweden.
22nd June: The Second Armistice of Compiegne is signed largely on OTL terms.
26th June: Initially arguments occur over the British fleet but the Germans seeing the British unwillingness to compromise on the issue and the Germans wanting to conclude negotiations more than anything else. The Stockholm agreement is signed between Britain and Germany. Britain recognises all German conquests and agreements as well as promising to deploy no troops to the continent of Europe.
28th June: Atlee withdraws from the government of National Unity and calls for an election in the House of Commons now that Britain is at peace.
30th June: Eden agrees to a general election it having been four and a half years since the previous one with the election being held on 22nd August.
31st June- 21st August: Atlee centres his campaign on the defeat of the war being the Conservatives fault and promises to rebuild the armed forces and to bring about full employment as well as raise taxes on the wealthiest. Eden's campaign is hampered by the divisions in the Conservative party. John Nance Garner wins nomination for Democratic candidate for President at the Democratic National Convention in July after Roosevelt does not stand due to peace in Europe.
22nd August: Atlee and the Labour party win 352 seats and Atlee becomes the new Prime Minister.
To be contuined