Winston Churchill Liveblogs World War II: May 16, 1940
Winston Churchill: May 16, 1940:
When he stopped there was a considerable silence. I then asked: "Where is the strategic reserve?" and, breaking into French, which I used indifferently (in every sense): "Ou est la masse de manoeuvre?" General Gamelin turned to me and, whith a shake of the head and a shrug, said: "Aucune." There was another long pause. Outside in the garden of the Quai d'Orsay clouds of smoke arose from long bonfires, and I saw from the window venerable officials pushing wheel-barrows of archives on to them. Already therefore the evacuation of Paris was being prepared.
