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WWII On This Day: June 21

What happened on June 21 during World War II? This date brings together 1 event from 1940, with period photographs and links to the full operations documented across WW2 Theatres.

1940
Hitler and senior German leaders at the 1918 armistice carriage at Compiègne on 21 June 1940 before the terms were presented.
Hitler and senior German leaders at the 1918 armistice carriage at Compiègne on 21 June 1940 before the terms were presented. Bundesarchiv Bild 183-M1112-500 · CC BY-SA 3.0 DE Source
Battle of France 1940

German armistice terms are presented at Compiègne

The French delegation led by General Charles Huntziger arrived at Compiègne on 21 June and entered the railway carriage associated with the 1918 armistice. Hitler attended the opening stage before leaving negotiations to Wilhelm Keitel and the German delegation. The setting turned the military settlement into a deliberately staged reversal of the First World War armistice ceremony. The French representatives received terms covering occupation, demobilisation, prisoners, administration and the fleet. Negotiations continued into 22 June while the French government considered the conditions from Bordeaux.

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