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.
- Winston Churchill liveblogs WWII, May 16 1940 via Brad Delong
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