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(Friday, May 10, 1940 approximately 6:25 p.m. Western European Summer Time; during Battle of France, part of the Western Front of the World War II) — British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain resigned tonight and Winston Churchill agreed to form a new government.

The new government — it was agreed without exception – shall be one of national unity in which Labor, Liberals and Conservatives alike join to meet the threat of the dread German blitzkrieg.

The change of government was being accomplished in record-breaking speed for the ordinarily slow and traditionally form-bound British parliamentary system.

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Only this morning it generally was believed that despite the unleashing of the German attack on the low countries and the imminent threat to the British Isles that it would be 10 days or a fortnight before a new government might be formed.

But sudden conferences were held. The Labor Party agreed to go into the government if Chamberlain quit. Within a few hours the preliminaries that will give Britain a new, virile war leader had been accomplished.

At three minutes before 6 p.m. Chamberlain appeared at Buckingham Palace. At 6:25 p.m. he emerged, to be followed immediately by Churchill. It now was evident that the change had been made – Chamberlain out, Churchill in.