France May 10 June 25 1940 Strategic Context

France May 10 -June 25, 1940 Strategic Context Germany crushes Poland in September 1939 and signs a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union; this allows Adolf Hitler to prepare for an offensive in the West. France and Britain resolve to rely on defensive fortifications such as the vaunted Maginot Line until an economic blockade defeats Germany as it did in World War I. They expect Germany to place its main attack through the Low Countries, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg; this belief is reinforced by the Mechelen Incident in which German plans fall into Belgian hands. Although Belgium and the Netherlands are neutral, they secretly agree to the Dyle Plan, in which French forces race forward while allied forces fall back to a defensive line roughly along the Dyle River. The actual German plan anticipates these maneuvers and places its main attack through the Ardennes Forest, considered impassable for a large force. Italy is not officially at war with France but three armies are deployed in the Alps and Italy is expected to declare war at the most opportune moment. Stakes + A French victory would halt German expansion and allow France and its allies to take advantage of their superior economies. + A German victory would result in the total defeat and occupation of France, leaving Britain to face Germany alone. By Jonathan Webb, 2009 ©

France, 1940 Strength §French Army & allies §German Army & allies §Maurice Gamelin §Maxime Weygand §Adolf Hitler §Walther von Brauchitsch § 109 French divisions § 40 allied divisions § 3, 000 men § 2, 700 tanks § 2, 000 aircraft § 135 German divisions § 32 allied divisions § 3, 300, 000 men § 2, 600 tanks § 3, 700 aircraft §Well By Jonathan Webb, 2009 ©

The French armies deployed in army groups. Group 1 comprises 1. , 2. , 6. 7. , 9. back. Armies and the British Expeditionary itsand objective is to reinforce the retreating German The Germans bombers 18. seek viciously relentlessly tothe reduce terror-bomb the attacks major Dutch of. Army, in Group the cutting Low 1: commander, it. Countries. off from the Army French splits Group armies. the A BEF easily French from pushes the 7. Army Belgian the Force; Dutch advances Army, forcing Belgian into the abut Armies Netherlands Belgian back, surrender aided Advanced Army The evacuation Group elements BArmy attacks ofare Dunkirk of French remains begins. 7. three Army Hitler ofremnants Army are isthe persuaded shoved Group 1 cities back and by by succeeds Luftwaffe German in. German 18. pushing Army to them Goerring, reinforce Panzer the to allow Dutch Group his. Army’s aircraft Kleist isolation. to annihilates complete German French the BEF’s bombers 9. Army destruction. destroy is an ordered British entire aircraft tosection halt Dutch and Belgian Armies along the Dyle Line. Army Group 2 comprises 3. , 4. and 5. Armies; its objective is to hold the Maginot Line. Army Group 3 comprises 8. Army; its by. Rotterdam anyways while German airborne cover Kleist troops and The which 4. forcing rest Army seize Army push key fortresses Group north, encircling 1 reaches and panic French therear 1. services. Line Army. and The Army consolidates; BEF Group launches 1 rushes German adestroy counterattack to. German 6. the Army Dyle Line at Arras topins this reinforce but defensive it. BEF is the repelled. retreating line with 1. of by take Hitler off. Panzer from totoallow the to. Group make home the. Antwerp. infantry an islands example, to to catch defend up. of the This the evacuation allows Dutch Gamelin to surrender. armada to deploy in Gamelin costly 6. Dyle dogfights and begins 10. Armies. shifting although French The Goering halt 7. order Army fails to issouth. eventually the lifted BEF. 6. probes and Army German Panzer 4. the Group and 18. Kleist and Armies French resumes objective is to defend against any outflanking of the Maginot Line through Switzerland. The German armies are deployed in three army groups. Army Group B comprises 6. and Army its belatedly advance, while advance Panzer brushing Group aside Dunkirk Kleist French while breaks 7. encircled Army through and French the reaching 1. the of Channel. heroically 2. and German fights 9. Armies on 4. to. Army tie atdown Sedan, follows German opening closely forces. behind, athe 50 -mile French 12. gap and 1. are between Army 16. surrenders them. establish Gamelin only athrough after activates front the running vast French east Belgian little French result. 7. Army and Meanwhile, while 10. on Armies the Dutch also Group Army launch retreats A Low counterattacks continues intohinge its to Army advance; own to. French cut prepared off. Panzer the lines. German Group Kleist emerges by armies French, from but the attacks Ardennes Group weak AArmies makes drives and its German towards way Sedan 9. Army the where arrives 18. Armies; its objective is to Army advance into the Countries, enticing French armies to Unrealized rushadvance in to meet it. the Army Group AArmy comprises 4. , and 12. , 16. Armies and Panzer Group Kleist; 6. -west majority Army and with of 2. the and reserves BEF 9. is Armies evacuated and divisions approach to Britain. from the Army front French lines. Groups armies French 2 and in 6. the 3 Army while south attacks German however north 4. , are 12. at in Laon and little 16. but position Armies is beaten to advance affect back fighting by to German guard in Kleist’s the air north. attacks. flanks against counterattack. Ardennes only to fill the weakest gaps with anyways. Panzer elements Group The of Royal Kleist French Navy in 9. the and arrives lead. 2. Armies on the defend. coast to German begin an 2. evacuation and 9. Armies’ of remaining headquarters troops are in activated the north. from the reserve. its objective is to attack through the Ardennes, cutting off French armies in the north. Army Group C comprises 1. and 7. Armies; its objective is to tie French armies down on the Maginot Line. German Army & allies (Hitler/Brauchitsch) Subordinates DUT Nations 18 Army Group B (Bock) 6 9 BELG 7 2 4 Army Group 1 BEF (Billotte) 12 1 Army Group 1 (Billotte) 6 10 RES KL Army Group A (Rundstedt) 16 9 2 1 Army Group 2 (Pretelat) 4 Landmarks French Army & allies (Gamelin) Army Group C (Leeb) 3 5 Subordinates RES Army Group 3 (Besson) 8 Opposing forces deployed south in Alps 7

Both sides. Group regroup for theopens battle French for France itself. Thewhile are deployed three army groups. break Army Group B resistance. comprises 4. , 6. , is 9. , eventually 18. on Armies Group Panzer German 4. Army Kleist destroys the German 10. Army offensive Panzer byarmies attacking Groups French Kleist 10. and Army Guderian which offers through tough French defences It their defeated, respective forcing fronts. The French armies continue to conduct a. German fighting retreat as the in. German armies advance on all fronts. Italian 1. andand 4. Panzer Armies finally 7. Kleist; its objective is to smash the French left wing. Army Group A comprises 2. , 16. Armies and the new Panzer Group Guderian; its objective is to break through the Army The French to retreat armies to avoid must envelopment. continue to retreat Panzer to Group avoid encirclement. Guderian attacks Paris shortly is declared after, splitting a free city French to avoid 4. and destruction; 2. Armies. Hitler The hastily German occupies infantry it. launch an offensive but it. B quickly grinds to Cacomprises halt in the frigid, rough terrain. is. Meanwhile, Army. Line. Group surrenders. France solemnly French center after Army Group attacks. Army Group 1. and 7. Armies; its objective to break the Maginot Three 2 Italian armies – not yet at war with France armies Panzer make Group slow Guderian, but steady followed progress by 12. against and 16. French Armies, armies advances which as stage far as local the counterattacks Swiss border while in an Army effective Group fighting C pierces retreat. the Panzer Maginot Group Line in – threaten the French Army the Alps. The rest of. Kleist the French armies are deployed in three armyisgroups. All of objectives are merely to holdofthe Weygand Linecoast. which requests antinyarmistice butof Panzer Group advances after the armistice signed totheir ensure German control the western Kleist two places. is transferred Army Group east. 2 Seeing is now that completely France surrounded. has absolutely no chance of winning, Italy declares war. runs from the Channel to the Maginot Line. Army Group 3 comprises 7. and 10. Armies; Army Group 4 comprises 2. , 4. and 6. Armies; Army Group 2 comprises 3. , 5. and 8. Armies. German Army & allies (Hitler/Brauchitsch) Army Group B (Bock) Subordinates Army Group A (Rundstedt) Nations Army Group C (Leeb) Army Group 3 (Besson) Army Group 4 (Huntzinger) Army Group 2 (Pretelat) Army Group West (Savoia) Landmarks Subordinates French Army & allies (Weygand)

France 1940 Casualties & Aftermath French Army & allies: German Army & allies: 2, 300, 000 163, 000 or or 77% 5% Germany’s conquests did not end with France. After flirting with the idea of invading Britain until losing the air battle in late 1940, Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941. Germany made initially rapid progress but was clearly defeated by 1943. In June 1944, Britain and the United States returned to France with an amphibious invasion of Normandy. In August 1944, they liberated Paris to cheering crowds. By Jonathan Webb, 2009 ©

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