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

Europe c. 1939

The battlefield is relatively flat with the exception of the Alps Mountains in the south (off map) and the low, marshy ground roughly north of Brussels. The densest forest cover is the Ardennes Forest. The major body of water is the English Channel, which separates Britain from the other combatants. There a number of major rivers, the most significant being the Rhine and Meuse Rivers running north-south, and the Somme, Seine, and Marne Rivers running east-west. Urban cities and small villages are scattered throughout the battlefield, the capital cities being London, Amsterdam, Brussels, Luxembourg, and Paris. The French-built Maginot Line, an extensive system of fortifications, extends along the entire Franco-German border. The German objective is to reach the English Channel at Calais. The Allied objective is to hold the Dyle River line. 0 50 German Army & allies 100 km (Hitler/Brauchitsch) English Channel Rotterdam London Maas River Antwerp Dunkirk Cologne Calais Dyle River Brussels Namur Arras Amiens Ardennes Forest Somme River Rhine River Sedan Aisne River Seine River Oise River Paris Loire River French Army & allies (Gamelin) Luxembourg Verdun Marne River Meuse River Moselle River Maginot Line

The French are deployed inreduce three army groups. Army Group 1 Army, comprises 2. , 7. , off 9. Armies andsplits the Expeditionary Force; its objective is. Belgian to Army reinforce the retreating German The Germans bombers 18. seek viciously to. French terror-bomb the attacks remnants the major Dutch of cities in Group the cutting Low 1: 1. , German Countries. it. Army from 6. Army the Group French the A armies. easily BEF from pushes French the Belgian the 7. German Dutch Army, and advances forcing into a. Armies Belgian the Netherlands back, surrender aided Advanced Army The evacuation Group elements BArmy attacks of Dunkirk ofrelentlessly the remains begins. 7. Army Hitler of Army are is shoved persuaded Group back 1 Army and by by succeeds Luftwaffe German in commander, 18. pushing to them reinforce Goerring, back. the Panzer to. British Dutch allow Group his Army’s aircraft Kleist isolation. to annihilates complete French the bombers BEF’s 9. destruction. destroy but is anordered British entire section aircraft to. Dutch halt 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 objective is by. Rotterdam anyways while German airborne cover Group Antwerp. troops Kleist which The 4. rest seize Army of Army key push fortresses Group north, 1 armada encircling reaches and panic French rear services. 1. Line Army. and Army The consolidates; BEF launches 1 rushes German counterattack the 6. Army Dyle probes Line. Panzer atto Arras this reinforce defensive but the itand is 18. retreating repelled. line with of by take Hitler off. Panzer from totoallow to the make the home infantry an islands example, toand catch to defend forcing up. This the allows Dutch evacuation to Gamelin surrender. to deploy Gamelin in the costly 6. Dyle and begins dogfights 10. shifting Armies. although French The. Group halt Goering 7. order Army fails issouth. eventually toato destroy German lifted the 6. and Army BEF. pins German the Group BEF 4. and Kleist French resumes Armies 1. to defend against any outflanking of the Maginot Line through Switzerland. The Germans are deployed in three army groups. Army Group B comprises 6. and 18. Armies; its Army its belatedly advance, while advance Panzer brushing on Group aside Dunkirk Kleist French while breaks 7. encircled Army through and French the reachinge 1. Army the of French Channel. heroically 2. and German fights 9. Armies 4. on Army to at tie Sedan, follows down opening German closely behind, an forces. 80 -km 12. French gap and between 16. 1. Army Armies them. surrenders establish Gamelin a only front activates after running the French vast east Belgian little French result. 7. Army and Meanwhile, 10. while Armies the Army Dutch also Group launch Army A retreats counterattacks continues into to its advance; to own cut prepared off Panzer the German lines. Group Unrealized advance Kleist emerges armies by the but from French, the attacks Ardennes Army are Group weak and A drives and makes German towards its way 9. Sedan Army through arrives where the objective is to advance into the Low Countries, enticing French armies to rush in to meet it. Army Group A comprises 4. , 12. , 16. Armies and Panzer Group Kleist; its objective is 6. -west majority Army and with ofweakest 2. the and reserves BEF 9. Ardennes, is Armies evacuated and. Group divisions approach to off Britain. from the Army front French lines. Groups French 2 and indefend. 6. the 3 Army while south German however north 4. , 12. atin Laon and little 16. but position Armies is. Armies; beaten toadvance affect back fighting by to. German guard inactivated the Kleist’s air north. attacks. flanks against counterattack. Ardennes only to fill the gaps with anyways. Panzer elements The of. British Kleist French in Royal 9. the and lead. Navy 2. armies Armies arrives on the attacks coast German begin 2. are and an 9. Armies’ headquarters of remaining are in the from north. the reserve. to attack through the cutting French armies in the north. Army Group Cto comprises 1. evacuation and 7. its objective is troops to tie down French armies on the Maginot Line. 0 50 German Army & allies 100 km (Hitler/Brauchitsch) Landmarks 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 Symbol guide 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 regroup for the battle for France itself. The German armies. Groups are deployed in three. Guderian army groups. Army Group comprises 6. , 9. , on 18. their Armies and forcing Panzerfronts. Group Panzer German Group 4. Army Kleist destroys opens the French German offensive Army by Panzer attacking French Kleist 10. German Army and which offers break tough through resistance. French It defences is 4. , eventually defeated, respective 7. The French armies continue to 10. conduct awhile fighting retreat as the armies advance on. Ball fronts. Italian 1. and 4. Armies finally 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 to French retreat armies to avoid must envelopment. continue to Panzer retreat to Group avoid Guderian encirclement. attacks Paris shortly is declared after, splitting a free French city to avoid 4. and destruction; 2. Armies. Hitler The German hastily occupies infantry it. launchcenter an offensive but it. B attacks. quickly. Army grinds to. Cacomprises halt in 1. the rough terrain. Meanwhile, Army Group 2 surrenders. French after Army Group andfrigid, 7. Armies; its objective is to break the Maginot Line. Three Italian armies – not France yet at war solemnly with France armies Panzer make Group slow Guderian, but steady followed progress by 12. against and 16. French Armies, armies advances which stage as far local as 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 the French armies are deployed in three army objectives. German are merely control to hold the Line which runs requests antiny armistice butof. Panzer Group Kleist advances after the armistice is groups. signed. Their to ensure of. Weygand the western coast. Kleist two places. transferred Army east. Group Seeing 2 is now that completely France surrounded. absolutely of winning, Italy declares war. fromis the Channel to the Maginot Line. Army Group 3 has comprises 7. and no 10. chance Armies; Army Group 4 comprises 2. , 4. and 6. Armies; Army Group 2 comprises 3. , 5. and 8. Armies. 0 100 German Army & allies 200 km (Hitler/Brauchitsch) Army Group B (Bock) Landmarks 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) Symbol guide 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. The German offensive initially made rapid progress but stalled in winter 1941 -1942, and was clearly defeated by 1943. In June 1944, Britain and the now. Allied United States returned to France with an amphibious invasion of Normandy. In August 1944, they liberated Paris to cheering crowds. In May 1945, Germany surrendered unconditionally. By Jonathan Webb, 2009

The Art of Battle: Animated Battle Maps http: //www. theartofbattle. com By Jonathan Webb, 2009