Fall of France
The Fall of France occurred during World War II. In May 1940, the Allied armies were unexpectedly overwhelmed by the German armored blitzkrieg.
Belgium remained neutral right up until the German invasion, preventing the French and British from entering its territory. Instead the Belgians relied on a system of forts, which was subdued more quickly than expected due to German airborne attacks.
The French and British, expecting a static war like World War I, wanted to protect as much territory in Belgium and Northern France as possible. They sent their best mobile formations racing north.
In the meantime, the main German attack came through further to the south, through the Ardennes Forest, a mountainous region in southeastern Belgium. Allied planners had not expected that a modern mechanized army would be able to move so quickly through this area.
The German armies crossed the Meuse River, then reached the English Channel, cutting off the Allied armies in the north. Counterattacks failed because not enough mobile formations had been left in reserve. The Germans also enjoyed overwhelming air superiority and their ground attack aircraft continually harassed the Allies.
The British Expeditionary Force and some French escaped across the Channel in the Dunkirk Evacuation, where the Royal Navy and even civilian boats carried them across.
France struggled on for another few weeks, but the more mobile and numerous Germans continually outmaneuvered them. Once the French president resigned, collaborators in the government, including Petain, surrendered. Another general, Charles de Gaulle, fled to England and became the leader of Free France.
Following the German conquest of France a direct zone of occupation was set up in the northern and western parts of the country. In the southeast, Vichy France, a German puppet state, was set up with Philippe Petain as its leader. The colonies fell under the control of the government in Vichy.
The French fleet fell under the control of Vichy France, and part of it was sunk by the British in North Africa.
Quotes[edit]
Churchill: "Où est la masse de manoeuvre?" (Where is the strategic reserve?)
Gamelin: "Aucune." (There is none.)