The Invasion of FranceThe Invasion of France

Source: Source: http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/

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The Invasion of FranceThe Invasion of France The Manstein PlanThe Manstein Plan

In 1939, German Army officers devised a In 1939, German Army officers devised a plan to inflict a major defeat on the plan to inflict a major defeat on the French Army in northern France. French Army in northern France.

included an attack through southern included an attack through southern Belgium that avoided the Maginot Line. Belgium that avoided the Maginot Line.

The ultimate objective was to reach the The ultimate objective was to reach the Channel coast and to force the French Channel coast and to force the French government to surrender. government to surrender.

The Invasion of FranceThe Invasion of France Hitler approved the Manstein Plan in February, 1940, Hitler approved the Manstein Plan in February, 1940,

but it was not activated until May. but it was not activated until May.

the Luftwaffe bombed Dutch and Belgian airfields. the Luftwaffe bombed Dutch and Belgian airfields.

the German Army captured Moerdijk and Rotterdam. the German Army captured Moerdijk and Rotterdam.

using Blitzkreig strategy, Germany advanced into the using Blitzkreig strategy, Germany advanced into the Netherlands. Netherlands.

Belgium was also invaded and the French Army moved Belgium was also invaded and the French Army moved forward to help support the Dutch and Belgian forces. forward to help support the Dutch and Belgian forces.

The Invasion of FranceThe Invasion of France Erwin Rommel’s Army went through the heavily Erwin Rommel’s Army went through the heavily

wooded and semi-mountainous area of the wooded and semi-mountainous area of the Ardennes, an area north of the Maginot Line. Ardennes, an area north of the Maginot Line.

The French military had wrongly believed that The French military had wrongly believed that the Ardennes was impassable to tanks the Ardennes was impassable to tanks

German forces advanced towards the Channel. German forces advanced towards the Channel.

Except for a counterattack by De Gaulle, at Except for a counterattack by De Gaulle, at Montcornet (17th May) and Laon (27th-29th Montcornet (17th May) and Laon (27th-29th May) the German forces encountered very little May) the German forces encountered very little resistance. resistance.

http://www.maplandia.com/france/chhttp://www.maplandia.com/france/champagne-ardenne/ardennes/ampagne-ardenne/ardennes/

Britain’s ResponseBritain’s Response Winston Churchill ordered Winston Churchill ordered Operation DynamoOperation Dynamo, a , a

plan to evacuate troops and equipment from plan to evacuate troops and equipment from the French port of Dunkirk.the French port of Dunkirk.

Between 27th May and 4th June, 1940, a total Between 27th May and 4th June, 1940, a total of 693 ships brought back 338,226 people back of 693 ships brought back 338,226 people back to Britain. to Britain.

Of these 140,000 were members of the French Of these 140,000 were members of the French Army. All heavy equipment was abandoned and Army. All heavy equipment was abandoned and left in France. left in France.

The French Army tried to hold the line but were The French Army tried to hold the line but were outnumbered and the troops were forced to outnumbered and the troops were forced to withdrawwithdraw

The German OccupationThe German Occupation On 14th June, the Germans occupied Paris. On 14th June, the Germans occupied Paris.

France began negotiations with Hitler and on France began negotiations with Hitler and on 22nd June signed an armistice with Germany22nd June signed an armistice with Germany

The terms of the agreement divided France The terms of the agreement divided France into occupied and unoccupied zones into occupied and unoccupied zones

The Germans would control northern and The Germans would control northern and western France and the entire Atlantic coast western France and the entire Atlantic coast

The remaining section of the country would be The remaining section of the country would be administered by the French government at administered by the French government at Vichy Vichy

The German OccupationThe German Occupation Other Armistice termsOther Armistice terms

the surrender of all Jews living in France to the the surrender of all Jews living in France to the Germans. Germans.

The French Army was disbanded except for a force of The French Army was disbanded except for a force of 100,000 men to maintain domestic order. 100,000 men to maintain domestic order.

The 1.5 million French soldiers captured by the The 1.5 million French soldiers captured by the Germans were to remain prisoners of war. Germans were to remain prisoners of war.

The French government also agreed to stop members The French government also agreed to stop members of its armed forces from leaving the country and of its armed forces from leaving the country and instructed its citizens not to fight against the Germans. instructed its citizens not to fight against the Germans.

Finally, France had to pay the occupation costs of the Finally, France had to pay the occupation costs of the German troops. German troops.