Chloe K, Quinn E, Emily C, Tèa K Case Yellow, Case Red, Operation Dynamo, and the Fall of France Chloe K, Quinn E, Emily C, Tèa K

Thesis After Hitler’s victory over Poland he grew anxious to advance in the West, launching Case Yellow, an attack on France and the Lower Countries. Through multiple German operations and strategic events, including the diversion around the Maginot line, the Battle of France led to the destruction of Paris and demolition of its army. Therefore making it an important victory for the Axis and altering the balance of power throughout Europe, ultimately bolstering German supremacy.

Timeline Operation Dynamo- 26 May 1940 Paris is Captured- 14 June 1940 Case Yellow- 10 May 1940 Case Red- 5 June 1940 Battle of France Ends-25 June 1940

Maginot Line

Case Yellow— Fall Gelb First phase of offensive against France & Low Countries -- 3 Groups Group A- march through Ardennes Group B- invade Low Countries Group C- attack Maginot line Originally “repeat of Schlieffen Plan” —worked well, British and French pushed back —ended with Mechelen Incident Manstein Plan- alternative plan; avoid main Allied armies and go to English Channel Blitzkrieg- “lightning war”; break through defense line with short, powerful attacks then encircling displaced enemies; added by Guderian to cut off French in South Revised Plan- Group A through Ardennes then NW, Group B lured Allies to Belgium Devastatingly successful- Allied ground forces cut in half, northern forces surrounded by Groups A and B -- Operation Dynamo

Erich von Manstein -- Erich von Lewinski Chief of Staff in Army Group A Served Russian & Western fronts in WWI --- Invasion of Poland WWII Manstein Plan -- originally rejected, adopted by Hitler Heinz Guderian German general during the Nazi era. An advocate of the "Blitzkrieg" doctrine, He successfully led Panzer units during the Invasion of Poland and the Battle of France -- disobeyed orders and advanced to English Channel

The Mechelen Incident

Operation Dynamo — Dunkirk With the capitulation of Belgium, British and French troops were left trapped between German forces British government decides to launch Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) by sea from Dunkirk German Air Force (Luftwaffe) raids had knocked out the port facilities Evacuate with the help of local fisherman 198,000 British and 140,000 French and Belgian troops had been saved Propagandized as a miracle for the Allies

Dunkirk’s Importance German forces failed to press their attack on Dunkirk—largely thanks to grim defence of the Dunkirk perimeter by British and French troops, and the efforts of the much-depleted RAF. For reasons still not clear, Hitler demanded a pause in the fighting, which gave the Allies enough opportunity to evacuate around 340,000 troops from Dunkirk and a further 220,000 from other French ports Evacuees are used in French battles Allies could have been easily defeated at this point allowing the Axis to win the war

Winston Churchill Churchill, commented, 'wars are not won by evacuation', Dynamo was a victory of incalculable importance for the BEF. The return of the troops, even without much of their equipment, gave Britain a basis on which to rebuild the Army, sheltering behind the Navy and the RAF. It also strengthened the credibility of Churchill's insistence that Britain would fight on, thus influencing the neutral USA at a time when American aid was vital.

Case Red— Fall Rot After Case Yellow success, 2nd phase of German conquest toward France started Post Dunkirk, Churchill wanted to keep the French fighting French had 65 divisions left to the Germans 142 divisions Consisted of two sub-operations Army group B initiated attack over Somme river aimed at the Seine river on west coast, followed by a strike south toward Paris Army group A was sent to move around the Maginot line as to outsmart and capture French forces while Army group C attacked it straight on. France fought hard causing Germany to rely on Luftwaffe to allow them to move forward Germany had breakthrough near Abbeville= French line weakened June 10 Paris was declared an open city, June 14 it fell to Germans

Hitler’s Jig https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bzziAv9o4w

Aftermath Effect on France/Capture of Paris: Marshal Philippe Pétain became prime minister of France and immediately announced his intention to make a truce with the Germans which was signed June 22, ending the war on June 25. France was divided into a German occupation zone in the north and west and a nominally independent state in the south, to be based in the town of Vichy. The new French state accepted its status as a defeated nation and attempted to buy favor with the Germans. 27,074 German soldiers were killed during the Battle of France while nearly 580,000 French army men lost their lives.

Aftermath Effect on Britain German victory completely threw off the balance of power in Europe Left the assumptions that Britain had planned to fight Hitler completely obsolete. With France out of the equation, Britain's war for the next four years was fought in the air, at sea, and in the Mediterranean - but not on the Western Front. Not until D-Day, four years later, did a major British army return to France.

Henri-Philippe Pétain Charles de Gaulle French general,who was a national hero for his victory at the Battle of Verdun in World War I Later discredited as chief of state of the French government at Vichy in World War II. He died under sentence in a prison fortress. Charles de Gaulle rose went from French soldier in World War I to exiled leader Created a French resistance during WWII Eventually, president of the Fifth Republic. He served as president from 1959 to 1969.

Works Cited Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Erich Von Manstein.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 26 July 2016, www.britannica.com/biography/Erich-von-Manstein. 3dhistory.co.uk/article/world-war-two/battle-of-france-fall-rot+. Admin. “Case Red: The Collapse of France.” The History Network, 8 Jan. 2018, thehistorynetwork.org/case-red-the-collapse-of-france/. “France.” France - New World Encyclopedia, www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/France. “English Heritage.” Operation Dynamo: Things You Need to Know about the Dunkirk Evacuation | English Heritage, www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/dover-castle/history-and-stories/operation-dynamo-things-you-need-to-know/. “The Manstein Plan vs. Case Yellow.” The Manstein Plan vs. Case Yellow | The Globe at War, www.globeatwar.com/article/manstein-plan-vs-case-yellow. Sheffield, Dr Gary. “History - World Wars: The Fall of France.” BBC, BBC, 30 Mar. 2011, www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/fall_france_01.shtml. http://3dhistory.co.uk/article/world-war-two/battle-of-france-fall-rot