The Fall of France LTC Oakland McCulloch

Outline The lead up to the battle The Plans Key points in the battle Evacuation at Dunkirk & French surrender Reasons why the Germans won so decisively Consequences of that victory

The Lead Up to the Battle Europe after WWI - Appeasement Unanswered German Aggression Re-Occupation of the Rhineland, Austria, Czechoslovakia Invasion of Poland and Declaration of War The Phoney War The Fall of France

The Plan Recreation of the Schlieffen Plan (Halder’s Plan) Manstein’s Plan Heavy input by Guderian Concentrate 7 Armored Divisions at one point Guderian’s Input Bold independent tank action Concentrate 7 Armored Divisions at one point (Sedan) Encircle all of enemy forces north of the Somme River The Dyle Plan for the Allies Played right into the hands of the Germans Moved best Allied forces north into the Low Countries The Fall of France

Key Points in the Battle Allied forces move north into the Low Countries Rommel crosses the Meuse River Guderian crosses the Meuse River BEF counterattack at Arras Decision to halt the attacks short of Dunkirk The Fall of France

Evacuation at Dunkirk 27 May through 4 June Luftwaffe flew 1,882 bombing missions and 1,997 fighter sweeps against forces in Dunkirk 198,000 British soldiers and 140,000 French soldiers evacuated to fight another day British losses totaled 6% of their total losses in France including 60 fighter pilots and 29 of their 40 destroyers The Fall of France

French Surrender Best trained and most modern French Armies lost in encirclement General Weygand had to defend a 600 km (400 mi) front with 64 Divisions Italy declares war on France Paris surrendered without a fight on 14 June 156,492 German Casualties: 27,074 killed 111,034 wounded 18,384 missing 2,190,000 French Casualties: 90,000 killed 200,000 wounded 1,900,000 missing & prisoners 68,111 British 23,350 Belgian 9,779 Dutch

Reasons for German Decisive Victory Bold decisions by Commanders at the decisive place on the battlefield Organization of Combined Arms Divisions Better strategy, doctrine and training for the type of war to be fought Combat experience from Poland The Fall of France

Consequences of the Battle Allies had a sense of German military infallibility Lasted until El Alamein & Stalingrad Germans believed their could always win “Easy Victories” Inevitable entry of United States into the war The Fall of France

Questions ? The Fall of France