1. German Decision to outflank Maginot Line
French preparing for defence. The “Maginot mentality”.
German decision to broke neutrality of Netherlands and Belgium.
Total strength of German troops.
Total strength of French and British troops.
Beginning of Blitzkrieg in the West.

2. German Invasion of Holland and Belgium
The invasion of Holland – May 10, 1940.
Attack on Belgium – Belgians refuse to subordinate to allied staff.
German offensive in Ardennes.
The battle for Sedan.
The allied counter-attacks.
Changes in the British government – Churchill replaces Chamberlain as a Prime Minister.

3. French Mistakes
Changes in the French command – Gamelin replaced by Weygand.
Weygand – “philosopher instead of soldier”.
French counter-attacks.
Lack of force. Failure of French counter-attacks.

4. Dunkirk British Armies encircled.
Hitler’s order to Guderian – stop offensive with tanks.
Capitulation of Belgium.
Beginning of evacuation from Dunkirk.
Up to 337,000 soldiers evacuated.

5. Change of Government in France
German offensive continues.
Reynaud resigns.
Pétain – new Prime Minister of France.
Paris – “Open City”.
Pétain’s ideas.

6. Armistice Beginning of talks about armistice.
The war in France according Rommel – “Lightning Tour de France”.
Armistice at Rethondes June 22, 1940 – revenge for armistice of 1918.
France divided into two parts – First one Occupied by Germans, Second formally independent with capital in Vichy.
Establishment of de Gaulle movement in London.