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France
May 10-June 25, 1940
Strategic Context
Germany crushes Poland in September 1939 and signs a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union; this allows Adolf
Hitler to prepare for an offensive in the West. France and Britain resolve to rely on defensive fortifications such as the
vaunted Maginot Line until an economic blockade defeats Germany as it did in World War I. They expect Germany to
place its main attack through the Low Countries, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg; this belief is reinforced by
the Mechelen Incident in which German plans fall into Belgian hands. Although Belgium and the Netherlands are
neutral, they secretly agree to the Dyle Plan, in which French forces race forward while allied forces fall back to a
defensive line roughly along the Dyle River. The actual German plan anticipates these maneuvers and places its main
attack through the Ardennes Forest, considered impassable for a large force. Italy is not officially at war with France
but three armies are deployed in the Alps and Italy is expected to declare war at the most opportune moment.
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Stakes
+ A French victory would halt German
expansion and allow France and its allies to
take advantage of their superior economies.
+ A German victory would result in the total
defeat and occupation of France, leaving Britain
to face Germany alone.
By Jonathan Webb, 2009
France, 1940
Strength
French Army & allies
German Army & allies
Maurice Gamelin
Maxime Weygand
Adolf Hitler
Walther von Brauchitsch
109 French divisions
40 allied divisions
3,000,000 men
2,700 tanks
2,000 aircraft
135 German divisions
32 allied divisions
3,300,000 men
2,600 tanks
3,700 aircraft
Well
Well
By Jonathan Webb, 2009
Europe c.1939
The battlefield is relatively flat with the exception of the Alps Mountains in the south (off map) and the low, marshy ground roughly north of Brussels. The densest forest cover is
the Ardennes Forest. The major body of water is the English Channel, which separates Britain from the other combatants. There are a number of major rivers, the most significant
being the Rhine and Meuse Rivers running north-south, and the Somme, Seine, and Marne Rivers running east-west. Urban cities and small villages are scattered throughout the
battlefield, the capital cities being London, Amsterdam, Brussels, Luxembourg, and Paris. The French-built Maginot Line, an extensive system of fortifications, extends along the
entire Franco-German border. The German objective is to reach the English Channel at Calais. The Allied objective is to hold the Dyle River line.
0
50
German Army & allies
(Hitler/Brauchitsch)
100 km
N
English
Channel
Rotterdam
London
Maas River
Antwerp
Dunkirk
Cologne
Calais
Dyle
River
Brussels
Namur
Arras
Amiens
Ardennes
Forest
Somme River
Rhine River
Sedan
Aisne River
Seine River
Oise River
Paris
Loire River
French Army & allies
(Gamelin)
Luxembourg
Verdun
Marne River
Meuse
River
Moselle
River
Maginot
Line
The
French
are
inreduce
three
army
groups.
Army
1by
comprises
1.,
2.,Army
7.,
and
the
Expeditionary
Force;
objective
isforcing
to
reinforce
the
retreating
Dutch
German
The
Germans
bombers
18.
Army
seek
viciously
to
terror-bomb
the
attacks
remnants
major
the Group
of
Dutch
Army
Army,
in
Group
the cutting
Low
1:
German
Countries.
it 9.
off
6.
from
Army
the
Group
splits
French
the
A easily
BEF
armies.
pushes
from
French
the
the
Belgian
Dutch
7.itsArmy
and
Army,
advances
Belgian
Armies
into
a is
Belgian
the
back,
Netherlands
surrender
aided
by
Advanced
Army
The
evacuation
Group
elements
B deployed
attacks
of Dunkirk
ofrelentlessly
the
French
remains
begins.
7.
Army
Hitler
of
Army
areisshoved
Group
persuaded
back
1cities
and
by
succeeds
Luftwaffe
German
in
18.
commander,
pushing
toArmies
them
reinforce
Goerring,
back.
the
Panzer
toBritish
Dutch
allow
Group
Army’s
his aircraft
Kleist
isolation.
annihilates
to
complete
German
French
the
bombers
BEF’s
9.
Army
destroy
destruction.
but
an
ordered
entire
British
section
to
aircraft
halt
by
of
and Belgian Armies along the Dyle Line. Army Group 2 comprises 3., 4. and 5. Armies; its objective is to hold the Maginot Line. Army Group 3 comprises 8. Army; its objective is to
German
anyways
while
Panzer
airborne
totocover
Group
Antwerp.
troops
which
and
Theforcing
4.rest
seize
Army
of
key
Army
push
fortresses
north,
Group
encircling
1 reaches
and
panic
French
the
rear
Dyle
1.
services.
Line
Army.
andThe
Army
consolidates;
BEFGroup
launches
1 German
rushes
counterattack
to
6. Army
the
Dyle
probes
atLine
Arras
this
tothe
but
reinforce
defensive
it isand
repelled.
the
lineresumes
retreating
with
French
little
Rotterdam
Hitler
take
off
to
allow
from
make
the
the home
infantry
anKleist
example,
islands
to
catch
to
defend
up.
This
the
the
Dutch
allows
evacuation
toGamelin
surrender.
armada
to deploy
Gamelin
in 6.
costly
begins
and
10.
dogfights
shifting
Armies.
although
French
The
halt
7. Goering
Army
order
south.
isafails
eventually
German
to
destroy
lifted
6.
Army
the
and
BEF.
pins
Panzer
German
Group
BEF
4.
Kleist
and
French
18.
1.
Armies
Army
its
defend against any outflanking of the Maginot Line through Switzerland. The Germans are deployed in three army groups. Army Group B comprises 6. and 18. Armies; its objective
while
advance,
belatedly
Panzer
brushing
advance
Group
aside
on
Kleist
Dunkirk
French
breaks
while
7.
through
Army
encircled
and
the
hinge
reaching
French
of French
1.
the
Channel.
2.
heroically
and
9.
German
Armies
fights
4.atArmy
Sedan,
on
tofollows
tie
opening
down
closely
German
an
80-km
behind,
forces.
gap
12.
between
French
and
16.
them.
1.Armies
Army
Gamelin
establish
surrenders
activates
a objective
only
front
French
after
running
the
6.to
Army
eastvast
Belgian
result.
7.
and
Meanwhile,
10.
Army
Armies
also
Army
the
launch
Group
Dutch
counterattacks
AArmy
continues
retreats
advance;
into
to
cut
itsArmy
off
own
Panzer
the
prepared
German
Group
advance
lines.
Kleist
Unrealized
emerges
armies
from
but
by
the
the
the
attacks
French,
Ardennes
are
Army
and
weak
Group
drives
and
towards
AGerman
makes
Sedan
9.its
way
where
arrives
through
the
fill
is to
advance
intowhile
the Low
Countries,
enticing
Frenchto
armies
to
rush
in to
meet
it. Army
Group
A comprises
4.,
12.,
16. Armies
and
Panzer
Group
Kleist;
itsArmy
is only
to attack
with
west
majority
reserves
and
of
2.
the
and
and
BEF
9.
divisions
Armies
is
evacuated
approach
from
Army
to
Britain.
the
Groups
front
French
lines.
2
and
armies
French
3
while
in
6.
German
the
Army
south
attacks
4.,
however
12.
and
north
16.
are
at
Armies
in
Laon
little
but
advance
position
is
beaten
to
affect
guard
back
by
Kleist’s
fighting
German
flanks
in
the
air
attacks.
north.
against
counterattack.
Ardennes
weakest
the
gaps
elements
anyways.
with
Panzer
of
The
French
Group
British
Kleist
9.
Royal
and
in
2.
Navy
the
Armies
lead.
arrives
defend.
on
the
German
coast
to
2.
begin
and
9.
an
Armies’
evacuation
headquarters
of
remaining
are
activated
troops
in
from
the
north.
the
reserve.
through the Ardennes, cutting off French armies in the north. Army Group C comprises 1. and 7. Armies; its objective is to tie down French armies on the Maginot Line.
0
50
German Army & allies
(Hitler/Brauchitsch)
100 km
Landmarks
Subordinates
DUT
N
Nations
18
Army Group B
(Bock)
Army Group B
(Bock)
6
RES
9
BELG
7
2
4
Army Group 1 BEF
(Billotte)
12
1
Army Group 1
(Billotte)
KL
Army Group A
(Rundstedt)
Army Group A
(Rundstedt)
16
9
2
1
6
Army Group C
(Leeb)
3
10
RES
Army Group 2
(Pretelat)
4
5
Symbol guide
Subordinates
French Army & allies
(Gamelin)
Army Group 3
(Besson)
8
Opposing forces deployed south in Alps
7
Both
sides
regroup
for
the battle
forGerman
France
itself.
The
armiesGroups
are French
deployed
in three
army
groups.
Army tough
Group Bresistance.
comprises
4.,It6.,is9.,eventually
18.on
Armies
Panzer Group
Kleist;
its
Panzer
German
Group
4.
Army
Kleist
destroys
opens
the
French
offensive
Army
while
byPanzer
attacking
Kleist
10.
and
Army
Guderian
which
offers
break
through
French
defences
their
defeated,
respective
forcing
fronts.
7.The
The
French
armies
continue
to10.
conduct
aGerman
fighting
retreat
as
the
German
armies
advance
on
all fronts.
Italian
1. and
and
4. Armies
finally
objective is to smash the French left wing. Army Group A comprises 2., 12., 16. Armies and the new Panzer Group Guderian; its objective is to break through the French center after
Army
French
to retreat
armies
tomust
avoidcontinue
envelopment.
to retreat
Panzer
to avoid
Group
Guderian
attacks
Parisshortly
is
declared
after, asplitting
free
cityFrench
to avoid
4. and
destruction;
2. Armies.
The hastily
Germanoccupies
infantry solemnly
it.
armies
Panzer
launch
anB offensive
it quickly
grinds
aencirclement.
haltitsinobjective
the
frigid,
rough
Meanwhile,
2Hitler
surrenders.
France
Army
Group
attacks. Armybut
Group
C comprises
1. and to
7. Armies;
is to break
theterrain.
Maginot Line.
Three ItalianArmy
armiesGroup
– not yet
at
war with France
– threaten the tiny
make
Group
slow
Guderian,
but
steady
followed
progress
by
12.
against
and
16.
French
Armies,
armies
advances
which
as
stage
far
as
local
the
counterattacks
Swiss
border
while
in
an
Army
effective
Group
fighting
C
pierces
retreat.
the
Maginot
Panzer
Line
Group
in
two
Kleist
places.
isthe
French
Armyan
of the
Alps. The rest
the French
armies
are deployed
in threeafter
army the
groups.
Their objectives
are merely
to hold the
Weygandcontrol
Line which
the Channel
to
requests
armistice
butofPanzer
Group
Kleist
advances
armistice
is signed
to ensure
German
ofruns
thefrom
western
coast.
ransferred
Army
Group
east.
2
is
Seeing
now
completely
that
France
surrounded.
has
absolutely
no
chance
of
winning,
Italy
declares
war.
Maginot Line. Army Group 3 comprises 7. and 10. Armies; Army Group 4 comprises 2., 4. and 6. Armies; Army Group 2 comprises 3., 5. and 8. Armies.
0
100
German Army & allies
(Hitler/Brauchitsch)
200 km
Army Group B
(Bock)
Landmarks
Subordinates
Army Group A
(Rundstedt)
N
4
Nations
18
KL
10
7
6
9
2
12
GU
6
KL
16
1
4
2
PARIS
Army Group C
(Leeb)
3
5
Army Group 3
(Besson)
Army Group 4
(Huntzinger)
7
8
Army Group 2
(Pretelat)
KL
ITAL 4
ITAL 7
ALPS
ITAL 1
Symbol guide
Subordinates
French Army & allies
(Weygand)
Army Group West
(Savoia)
France 1940
Casualties & Aftermath
French Army & allies:
German Army & allies:
2,300,000
163,000
or
or
77%
5%
Germany’s conquests did not end with France. After flirting with the idea of invading
Britain, until losing the air battle in late 1940, Germany invaded the Soviet Union in
June 1941. The German offensive initially made rapid progress but stalled in winter
1941-1942, and was clearly defeated by 1943. In June 1944, Britain and the nowAllied United States returned to France with an amphibious invasion of Normandy.
In August 1944, they liberated Paris to cheering crowds. In May 1945, Germany
surrendered unconditionally.
By Jonathan Webb, 2009
The Art of Battle:
Animated Battle Maps
http://www.theartofbattle.com
By Jonathan Webb, 2009