Download The Fall of France

Importance
 France’s downfall was completely unexpected at the
beginning of World War II.
 The French army was the largest army in western
Europe and Hitler’s defeat of them in just six weeks
was very shocking.
 This event changed the balance of power in Europe
and left Britain without one of its most powerful
allies in the fight against Hitler and his Nazis.
Key Figures
 Adolf Hitler
 Charles de Gaulle
 Marshal Philippe Petain (french pm, sign armstice)
 General Erich Von Manstein (panzer, strategy)
 General Lord Gort (british evacuation)
Adolf Hitler
 Adolf Hitler was the Führer of Germany. He ordered
the German attack on France in his quest to overtake
the Western European countries.
General Charles de Gaulle
 General Charles de Gaulle was a French General who
evacuated to London. He delivered a series of
speeches over the radio urging the French people to
resist the signing of a treaty with Germany. He
became the leader of the Free France movement.
Marshal Philippe Pétain
 Marshal Philippe Pétain was a French war hero who
was called out of retirement by the government to
serve in the war cabinet during world war II. He
advocated for the signing of an armistice with
Germany. He was appointed the head of the French
state and was found guilty of treason after the war.
General Erich von Manstein
 General Erich von Manstein was a German General
who developed the plan of attack for the German
offensives on France.
General Lord Gort
 General Lord Gort was a British general who made
the courageous decision to evacuate the British
troops from France when the Germans had
surrounded them. His actions saved the British army
and allowed them to rebuild themselves.
Background Information
 Throughout the 1930s, when Hitler first came to
power, France’s army was regarded as an effective
and powerful force that blocked the Nazis from
attacking the other European countries.
 The French had a massive number of casualties
during their offensive attacks in 1914 so they decided
to change their strategy from World War I.
 This time they were going to stay on the defensive in
Western Europe while their army mobilized and save
their offensive attacks for 2-3 years into the war.
Background Information
 The Maginot Line, which replaced the trenches of
World War I, was composed of a series of
fortifications that were expected to protect the
French-German border . However, it didn’t protect
France’s border with Belgium.
 Hitler’s recent victory over Poland had given him a
boost of confidence and he was now eager to begin
attacking western Europe.
Hitler’s Plan
 Hitler’s initial plan to attack the west was postponed
due to bad weather and a copy of his attack orders
being discovered when a German plane crashed in
Belgium in January of 1940.
 Hitler went to General Erich von Manstein who
suggested that they change their plan to directly
attack the Maginot Line and launch a subsidiary
attack through the neutral countries of Holland and
Belgium.
Hitler’s Plan
 Von Manstein thought that the allies wouldn’t
expect an attack through this hilly, forested region
and that their surprise blitzkrieg techniques would
be successful.
 They were going to use a Panzer formation of tanks
to attack before the bulk of the army to cause
confusion and disorient the allies.
Attack Begins
 The battle of France began on May 10, 1940 when
Germany conducted air raids on Holland and
Belgium. Ground attacks and parachute drops
followed soon after.
 Holland and Belgium were quickly added to the antialliance but that addition just complicated the
arrangements for command and control even
further.
Attack Begins
 The Germans had a huge psychological advantage
over their opponents due to the speed of their
attacks and the brutality of their air raids.
 The Germans were able to capture Eban Emael, a key
Belgian fort, due to a daring airborne expedition.
 Holland surrendered May 14, 1940 due to the
bombing of Rotterdam.
 The allies sent their best troops into Belgium to try
to hold off the Germans at the River Dyle.
Race for the Channel
 On May 13th the first German troops emerged from
the Ardennes. After a two day battle the Panzers
succeeded in crossing the River Meuse despite some
surprisingly stiff resistance from the French troops
and allied aircrafts. The French were not prepared or
equipped to deal with this major armored thrust
from the Germans.
 The French launched a counterattack with their own
tanks but it was unsuccessful and led to inconclusive
fighting.
 German General Heinz Guderian had the Panzers
break out of their bridgehead and race for the
channel with the help of overhead aircraft.
Race for the Channel
 Because the majority of the Allied forces were
currently fighting in Belgium, the Germans were
easily able to break through the Allied supply lines
and reached the coast of the English Channel on May
20th.
 The Allied forces tried to pull out of Belgium to
defend their rear.
 French General Charles de Gaulle launched bold
counterattacks against the enemy’s flanks and the
British tanks gave a rough reception to the Germans
when they arrived at Arras on May 21st. But it was
too little, too late.
Operation Dynamo
 The Allies were now surrounded by German forces
and when Belgium surrendered on May 28th they left
a gaping hole in the British flank.
 The trapped British Expeditionary Force fell back to
protect the English Channel instead of helping the
French in a counterattack and planned an evacuation
from Dunkirk.
 This evacuation was codenamed operation Dynamo
and planned to have smaller civilian vessels carry the
trapped soldiers to larger vessels off the coast who
would then sail for Britain.
Operation Dynamo
 Hitler halted his advance on Dunkirk and 200 000
British troops and 140 000 French troops were able
to be evacuated to Britain.
 There were some casualties to the air force and navy
in this evacuation but it is regarded to have saved
the British Expeditionary Force and allowed Britain
to rebuild its army.
Second Act
 The second act of the battle of France began on
June 5th, 1940 when the Germans attacked south of
the River Somme.
 The 51st Highland division of the British army was
surrounded at St. Valery-en-Caux and was forced to
surrender on June 12th.
Second Act
 The Germans began attacking Paris on June 9th and
by June 13th the French government had fled to
Bordeaux and Paris was declared an open city.
 France surrendered to Hitler on June 22, 1940 and
was forced to sign a document in the same railway
car that Germany had surrendered inside of in 1918.
 Hitler’s humiliation of France was complete.
Outcomes
 It changed the balance of power in Europe and
altered all of Britain’s previous strategies in which
France was an ally.
 Britain wanted to ensure that the French navy would
not enter the command of Germany so they
delivered an ultimatum for the French warships to
be sailed to Britain or to a neutral port.
 This ultimatum was rejected so the British
bombarded the fleet of French warships.
 This along with the evacuation of the British troops
at Dunkirk damaged French and British relations.
Outcomes
 However, this bombardment and the rebuilding of
Britain’s army assured America of Britain’s strength.
 The loss of France as an ally caused Britain to have to
fight war at sea and in the air for the next four years
until D Day.
 France was divided into two zones: Northern France
which was occupied by Germany and south east
France which was under the control of Pétain’s
government.
 The resistance group Free France was formed.
Vichy Government
 After signing the armistice with Germany, France
was separated into two zones. The French state or
Vichy was governed by Philippe Pétain.
 Pétain’s government collaborated with Hitler and
his Nazis on many occasions although they did not
enforce such extreme measures as Germany.
 Vichy implemented measure against the
undesirables in society, such as the Jews and
communists, and aimed at reviving the French race.
Nazi Supporter Diary
May 19, 1940
Dear Diary,
It is a proud time for those of us who have noble German blood running through our veins.
Our once downtrodden and humiliated nation has risen again even stronger than before. Under the
command of the visionary Adolf Hitler Germany will take back what the Allies stole from her in the Treaty
of Versailles. We will do this by ridding ourselves of the vermin who forced us to sign the treaty. I am
talking about the Jews. It is time that we rid ourselves invaders who stole our jobs, women and much
more. We must purify our land so that only those of the pure race remain.
Hitler and his Nazi army have been gaining strength and have fighting techniques so
superior that even the mighty French fell to his knees in a mere six weeks. With his blitzkrieg attack
tactics and his unparalleled mechanized warfare technique Hitler is unstoppable.
I have lived in France for twenty years of my life but still I feel no loyalty to the weak
country. My loyalty lies with my ancestors in the proud Germany and with our Fuhrer Adolf Hitler. Never
have I been so exhilarated than when I saw the first Nazi soldiers marching through the streets of Paris
just last week. The Jew-loving cowards who call themselves the French government have fled to
Bordeaux and are on the brink of surrender. However, Philippe Pétain remains a voice of reason amongst
those old fools. He advocates for an armistice with Germany for he is an intelligent man and realizes that
Hitler will not be overthrown.
Nazi Supporter Diary
Unfortunately, not all residents of France have been as welcoming to Hitler and his Nazis as
I. There are those who rebel against his regime and fight for continued warfare. Are these so-called
resistance fighters so delusional that they cannot see the German victory? By far the most ridiculous
among them is General Charles de Gaulle. That coward makes speeches over the radio from
London because he doesn’t have the courage to return to France after his flight. It’s amusing how he
tells us to be strong and fight against Hitler whilst he is hidden away in his little corner of England.
The future is bright for Germany and I cannot wait to be a part of a nation in which we are
ridden of the disgusting vermin who walk among us. A nation of purity.
- Sincerely,
Ralph Klein
Free France
 A movement from 1940-1945 for the continuation of
warfare against Germany after the fall of France.
 After the government left Paris, Charles de Gaulle
fled to London where he broadcast a series of
speeches urging the French people to resist the
German rule.
 On June 28th de Gaulle was recognized as the leader
of the Free France movement and from London he
was able to begin building up the French forces.
Free France
 At first Free France consisted of French troops who
were evacuated to Britain, the French community in
Britain and a few units of the French navy.
 Many French colonies in Africa, India and the Pacific
soon joined the movement and Free France
continued to gain support throughout the war.
Free France Diary
June 22nd, 1940
It has happened. France has surrendered to the German army. We have lost
the battle of France and have been overwhelmed by the mechanized German forces.
Even as I write this, the Germans are marching through the streets of our beloved Paris.
The government has been forced to flee to Bordeaux. We have signed a treaty with the
enemy in the very railroad carriage in which we had them surrender in 1918. I never
thought I would see the day that France would fall and with this fall comes our utter
humiliation.
At a time when it seems like all hope for the future of France is lost there is
one man who brings me, and other patriotic Frenchmen like me, hope that all is not lost.
General Charles de Gaulle has made a series of speeches over the radio from London
these past few days and I must say that his conviction and perseverance is uplifting to
those of us who do not agree with Pétain’s government.
General de Gaulle speaks of the continuation of the fight against the German
army. He speaks of the immense power of our allies Britain and America and how, with
their support, we would be able to turn the tables on Germany so that they will be the ones
who are humiliated. He is right. This is a World War. France is not powerless and it is
certainly not alone. With the aid of our allies Germany would not stand a chance of
winning this war.
Free France Diary
Since the beginning of Europe, France has been a proud and powerful
country. Why should we give in to the demands of a lunatic just because he won one
battle? As de Gaulle says anyone who has honour, common sense and the higher
interests of France at their heart would clearly see that surrendering to Germany is not the
course of action that we should take. I, as a proud member of the French army, know
these qualities as well as any and I will not sit back and watch these oppressive invaders
take over the country that I am proud to call home.
I shall take up General de Gaulle’s call to arms and travel to London to join
him and the rest of the Free France movement. Together with our allies we will drive Hitler
and the Germans out of France and take our beloved country back from those cowards
who sit in our parliament. We will not tolerate the treason they committed when they
signed France over to the control of the bloodthirsty Nazis. Together we will restore France
to its former glory.
- Sincerely,
Corporal Jacques Dubois
Works Cited
"Fall of France." History.co.uk. History Channel, n.d.
Web. 02 Apr. 2013.
"France Surrenders, 1940." France Surrenders, 1940.
N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2013.
"Free French (French History)." Encyclopedia Britannica
Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 02
Apr. 2013.
Gaulle, Charles De. "The Flame of French Resistance."
The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 29
Apr. 2007. Web. 02 Apr. 2013.
Works Cited
Hickman, Kennedy. "World War I: Marshal
Philippe Pétain." About.com Military History.
N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2013.
Sheffield, Gary. "The Fall of France." BBC News. BBC, 30
Mar. 2011. Web. 02 Apr. 2013.
"The Vichy Regime." The Vichy Regime. The AmericanIsraeli Cooperative Enterprise, n.d. Web. 03 Apr.
2013.