Fall of France and Dunkirk
On 10 May 1940, Germany launched Case Yellow — its offensive against France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg — with the decisive stroke through the Ardennes forest, where General Erich von Manstein's panzer groups cut through terrain the French had deemed impassable and raced to the English Channel, cutting off the Allied forces in Belgium. The encircled British Expeditionary Force and French and Belgian allies were evacuated from Dunkirk between 26 May and 4 June in Operation Dynamo — 338,000 men rescued in an armada of destroyers, merchant ships, and 'little ships' — but losing virtually all their equipment. France armisticed on 22 June 1940. What had been expected to be another four-year stalemate collapsed in six weeks. The humiliation shattered the myth of French military power and left Britain alone. On 18 June, the day after France's capitulation, Brigadier General Charles de Gaulle broadcast from London: 'France has lost a battle. But France has not lost the war.' The German victory was not inevitable; it was produced by an audacious operational plan and a collapse of French command, confidence, and will.
- Year: 1940 CE
- Category: Military
