Invasion of France (Dunkirk)
The Invasion of France:
The Germans break through the Dyle Line of defenses and the Ardennes and rush to the coast
They surround approximately 500,000 troops by May 27 (17 days)
Dunkirk:
The British realized they were surrounded and ordered the navy to put together an evacuation
Also civilians
Almost 340,000 troops are rescued in a weeks time
The Germans hold up while this occurs?
Seen as a small Allied victory
The Fall of Paris:
The rest of France fell relatively quickly after the Dyle line fell and the British evacuated
Italy declares war on France June 10
Paris falls June 14
Rest of France falls June 22
Reasons:
•The Maginot line proved useless
•The Germans used their tanks much better
•The Luftwaffe was too strong
•Political dissention in France
Marshall Petain and Vichy France:
The terms of surrender are accepted by a new anti-war French Prime Minister known as Marshall Petain
He accepts the new borders of France in the south with the capital city at Vichy
They were puppets to the Germans
He became a collaborator like Quisling
The Free French Army that had escaped to England were organized by a General Charles De Gaulle
“Awakening a Sleeping Giant” Part I: The Giant Yawns;The American Reaction:
A quiet side note is that the American government passed a rapid military rebuilding campagin
18th behind Portugal to 2 million men 55 divisions (10 motorized)
‘The Two Ocean Naval Expansion Act’
Expand to largest navy in the World
The Fall of France also ends European worldwide dominance
The Germans break through the Dyle Line of defenses and the Ardennes and rush to the coast
They surround approximately 500,000 troops by May 27 (17 days)
Dunkirk:
The British realized they were surrounded and ordered the navy to put together an evacuation
Also civilians
Almost 340,000 troops are rescued in a weeks time
The Germans hold up while this occurs?
Seen as a small Allied victory
The Fall of Paris:
The rest of France fell relatively quickly after the Dyle line fell and the British evacuated
Italy declares war on France June 10
Paris falls June 14
Rest of France falls June 22
Reasons:
•The Maginot line proved useless
•The Germans used their tanks much better
•The Luftwaffe was too strong
•Political dissention in France
Marshall Petain and Vichy France:
The terms of surrender are accepted by a new anti-war French Prime Minister known as Marshall Petain
He accepts the new borders of France in the south with the capital city at Vichy
They were puppets to the Germans
He became a collaborator like Quisling
The Free French Army that had escaped to England were organized by a General Charles De Gaulle
“Awakening a Sleeping Giant” Part I: The Giant Yawns;The American Reaction:
A quiet side note is that the American government passed a rapid military rebuilding campagin
18th behind Portugal to 2 million men 55 divisions (10 motorized)
‘The Two Ocean Naval Expansion Act’
Expand to largest navy in the World
The Fall of France also ends European worldwide dominance