Why France Lost in 1940
- Operational and Tactical Inferiority
- Doctrine “Methodical Battle” French doctrine played a huge part in the defeat, since many of the issues in the French army were directly or indirectly due to doctrine. ...
- Poor Senior and General Leadership ...
- Lack of Effective Combined Arms ...
- Consequences on the Ground ...
Why did France lose so quickly in WW2?
It only took a few weeks for the entire country to fall. The reasons for the sudden defeat of France in 1940 were numerous and varied. They included a failure of leadership, both at the military and the political level. The army of France was not only poorly led but had been equipped with inferior arms and equipment.
What caused the fall of France in World War 2?
The Fall of France in the Second World War. Between 9 May and 22 June 1940, a remarkable German assault on north-west Europe, known as the Battle of France, resulted in the capture and subjugation of not only France but three other countries – Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Belgium. It also witnessed the retreat of the British Army and its ...
How did Germany take over France in World War 2?
On November 10, 1942, German troops occupy Vichy France, which had previously been free of an Axis military presence. Since July 1940, upon being invaded and defeated by Nazi German forces, the autonomous French state had been split into two regions.
How much did World War 2 cost France?
France estimated the total cost at an amount equivalent to three times the total French annual national income. Belgium and the Netherlands suffered damage roughly in similar proportions to their resources.
Why did the French give up in ww2?
France surrendered to the Nazis in 1940 for complex reasons. The proximate cause, of course, was the success of the German invasion, which left metropolitan France at the mercy of Nazi armies. But the German victory opened profound rifts in French society.
Why did France lose against Germany?
The Super Simple Reason Nazi Germany Crushed France During World War II. One word: Leadership. In May 1940, the German Wehrmacht launched a lightning attack into France and within weeks destroyed the combined French and British armies.
Did France lose or win ww2?
The phoney war ensued, until 1940, when the Germans invaded and overran northern France, forcing the British from the continent. France formally surrendered.
Has France ever won a war?
The Wars of Religion crippled France in the late 16th century, but a major victory over Spain in the Thirty Years' War made France the most powerful nation on the continent once more.
Why was Germany so powerful in ww2?
The German Air Force (Luftwaffe) provided close air support, bombing key objectives and establishing local air superiority. Radio communications were the key to effective Blitzkrieg operations, enabling commanders to coordinate the advance and keep the enemy off balance.
Why did France leave NATO?
France had the option of withdrawing from NATO if the other two countries reject the idea of an equal share of leadership. De Gaulle wished to keep absolute control over his military.
Who saved France in ww2?
After more than four years of Nazi occupation, Paris is liberated by the French 2nd Armored Division and the U.S. 4th Infantry Division.
Is France a full member of NATO?
France is one of the 12 founding members of NATO. As General de Gaulle put it, the aim was to change the form of our Alliance without changing its substance.
Why did the Germans defeat France in 1940?
Hitler ordered a conquest of the Low Countries to be executed at the shortest possible notice to forestall the French and prevent Allied air power from threatening the industrial area of the Ruhr. It would also provide the basis for a long-term air and sea campaign against Britain.
Why is France known for surrendering?
The consensus among historians is that this trope comes from the French capitulation to the Nazis in WWII. Within a matter of weeks, Hitler was able to capture Paris and force the French into submission.
Why did Germany lose the war?
Germany had four key fatal weaknesses in the Second World War. These were: the lack of productivity of its war economy, the weak supply lines, the start of a war on two fronts, and the lack of strong leadership.
Why did Germany fail to win the Battle of Britain?
It suffered from constant supply problems, largely as a result of underachievement in aircraft production. Germany's failure to defeat the RAF and secure control of the skies over southern England made invasion all but impossible.
Why did the Germans lose the war?
Commanders were too focused on lessons from the First World War; they couldn’t think about the actual war they had to wage in the present. They were unable to adapt. The Germans – by contrast – took risks.
What happened in 1940 in France?
After several months of “phoney war”, the German army finally attacked France and the Low Countries on May 10, 1940. In less than a fortnight, the Wehrmacht swept through the country from the north. The French army was one of the most powerful in the world, but it seems that it was unable to hold out – leading to France’s great debacle ...
How many men did the French army have in 1914?
The French army had the equipment and personnel – five million men, more than they had in 1914 – to really take the Germans on. Defence spending had been rising since the mid-1930s, making it possible to bolster the air force, to build a powerful naval fleet, ensure a well-equipped army and to build the Maginot line, a fortified boundary on France’s eastern borders.
What prevented the Germans from crossing the Scheldt Canal?
French infantrymen prevented the Germans from crossing the Scheldt Canal between May 21 and May 26, thereby delaying the Wehrmacht’s advance north. The six infantry divisions of the French 1 st Army provide another good example.
Where did the Germans concentrate their tanks during the Battle of France?
They concentrated their tanks in the Ardennes, on difficult terrain, between the Maginot Line and the main body of the French army in the north. Then they smashed through the Ardennes while the French army had gone north, to fight the Wehrmacht divisions that had gone through Belgium. So they encircled the Allied forces, penning them in towards the English Channel, before heading south towards Paris. That was when the French army collapsed.
What was the French army in 1939?
The French army of 1939-40 is strongly associated with the inglorious “phoney war”, then the military defeat in May-June 1940 followed by the collapse of its politics into collaboration in June 1940. This is still remembered as a huge defeat in the French collective memory.
How many people died in the Battle of France?
The German military lost 30 percent of its tanks and planes during the Battle of France. Its death toll is estimated at 27,000 killed and missing in June and 21,000 in May.
Why were the French so slow in their response to the Germans?
As a matter of fact, the Germans had assessed before the campaign that the French would be slow in part because they emphasized communications security, which meant that they had few radios or other means of receiving urgent orders. 83 They were right: to prevent communications intercepts, the French privileged the phone, along with telegrams and couriers. 84 Because of this and the above-mentioned doctrinal elements and their byproducts, the French reaction time was dreadfully slow. When an important order reached the units concerned, it was often already too late. 85 Units on the move could seldom be contacted, and on average – at least during the first eight/nine days of the campaign, when General Gamelin was commander-in-chief – about 48 hours were spent before an order arrived from the Grand quartier général (the French top headquarters) to the frontline units concerned. 86
What were the problems with the French in 1940?
All these intertwined issues – inadequate doctrine and all its byproducts, poor operational and tactical leadership, lack of effective combined arms, and poor communication systems – resulted in dramatic operational and tactical inferiority. Because of these issues – especially doctrine – the French forces were unable to improvise, quickly react to changing circumstances, had no clue how to quickly organize large counterattacks involving more than a few units, and were dreadfully slow. Such issues were critical in the kind of fast-paced warfare that Germany imposed on France in 1940. As a matter of fact, the Germans had, before the campaign, rightly identified slowness as a byproduct of French doctrine. Indeed, they had anticipated that the French had a naturally slow action or response rate. 93
Why did the French have tactical inferiority?
Too often, the French failed to efficiently integrate infantry, armor, and air power to conduct operations. Tanks tended to act with little to no coordination with the infantry, and air units were too rarely able to directly support ground units. There are reasons for such a lack of effective combined arms. The circumstances on the ground, the lack of adequate materiel, and the air military structure and doctrine, are some of the main reasons why it was so difficult for the French to wage efficient combined arms operations.
What is the most mythical thing about the fall of France?
One of the most die-hard myths about the Fall of France concerns French bravery. As a matter of fact, the Battle of France features many examples of French military gallantry.
Who were the two commanders in charge of the French war in 1940?
The French strategic leadership in 1940 was bad to terrible. The two commanders-in-chief of the campaign, Generals Maurice Gamelin and Maxime Weygand, along with the civilian leadership – especially Philippe Pétain – behaved in a way that greatly impaired France’s ability to successfully fight the war against Germany.
What happened in May 1940?
France, May 1940. The Germans cross the Ardennes forest and break through Sedan after eight months of “Phoney War.” Six weeks later, France signs an armistice and officially loses the war – at least for the time being. How did that happen? How could France, considered at the time a great military power, lose so quickly?
Why did France lose the 1940 war?
The result, was that the French lost the overall 1940 campaign in France and Belgium, not due to cowardice or even not having tanks… but because their overall strategy for the battle was poor with no contingencies for what might be unexpected (as Gamelin had no real reserves to counter the Ardennes thrust), which made the lack of tactical development after WWI come off as even worse, which served to destroy the French government… Reynaud resigned, as he had wished to fight on from North Africa while Petain, who had hated the Republican government even BEFORE World War I and had been a vocal admirer of Fascism took over the government and asked Germany for an armistice… In this, the Third Republic lost the war… but that isn’t the end of France’s history… nor its government in WW2.
Why did France surrender to Germany?
No, France was victorious eventually. Honestly, the only reason the French surrendered to Germany was because Prime Minister Petain lost his nerve. Many thousands of French soldiers died during the invasion and very few were shot in the back.
What was the name of the French state that was recognized by the US in 1940?
Vichy France/The French State (Recognized 1940–1943): The fall of the Third Republic and Petain’s rise to power eventually set up Petain as France’s official leader. He’d won recognition from all the powers of Europe and from the US. About the only country that DIDN’T recognize Vichy France was Britain, primarily as the British had turned to support De Gaulle’s Free French movement…
Why did De Gaulle refuse to surrender France?
On top of it, De Gaulle regularly insisted that Vichy was not a legitimate government. So, France had not surrendered because it was not the true French government which surrendered. The true French government was his own, since 1940 in London then Alger.
What was the first war in France?
The first war, the so-called Sitzkrieg and the Battle of France (3 September 1939–22 June 1940), was a French defeat. Then France fought what was effectively a civil war, the Free French and the Resistance against the Axis and Vichy France tacitly supporting the Axis, until the Free French prevailed in 1944.
What was the first war?
The first war, the so-called Sitzkrieg and the Battle of France (3 September 1939–22 June 1940), was a Frenc. Continue Reading. I heard a joke from a Frenchman a long time ago that said “America won the war, and all France got was de Gaulle,” using “de Gaulle” as a double entrendre for both the Free French leader and also for the ancient name ...
How many people died in WW2?
Not only our “glorious nation” is NOT remotely responsible, NOT even a tiny bit, for the 60 millions dead resulting of WW2.
What was the failure of the Allied intelligence services to identify the timing and direction of the German attack?
The failure of the Allied intelligence services to identify the timing and direction of the German attack is on a par with Pearl Harbour. Despite indications of troop movements and bridging, the Germans achieved surprise, and allied reconnaissance aircraft failed to notice columns of German armour heading into the Ardennes. As all too often in history those in charge tended to ignore information that contradicted expectations and plans. Nor did the allies understand and react to the evidence of German capabilities despite the evidence from the Polish campaign.
What was the most dramatic event of the Second World War?
Hitler and entourage in Paris June 1940. The collapse of France and the Low Countries in 1940 was one of the most dramatic and unexpected events in the Second World War. France was the world’s leading military power. Its ally Britain was the world’s leading naval power. Both had stronger economies than Germany, ...
What was the name of the fortress that was captured by German troops?
The Belgian fortress at Eban Emael near Maastricht was captured by glider borne German troops. The bombing of Rotterdam was reported by the world media as “Nazi frightfulness”, the airborne landings cost the Germans aircraft and men in what was really just a feint.
Which country took the lead in both appeasement at Munich and in declaring war in 1939?
The British took the lead in both appeasement at Munich and in declaring war in 1939. Britain had the stronger economy and should have been an equal partner. Yet much of British re-armament was directed to defending Britain from air attack and the supposed deterrent of its strategic bomber force.
Where to see French armour in 1940?
The best place to see 1940 French armour is the French Musee des Blindees Army Tank museum at Saumur. The nearby battlefield site of the doomed defence of the Loire bridges is a reminder of the gallantry shown by many French troops, often overlooked in accounts of the campaign.
Who was the first historian to write objectively about the fall of France?
Leffrinckoucke. The first historian to write objectively about the Fall of France was a medieval historian called Marc Bloch , who served as a staff officer in the French First Army 1940 and was evacuated through Dunkirk. He wrote his book “Strange Victory” in September 1940 while in hiding.
Did the Germans invent a new form of warfare?
This term was coined by the media, not the Germans. It was more a description of the results of the battle rather than a deliberate tactic. However, the German invasion of the Netherlands was preceded by an advance guard dressed as Dutch policemen and audacious airborne landings seizing the ground for the panzers. The end of hostilities was marked by the bombing of Rotterdam.
Why was the French quick defeat important?
The quick defeat is customarily ascribed to a mixture of the French High Command’s effort to refight the systematic battle of the First World War, against Germany’s acceptance of modern mobile, all–arms combat. While philosophical reasons played a large role in the outcome, something much more basic and human might have been the decisive factor: intelligent, fearless and sometimes brutal leadership when the forces of both nations met.
Why did France move infantry into Belgium?
The French planned to quickly move large numbers of infantry divisions into Belgium to counter the Wehrmacht as far forward as possible.
What was the main objective of German armor?
A main objective of German armor was the penetration of the Meuse River at Sedan, just inside the French border. Lt. Col. Hermann Balck, who distinguished himself later as among the most talented battle leaders, led the tip of the attack.
Why did Germany send in large numbers of mechanized divisions to Belgium and the Netherlands?
Germany sent in large numbers of mechanized divisions to Belgium and the Netherlands to have the Franco-British alliance believe its intelligence was correct and that the major attack would come from the north. German troops in Paris, 1940. Photo Credit.
What was the decisive factor in the war between the two nations?
While philosophical reasons played a large role in the outcome, something much more basic and human might have been the decisive factor: intelligent, fearless and sometimes brutal leadership when the forces of both nations met.
When did France start modernizing its army?
France in comparison rebuilt its armed forces following World War 1, and in the early part of the 1930’s started a major modernization effort, motorizing many of its infantry divisions and beginning to assemble armored units.
Who was the commander of the Second French Army?
Senior officers of the High Command were sure their ideas and defensive preparations would have a positive outcome against any German attack, especially Gen. Charles Huntziger, commander of the Second French Army.
When did France declare war on Germany?
On 3 September 1939, France had declared war on Germany, following the German invasion of Poland. In early September 1939, France began the limited Saar Offensive. By mid-October, the French had withdrawn to their start lines. The Germans invaded Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands on 10 May, Italy entered the war on 10 June 1940 ...
Who declared war on France and Britain?
While Italy declared war on France and Britain on 10 June, it was not prepared for war and made little impact during the last two weeks of fighting in the Italian invasion of France. Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was aware of this and sought to profit from German successes. Mussolini felt the conflict would soon end and he reportedly said to the Army's Chief-of-Staff, Marshal Badoglio, "I only need a few thousand dead so that I can sit at the peace conference as a man who has fought." In a two-week battle, the Army of the Alps (General René Olry) mostly repelled the numerically superior Italian Army. When the armistice took effect on the 25 June, only the town of Menton and a few alpine passes had been gained by Mussolini's army.
What was the first army in France?
The Seventh Army ( Général d'armée Henri Giraud ), BEF (General Lord Gort ), First Army ( Général d'armée Georges Maurice Jean Blanchard) and Ninth Army ( Général d'armée André Corap) were ready to advance to the Dyle Line, by pivoting on the right (southern) Second Army. The Seventh Army would take over west of Antwerp, ready to move into Holland and the Belgians were expected to delay a German advance, then retire from the Albert Canal to the Dyle, from Antwerp to Louvain. On the Belgian right, the BEF was to defend about 20 km (12 mi) of the Dyle from Louvain to Wavre with nine divisions and the First Army, on the right of the BEF, was to hold 35 km (22 mi) with ten divisions from Wavre across the Gembloux Gap to Namur. The gap from the Dyle to Namur north of the Sambre, with Maastricht and Mons on either side, had few natural obstacles and was a traditional route of invasion, leading straight to Paris. The Ninth Army would take post south of Namur, along the Meuse to the left (northern) flank of the Second Army.
How many divisions did the Allies lose in Fall Gelb?
Overall, the Allies had lost 61 divisions in Fall Gelb. Weygand was faced with the prospect of defending a long front (stretching from Sedan to the channel), with a greatly depleted French Army now lacking significant Allied support. Weygand had only 64 French divisions and the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division available. Weygand lacked the reserves to counter a breakthrough or to replace frontline troops, should they become exhausted from a prolonged battle on a front of 965 km (600 mi). The Germans had 142 divisions to use and air supremacy, except over the English Channel.
How many aircraft did the Luftwaffe have?
The Dutch Air Force, ( Militaire Luchtvaartafdeling, ML), had a strength of 144 combat aircraft, half of which were destroyed on the first day.
How many aircraft did the Allies have?
The Armée de l'Air had 1,562 aircraft, RAF Fighter Command 680 and RAF Bomber Command could contribute about 392 aircraft. Some Allied types, like the Fairey Battle, were approaching obsolescence. In the fighter force, only the British Hawker Hurricane, the US Curtiss Hawk 75 and the Dewoitine D.520 were a match for the German Messerschmitt Bf 109, the D.520 being more manoeuvrable although being slightly slower. On 10 May 1940, only 36 D.520s had been delivered. The Allies outnumbered the Germans in fighter aircraft, with 81 Belgian, 261 British and 764 French fighters (1,106) against 836 German Bf 109s. The French and British had more aircraft in reserve.
What countries did the United Kingdom and France offer military support to Poland in the likely case of a German invasion?
France and the United Kingdom declared war on 3 September, after an ultimatum for German forces immediately to withdraw their forces from Poland was not answered. Australia and New Zealand also declared war on 3 September, South Africa on 6 September and Canada on 10 September. While British and French commitments to Poland were met politically, the Allies failed to fulfill their military obligations to Poland. The possibility of Soviet assistance to Poland had ended with the Munich Agreement of 1938, after which the Soviet Union and Germany eventually negotiated the Nazi–Soviet Pact, which included an agreement to partition Poland. The Allies settled on a long-war strategy in which they would complete the rearmament plans of the 1930s while fighting a defensive land war against Germany and weakening its war economy with a trade blockade, ready for an eventual invasion of Germany.
Why did France surrender to the Nazis?
France surrendered to the Nazis in 1940 for complex reasons. The proximate cause, of course, was the success of the German invasion, which left metropolitan France at the mercy of Nazi armies. But the German victory opened profound rifts in French society.
What would happen if the French government had decided to go into exile in the Empire?
If the French government had decided to go into exile in the Empire, rather than re-establish itself in the German protectorate at Vichy, then the rest of World War II might have gone very differently.
Why did Japan occupy Indochina?
In the Pacific, Japan occupied French Indochina (first in part, and then wholly) because of the collaboration of the Vichy regime. Had the French government remained at war with Germany, authorities in Indochina would have had both the means and the motivation to resist Japanese advances.
What would have made it difficult for the Axis to sustain operations in Africa?
Italy struggled to supply Libya when faced with just the British; the presence of the French fleet, as well as an active military threat in Tunisia, would have made it very difficult for the Axis to sustain operations in Africa.
Why did the French cooperate with the Nazis?
The biggest reason that many French decided to collaborate with the Nazis was fear of what Germany would otherwise do to occupied France. To be sure, the Germans took great care in 1940 and 1941 to assure the French of their (relatively) benign intentions.
What assets did France have to fight the Axis powers?
France had extensive assets available to continue its resistance against the Axis powers. The French Fleet was the most notable of these; France possessed two of the world’s most modern fast battleships, numerous powerful cruisers and destroyers, and a host of support vessels. Had the French acted with any speed to the success of the German Ardennes offensive, this fleet could have evacuated a substantial portion of the French Army to Britain and to North Africa, possibly with much of its equipment intact.
Did France go to polanization?
Still, France mostly avoided “Polanisation,” the complete destruction of the national unit that the Germans carried out in the East. Without a Vichy, the situation might have gone much worse for France, especially if the military continued an effective resistance from the Empire.
What Happened to France After World War One?
- France had been fearful of Germany ever since the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71. In this war, the Prussians had quickly defeated the French and occupied much of the country. In World War I, The Germans had come very close to defeating the French, and without allied assistance, the co…
How Did The German Army Move So Quickly Through France?
- Between the world wars, the German army developed the Blitzkrieg tactics. This strategy was based on high-speed and mobile attacks on the enemy’s weak points, and it proved devastating in France.The German victory was founded on a plan developed by the great military strategies, General Erich von Manstein. He adopted the Schlieffen Plan that was almost successful in WW I…
Was France Prepared For The German Invasion?
- French military tactics were extremely outdated at the start of the war. They had failed to recognize that warfare had fundamentally changed since the First World War. They were over-reliant upon the Maginot Line, and they believed that this would stop any German invasion in its track. Since they did not believe that could defeat Germany outright, they hoped that the Magino…
Why Did France Have Poor Military and Political Leadership?
- In 1940, the French general staff was led by General Maurice Gamelan, an officer widely respected. A veteran and war hero of the First World War, he was credited with developing the strategy that led to the decisive French victory at the Marne in 1914. He had also tried unsuccessfully, to modernize the army. But Gamelin was suffering from a serious illness, whos…
The Fall of France - What Role Did Defeatism Play?
- France was a powerful country with a large army and a vast Empire that stretched around the globe, but it was not cohesive. It had stark political conflicts, and many politicians were more loyal to their political party than their country. People on both the extreme Left such as the Communists or the extreme right hated the French government so virulently, their support of the French gover…
Introduction
Intelligence Failure
- Even before the campaign was fought, the French faced a disadvantage because of an utter intelligence failure. While the French had, at first, correctly guessed that Germany intended to attack mainly through Belgium, they completely failed to reassess German intentions over time and were eventually fooled by the enemy when they attacked through the Ardennes and Sedan. …
Doctrine
- “Methodical Battle” French doctrine played a huge part in the defeat, since many of the issues in the French army were directly or indirectly due to doctrine. It was not tailored for fast-paced warfare, it did not encourage officers to improvise, and it made the French extremely slow. Doctrine probably is the most critical factor in explaining French defeat. Following France’s grea…
Poor Senior and General Leadership
- The French military leadership was overall poor at the operational and tactical levels.50Doctrine contributed to extremely poor leadership, but not only; for whatever reason, some of the French leaders “simply” made bad decisions and acted “objectively” poorly. The seeds of bad leadership were seemingly planted in the interwar period, following the...
Lack of Effective Combined Arms
- Another critical issue which helps to explain French tactical inferiority was the lack of effective combined arms. Too often, the French failed to efficiently integrate infantry, armor, and air power to conduct operations. Tanks tended to act with little to no coordination with the infantry, and air units were too rarely able to directly support ground units. There are reasons for such a lack of e…
Poor Communications
- One issue among the French forces was communications: the French were very reluctant to use radios, which made them even slower. As a matter of fact, the Germans had assessed before the campaign that the French would be slow in part because they emphasized communications security, which meant that they had few radios or other means of receiving urgent orders.83 The…
Consequences on The Ground
- All these intertwined issues – inadequate doctrine and all its byproducts, poor operational and tactical leadership, lack of effective combined arms, and poor communication systems – resulted in dramatic operational and tactical inferiority. Because of these issues – especially doctrine – the French forces were unable to improvise, quickly react to changing circumstances, had no clu…
Poor Strategic Leadership
- The French strategic leadership in 1940 was bad to terrible. The two commanders-in-chief of the campaign, Generals Maurice Gamelin and Maxime Weygand, along with the civilian leadership – especially Philippe Pétain – behaved in a way that greatly impaired France’s ability to successfully fight the war against Germany.
Military Leadership
- One mistake Gamelin made was to sacrifice a significant portion of the French strategic reserve – the 7th Army, which contained some of France’s best and most mobile troops – thus impeding the French from responding to an unexpected German move in case of operational surprise.109 Gamelin had seemingly good reasons to do so.110 However, he made a terrible mistake by igno…
Civilian Leadership
- The French strategic civilian leadership also had flaws which impaired France’s ability to win the war in 1940. The French President of the Council (the Premier), Paul Reynaud, was not decisive enough and failed to emerge as a strong figure who could give a clear direction to France in such critical times. He would have liked to keep fighting from Brittany or North Africa, but he was nev…