Invasion of france (Dunkirk)
Notes:
- 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)
- 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 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
- 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
Summary: When the Germans invaded France, the British forces were surrounded, and ordered an evacuation. The battle was considered a victory but many people including Winston Churchill believe it was the wrong thing to do.
Subjective question: What would the outcome be if the British stayed and fought?
Quote: "Wars are not won by evacuations" - Winston Churchill
Picture:
Cartoon
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