L1 Flashcards
1
Q
how royal navy was able to evacuate allied forces from Dunkirk
A
- use of little ships
- weather =calm
- ships could park next to boats
- Gr halt order = space and opportunity to escape
2
Q
phases of Blitzkrieg
A
- identify weak spot and break through enemy lines
- smoke screens + paratroopers behind the enemy lines
- clean up pockets of resistance
3
Q
preparation for the battle of France (allies)
A
- defensive along border of Fr + Belgium
- 3 billion Fr in building Maginot Line
- tactics x developed much as expect attrition + trench network
- 4000 tanks, 2900 aircraft, 3.3mil troops
4
Q
how the Gr army was able to defeat allied forces in Fr
A
- 10th May 1940: paratroopers invade Bel + Netherlands
- 11th May: allied defence weakened as multiple divisions were sent to Bel where Gr were
- 13th: Gr launch main focus of offensive thru Ardennes Forest
- 15th- 21st: Blitzkrieg breaks thru/ push allied to Eng Channel
- 24th: ~400k allies forced back to Dunkirk = trapped
5
Q
reasons for the development of Blitzkrieg
A
- best way to avoid an attritional, trench-based war just like WW1
- believed using large concentration of tanks w infantry and air force in close support would avoid the development of attritional warfare and lead to swift victory + short war
6
Q
consequences of Dunkirk & Battle of France
A
- France defended by weaker force + surrenders 22nd June + ends in 25th
- over 73000 allies were killed, 1.75mil men captured
- Brit army survived + small amount of Fr army
- Brit = stand alone against Nazi’s who invaded Poland successfully, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands +France
- intension= knock Brit out of war
7
Q
the preparation for Battle of France (German)
A
- April 1940, Hitler felt sufficiently prepared to launch offensive
- case yellow -> entice main allied force in N Fr + Bel where would be surrounded by huge ‘pincer movement’
- attack Maginot line to draw attention h/w launched thru Ardennes forest which was unexpected
- 2445 tanks, 5838 aircrafts, 3.35mil troops
