L1 - Blitzkrieg and the battle for France Flashcards
(7 cards)
Reasons for the development of Blitzkrieg
The German Army lacked numbers for their military which means they had to avoide a war of attrition and trench warefare at all costs.
The Phases of Blitzkrieg
Phase 1: Identify the weak point in the defence and concertrate artillery and aircraft to shell and bomb it.
Phase 2: Tanks and motorised units push deep behind enemy lines and look to flank and encircle the enemy.
Phase 3: The infantry comes in and finishes off any remaining resistance
Germany’s preparation for the battle of France
Developed ‘case yellow’ which was to entice the main allied forces into north france and belgium where they would surround them with a ‘pincer’ movement.
It included a diversionary attack against the French ‘Maginot Line’ to draw troops away from the main threat
The main thrust was launched through the Ardennes forest which was very unexpected
Germany had 2445 tanks, 5638 aircraft, 3.35 million troops
Allied preparation for the battle of France
French, British and Belgium troops were placed in defensive positions along the French and Belgium Boarders.
The French spent 3 million Francs on the Maginot Line which they hoped would be enough to stop any German advancement.
British and French tactics hadn’t developed much since WW1 which made them think it would be another war of attrition and trench networks.
Allied strength was 4000 tanks, 2900 aircraft, 3.3 million troops
How the German army was able to defeat Allied armies in France
On the 10th of May Germany started sending paratroopers into Belgium and the Netherlands.
On the 11th of May British and French end troops there which weakened there centre.
On the 13th of May the German Army launches the main frces through the Ardennes Forest which was very unexpected.
From the 15th-21st May the German Army used ‘Blitzkrieg’ to break through makor Allied defensive line and push them up towards the English Channel.
On the 24th of May 400,000 Allied troops were forced back to Dunkirk.
How the Royal Navy was able to evacuate British and French forces from Dunkirk
The Royal Navy launched Operation Dynamo (May–June 1940), using over 800 boats, including civilian vessels, to rescue troops. They took advantage of fog and Luftwaffe delays, and evacuated over 338,000 soldiers, despite heavy German attacks. Strong organisation, bravery, and calm seas helped make the evacuation a success.
The consequences of Dunkirk and the Battle of France
Good: Over 338,000 Allied troops were evacuated, boosting British morale. Churchill called it a “colossal military disaster”
Bad: Around 73,000 Allied soldiers were killed, 1.75 million captured. The Allies abandoned thousands of military equipment.
France fell to Germany in 22nd June 1940, leaving Britain isolated against Germany
