During World War II, the Battle of France became an important point in history, and on May 10, 1940, Germany invaded France, kicking off a war. The enemy seized control, and the Allies were in an unprecedented predicament. This article will delve into this historical moment, explore the key factors that could have changed the outcome of the French campaign, and draw valuable lessons from it to navigate today's complex geopolitical situation.
There are many moments in World War II, but today we will focus on a haunting point in history – the Battle of France. On May 10, 1940, German troops invaded France, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, opening a false campaign.
TWO FRENCH SOMUA S35. Via Bundesarchiv - CC BY-SA 3.0 de
At this moment, the enemy seized control and the Allies found themselves in an unprecedented predicament. Let's take a look back at this history that should never be forgotten and learn valuable lessons from it.
Stick to the backup plan: Uncover the two major operations of the German army in the French campaign
In World War II, the Germans devised two plans to ensure that they would always have the upper hand when attacking. The two main operations are "Fall Gelb" (Operation Autumn) and "Fall Rot" (Operation Red).
Case Yellow(秋季行动)
During the autumn operation, the German armed forces launched a full-scale operation in the Ardennes, cutting off and encircling Allied forces along the Somme valley, which had previously entered Belgium to counter the expected German threat. Faced with a mobile and well-organized German attack, British, Belgian and French forces were forced to retreat to sea. The British government successfully evacuated the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) as well as several French divisions in Dunkirk during Operation Dynamo.
Fall Rot（红色行动）
With the withdrawal of the BEF, the Germans immediately launched their second operation, Operation Red. Despite the resolute resistance of the French units at first, the air superiority and mobility of the German forces posed a great threat to the French troops. German armored units crossed the Maginot Line, rapidly advanced into France, and finally reached Paris with little hindrance.
German troops in Maastricht. via Federal Archives – CC BY-SA 3.0 de
This series of events threw the French government into chaos, effectively ending any organized French military resistance they had orchestrated for a counterattack. The German commander met with French officials on June 18, 1940, and forced them to accept all conditions. Marshal Philippe Pétain became the new prime minister, seizing power over France and its empire.
By taking a closer look at these two key operations, we can see the importance of a backup plan. In war, staying vigilant and having a realistic backup plan in place will be key to avoiding catastrophic consequences.
Upgrading Manpower and Eliminating Weaknesses: An Analysis of Hitler's French Campaign Plan
Before the French campaign, Hitler initially planned to take over the Low Countries first, as they were smaller, ill-prepared, and relatively weak. However, he quickly realized that a stronger military campaign was needed to defeat the countries of Western Europe, and he decided to conquer Eastern Europe first in order to avoid a two-front war.
Hitler's strategic thinking was based on the realistic assumption that it would take years for Germany's military power to become truly powerful. As a result, he took limited action, focusing on improving Germany's survivability in the long war with the Allies, avoiding leaving behind obvious weaknesses.
Manpower is upgraded in an all-round way
He ordered the conquest of the Low Countries in the shortest possible time, preventing France from gaining these areas first, protecting the German Ruhr area, and at the same time guarding against Allied threats in areas vital to him. This strategic move was intended to provide a more organized air and sea front to better counter the British.
Postpone the invasion plan
The invasion was planned to begin at the end of October 1939, but Hitler recognized that this date might not be realistic. In the face of warnings from the military, he postponed the attack, claiming that the reason for the wait was bad weather. This shows that Hitler looked at the full preparation of the army at the strategic level, ensuring that no obvious weaknesses were left in the operation.
Through an in-depth analysis of Hitler's plans, we see the importance he placed on manpower upgrades and his strategic flexibility. In this day and age, this strategic lesson is still worth pondering, especially in the face of a complex and volatile geopolitical situation.
Rommel in 1940. Both Rommel and Guderian ignored the instructions of the OKW and stopped after rushing out of the Meuse bridgehead.
Staying the course and not giving up the choice: French Prime Minister Renaud's choice
French Prime Minister Paul Reynaud, surprised and helpless in the face of German progress and takeover, fell into deep despair and was ready to give up. However, as the leader of the country, he understands that one cannot simply resign and wait for fate. Because it is about the freedom of the state, it is the right of their people. Although France fell into a defeatist mood and lost the ability to make decisions, the war had only just begun.
Determination not to give up
On May 15, Reynaud telephoned Britain's new prime minister, Winston Churchill, and succinctly said: "We have been defeated. We have been beaten; Churchill sensed Reynolds' despair, but he realized the need for comfort. He reminded Renault that the Germans had repeatedly broken through Allied lines in World War I, but were ultimately stopped. However, Renault fell into a frustration that he couldn't shake off.
Giving up equals failure?
Even without a backup plan, giving up immediately means that failure is inevitable. This moment reminds us that in the face of adversity and despair, leaders must stay the course and not give up. Reynolds' choice may make people understand his predicament, but it also reminds us not to surrender lightly in the darkest moments, because the possibility of the future is always there.
Through the experience of French Prime Minister Renaud, we can see the choices of leaders in times of crisis, which is also a valuable inspiration for our leadership today.
French soldiers in the German village of Lauterbach in Saarland
Communication is Crucial, Rehearsal Be Prepared: Lessons from the Allies in World War II
In World War II, the Allies showed a strong united front, but that unity was formed as everyone finally came together to develop a realistic plan. Due to a lack of basic coordination, poor organization, and poor decision-making, there was much turmoil in the Allied plans.
Communication is key
The success of the Allies was built on strong communication, and once everyone agreed, a realistic plan could be developed. However, the lack of coordination and organization led to a series of problems that showed the critical importance of communication in warfare.
The necessity of a backup plan
Unfortunately, some of the best Allied units were barely involved in the fighting. If these forces are retained, they will be able to carry out a decisive counterattack. Pre-war planning may have been more targeted, but a lack of foresight ultimately led to the failure of some of the best forces.
In June 1940, the newly arrived British troops of the 2nd BEF entered the front
Focus on weak points
Despite its superiority in manpower, France failed to properly exploit the opportunity and even failed to launch an attack on the vulnerable German salient. This allowed the Germans to respond effectively to the actions of the Allies, which eventually destroyed most of the French reserve divisions.
Rehearsal and comprehensive planning
In war, the value of rehearsals and comprehensive planning cannot be ignored. The lessons of the Allies have taught us that when time calls for it, it is essential to be well prepared and have a comprehensive plan. Hopefully, the future will no longer have to plan for something as horrific as World War II, but these lessons are still instructive for our decision-makers today.
German soldiers inspect an abandoned Belgian T-13 tank destroyer
Overall, some preparation and thorough planning is certainly useful when time calls for it. Hopefully, though, the world no longer needs to plan for something as horrific as World War II.