Hitler Invades France

June 1940

• After the Low Countries surrendered to Nazi forces, the German army is on the doorstep of France
• The French are not prepared to defend against a full scale invasion from the German army
• Between the two wars 1919 – 1939, the French had built a long line of fortresses along its border with Germany called the Maginot Line
• Hitler knows about the fortresses so he decided to send his army through Belgium then into France therefore moving around, rather then through the fortresses
• Hitler uses his Blitzkrieg tactics to cross in to Northern France. The French put up stiff resistance helped by a small British army
• The German army with its armored divisions are simply too powerful and they push the British and French back to the port of Dunkirk, where they are transported by ship to safety in England – 300,000 lives saved
• Paris will surrender on June 22, 1940. Hitler will take a tour of the city and will get the French to sign the terms of surrender in the same railway coach used in World War One
• Since France is such a large country the Nazi army will occupy the Northern section but the rest of France – 70%, will become a Nazi puppet government called Vichy France
• A large underground resistance movement will be started in France led by General Charles de Gaulle – the Nazi forces are terrorized by the French underground for the 4 years they occupied France
• Everyone from merchants, barbers, doctors and prostitutes will offer their services to help the French underground resist the Nazis
• Unfortunately many Jews were caught and handed over to the Nazis to be transported to a variety of concentration camps throughout Europe
• France will be one of the first countries to be liberated in June, 1944