In 1940 France signs an Armistice with Nazi Germany ending the Battle for France.
On the 10th of May 1940 Hitler began his invasion of Western Europe and onto the Low countries in a campaign known as The Battle of France. In the early hours of the Morning Hitler gives his orders to German forces via radio. The code word “Danzig” announced by Hitler over the radio begins the first phase of the attack, “Operation Fall Gelb” (or case yellow), the invasion of Western Europe. First the Luftwaffe began bombing raids which was quickly followed by German parachute regiments dropping in and taking key positions such as bridges and roads. Within an hour German forces enter Holland, Belgium and Luxemburg and by lunchtime Luxemburg surrender to Nazi Germany. On the first day of the attacks the King of the United Kingdom asks Winston Churchill to take Neville Chamberlin’s place as Prime Minister. Over the next few days British and Belgium bombers attempt to slowdown the advancing German forces but without much success. On the 14th of May the Luftwaffe bomb Rotterdam in Holland, killing 30,000 civilians and the following day Holland surrenders while their King Escapes to England. Also on the 15th of May, French armoured division encounters German Panzers in Phillipeville, Holland but later that evening French troops are ordered to withdraw from Belgium.
On the 23rd of May the French city of Boulogne falls to German forces while Calais comes under siege. Between the 23rd and 26th of May 1940, 4,000 British and French troops held Calais in what became known as the siege or Battle of Calais. Despite being outnumbered by at least 3 to 1 and against superior artillery the 4,000 troops ignored offers to surrender and fought to the last, holding back German forces for three days. Of these 4,000 only 33 were recovered uninjured.
With Belgium surrendering to Germany on the 28th of May, Hitler’s plan is all but complete. On the 3rd of June the Luftwaffe bomb Paris to drive home the defeat of France and put fear into the hearts of French civilians.
With British and French forces being driven back and surrounded, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, addressed the nation and called upon all those that had boats to aid in the evacuation of the Allied forces. Hundreds of civilians came forward, some in fishing boats, to help the navy. The Evacuation effort was known as operation Dynamo and began on the 26th of May 1940 with the enormous task of evacuating almost half a million allied troops. The mission seemed impossible and it was assumed only a handful would survive.
By the 4th of June a total of 335,000 allied troops (198,000 British and 137,000 French) were rescued before the Germans finally broke through to Dunkirk and ended the evacuation.
On the 10th of June 1940, after Germany had conquered much of Europe and was in the final stages of conquering France, Mussolini's Italy finally declared war on France and Britain. "First they were too cowardly to take part. Now they are in a hurry so that they can share in the spoils," remarked Hitler.
The fall of Paris on the 14th of June disrupted coordination of French troops and by the 17th of June Marshal Phillipe Pétain requested an armistice with Germany.
The Second Armistice at Compiegne was signed on the 22nd of June officially ending the Battle of France. France was then divided into sections with Germany controlling the north and west of the country, Italy was given a small zone in the southeast while a new French Government, led by Marshal Pétain, which controlled the Zone Libre or unoccupied zone.
French General, Charles de Gaulle, escaped to England on the 17th of June from where he led the Free French Government in exile.
