Why Did France Collapse So Quickly In World War Two?

My dad was a tank commander at the battle of Arras, here he faced Rommel & the 88 flak, hastily used in AT role for his first time. He recalled being dive bombed along roads filled with refugees all the way to Dunkirk, where his regiment was embarked on the IOMSS Mona Isle which was straffed by bf109’s and he caught three in the back. From Dunkirk, to Berlin, via El Alamein was my dads journey. A proud Desert Rat

Slightly misleading to say that German tanks were mostly Pz III & IV when actually there were a lot of older models in use. One thing that rarely gets covered are the armoured clashes in Belgium between French armoured units and the Pz Divs accompanything the 'northern' thrust. The French actually did pretty well there. Largely the problem seems to have been a failure of doctrine, leadership and comms (German radios vs French telephones and dispatch riders).

my mothers uncle jean fought in the maginot line. his other brother antoine was a doctor in paris (l'hotel dieu). their sister christine and my mothers older sister fled paris and found refuge in rennes.

The total incompetence of Charles Huntziger also deserves a mention. Bordering on collaboration. For more details I recommend the ww2 week by week series.

A French tank officer had driven his tanks through the Ardennes in about 1938. His report was ignored.

Love these detailed documentary programs. Very interesting and informative. Thankyou Dan, please send more to youtube as I cannot afford the History channel

It is important to remember that about 90,000 French and French colonial soldiers died in the Battle of France. Looking at the captured French troops, I wonder what happened to those from their African colonies. Great video.

Having spent decades reading and watching articles on the fall of France, the one conclusion I have come to is, the level of incompetence of the allies beggars belief. France was a nation almost at war with itself, the inability to advance into Germany in 1939, to plans based on "allies" who did not want French and British troops on their soil were early indicators of the deep ineptitude of the allies. Much has been made of the French commanders failures in taking action, but the defeat had long been in the making, and if a wrong decision could be made, then it was made, and compounded by inertia.

Thanks! You clarified some important details!

Captain Mainwaring: "I knew they'd never get through the Maginot Line." Sgt Wilson: "They didn't. They went round the side of it." Captain Mainwaring: "They what?!!" Sgt Wilson: "They went round the side!!" Captain Mainwaring: "That's a typical shabby Nazi trick. You see the kind of people we are up against Wilson?!" Sgt Wilson: "Most unreliable, sir."

EXCELLENT, as usual. Thanks for this presentation.

Great film footage. Good mention that the Belgians and the Dutch insisted on remaining neutral. About that - The Netherlands had sat out WWI - so - they did have some reason to believe that they could sit out this one too. That and they were indefensible. The Belgians though - had been invaded in WWI and had every reason to believe they would be invaded again. They, however, went into denial and clung to their "Neutrality" past all sense. The Germans had in fact (something you left out) been planning on doing exactly what they did in WWI - in putting their primary thrust through Northern Belgium just as with the von Schlieffen Plan. However - a German staff plane - carrying the plans for the invasion - came down in Belgium and was captured. The Belgians turned over the plans to the British and French - but when they wanted to enter Belgium and set up - the Belgians insisted on remaining neutral. This was mindbogglingly stupid. THEY HAD THE PLANS FOR THEIR INVASION IN THEIR HANDS!!!!!! For them to not allow the British and the French in - was utterly unbelievable. Make no mistake - THIS - is the primary reason the Allies lost in 1940. The Belgians had built up about as good an Army as Belgium could support - but - THEY just didn't have the troops to man a line that could stop the Germans. IF the French had been able to come in - and emplace a line of French Infantry Corps through the Ardennes - they could stop the Germans - IF - the British committed the bulk of the RAF to the defense of the continent - instead of keeping it back to defend Britain. Because their Plans had been captured THAT is why Manstein proposed going through the Ardennes. Going through the Ardennes was stupid - as the Germans found out in 1944 - but having no one there - was worse. There were 2 Belgian Cavalry divisions in the whole of the Ardennes and for the most part - the Germans never even noticed they were there. There were a number of things wrong with the French Military but - maintaining such a static line that the Germans couldn't turn - was just the type of thing it could do. What it could not do - was handle a War of Maneuver - and that is what the Belgians allowed the Germans to have. .

Always interesting 👍

Failure of French leadership was the reason. A lot of French gear was superior to German when it was used right.

He mentions the "heroic efforts of the Royal Navy£ during the evacuation. Neglected to mention all the small little civilian ships and other small craft that got involved as well. They also deserve much credit for their efforts and sacrifice.

Great video. Excellent! Thanks

One thing that may be understated is the Germans use of Pervitin, which can explain their multi-day attacks and also the crashes that resulted.

It's wild that The Maginot Line was based off of the defensive fortification ideas of Vauban, LouisXIVs top military engineer, and eventually Marshall of France. He tried to get funding for his mutual support fortifications to be built between France and Belgium, but proposed taxing the Nobility. The story says that Vauban suggested that the Nobles needed to be taxed to defend France properly. And LouisXIV responded that if he taxed the Nobles, there would be no France left to defend. Dude saw this coming some 200+ years before it did. What a legend. Too bad he didnt get his funding.

Keep making these vids. I loved the Master and Commander one you did.

When Paris Went Dark: The City of Light Under German Occupation is an excellent read. There's a section that talks about how Picasso FREAKED out on everyone thinking someone had stolen his flashlight. He had misplaced it and of course never apologized to those he accused. But it is an excellent read