Battles and Campaigns / Western Front / Achtung Panzer: The German Invasion of France

Immediately after Fall Weiss, the invasion of Poland, Hitler planned for Fall Gelb, the invasion of Belgium, Holland and Northern France. On 10 May 1940, panzers began to pour across the borders. The Netherlands would be the first to fall, although the Dutch put up a stubborn fight. Next the panzers crossed over the Maas River into Belgium. Helping to defend the onslaught were French mechanized units which managed to delay the German advance somewhat. Panzers of Heeresgruppe A infiltrated the Ardennes region and pushed through to the Channel coast, cutting the Allies, resulting in the Dunkirk evacuation. By the start of Fall Rot, on 5 June 1940, the fate of France was sealed. The bulk of Heeresgruppe A & B turned south, they met little resistance. Paris fell on 14 June and by 25 June, a ceasefire came into effect. The blitzkrieg in the West took a little more than 6 weeks, but the Panzer Divisions lost about 35% of their tanks, the majority being poorly armed one.