World War II
Invasion of the Low Countries and the Fall of France

To a point, he was correct, Belgium and Holland, at the outbreak of WWII wanted to remain neutral countries, but, as in 1914, the German plan was to invade and gain control of the Low Countries if they were to gain total denomination of Northern Europe.

On May 10th 1940, Chamberlain after pressure from the government, tended his resignation to the House of Commons and Winston Churchill became Britain's new Prime Minister. Ironically, the same day that Germany made their Blitzkrieg attack on Holland. Paratroopers, then air attacks on airfields, more paratroopers then tanks and motorized divisions. Though in many places the Dutch put up a stiff fight, and we must remember that their air force was working with the army, some great instances of gallantry emerged in what was almost a lost cause. Let us take a look at one of Holland's great air force personalities Bob Van der Stock and in not a few re-won airfields and other localities, the Dutch Command was so completely paralyzed by the suddenness and swiftness of the attack that no co-ordinated resistance was possible. On the 11th this paralysis was increased by heavy German bombing attacks which reduced the Dutch air force to twelve machines.[1]

By May 14th 1940, the Germans ordered that the Dutch resistance be ceased immediately otherwise the Luftwaffe would be given instructions to bomb Rotterdam to destruction. Almost simultaneously over fifty German bombers began their attack on the city killing over 20,000 people, although it is believed that this figure was one that was given by the German propaganda machine. But Holland fell, and German forces were now on their way through Belgium. This was another Blitzkrieg attack with the bombing of Belgian airfield and railway junctions. Antwerp and Brussels were bombed just prior to parachutists taking many important bridges. The map above indicates the position up to the 13th and into the 14th.

Using the map above, let us look at the Allied positions and strength as they were on May 10th. Closest to the channel, was the French 7th Army under General Giraud that was to advance through the coastal areas of Belgium. Below them, were the British Expeditionary Force under the command of Lord Gort. Then came the forty divisions of the French 1st Army under General Billotte. The Maginot Line, a line of defence that was supposed to give protection to France, was covered by the twenty six divisions of the French 2nd Army under the command of General Prételat. The Swiss border was covered by thirty six divisions of the French 3rd Army under General Besson.

The positioning of these forces was considered to be adequate at the time, the main concern was, where would the German army break through. The Swiss frontier seemed to be quite safe although as a precautionary measure the French 3rd Army was positioned here. The Maginot Line was a long fortress of defence along the French-German border and a quite unlikely area where any German advance would be made, so the 2nd Army consisted mainly of aging reservists not fully trained in all aspects of defence warfare. This 2nd Army was also to cover the forest area of the Ardennes where it was thought that it would be an almost impossibility for any German advance in this area. In all probability any German attack would be made through Belgium where previously the German Army Group B under General von Bock, Army Group A under General von Rundstedt and a Panzer division under General von Kliest had already made their blitzkrieg attacks on Holland and Belgium.

But in addition to the 170 infantry, parachute, motorized and panzer divisions, the German forces also had up to 4,000 aircraft spread over four air fleets. If we compare this to the 105 military divisions made up of French, British, Belgian and Dutch, and the estimated 1000 aircraft of these countries, the German forces had a considerable advantage.

General Gamelin knew that Germany had plans to attack through Belgium. Captured documents from a German courier plane that crashed in Belgium during January 1940 was the source. But this was supposed to have happened in mid January 1940, the months passed, still no invasion, was Germany having a re-think of the situation or were they casting their thoughts elsewhere. The problem was, was that to German Generals, Guderian and von Manstein could not agree that the Schlieffen Plan would be the best option. Guderian insisted that Panzer units and mechanized units followed by infantry should push through the Ardennes, capture and cross the Meuse River at Sedan, then push west towards Ameins then north to Abbeville, Boulogne and Calais pushing the French and British towards the Channel coast.

The argument was taken as far as the German High Command. The result was that "Sichelschnitt" (Sickle Cut) would be put into operation. Sources differ as to whom the architect was, (Major- General J.F.C.Fuller in his book The Second World War 1939-1945 states that von Manstein had already proposed this plan to General von Rundstedt, yet Mark Arnold-Forster in The World at War states that Guderian mentions that he wanted to abandon the Schliefflin Plan in favour of an attack through the Ardennes p44). "Sichelschnitt" was to attack and advance through Holland, then cross the Belgian border luring General Gamelin and the French as well as the British Expeditionary Force into central Belgium. While this was happening, Guderian would advance his Panzer Divisions through the Ardennes, push towards the Channel and squeeze the Allies into a pocket where they would be trapped at Calais or thereabouts.

May 12th 1940. The French 7th Army had moved on to Breda in an effort to support what was left of the Dutch army. The B.E.F. had got as far as Wavre. Not a great distance, but along with the French 1st Army, who had advanced only to Namur slightly ahead of the British had still opposition from the confident German 4th Army Panzer Corps and the constant barrage from the Luftwaffe. Lord Gort had made contact with the War Office in London requesting the urgent need for the British 1st Armoured Division and requested more aircraft to replace the 50% of his air force destroyed. He stated that ".....without the necessary aircraft, reconnaissance of the enemy lines is now impossible." It was a request that was declined by Britain.

France continued with its slow advance, but lacked the anti-tank guns needed and the use of the Hotchkiss 35 tank was useless, they could not even slow a German Panzer tank, let alone stop one. The Belgians were retreating northwards, the French were blowing all available bridges over the River Meuse to slow the German advance.

May 13th - 18th 1940. General Gamelin the French Supreme Commander had ordered forty or more of his divisions into Belgium to confront the advancing German 4th Army Corps and the Panzer divisions. This was backed up by the British B.E.F. This move suited the Germans and General von Manstein who could now complete the rest of his operation "Sichelschnitt" (Sickle Cut). The invasion of the Low Countries had pulled the Allied forces towards the German Army Group B, now von Manstein gave the order for Panzer divisions, motorized and mechanical units and infantry divisions to make the surprise entry into France by way of the Ardennes just north of the northern end of the Maginot Line.
Nothing could have suited the German plan better than the forward wheel of the Allied left wing. The hitherto closed door was now swung open, and henceforth, its ability to withstand the enemy's onrush mainly depended on the strength of its hinges. These were represented by the French Ninth Army, which consisted of two active and seven reserve or fortress divisions, whose men were elderly, under-trained and ill armed. The active divisions were on the left, holding fifteen miles of the Meuse south of Namour; the rest of the army's front, forty miles in length, was held by three reserve and one fortress divisions, the right one of all having not a single anti-tank gun. On its right the two left divisions of the French Second Army were also composed of elderly reservists. These second rate troops were considered adequate, because it was not believed that the Germans would attempt to advance in force through the Ardennes.

Major-General J.F.C.Fuller The Second World War 1939-1945 Meredith Press

Once on French soil, the Blitzkrieg started. 1,500 planes of the Luftwaffe bombarded Sedan and the surrounding areas accompanied by heavy artillery support. LaMarfée Heights, one of the best defences that France had at Sedan, was soon overrun by the German forces. Pillboxes were blown by the Sturnpioneren, while flak guns attacked others killing the Frenchmen through their unprotected weapon slits. At midnight on May 13th the heights had been taken and from then on the crossing of the Meuse by German Panzer divisions was complete. The German 12th and 16th Armies, their mechanical and motorized divisions, the infantry and artillery units were now able to complete the 'sickle cut' and move west towards Reims, northwest towards Amiens and Arras.

The German attack was text book style, like a well drilled precision machine. After the taking of Sedan, their movements were just as swift, with units and divisions attacking one after the other.
On May 15th, General von Kleist'd 12th Army moved westward crossing the Ardennes Canal just below Omicourt and Malmy after finding all bridges still intact. By May 16th the township of Rozoy, about thirty miles due west of Donchery had been taken, and infantry, parachute troops and an armoured division were just short of Réthel on the Aisne River. Meanwhile, in Belgium, the French 1st Army and the British Expeditionary Force were ordered to withdraw from their positions.
May 17th, and Brussels was now occupied by the Germans, with Panzer divisions and mechanized units pushing west towards France. By May 19th, German forces had marched into Amiens and other divisions were lining the Somme towards Abbeville.

All roads in north-east France was packed with refugees, the Allies had managed to force an attack on the German forces at both Amiens and Arras:

The picture was now no longer that of a line bent or temporarily broken, but a besieged fortress. To raise such a siege, a relieving force must be sent from the south, and to meet this force a sortie on the part of the defenders was indicated.
Lord Gort on the Allied position at Amiens [2]