Battle of France (1940) Facts & Worksheets

• Although this evacuation saved much of Britain’s army, it required abandoning heavy weapons and equipment, weakening Allied capabilities for future engagements.
• Following the evacuation, Germany launched the second phase of the campaign, known as Fall Rot (Case Red), on 5 June 1940. 
• After Operation Dynamo, France was left weakened. Many of its best-trained troops had been evacuated or captured, and its military was disorganised and low on morale. Fall Rot aimed to exploit this by launching a renewed offensive across a broad front. German forces attacked along the Somme and Aisne rivers, where the French had tried to establish a new defensive line known as the “Weygand Line.” However, this line was poorly prepared and lacked the strength to stop the German advance.
• Using the same Blitzkrieg tactics that had proven successful earlier in the campaign, German forces rapidly broke through French defences. They combined armoured divisions, motorised infantry, and Luftwaffe close air support to overwhelm positions before the French could reorganise. 
• German troops crossed major rivers, outflanked defensive positions, and advanced quickly into the French interior, leaving little time for effective resistance.

Capture of Paris

• As German troops approached Paris, millions of civilians fled the city in what became known as the mass exodus, creating chaos on roads and further disrupting military movements. To avoid the devastation that had occurred in cities during the First World War, French authorities declared Paris an “open city” on 13 June 1940.
• This meant that the city would not be defended militarily, allowing German forces to enter without major fighting. The decision was intended to preserve Paris’s cultural landmarks and reduce civilian casualties.
• On 14 June 1940, German troops marched into Paris and took control of the city without resistance. The occupation was highly symbolic, as Paris was not only the political and cultural heart of France but also a major European capital. German forces quickly established control, raising their flag and beginning military administration.
• The fall of Paris had a profound psychological impact. It signalled that France could no longer effectively continue the war and accelerated political collapse within the country. Shortly afterwards, the French government sought an armistice, which was signed on 22 June 1940.

Aftermath of the Battle of France

• The terms of the treaty divided the country into two main zones. Northern and western France, including Paris, was placed under direct German occupation, while the southern portion remained under the control of the Vichy government, led by Marshal Philippe Pétain. Although nominally independent, Vichy France collaborated with Nazi Germany, enforcing authoritarian rule and assisting in German policies, including repression and persecution.
• The German occupation had a profound impact on daily life in France. German authorities controlled key industries, transportation, and resources, often redirecting them to support the German war effort. French citizens faced food shortages, strict regulations, censorship, and forced labour, with many workers sent to Germany. The presence of German troops and officials created an atmosphere of fear and control, while acts of resistance were harshly punished.