After a few months of the "Phony War", France's turn came. The Germans proceeded to conquer virtually all of Western Europe. All of the BEF's equipment, however, was lost and there was no replacemments for the lost equipment waiting for them back in England. This is even more important that it sounds as akmost all if the British sholdiers were regulars and would form the corps of the future British Army that would play such an important role in the War. Nearly 340,000 men were evacuated from Dunkirk, including French and Dutch soldiers. The BEF fell back toward Dunkirk, abandoing their equipment along the roads. Although King Leopold III surended the Belgian Army, the French First Army delayed the Germans. What ever the reason, this 48-hour respite allowed the British to organize a defensive perimter around Dunkirk and begin an almost miraculous withdawl. Some believe that he hoped this gesture would help convince the British to comes to terms, other believe that is was just as it was described at the time, aneeded pause to regroup and prepare for a more coordinated assault. The Panzers were only a few miles south of Dunkirk and facing no serious opposition. Churchill warned the Commons that it "should prepare itself for hard and heavy tidings". The loss of the BEF would hsve crippled the Bitish war effort if not forced the British to seek terms. The men of the BEF would be the officers and NCOs of the British army that would eventually play an important role in defeating the Germans.
Panzer corps 2 sea lion professional#
The BEF was the professional core-the heart of the British Army. It was not just the number of men that were at stake. At this time the BEF was still within Hitler's grasp. About 400,000 British an French soldiers began to fall back on Dunkirk. Göring assured him that this could be easily accomplished.Īs the Panzers cut accross France, the British decided to evacuate the BEF. Hitler ordered the Lufwaffe to destroy the RAF. Air superority over the channel and southeaster England would have to be achieved. With France defeted, Hitler ordered his generals to organize the invasion of Britain.Without the needed naval forces, the Luftwaffe would be used to prepare for the invasion. Hitler believed that at least threantening invasion would force the issue. Some believe he simply wanted to threaten the British, asuming that they would agree to seek terms. It is not clear to what extent Hitler ever seriously contemplated an invasion. His vision was in part racial, seeing in Briain Aryan stiock that would eventually come to terms with Aryan Germany. And he was willing to guarantee the Empire if Britain would accept a German-dominated continent. Hitler hoped that he could bring about a British Vichy without an invasion. He was still unaware how the his bad faith over Czechoslovakia had changed Britain, even appeasers like Chamberlain.
At sea I am a coward." And with France defeated, he wanted to ebnd the war in the West and prepare for his ulimate objective, seizing Lenbenraum in the East. He confided in Admiral Raeder, "On land I am a hero. And Hitler was unsure of the operation from the beginning. It did not have the capability to tke on the Royal Navy for a Channel crossing. The Kriegsmarine received less support than the other two services. The Panzers stopped at the Channel ports. Bliztkrieg was essentially modern warfare, rapid land movement supported by aircraft. There had been no planning for an invasion of Britain. The Wehrmacht had not anticipated the dimensions of their victory in France. He did ask General Marshall to find surplus arms, mostly small arms, that could be rushed to Britain. The British asked for surplus World War I destroyers, but President Roosevelt was not yet ready to authorize this. The American Naval Attaché reported that the Britih were no more prepared to defend the coast than Long Island. This mean that while Britain still had its army, it was an unarmed army.
The BEF had managed to escape capture at Dunkirk, but had to abandon their heavy equiment.
Panzer corps 2 sea lion code#
The German plan to invade Britain after the fall of France was code named Opertation Sea Lion. "The English are wondering, they are asking, 'Why doesn't he come?' Be patient! Be patient! We are coming! We are coming!" - Adolf Hitler, September 4, 1940 Hitler who had constabntly pressed his generals on Poland and the Western Offensive, did not show this level of impatience or concern over details when it came to Operation Sea Lion. Hitler and Göring with the French defeated are turning their attention to Britain. The photograph was taken sureptiopusly by guard Gerhard Hartmann at the Wolf's Ravine, Hitler's Headquarters in occupied Belgium (June 20). World War II: Operation Sea Lion - Seeloewe (June-September 1940)įigure 1.-This may be the first serious discussion of ivading Britain.
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