When it came time for Germany to invade France and the Low Countries, their plan was to send the bulk of their mobile and armored forces through Belgium (via Liege) and into France via Reims. From Reims these forces would split, with some moving north toward the coast and some westward toward Paris. Subsidiary infantry forces would deal with northern Belgium. Two infantry armies were to cover the southern flank, the one moving into Luxembourg and other attacking along the Bastogne – Arlon axis. Eventually the infantry would shift into France in the wake of the mobile forces and continue to guard the southern flank against the anticipated redeployment of French forces hanging around behind the Maginot Line – 43 divisions when the Germans' plan was hatched on June 8, 1940.
Upon hearing the reports of the German invasion of Luxembourg and Belgium, Artificial Gamelin declared solemnly to his headquarters staff, his voice quaking with emotion, “Gentlemen, I am convinced that the fate of France must be decided in…Luxembourg!”
And so it came to pass that the bulk of French army, 27 divisions initially, poured across the Maginot Line into Luxembourg to confront the German juggernaut. Sadly for the French, the juggernaut had passed comfortably to the north, slicing through Liege and flicking aside the two French divisions holding Reims like a couple of pommes frites. The Germans, who were initially concerned about this unexpected lurch of French forces toward their advancing infantry divisions, soon couldn’t believe their dumb luck. The German infantry had engaged the French forces in a vicious slugfest amid the gently rolling uplands and broad, shallow valleys of Luxembourg and had no intention of letting go. Each side gradually fed more divisions into the fight. Artificial Gamelin was determined to prevail in Luxembourg, no matter the cost!
Meanwhile, the German motorized infantry and tanks entered the second phase of their plan, striking northwest toward Dunkerque and Amiens, and west toward Troyes. By the time the Panzers had reached Dunkerque, Belgium had been overrun, and those forces joined the dash westward along the French coast. The forces that reached Troyes, Compiegne and Amiens advanced on Paris, finding it only lightly defended. By the second week of the campaign, Paris had fallen, and German mobile forces continued their advance into Normandy. A feeble French attempt to land two divisions at Dunkerque was driven back into the Channel.
Artificial Gamelin, largely oblivious to German successes on French soil, continued to pour forces into Luxembourg. At one point Strasbourg was completely abandoned, though not for long. Soon French forces came streaming back from Luxembourg – long, tattered, exhausted lines of them, back to the safety of the Maginot Line.
Only now did Artificial Gamelin realize the folly of his strategy, with all of Belgium and the whole of northeastern France and Normandy in German hands. He now resolved to shift his forces from behind the Maginot Line and toward central France to build a line that would stop the Germans’ westward advance. And so those tattered, exhausted forces marched again and with all possible speed began to flow into the French hinterland in search of their German foe. The Germans shifted their forces to block the French efforts, and soon new battles were joined.
That is, until the French surrendered. The Germans’ campaign had lasted all of three weeks.
Artificial Gamelin had been right in the end: the fate of France had been decided in Luxembourg. But nobody could explain why it had happened that way.
Upon hearing the reports of the German invasion of Luxembourg and Belgium, Artificial Gamelin declared solemnly to his headquarters staff, his voice quaking with emotion, “Gentlemen, I am convinced that the fate of France must be decided in…Luxembourg!”
And so it came to pass that the bulk of French army, 27 divisions initially, poured across the Maginot Line into Luxembourg to confront the German juggernaut. Sadly for the French, the juggernaut had passed comfortably to the north, slicing through Liege and flicking aside the two French divisions holding Reims like a couple of pommes frites. The Germans, who were initially concerned about this unexpected lurch of French forces toward their advancing infantry divisions, soon couldn’t believe their dumb luck. The German infantry had engaged the French forces in a vicious slugfest amid the gently rolling uplands and broad, shallow valleys of Luxembourg and had no intention of letting go. Each side gradually fed more divisions into the fight. Artificial Gamelin was determined to prevail in Luxembourg, no matter the cost!
Meanwhile, the German motorized infantry and tanks entered the second phase of their plan, striking northwest toward Dunkerque and Amiens, and west toward Troyes. By the time the Panzers had reached Dunkerque, Belgium had been overrun, and those forces joined the dash westward along the French coast. The forces that reached Troyes, Compiegne and Amiens advanced on Paris, finding it only lightly defended. By the second week of the campaign, Paris had fallen, and German mobile forces continued their advance into Normandy. A feeble French attempt to land two divisions at Dunkerque was driven back into the Channel.
Artificial Gamelin, largely oblivious to German successes on French soil, continued to pour forces into Luxembourg. At one point Strasbourg was completely abandoned, though not for long. Soon French forces came streaming back from Luxembourg – long, tattered, exhausted lines of them, back to the safety of the Maginot Line.
Only now did Artificial Gamelin realize the folly of his strategy, with all of Belgium and the whole of northeastern France and Normandy in German hands. He now resolved to shift his forces from behind the Maginot Line and toward central France to build a line that would stop the Germans’ westward advance. And so those tattered, exhausted forces marched again and with all possible speed began to flow into the French hinterland in search of their German foe. The Germans shifted their forces to block the French efforts, and soon new battles were joined.
That is, until the French surrendered. The Germans’ campaign had lasted all of three weeks.
Artificial Gamelin had been right in the end: the fate of France had been decided in Luxembourg. But nobody could explain why it had happened that way.
