downfall 1940
 

Spring 1940

http://www.historyguy.com/worldwartw...nmark_1940.jpg


Germany declares war on Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg and Netherlands

Denmark surrenders after just two days, with very little fighting. Forces in Norway, Belgium and Netherlands dig in

Invasion of Norway

German air forces destroy the belgian air forces on the ground, but some dogfights and anti fire cause casualties over the netherlands.

German infantry (6 factors) and heavy air support take control of the Netherlands and Belgium with minimal losses to German forces

Norwegians defend stoutly, causing significant casualties. In addition, as some german warships moved in close to the shore to provide fire support, two cruisers hit mines and sank

http://www.historyofwar.org/Pictures/narvik4.jpg

nonetheless the German landing was successful

Invasion of France

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French defense was very determined, but was eventually overwhelmed by a massive German advance through the Ardennes, bypassing the Maginot Line.

A massive breakthrough has been created in the French line around the town of Sedan

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armored exploitation

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The French air force tried to intervene and stem the breakthrough of tanks, but were swept aside with contemptuous ease by the german air cover fighters. 3 french aaf lost for 1 german.

Then the tanks poured forth using tactics scarcely appreciated by the allies after ww1.

Air power smashed up depots, bridges, railheads, junctions disabling the french movement of reinforcements while the German armored forces smashed their way through the defending French 21st armored before reaching their stop point on the River Seine overlooking Paris, with scarcely any casualties.

The entire Calais-Dunkirk pocket is now isolated and rumours about that Britain is already planning an evacuation.

Belgium and Netherlands Surrender

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all belgian and netherlands forces removed, all hexes come under german control

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New Italian battleships launched

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Two new heavy battleships, the V. Veneto and Littorio BB4s are now in service in the Regia Marina

Italy also sends more infantry and armor divisions to Libya. Churchill suspects Italy may join the war soon.

THIRD Battle of the Marne

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a desperate action by French and Commonwealth forces on the river Marne stops the German advance toward Paris in a very similar operation to that of the Great War.

Very heavy fighting and loss of life leads the Western Allies to assume this is going to be 1914 all over again.

As a result, the Allies restore supply to North Eastern France

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Roosevelt signs bill to mobilise substantial air and land forces in response to increasing world tensions

http://www.history.com/images/media/...lt-signing.jpg

SUMMER 1940

Battle of Bergen

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British flotilla of (CA2, DD3) intercepts the sea supply column to Bergen. The column was unprotected hoping to avoid detection, but several U-boats had been sent to patrol the waters around Bergen.

In the ensuing engagement, a German ammunition ship and a merchant were sunk by allied gunfire, but torpedoes from U-boats sank the two light cruisers that were the main part of the allied force.

Fallschirmjaeger in Bergen now isolated. British CA2 sunk

Battle of Oslo

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Norwegian defenders dug in south of the city, but the German armored corps with heavy air support overwhelmed the defenders and Oslo declared itself an open city shortly after.

Oslo occupied with minimal losses.

Norwegian pro-fascist party leader, Vidkun Quisling, currently in negotiations with Germany for the establishment of a pro-fascist government.

Battle of Metz

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AuPoOCVtSz...B1940%2529.jpg

After the setback on the Marne, the German High Command regroup forces and head south through the breakthrough.

The French defenders put up an extremely strong resistance, inflicting very heavy losses on the invaders, but eventually Germany clears a breakthrough at the northern end of the Maginot line.

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/4108/metzw.jpg

Fall of Paris

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In a great double pincer movement, german armored forces swing south and west to trap Paris. An airdrop by Fallschirmjaeger captured key bridges over the Seine and massive luftwaffe support saw the defending french forces overwhelmed.

Lyon is also captured

French forces were surprised by the speed and violence of the German exploitation and inflicted light casualties before being overwhelmed.

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/8497/parisb.jpg

Soviets Annex Bessarabia

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June 26th 1940, with the world's attention focussed on events in Western Europe, the USSR issues an ultimatum to Rumania to hand over Bessarabia.

After two days, Rumania agrees to surrender Bessarabia, with four days allowed to clear Rumanian forces from the area.

Soviet sympathizers begain harrying the retreating Rumanians and at some point on the third day of the retreat Soviet forces entered Bessarabia. Rumania claims substantial loss of life in this invasion.

British Evacuate France

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The British Expeditionary Force ignores French pleas and travel as fast as possible to waiting British transport ships in Brittany.

They are then redeployed to Back to Blighty

June 1940 France Surrenders

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...aDq0dB3hYrxszG

The French surrender in the same railway carriage in which the 1918 Armistice was signed.