Preserving the History of World War II
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| Eldred World War II Museum Copyright © 2007. Joseph Bradley. All Rights Reserved. Address: 201 Main Street P.O. Box 273 Eldred, PA 16731 | Phone: 814-225-2220 |
France
The Eldred World War II Museum
Before the start of World War II, France was considered the preeminent military power in Europe.
Possessing highly mechanized units, a top of the line air force and a large number of modern tanks,
France's military was perhaps the most advanced of the time.
Before France could be attacked, any aggressor would first have to penetrate the Maginot Line, a series
of fortifications, tank obstacles and bunkers spanning from the French borders of Switzerland to
Luxembourg. The French believed the line was impenetrable. Upon an attack, the French hoped the
Maginot Line would hold attackers at bay while French forces mobilized.
When a German invasion of France appeared imminent in the early summer of 1940, the French believed
the German invasion would come through neutral Belgium. The French moved large number of troops to
the Belgian border in anticipation of the invasion. However, the main German thrust came through the
Ardennes Forest; a hilly, heavily wooded area in Belgium and Luxembourg. It was believed a large scale
assault could not move through the inhospitable terrain of the Ardennes. Within days, German forces
had swept through France and were quickly overrunning the country.
France signed an armistice with Germany on June 22, 1940. Under the agreement, Germany would
occupy northern and western France, with a French puppet government established in the south known
as Vichy France.
Many of the French troops that had not been captured fled to French territory in North Africa and would
later become members of the Free French forces.
In France, a vast underground network of resistance was created. This movement was known as the
French Resistance. The French Resistance sabotaged German interests, wreaking havoc throughout
German-occupied France. When the Allies began to make preparations for the invasion of France, the
French Resistance played a vital role, gathering intelligence often at great personal risk.
By the time the war had ended, French troops, despite the country being defeated in the summer of
1940, had fought in France, North Africa, Italy and Germany.
Possessing highly mechanized units, a top of the line air force and a large number of modern tanks,
France's military was perhaps the most advanced of the time.
Before France could be attacked, any aggressor would first have to penetrate the Maginot Line, a series
of fortifications, tank obstacles and bunkers spanning from the French borders of Switzerland to
Luxembourg. The French believed the line was impenetrable. Upon an attack, the French hoped the
Maginot Line would hold attackers at bay while French forces mobilized.
When a German invasion of France appeared imminent in the early summer of 1940, the French believed
the German invasion would come through neutral Belgium. The French moved large number of troops to
the Belgian border in anticipation of the invasion. However, the main German thrust came through the
Ardennes Forest; a hilly, heavily wooded area in Belgium and Luxembourg. It was believed a large scale
assault could not move through the inhospitable terrain of the Ardennes. Within days, German forces
had swept through France and were quickly overrunning the country.
France signed an armistice with Germany on June 22, 1940. Under the agreement, Germany would
occupy northern and western France, with a French puppet government established in the south known
as Vichy France.
Many of the French troops that had not been captured fled to French territory in North Africa and would
later become members of the Free French forces.
In France, a vast underground network of resistance was created. This movement was known as the
French Resistance. The French Resistance sabotaged German interests, wreaking havoc throughout
German-occupied France. When the Allies began to make preparations for the invasion of France, the
French Resistance played a vital role, gathering intelligence often at great personal risk.
By the time the war had ended, French troops, despite the country being defeated in the summer of
1940, had fought in France, North Africa, Italy and Germany.
Affiliation: Allies
Entered the War: September 3, 1939
Killed in Action: 340,000
Entered the War: September 3, 1939
Killed in Action: 340,000
