1940 10th May
Battle of France
despite the objections of its commander Hugh Dowding that this left home defences under-strength, Churchill sent fighter squadrons to support operations in France,where the RAF suffered heavy losses
Second World War · permanent subject timeline
Battle of France
The German offensive that defeated France and the Low Countries in 1940. This page combines historical context with 10 matching records drawn directly from the World History Database World War II battle archive.
Historical context
Battle of France: overview and significance
What happened?
Germany attacked through the Low Countries and the Ardennes in May 1940. Armoured formations crossed the Meuse, drove rapidly to the Channel and split Allied armies before turning south against France.
Why was it important?
The campaign transformed the strategic balance in Europe. France sought an armistice, Britain continued the war without its principal continental ally and Germany gained control of much of western Europe.
World History Database records
Battle of France timeline
The records below are selected from the 797-record World War II battles archive and rendered as static HTML in chronological order.
1940
1940 15th May
Battle of France
Confronts the crisis created by the German breakthrough at Sedan.
1940 May
Battle of France
Fall Gelb (Case Yellow), German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and surround the Allied units that had advanced into Belgium
1940 May
Battle of France
In the Battle of France commands Panzergruppe von Kleist, consisting of XLI Panzer Corps and XIX Panzer Corps (under Heinz Guderian), the two southernmost armoured corps in the drive to the English Channel
1940 5th June
Battle of France
Operation Fall Rot (Case Red) is began and German forces outflank the Maginot Line and push deeper into France
1940 10th June
Battle of France
Italy declares war on France and soon afterwards the French Government fled to the city of Bordeaux
1940 14th June
Battle of France
Frances capital of Paris is occupied
1940 17th June
Battle of France
Philippe Petain publicly announced France would ask for an armistice
1940
Battle of France
Dowding, nicknamed "Stuffy" by his men, is unwilling to sacrifice aircraft and pilots in the attempt to aid Allied troops during the Battle of France
1940
Battle of France
Commands his Corps during the Battle of France
Editorial provenance
Sources and editorial review
Compiled and edited by World History Database.
Historical context is editorial material; the chronology is generated from World History Database Second World War records.
Last reviewed: September 2026.
Imperial War Museums · National WWII Museum · Australian War Memorial
Continue exploring