Mobilization
Draws up a memo for armoured units to counter German invasion of Holland & Belgium
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1940 in France
Explore 149 historical events and records for France in 1940.
Historical records for France in 1940
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 149 unique records.
149Unique records
1 of 4Page
22Named events on this page
13Named people on this page
12Places on this page
January
February
Narvik Expedition Plan
Supports wider Allied planning for intervention in Scandinavia.
Supreme War Council
Presses for stronger Allied action in Scandinavia.
Supreme War Council
Participates in discussions on Allied Scandinavian intervention.
March
Resignation of Edouard Daladier
Resigns after the Russian invasion of Finland
Resignation of Edouard Daladier
Daladier resigns after the Russian invasion of Finland. Daladier fails to unite Parliament or the people behind his mobilization for the "phony war"
Narvik Occupation Plan
Participates in Allied plans for Norway and Narvik after becoming premier.
Supreme War Council
Takes part in Allied planning shortly after becoming premier.
Minister of Interior
Appointed Minister of the Interior, March-July
April
Invasion of France
The British Expeditionar Force capitulates at Dunkirk
Namsos Campaign
French troops deploy around Namsos as part of the Allied attempt to retake Trondheim.
Battle of Narvik
Commands French mountain troops deployed for the Narvik campaign.
Battle of Narvik
Commands Chasseurs Alpins battalions during the Narvik campaign.
Chasseurs Alpins
Commands Chasseurs Alpins battalions operating near Narvik.
French Expeditionary Force
Commands French mountain troops deployed for the Narvik campaign.
Narvik Land Campaign
Valentini commands Chasseurs Alpins battalions deployed with the French expeditionary force near Narvik.
Invasion of France
The French military attache warns that the centre of the German assault would come on the Meuse at Sedan, between 8 and 10 May
May
Foreign Legion at Narvik
Leads legionnaires prepared for the assault north of Narvik.
Plan D
Orders Plan D in response to the German invasion of France
Commander of 4th Arm Division
Appointed Commander of the 4th Armoured Division
Commander of 4th Arm Division
Appointed Commander of the 4th Armoured Division
Invasion of Netherlands, The
Begins the French advance into Holland as part of Gamelins Plan D
British Expeditionary Force (BEF)
Appointed to co-ordinate the operations of the BEF & Belgian Army
Invasion of France
Attends an inter-allied conference in the Chateau at Casteau near Mons
Invasion of France
Attends an inter-allied conference in the Chateau at Casteau near Mons
Mobilization
Appointed to co-ordinate the operations of the BEF & Belgian Army
Battle of Narvik
Directs French forces in the amphibious landing at Bjerkvik.
Battle of Narvik
Leads legionnaires in the Bjerkvik operation north of Narvik.
Bjerkvik Landing
French forces conduct an amphibious landing north of Narvik.
Bjerkvik Landing
Bethouart commands the French expeditionary troops in the amphibious landing behind German lines at Bjerkvik.
Bjerkvik Landing
Magrin-Vernerey's Foreign Legion battalions land at Bjerkvik and force German troops to retreat.
Capture of Elvegardsmoen
Legionnaires recapture Elvegardsmoen during the Bjerkvik operation.
Capture of Elvegardsmoen
Magrin-Vernerey's legionnaires recapture Elvegardsmoen during the Bjerkvik operation north of Narvik.
Battle of River Meuse
Decides to abandon the Meuse north of Sedan & make a stand from Rocroi to Omont
Invasion of France
The Germans breakthrough at Sedan
Siege of Paris
Informed Touchon will try to create a defensive line outside Paris
Invasion of France
Joined by an embryo staff & remants of General Petiets Cavalry at Laon
Supreme War Council
Explains the German breakthrough and the failure of French defences.
Supreme War Council
Warns Churchill that the French front is collapsing.
Battle of Abbeville
Launches a counterattack in the region of Laon with 80 tanks to destroy the communication of the German armoured troops
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.