January 1940MobilizationCharles Andre Marie Joseph de Gaulle
Draws up a memo for armoured units to counter German invasion of Holland & Belgium
Historical records for France in 1940, rendered directly from the World History Database and ordered by month, day and event.
Draws up a memo for armoured units to counter German invasion of Holland & Belgium
Supports wider Allied planning for intervention in Scandinavia.
Presses for stronger Allied action in Scandinavia.
Participates in discussions on Allied Scandinavian intervention.
Resigns after the Russian invasion of Finland
Daladier resigns after the Russian invasion of Finland. Daladier fails to unite Parliament or the people behind his mobilization for the "phony war"
Participates in Allied plans for Norway and Narvik after becoming premier.
Takes part in Allied planning shortly after becoming premier.
Appointed Minister of the Interior, March-July
The British Expeditionar Force capitulates at Dunkirk
French troops deploy around Namsos as part of the Allied attempt to retake Trondheim.
Commands French mountain troops deployed for the Narvik campaign.
Commands Chasseurs Alpins battalions during the Narvik campaign.
Commands Chasseurs Alpins battalions operating near Narvik.
Commands French mountain troops deployed for the Narvik campaign.
Valentini commands Chasseurs Alpins battalions deployed with the French expeditionary force near Narvik.
The French military attache warns that the centre of the German assault would come on the Meuse at Sedan, between 8 and 10 May
Leads legionnaires prepared for the assault north of Narvik.
Orders Plan D in response to the German invasion of France
Appointed Commander of the 4th Armoured Division
Appointed Commander of the 4th Armoured Division
Begins the French advance into Holland as part of Gamelins Plan D
Appointed to co-ordinate the operations of the BEF & Belgian Army
Attends an inter-allied conference in the Chateau at Casteau near Mons
Attends an inter-allied conference in the Chateau at Casteau near Mons
Appointed to co-ordinate the operations of the BEF & Belgian Army
Directs French forces in the amphibious landing at Bjerkvik.
Leads legionnaires in the Bjerkvik operation north of Narvik.
French forces conduct an amphibious landing north of Narvik.
Bethouart commands the French expeditionary troops in the amphibious landing behind German lines at Bjerkvik.
Magrin-Vernerey's Foreign Legion battalions land at Bjerkvik and force German troops to retreat.
Legionnaires recapture Elvegardsmoen during the Bjerkvik operation.
Magrin-Vernerey's legionnaires recapture Elvegardsmoen during the Bjerkvik operation north of Narvik.
Decides to abandon the Meuse north of Sedan & make a stand from Rocroi to Omont
The Germans breakthrough at Sedan
Informed Touchon will try to create a defensive line outside Paris
Joined by an embryo staff & remants of General Petiets Cavalry at Laon
Explains the German breakthrough and the failure of French defences.
Warns Churchill that the French front is collapsing.
Launches a counterattack in the region of Laon with 80 tanks to destroy the communication of the German armoured troops
Prepares to sever Guderians supply lines at Montcornet but is beaten back
Launches an attack on the "Bulge" from the north & sth
Prepares to sever Guderians supply lines at Montcornet but is beaten back
Prepares to sever Guderians supply lines at Montcornet but is beaten back
Appointed Vice President of the Council
Dismissed by the French Prime Minister, Weygand
Participates in crisis discussions as the French position worsens.
Presents plans after replacing Gamelin as commander in chief.
Receives notice that French troops will withdraw after the planned Narvik attack.
Warns Britain of French pressure for an armistice.
French troops cross Rombaksfjord during the final assault.
Bethouart's French troops cross Rombaksfjord during the final Allied assault that leads to Narvik's recapture.
The Belgian Army capitulates
French troops cross Rombaksfjord during the final assault.
The Germans had massed the bulk of their armoured force in Panzer Group von Kleist, which attacked through the comparatively unguarded sector of the Ardennes and achieved a breakthrough at Sedan with air support. Holds the Germans up at Abbeville. Appointed temporary general
French mountain troops help capture Narvik after the final assault.
French mountain troops help capture the town after the final assault.
Appointed temporary general
Appointed temporary general
French mountain troops help recapture Narvik before withdrawal begins.
Realizes that France will be over-run by the Germans
Meets Churchill as Narvik success is overshadowed by France's crisis.
Argues France's collapsing front must take priority over Norway.
Argues the French front has priority despite the Allied success at Narvik.
Questions prospects as France approaches military collapse.
Meets Churchill as Dunkirk evacuation and Italy are discussed.
Represents French air concerns as Allied resources are debated.
Reviews the military situation with Churchill and Reynaud.
Meets Churchill as Narvik success is overshadowed by events in France.
Weygand attempts to coordinate counterattacks while northern Allied armies remain trapped in Belgium and Flanders.
Holds the Germans up at Montcornet
Captured by the Germans & held in Konigstein
Deserts & joins de Gaulle in England rather than surrender
Delays the Germans at Rethel on the Aisne
French forces evacuate after helping recapture Narvik.
Appointed Brigadier General
Appointed Brigadier General
French forces withdraw after helping recapture the town.
Withdraws French forces after their role in the recapture of Narvik.
Appointed Under Secretary of State for War
Appointed Under Secretary of State for War
Arranges transportation of 500,000 French soldiers to continue the war in north Africa
The French Government departs from Paris for Tours
Churchill promises that after the Allies win the war France will be fully restored
Requests Roosevelt to enter the war to save France
France moves closer to seeking an armistice, although Britain refuses to endorse a separate peace.
Churchill refuses to support a seperate French peace with Germany
It is decided to move the French Government to Bordeaux
The Germans capture Paris
Receives a telegram from Roosevelt saying the US will not enter the war
Forms the Vichy Government & gives orders for the British to leave France
Appointed Prime Minister of the French Government in Bordeaux
Appointed Prime Minister of the French Government in Bordeaux
Resigns after transferring the Government to Bordeaux, replaced by Petain
Forms the Vichy Government & gives orders for the British to leave France
Asks the Germans for an Armistice
Broadcasts to the French people declaring that the War for France is not over
Germany presents armistice terms to France
Rommels 7th Panzer Div captures Cherbourg
Sets sail with other former French ministers to North Africa on the cruiser Massila
Signs an armistice with the Germans in the Foch railway carriage of 1918
Appointed Marshal
Appointed Marshal
Vichy breaks off dilomatic relations with Britain in response to Operation Catapult
Formally proclaimed head of State in France
Appointed Head of State in France
Engagement off the coast of French Algeria where a British Royal Navy task force attacked and destroyed much of the French fleet stationed there.
The French squadron consists of the old battleships Provence and Bretagne, the modern battleships (or battlecruisers) Dunkerque and Strasburg, the seaplane tender Commandant Teste and six destroyers under the command of Admiral Marcel-Bruno Gensou.
in an attempt to avoid its falling into the hands of the German Navy.
Appointed Vice Prime Minister of France after the collapse of France
Appointed Vice Prime Minister of France after the collapse of France
Forced back & abandons the objective of capturing St Quentin
Laval meets Hitler & offers to collaborate
Laval meets Hitler & offers to collaborate
Appointed Vice Prime Minister in the Vichy Government of Marshal Philippe Petain
Appointed Vice Prime Minister in the Vichy Government of Marshal Philippe Petain
Appointed Vice Prime Minister in the Vichy Government of Marshal Philippe Petain
Appointed Vice Prime Minister in the Vichy Government of Marshal Philippe Petain
Appointed Vice Prime Minister in the Vichy Government of Marshal Philippe Petain
Appointed Vice Prime Minister in the Vichy Government of Marshal Philippe Petain
Arrested for the French defeat
Laval is dismissed and arrested, pressure from German ambassador Otto Abetz secures his release, Laval leaves for Paris and the protection of his German patron
Laval is dismissed and arrested, pressure from German ambassador Otto Abetz secures his release, Laval leaves for Paris and the protection of his German patron
The Vichy Government has to pay reperations & disarm the Navy held in French ports
Arrested by by the Germans & escapes
Arrested for acts of resistance and protest against Nazi methods. He was interrogated by the Gestapo but thanks to the intervention of a German lawyer, he was saved from being sent to Dachau. Transferred as a personal prisoner of Gauleiter Joseph Buerckel, he escaped in 1942 and re-joined the French Resistance
Arrested for acts of resistance and protest against Nazi methods. He was interrogated by the Gestapo but thanks to the intervention of a German lawyer, he was saved from being sent to Dachau. Transferred as a personal prisoner of Gauleiter Joseph Buerckel, he escaped in 1942 and re-joined the French Resistance
Arrested & imprisoned by the Vichy Government, 1940-1945
A gift to France from Adolf Hitler, moved from Vienna to Les Invalides
The French Government moves to Vichy in unoccupied southern France
Appointed Commander of the 7th French Army
Appointed Commander of the 7th French Army
Opposes the appointment of Petain & joins the French resistance
Opposes the appointment of Petain & joins the French resistance
Sartre is captured during the German invasion and spends months as a prisoner of war.
The majority of 1 vote in the Assembly makes him dependent on Daladiers support
Helps safeguard heavy water supplies during the war.
Because of his expertise on Germany, Schuman was called to become a member of Paul Reynaud's wartime Government, in charge of the refugees
Appointed Minister of Marine
Orders the fleet to North Africa provoking attacks by the British Mediterranean fleet
Appointed Prime Minister of France
The Vichy Government has to pay reperations & disarm the Navy held in French ports
Rsigns when the gvernment headed by Petain & Laval assumes power. Last President of the 3rd Republic
Deserts from the Vichy Government & is sentenced to death
Appointed Under Secretary of State on the War Committee
Arrested & imprisoned by the Vichy Government, 1940-1945
Deserts from the Vichy Government & is sentenced to death
The Vichy Government has to pay reperations & disarm the Navy held in French ports
This page is generated from stored World History Database records matching the exact country and year shown above. Exact duplicate display records are collapsed. Records without a month are listed after the monthly sections. Source provenance varies by record; formal academic citation should be checked against the relevant primary source, archive or specialist historical reference.