Battle of Montcornet
Prepares to sever Guderians supply lines at Montcornet but is beaten back
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1940 in France — Page 2
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
2 of 4Page
23Named events on this page
11Named people on this page
10Places on this page
May
Invasion of France
Launches an attack on the "Bulge" from the north & sth
Invasion of France
Prepares to sever Guderians supply lines at Montcornet but is beaten back
Siege of Montcornet
Prepares to sever Guderians supply lines at Montcornet but is beaten back
Vice President
Appointed Vice President of the Council
Dismissal
Dismissed by the French Prime Minister, Weygand
Supreme War Council
Participates in crisis discussions as the French position worsens.
Supreme War Council
Presents plans after replacing Gamelin as commander in chief.
Operation Alphabet
Receives notice that French troops will withdraw after the planned Narvik attack.
Supreme War Council
Warns Britain of French pressure for an armistice.
Battle of Narvik
French troops cross Rombaksfjord during the final assault.
Final Assault on Narvik
Bethouart's French troops cross Rombaksfjord during the final Allied assault that leads to Narvik's recapture.
Invasion of Belgium
The Belgian Army capitulates
Rombaksfjord Crossing
French troops cross Rombaksfjord during the final assault.
Battle of Abbeville
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
Battle of Narvik
French mountain troops help capture Narvik after the final assault.
Capture of Narvik
French mountain troops help capture the town after the final assault.
General
Appointed temporary general
General
Appointed temporary general
Operation Alphabet
French mountain troops help recapture Narvik before withdrawal begins.
Invasion of France
Realizes that France will be over-run by the Germans
Battle of Narvik
Meets Churchill as Narvik success is overshadowed by France's crisis.
Battle of Narvik
Argues France's collapsing front must take priority over Norway.
French Crisis and Narvik
Argues the French front has priority despite the Allied success at Narvik.
Supreme War Council
Questions prospects as France approaches military collapse.
Supreme War Council
Meets Churchill as Dunkirk evacuation and Italy are discussed.
Supreme War Council
Represents French air concerns as Allied resources are debated.
Supreme War Council
Reviews the military situation with Churchill and Reynaud.
Supreme War Council Narvik
Meets Churchill as Narvik success is overshadowed by events in France.
Allied Counterattack Plans Include Flanders Forces
Weygand attempts to coordinate counterattacks while northern Allied armies remain trapped in Belgium and Flanders.
Battle of Montcornet
Holds the Germans up at Montcornet
Capture of Konigstein
Captured by the Germans & held in Konigstein
Exile of Jacques Philippe Leclerc
Deserts & joins de Gaulle in England rather than surrender
Siege of Rethel
Delays the Germans at Rethel on the Aisne
June
Battle of Narvik
French forces evacuate after helping recapture Narvik.
Brigadier General
Appointed Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Appointed Brigadier General
Evacuation from Narvik
French forces withdraw after helping recapture the town.
Operation Alphabet
Withdraws French forces after their role in the recapture of Narvik.
Under Secretary
Appointed Under Secretary of State for War
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.