Invasion of the Low Countries
Holland and Belgium fall in less than one month, paving the road to the inevitable Invasion of France.
The Low Countries ended up a speed bump in Hitler's road to European conquest. The Reich put to good use their well-trained and armed airborne troops to capture key bridges and routes. While the Allies were busy building their defenses, assuming the Ardennes to be an "impassable" natural barrier, the Germans thought otherwise and easily made their way through.
The end result would be a chain of losses as the German war machine cut holes through the Allied wall. The remaining French and British troops had no option but to turn tail and run while Belgium units held out as long as they could. Holland fell first to the Germans while Belgium fought for a short 18 days before capitulating.
On to France...
Total Events: 14
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89 German paratroopers land and take the Belgium fortress of Eben Emael with its garrison of 2,000 soldiers. |
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German paratroopers land in The Hague and Rotterdam. |
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German airborne elements land across Belgium and Holland in advance of ground forces, capturing key bridges and routes. |
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British and French army forces begin defensive preparations in Belgium in an effort to stave off the German advance. A long line of strategic defenses is contructed. |
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Panzer Corps XV and XIX break through the Allied defenses at Sedan, allowing German forces to completely bypass the formidable defenses at the French Maginot Line. |
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Facing light opposition, German Panzer Corps XV, XLI and XIX are free to set up three key bridge-heads covering Dinant, Montherme and Sedan. |
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After periods of heavy bombing all across Rotterdam, the Dutch surrender to the Germans. |
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German Panzer Corps cross into the north of France. |
1940
Friday
May 17th - May 18th |
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Allied forces are in full retreat of the Germans, making their way towards the French coastline. |
1940
Friday
May 17th - May 18th |
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Brussels falls to the German Army. |
1940
Friday
May 17th - May 18th |
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Antwerp falls to the German Army. |
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An Allied counterattack against the German Army near Arras ends in failure as the attack is itself countered by another advancing German land force. |
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With Belgium out of the way, German Army elements begin making their way towards the French coastline in an attempt to completely eliminate Allied forces for good. |
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King Leopold of Belgium orders his army to surrender to the Germans. By this time, his government has already relocated to Paris, France. |
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