France Falls
Encyclopedia
"France Falls" is the third episode of the 1973 Thames Television
documentary series The World at War. It mainly covers France from the start of the war in 1939 to June 1940.
The episode starts with a panoramic shot of several of the abandoned, rusting forts of the Maginot Line
, and a quoting of an old war line with an ominous new tag; "Here the guns would halt the Hun...provided the Hun came this way."
The episode shows first the French Army on parade, complete with cavalry divisions. It goes on to describe the state into which the Army had obsolesced between the Great Wars, including the almost complete abandonment of such modern military equipment as the tank
and the airplane, and military motor transportation. It continues to describe the changed mood in France regarding war with Germany and the chaotic state of nearly constantly-changing government prior to the open declaration of hostilities. And all along "protected" by the Maginot Line despite the new theories of war set out at that time by Heinz Guderian
, which formed the basis of blitzkrieg
. There was also the quote by Napoleon: "The side that stays within its fortifications is beaten."
The episode then begins detailing the French tactics and strength of arms when the armies were stalled facing each other in early 1940—the Phony War
. They did launch an offensive, the Saar Offensive
, some troops advanced roughly 5 miles. Before Poland surrendered, the French retreated behind the Maginot Line. A German staff officer at that time, General Siegfried Westphal, admitted that the French could have succeeded if they had invaded Western Germany during the German invasion of Poland since they have less armored forces in the Western Front at that time. It details in particular the deterioration of French soldier morale, the ineffective style, paralysis, and positionment of the French high command, as well as their tendency to ignore information which did not fit into their battle plans. Also, they ignored warnings that the invasion will proceed through the Ardennes
since they considered it as "impenetrable."
Following this, the episode sweeps into a vivid description of, first, the invasion of the Low Countries, and then the extremely effective tactics used by the Germans to trap most of France's and their allies' strength in Belgium before sweeping south across the country—through the Ardennes—during the Battle of France
. (General Guderian once said: "Strike hard and quickly. And don't disperse your forces.") It also provides a description of the state of mind in Paris as the Germans advanced, the increasing impotence of the French high command, and the increasingly defeatist mood of what was left of the government. One of the battle's major German generals, Hasso von Manteuffel
sums this up as due to the "...Maginot spirit and the long Phony War, so they have the feeling that there will be no more war."
The episode closes with the surrender
of the French at Compiègne
in the same railroad passenger car where the World War I Armistice
was signed, the beginning of occupation and the fleeting visit of Hitler in Paris (and the epilogue of the episode), and the German victory parade in Paris, dotting out to a view of the German Army passing in front of the Arc de Triomphe.
Interviewees include General André Beaufre
, Sir Edward Spears
, Journalist and broadcaster Gordon Waterfield General Hasso von Manteuffel
, and General Walter Warlimont
.
Thames Television
Thames Television was a licensee of the British ITV television network, covering London and parts of the surrounding counties on weekdays from 30 July 1968 until 31 December 1992....
documentary series The World at War. It mainly covers France from the start of the war in 1939 to June 1940.
The episode starts with a panoramic shot of several of the abandoned, rusting forts of the Maginot Line
Maginot Line
The Maginot Line , named after the French Minister of War André Maginot, was a line of concrete fortifications, tank obstacles, artillery casemates, machine gun posts, and other defences, which France constructed along its borders with Germany and Italy, in light of its experience in World War I,...
, and a quoting of an old war line with an ominous new tag; "Here the guns would halt the Hun...provided the Hun came this way."
The episode shows first the French Army on parade, complete with cavalry divisions. It goes on to describe the state into which the Army had obsolesced between the Great Wars, including the almost complete abandonment of such modern military equipment as the tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
and the airplane, and military motor transportation. It continues to describe the changed mood in France regarding war with Germany and the chaotic state of nearly constantly-changing government prior to the open declaration of hostilities. And all along "protected" by the Maginot Line despite the new theories of war set out at that time by Heinz Guderian
Heinz Guderian
Heinz Wilhelm Guderian was a German general during World War II. He was a pioneer in the development of armored warfare, and was the leading proponent of tanks and mechanization in the Wehrmacht . Germany's panzer forces were raised and organized under his direction as Chief of Mobile Forces...
, which formed the basis of blitzkrieg
Blitzkrieg
For other uses of the word, see: Blitzkrieg Blitzkrieg is an anglicized word describing all-motorised force concentration of tanks, infantry, artillery, combat engineers and air power, concentrating overwhelming force at high speed to break through enemy lines, and, once the lines are broken,...
. There was also the quote by Napoleon: "The side that stays within its fortifications is beaten."
The episode then begins detailing the French tactics and strength of arms when the armies were stalled facing each other in early 1940—the Phony War
Phony War
The Phoney War was a phase early in World War II – in the months following Britain and France's declaration of war on Germany in September 1939 and preceding the Battle of France in May 1940 – that was marked by a lack of major military operations by the Western Allies against the German Reich...
. They did launch an offensive, the Saar Offensive
Saar Offensive
The Saar Offensive was a French operation into Saarland on the German 1st Army defence sector in the early stages of World War II. The purpose of the attack was to assist Poland, which was then under attack...
, some troops advanced roughly 5 miles. Before Poland surrendered, the French retreated behind the Maginot Line. A German staff officer at that time, General Siegfried Westphal, admitted that the French could have succeeded if they had invaded Western Germany during the German invasion of Poland since they have less armored forces in the Western Front at that time. It details in particular the deterioration of French soldier morale, the ineffective style, paralysis, and positionment of the French high command, as well as their tendency to ignore information which did not fit into their battle plans. Also, they ignored warnings that the invasion will proceed through the Ardennes
Ardennes
The Ardennes is a region of extensive forests, rolling hills and ridges formed within the Givetian Ardennes mountain range, primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, but stretching into France , and geologically into the Eifel...
since they considered it as "impenetrable."
Following this, the episode sweeps into a vivid description of, first, the invasion of the Low Countries, and then the extremely effective tactics used by the Germans to trap most of France's and their allies' strength in Belgium before sweeping south across the country—through the Ardennes—during the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
. (General Guderian once said: "Strike hard and quickly. And don't disperse your forces.") It also provides a description of the state of mind in Paris as the Germans advanced, the increasing impotence of the French high command, and the increasingly defeatist mood of what was left of the government. One of the battle's major German generals, Hasso von Manteuffel
Hasso von Manteuffel
Hasso-Eccard Freiherr von Manteuffel was a German soldier and liberal politician of the 20th century.He served in both world wars, and during World War II was a distinguished general...
sums this up as due to the "...Maginot spirit and the long Phony War, so they have the feeling that there will be no more war."
The episode closes with the surrender
Armistice with France (Second Compiègne)
The Second Armistice at Compiègne was signed at 18:50 on 22 June 1940 near Compiègne, in the department of Oise, between Nazi Germany and France...
of the French at Compiègne
Compiègne
Compiègne is a city in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise.The city is located along the Oise River...
in the same railroad passenger car where the World War I Armistice
Armistice with Germany (Compiègne)
The armistice between the Allies and Germany was an agreement that ended the fighting in the First World War. It was signed in a railway carriage in Compiègne Forest on 11 November 1918 and marked a victory for the Allies and a complete defeat for Germany, although not technically a surrender...
was signed, the beginning of occupation and the fleeting visit of Hitler in Paris (and the epilogue of the episode), and the German victory parade in Paris, dotting out to a view of the German Army passing in front of the Arc de Triomphe.
Interviewees include General André Beaufre
André Beaufre
André Beaufre was a French general. Beaufre ended World War II with the rank of colonel....
, Sir Edward Spears
Louis Spears
Major-General Sir Edward Louis Spears, 1st Baronet, KBE, CB, MC was a British Army officer and Member of Parliament noted for his role as a liaison officer between British and French forces in two world wars....
, Journalist and broadcaster Gordon Waterfield General Hasso von Manteuffel
Hasso von Manteuffel
Hasso-Eccard Freiherr von Manteuffel was a German soldier and liberal politician of the 20th century.He served in both world wars, and during World War II was a distinguished general...
, and General Walter Warlimont
Walter Warlimont
Walter Warlimont was a German officer known for his role in the OKW inner circle .-World War I:...
.