Opening of Sedan

The bored of Sedan is a major and decisive offensive during the Second world war, launched on May 10th 1940 by the Wehrmacht from Germany while crossing the Luxembourg and the Belgium (Province of Luxembourg) in direction of Sedan; the German troops cross the solid mass of the the Ardennes, considered to be insuperable by the French Staff, and thus avoiding the Ligne Maginot because the strong last of this line (extremely of Villy/Ferté) is at approximately 20 km of Sedan meadows of Carignan.

Overall strategy

Since the declaration of the war on September 3rd, 1939, during the invasion of Poland by the Germans no action of scale was tried by the belligerents (France, Great Britain). Separately the Offensive shy person of the Saar from September 7th to 21st 1939, French remained with the shelter on their border, German after their expeditious victory in the east in Poland gather in the west.

With dimensions French and combined under the authority of the general Gamelin commander-in-chief of national defense and the general Georges commander-in-chief of the Northern face and Is, the forces are divided into 3 group of armies in north the G.A n°1 of Gall Billotte, in the North-East behind the Maginot line the G.A n°2 of Gall Prételat and the G.A. n°3 of the general Besson in the south of Alsace vis-a-vis in Switzerland. In all 130 divisions including 9 divisions of the British task force of the general Gort integrated into the G.A n° 1, into account the forces belgo-Dutchwoman are also taken.

With dimensions German, the marshal Walther von Brauchitsch is commander-in-chief it and its Head of State major is the general Franz Halder have 3 Group of Armies: the G.A/B in north, the G.A/B in the center and the G.A/C in the south in all 136 divisions.

May 10th, 1940, at dawn, Wehrmacht starts an offensive while invading with the Group of Armies B of the general Fedor von Bock by invading in north the neutral States of Holland and Belgium. The violation of neutrality Belgo-Dutchwoman by these two German armies constituting this G.A B (generals Walther von Reichenau and Von Klüchler respectively 6th and 18th armies and strong of 28 divisions whose 3 panzer division, causes the operation known as Dyle-Breda on behalf of the Allies. This operation will engage most of the forces of the Group of army N° 1 of the general Gaston Henri Billotte with the meeting of the German forces, because while believing in the republication of the Plan Schlieffen of August 1914, the Head of State French major Maurice Gamelin engages as of the first day of the battle his reserve army, VIIe of the general Henri Giraud. The 1st army of the Blanchard general as well as part of the English task force also will support the Belgian armies. Part of the 9th army of the Corap general gives an opinion of covering of the Ardennes until perforated of Gembloux. The operation engages all the units made up of divisions modern, mobile and equipped well (3 light divisions mechanics, an armoured division and 5 divisions of motorized infantry).

The remainder of the French device in the south of the area of Givet until Longuyon is protected by fixed élemants from part of the 9th army and the 2nd army of the Huntziger general made up of divisions of series has or B covered by mixed and motorized horse divisions. This device protects the junction between the Maginot line and the Belgian border.

The attack in North making accept the Schlieffen plan is a lure because the German strategists modified their plan at the beginning of 1940 and will make relate to this sector of approximately 150 km, the principal attack with the group of army of the center the G.A/A of the general Gerd von Rundstedt (4th Hans Günther von Kluge, 12th general Wilhelm List, the 16th general Ernst Busch and the general grouping armor-plated Ewald von Kleist extremely of 44 divisions including 7 panzerdivision.

Sources: Special Historia n° May 5th - June 1990, the spring of the defeat, May 10th - June 25th, 1940.

First steps of the opening

The May 10th whereas all the attention is monopolized by the combat in central Belgium (operation Dyle - Breda), of important German armor-plated divisions, accompanied infantrymen by a great military value cross without declaration of war the Luxembourg and Eastern Belgium. In spite of the strategy of the staff French, this sector hinge between the Maginot line and the border is extremely badly defended by troops having a combative value lower than the French Armies deployed in Belgium and especially much less equipped in modern materials, in particular of DCA. The strategy is guided by erroneous doctrines French staff which considers that the of the Ardennes solid mass is insuperable by armoured tanks, but those of the Germans will cross it in two days. According to the Delmas general in its article " three first weeks of war, May 10th - June 3rd, 1940 " it is the conséquense of doctrines which this sentence of the Pétain Marshal summarizes in the Thirties, " so important armies venture in the of the Ardennes solid mass, one will grip them with the sortie".

Whereas the other units control the ground and reduce the pockets of resistance, the 1, 2nd and 10th Panzerdivision of the general Heinz Guderian moves towards Sedan. On 7 armor-plated divisions of the G.A/has, 3 are on the sector of Sedan and the plan of attack will concentrate on a zone of 5 km as the crow flies (10 km while following the course of the Meuse) between the villages of Donchery and Wadelincourt located on both sides town of Sedan. All the civil population of the sector receives the order to evacuate in the towns of folds in lower part of the Loire according to the plans of evacuation envisaged. The May 12th the French high command realizes that the principal attack is directed on Sedan and not towards Belgium of north like in August 1914 (Plan Schlieffen). This battle plan known as Fall Gelb (Plane yellow) is the result of a joint reflection between Hitler and the general von Manstein. The plan also says “blow of sickle” envisages to delude the French staff by simulating the principal attack by the Netherlands and the Belgium and to attract the best French units and to take them there with reverse by locking up them in Belgium. This very daring plan is at the origin of one of the greatest military disasters of France.

sources: Special Historia n° May 5th - June 1990, the spring of the defeat, May 10th - June 25th, 1940.

Involved forces

French side, the area is defended by the 2nd Army (sector of Longuyon to the surroundings of Donchery) ordered by the general Charles Huntziger and the 9th army (sector of Dining Donchery until in Belgium) of the general André Georges Corap. The German attack concentrates with the junction of these two armies primarily made up of units of infantry of military low values. Behind, in the area of Châlons-sur-Marne the 3rd armor-plated division (equipped mainly with B1 tanks) (a) is laid out in reserve.

The sector of Sedan (Dom-le-Mesnil, Remilly-Aillicourt) while following the course of the Meuse left bank) is defended by the 55e division of infantry of the Lafontaine general, made primarily of troops of infantry of 2nd reserve in which many soldiers are originating in the area. The sector of Sedan is divided into 3 under-sectors, Villers-on-Bar, Frénois and Angecourt. May 10th, an order of the Huntziger general upsets the defense system indeed which generates many repositionings, it gives the order to 71e D.I before posted in reserve to come to intercalate itself between the 55e and the 3rd D.I.N.A in the sector Pont Maugis, in the North of Mouzon left bank of the Meuse and of its affluent the Chiers. 3rd Dined repositions on the sector remaining to the fort of Villy Ferté. Other share of the units of the 55e are sent to the instruction on May 12th, the 331e regiment of infantry is replaced by 213e R.I a company of the 147e and sections of other regiments are integrated into this same 147 R. I. All these units which were familiarized with the ground are replaced by others which are not, the total installation of the units finishes that on May 12th. All that in the hullabaloo of the evacuation of the Belgian civil populations then sedanaises what does not facilitate the fast installation. The principal PC of the Lafontaine General is in the commune of Raucourt-and-Flaba located in approximately 10 km at the south of Sedan and the combat PC is installed with the place says Fond Dagot beside the village of Bulson. Along the course of the Meuse, strengthened works, casemates, forts out of reinforced concretes were built as of 1938 and at the time of the Drôle of war (nowadays much roads are still visible which follows the course of the Meuse) . But much of these works are not finished and when they are it, little are completely equipped. Some do not even have armor-plated doors, others have unsuited guns or miss mountings lances grenades… The lines of defense miss depth and from coherence, the banks of Meuse are not protected by barbed wire, the trenches are not connected between them. The infantrymen are supported by artillery (guns of 75,105 and 155 mm) that is to say a little more than 200 parts and are on a sector in the south of Sedan between the villages of Frénois and Bulson in the forest of Marfée (already place of a battles with). This forest is located on a plate dominating Sedan and the Meuse. All the transmissions are done by buried phone lines and not by radio.

Opposite, German of high military value, very aguerries and trained troops concentrate on this under-sector of Frénois between Donchery and Wadelincourt. Grouping armor-plated von Kleist, 3 Panzerdivision S with their infantry are on the sector of Sedan: the 1 division armor-plated in the west of Sedan between Glaire and Torcy, 2nd in Donchery, 10th in Wadelincourt.

Sources:

Special Historia n° May 5th - June 1990.

It was once Frénois in Guerres and Misères , June 1991, of Frénois Animation and its group Racines (Sce reprographic of the town of Sedan).

Colonel Roland, With Sedan on May 13rd, 1940 , the country Sedanais n°6.

Claude Gounelle, Sedan May 40 , Paris, Press of the City, 1980.

Engagements

The fronts German guards are very close to the French border belgo/(to approximately 15 km of Sedan) when all the bridges of the sector of Sedan are destroyed on May 12th in end according to midday. The folded up French Army awaits the German attack on left bank of the Meuse.

(to Voir bond amination on site externe

On Monday, May 13 at dawn, the French observers see many German columns apparaîtrent with the edge of the forests in the north of Sedan. The French artillery intervenes and draws effectively, obstructing the progression of the German troops. The German risposte does not come from an artillery battle as at the time of the 1st world war, but from an air raid. Bus of the hundreds of planes (Dornier, Heinkel and Junker) invade the sky and are baited with brutality on the systems defense French, the bombers are protected from French and English air hunting by Messerschmitt Bf 109. By waves, 300 Heinkel and Dornier bombard during hours the accesses of the casemates, forts located on the slopes of Meuse. De Dom Mesnil while passing by Frénois until Maugis Bridge all the fortifications and lines of defense are attacked, as well as the batteries of 75 mm of the village of Frénois, the mount of the Cross-Piot and the heavy artillery batteries of Marfée. The points most concerned are Wadelincourt, Frénois and the Bellevue locality. Courses respite between the waves do not make it possible French to effectively reorganize and react. Because also by waves some 2OO bombers in piqué stukas Ju 87 alternate which add with their howling sirens an effect demoralizing and distressing for the defenders. According to many testimonys ¹, each combatant had the impression to be aimed personally by the plane which pricked on its position. The batteries of 75 mm located at Frénois are destroyed. The French anti-aircraft artillery " too much little nombreuses" does not succeed in releasing the sky. The control of the airs allows the German tanks and guns autotractés to arrive without too many losses in edge of the Meuse, and to start to draw on the strengthened works which could practically them only react to the attack. The direct shootings on the embrasures of the casemates plug the defenders. In same time 11 battalions of attack and their artillery arrive and pile up on left bank of the Meuse.

Around 4 p.m. (German hour), the bombardments cease, under cover of smoke shells, the German infantrymen of attack cross the river on board rafts, of inflatable boats in the three preset sectors (Bellevue, Floing, Wadelincourt). After having undergone the bombardments, the French lines of defense are completely disorganized, the German infantrymen reach quickly the forts, the casemates, and sliced which they circumvent if those resist too much. Many French defenders are hagards and dumb-founded, certain casemates are defended heroically but they miss support. The requests for shootings of stoppings of some are vain, because much of telephone links are crossed and when it is not the case the artillery shootings of covers, in the absence of precise information, are not very effective. To mitigate the destruction of the phone lines, the lighting rockets requiring of the artillery support are is badly interpreted or pass inarperçues. Many the batteries of support either are destroyed, or disorganized and require displacements. Between two casemates, the 305 of Glaire and the 211 of Torcy is approximately 18OO m one would have needed an energetic answer of artillery, but the German infantrymen of the 2nd Large-Deutschland battalions progress quickly, in Wadelincourt, the fusiliers of the 86e regiment progress and neutralize quickly the casemates. Only the casemates located at Frénois on the slopes of Meuse contain German on the sector of Donchery-Bellevue. But confusion is nearly general with dimensions French, full with units are relaxed and of many soldiers prisoners are made, while others are defended heroically. Enough quickly the German units having crossed the Meuse between Glaire and Torcy neutralizes and takes with reverse the casemates which resist Frénois. At the beginning of evening, all the fortifications between Donchery and Wadelincourt fell. As of 17:30, trucks of German pioneers unload their material in the court of a factory located at Floing. Let us bridge are assembled and at midnight a first floating bridge is built in the west of Sedan, close to the village of Floing at the edge of the Meuse, with the place known as " Gaulier". It can allow the passage of vehicles and artillery. The Panzer S gather in the court of the factory of the Hope. Regiments of infantry, many vehicles, armament cross the Meuse and come to reinforce the conquered positions. At midnight of the German units of attack are already close to the village of Chéhéry to 7 km in the western south of Sedan. A movement of panic generated by the relaxed units has also affected the French troops placed in withdrawal of the frontline and did not fold up themselves in order, so much so that of 2 PC of division and 2 heavy artillery PC are abandoned. Artillery batteries not having had to undergo large damage are destroyed and given up by their being useful which flees. Little is folded up in good order and when they are it, they are génées by the relaxed units; What adds to confusion. The Germans established a solid head of bridge on left bank of the Meuse in less than one day. However on May 13rd at the evening, no German tank still crossed the Meuse, but the under-sector of Frénois is inserted.

It has not been 3 days that the true combat began and the Débâcle starts to make its work.

¹ Témoignage of Lieutenant Henri Michard of 147e R.I.F.

… the bombs are of all the gauges. The small ones are released per package. The grosses do not whistle: while falling, they imitate to mistake there grondement of a train which approaches. By twice, I have true auditive hallucinations: I am in a station, a train arrives; the crash of the explosion shakes my torpor and to reality… the crash of the explosions brings back brutally for me now dominates all…. Noise hallucinating of the torpedo whose whistle grows bigger, approaches, is prolonged; one feels personally aimed; the stiffened muscles are awaited; the bursting is a delivery. But another, two others, ten others… The whistles intersect in a network without tear; the explosions are based in a thunderous noise indiscontinu. When one moment its intensity decreases, breathings haletantes are heard. ….Stukas unite with the heavy bombers. Noise of siren of the plane which pricks gimlet the ear and exposes the nerves. It takes desire to you for howling….

References

It was once Frénois in Guerres and Misères , June 1991, of Frénois Animation and its group Racines (Sce reprographic of the town of Sedan).

Colonel Roland, With Sedan on May 13rd, 1940 , the country Sedanais n°6.

Claude Gounelle, Sedan May 40 , Paris, Press of the City, 1980.

Attempt at counter-attack

May 14th, the armoured tanks of Guderian are on left bank of the Meuse, the French device with the junction of the armies Corap and Huntziger is inserted in spite of the attempts at many French and British planes to destroy the bridges. The Flak very effective, is reinforced by the Luftwaffe. The French try to gather with the accesses of the village of Chéhéry in the valley of the Bar, Guderian immediately send its panzers towards this place. Some tanks of French recognitions in majority of FCM 36 are destroyed and do not stop the German progression. The French troops move back, however an attempt at against attack is tried.

From May 15th to 18th, to the south of Sedan in the sector of Stonne, Raucourt, Sy of the heavy tanks B1 go up on line as well as French infantrymen, of which many colonial troops. But in spite of the heroism of the French combatants and furious combat, the armoured tanks of the 3rd DCR used by small packages are submerged by the number of the German panzers. Dice on May 15th of the units of Guderian find two bridges intact on the Canal of the Ardennes, close to Omicourt and Malmy and spins full west towards the North Sea, the opening of the sector of Sedan is obvious and as from this moment the face of the G.A n°1 is dislocated. The Corap general more in north not having more connection towards Sedan, overflowed in the north and threatened in the center, orders a fold precipitated on the French border which will dismantle the 1 army which resists in Belgium and obliges this one to give up its positions on perforated Gembloux on May 15th to fold up itself on left bank of the the Scheldt.

Sources:

the Spring of the defeat May 10th - June 25th, 1940 , Special Historia n° May 5th - June 1990.

“It was once Frénois” in Guerres and Misères , June 1991, of Frénois Animation and its group Racines (Sce reprographic of the town of Sedan).

The rout

From May 10th to 14th, in 4 days of engagements after having combined the airborne actions, armor-plated and of bombardment, the G.A of von constrained Glass of bier Dutch forces to deposit the weapons. The 7th army of Giraud could not even carry help and retouve to them committed at the Dutch border. In same time the Belgian army undergoes the engagements along the Canal Albert and of the Meuse, the fort of Eben-Emael is taken by airborne commandos. In same time the bodies armor-plated of the general Hoeppner (2 pzd) seize Maastricht and banks of the Meuse. In 24 hours month the situation is compromised whereas the French and English units are not installed yet firmly. Dice on May 11th the bodies of cavalry of the general Rene Prioux 2nd and 3rd DLM are already in contact with German, it makes share with the Billotte general of it, in spite of that the operation continues. English positions on dyle and the 1st army in perforated of Gembloux.

The opening of the face on May 15th in the sector of Sedan will make burst the device first of all, Gall Corap takes down of his sector involving the abandonment of perforated of Gembloux by the Blanchard general. During this time the armor-plated units having bored the face with Sedan move towards the estuary of the Sum with a striking down progression frightening the state German major which expects counter attacks, because long a 100 km broad corridor to 40 km extends from Sedan in direction of the estuary of the Sum. But Guderian benefits from surprised and of confusion creates by its tactic does not stop. The May 17th, a counter-attack limited to Montcornet is launched by the 4 {{E}} division armoured of reserve ordered by the colonel Charles de Gaulle, however this success located, repeated then near Abbeville, is not sufficient to oppose the German plans.

the May 19th, the généralissime French Gamelin leaves its torpor and considers an operation tortures some from Arras but Gamelin is dismissed the evening even before its decision is effective and it is replaced by the general Weygand. During this time the avant-garde German reach Abbeville, the best allied units, cut of their staff, are taken with the trap in an enormous pocket. Weygand takes again finally the Gamelin plan ordering with the G.A n°1 to go down to the South and the 7th army reconstituted on the Sum to go back to North. However before acting, he wants to meet the allies and Gall Billotte, but the change of this will and commander-in-chief to consult delay the development of the operation, with the unhappy risks interfere themselves because Lord Gort is untraceable and Gall Billotte commits suicide in an car accident with the return out of the meeting. The G.A/A continues its progression and reinforces its positions and starts to go up towards north to reduce the pocket. The chances to escape from the pocket for the allies are reduced, on May 25th, Lord Gort decides the fold of its task force on Dunkirk, on May 28th the king of the Belgians capitulates with his army. Driven back in a pocket that is reduced to north and in the south Weygand is solved to order with the G.A. n°1 to also fold up itself on Dunkirk and to be solved to take part in the operation Dynano leaving the material of 18 divisions franco.britannic and 1 million prisoners.

A miracle as that of the Bataille of the Marne in 1914 will not take place, it is rather the spirit of the Bataille of Sedan into 1870 which prevailed during these three weeks of battles. Then, excécutant the plan Fall Rot the Germans will break on France hustling the line of defense set up by Weygand which goes from the mouth of the Sum until Vouziers in the Ardennes.

Sources:

" The first three weeks of guerre" by the general Delmas, Special Historia n° May 5th - June 1990.
the Spring of the defeat May 10th - June 25th, 1940 , Special Historia n° May 5th - June 1990.

Errors of the French command

The opening German, known as " opening of Sedan" , was carried out in fact on a face which goes from Sedan to the south to Dining to north, with in particular like principal points of passage Dining and Monthermé. This operation was only the essential component of an overall plan which functioned remarkably and especially has creates a confusion and a fast lack of reaction of the allies. This defeat is also explained by the strategic fault French staff (general Gamelin and Georges), to advance the best troops in Belgium and in the Netherlands with the meeting supposed of large of the German forces, whereas the essence of the German offensive concentrates on the weakest point of the French device, much more in the south, in the sector of the Ardennes, held by weak troops of infantry which will face the best German units concentrated on this point of gravity of the face. Allied air recognitions had however located the important movements of the German units through the Eiffel and the Luxembourg as of on May 10th.

The surprise of the opening of Sedan, the fast lack of reaction and the use dispersed of French armoured divisions evil supported by aviation at the time of against attacks, explain why the effects of the initial strategic fault could not be corrected and the “clogged” breach. The doctrines of the French staff were based on the defensive and no lesson had been drawn from the beginning of the conflict in Poland in September 1939. During several months, the belligerents looked at the weapon with the foot, making it possible to the Germans to reconstitute their various stocks. However the French have them also to benefit from this period to supplement their armament and to constitute some armor-plated divisions. This period, called the “Funny of war”, brutally will cease the May 10th 1940. German will use a brutal tactic which brings a decisive advantage to them. It is by the combined utlisation of the tanks and of aviation like spearhead in a sector and then to exploit confusion and the surprise creates by this tactic known as Blitzkrieg to gain the decision. Certain historians think that France was prepared for a long war, manpower as men were balanced and of equal value, the materials were of value equivalent. But badly employed vis-a-vis German who exploited with wonder the trick of the yellow plan, the French Armies will undergo the greatest defeat of their history. The French human losses will be considerable because in a little more than one month of effective war more than 90.000 combatants will be killed or reported missing and more than 200.000 wounded, which shows that in spite of the rout French defended itself and beat with eagerness. These figures exceed the monthly losses bloodiest during the first war.

Practically 70 years front, Sedan was preceding once the theater of decisive military operations for the Germans. Indeed at the time of the Battle of Sedan from August 31st to September 1st 1870, a coalition of the German States had put in rout the French Army precipitating the fall of the Second Empire and the advent of the Third Republic. This May 13rd 1940, although the face was extended more, the principal effort of the German army concentrated on the sector of Sedan. This battle was also decisive and remained in the history like the opening of Sedan. The town of Sedan once again will be at the origin of the anguish of a political regime which will be abolished in fact on July 10th, 1940 by the National Assembly (House of Commons and Sénat brought together) which gave the full powerss to the marshal Pétain. This last requires a armistice which is signed on June 22nd, 1940 with Rethondes and gives rise to the Régime of Vichy.

It should however be noted that France although having been victorious at the time of the First World War the essence of the damage of the war underwent on its territories of north and of the east and also in human losses by losing 1 4OO OOO combatants (killed or disappeared) that is to say 10% of its male active population. The industrial, mining basins of north and the east underwent many destruction. During between two wars, the country is traumatisé and the general opinion says that never again, the pacifist feeling is nearly general. The policies as Aristide Briand follow the opinion. The soldiers also remember the human losses and adopts defensive doctrines rather and the military tactics do not evolve/move enough, although industry provides him modern armaments. In short France entered in war with tools of the 2nd war but with the tactics of the 1st war. The IIIe République did not know prepared the country with one boulversement announced with the rise of the Dictature S German, Soviet, Italian and Spanish. max Gallo describes it as model illustrating “the incapacity of a whole political community to seize the news gives which changes the play of the world”. He thinks that Briand (born in 1862), like Pétain (born in 1856), were men, born under the Second Empire, who did not have “to pass the witness to younger men” - died in the trenches of 14-18 - and they “still held the bar” in the years 1930 and 1940. Finally of “too old captains for an unchained sea. It absorbed them.”

Bibliography and Sources

Works:

“It was once Frénois” in Guerres and Misères , June 1991, of Frénois Animation and its group Racines (Sce reprographic of the town of Sedan).
Claude Gounelle, Sedan May 40 , Paris, Press of the City, 1980.
Paul Berben and Bernard Iselin, the panzers pass the Meuse , Paris, Laffont, 1967.

Articles:

"The first three weeks of guerre" by the general Delmas, Special Historia n° May 5th - June 1990.
the Spring of the defeat May 10th - June 25th, 1940 , Special Historia n° May 5th - June 1990.
Philippe de Laubier " “Bombardment on the Meuse on May 14th, 1940” " in the Historical Re-examined of the Armies n°3, 1985.
J. Sacring, hunting for the top of Sedan , the country Sedanais n°77.
Colonel Roland, With Sedan on May 13rd, 1940 , the country Sedanais n°6.

See too

Battle of France

External bond

"The Ardennes 194O" , homage to those which resisted
http://www.ardennes1940aceuxquiontresiste.org/sedan/sedan-gaulier.html
the German advance on the Western face to the Seine
Plan of the German offensive
Situation on the face of the West from May 10th to 16th 1940

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