General F. W. von Mellenthin, who as a junior officer participated in the attack on France, noted that the German units crossing the Meuse on May 14, 1940, had “practiced and rehearsed their roles for months.” Their French opponents were not so well prepared: Fortunately, the French found it difficult to improvise (a counterattack) at short notice; their tanks moved slowly and clumsily and by the time they got into action, our antitank guns were arriving … although the French attacked courageously, they showed little skill, and soon nearly 50 of their tanks were burning on the battlefield.
