The Fall of France Quotes

“crews often abandoned their vehicles temporarily to scavenge unused shells from nearby knocked-out panzers. Feldwebel Karl Koch provided a vivid glimpse of this”
― Charles River Editors, The Fall of France: The History of Nazi Germany’s Invasion and Conquest of France During World War II

“After a while, a fourth tank appeared through the orchard. It was a real monster and we had no idea that France had tanks like that. We fired 20 shots at it without success. However, after a few more shots, we managed to knock off its track. [...] a fifth tank appears, another B1 firing all its weapons. [...] We fired, but could not knock it out until a ricochet hit the turret. The next shot hit it in the rear. Calm returned and we abandoned our tank again because we had exhausted the ammunition.”
― Charles River Editors, The Fall of France: The History of Nazi Germany’s Invasion and Conquest of France During World War II

“To cut sleep to a minimum, Guderian issued pervitin amphetamines to his men, drugs given the nickname “panzer chocolate” by the men of the Heer. This early version of “crystal meth” allowed long periods of being awake and imparted a euphoric mood, but at the risk of heart attacks, suicide, psychotic violence, or a collapse into addiction.”
― Charles River Editors, The Fall of France: The History of Nazi Germany’s Invasion and Conquest of France During World War II

“At one point, a German tank commander from one of the knocked out tanks ran forward in a frenzy of frustrated rage and clambered atop a Hotchkiss tank, swinging a hammer he perhaps meant to use on its periscope. However, he missed his footing and tumbled off, crushed to death a moment later under the tank's track.”
― Charles River Editors, The Fall of France: The History of Nazi Germany’s Invasion and Conquest of France During World War II

“Apart from a cultural obsession with radio security […] the other problem arose again directly out of the perception that tanks were only to provide support for the infantry. In such circumstances, radios were not necessary, signal flags would suffice and, once drawn up in their static lines facing the enemy, it was thought to be enough for […] a runner […] passing on orders in person by word of mouth.”
― Charles River Editors, The Fall of France: The History of Nazi Germany’s Invasion and Conquest of France During World War II

“The “secret weapon” in the German tank arsenal, which ultimately overcame superior French guns and armor, consisted of the radio fitted into each Panzer. Only one in five – 20% – of French tanks carried a radio, so once combat began, 80% of the French tanks relied on visual signals, including merely observing the movements of other tanks and attempting to guess the intended maneuvers.”
― Charles River Editors, The Fall of France: The History of Nazi Germany’s Invasion and Conquest of France During World War II

“Motorized German infantry shredded the Belgian 7eme Division when it sought to oppose the crossings, causing the Belgian 4eme Division to desert en masse in terror.”
― Charles River Editors, The Fall of France: The History of Nazi Germany’s Invasion and Conquest of France During World War II

“A moment of comedy occurred amid the grim preparations for war as the leading British elements attempted to “clear customs” and enter Belgian territory: “In the vanguard were the 12th Royal Lancers who were to form the forward screen alongside and to the north of the French cavalry. They were slightly delayed by a Belgian official who was unhappy with their lack of documentation for entering his country, but overcame this by driving through his barrier.” (Evans, 2000, 45).”
― Charles River Editors, The Fall of France: The History of Nazi Germany’s Invasion and Conquest of France During World War II

“As it was, the Belgians did not give permission for the British and French to come to their aid until 6:45 a.m. on May 10, nearly three hours after the initial German invasion.”
― Charles River Editors, The Fall of France: The History of Nazi Germany’s Invasion and Conquest of France During World War II

“German successes on May 10th prompted the Belgians to fall back rapidly towards the Dyle River, site of the lightly fortified Dyle Line. The Belgian forces retreated so hastily, in fact, that British and French units moving to support them feared the Germans would sweep the Belgians past the Dyle before the Allies could advance that far.”
― Charles River Editors, The Fall of France: The History of Nazi Germany’s Invasion and Conquest of France During World War II

“Making matters all the worse, the French decided to create no fortifications along the Belgian frontier proper to avoid pushing the Belgians towards a neutral position. Though the unsuitable, wet terrain also played a major role in the French decision, preventing Belgian neutrality played a part in the choice. Yet no sooner had the French completed the Maginot Line – leaving the northern gap to reassure the Belgians they could count on French support – than Belgium adopted the very neutrality the French feared.”
― Charles River Editors, The Fall of France: The History of Nazi Germany’s Invasion and Conquest of France During World War II

“adoption of neutral status failed to keep it safe from Nazi aggression, but it hindered French efforts to counter the German threat.”
― Charles River Editors, The Fall of France: The History of Nazi Germany’s Invasion and Conquest of France During World War II

“The Belgian government clearly viewed Germany as far less of a threat than did the French, and Belgium showed a distinct lack of commitment to common action in its willingness to use the situation to extort railroad contract concessions from France. Later, as Nazi Germany began its rearmament program, Belgium declared itself neutral in 1936, dealing a serious blow to the strategy devised for the Maginot Line.”
― Charles River Editors, The Fall of France: The History of Nazi Germany’s Invasion and Conquest of France During World War II

“Marshal Henri Petain, “the Lion of Verdun.” Ironically, this French war hero would become an eventual traitor and Nazi collaborator,”
― Charles River Editors, The Fall of France: The History of Nazi Germany’s Invasion and Conquest of France During World War II

“It suggested that American soldiers be persuaded to stay in France, marry French girls who might otherwise be forced to remain single owing to the lack of eligible Frenchmen, and raise large families.” (Hughes, 2006, 18).”
― Charles River Editors, The Fall of France: The History of Nazi Germany’s Invasion and Conquest of France During World War II

“It goes without saying that Hitler and the Germans supporting him also held a deep, poisonous grudge against the French.”
― Charles River Editors, The Fall of France: The History of Nazi Germany’s Invasion and Conquest of France During World War II

“to destroy Paris, warning his subordinate that the city "must not fall into the enemy's hand except lying in complete debris.”
― Charles River Editors, The Fall of France: The History of Nazi Germany’s Invasion and Conquest of France During World War II

“One of the most famous people in the world came to tour the city of Paris for the first time on June 28, 1940. Over the next three hours, he rode through the city’s streets, stopping to tour L’Opéra Paris. He rode down the Champs-Élysées toward the Trocadero and the Eiffel Tower, where he had his picture taken. After passing through the Arc de Triomphe, he toured the Pantheon and old medieval churches, though he did not manage to see the Louvre or the Palace of Justice. Heading back to the airport, he told his staff, “It was the dream of my life to be permitted to see Paris. I cannot say how happy I am to have that dream fulfilled today.”
― Charles River Editors, The Fall of France: The History of Nazi Germany’s Invasion and Conquest of France During World War II