French Surrender To Hitler 1940

#history,#worldhistory,#historymemes French Surrender To Hitler 1940 Hitler unleashes his blitzkrieg invasion of the Low Countries and France with a fury on May 10, 1940. (see Blitzkrieg, 1940) Within three weeks, a large part of the British force, accompanied by some of the French defenders, is pushed to the English Channel and compelled to abandon the continent at Dunkirk. The German advance continues to sweep southward driving before it not only the retreating French army, but an estimated 10 million refugees fleeing for their lives. The French abandon Paris, declaring it an open city. This allows the Germans to enter the French capital on June 14 without resistance. The French government continues its flight southward to Bordeaux where it disintegrates. A new government is formed with World War I hero Marshall Petain at its head. On June 17 the aging warrior announces in a broadcast to the French people that “It is with a heavy heart that I tell you today that we must stop fighting.” This is the final