Applied Academic Communication: WW2 Battle of France Essay

This essay provides a comprehensive analysis of the Battle of France in 1940, a pivotal event during World War II. It begins by outlining the historical context, including the build-up to the war and France's defensive strategies, such as the Maginot Line. The essay details the German invasion, also known as the Fall of France, and the swift defeat of the Allied forces, exploring key military operations such as Fall Gelb and the evacuation at Dunkirk. It examines the strategic decisions, the impact on the French government, and the establishment of Vichy France. The essay then delves into the aftermath of the battle, including the significant casualties, the division of France, and the emergence of Charles de Gaulle's Free French movement. The conclusion emphasizes the lasting impact of the battle on the course of the war and the reshaping of Europe. The essay is supported by references to scholarly sources, providing a well-researched overview of this critical period in history.

Running head: WORLD WAR 2: OUTCOME
WORLD WAR 2: OUTCOME
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author Note

1WORLD WAR 2: OUTCOME
The essay is a descriptive writing which explains about one of the many battles that
occurred in the happenings of World War 2. The paper typically deals with the battle of France
in the year 1944 as the result of World War 2 and its aftermath. The essay seeks to find the
happenings and outcome of battle of France in the year 1944 and argues about the aftermath of
the battle on France and allied nation (forces).
At the end of World War 2, huge areas of Europe and Asia had been reduced to ruins.
The borders and boundaries of different countries were redrawn and homecomings, expulsions
and burials were normal day to day happenings. However, the massive effort to rebuild the
countries and the society has already been started. In the late 1930s, when the war had begun, the
population of the world was approximately two billion. However, the World War 2 brought more
or less eighty million deaths, killing approximately four per cent of the world population
(Gilbert, 2014). World War 2 has brought a significant loss of lives and property in all the
countries it passed. Allied forces of the war had then become occupiers, who took control of
Germany, Japan and other territory they had formerly ruled. Efforts were made to permanently
disassemble the war inducing capabilities of the respective nations as the factories and industries
were destroyed and former leadership was removed or prosecuted. However, throughout the
World War 2, a plethora of battles between different European, American and Asian countries
took places that have importance and significance throughout the world history. The respective
paper talks about the Battle of France that happened in 1944 after the World War 2 in a
detailed manner.
Battle of France, which was also known as Fall of France, can also be called as the
German invasion of France and the Low Countries in the Second World War. On the eve of
September 1939, France had declared war on Germany along with invasion of Poland, which

2WORLD WAR 2: OUTCOME
was Germany’s ally in the Second World War. The planning for invasion of France has already
been started at the time of 1943. The war device known as Saar Offensive was launched by
France in the September of 1939. However, the French army had already withdrawn to its
original start position as early as the middle of the month of October. Germans had been
successful in defeating the allied forces by mobile operation as early as six weeks. The Germans
conquered the areas of Luxembourg, Belgium, France and (Shirer, 2014).
The background of the battle of France in 1944 has a multidimensional and
multifaceted history of its own. During the 1930s, the French nation had happened to build the
Maginot Line, which was the fortification along the border with Germany. The Maginot Line
was made to economize the manpower and deter German invasion across the Franco- German
border by diverting it into the countries of Belgium, which was then met by the best divisions of
the French Army. The battle of France of 1944 would take place outside the French territory,
avoiding the destruction of the First World War. The main section of the respective Maginot
Line ran from the Swiss border and ended at Longwy. The German Invasion of Poland in 1939
was also one of the reasons behind the battle of France. In 1939, Britain and France offered
military support to Poland in the likely case of a German invasion. In the eve of September 1939,
the Germans invaded the nation of Poland (Doughty, 2014).
On 10th May, a team of German forces occupied the area of Luxembourg which was also
known as Fall Gelb. The two countries that launched the First Offensive were Belgium and
Netherlands. On the roads and lanes of Hague at Rotterdam, there were evidences of deadly and
diabolic attack in the early dawn and it kept on increasing its magnitude. The Dutch border was
soon filled with fighters and soldiers when the French diplomats and warmongers sensed fear
and danger. However, the French had to withdraw at waterways because the Germans were way

3WORLD WAR 2: OUTCOME
too ahead in warfare than them. Conquering and invasion of Belgium and Netherlands, Hannaut
and Sedal war were certain significant operational happenings that occurred under the operation
Fall Gelb (Posen, 2014). That is how the Battle of France in 1944 got initiated and continued.
The troops who were kept captivated and in custody in the northern areas of Belgium were
targeted for rescue by the help of Operation Dynamo that was launched by France, Britain and
Belgium. Almost 350,000 men had been rescued and the first phase of the mission had been
successful, where more than 40,000 French troops were kept as prisoners. The Germans,
however, had still different ways to defeat and kill their enemies. The end of the battle of
France saw a deep weakness of the allied forces that left the Germans superior and the controller
of the region (Horne, 2012).
After the Fall Gelb and the Germans, the French forces became enfeeble. Operation Fall
Rot was launched to take advantage out of such institutional weakness. During that era, Hitler
had already gained immense power and Mussolini also assisted and supported him from Italy.
On the June 5th, he renewed the offensive in the Somme. Meanwhile, Britain and France, both the
countries had to face lashes and frictions. They initially did not give in but however, the hostility
of the warfare was reiterated. The French government was overtly pressurized by the Germans so
that it might agree to give signature to the armistice to keep away any further attack.
The prime minister was forced to resign because he refused to agree to end the war. In the
radio broadcast of Marshall Petain after his historical win, he addressed the French people
announcing his intention to ask for an armistice in Germany. When Hitler received the news of
negotiation, he selected Compeigne forest as the place for negotiation. The armistice was signed
by the parties in the date of June 22 (Posen, 2014).

4WORLD WAR 2: OUTCOME
The argument that the essay brings forth is the significance of the aftermath of the battle.
The Aftermath of the battle of France of 1944 was horrific and heart wrenching at the same
time. the casualties faced by the Germans could not be determined, however, it was estimated
that approximately 27,000 were killed, 111,000 wounded and almost 18,000 (or more than that)
missing. The death of the German men was high and also due to the additional combat causes,
the wounded eventually died and the missing were confirmed that they were dead. The Defense
Historical Service data and information suggests that during the battle, certain 120,000 soldiers
have been wounded and 1.5 millions of them were held captive. Further records also depict that
approximately 71,000 French prisoners managed to escape and the Vichy and German
governance had already freed 220,000 prisoners through various agreements. More than 68,000
armed forces of Britain got defeated. Approximately 6,000 armed forces of Belgium died in the
battle. The significance of the aftermath was important as Britain stood alone as the last allied
nation in Europe to stand against the aggressive warfare of Germany. France was divided by the
zones where the Germans were occupied in the areas of west and north and the south had a
constitutionally freed state based on Vichy town, also known as Vichy France. As the earlier
state of France got defeated, the new French province lead by Pertain accepted its defeated
position and tried to get favor with Germany through passive dealings and providence of
accommodation (Vilfroy, 2016). The National Defense by Reynaud in London crowned Charles
De Gaulle did not realize the government of Vichy of its legitimacy and tried to free the French
forces. Gaulle was supported and assisted by many French colonies than the Vichy government
(Nord, 2015).
The respective paper concludes to be a descriptive writing which explains about one of
the many battles that occurred in the happenings of World War 2. The paper concludes to

5WORLD WAR 2: OUTCOME
typically deal with the battle of France in the year 1944 as the result of World War 2 and its
aftermath. The respective paper concludes to be significant because it deals instrumentally and
intrinsically about the different happenings that occurred in the mentioned battle and also the
casualties and deadly aftermath that the world has witnessed out of such brutality.

6WORLD WAR 2: OUTCOME
References:
Doughty, R. A. (2014). The Breaking Point: Sedan and the Fall of France, 1940. Stackpole
Books. Available at: https://books.google.co.in/books?
hl=en&lr=&id=MpXEBAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=Doughty,+R.+A.+(2014).
+The+Breaking+Point:+Sedan+and+the+Fall+of+France,
+1940.+Stackpole+Books.&ots=dmP3xn9CPm&sig=MkH6ncUWyB5ROTmzxWzgJyO
PQow&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false
Gilbert, M. (2014). The second world war: a complete history. Rosetta Books. Available at:
https://books.google.co.in/books?
hl=en&lr=&id=42iHDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP9&dq=Gilbert,+M.+(2014).
+The+second+world+war:+a+complete+history.
+Rosetta+Books.&ots=xDACpr2oid&sig=NvOFvzr1AFxqGMthRzJqpXXwJR4&redir_e
sc=y#v=onepage&q=Gilbert%2C%20M.%20(2014).%20The%20second%20world
%20war%3A%20a%20complete%20history.%20Rosetta%20Books.&f=false
Nord, P. (2015). France 1940: Defending the Republic. Yale University Press. Available at:
https://books.google.co.in/books?hl=en&lr=&id=yGbbBgAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=Nord,+P.
+(2015).+France+1940:+Defending+the+Republic.
+Yale+University+Press.&ots=cxHbNlAMqn&sig=13jweT_FhalnKPBnPyaulsyJixY&redir_esc=y#v
=onepage&q=Nord%2C%20P.%20(2015).%20France%201940%3A%20Defending%20the
%20Republic.%20Yale%20University%20Press.&f=false

7WORLD WAR 2: OUTCOME
Posen, B. R. (2014). The sources of military doctrine: France, Britain, and Germany between the
world wars. Cornell University Press. Available at: https://books.google.co.in/books?
hl=en&lr=&id=jvt1BAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT3&dq=Posen,+B.+R.+(2014).
+The+sources+of+military+doctrine:+France,+Britain,
+and+Germany+between+the+world+wars.
+Cornell+University+Press.&ots=KxTa82zCYv&sig=SzO-
6N6YQqXj8pqwfgf2PpkQMTE&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false
Shirer, W. L. (2014). The Collapse of the Third Republic: an Inquiry into the Fall of France in
1940. Rosetta Books. Available at: https://books.google.co.in/books?
hl=en&lr=&id=AWpsDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT7&dq=Shirer,+W.+L.+(2014).
+The+Collapse+of+the+Third+Republic:
+an+Inquiry+into+the+Fall+of+France+in+1940.+Rosetta+Books.
+&ots=5Kcv3uFpDV&sig=i-
oTDfbzqakUvz_5zVOjAwJYKqM&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false
Vilfroy, D. (2016). War in the West, The Battle of France, May-June, 1940. Pickle Partners
Publishing. Available at: https://books.google.co.in/books?
hl=en&lr=&id=14TEDAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT6&dq=Vilfroy,+D.+(2016).
+War+in+the+West,+The+Battle+of+France,+May-June,
+1940.+Pickle+Partners+Publishing.&ots=88J_iGCYi6&sig=wQDZCrJeI48tGYpdRKri
uOveCrw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Vilfroy%2C%20D.%20(2016).%20War%20in
%20the%20West%2C%20The%20Battle%20of%20France%2C%20May-June%2C
%201940.%20Pickle%20Partners%20Publishing.&f=false

8WORLD WAR 2: OUTCOME
Horne, A. (2012). To lose a battle: France 1940. Pan Macmillan. Available at:
https://books.google.co.in/books?
hl=en&lr=&id=QGvTKu_Tp8UC&oi=fnd&pg=PT6&dq=Horne,+A.+(2012).
+To+lose+a+battle:
+France+1940.+Pan+Macmillan.&ots=h1DmsPumzR&sig=okF_fzWuXXNNBi4KPiO9
8iuDIZw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Horne%2C%20A.%20(2012).%20To%20lose
%20a%20battle%3A%20France%201940.%20Pan%20Macmillan.&f=false