FRANCE IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR
The Second World War was fought between the Allied Powers and the Axis Powers from 1939 to 1945. It was the most destructive conflict of human history. More than sixty million people were dead. The war ended in 1945 with the victory of the Allied Powers.
France and Great Britain declared war on Germany on 3 September, 1939. A dark phase for France began. The Nazis occupied France. France had to go through tremendous turmoil. Bombing raids, executions, murders, deportations and famines added to the misery of France.
Slowly, resistance took shape. The population of France wanted Liberation. They were under the control of the collaboration of the Vichy government, the SS and Gestapo.
France could see Freedom after the arrival of the Allied Forces. The D-Day landings in Normandy were an important event for France. The French troops tried to push the Germans back to River Rhine and it was heavy on the victims.
IMPORTANT EVENTS OF 1940
On 10th May, the Germany divisions went through Holland and Belgium. The divisions went past the French defences via the North. The French troops made full efforts to hold back at Sedan. However, the lines were broken on the 12th of May.
From 27th May to 4th June, Operation Dynamo was implemented. There was evacuation from Dunkirk. Under this operation, around 300,000 French and British soldiers were evacuated. Boats did the evacuation from the beach.
From June 16 to June 24, Operation Ariel and Operation Cycle were implemented. Under these operations more than 150,000 Allied soldiers were evacuated. This evacuation took place from the ports Cherbourg, Brest, St. Malo, La Pallice, St. Nazaire, Nantes and Le Havre. The Axis Forces were successful in occupying Paris on 14 June. On June 16, France came under the leadership of Petain. On June 18, General de Gaulle raised his voice for resistance to the Germans through a broadcast made from London. June 24 was the day when France officially surrendered to Germany. On June 25, The Germany advance was halted. On the very same day, France was divided into two regions.
The French General Petain had the full command over "Zone Libre". Petain was acting on behalf of the Nazis. July 10 marked the last day of the Third Republic in France. It was now a "State". On October 3, Publication "Statut des Juifs" authorized the internment of Jews.
IMPORTANT EVENTS OF 1941
In the autumn of 1941, more than 10,000 French joined the "Forces Francaises Libres". The "Forces Francaise Libres" also comprised of men from Senegal, Chad, Algeria, Cameroon, Morocco and Tunisia.
IMPORTANT EVENTS OF 1942
On July 16, 1942 more than 12,800 non French Jews in Paris were shifted to the Velodrome d'Hiver. After this, they were taken to concentration camps. By November, in 1942, the "Zone Libre" came under the occupation of the Axis Powers. Jean Moulin, the most prominent figure of the French Resistance was parachuted into France on 13 April, 1942. He died in 1943.
IMPORTANT EVENTS OF 1944
On April 2, 1944 near Lille around 70 people were killed. On June 5, there was an attack on Sainte-Mere-Eglise. The paratroopers of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions launched this attack. June 6 was the day of D-Day landings. Operation Overlord commenced on this date with landings on the beaches of Silver Utah Gold.
Oradour-sur-Glane 2nd Waffen SS Panzer Division Das Reich drove into Oradour on June 10. A total of 642 men, women and children were killed. On June 26, Cherbourg was liberated by American troops. Later, the Allies liberated Caen. Liberation of Paris started on 18 August, 1944 and ended on 25 August, 1944. Dijon was liberated on 12th September. Nancy became free on 19 September. Strasbourg was liberated by the French troops on 24 November. Battle of the Bulge started on 16 December, 1944.
END OF SECOND WORLD WAR IN EUROPE
In 1945, Germany surrendered. The end of the Second World War in Europe was marked with the signature of the Armistice in Reims.
