It was clear to the military establishment of the United Kingdom that a war was coming, and to fail to prepare for that war would foolish. To that end, a large investment in airborne technologies and armoured warfare was made, with the goal to preparing a force to stave off any German attack on their ally France.
By late 1938, the first full-fleged airborne divisions were being formed, as well as the first four armoured divisions. Two of these armoured divisions were earmarked for North Africa, and two as a ‘fire-fighting’ corps for the inevitable invasion of France.
And indeed the invasion came in May of 1939 with a declaration of war by Germany and their allies Italy and the Czechs. The first move of the British was to place the five infantry division BEF in Luxembourg to aid the French in the defenses. This was followed by two armoured divisions under the control of Monty, while two more armoured divisions were moved to North Africa to fight a holding action against the Italian forces.
In the air, strategic bombers were directed against the industrial provinces of Germany, giving a comprehensive pounding to their factories, even as their armies struck the French armies on their own territory and the Italian capital of Rome. Four airborne divisions under O’Connor were dropped in Hamburg with the hope that an invasion could rapidly be launched into the heart of Germany. While the troops held until the middle of June, never facing any great attacks from the German forces, it became clear that the troops would be needed on the defensive in France. They were rapidly picked up by transport planes and dropped in French-held Amiens.
In northern France, the French were pounded by mixed infantry and armoured German armies and forced back towards the Siene.
At the same time, the Italians came across the southern border with France, forcing their way between Marseilles and the Swiss border and by July taking most of southern France. By this point, Monty’s armoured corps had been fully organised on the continent and it struck the spread-out Italian armies like a lightning bolt. About 10 divisions were cut-off in a matter of days and then Monty’s forces were sent north again to blunt armoured German spearheads which were pointed towards Paris.
On the north bank of the Seine, only Amiens remained under French control, largely on the strength of O’Connor’s 1st Airborne Corps.
The BEF which had been unceremoniously ejected from Luxembourg (which was subsequently annexed by Germany) had retreated to Paris. During the fall of 1939, a sort of stalemate had developed in France, aided by the Germans attacking Poland in September. By November however, Poland had fallen and German divisions were pouring back to the west. British Miltary intelligence noticed that the troops on either side of Amiens were moving, and suspected that a cross river attack on Paris was imminent.
They rapidly transported by air the 1st Airborne Corps to Paris, just in time to face a massive three directional onslaught from the Germans. After two weeks, the Germans retreated back across the Seine and a collective sigh went up from France and Britain. The Italians were flailing about in southern France, able to hold their own and even take territory from France when Monty’s forces moved north, but suffering massive setbacks each time Monty move south.
However, Monty was being run ragged and desperately needed assistance so that he could concentrate on a single front instead of moving back and forth putting out fires where they flared up. In December of 1939, he got his wish as four new armoured divisions were at establishment strength and prepared to embark for France.
[more to come tomorrow, cause this is where I am
]
By late 1938, the first full-fleged airborne divisions were being formed, as well as the first four armoured divisions. Two of these armoured divisions were earmarked for North Africa, and two as a ‘fire-fighting’ corps for the inevitable invasion of France.
And indeed the invasion came in May of 1939 with a declaration of war by Germany and their allies Italy and the Czechs. The first move of the British was to place the five infantry division BEF in Luxembourg to aid the French in the defenses. This was followed by two armoured divisions under the control of Monty, while two more armoured divisions were moved to North Africa to fight a holding action against the Italian forces.
In the air, strategic bombers were directed against the industrial provinces of Germany, giving a comprehensive pounding to their factories, even as their armies struck the French armies on their own territory and the Italian capital of Rome. Four airborne divisions under O’Connor were dropped in Hamburg with the hope that an invasion could rapidly be launched into the heart of Germany. While the troops held until the middle of June, never facing any great attacks from the German forces, it became clear that the troops would be needed on the defensive in France. They were rapidly picked up by transport planes and dropped in French-held Amiens.
In northern France, the French were pounded by mixed infantry and armoured German armies and forced back towards the Siene.
At the same time, the Italians came across the southern border with France, forcing their way between Marseilles and the Swiss border and by July taking most of southern France. By this point, Monty’s armoured corps had been fully organised on the continent and it struck the spread-out Italian armies like a lightning bolt. About 10 divisions were cut-off in a matter of days and then Monty’s forces were sent north again to blunt armoured German spearheads which were pointed towards Paris.
On the north bank of the Seine, only Amiens remained under French control, largely on the strength of O’Connor’s 1st Airborne Corps.
The BEF which had been unceremoniously ejected from Luxembourg (which was subsequently annexed by Germany) had retreated to Paris. During the fall of 1939, a sort of stalemate had developed in France, aided by the Germans attacking Poland in September. By November however, Poland had fallen and German divisions were pouring back to the west. British Miltary intelligence noticed that the troops on either side of Amiens were moving, and suspected that a cross river attack on Paris was imminent.
They rapidly transported by air the 1st Airborne Corps to Paris, just in time to face a massive three directional onslaught from the Germans. After two weeks, the Germans retreated back across the Seine and a collective sigh went up from France and Britain. The Italians were flailing about in southern France, able to hold their own and even take territory from France when Monty’s forces moved north, but suffering massive setbacks each time Monty move south.
However, Monty was being run ragged and desperately needed assistance so that he could concentrate on a single front instead of moving back and forth putting out fires where they flared up. In December of 1939, he got his wish as four new armoured divisions were at establishment strength and prepared to embark for France.
[more to come tomorrow, cause this is where I am
]