September 5th, French Military HQ, Nancy
Maurice Gamelin sat in his office and lit a cigarette. His office was a large dining room of a Chateau out in the countryside of Nancy. He watched as a group of men shuffled in and sat around a large oak table opposite his desk. The men who were sitting down were a few of Frances many Army Leaders and when the last took his seat, Maurice spoke.
MG: “I have called on you today to ask you a very simple question, how do we defeat the German enemy and is that even a possibility?”
The men all muttered nervously until one stood up, he was General Giraud.
Giraud: “I think we should attack at the soonest chance, take them by surprise and force the Germans back so that they fight on our terms.” He said patriotically.
Gamelin: “And how do you propose we do that?”
Giraud: “I have organized a plan of operations which I have named after my self, Operation Giraud. This plan is the swift invasion and occupation of Luxembourg and so deny the Germans a chance to invade her and gain an advantage on our left flank.”
Gamelin: “You wish to attack an unprovoked Luxembourg, surely that will not bode well for our diplomatic corps”
Giraud: “That is not our concern; we must attack and consolidate our forces in that area”
Gamelin: “And what do you propose to do when we have occupied Luxembourg”
Giraud “ I propose that the 1eme Armee led by me strike in the the German heartland of the Ruhr as Koln is unguarded by any real German threat.”
Gamelin: “And where from there?”
Giraud: “We then have an open route into the heart of the Reich and we woould have an enormous advantage on our left flank. But until that position has occurred I can add no more.”
Gamelin: “It is indeed a bold move” he took a deep pull on his ciggarette and scrateched his nose. “But I like it, I will have the plan authorised and you are in charge of it. ‘Operation Giraud commences tommorow. Does anyonje oppose?”
The other officers at the table shook there heads. “Good then, I will have my 7eme Armee as the occupation force in Luxembourg so I can control diplomatic events there aswell. I will see you in Luxembourg General Giruad, until then au revoir.”
The men stood up and left and Gamelin was left on his own. ‘An attck on Luxembourg would cause some problems he thought but it was imperative that France got the upperhabd in this battle. Especially whilst the Germans were still tied up in Poland, but that war could only last another mere week or two as Polands resistance was crumbling and German Panzers were on the outskirts of Warsaw.’ He put out his ciggarete after one last long pull and beckoned for his aide to come to him.
Aide: “What uis it, sir”
Gamelin: “I want you to telephone Paris, Leon Blums office and tell them that I have evised a warplan but Luxembourgs independence is the cost of it”.
Aide: “At once, sir” and he rushed out of the rom to make the important phone call.
