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What was the Le Paradis Massacre (1940)?

Introduction The Le Paradis massacre was a war crime committed by members of the 14th Company, SS Division Totenkopf, under the command of Hauptsturmführer Fritz Knöchlein. It took place on 27 May 1940, during the Battle of France (World War Two), at a time when troops of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) were attempting to… Read More

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What was the Battle of Boulogne (1940)?

Introduction The Battle of Boulogne in 1940 was the defence of the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer by French, British and Belgian troops in the Battle of France during the Second World War. The battle was fought at the same time as the Siege of Calais, just before Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force… Read More

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What was the Battle of Abbeville (1940)?

Introduction The Battle of Abbeville took place from 27 May to 4 June 1940, near Abbeville during the Battle of France in the Second World War. On 20 May, the 2nd Panzer Division advanced 56 miles (90 km) to Abbeville on the English Channel, overran the 25th Infantry Brigade of the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division… Read More

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What was the Battle of Arras (1940)?

Introduction The Battle of Arras took place on 21 May 1940, during the Battle of France in the Second World War. Following the German invasion of the Low Countries on 10 May, French and British forces advanced into Belgium. The German campaign plan Fall Gelb (Case Yellow) had evolved into a decoy operation in the… Read More

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What was the Battle of Montcornet (1940)?

Introduction The Battle of Montcornet, on 17 May 1940 took place during the Battle of France in World War Two. The French 4e Division cuirassée (Colonel Charles de Gaulle), attacked the German-held village of Montcornet with over 200 tanks. The French drove off the Germans but later had to retreat due to lack of support… Read More

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What was the Battle of Sedan (1940)?

Introduction The Battle of Sedan or Second Battle of Sedan (12 to 15 May 1940) took place in the Second World War during the Battle of France in 1940. It was part of the German Wehrmacht’s operational plan codenamed Fall Gelb (Case Yellow) for an offensive through the hilly and forested Ardennes, to encircle the… Read More

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What was the Battle of Maastricht (1940)?

Introduction The Battle of Maastricht was one of the first battles that took place during the German Campaign on the Western Front during World War II. Maastricht was a key city in order to capture the Belgian Fort Eben-Emael and split the allied armies in half. Background The German goal of the operation was to… Read More