Top 10 Events

Hitler invades Poland

Sep 1, 1939

This caused France and Britain to declare war on France two days later (1)

Battle of France

May 10, 1940

This was first battle France fought in the war and even though they lost they were still determined (2)

Evacuation of Dunkirk

May 27, 1940

300,000 French and British soldiers were evacuated by boats on the beach and 40,000 French soldiers were killed or captured (4)

Paris became occupied by axis powers

Jun 14, 1940

The Germans were able to completely take over France's capital (5)

Marshal Petain becomes premier of France

Jun 16, 1940

He became prime minister of vichy government due to France being desperate for a solution to war (10)

Operation Ariel and Operation Cycle

Jun 16, 1940

150,000+ Allied soldiers evacuated from the ports of Cherbourg, St. Malo, Brest, St. Nazaire, La Pallice, Nantes and Le Havre (9)

General de Gaulle calls the French to begin resistance against the Germans

Jun 18, 1940

He does this through a broadcast in London (6)

France signed an armistice with Nazi Germany

Jun 22, 1940

France had officially surrendered to Germany (3)

The German advance is halted and France is divided into two regions

Jun 25, 1940

(7)

French government hand over all powers to General Pétain

Jul 10, 1940

This is the end of the Third Republic in France (8)