In six weeks from 10 May 1940, German forces defeated Allied forces by mobile operations and conquered France, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, bringing land operations on the Western Front to an end until 6 June 1944. Italy entered the war on 10 June 1940 and attempted an invasion of France. read more
In 1942, after the landing of American, British and (marginally) free-France forces in Northern Africa, the German invaded the not-occupied zone so as to prevent any landing of the allied forces on the southern French shores. read more
May wrote that, when Hitler demanded a plan to invade France in September 1939, the German officer corps thought that it was foolhardy and discussed a coup d'état, only backing down when doubtful of the loyalty of the soldiers to them. read more
Hitler invaded France partly to gain revenge for Germany's defeat in World War I and also because he knew that Britain and France would try to stop him from his aim of conquering vast territories in Eastern Europe. read more