[beebuster2000]

as far as the papers are concerned, brits and french appear totally clueless about the coming german invasion and outcome.

i wonder if any of the military staffs had gamed out what would happen if germany attacked thru the ardenne with massed armor.

[PzLdr]

Don’t think so. They were fixated on Belgium and the Netherlands [think Schlieffen], but then, in fairness, so were the Germans early on.

But by the Spring of 1940, the Brits and French, FOR POLITICAL REASONS, decided they had to cover both a piece of Belgium and Holland when the fighting started. To do that, they pulled Giraud’s Seventh Army. Which was the reserve. Which was stationed behind Sedan and Corap’s Ninth Army. Opposite the Ardennes.

[Cheburashka]

i wonder if any of the military staffs had gamed out what would happen if germany attacked thru the ardenne with massed armor.

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In 1939-40 the prevailing Allied attitude was that tanks were to supplement and aid infantry on the advance. And to be used in small units, one tank company per infantry regiment, for example. The idea that an advance would take place at a speed faster than a man walking, like was standard in WWI, did not occur to the Allies. Yes there were people like Liddle-Hart, who had different ideas, but they were ignored.

A walking-paced advance through the Ardennes could easily be stopped by moving troops around by rail, again like what happened in WWI. So even when the Allies wargamed an attack though the Ardennes they saw nothing they could not easily handle.

Panzer divisions and mobility would be the key to German surprise and successes which will occur 6-8 months from 11/09/39. Stay tuned for these developments.