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Which countries did Germany invade when the Battle of France began on May 10, 1940?
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Battle of France
Adolf Hitler (center) in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris shortly after signing an armistice with France, June 1940.
On May 10, 1940, when the offensive that initiated the Battle of France began, German forces launched invasions against the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg.12
While the campaign is collectively known as the Battle of France, the initial phase of the German blitzkrieg strategy focused on overrunning the Low Countries to bypass Allied defenses. German tanks crossed through Luxembourg to reach the southeastern border of Belgium, facilitating an armored thrust through the Ardennes region that ultimately allowed German forces to penetrate into France.12