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Why did German forces advance through the Ardennes Forest in 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.
In 1940, German forces advanced through the Ardennes Forest as part of a bold strategic plan proposed by Lieut. Gen. Erich von Manstein.1
The primary reasons for this maneuver included:
- Strategic Surprise: The Allies believed the German offensive would mirror the Schlieffen Plan by focusing on the Low Countries. Because the French considered the dense, hilly terrain of the Ardennes to be impassable for tanks, they left this sector of the frontier weakly defended.12
- Bypassing Defenses: By thrusting through the Ardennes, Army Group A was able to bypass both the Maginot Line and the most capable Allied divisions, which had been drawn forward into Belgium.12
- Decisive Breakthrough: This movement allowed German forces to strike at the weak hinge of the Allied line near Sedan. By achieving a rapid crossing of the Meuse River, the Germans were able to break through into open country and drive toward the English Channel, effectively isolating the Allied armies.2