Battle of Abbeville facts for kids

Quick facts for kids

Battle of Abbeville

Part of the Battle of France, the Second World War

Situation map 21 May – 6 June 1940

Date	27 May – 4 June 1940 (8 days)
Location	Abbeville 50°06′21″N 01°50′09″E / 50.10583°N 1.83583°E / 50.10583; 1.83583
Result	German victory

Belligerents

France

United Kingdom

Germany

Commanders and leaders

Maxime Weygand
Charles de Gaulle
Victor Fortune

Oskar Blümm
Erich von Manstein

Casualties and losses

c. 2,000 killed or captured
c. 210 AFVs destroyed or captured

57th Infantry Division: 1,000 casualties including about 300 POW

The Battle of Abbeville was a series of fights that happened from May 27 to June 4, 1940. It took place near the town of Abbeville in France during the Battle of France, which was part of the Second World War.

On May 20, 1940, German tanks quickly moved about 90 kilometers (56 miles) to Abbeville, a town on the English Channel. They surprised and captured the town, cutting off British forces further north. Only a few British soldiers managed to escape to the south side of the Somme River.

From May 27 to June 4, French and British forces tried to take back the area south of Abbeville. This area was held by German troops who had set up a strong defensive position, called a bridgehead. The Allied forces lost many tanks and soldiers in these attacks. The Germans also suffered heavy losses, with some units even retreating across the River Somme.

On June 5, the Germans launched a new attack from their positions south of the Somme. They pushed the weakened French and British divisions back even further. This battle showed that the Allies had trouble working together and underestimated the German defenses. The German victory at Abbeville helped them continue their advance into France.

Background to the Battle
Preparing for Battle
- German Defenses
- Allied Plans
The Battle Begins
Aftermath
- Casualties and Losses
- June 5: German Offensive Continues
See also

Background to the Battle

The Battle of France Begins

After a quiet period known as the "Phoney War," the Battle of France started on May 10, 1940. German armies began their attack, called Fall Gelb (Case Yellow).

German Plan: One German army group invaded the Netherlands and Belgium. This was a trick to draw the strongest French and British forces north. Meanwhile, another German army group secretly attacked through the Ardennes forest, where the French expected no major attack.
Surprise Attack: The Germans crossed the Meuse River on May 14, much faster than the Allies expected. They then quickly moved down the Somme River valley.
Abbeville Captured: On May 20, German tanks reached Abbeville on the English Channel. The British soldiers there were low on supplies and ammunition. The Germans captured the town by 8:30 p.m., destroying bridges and cutting off many British troops.

British Forces Arrive

The British 1st Armoured Division arrived in France starting May 15. However, it was not fully ready.

Missing Equipment: The division was missing its artillery and some infantry. Some of its armored vehicles had been sent to other places.
Supply Problems: German bombing made it hard to land more troops and supplies at French ports. The division also lacked spare parts and proper radio equipment.
Orders to Attack: On May 21, the British division was ordered to capture crossings over the Somme River. They were then supposed to help cut off German forces further north. The British commander felt this was too ambitious given his division's state.

Supply Lines Cut

The German advance cut off the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) from its main supply bases.

Important Bases: Key supply depots, medical bases, and ammunition stores were located in areas like Dieppe and Rouen.
Railway Problems: The main railway lines connecting these bases to the BEF in the north ran through Abbeville and Amiens. German bombing and crowded roads made rail travel very difficult.
Improvised Defenses: British officers had to quickly create new defense lines using whatever troops they could find. These troops were often older soldiers or support staff with few weapons.

Preparing for Battle

German Defenses

After capturing the Somme bridges, the Germans quickly prepared their defenses.

Strong Positions: They dug in anti-tank guns and camouflaged them in the woods.
Reinforcements: More German infantry divisions arrived to take over the defense of the Somme bridgeheads. They also began to expand their control south of the river.

Allied Plans

The Allied commanders decided they needed to destroy the German positions south of the Somme.

French and British Cooperation: The French Seventh Army and the British 1st Armoured Division were to work together.
Goals: The main goal was to clear the Germans from the south bank of the Somme. This would help protect the Allied forces and their supply lines.
Challenges: The Allies did not realize how strong the German defenses were. They also had problems with communication and coordinating their attacks. The British tanks were lighter than French heavy tanks and not ideal for attacking strong defenses.

The Battle Begins

May 27: First Attacks

The Allied attack started at 6:00 a.m. on May 27.

Tank Losses: British tanks tried to advance but were met by strong German anti-tank guns. Many tanks were destroyed or broke down.
Limited Gains: On the left side, some British tanks reached high ground near the coast. However, there were no infantry soldiers to hold the ground, so the tanks had to retreat.
Heavy Casualties: The 1st Armoured Division lost 65 tanks, with many more breaking down due to mechanical issues.

May 28: French Counter-attack

French divisions attacked again, capturing some German outposts. The French 4e Division cuirassée (4th Armored Division), led by Colonel Charles de Gaulle, arrived.

French Tanks: This division had powerful tanks like the Char B1, which were much stronger than the British light tanks.
Initial Success: The Char B1 tanks attacked German positions and destroyed many machine-gun nests. German soldiers were surprised that their anti-tank guns had little effect on these heavy French tanks.
Missed Opportunity: The French tanks advanced deep into the German lines. However, the French infantry could not keep up. The tanks then retreated at dusk, allowing the Germans to reorganize their defenses.
German Panic: Some German units panicked, thinking they were facing "giant tanks" and "steel fortresses." They began to retreat, causing chaos.
Allied Confusion: De Gaulle did not know how much success his tanks had achieved. He ordered them to rest, giving the Germans time to set up new defenses.

May 29–31: Continued Fighting

The French 4th Armored Division attacked again on May 29, but with fewer tanks available.

German 88mm Guns: The Germans brought in powerful 88mm anti-aircraft guns, which could easily destroy the French heavy tanks.
Heavy Losses: The French tanks attacked a key German position called Mont de Caubert. They faced strong resistance from the 88mm guns and lost many tanks.
Partial Success: The French did manage to push back some German units and cause panic. However, they could not completely clear the bridgehead.
Allied Fatigue: The Allied troops were tired, and their tank losses were high. The offensive ended on May 30, with the French having lost 105 tanks in three days.

June 1–3: Reorganizing Forces

The Allied command decided to pause the attacks to regroup.

New Divisions: The British 51st (Highland) Infantry Division and the French 31st (Alpine) Division took over positions opposite the German bridgehead.
Beauman Division: An improvised British force, called the Beauman Division, was formed to defend other areas.
Long Front Line: The British and French units were spread out over a very long front, making it difficult to defend effectively.

June 4: Final Allied Attack

A new Allied attack was planned for June 4, aiming to capture key high ground.

Poor Preparation: The French divisions had just arrived and had little time to prepare. There was also a lack of air support for observing German positions.
Minefields and Guns: As the attack began, Allied tanks ran into minefields and were hit by German anti-tank guns and artillery.
Heavy Losses: Many tanks were destroyed, and infantry attacks failed against strong German machine-gun positions. The 152nd Brigade alone lost 563 men.
Limited Gains: While some units had initial success, they could not hold their ground. The attack failed to remove the Germans from the bridgehead.

Aftermath

Casualties and Losses

The Battle of Abbeville was very costly for the Allies.

Allied Losses: On May 27, the British lost 51 light tanks and 65 cruiser tanks. Many more broke down. From May 29–30, the French lost 105 tanks. By June 4, the Franco-British forces had lost about 1,000 infantry soldiers and 50 more armored vehicles. In total, the Allies lost around 200 tanks and 2,000 infantry soldiers.
German Losses: The German 57th Infantry Division suffered about 1,000 casualties, including 300 prisoners. All their 37mm anti-tank guns in the bridgehead were destroyed.

June 5: German Offensive Continues

On June 5, the Germans launched Fall Rot (Case Red), their final big attack to defeat France.

German Advance: German infantry attacked the British and French lines. They pushed back the Allied divisions, which were already weakened from the Abbeville attacks.
Retreat: The Allied forces were forced to retreat further south. The British 51st (Highland) Division and French 31st (Alpine) Division had tried to hold a very long front line, but they were too spread out and exhausted.

The Battle of Abbeville was a German victory. It showed the strength of the German defenses and the challenges the Allies faced in coordinating their forces.