Saar Offensive facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saar Offensive |
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| Part of the Western Front of World War II | |||||||
 French soldier at the German village of Lauterbach in Saarland |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 France |
 Germany |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Maurice Gamelin André-Gaston Prételat |
Erwin von Witzleben |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 40 Divisions 2400 tanks 4700 artillery |
22 Divisions less than 100 artillery |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 2,000 dead, wounded and sick | 196 dead 114 missing 356 wounded 11 aircraft |
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The Saar Offensive was a quick attack by France into Germany at the start of World War II. It happened between September 7 and 16, 1939. France launched this attack to try and help their ally, Poland, which was being invaded by Germany at the same time. The area they attacked was called Saarland, and it was defended by the German army.
Contents
What Was the Saar Offensive?
The Saar Offensive was a military attack by French soldiers into a part of western Germany called Saarland. This attack took place in September 1939. The main goal was to help Poland, which was being invaded by Germany.
France sent a large number of soldiers and equipment. They had about 40 divisions, which are large groups of soldiers. They also had many tanks and artillery guns. The German army defending Saarland was much smaller.
Why Did France Attack?
When World War II began, Germany invaded Poland. France and Great Britain had promised to help Poland. The Saar Offensive was France's way of trying to take pressure off Poland. They hoped that by attacking Germany in the west, Germany would have to move some of its troops away from Poland.
The Attack Begins
The French attack started on September 7, 1939. French troops moved into Saarland. They advanced about 8 kilometers (5 miles) into German territory. They captured several small German villages.
However, the French army did not push very far. They stopped their advance after a short time. They faced some German defenses, but the main reason they stopped was not because of strong resistance.
What Happened Next?
The French forces held their positions for a while. But the attack did not achieve its main goal. It did not make Germany move troops from Poland. Poland was defeated by Germany quickly.
On October 17, 1939, the German army launched a counter-attack. They pushed the French forces back. The French soldiers then retreated from Saarland. This meant the Saar Offensive ended with France pulling its troops back.
Results of the Offensive
The Saar Offensive was not a big success for France. It did not help Poland as intended. France had some soldiers killed, wounded, or sick. Germany also had some casualties, but fewer than France.
This event showed how the early part of World War II on the Western Front was very different from the fighting in Poland.
Images for kids
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A French soldier outside of a Reichskolonialbund office in Lauterbach
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French soldiers in Lauterbach
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Louis Faury, head of the French Military Mission to Poland
See also
In Spanish: Ofensiva del Sarre para niños
