Battle of Flavion

On the evening of May 14, 1940, the French 1st Reserve Armored Division arrived in the region of Florennes-Flavion. The tanks' arrival was slowed by having to pass through the stream of refugees and soldiers who were fleeing the front. …

1940-05-15

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On the evening of May 14, 1940, the French 1st Reserve Armored Division arrived in the region of Florennes-Flavion. The tanks' arrival was slowed by having to pass through the stream of refugees and soldiers who were fleeing the front. Because their refueling convoys were unable to follow, the French tanks had to be careful and their mobility was severely limited. They formed a triangular defensive position with the heavy tanks (B1-bis) of the 1st Demi-brigade deployed between Ermeton and Flavion, while the H-39's of the 3rd Demi-brigade waited between Flavion and Corenne. On May 15, two Panzer Divisions appeared before the French tanks and a fierce battle began. With better weapons and armor, the B1-bis drove the tanks of the 7th Panzer Division back, forcing them to take cover in the Forest of Rosée before they continued their advance towards Philippeville. The 5th Panzer Division, which headed directly into the French line of defense, took heavy initial losses against the 1st Demi-brigade. Throughout the day the French B1-bis fought to their last drop of fuel. But in the end, targeted on all sides by German artillery, Panzers and Stukas, they were destroyed one by one. On May 16 the remaining French units retreated. Only one B1-bis, out of 70, made it back into France. As the relentless advance of the 7th Panzer Division had not been thwarted, the sacrifice of the 1st Reserve Armored Division had been totally futile.

Philippeville, France

The Battle of France, also known as the Fall of France, was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries during the Second World War. On 3 September 1939 France had declared war on Germany, following the German invasion of Poland. In early September 1939, France began the limited Saar Offensive. By mid-October, the French had withdrawn to their start lines. In six weeks from 10 May 1940, German forces defeated Allied forces by mobile operations, conquering France, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, ending land operations on the Western Front until the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944. Italy entered the war on 10 June 1940.

Wikipedia: Battle of France

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