Siege of Lille (1940)

Siege of Lille
Part of the Western Front of the Second World War
Date 28 - 31 May 1940
Location Lille, France
Result Tactical German victory
  • Fall of Lille 31 May

French strategic victory[1]
Belligerents
France Germany
Commanders and leaders
Général Jean-Baptiste Molinié General Kühne 
Generalmajor Erwin Rommel
General Joachim Lemelsen
Generalleutnant Max von Hartlieb-Walsporn
Generalleutnant Ludwig Ritter von Radlmeier
Strength
5 divisions[1]
(40,000 men)		 4 infantry divisions
3 armoured divisions[1]
(110,000 men, 800 tanks)

The Siege of Lille was a Second World War battle fought during the Battle of France. It took place from 28-31 May 1940 in the surroundings of the city of Lille, France during the Battle of France. It involved the remaining 40,000 men of the once-formidable French First Army in a delaying action against seven German divisions, including three armoured divisions, which were attempting to cut off and destroy the Allied armies at Dunkirk.

As a consequence of the continued French resistance, a number of Allied formations managed to escape to Dunkirk,[2]. During the battle, the French counterattacked, even capturing the German General Kühne, commander of the German 251. Infantriedivision.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c Shirer (1969), p. 746. Shirer notes, "The remnants of the once formidable First Army, ... now under the command of General Molinié, held out around Lille until late on May 31, engaging seven German divisions, three of them panzer, and thus preventing them from joining the enemy assault on Dunkirk. This gallant stand helped the beleaguered Anglo-French forces around the port to hold out for an additional two to three days and thus save at least 100,000 more troops. 'A splendid contribution,' Churchill called it."
  2. ^ "Battle of Lille (25–31 May 1940)". filefront.com. http://forums.filefront.com/fh2-suggestions/334853-re-map-suggestions-5.html. Retrieved 2008-08-20. 
  3. ^ "BATTLE OF LILLE (28th May – 1st June)". axishistory.com. http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=6697. Retrieved 2008-08-20.