Battle of France, spring 1940
(Panhard 178 AMD-35, FCM 36, Laffly V15T)
On May 10, 1940, German troops launched an offensive against France. The French army at that time was considered one of the most modern in Europe, and Churchill spoke of it as “the most highly trained and reliable mobile force.” In terms of the number of tanks, the French army was superior to the German army, and most of their tanks had better armor and firepower. Also, France had excellent armored vehicles, among which the Panhard 178 was considered one of the best in the world. However, for a number of reasons, the French command delayed the creation of armored divisions and preferred to use armored vehicles in small groups. The Germans were able to quickly turn the tide of hostilities in their favor. Despite the counterattacks of the French, German armored and motorized divisions wedged themselves into the defenses of the French army and were able to achieve victory in a short time. Most of the territory of France was occupied. Her army was almost completely crushed, and France was forced to sign an armistice.