The Netherlands. French planning for war relied on the Maginot Line fortifications along the German—French border protecting the region of Lorraine but the line did not cover the Belgian border. German forces had already crossed most of the Netherlands before the French forces had arrived. After reaching the Channel, the German forces swung north along the coast, threatening to capture the ports and trap the British and French forces.
In one of the most debated decisions of the war, the Germans halted their advance on Dunkirk. What became known as the "Halt Order" did not originate with Adolf Hitler. Hitler sanctioned the order on 24 May with the support of the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht German high command.
The army was to halt for three days, which gave the Allies sufficient time to organise the Dunkirk evacuation and build a defensive line. While more than , Allied troops were rescued, [ 7 ] the British and French sustained heavy casualties and were forced to abandon nearly all their equipment; around 16, French and 1, British soldiers died during the evacuation. The British Expeditionary Force alone lost some 68, soldiers during the French campaign. By 26 May, the BEF and the French 1st Army were bottled up in a corridor to the sea, about 60 miles 97 km deep and 15 miles 24 km wide.
Most of the British forces were still around Lille , over 40 miles 64 km from Dunkirk, with the French farther south. Two massive German armies flanked them. Both officers were later promoted to field marshal. During the following days To the dictator the rapid movement of the Army, whose risks and prospects of success he did not understand because of his lack of military schooling, became almost sinister.
He was constantly oppressed by a feeling of anxiety that a reversal loomed The day's entry concludes with the remark: "The task of Army Group A can be considered to have been completed in the main"—a view which further explains Rundstedt's reluctance to employ his armoured divisions in the final clearing-up stage of this first phase of the campaign. Brauchitsch is angry The pocket would have been closed at the coast if only our armour had not been held back. The bad weather has grounded the Luftwaffe and we must now stand and watch countless thousands of the enemy get away to England right under our noses.
