400,000 Troops Trapped by German Armor

200 miles. 10 days. 400,000 Allied soldiers trapped against the sea.

On May 10, 1940, the Wehrmacht crossed into France. The world expected the grinding stalemate of World War One. What they got was the fastest armored advance in the history of warfare.

At the tip: General Heinz Guderian — the father of German armored warfare — leading the 19th Panzer Corps on a slashing 200-mile drive across northern France.

On the night of May 20, 1940, lead elements of Guderian's 2nd Panzer Division reached the town of Noyelles-sur-Mer on the English Channel coast.

In ten days, German tanks had cut the Allied armies in half. The entire British Expeditionary Force, the cream of the French Army — nearly 400,000 men — were now trapped against the sea with no supply line and no escape by land.

The race for Dunkirk had begun.

This is part of a weekly series covering WW2 events that happened this week in history. Tonight's companion Short — the Battle of Arras — tells what happened next. And next week: Dunkirk itself.

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This video documents German armored warfare and the Wehrmacht's actions during the May 1940 campaign, highlighting the pivotal role of the panzer division. We explore key dates and the advance of German army units, showcasing how these events contributed to the fall of France. This is one of several incredible WW2 military history events that happened this week in history. Full long-form breakdown dropping on the channel — subscribe so you don't miss it.

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