In this second volume of the Corridor des Panzers illustrated history, dedicated to the drama of May 1940, Jean-Yves Mary presents the crucial moments of the Allied struggle against the Germans.

By the morning of May 16, 1940, the fate of the battle was already sealed. The French command attempted, though in vain, to restore the front by thrusting before the Germans units gathered together from either Holland or Belgium-thus experienced soldiers-or from the Maginot Line. During their relocation they were submitted to relentless aerial bombardments which, under the best circumstances, slowed them down and more often than not dismembered them.

Even worse, when these exhausted units arrived on the battlefield, they were immediately forced into action, and they did not have the time to organize themselves. Thus, rather than well-formed units, they were no more than isolated battalions who were quickly engulfed, unable to provide any benefit to the overall campaign, and thrust into the inferno.

Between May 16 and 21, the Germans advanced all the way to the Atlantic and encircled the Allied armies who had imprudently advanced into Belgium. Any endeavours that were attempted in order to release the German grasp on both sides of the"Corridor" all failed due to the lack of resources and ultimately were incapable of influencing the outcome of events in play.

This new volume, which includes over a thousand photos, follows with amazing precision every step of the campaign and the combats. Jean-Yves Mary has also provided modern photos of the battlefields, in comparison with the original images, allowing us to locate the areas where the events took place.

French Language