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by ethbr1 766 days ago
The Blitzkrieg worked because the French political leadership was incapable of effectively directing its military, refusing to budge from a "Defend everywhere! All of the time!" strategy.

Folks forget that the French had rather excellent tanks ~1939 [0], especially in their calvary arms (the Hotchkiss H35 and SOMUA S35).

Which makes sense, since they essentially invented the modern tank in the FT. [1]

The rapid success of the Blitzkrieg was mostly a result of (a) France still being in the middle of re-organizing, equiping, and training their armored forces, (b) some bullshit at Sedan, and (c) French leadership making terrible strategic military decisions again and again [2].

Had the DCr's been supplied (who knew tanks need fuel?) and used to effectively counterattack, as designed, German plans would have ground to a halt.

Instead, you had the French Prime Minister declaring that all was lost six days after the Germans invaded the low countries.

[0] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanks_of_France#Inter_War

[1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_FT

[2] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_France#French_lead...