While not a completely unfounded notion, the failure to see the potential of an armoured brigade would be a mistake of which the Germans were happy to take advantage. French army doctrine saw armour in a support role, with infantry and artillery taking centre stage in any conflict. The French had a massive armoured contingent, but it was spread thinly throughout the country, and not concentrated enough to pose a serious threat. The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) had been fighting alongside the French Army, but the speed and surprise of the German invasion was having the intended effect, as the French defence was crumbling and the Allies were being pushed back to the Channel. In the spring of 1940, the Battle of France was not looking good for the Allies. It was a bold move against numerically superior forces, but would it work?

In an effort to halt the German advance, the British devised a counterattack. On, during the Battle of France, the city of Arras was surrounded by Rommel’s 7th Panzer Division.

How many major tank battles wwii