The Timeline of the Battle of France, also known as the Fall of France, covers the period during World War II from the first military actions between Germany and France and to the armistice signed by France. Over the period of six weeks, from May 10 to June 25, 1940, Nazi Germany had also conquered Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg. Nazi Germany's overall plan was to invade the Low Countries which would make the French and British troops leave their current position and position their forces in Belgium. Then, a second force would navigate through the Ardennes Forest and move around the Maginot Line at the weakest part of the Allied defences. The force would then move towards the west French coast and cut the northern Allied force off. The Germans would then capture Paris, eliminate any resistance that remained, cross the English Channel, and invade the United Kingdom.
September 1939
2 September: Tensions began to flare with Germany as Britain and France put Germany on notice for the invasion of Poland.
10 September: British forces arrived to reinforce the French.
May 1940
3 May: Abwehr Colonel Hans Oster, a secret anti-Nazi, sends a warning to the Dutch Government about the German invasion of France.
10 May: At 2:30 Germany's land forces move into Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Winston Churchill becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
11 May: British and French forces move into Belgium and begin a long line of strategic defenses in the center of the country to defend Belgium in an effort to force the Germans to halt their advance.
12 May: German General Guderian with his three divisions successfully reach the Meuse River. The French believed it would take 4 days to cross the Meuse River, but the German engineers completed the bridgehead at Dinant, Montherme and Sedan in just 24 hours.
13 May: The first German forces emerge from the Ardennes on the river Meuse, facing stiff resistance.