ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Military history of France during World War II

During World War II, France was attacked by Germany in 1940. The German army was very powerful and quickly took over most of France. However, some French soldiers and civilians continued to fight against the German occupation.

The French Resistance was a group of people who fought against the Germans secretly. They did things like sabotage German equipment, gather information, and help Allied soldiers who had been shot down.

France eventually joined the Allies (the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union) and helped to defeat Germany. The French army fought against German forces in North Africa, Italy, and across Europe.

One of the most famous battles of the war was the D-Day invasion of Normandy in June 1944. The Allies landed on the beaches of Normandy and fought their way inland to liberate France from German control.

France also played an important role in the liberation of Paris in August 1944, when French Resistance fighters and Allied soldiers worked together to push the Germans out of the city.

Overall, France's military history during World War II was marked by both defeat and resistance, but ultimately ended in victory alongside the Allied powers.