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(Wednesday, June 5, 1940, 4:00 a.m. Western European Summer Time; during the Battle of France, part of Western Front of the World War II) — The Germans began the second phase of the invasion of France, codenamed Fall Rot (Case Red), launching an offensive on a front of 120 miles from the Channel coast to Laonby across the Somme and Aisne rivers this morning with 130 divisions plus 10 Panzer divisions reequipped with fresh tanks.

Video: 'The World At War 1973(World War II Documentary) 03.France Falls (May – June 1940)' (June 5, 1940, at 42:31/43:55)

The Germans initially met stiff resistance, since the French had spent the past two weeks organizing their defenses south of the Somme.

Video: 'World War II - Blitzkrieg to the Bomb Documentary' (June 5, 1940, at 14:14)

Meantime, Charles de Gaulle became the French Under-Secretary of State for National Defence and War, with particular responsibility for coordination with the British.