The Breaking Point: Sedan and the Fall of France, 1940

The French city of Sedan, located near the Belgian border, played a key role in Germany’s plans for a blitzkrieg assault on Allied forces in France. This engaging narrative details the small-unit actions near Sedan during the 1940 campaign for France and recounts the fighting in and around the city by German panzer forces under the famous Heinz Guderian. In addition to an analytical reconstruction of the battle, this account provides a detailed explanation for why the battle and related events occurred. Offering an examination of both sides of the conflict, from privates up to generals, this book is recommended reading by both the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps. According to the Journal of Military History, “Doughty’s lively study should appeal to soldiers and civilians.”