Summary of Robert A. Doughty's The Breaking Point

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book.

Book Preview: #1 The fighting that occurred near Sedan between 10-16 May 1940 was shaped by the competing strategies of France and Germany.

France relied on a defensive strategy, while Germany relied on an offensive strategy.

By attacking northern Belgium and the Netherlands with a minimum number of forces, Germany sought to deceive the French and convince them that the main attack was coming through northern and central Belgium.#2 France's strategy was to defend herself against a German attack, and she believed victory could be hers only if she first defended herself successfully against a German attack.

She accepted the requirement for a total war and the complete mobilization of all her resources.#3 The French had a difficult time deciding how to defend their borders after World War I.

They believed that fortifications would strengthen their defenses and enable them to overcome the manpower advantages of Germany.#4 The French plan was to rush forward and establish a defensive position in northern and central Belgium.

They assumed that Germany would violate Belgium's neutrality first, so they could use it as a basis for their entry into Belgium.