After Poland, Hitler trained his sights on France, enabling him to conquer the western European countries of Belgium, Luxumberg and the Netherlands along the way. It also put into motion his vengeance against the country that humiliated Germany in WWI in the Treaty of Versailles. Against all expectations, Hitler demolished within a few weeks what was considered the most powerful military power in mainland Europe since WWI. France underestimated Hitler (and overestimated their own military power) who mobilized more than 3 million soldiers to overwhelm a mere 800,000 French military. The fall of France on June 20, 1940 enabled Hitler to launch his bombing blitz on London and considered invading Britain through the English Channel except that he hesitated and focused his resources on invading Russia instead, opening an eastern front, his biggest and most fatal blunder. Had Hitler continued to invade Britain after France. Britain could have fallen next with a ground invasion while preoccupied with dogfights in the Battle of Brittain. The Royal Family would have moved to Canada.
Here's my colorized take on this event captured Jun 23, 1940 when Hitler posed with his architect Albert Speer (left), sculptor Arno Brecker (right), and personal photographer Heinrich Hoffman against the Eiffel Tower considered a symbol of liberty by the French. The photo shocked the world when it appeared in several broadsheets a day later. People everywhere expected Hitler to proceed and conquer Britain.
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