STONNE 1940

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In May 1940, the Panzers crossed the Meuse river. Guderian had the choice to go south and attack the rear of the Maginot line or to head west in order to encircle the French troops holding the Meuse line.

The town of Stonne and the woody hills of Mont-Dieu were the single area where it was possible to try to stop the German advance. To attack the Germans, the French urged elements from the 3rd DIM, the 3rd DRC, and the 4th BCC to face elements of the 10th Panzer Division and the Grossdeutschland infantry Regiment.

Stonne saw very hard fighting, the town itself switched sides 17 times in 3 days. Some German officers mentioned Stonne among the battles they will never forget. Most of the Grossdeutschland infantry regiment of the 1940 western campaign were lost in Stonne.

The town was totally occupied only on May 25, French pockets were still resisting to the enemy. The French infantry lost many men too: one of the 51e RI company finished the battle with only five sergeants and 30 soldiers. The battle of Stonne has be called by the Germans the 'Verdun of 1940.'