Saunders, Tim Arras 1940

On 21 May 1940 during the ill-fated Dunkirk Campaign the British launched an operation spearheaded by two tank regiments to help secure the city of Arras. This was the only significant armored operation mounted by the British during the campaign. Poorly coordinated and starting badly the "Matilda" tanks ran into the flanks of Rommel's over extended 7th Panzer Division. With the German antitank guns, unable to penetrate the armour of the British tanks, Rommel's infantry fell into chaos as the "Matildas" plunged deep into their flank. The Germans were machine-gunned and started to surrender in large numbers but with the British infantry lagging well behind, fighting their own battles in the villages, there was no one to round them up. Into this scene of chaos entered Rommel whose personal leadership and example started to steady his troops and organize an effective response, despite being spattered with the brains of his aide de camp. This was classic Rommel but in the aftermath, he claimed to have been attacked by five divisions. The Arras counterattack contributed to Hitler issuing the famous 'halt order' to his panzers that arguably did much to allow the British Army to withdraw to Dunkirk and escape total destruction.

The heavy British "Matilda" tanks penetrated deep into the German lines and caused panic among the Germans, and only Erwin Rommel's personal commitment helped to prevent a catastrophe. The author analyses the planning and course of the British attack at Arras, explains why the interaction between the British tanks and the British infantry did not work, how the German soldiers experienced the first contact with the "Matilda" infantry tanks and how they finally fought them. The result of the British attack, Hitler's "hold order" for the German units at Dunkirk, is also discussed.