High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! On 10 May, 1940, the Germans launched their offensive against France, Belgium and Holland. Within a few days, the concentrated German Panzer Group achieved a breakthrough against the centre of the French front near Sedan, and drove westwards. On 21 May, they captured Abbeville at the mouth of the Somme River, cutting off the Allied troops in Northern France and Belgium from those to the south. The Panzer Group, spearheaded by the XIX Panzer Korps unde ...