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Unternehmen Paula (Undertaking or Operation Paula)〔Mackay 2003, p. 62.〕〔Chant 1987, p. 10.〕 is the German codename given for the Second World War ''Luftwaffe'' offensive operation to destroy the remaining units of the ''Armée de l'Air'' (ALA), or French Air Force during the Battle of France in 1940. On 10 May the German armed forces (''Wehrmacht'') began its invasion of Western Europe. By 3 June, the British Army had withdrawn from Dunkirk and the continent in Operation Dynamo, the Netherlands and Belgium had surrendered and most of the formations of the French Army were disbanded or destroyed. To complete the defeat of France, the Germans undertook a second phase operation, ''Fall Rot'' (Case Red), to conquer the remaining regions. In order to do this, air supremacy was required. The ''Luftwaffe'' was ordered to destroy the French Air Forces, while still providing support to the German Army. For the operation, the Germans committed five Air Corps to the attack, comprising 1,100 aircraft. The operation was launched on 3 June 1940. However, British intelligence had warned the French of the impending attack and the ensuing operation failed to achieve the strategic results desired by the ''Oberkommando der Luftwaffe'' (High Command of the Air Force). Fortunately for the ''Luftwaffe'', the plight of the French ground and air forces at this stage meant the failure of the operation would not impede the defeat of France. ==Background== After the declaration of war on Nazi Germany by the United Kingdom and France, in the aftermath of the German invasion of Poland, nine months of stalemate took place along the Western Front named the Phoney War. The only military action was the French Army's Saar Offensive which was terminated in controversial circumstances. After the Polish Campaign, in October 1939, the planners of the ''Oberkommando der Luftwaffe'' (Luftwaffe High Command) and the ''Oberkommando der Wehrmacht'' (Supreme Command of the Armed Forces) turned their attentions to Western Europe.〔Healy 2007, pp. 3–5.〕 The Western Allies had surrendered the initiative and the Germans would take the offensive in 1940. Several plans were toyed with by the German General Staff. General Franz Halder, the chief of staff of the Army, presented the first plan for ''Fall Gelb'' ("Case Yellow") on 19 October 1939. The plan's German code was ''Aufmarschanweisung N°1, Fall Gelb'', or "Deployment Instruction No. 1, Case Yellow".〔Healy 2007, pp. 5–8.〕 The operation was a limited operation in which Luxembourg and the Low Countries were to be conquered in order to provide a base for further operations against France at a later date and amounted to a less ambitious re-run of the infamous ''Schlieffen Plan'' which failed during the First World War in 1914.〔Bond 1990, p.42.〕 It was rejected by Adolf Hitler and at the turn of the year, Heinz Guderian's chief of staff, Erich von Manstein secured Hitler's attention with a modified version. An ambitious thrust through the Ardennes was suggested by von Manstein. This main attack would use up the majority of the motorised and tank divisions (Panzer Divisions) in a drive to the English Channel. A diversion operation in Belgium and the Netherlands would precede this thrust, to lure the Allied Armies, including the British Expeditionary Force, into a trap.〔Healy 2007, pp. 8–11.〕〔Bond 1990, pp. 43–44.〕 Launched on 10 May 1940, the revised version of ''Unternehmen Gelb'' (Operation Yellow), also known as the Manstein Plan, succeeded. Unfortunately for the Germans, the British Army escaped during the Battle of Dunkirk. Nevertheless, the Belgian Army, Dutch Army and most of the elite French forces were destroyed in the encirclement. This left just second rate French units to combat the entire German Army. The ''Luftwaffe'' had played an integral part in disrupting Allied operations in this early phase. The ''Luftwaffe's'' participation was particularly crucial during the Battle of Sedan which enabled the German Army to carry out Operation Yellow. By early June the Dunkirk siege was over, and on 3 June, the Germans began preparations for the conquest of the rest of France under the codename ''Fall Rot'', (Case Red). For this to be as successful, air superiority would be required first, as it had been during Operation Yellow.〔Hooton 2007, pp. 47–48, p. 77.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Operation Paula」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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