Battle of Saumur (1940)

Battle of Saumur

Fall Rot, June 1940
Date18–20 June 1940
Location47°15′36″N 00°04′37″E / 47.26000°N 0.07694°E / 47.26000; 0.07694
Result French tactical victory
Belligerents
 France  Germany
Commanders and leaders
French Third Republic Charles Michon [fr] Nazi Germany Kurt Feldt
Strength
2,500 men
unknown number of artillery pieces
24 tanks or armored vehicles
c. 10,000 then 40,000
300 artillery pieces
150 tanks or armored vehicles
Casualties and losses
250 killed or wounded
200 prisoners
2 tanks destroyed
132 killed
~300 wounded
9 tanks destroyed

The Battle of Saumur occurred during the last stages of the Battle of France during World War II, when officer cadets from the Cavalry School at Saumur, led by superintendent Colonel Charles Michon, made a defensive stand along the Loire River at Saumur, Gennes, and Montsoreau. For two days the Cavalry School, and other assorted units which had fallen back before the German Wehrmacht advance, held off a German attack. Since the battle occurred after the message by Marshal Pétain which called for an end to fighting (on 17 June 1940), the event is often considered one of the first acts of the French Resistance.