Was the fall of France in 1940 preventable if there was a change in leadership?

[Nocrazy]

I think if someone else has been the French commander, yes. Would de Gaulle do?

 

[Shaby]

I think if someone else has been the French commander, yes. Would de Gaulle do?

Nope. He was too junior. What would be necessarry was someone not influenced by the WW1. Gamelin as well as the rest of the French command viewed the war in too static terms. They were not able to perceive the possibility that the front could move by 10's of miles.

Basically, you'd need to givce the French some inclination that mobile warfare was a thing.

 

[darthfanta]

Nope. He was too junior. What would be necessarry was someone not influenced by the WW1. Gamelin as well as the rest of the French command viewed the war in too static terms. They were not able to perceive the possibility that the front could move by 10's of miles.

Basically, you'd need to givce the French some inclination that mobile warfare was a thing.

Maybe the POD would be de Gaulle shutting his mouth and only opening it when his rank is sufficiently high.From what I've read,de Gaulle's outspokenness impeded his career in the army.