To Lose a Battle (106 page)

Prümers, Sergeant,
335
,
341

Raucourt,
363
,
384–5
,
396
,
423

Rauschning, Hermann,
94
,
129
,
184
,
531

Ravenstein, Colonel von,
380
,
501
,
512–13
,
561

refugees,
275–6
,
290
,
377
,
413
,
477–8
,
490
,
520–6
,
571

Reinberger, Hellmuth,
172–3
,
202

Reinhardt, General,
208
,
283
,
305–6
,
335
,
366–7
,
380
,
414–18
,
427–9
,
468
,
500
,
512
,
541
,
561
,
599
,
610
,
644

Rethel,
426
,
429
,
471
,
502
,
534
,
639
,
643

Réthondes,
663–5

Reynaud, Paul: character, career,
222–3
; on reoccupation of Rhineland,
84
; on forty-hour week,
112
; on mobile army,
113
,
445
; on Pétain’s military doctrine,
114
; Minister of Finance,
135
; on Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact,
137
; finds factory closed,
139
; and Daladier,
168
,
223
,
225–6
,
227
,
228
,
445
; on Trondheim,
216
; becomes Prime Minister,
219
,
222
; and Hélène de Portes,
223–6
,
444
,
625
,
654–5
; and Gamelin,
226–8
,
271
,
445
,
450
,
509
; signs Franco-British Declaration,
227
; and Belgian fortifications,
242
; and German invasion,
271
; and Sedan bridges,
304
,
528–9
,
590
; begs for Hurricanes,
433–4
,
444
; and threat to Paris,
443
,
448–50
; tells Churchill front is broken,
443–4
,
445–6
; unwell,
444
; ‘we have lost the battle’,
445–6
; 71st ‘got at by Communists’,
455
; addresses Assembly,
455–6
; at meeting with Churchill,
456–61
; broadcasts,
461
; decides to sack Gamelin, appoint Weygand,
510
; recalls Pétain,
510
,
557
,
590
; threatens to shoot Germans out of uniform,
532
; visits Georges and Gamelin,
536–7
; makes Pétain Deputy Premier,
537
; reshuffles Cabinet,
538
; and Weygand,
556
,
566
,
622–3
,
651
; ‘France is in danger’ speech,
590
; and Weygand Plan,
591
,
605–6
; and Gort’s withdrawal,
605–6
; bitterness at Belgian surrender,
621
; determined to fight to end,
624
,
628
,
630
; flies to London,
628
; and ‘softs’,
628
,
652
; brings in de Gaulle, evacuates Government to Tours,
645
; Churchill and,
650–1
; and Pétain’s defeatism,
653
; begins to break,
654–7
; plea to America,
657–9
; and ‘Declaration of Union’,
659
; resigns,
660
; later career,
679–80

Rhineland,
63–4
,
82–5
,
108
,
673

Ribemont,
497
,
501

Ribbentrop, Joachim von,
130
,
136
,
211
,
664

Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact,
137
,
143
,
156
,
180
,
673

Richthofen, Major-General Wolfram von,
338
,
341
,
390

Right-wing parties, attitudes, etc., in France,
103–5
,
129
,
155–7
,
533

Riom Trials,
346
,
672–3
,
678

Roche-à-Sept-Heures,
367
,
680

Rocque, Colonel Casimir de la,
104–7
,
555

Romains, Jules,
130
,
162–3

Rommel, General Erwin: character, career,
320–3
; and Hitler Youth,
96
,
321–2
; letters to wife,
257
,
283
,
514
,
600
,
642
; enters Belgium,
259
,
263
; at Chabrehez,
276–7
,
281
; crosses Ourthe,
281–2
; ‘prompt opening fire’,
282
,
475
; and Meuse crossing,
306–10
,
318–19
,
324–33
,
373
; and Hitler,
322
,
616
; at Onhaye,
373–8
,
379
; advance to Philippeville,
407–11
; to Cerfontaine,
412
; Avesnes Raid,
472–9
,
497
; misconception about Maginot Line,
472
,
476
; night advance to Le Cateau,
476–8
,
496
; shoots French officer,
478
; consolidates gains,
497–501
; to Cambrai,
513–15
; and Heidkaemper,
514
; to Arras,
542
,
561
,
565
,
599
; casualties,
561
,
580–1
,
616
; and ‘Frankforce’,
578–81
,
605
; encircles Lille,
616–17
; in final battle,
639
,
641–3
,
647
; prisoners captured by,
642
; death,
676

Rommel, Manfred,
327

Roosevelt, President F. D.,
648
,
657–9

Rothenburg, Colonel,
307
,
374–5
,
380
,
407
,
474
,
478
,
498
,
513–14
,
579
,
598
,
675–6

Roton, General G.,
232
,
313
,
371
,
536
,
547
,
553

Rouen,
642
,
644

Royal Air Force: over-estimates Luftwaffe threat to London,
124
; leaflet raids,
142
; numbers of aircraft,
233
,
432
; no aerial reconnaissance over
Belgium,
244
; bombed by Luftwaffe,
259
; losses,
259
,
288–9
,
297
,
299
,
301
,
340
,
391
,
432
,
434
,
544
,
667
; reconnaissance reports,
292
; bombs Belgium,
296–7
; bombs Bouillon,
301–2
; fails to act on Meuse,
340
; bombs Sedan,
388–92
; bombs Dinant,
432–3
; bombs Ruhr,
433
,
544
; ‘strategic’ bombing,
433
,
544
; fighter squadrons,
434
,
459–63
,
506
; A.A.S.F. retires to Coulommiers,
504
,
543
; and magnetic mines in Meuse,
509
; bombs Panzer column,
545
; escapes from Amiens airfield,
560
; sorties from 22 May,
627
; German reaction to,
627
; air battle over Dunkirk,
631
; A.A.S.F. reinforced,
640
; hampered in bombing Italy,
648