Battle of Saumur (1940)

Battle of Saumur
Fall Rot, June 1940
Date 18–20 June 1940 Location Saumur, Gennes, and Montsoreau 47°15′36″N 00°04′37″E / 47.26000°N 0.07694°E / 47.26000; 0.07694 Result German victory
Belligerents
France	Germany
Commanders and leaders
Charles Michon [fr]	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.