Souvenir Medal Monnaie de Paris 2023 - Bataille de Stonne (08)

The Battle of Stonne, which took place from May 15 to May 27, 1940, during World War II, was one of the most crucial battles in the Western Campaign. It pitted German forces against French forces in a struggle for control of the strategic village of Stonne, situated on a dominant ridge line, which threatened the German advance towards the English Channel. The fighting was intense, involving both infantry and armored units and resulting in heavy casualties on both sides. The village of Stonne changed hands seventeen times in just three days. This battle, sometimes compared to the Battle of Verdun from World War I due to its intensity, ultimately proved to be an operational victory for the Germans. It also temporarily concealed the true direction of their attack from the French forces, influencing the course of the Western Campaign in 1940 and subsequent events in World War II.