Arras, battle of (1940). On 21 May 1940, 7th Panzer Division under Rommel, leading the inner flank of the thrust from the Meuse, was temporarily checked south of Arras by an improvised British formation, ‘Frankforce’. Due to hurried assembly the counter-attack was initiated by only two columns of tanks (4th and 7th Royal Tank Regiments), followed closely by two battalions of the Durham Light Infantry, but with little artillery and no air support. That morning the columns moved from Vimy to the west of Arras and then swung eastward across the Arras-Baumetz railway, striking 6th and 7th Rifle Regiments and the SS Totenkopf regiment just as they were beginning a disorderly advance through the villages of Wailly, Ficheux, and Agny. Impervious to much German anti-armour fire the British tanks wrought havoc among the chaos of troops, guns, and transport.
Although anticipating a counter-attack, Rommel was so shaken that he thought five British divisions were defending Arras. To stem the retreat Rommel himself took command of the German guns at Wailly: his ADC was killed at his side. Only on the arrival of 25th Panzer Regiment at dusk, and after twelve hours' fighting, did the few surviving British tanks and infantrymen withdraw north of Arras. The town was finally abandoned on the night of 23 May. The results of the British attack were ephemeral, but it served to instil caution in the German high command and thus contributed to the ‘halt order’ (24-7 May) which assisted the evacuation from Dunkirk.
— Brian Bond
