Editing Hermann Hoth (section)

===Invasions of Poland and France===
Hoth was given command of the [[XV Army Corps (Wehrmacht)|XV Motorised Corps]] in 1938, leading it in the [[invasion of Poland]] the following year.{{sfn|Heiber|2004|p=938}} At the time, this corps included two "light" divisions which were mixed formations of tanks, infantry, and artillery.{{sfn|Zetterling|2017|loc=Chapter 4}} Convinced of Hitler's capability as leader, Hoth believed the new war served a higher purpose and would decide the fate of the German people.{{sfn|Hürter|2007|pp=160-161}} Under Hoth's command, the XV Motorised Corps initially encountered only light resistance and quickly advanced.{{sfn|Forczyk|2019|p=209}} By 4 September 1939, Hoth's corps had routed three [[Polish Land Forces|Polish]] [[Division (military)|divisions]] belonging to [[Operational Group Kielce]] and broke through towards the important industrial center of [[Kielce]].{{sfn|Forczyk|2019|pp=256–258}} Afterwards, Hoth's XV Motorised Corps "relentlessly hound[ed] [[Antoni Szylling|Szylling]]'s [[Kraków Army|Army Kraków]] to extinction".{{sfn|Forczyk|2019|p=330}} Historian Robert Forczyk described Hoth as a "hard-charging" commander during the invasion of [[Second Polish Republic|Poland]],{{sfn|Forczyk|2019|p=268}} and he received the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross]] for his military achievements during this campaign.{{sfn|LeMO|2016}}{{sfn|Miller|2006|p=9}} Hoth believed that the XV Motorised Corps, including its "light" divisions, had "exceeded high expectations" during the invasion of Poland. Despite this, his corps' light divisions were transformed into panzer divisions for the following Western campaign, possibly due to suffering "unnecessarily high losses".{{sfn|Zetterling|2017|loc=Chapter 4}}

Hoth continued to lead the XV Army Corps during the [[Battle of France|invasion of France]] from May 1940.{{sfn|Heiber|2004|p=938}} The initial German advance of ''Generaloberst'' [[Günther von Kluge]]'s [[4th Army (Wehrmacht)|4th Army]] through the Ardennes was spearheaded by ''General der Panzertruppe'' Guderian's XIX Motorised Corps on the left and Hoth's corps on the right. Hoth's corps consisted of the [[5th Panzer Division (Wehrmacht)|5th]] and [[7th Panzer Division (Wehrmacht)|7th Panzer Division]]s, the latter commanded by ''Generalmajor'' [[Erwin Rommel]].{{sfn|Heiber|2004|p=938}}{{sfn|Forczyk|2017a|p=158}}{{sfn|Zetterling|2017|loc=Chapter 4}} After moving through the Ardennes, Hoth was tasked with capturing crossings of the [[Meuse]] near [[Dinant]]. His forces quickly secured two bridgeheads across the river on 12/13 May, exploiting the disorganization and overextension of the local [[French Army]] units.{{sfn|Forczyk|2017a|pp=165–166}} Initially confined to the bridgeheads due to the resistance organized by the [[102nd Fortress Division (France)|102nd Fortress Division]],{{sfn|Forczyk|2017a|p=175}} the XV Motorised Corps broke through and was pushing into the French [[9th Army (France)|9th Army]]'s left flank by 14/15 May.{{sfn|Forczyk|2017a|pp=182, 185}} French counter-attacks near [[Maubeuge]] on 18 May temporarily threatened Hoth's advance, but ultimately failed to stop the XV Motorised Corps,{{sfn|Forczyk|2017a|pp=199–200}} allowing it to capture [[Cambrai]]. Amid continuing Allied counter-attacks Hoth subsequently moved toward [[Arras]] which the Germans [[Battle of Arras (1940)|captured on 21 May]].{{sfn|Forczyk|2017a|pp=201, 208–210}} In the [[Battle of Dunkirk]], Hoth's corps broke through the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War II)|British Expeditionary Force]]'s defensive line at La Bassée Canal on 27 May,{{sfn|Forczyk|2017a|p=220}} thus assisting in encircling the French [[1st Army (France)|1st Army]] under [[René Prioux]] at [[Lille]].{{sfn|Dildy|2014|p=87}}{{sfn|Forczyk|2017a|p=220}}

On 6–7 June, Hoth's divisions achieved a major breakthrough at [[Airaines]] and then [[Forges-les-Eaux]], effectively splitting the French [[10th Army (France)|10th Army]] into two parts.{{sfn|Forczyk|2017a|pp=280, 292, 297–299}} After capturing Airaines, soldiers of the XV Corps murdered French prisoners of war, mainly black [[French colonial empire|colonial soldiers]] such as [[Charles N'Tchoréré]].{{sfn|Forczyk|2017a|p=298}}{{sfn|Scheck|2005|pp=330–331}} The German units, including XV Motorised Corps, exploited the breakthrough to occupy [[Rouen]]{{sfn|Forczyk|2017a|pp=310–312}} and encircle a large Allied force at [[Saint-Valery-en-Caux]], capturing about 10,000 British soldiers.{{sfn|Forczyk|2017a|pp=314–315}} Afterwards, Hoth's corps broke through Allied defensive lines at the [[Seine]]. He then split his forces in order to capture important locations in [[Brittany]] and [[Normandy]], before advancing south to [[La Rochelle]].{{sfn|Forczyk|2017a|pp=366, 390–391}} His successes in France made Hoth one of the Wehrmacht's most popular generals.{{sfn|Hürter|2007|p=171}} He was promoted to ''[[Generaloberst]]'' in July 1940,{{sfn|Heiber|2004|p=938}} as part of an "orgy of promotions" by Hitler.{{sfn|NMT|1951|pp=102}}