The Palais Bourbon was already packed when Prime Minister Léon Blum entered at 09:03.
The French Cabinet sat divided not by party, but by fear.
Blum removed his glasses, wiped them, and placed them carefully on the table.
"Germany has completed its occupation of the Rhineland. Cologne, Koblenz, Trier. The entire zone is under Wehrmacht control. No resistance met. No Allied presence challenged."
Foreign Minister Laval leaned forward. "And we allowed it."
"Not entirely true," said Defense Minister Maurice Viénot. "We reserved action, pending British cooperation."
From the rear of the chamber came the voice of Major Étienne Moreau.
"We still have time," he said. "The occupation is not yet consolidated. We send two divisions only two and we force them back. We call the bluff."
The room turned.
Blum looked at him. "You're not a member of this council, Major."
