The Wehrmacht began the invasions of Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands and France on 10 May 1940 under the codename Fall Gelb. The goal of the operation was to lure the powerful French Army and supporting British Army into the Low Countries and then attack in the centre, north of the Maginot Line, and south of the mobile Allied forces through to the English Channel, thereby encircling the latter against the sea. Luftflotte 3 began Offensive counter air operations in the first days of the offensive.