View Full Version : JL BETIN's Battle for France 1940
In June 2003, Rasmus proposed me to play the Battle for France Free deployment. I accepted and got the French side.
As Frenchman you can understand how touchy I can be on what is the most sad defeat of France. It was not only a simple defeat it was the collapse of a full country. In less than one month all the symbols of the French 3rd republic, army, administration, civil servant, political representation has been disapearing, wiped by the German advance on France.
French people were moraly broken, execpt a few who began resistance with 1 manifestation and 1st martyrs in November 11th 1940, but that's an other story.
French equipment was not crap at all and the two world best tanks of this period were French the Somua S35 and the Renault B1 series.
very few people known exactly what were the main French tanks, find here a sample of the French tanks
The Heaviest one the B1 Bis
Production 403 on the 25th of june 1940
Type Heavy Tank
Crew 4 men
L (m) 6,37 W (m) 2,50 H (m) 2,79
Weight (kg) 31 500
Armor 60mm maxi
radio ER53
ARMAMENT
Main 1 gun 75mm ABS 1929 (roung speed 220m/s) and
1 Gun 47 mm SA 35 round speed 650m/s
Loaded admunitions 74 shell of 75, 50 shell of 47
Secondary
1 7,5 mm MG near the driver
1 7,5 mm in the turret
MOBILITE
Engine Renault aviation reinforced
Power (max.) 307 CV à 1 900 t/m
Road speed 25 km/h
The Best one
Somua S35
Production : 400 between 1936 - 1940
Crew 3
L (m) 5,38 width (m) 2,12 H (m) 2,62
Weight (kg) 19 500
Armor maxi 40mm
radio ER 26bis & ER 29
ARMAMENT
Main : 1 gun 47mm SA 35
rounds 118
Secondary
1 MG 7,5mm
MOBILITY
Engine SOMUA 8 cyl
Power 190 cv 2 000 t/m
Autonomy (km) 230
Road speed 40,7 km/h
If you want to read or see more about French tank before 1940 go there
http://www.chars-francais.net/de1930a1940.htm
it is in french but just click on tanks names would will get lot of "readable" and understandable informations for English speaking people
The most astonishing for me was the prototype of a tank with turret main gun of 75
see below
So now return to our battle for France
This is turn 01 the FallGelb Plannüng, begin
What is the situation.
The german FallschrimJäger drops over Netherlands, Amsterdam is still occupied . German Division run to Amsterdam and Brussel.
At this stage I have no predifined strategy. I tried what I did in France 14 ( see the AAR I made). Move French and British units to help Dutsch and Belguim Army. Block advancing German Army.
But Not all French army. I'm affraid of what Rasmus would be abble to do in the Sedan county :D. There are plenty of Panzer Division there.
The joined map give the idea of the complete Front but for the next few turns main action will remain in the Belgium Nethermand Front
Situation at the end of Turn 2
Here is my "Feuille de route" send by the French GQG
First
Made all BEF forces boarding train, and join ASAP the North Belgium front where they will join still present BEF units. BEF have to hold the line there and if possible give help to Dutch Army.
Second
By a quick push repulse all German units to a line from Tilburg on north to Sedan at south. Avoid any possibilty of the creation a bulge north of Sedan, where lot of Panzer Division have been signaled by the Second Bureau ( French Military Intelignece services). Hold this defence line at all cost. to avoid the Fall of Bruxelles town (Brussels for english reading people).
Third
Find a way to open a second front to oblige Germans to divert troop there and then reduce the strengh of the German main attack.
Fourth
Bring all Dutch unit round Amsterdam, remove all FallschirJäger units there. Create a hedgehog defense round this town and hold there until Britsh units reinforcement came.
The result
The northen French troops, 1 to 5 corps along with 1 army units, move east. Repulse all german units on contact. The 1st panzer Division is trapped and will be destroyed soon. Belgium and BEF stop German progression but belgium losses are heavy. The Dutch army recover Amsterdam repulsing the German paratroops units.
Everywhre Belgium, Dutch, Brits and French blown bridges. It blocks for a short preiod the advance of the Panzer and Infantry divizions.
The air superiority of Lufwaffe is overwhelming, Allies lost lot of planes.
Still turn 2
Opening of a secondary Front in Alsace/SchwarzWald
Following my "Feuille de route", I look all along the front and find finaly a possibility to open a second front on my hand, in the Alsace/Scharzwald zone. I realize the attack by a pincer movement north of Freiburg. French units croos the Rhine river, and go inside Germany.
Here is the status on North French Front on turn 03
We are the 12th of May 1940.
Ho Boys, here is one of the most stupid inaction I ever made since I play PBEM. I setup my fights on all front to play my first battle round. As I wanted all dutch units to attacks at the same time. I decide to put them in action on the second roud ( In this game I never play more than 2 round a turn). As things are going well in round one I polarizes myself on those important action (see below) then Ok go to launch the second round and .... **** I forgot the dutch. And I lost stupidly as the rookest of the newbies Amsterdam and the Dutch Army. They could have stay a least 2 turns more. But that's the game (****, merde, mierda, Koch (britany) scheisse etc... :confused: :nuts:
So to continue on better news.
Still following my "feulle de route", in center zone of north front I destroyed the 1st Panzer division, now 2 other German divisions are trapped ( 13 and 29 motirized) and will be destroyed soon. The exitation of counter attack could explain the nonsense I made with Dutch army ...
Actualy the GrossDeutschalnd regiment along with the 2, 17, 71 division are partially surrounded, and could be trapped too on the next move.
There will be something like 6 German divisions eliminated in 3 turns for a game where French are supposed to colapse !!! I'm dreaming :D.
Brits and Belgium still hold the line or are retreating in order. but the units stack before Bruxelles is such that It would be difficult for Germans to Break easily now. Bruxelles for me is safe for the next few turns. I have to concentrate now on the Sedan-Ardennes area. :devil:
Still attacking in Alsace SchwartzWald
The pincer movement continue and I saw no reaction from the German OKH (Ober Kommando des Heere). So now I took Freiburg im Bresgaü, and French troops got a foothold on German side of the Rhine.
We are the 13th of May 1940.
By my fault Amsredam was not took again and Dutch surrender.
Now as this bad news is accepted, look at he North front situation. Along the Rhine river north of Antwerpen, all bridges are blown. French Brits and Belgium are entrenched in Fortress status and are wainting the now free of action German units coming from Netherlands. But as they are coming from a super river their attacks value are halved by a 0.7 Value. It lets me confident. Andif time is running enough the defense value of my entrenched units will increase a lot ( by 2 of 3 point for each unit in the stack that's sound good).
Tilburg is lost but the BEf is still in order of fight. I let some division entrenched in Bruxelles in case of a possible German breakthrough.
I'm blind and don't know what units are behind the first line of German units. One thing is for sure by counter attacking bravely the "So Crap French Army" has trapped again 4 divisions: 2nd motorized, 13, 29 and 554 division. Since beginnning of Fall Geld operation German lost 7 division in 3 days.
The ennemy loss rate is 14 the allies one is 7
My feuille de route is nearby realized, just one push again to protect the sedan area, 1870 and 1914 are enough, Sedan must hold.
Next turns actions will be to stabilize the line of Front and hold.
Belgium is probably safe now
The front in Alsace/Schartzwald area (The English name is Black Forest)
As all those attacks have exhausted the French Forces, they need to take a breathe before attacking again. In the same I made coming reinforcements from west. GQG seeing the advance gave a new possible objective, make a breakthrough and got the Ausburg München area.
The local German division counter attack and doing so the 246/XXVII korps Infanreie divizion put itself in a trapped situation.
We are the 14th of May 1940
The German are attacking again. Near eindhoven the Brits hold Fiercely, but in the Louvain area (Leuven) the front is partialy rushed. I engage the untis which were entrenched in Bruxelles.
More in south the trapped German division are still holding bravely but their time is counted. I still push in the Charlesville area, but my units became exhausted and their attack defense value are decreasing dangerously, I need to put a stop and then hold on place. So I decide to
entranched most of my divisions and took some in back for rest.
Enemy loss rate 20 Friendly 10
Return on Alasce/schwartzwald front
I took 9 divisions from other front with 5 coming by train, notice the pale green 1st 2nd Polish ID. All those units will reinforce the exhausted units there. I made some attacks against the 96 ID which is the only supply path for the trapped 246 ID. It empeach this unit to entrench and prepare and other push to fully isolate the 246 ID.:devil:
But a big oportunity will self offer to me, see next post :devious:
We are the 15th of May
Head lines of the New york time
From the French Etat Major.
Battle rages in Belgium, as continuous attack of german units seems to occurs in an area situated between Antwerpen and Louvain. French General en Chef told us that the losses are heavy, but Belgium British and French troops are holding the first line firmly without sign of retreat.
The General en Chef has informed us that since the begining of the german attack the 1st of May, 8 German divisions have been pocketed and destroyed whose 7 in Belgium. The four latest ones were the 2nd Motorized ID along with the 13, 29, 554 ID.
This was an exclusive report of our Correspondant Siberian HEAT in Paris :D
Belgium divisions are destroyed one after the other. But they fought for their land. I try to initiate a rotation of units to permit all the divisions on this front to regain force. It is difficult to realize as German push continuously, without succes indeed.
Ennemy loss rate 19 friendly 11
Aslace/Schwarzwald Front
At last I trapped the German 246ID its life will be short now. I prepare myself for breaking the German front here when !!!!!
see next post :surprise:
Central front analysis push me to the watershed of this game.
the zone of front between Sedan and Strassbourg is quiet, it is still in the fooney war. But looking at the Gemran front here, I got a shock
Initialy there were a stack of at least 2 ID on the german line, worst in turn 3 there was a concentration of troops there which could be the signal of an attack there, but my general counter attack divert those units from this part of the front.
And now on turn 6 if you look at the attached pictures you will see that the number of division present on front line is just one per hex.
This kind of occasion present itself only once, same for French in 1914 as they saw a hole between german armies and engage then the Marne Battle.
So I look at my units and I order a General attack on this front. this is the watershed of the Fall Gelb plannüng.
We are the 16th of May 1940.
The French GQG have just modified my "Feuille de route". Have a look
Preamble
A- Due to weakness of German units in the Luxembourg Saarland area,
we saw the possibility of a breakthrough there.
B -It seems that the Italian army is not ready enough to declare war before the begining of June. If your action if firmly enough driven it could make Benito Mussolini reconsidering its martial action against us. In consequency you will receive reinforcement units coming from the Armée des Alpes during the next few days.
Action to undermine NOW
first
Stop all unnecessary agressive action in the Schwartzwald Area. Prepare to transfer to the new front all your main units.
second
In the area going from Luxembours to *****e (north of Strassbourg), generate a global attack with your available forces. We will divert as much as possible division to reinforce you in the next few days. Count on very few air support the German have full air superiority. Rate 2 to 1
for german.
Your objective is to took as much as possible of German cities and war effort plants to oblige the german Chancelor A.H. to sit for peace talk. Do not limit your effort France is counting on You
Third
Hold at all cost the Belgium lines. If the German made a breakthrough there you won't be abble to stop them and the war will be over. Keep that for your eyes only.
Au Nom du Président de la République et du Peuple Français
Le Général en Chef des Armées Française
-----------------------------------------------------
Resulting actions
All French units attacks at full strengh, German divisions are knocked rushed and obliged to retreat. Luxemboug is free. Saarbruck is occupied.
I ordered 2 belgium Chasseurs division to move north and join the Antwerpen Area ( green arrows on map)
French Army is invading Germany
the Loss rate is 18 for Ennemy 12 for Friends
We are the 17th of May
All French units push at their maximum strengh with a courage prooving they are worthy their Fathers and France.
KaisersLautern is occupied. German civilian flew to central germany blocking german troops movement.
In Strassbourg Area the Poles proud to Enter Germany and revenge their defeated country, are attacking in direction of Pfozrheim, obliging the German 262 ID to retreat.
All German POW and civilians are shooking their heads in disbelief.
Refusing to obbey the GQG order the second Spahi brigade attack in the Schwarzwald, rushed and QG units, but there is no chance this move could result in something except the destruction of this unit.
These first victories rise the entusiasm in all French and Allies armies.
Using train at its maximum possibilities French divisions are transfered from Belgium front. Chasseurs Alpin division leaves their mountains to reach the train station and join the general attack in SaarLand. Allies pilots will sacrifice themselves the Air theater supperiority is now 4 allies to 5 germans
We are the May 18th 1940 ( in real the French collapse begin :cry: :OHNO:
In Luxembourg area, German made counter attack but French continue to attack. The goup of cities in the Frankfurt area is thraetened by French advance. Poles finish the break the German lines in front of Strassbourg and rush to Pforzheim and Karlsruhe.
Ludwighahhen is taken too. Some German division will be trapped soon. In the same time 1st units of the armée des alpes are arriving in the front area they will be engaged tomorow.
In the Belgium front things begin to evolve. In spite of constant german attacks the units tried to establish a straight line of front as a preparation of future operations.
Enemy loss rate 22 friendly 17
From turn 09 to 14
We are the 23rd of May 1940
During those last few days German permanently tried to break the front but the number of stacked units with the rolling of tired units to the rear, permit to hold. Better on this turn, 14, the german were repulsed to establish a staright line of front, as basis of a counter strike in next few hours.
We are now the 23rd of may
The situation on the east has evolved. The German have established a defense line against which exhausted french units can do nothing but hold.
Anyway lot of German cities and war production plants have been seized or being to, especialy Munchen where BMW factories are located. They made not only motorcycles but airplane motors too. Siemens plants in Augsburg will be lost too. As long as Darmstadt Frankfurt Manheim.
Worst Stutgart, the city of Mercede Benz is under the French threat.
At least 4 German division have been destroyed again. Others are in bad conditions
Some rumors in Geneva spoke of possible cease fire talk.
Friendly loss rate is now 18 the Enemy loss rate is 27
We are now the 24th of May 1940
Things evolves quickly now in North Front a general counter attack leaded by the BEF, repulse all German units with bitter losses.
Many German division s have been diverted to couter the East breakthrough. It was time to take profit of this situation.
Situation on Central front the 24th of May 1940
Many German War factories have been captured, many cities are on the hand of allies.
French rides freely in Bavaria and Bade Wurtemberg, taking Munich city.
A Berliner NewPaper took the courage to publish the terrible news
"Munchen ist gefallen", he was shooted some hours latter, but the news run over germany like a lightning.
French taking Munchen have discovered the horror of Dachau the Konzentration Lagger (Attention it is not an extermination camp, in real they came later in 1941), those KZ camp where all oponents to Nazis have been jailed and mostly killed. International press difused the photos and stories all over the world one day after.
German army lost Mercedez Benz, BMW, Siemens, the war effort is seriuosly threatened.
In Trier area German did some counter attacks but with few results, French are well entrenched now.
Enemy loss rate 31 Friendly loss rate19
The Worst is to come for the German army
We are now the 27th of May 1940
On North Front, attacks and counter attacks followed each others. A group of 6 German divisions have been trapped and reduced, there were there the SS Verprufung motorized Division along with the 17, 34, 52, 262 and 267 DI. All allies division are moving forward. On Rhine North limit limited attacks oblige German to retreat, I prefer to hold on this line and continue to push eastward with all other units.
We are now the 27th of May 1940
In the east German unit try to close the open Front with Panzer divission. I continue to push against the line of Division entrenched between Strassbourg and Stuttgart.
Enemy Rate loss 35 Friendly rate loss 20.
rumors of a possible cease fire is more than insistent
final situation on North Front when cease fire was ordered the 28th of may 1940
Most of German units have retreated, even in Sedan area. The next push is to reduce partialy the small bulge under Liège. It was the final action on North Front
Central front situation when cease fire was ordered the 28th May
The French Army seize Stuttgart, three hex westward, the 257 DI partialy trapped retreat on south. All possible reinforcement are moving eastward to face the Panzer divisions.
But at the end of the Day the cease of Fire was proclaimed
Enemy loss rate 34 friendly loss rate 22
Here is the end of the Fall Gelb operation.
French overwhelming victory 225 points
Trend analysis
For VP evolution nothing perticulary except the loss and gain of Amsterdam. Their small increase is just due to the higher loss rate of German versus allies, trivial, but it helps to be said :D
For Loss rate, it is strange that even when attacking at full force never my loss rate was never bigger than the german one. Worst, whatever the German did he was losing more forces than me.
When having a deeper look to the German loss rate, we saw a well marked tendancy for the 4th first days : the angle slop of the German loss curve rate is very high; higher than the allies one, which could be expected more or less the same as both are attacking the same. Worst the Allies defend too with less powerfull units. So the loss of units for Allies could be expected bigger !!
After turn 04 the allies stop counter attacking, German loss rate decrease, less attacks on Front ? Or it is due to the fact that allies just hold now?
Next angle slope break on the 16th of may. Here the two curves follow the same angle slop during the period from the the 16th of may up to the 18th, it seems logic as it is the main french attack in central front. both armies got same shock. But after this main push the French loss rate follow a flatter angle slop but the german one never disminish. Strange French still attacks but got less losses than German.
This Loss rate main trend tendency shows mainly that German received more losses that they were able to inflict. Strange in this context where Allies except for BEF forces, are supposed to be weaker than the German.
CONCLUSION
It was a very interesting Game, which permit me to do some manoeuvers in the back of German front. My oponent was probably surprised of this offensive attitude for units supposed only to defend and surrender :D
It prooves that even weaker, armies well driven could make some miracles. I find it too in Fall Grau ( my next AAR) when as German I was abble to use few powered Italian troops in an attacking role.
I hope you have enjoyed this AAR. If some parts are not well written or you find some errors send me email to help me to correct it. :cool:
Made at Boulogne Billancourt, France, the 13th of September 2003
Der WanderGeneralEnChef
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