Toaw Scenario: Rethel 1940

France,
June 09, 1940,

Germany army of 40 units opposed to France army of 44 units
for a battle of complexity 0.4 at Battalion(II) level
on a 2.5 Km/Hex map
for 6 turns of 6 Hours each.

by Philippe Jahshan submited on 22-11-2002

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Briefing
RETHEL 40 De Lattre's desperate resistance to Guderian's heavy assault. Date : June 9, 1940 Location : South of the French Ardennes region Map scale : 2,5 Km/Hex Scenario begins on June the 9th AM Scenario should end on June the 11th PM Length : 6 turns Unit scale : Regiments/ Batallions Units colours : GERMAN : XIII Korps : White on Gray XXIII Korps : Gray on Gray Elements of the Pz Gpe Guderian : Red on Gray FRENCH : 14 DI : White on Blue 2 DI : Light Blue opn Blue Elements of the 10 DI : Dark Blue on Blue Buisson Combat Gp : White on light Blue 7 DLM : Blue on light Blue ****** SIGNIFICANT EVENTS : Shock values: French shock value will decrease if Le Chatelet is occupied before 10 PM. German shock value will start decreasing on 11 AM if any of Le Chatelet, Alincourt crossroads or Pauvres Hights is not yet taken. V.P : French player will gain 20 permanent VP if Le Chatelet is sill French on 11 PM. *Scenatio notes:* The battle of Rethel is one of the last great battles of the French Campaign. It represents German attempt to break through the weak and fastly built-up Weygand defense line. Around the town of Rethel, the 2 DI, and the 14 DI were ordered to hold on the ennemy on the Aisne river. From the end of May until the fist days of June 1940, De Lattre organized and strenghted well the front line, with the 2 DI on his left and the Buisson mechanized group on his back, but at the beginning of the second week of June, he'll be opposed to the big List's and Guerian's plan of invasion... June 9 AM : XIII AK and XXIII AK launches hard attacks on Rethel front, following General List's plan: the XXIII AK must cross the river on the center and the east of the sector and push until Pauvres hights, then turn south-east. The XIII AK must attack on the west, between Rethel and Chateau-Porcien, blow up French defense and push south through Perthes. At 4.20 in the morning German infantry, after a heavy artillery preparation, rushes through the Aisne river in order to secure a bridgehead on the other side. In the east of Rethel, De Lattre's units will reject every German attempt all along the first day. On the 2 DI front, the things went better for the Germans. It's at Nanteuil ( west of Rethel ) that the 3 IR succeeded in crossing the channel breaking the weak defense of the I/73 French RI. But the attempt at Rethel against the 127 RI is failed because of another French heroic resistance. So in the west, after the little breach of Nanteuil, the Germans will cross the river at Chateau-Porcien at 10 AM with the 55 IR and the 653 Pionnier Bn. Despite the French counter-attacks, the 17 ID reaches Avancon at 7 PM. The 2 DI's General Klopfenstein decides to retreat his forces 3 Kms behind the channel, at night. De Lattre will try to convince Klopfenstein to launch a couter-attack besides of retreating, otherwise Guderian tanks will cross the river soon, but Klopfenstein refuses the advice. The Panzers begin crossing the river on the west. The bridging teams rebuilded quickly the bridges at Chateau-Porcien. On the midst of the day, List and Guderian went through a hot discussion about what to do next. Guderian things that the best is to strenghten the bridgehead and wait for the next day to push ahead. But List does not agree with him and orders to attack in the after noon. The advance is hard and the bridgehead is still weak. Guderian must lead by himself the Panzers. He pushes the 2 Pz south-east hoping it would force the resistant 14 DI to retreat. But the Germans are tired and losses are high, so Guderian stops the offensive. June 10 : After an artillery praparation, the offensive is launched again at 8.45 AM. This time the 1 Pz reaches Avancon then Tagnon, then tries to follow the Retourne river until Juniville. The French resistance again is strong, and the Germans are slowed down at Chatelet and Alincourt ( between Le Chatelet and Juniville ). It's only at 5.45 PM that Alincourt is taken and the struggle for Chatelet will last until 7.30 PM. But on the fall of the day the Germans will finally succeed in reaching Juniville and in taking the town about at 11.45 PM. On the eastern front, despite of German heavy assaults, there isn't any advance. De Lattre reorganizes his front attempting to protect his western flank threatened now by the XIII AK and Guderian Panzers. General Buisson counter-attack : the French armour reserve assembled in a task force under Buisson command will only be ready for couter-attack at PM. This late reaction is due to lack of readiness of the task that was on it's way to be rebuilt when the Germans broke through. This will have great consequences on the success of the counter-attack. In fact, on June 10 AM, the German bulge weren't yet very profound, but later in the day the situation appeared to be really different. The Buisson Groupe will start moving at 3 PM only. The Germans at this time are on the Retourne river near Alincourt ( the cross-roads before Juniville on the scenario-map ). Buisson armoured group will move north-west under Maitre's command, and west-west under Salanie's command. Maitre will try to get back Perthes and Salanie, Alincourt. In addition of that the 7 DLM will take the road from the south up to Chatelet, leaded by General Marteau. Maitre's attempt to push north-east is stopped at Perthes. The town is liberated but the French units can't go further. Thau the German 560 PzJag Bn is hardly harmed by the combats it will succeed in stopping the French advance through Perthes. The 2 Pz Rg of the 1 Pz Dv will clash with Salanie's tanks around Alincourt. After a great tank battle, the French must break off their attack. The advance of the 7 DLM from the south is blocked at the fall of the day by heading elements of the 1 Pz Dv. At the end of the day, the Buisson counter-attck must stop. The resorbing attempt has failed. June 11 : This third day of the Rethel battle is a retreating day. The failure of French counter-attack forces the heroic 14 DI to retreat from it's unbroken positions to Neuville. Despite of their winning, the Germans had many losses and this two French divisions brightly struggled thus they were outnumbered by the Wehrmacht. From now on nothing will stop no more Guderian's panzers from their run to Paris. Mission statements** GERMAN PLAYER : You must strike hard in the 2 first turns. Your Pionniers Bns must then rebuild quickly the broken bridges, otherwise the heading units will be under supplied. The French troops are strong, and their morale is high. Beware of attacking with too few units, and of going far deep in the French lines, the ennemy has got sufficient units to counter-attack and achieve encirclement of your running unit. Concentrate your attacks on two or three points only, in order to assure a passage for your coming panzers ( 3rd turn ). Once Guderian's units are on the southern coast, go on aggressively and try to deepen as possible you can your break through. If you're too slow, your units' morale will drop. The Buisson tanks will counter-attack on the 4th turn, you must until then strenthen your positions. The failure of the French counter-attack is your success assurance. Think to divide your IR into Batallions, to cover more terrain. FRENCH PLAYER : You are on to prouve the real value of French soldiers. Your success is based on hard fighting and hard resistance. You've got fewer forces than the assaulting Germans, but your units are tough, and your starting positions are good. The Germans must not cross the Aisne, and neither must they cross the channel. They've got real chances to do it, mostly in the first day, but you've got sufficient ressources in the back, so use them quickly to push back the ennemy on the other side of the river line. You have nothing to lose so fight, fight, fight, whenever you can. All of De Lattre's counter-attcks succeeded, then you can do so. Surely, when Guderian's panzers will stike you'll be outnumbered; but if the ennemy fails his break though, your tanks will blast last German hopes of winning. Scenario designer : Philippe Jahshan e-mail address : pjashan@yahoo.fr

Briefing

RETHEL 40
De Lattre's desperate resistance to Guderian's heavy assault.
Date : June 9, 1940
Location : South of the French Ardennes region
Map scale : 2,5 Km/Hex
Scenario begins on June the 9th AM
Scenario should end on June the 11th PM
Length : 6 turns
Unit scale : Regiments/ Batallions
Units colours :
GERMAN :
XIII Korps : White on Gray
XXIII Korps : Gray on Gray
Elements of the Pz Gpe Guderian : Red on Gray
FRENCH :
14 DI : White on Blue
2 DI : Light Blue opn Blue
Elements of the 10 DI : Dark Blue on Blue
Buisson Combat Gp : White on light Blue
7 DLM : Blue on light Blue
********
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS :
Shock values:
French shock value will decrease if Le Chatelet is occupied before 10 PM.
German shock value will start decreasing on 11 AM if any of Le Chatelet, Alincourt crossroads or Pauvres Hights is not yet taken.

V.P : French player will gain 20 permanent VP if Le Chatelet is sill French on 11 PM.
*****Scenatio notes:*****
The battle of Rethel is one of the last great battles of the French Campaign. It represents German attempt to break through the weak and fastly built-up Weygand defense line. Around the town of Rethel, the 2 DI, and the 14 DI were ordered to hold on the ennemy on the Aisne river. From the end of May until the fist days of June 1940, De Lattre organized and strenghted well the front line, with the 2 DI on his left and the Buisson mechanized group on his back, but at the beginning of the second week of June, he'll be opposed to the big List's and Guerian's plan of invasion...
June 9 AM : XIII AK and XXIII AK launches hard attacks on Rethel front, following General List's plan: the XXIII AK must cross the river on the center and the east of the sector and push until Pauvres hights, then turn south-east. The XIII AK must attack on the west, between Rethel and Chateau-Porcien, blow up French defense and push south through Perthes. At 4.20 in the morning German infantry, after a heavy artillery preparation, rushes through the Aisne river in order to secure a bridgehead on the other side. In the east of Rethel, De Lattre's units will reject every German attempt all along the first day. On the 2 DI front, the things went better for the Germans. It's at Nanteuil ( west of Rethel ) that the 3 IR succeeded in crossing the channel breaking the weak defense of the I/73 French RI.
But the attempt at Rethel against the 127 RI is failed because of another French heroic resistance. So in the west, after the little breach of Nanteuil, the Germans will cross the river at Chateau-Porcien at 10 AM with the 55 IR and the 653 Pionnier Bn. Despite the French counter-attacks, the 17 ID reaches Avancon at 7 PM. The 2 DI's General Klopfenstein decides to retreat his forces 3 Kms behind the channel, at night. De Lattre will try to convince Klopfenstein to launch a couter-attack besides of retreating, otherwise Guderian tanks will cross the river soon, but Klopfenstein refuses the advice. The Panzers begin crossing the river on the west. The bridging teams rebuilded quickly the bridges at Chateau-Porcien. On the midst of the day, List and Guderian went through a hot discussion about what to do next. Guderian things that the best is to strenghten the bridgehead and wait for the next day to push ahead. But List does not agree with him and orders to attack in the after noon. The advance is hard and the bridgehead is still weak. Guderian must lead by himself the Panzers. He pushes the 2 Pz south-east hoping it would force the resistant 14 DI to retreat. But the Germans are tired and losses are high, so Guderian stops the offensive.
June 10 : After an artillery praparation, the offensive is launched again at 8.45 AM. This time the 1 Pz reaches Avancon then Tagnon, then tries to follow the Retourne river until Juniville. The French resistance again is strong, and the Germans are slowed down at Chatelet and Alincourt ( between Le Chatelet and Juniville ). It's only at 5.45 PM that Alincourt is taken and the struggle for Chatelet will last until 7.30 PM. But on the fall of the day the Germans will finally succeed in reaching Juniville and in taking the town about at 11.45 PM. On the eastern front, despite of German heavy assaults, there isn't any advance. De Lattre reorganizes his front attempting to protect his western flank threatened now by the XIII AK and Guderian Panzers.
General Buisson counter-attack : the French armour reserve assembled in a task force under Buisson command will only be ready for couter-attack at PM. This late reaction is due to lack of readiness of the task that was on it's way to be rebuilt when the Germans broke through. This will have great consequences on the success of the counter-attack. In fact, on June 10 AM, the German bulge weren't yet very profound, but later in the day the situation appeared to be really different.
The Buisson Groupe will start moving at 3 PM only. The Germans at this time are on the Retourne river near Alincourt ( the cross-roads before Juniville on the scenario-map ). Buisson armoured group will move north-west under Maitre's command, and west-west under Salanie's command. Maitre will try to get back Perthes and Salanie, Alincourt. In addition of that the 7 DLM will take the road from the south up to Chatelet, leaded by General Marteau.
Maitre's attempt to push north-east is stopped at Perthes. The town is liberated but the French units can't go further. Thau the German 560 PzJag Bn is hardly harmed by the combats it will succeed in stopping the French advance through Perthes. The 2 Pz Rg of the 1 Pz Dv will clash with Salanie's tanks around Alincourt. After a great tank battle, the French must break off their attack. The advance of the 7 DLM from the south is blocked at the fall of the day by heading elements of the 1 Pz Dv. At the end of the day, the Buisson counter-attck must stop. The resorbing attempt has failed.
June 11 : This third day of the Rethel battle is a retreating day. The failure of French counter-attack forces the heroic 14 DI to retreat from it's unbroken positions to Neuville. Despite of their winning, the Germans had many losses and this two French divisions brightly struggled thus they were outnumbered by the Wehrmacht. From now on nothing will stop no more Guderian's panzers from their run to Paris.
****Mission statements****
GERMAN PLAYER : You must strike hard in the 2 first turns. Your Pionniers Bns must then rebuild quickly the broken bridges, otherwise the heading units will be under supplied. The French troops are strong, and their morale is high. Beware of attacking with too few units, and of going far deep in the French lines, the ennemy has got sufficient units to counter-attack and achieve encirclement of your running unit. Concentrate your attacks on two or three points only, in order to assure a passage for your coming panzers ( 3rd turn ). Once Guderian's units are on the southern coast, go on aggressively and try to deepen as possible you can your break through. If you're too slow, your units' morale will drop. The Buisson tanks will counter-attack on the 4th turn, you must until then strenthen your positions. The failure of the French counter-attack is your success assurance.
Think to divide your IR into Batallions, to cover more terrain.
FRENCH PLAYER : You are on to prouve the real value of French soldiers. Your success is based on hard fighting and hard resistance. You've got fewer forces than the assaulting Germans, but your units are tough, and your starting positions are good. The Germans must not cross the Aisne, and neither must they cross the channel. They've got real chances to do it, mostly in the first day, but you've got sufficient ressources in the back, so use them quickly to push back the ennemy on the other side of the river line. You have nothing to lose so fight, fight, fight, whenever you can. All of De Lattre's counter-attcks succeeded, then you can do so. Surely, when Guderian's panzers will stike you'll be outnumbered; but if the ennemy fails his break though, your tanks will blast last German hopes of winning.
Scenario designer : Philippe Jahshan
e-mail address : pjashan@yahoo.fr