Briefing
BLITZKRIEG IN THE WEST- Mod B8b German blitzkrieg offensive against France, Belgium and Holland This is a Mod of the original France 1940 scenario done by doug Bevard which come with the game CD Version: B8d Thanks to Antoni Chmielowski, Erik Maarleveld, and Mark Nelms for playtesting. 1. UNIT COLORS 1.1. GERMAN Wehrmacht/Luftwaffe - Grey on Grey SS - Black on Grey 1.2. ALLIED French Army/Airforce - Blue on Blue French Fortress - Black on Blue British Expeditionary Force - White on Brown British Airforce - Blue on Brown Belgian Army/Airforce - White on Lt. Blue Dutch Army/Airforce - White on Yellow 2. Major changes (Mods A & B cumulative) Combat pulses have been limited to three. Refugee effects have been extended to a number of additional cities. Allied HQ's (except BEF and Dutch) start with no command squads, and none in reserve. Command squads begin to trickle in on turn 5; this will cause some early disorganization. This represents not so much incompetent corps commanders, as an unbelievably inflexible and antiquated system of command and control at higher command levels, coupled with an almost religious commitment to the pre-war "Plan". The too-numerous ngineers have been removed from all Allied HQ's and combat units, as their ability to entrench and fortify was excessive; however, two bridging engineer units have been added at Army Group level, which can either repair bridges, or assist units in fortifying. Engineers in German HQ and combat units have been reduced as well, although there is still a battalion of engineers in divisional units (a company in airborne and glider), to allow these units onto major rivers, where bridges have been blown, and to help winkle the Allies out of their fortified lines. As with the Allies, the major bridging capability is now concentrated in several Army Group-level bridging units. It will not be very efficient to try to repair bridges now, with German HQ and combat units. Victory hexes have been rearranged; the German now needs to defeat France, not the BEF. Special victory points for the fall of Holland and Belgium have been reduced from 100 each, to 30 for Holland, and 50 for Belgium; in Germany's situation in 1940, the occupation of those small countries, without knocking France out of the war, would have to be seen as a liability. Germany must defeat France. However, the German cannot ignore Holland and Belgium, as there is some chance they will remain in the fight. Holland's location, the victory points for both countries, the replacement capacity associated with Bruxelles and Amsterdam, and the location of five "V" points (see EEV, below) make their conquest/defense important, if not critical. Number of moves increased to 36. In the event, there was no reason the campaign had to be completed in six weeks. The proficiency of Allied units has been generally reduced; on a sliding scale, the BEF is most proficient, although not so much so as the Germans, owing to the invaluable German experience in Poland. Dutch and Belgian units are "average"; French units may be average, above average, or below average, depending on unit type. Generally, the Colonial troops are long service professionals, and better than the metropolitan French draftees. Among the French units, mobile units and regular divisions, as well as alpine and other specialist units, are generally more proficient than the reserves. Among the reserves, A Reserve divisions are more proficient that B Reserve, and reserve units called up or mobilized after the battle begins. Allied replacement priorities have been adjusted; generally, ordinary infantry units have a higher replacement priority, to reflect the fact that most replacements available were poorly trained. Also, most elite Allied units will not reconstitute. Generic "reserves" may, but they are of lower proficiency; this reflects the ability to generate lower-quality replacement divisions, but not to reconstitute highly trained units, under the stressful conditions prevailing. Allies start at 88% shock; on turn 7 (May 31) they go to 93%; and on turn 11 (June 14), to 100%. (Weygand assumed command on May 20). Weygand's arrival is no longer tied to the fall of Bruxelles; it will occur at the historical time. Many disasters were occurring simultaneously for France, and it will be time for Weygand on May 20, whether or not Bruxelles still holds out. Allied air forces start at 80% air shock, and beginning turn 2, increase 3% per turn, until they're at 100%. The French Air Force will now receive the D.520 on a historical timetable; this will help strengthen their resistance in the air, over time. The fall of various key cities will cause the Allies to suffer from varying degrees of shock, usually 90% for one turn, and 95% for one turn, but in the case of Paris, 90% for three turns; then returning to 100% if no additional key cities have fallen. These key cities are: Calais, Paris, Le Havre, and Cherbourg. It is important for the German to keep these key cities falling, to prevent the Allies from recovering sufficiently to form a cohesive front. The (S) after the names of these cities on the map is a reminder of their shock value. German and Allied force supply levels have been significantly increased (Allied less than German), and both sides' rail transport capacities have been marginally increased. Default rail repair for each side has been set at six; and new rail repair units have been created for each side. Hitler (to preserve his armor, and due to fear of the Soviet threat) may order withdrawal of two Pz Corps between turns 18 and 25. For each of these Pz Corps, there is a 75% chance withdrawal will be ordered. The constituent units of these Pz Corps (if they are withdrawn) will be withdrawn separately, somewhat randomized. Allied production and conscription have been somewhat lowered, and suffer further with the fall of Amsterdam, Bruxelles, Paris, Le Havre, and Cherbourg; the number in parentheses after the names of those cities on the map indicates the percentage by which the current production will be decreased, and the decreases are cumulative; however, production increases around turn 18 due to total mobilization, and increased supplies from Britain. An Event Engine Variable has been introduced: one point is added to the EEV total when each city or location with a "V" after its name falls; two points, in the case of Paris and Cherbourg. The fall of a particular "V" location doesn't necessarily have an immediate effect; the effects are cumulative. At 5 points, pestilence begins in the Allied ranks, representing the first desertions from poor morale; also at 5 points, Belgium demobilizes, if it hasn't already done so. At every additional 5-point increment, desertion becomes more serious, until at 25 points, it is at a very serious 5% per turn (half of the personnel assets and all of the equipment assets return to the pool). At 10 and 20, additional 2-point reductions in supply level are experienced. Note that five of the (V) locations are in Belgium; this is to model the fact that Belgium will not and cannot continue the struggle, if France and Britain refuse to rush to its aid. Such refusal will also impact the morale of all the Allies. There is thus a great price to be paid by the Allies for digging in at the French border, while the Germans crush Holland and Belgium. The Belgian "V" hexes, unlike those in France, are considered "taken" when the Germans are within a radius of 2. Paris will not become an open city. Play with High Supply "Off". IMPORTANT HONOR RULES:The Allies will have some sea transport; this may not be used to launch an amphibious invasion behind German lines; it is for the sole purpose of helping to extricate forces (British or French only) cut off against the sea. Such units must be lifted to England, must remain there for the rest of the game, and may not be disbanded once in England. You may disband them in France, but of course, that won't be allowed by the program if they're "out of supply". The only advantage to the Allies in moving them to England is that they save the "loss points". HONOR RULE for Germans: Do not disband the XV or XIX Panzer Corps once they have been designated for withdrawal. 2.1. GERMAN STRATEGY The German may still want to try to cut off the BEF and major Allied forces against the channel, and may succeed, but that won't end the battle, it'll be a step toward a final victory that may be elusive if the Allies succeed in withdrawing from pockets, and then holding and/or counter-attacking after the command squads, shock recovery, and increased production set in....especially if Hitler has gotten cold feet, and withdrawn one or two Panzer Corps. The German needs to take Paris, or alternatively, all of Calais, Le Havre, and Cherbourg; anything less will allow the Allies to regain their balance, form a cohesive front, and begin a war of attrition. The Germans should attack Belgium strongly; if the Allies rush to its defense, they will not be fortified, and will suffer accordingly; but if they remain in place and dig in along the French/Belgian border, the Germans will gain an easy 5 EEV points, causing Belgium to quit the war, and beginning Allied desertions. 2.2. ALLIED STRATEGY You may decide to follow the historical plan and rush into Belgium to try to form a line well forward; but beware, this could be a recipe for disaster, as it was historically! If you win you'll win big; if you lose, you'll lose big. The more cautious commander will let the neutrals fend for themselves, and begin digging in to protect Paris and Calais; but you'll pay a price- Belgium will drop out sooner, and you'll throw away 5 EEV points right at the start. Either way, hold on for the end of shock, turn 18 production increases, and stronger air forces, as the weeks wear by. 2.3. Overall goal of this Mod make the German early advances easier and potentially more dramatic, but allow for gradual strengthening of resistance; and make final victory be the conquest of France, not simply reaching the channel. 3. SIGNIFICANT EVENTS Chance Holland may surrender following the terror bombing of Rotterdam beginning turn 2. Chance Holland will surrender following the German occupation of The Hague (50,9). German player receives 30 additional permanent victory points if Holland surrenders. Chance Belgium will surrender following the German occupation of Bruxelles (51,18). Chance Belgium will capitulate due to growing German threat beginning turn 7. Belgium will also surrender if encircled, ie, German units are within two hexes of all of the Belgian EEV hexes. German player receives 50 additional permanent victory points if Belgium surrenders. 4. background The long anticipated German attack on France and the low-countries began in the early morning hours of May 10, 1940. The German attack on the west was launched with pre-emptive air attacks on Anglo-French airfields, destroying many allied aircraft on the ground and giving the Luftwaffe near total air superiority. This not only contributed to the Allied shock, but also allowed the German airforce to provide reconnaissance, close air support, and air-transport to ground forces. Meanwhile, Army Group B thrust into the Low Countries in the north in an effort to deceive the allied commands by convincing them that the German attack was a refined version of the 1914 "Schlieffen Plan." This move was exactly what the Allies had planed for and they quickly deployed the bulk of their mobile forces, including the British Expeditionary Force, into Belgium in accordance with Plan D. In reality the Germans northern attack was an elaborate feint! Of more importance was the thrust by Army Group A through the dense Ardennes forest, in accordance with Manstein's "Sichelschnitt Plan." The Ardennes area was less than ideal country for armor and limited the seven panzer divisions to a slow advance along the narrow, forest-lined roads. But the Allied commitment in the north combined with the lack of fixed defenses in the Ardennes gave the German panzer troops the time needed to deploy. Late on May 12th, the leading units of the XV Panzer Corps reached the River Meuse near Dinant. 24 hours later the 7th Panzer Division was across and driving into the rear of the French divisions still guarding the Ardennes area. In the south the XLI and XIX Panzer Corps forced crossings at Montherme and Sedan respectively on the night of the 14th, completely flanking the stunned Allied defenses. Limited Allied air attacks tried desperately to destroy the Meuse River bridgeheads but suffered devastating losses. By 15 May, the panzer divisions had reorganized and rearmed and began to thrust at full speed toward the Channel coast with it's vital ports. As the Allies tried desperately to recover, the divisions of Army Group B continued to press from the north to keep the Allied formations engaged in Belgium. The panzers of Army Group A were able to drive through disorganized resistance to the coast, severing Allied links between the frontline divisions and the reserves. By May 21st the Allied armies in Belgium had been surrounded and cut off from France. With no other choice but annihilation, plans were made to withdraw toward the coastal town of Dunkerque, where the British navy would evacuate the troops minus their equipment. By then Holland and Luxembourg had surrendered. Belgium soon followed and capitulated on May 28th. Between 26 May and 4 June over 338,000 Allied troops were picked up from the beaches at Dunkerque. But any hope of redeploying them south into France was made impossible by low morale and the loss of their heavy equipment. Once Dunkerque had been captured, most of Army Groups A and B turned south where they met little resistance from the demoralized French Army. On 14 June Paris fell and on the 22nd, the French government asked surrender terms. A cease-fire went into effect on 25 June, little more than six weeks after the start of the German attack. The Wehrmacht had achieved a stunning victory by using a combination of surprise and continuous movement known as the blitzkrieg. While casualties had not been light for the Germans, losses totaled more than 137,000, France had been knocked out of the war and Britain was left alone to face the battled tested German army. With the coastal areas of France and the whole of the Low Countries occupied, Hitler could afford to turn his attention to the east and the Soviets. By the end of June 1940, the German high command began to make plans for the invasion of England. For the undefeated Wehrmacht, anything seemed possible. Ed Morris

Briefing

BLITZKRIEG IN THE WEST- Mod B8b

German blitzkrieg offensive against France, Belgium and Holland

This is a Mod of the original France 1940 scenario done by doug Bevard which come with the game CD

Version: B8d

Thanks to Antoni Chmielowski, Erik Maarleveld, and Mark Nelms for playtesting.

1. UNIT COLORS

1.1. GERMAN

Wehrmacht/Luftwaffe - Grey on Grey
SS - Black on Grey

1.2. ALLIED

French Army/Airforce - Blue on Blue
French Fortress - Black on Blue
British Expeditionary Force - White on Brown
British Airforce - Blue on Brown
Belgian Army/Airforce - White on Lt. Blue
Dutch Army/Airforce - White on Yellow

2. Major changes (Mods A & B cumulative)

Combat pulses have been limited to three.
Refugee effects have been extended to a number of additional cities.
Allied HQ's (except BEF and Dutch) start with no command squads, and none in reserve. Command squads begin to trickle in on turn 5; this will cause some early disorganization. This represents not so much incompetent corps commanders, as an unbelievably inflexible and antiquated system of command and control at higher command levels, coupled with an almost religious commitment to the pre-war "Plan".
The too-numerous ngineers have been removed from all Allied HQ's and combat units, as their ability to entrench and fortify was excessive; however, two bridging engineer units have been added at Army Group level, which can either repair bridges, or assist units in fortifying.
Engineers in German HQ and combat units have been reduced as well, although there is still a battalion of engineers in divisional units (a company in airborne and glider), to allow these units onto major rivers, where bridges have been blown, and to help winkle the Allies out of their fortified lines. As with the Allies, the major bridging capability is now concentrated in several Army Group-level bridging units. It will not be very efficient to try to repair bridges now, with German HQ and combat units.
Victory hexes have been rearranged; the German now needs to defeat France, not the BEF. Special victory points for the fall of Holland and Belgium have been reduced from 100 each, to 30 for Holland, and 50 for Belgium; in Germany's situation in 1940, the occupation of those small countries, without knocking France out of the war, would have to be seen as a liability. Germany must defeat France. However, the German cannot ignore Holland and Belgium, as there is some chance they will remain in the fight. Holland's location, the victory points for both countries, the replacement capacity associated with Bruxelles and Amsterdam, and the location of five "V" points (see EEV, below) make their conquest/defense important, if not critical.
Number of moves increased to 36. In the event, there was no reason the campaign had to be completed in six weeks.
The proficiency of Allied units has been generally reduced; on a sliding scale, the BEF is most proficient, although not so much so as the Germans, owing to the invaluable German experience in Poland. Dutch and Belgian units are "average"; French units may be average, above average, or below average, depending on unit type. Generally, the Colonial troops are long service professionals, and better than the metropolitan French draftees. Among the French units, mobile units and regular divisions, as well as alpine and other specialist units, are generally more proficient than the reserves. Among the reserves, A Reserve divisions are more proficient that B Reserve, and reserve units called up or mobilized after the battle begins.
Allied replacement priorities have been adjusted; generally, ordinary infantry units have a higher replacement priority, to reflect the fact that most replacements available were poorly trained. Also, most elite Allied units will not reconstitute. Generic "reserves" may, but they are of lower proficiency; this reflects the ability to generate lower-quality replacement divisions, but not to reconstitute highly trained units, under the stressful conditions prevailing.
Allies start at 88% shock; on turn 7 (May 31) they go to 93%; and on turn 11 (June 14), to 100%. (Weygand assumed command on May 20). Weygand's arrival is no longer tied to the fall of Bruxelles; it will occur at the historical time. Many disasters were occurring simultaneously for France, and it will be time for Weygand on May 20, whether or not Bruxelles still holds out.
Allied air forces start at 80% air shock, and beginning turn 2, increase 3% per turn, until they're at 100%.
The French Air Force will now receive the D.520 on a historical timetable; this will help strengthen their resistance in the air, over time.
The fall of various key cities will cause the Allies to suffer from varying degrees of shock, usually 90% for one turn, and 95% for one turn, but in the case of Paris, 90% for three turns; then returning to 100% if no additional key cities have fallen. These key cities are: Calais, Paris, Le Havre, and Cherbourg. It is important for the German to keep these key cities falling, to prevent the Allies from recovering sufficiently to form a cohesive front. The (S) after the names of these cities on the map is a reminder of their shock value.
German and Allied force supply levels have been significantly increased (Allied less than German), and both sides' rail transport capacities have been marginally increased.
Default rail repair for each side has been set at six; and new rail repair units have been created for each side.
Hitler (to preserve his armor, and due to fear of the Soviet threat) may order withdrawal of two Pz Corps between turns 18 and 25. For each of these Pz Corps, there is a 75% chance withdrawal will be ordered. The constituent units of these Pz Corps (if they are withdrawn) will be withdrawn separately, somewhat randomized.
Allied production and conscription have been somewhat lowered, and suffer further with the fall of Amsterdam, Bruxelles, Paris, Le Havre, and Cherbourg; the number in parentheses after the names of those cities on the map indicates the percentage by which the current production will be decreased, and the decreases are cumulative; however, production increases around turn 18 due to total mobilization, and increased supplies from Britain.
An Event Engine Variable has been introduced: one point is added to the EEV total when each city or location with a "V" after its name falls; two points, in the case of Paris and Cherbourg. The fall of a particular "V" location doesn't necessarily have an immediate effect; the effects are cumulative. At 5 points, pestilence begins in the Allied ranks, representing the first desertions from poor morale; also at 5 points, Belgium demobilizes, if it hasn't already done so. At every additional 5-point increment, desertion becomes more serious, until at 25 points, it is at a very serious 5% per turn (half of the personnel assets and all of the equipment assets return to the pool). At 10 and 20, additional 2-point reductions in supply level are experienced.
Note that five of the (V) locations are in Belgium; this is to model the fact that Belgium will not and cannot continue the struggle, if France and Britain refuse to rush to its aid. Such refusal will also impact the morale of all the Allies. There is thus a great price to be paid by the Allies for digging in at the French border, while the Germans crush Holland and Belgium. The Belgian "V" hexes, unlike those in France, are considered "taken" when the Germans are within a radius of 2.
Paris will not become an open city.
Play with High Supply "Off".

IMPORTANT HONOR RULES:The Allies will have some sea transport; this may not be used to launch an amphibious invasion behind German lines; it is for the sole purpose of helping to extricate forces (British or French only) cut off against the sea. Such units must be lifted to England, must remain there for the rest of the game, and may not be disbanded once in England. You may disband them in France, but of course, that won't be allowed by the program if they're "out of supply". The only advantage to the Allies in moving them to England is that they save the "loss points".

HONOR RULE for Germans: Do not disband the XV or XIX Panzer Corps once they have been designated for withdrawal.

2.1. GERMAN STRATEGY

The German may still want to try to cut off the BEF and major Allied forces against the channel, and may succeed, but that won't end the battle, it'll be a step toward a final victory that may be elusive if the Allies succeed in withdrawing from pockets, and then holding and/or counter-attacking after the command squads, shock recovery, and increased production set in....especially if Hitler has gotten cold feet, and withdrawn one or two Panzer Corps. The German needs to take Paris, or alternatively, all of Calais, Le Havre, and Cherbourg; anything less will allow the Allies to regain their balance, form a cohesive front, and begin a war of attrition.

The Germans should attack Belgium strongly; if the Allies rush to its defense, they will not be fortified, and will suffer accordingly; but if they remain in place and dig in along the French/Belgian border, the Germans will gain an easy 5 EEV points, causing Belgium to quit the war, and beginning Allied desertions.

2.2. ALLIED STRATEGY

You may decide to follow the historical plan and rush into Belgium to try to form a line well forward; but beware, this could be a recipe for disaster, as it was historically! If you win you'll win big; if you lose, you'll lose big. The more cautious commander will let the neutrals fend for themselves, and begin digging in to protect Paris and Calais; but you'll pay a price- Belgium will drop out sooner, and you'll throw away 5 EEV points right at the start. Either way, hold on for the end of shock, turn 18 production increases, and stronger air forces, as the weeks wear by.

2.3. Overall goal of this Mod

make the German early advances easier and potentially more dramatic, but allow for gradual strengthening of resistance; and make final victory be the conquest of France, not simply reaching the channel.

3. SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

Chance Holland may surrender following the terror bombing of Rotterdam beginning turn 2.
Chance Holland will surrender following the German occupation of The Hague (50,9).
German player receives 30 additional permanent victory points if Holland surrenders.
Chance Belgium will surrender following the German occupation of Bruxelles (51,18).
Chance Belgium will capitulate due to growing German threat beginning turn 7.
Belgium will also surrender if encircled, ie, German units are within two hexes of all of the Belgian EEV hexes.
German player receives 50 additional permanent victory points if Belgium surrenders.

4. background

The long anticipated German attack on France and the low-countries began in the early morning hours of May 10, 1940. The German attack on the west was launched with pre-emptive air attacks on Anglo-French airfields, destroying many allied aircraft on the ground and giving the Luftwaffe near total air superiority. This not only contributed to the Allied shock, but also allowed the German airforce to provide reconnaissance, close air support, and air-transport to ground forces.

Meanwhile, Army Group B thrust into the Low Countries in the north in an effort to deceive the allied commands by convincing them that the German attack was a refined version of the 1914 "Schlieffen Plan." This move was exactly what the Allies had planed for and they quickly deployed the bulk of their mobile forces, including the British Expeditionary Force, into Belgium in accordance with Plan D. In reality the Germans northern attack was an elaborate feint!

Of more importance was the thrust by Army Group A through the dense Ardennes forest, in accordance with Manstein's "Sichelschnitt Plan." The Ardennes area was less than ideal country for armor and limited the seven panzer divisions to a slow advance along the narrow, forest-lined roads. But the Allied commitment in the north combined with the lack of fixed defenses in the Ardennes gave the German panzer troops the time needed to deploy. Late on May 12th, the leading units of the XV Panzer Corps reached the River Meuse near Dinant. 24 hours later the 7th Panzer Division was across and driving into the rear of the French divisions still guarding the Ardennes area. In the south the XLI and XIX Panzer Corps forced crossings at Montherme and Sedan respectively on the night of the 14th, completely flanking the stunned Allied defenses. Limited Allied air attacks tried desperately to destroy the Meuse River bridgeheads but suffered devastating losses. By 15 May, the panzer divisions had reorganized and rearmed and began to thrust at full speed toward the Channel coast with it's vital ports.

As the Allies tried desperately to recover, the divisions of Army Group B continued to press from the north to keep the Allied formations engaged in Belgium. The panzers of Army Group A were able to drive through disorganized resistance to the coast, severing Allied links between the frontline divisions and the reserves. By May 21st the Allied armies in Belgium had been surrounded and cut off from France. With no other choice but annihilation, plans were made to withdraw toward the coastal town of Dunkerque, where the British navy would evacuate the troops minus their equipment. By then Holland and Luxembourg had surrendered. Belgium soon followed and capitulated on May 28th.

Between 26 May and 4 June over 338,000 Allied troops were picked up from the beaches at Dunkerque. But any hope of redeploying them south into France was made impossible by low morale and the loss of their heavy equipment. Once Dunkerque had been captured, most of Army Groups A and B turned south where they met little resistance from the demoralized French Army. On 14 June Paris fell and on the 22nd, the French government asked surrender terms. A cease-fire went into effect on 25 June, little more than six weeks after the start of the German attack.

The Wehrmacht had achieved a stunning victory by using a combination of surprise and continuous movement known as the blitzkrieg. While casualties had not been light for the Germans, losses totaled more than 137,000, France had been knocked out of the war and Britain was left alone to face the battled tested German army. With the coastal areas of France and the whole of the Low Countries occupied, Hitler could afford to turn his attention to the east and the Soviets. By the end of June 1940, the German high command began to make plans for the invasion of England. For the undefeated Wehrmacht, anything seemed possible.

Ed Morris