Clash of Empires World War 2 The Battle of France, June 5-25, 1940

In this article I’m going to use the Clash Battle System to recreate two important points during the Battle of France, 1940. After the Allied debacle in Norway the British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain was forced to resign and was replaced by Winston Churchill who formed a Coalition Government. No sooner had Churchill come to power than the German war machine hurtled into the Low Countries and France. Although there can be little doubt that the subsequent Battle of France was a spectacular victory for Germany, it was flawed in that Hitler’s decision to halt the Panzers either intentionally or inadvertently allowed the BEF to escape. This enabled Britain to stay in the fight against German aggrandisement and ultimately contributed to their defeat. For now, however, German military power was most certainly in the ascendancy.

Background

The German Field Marshal Erich von Manstein formulated the war plan of the German armed forces for the Battle of France. The original plan Fall Gelb (Case Yellow) was shelved when parts of the plan fell into the hands of the allies. The Manstein war plan called for a diversionary attack against Belgium and Holland while the main thrust was made through the forested Ardennes sector with the aim of encircling the Anglo-French army from the south. A show of force was also to be made against the Maginot Line. For this campaign the Germans had assembled in the west some 2 ½ million men in three army groups. These ground troops were supported by 2 air fleets, consisting of 3,500 combat planes. Hitler exercised overall command with Keitel as his chief of staff and Brauchitsch in direct command of the invasion forces. Opposing them along the French border were over 2 million Allied troops most of them French. These were organized into three army groups consisting of eleven armies and including the 400,000 strong British Expeditionary Force under the command of General Gort. These were supported by 1,400 French and about 290 British combat aircraft. Overall command was vested in General Maurice Gamelin who was a relic of WWI thinking. For their defence the Allied Command were supremely confident in the perceived impregnability of the Maginot Line an elaborate defensive barrier that stretched across the frontier of northeast France. The Allied forces were distributed accordingly. Particularly vulnerable was the hilly and forested region of the Ardennes which Gamelin considered to be impassable to tanks. The Allied battle plan was based on the WWI Schlieffen plan which they expected the Germans to duplicate with a main thrust through the Netherlands. In accordance with this thinking the Allies intended to halt the German advance in Belgium and then pivot their armies from the south to crush the invaders. As for the neutral Netherlands – Belgium and Holland they were still mobilizing and for defence set great store in the protection afforded by their network of canals.

The German invasion of the Low Countries and France began on May 10th.The operation in the north was carried out by Boch’s Army Group B spearheaded by the 39th and 17th Panzer Corps. These were preceded by German airborne landings which captured key objectives and neutralized the Fortress of Eben Emael on the Albert Canal. With their forward defences now compromised the Belgian army was forced to fall back to the line of the Dyle River to join forward elements of Gort’s British Expeditionary Force. In support of the Belgians the French 7th and 1st armies also moved up to their pre-arranged positions. So far, the German battle plan was conforming to the Allied command’s preconceived expectations. At this point a probing attack by 6th Army (Reichenau) was repulsed but achieved its objective in keeping Allied forces pinned down in central Belgium and thereby unable to redeploy to the Ardennes region. Meanwhile, the decisive blow in the south was delivered by Rundstedt’s Army Group A. This comprised Kleist’s Panzer Group (15th, 41st and 19th Panzer Corps). Under the cover of waves of Luftwaffe combat aircraft this massive Panzer formation which contained most of Germany’s 2574 tanks crashed through the Ardennes. After a contested crossing of the Meuse River near Sedan the Panzers erupted into northern France and then raced north to outflank the Anglo-French armies. Leading this rapid German advance was the Panzer Corps of Heinz Guderian a pioneer of blitzkrieg tactics and its chief exponent. With their defensive line breached the Allies were forced to withdraw. Allied counterattacks against the panzer corridor failed to check the German advance and the bulk of the Anglo-French army soon found itself confined to an embattled pocket around the port of Dunkirk. By now Belgium and Holland had already surrendered. At this juncture only Hitler’s inexplicable decision to halt the panzers for several days saved the BEF from complete annihilation. What followed was the “Miracle of Dunkirk” which was a perfect example of a successful evacuation by sea with over 300,000 Allied soldiers lifted from the beaches by an armada of small boats.

After overrunning the north, the German armies regrouped and turned their attention to the rest of France. A renewed blitzkrieg offensive against what remained of the shaken French forces quickly led to their disintegration. Paris was abandoned on the 13th of June and the Maginot Line fell soon after. Thereupon the new French Prime Minister Petain asked for an armistice and by June 21st France had capitulated. The German victory was total and Adolf Hitler was now the undisputed master of continental western Europe. He now turned his avaricious gaze to Britain which appeared weakened and ready for the taking. Future events would prove otherwise.

The following scenarios considers two significant episodes that occurred during the campaign and recreates them using the Clash Battle System. The first is the Battle of Hannut which is deserving of attention because it was the first tank battle of WWII. The second scenario covers the Battle of Sedan which was a breakthrough attack across the river Meuse the success of which was crucial if the Wehrmacht’s operational plan was to work.

Scenario 1

The Battle of Hannut

The Battle of Hannut was the first major tank battle of WWII and took place between the 12th and 14th of May 1940 near the town of Hannut in Belgium. It occurred after the German 6th Army (Reichenau) broke through the Belgium defences at the Albert Canal. This formation was next tasked with pinning down the French First Army in central Belgium and in so doing prevent it from interfering in the main thrust through the Ardennes. As a precursor to its main assault upon the French position General Hoepner’s Panzer Corps was ordered to seize the area around Gembloux before the French became entrenched there. As for their opponents the French 1st Army under General Georges Blanchard wanted to gain time to prepare for what the Allies erroneously saw as the main enemy effort through Belgium. Therefore, a Cavalry Corps commanded by Renè Prioux was given the mission to carry out a delaying battle to prevent the Germans from reaching Gembloux. As both armoured forces collided a fierce battle ensued which spanned two days but ended in an indecisive result. Ironically, however, both sides had achieved their objectives. This is because although the French were able to delay the Germans long enough to dig in around Gembloux, they were at the same time prevented from sending reinforcements south to take part in the Battle of Sedan.

Using the Clash of Empires rules the battle strength and capabilities of the combatants can be shown as follows: -

The German 16th Panzer Corps

For the attack on France the German army has been well trained and benefits from the experience gained during the Polish Campaign from which they are still elated. This high level of morale and combat experience is shared by the Panzer formations which are well versed in their attack formations and achieving rapid movement. For this reason, the 16th Panzer Corps is rated as Superior in quality and gets a +1 bonus to Initiative for Army Type. Under the command of General Hoepner the 16th Panzer Corps consists of two Panzer Divisions with attached mechanized infantry, artillery and substantial air support. In the game this conforms to two Fully Mechanized Divisions with a Combat Rating of ❺ and a total Fighting Bonus of +5. On the Air Support and Bombardment Table +5 FB converts to a 1D3 Battle Advantage Die for Artillery. Also at Hoepner’s disposal are 15 units of Stuka dive bombers with a +15 FB which on the Air Support and Bombardment Table converts to a 1D6 Battle Bonus Die for Strafing and Bombing. Contributing German Battle Factor modifiers consist of a +1 for Infantry in APCs (Halftracks), +1 for Light Tanks in Offence (corps made up mostly of Pz Is and Pz IIs). It also gets a +2 modifier for Dive Bombers in Close Air Support. This gives a total modifier of +4 which is added to the Battle Dice score. In the game General Hoepner is rated as an average commander and therefore rolls 1D6 for Initiative. Both forces are equally matched in size so there is no numerical advantage.

Air Support

The Germans have air superiority for the battle and air support is provided by Fliegerkorps VIII. For this scenario 15 units of Stuka Dive-Bombers stand ready to support the panzers. Major bombing missions and plane to plane combat are dealt with separately.

The French Cavalry Corps

The French army of 1940 was inferior to that of the Germans and for this reason, in the game, the French Cavalry Corps is rated as Ordinary in quality and receives no Initiative bonus for Army Type. The Corps which is commanded by General Prioux consists of two Light Mechanized Divisions (DLMs). These units are equipped with light tanks, armoured cars and mechanized infantry. However, they are deficient in anti-tank guns and artillery. Furthermore, they have no air support as the French 23rd Fighter Group has been diverted to cover the advance of the First Army. In the game the DLMs conform to two Part-Mechanized Divisions which is in accordance with their primary scouting and skirmishing role. As such they have a Combat Rating of ❸ and a total Fighting Bonus of +3. On the Air Support and Bombardment Table +3 FB converts to a 1D3 Battle Advantage Die for Artillery. Their only contributing Battle Factor modifier is +2 for Medium Tanks in Offence. This is because the DLMs are equipped with SOMUA S35 tanks that outmatch the Panzer Is and II’s in terms of armour and firepower. In the game General Prioux is rated as an average commander and therefore rolls 1D6 for Initiative. Both forces are equally matched in size so there is no numerical advantage.

WW2 Clash Battle Procedure:

After rolling for Initiative the Battle Roll for each army consists of the following procedure:

• Battle Dice 2D6 (highest scoring die only).

• Army Combat Rating (CR) to Fighting Bonus (FB).

• Calculate Battle Bonus. (Determined by Army Type and FB).

• Any other Battle Advantages such as Artillery Bombardment, Opponent outnumbered or Tactical Advantage.

• Total Battle Roll.

Highest scoring Battle Roll wins and the difference between the two scores determines the number of casualties.

Combat Rating to Fighting Bonus Conversion and Casualty Tables not shown.

Pre-set Scenario Condition: - Encounter battle of attrition. No surprise.

World War 2 Battle Log

German Panzer Corps (Battle of Hannut)

Initiative	Battle Dice (Modifier)	No. of Units and CR to Fighting Bonus	Battle Bonus Normal (Enhanced)	Battle Advantage Dice	Total Score
1D6 +1 2+1 = 3	2D6 (+4) 3 and 1 (Highest die only) 3+4 = 7	Panzer Army Corps FM ❺ x2 = +5 FB	Odds Dice 1D6(2D6) 3+3 = 6	Artillery 1D3 Strafing and Bombing 1D6 1+4 = 5	7+5+6+5 = 23

French Cavalry Corps (Battle of Hannut)

Initiative	Battle Dice (Modifier)	No. of Units and CR to Fighting Bonus	Battle Bonus Normal (Enhanced)	Battle Advantage Dice	Total Score
1D6 = 4	2D6 (+2) 5 and 1 (Highest die only) 5+2 = 7	French Cavalry Corps PM ❸ x2 = +3 FB	Odds Dice 1D3(1D6) 1D6 = 5	Tactical Advantage 1D6 Artillery 1D3 4+3 =7	7+3+5+7 = 22

Unit Abbreviations

PM = Part Mechanized

FM = Fully Mechanized 

DB = Dive Bombers

WW2 Army Battle Bonus Calculation Table not shown.

Battle Bonus calculation determined by Army Type and Fighting Bonus (FB).

(#D#) = Enhanced Battle Bonus on odds or evens Battle Dice.

Notes: In a bruising encounter the German Panzer Corps only just manages to avoid a humiliating defeat in the Battle of Hannut. Nevertheless, General Hoepner is still able to achieve his objective by preventing the French First Army from sending reinforcements to the Ardennes sector. Ironically General Prioux also manages to achieve his objective by delaying the German advance long enough for the French First Army to become entrenched at Gembloux. Both sides lose 50% of one division on the Casualty Table.

Scenario 2

The Battle of Sedan

The Battle of Sedan took place between 12-15 May 1940 and was part of the second phase of the German invasion of France and the Low Countries. The battle resulted from a breakthrough attack by leading elements of Rundstedt’s Army Group A which was tasked with the main thrust through the Ardennes. Following detailed reconnaissance, a point along the Meuse River just north of the old fortress town of Sedan was selected for the attack where the French defences were deemed to be at their weakest. Positioned here were two divisions of French reservists. The German assault was carried out by three panzer divisions from Panzer Group Kleist reinforced by the elite Grossdeutschland Regiment of infantry. Air support was supplied by Luftlotte 3 which before the battle carried out a ferocious aerial bombardment of the French positions. Close Air Support was provided by 12 squadrons of Stuka Dive-bombers. Despite a hail of enemy artillery and small arms fire the German infantry managed to cross the river in assault boats and then preceded to push the French defenders back. Thus, a bridgehead was established for the German tanks. A French counterattack failed to dislodge the Germans and Allied air raids suffered heavy losses from Luftwaffe fighters and well positioned and accurate anti-aircraft fire. Thereafter, the French defence fell into disarray and eventually collapsed. This allowed the panzers to fan out into the undefended French countryside and then race north to outflank the bulk of the Allied forces in Belgium.  

Using the Clash of Empires rules the battle strength and capabilities of the combatants can be shown as follows: -

An Airforce unit represents 10 operational aircraft.

The German Strike Force

The XIX (19th) Panzer Corps consists of three Panzer Divisions (1st, 2nd and 10th) under the command of General Heinz Guderian. Attached to this formation is the elite Grossdeutchland Regiment and other infantry. All troops are exceptionally well trained and experienced and for this reason the 19th Panzer Corps is rated as Superior in quality and gets a +1 bonus to Initiative. In the game this strike force conforms to three Fully Mechanized Divisions with a Combat Rating of ❺ and a total Fighting Bonus of +8. A lack of artillery (exclusive of mortars and some light guns) is made up for with maximum support from the Luftwaffe. Close Air Support is provided by Fliegerkorps VIII and its 12 units of Stuka Dive Bombers. These have a Combat Rating of ❷and a +12 FB which converts on the Air Support and Bombardment Table to a 1D3 Battle Advantage Die for Strafing and Bombing. Contributing Battle Factor modifiers consist of a +1 for Elite Infantry (Grossdeutchland Regt.), +2 for Medium Tanks in Offence. This is because the corps has on strength many Pz IIIs and Pz IVs. They also get +2 for Dive Bombers in Close Air Support. This gives the German Strike Force a total Battle Factor Modifier of +5. In the game General Guderian is rated as an Outstanding commander and therefore rolls 2D6 (highest scoring die) for Initiative. The Germans outnumber the French defenders so get a 1D6 numerical advantage.

The French Defenders    

The French force that bears the brunt of the attack across the Meuse at Sedan consists of the 55th and 71st Infantry Divisions. These units are made up mainly of reservists who are poorly trained and have low morale. For this reason, the French defenders are rated as Inferior in quality and suffer a -1 penalty to Initiative. In the game the French force conforms to two standard Infantry Divisions with a Combat Rating of ❶ and a total Fighting Bonus of +1. The two divisions have artillery and on the Air Support and Bombardment Table +1 FB converts to a 1D3 Advantage Die. They have a contributing Battle Factor modifier of +2 for Entrenched Infantry. The French have no tanks in defence or close air support. Fortifications in the Sedan region are incomplete so therefore are treated as Average. This confers 2D6 Advantage Dice which is increased to 3D6 because the French are defending a river line. French command is Average and therefore 1D6 is rolled for Initiative.

WW2 Clash Battle Procedure:

After rolling for Initiative the Battle Roll for each army consists of the following procedure:

• Battle Dice 2D6 (highest scoring die only).

• Army Combat Rating (CR) to Fighting Bonus (FB).

• Calculate Battle Bonus. (Determined by Army Type and FB).

• Any other Battle Advantages such as Artillery Bombardment, Opponent outnumbered or Tactical Advantage.

• Total Battle Roll.

Highest scoring Battle Roll wins and the difference between the two scores determines the number of casualties.

Combat Rating to Fighting Bonus Conversion and Casualty Tables not shown.

Scenario Pre-set condition: - The Germans achieve complete surprise +2 Initiative. 

World War 2 Battle Log

German Panzer Corps (Battle of Sedan)

Initiative	Battle Dice (Modifier)	No. of Units and CR to Fighting Bonus	Battle Bonus Normal (Enhanced)	Battle Advantage Dice	Total Score
2D6 +3 3 and 5 5+3 = 8	2D6 (+5) 5 and 4 (Highest die only) 5+5 = 10	Panzer Army Corps FM ❺ x3 = +8 FB	No odds or evens 1D6(2D6) 1D6 = 4	Opponent outnumbered 1D6 Tactical Advantage 2D6 Strafing and Bombing 1D3 4+3+2+2 = 11	10+8+4+11 = 33

French Defenders (Battle of Sedan)

Initiative	Battle Dice (Modifier)	No. of Units and CR to Fighting Bonus	Battle Bonus Normal (Enhanced)	Battle Advantage Dice	Total Score
1D6 = 5	2D6 (+2) 5 and 2 (Highest die only) 5+2 = 7	French Infantry (Reservists) Inf ❶ x2 = +1 FB	No odds or evens 1D3(1D6) = 3	Average Defences 2D6 Defending River Line 1D6 Artillery 1D3 5+4+3+2 = 14	7+1+3+14 = 25

Unit Abbreviations

Inf = Infantry

FM = Fully Mechanized 

DB = Dive Bombers

WW2 Army Battle Bonus Calculation Table not shown.

Battle Bonus calculation determined by Army Type and Fighting Bonus (FB).

(#D#) = Enhanced Battle Bonus on odds or evens Battle Dice.

Notes: The German strike force wins Initiative which yields a 2D6 Tactical Advantage. Good scores in all other aspects of their attack results in an impressive Battle Roll of 33. A differential of 8 signals a major defeat for the French who suffer 1.25 units in casualties. The remaining French defenders abandon their front-line defences. This is a solid victory for the Germans for the loss of 25% in casualties to one Full Mech Division.

Figure 6. The Battle of Hannut 1940 was the largest tank battle in the Battle of France and in the history of armoured warfare at the time. The main difference between Clash of Empires the WWII Conquest Game and other versions of Clash is that the three-dimensional nature of warfare in this new period makes it necessary to transfer to a separate battle map when contact is made between rival military forces. The number of units is denoted by blank coloured poker chips.

Figure 7. The Wehrmacht’s victory in the Battle of Sedan 1940 enabled the Germans to trap the Allied forces in Belgium. The main difference between Clash of Empires the WWII Conquest Game and other versions of Clash is that the three-dimensional nature of warfare in this new period makes it necessary to transfer to a separate battle map when contact is made between rival military forces. The number of units is denoted by blank coloured poker chips.

Sources

Dupuy, R. E. and Dupuy, T. N. 1993: The Collins Encyclopaedia of Military History. Harper Collins Publishers.

Gilbert, A. 2000: The Campaigns of World War II: Germany’s Lightning War. David & Charles Book. Editorial and Design by Amber Books Ltd.

Hart, Dr S., Hart, Dr R. and Hughes Dr M. 2000: The German Soldier in WWII. Amber Books Ltd.

Mayer, S. L. Various Contributors. 1977: Encyclopaedia of World War II. Hamlyn Publishing Group Limited.

Article Front Page Picture

Black and white photograph of the Battle of France, May-June 1940; German infantry on the attack in Aisne. World History Archive. After Alamy (IY05614556).