Daniele
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STRATEGIC COMMAND WWII: WAR IN EUROPE – Situational AAR – “The Road to Paris” Part 3
by JR Renaud
ACTIVITY REPORT – 07 JULY 1940
0005 hrs 07 July 1940
Situational Report; General Orders
From: Oberkommando der Wehrmacht
To: All Armeegruppe Headquarters; Oberkommando der Marine
Mein Herren, we approach the gates of Paris. Our Führer is adamant that we drive the French to their knees by the end of summer! Though our panzers have nearly broken through near Amiens, they are beginning to tire and have taken casualties. Do everything you can to ensure we accomplish our leader’s objective while preserving our armoured troops for the… for other coming conflicts. The Luftwaffe has also sustained significant damage; I strongly recommend allowing our valiant airmen some time to rest and refit as well; Generalfeldmarschall Hermann Göring assures me that replacements have completed their training.
It appears that the English have quit the field, all but abandoning their so-called allies altogether, although their air force continues to harass us from across the Channel. The French, whose morale was precarious at the outset of this offensive, surely approach their breaking point now that they stand alone on the continent.
Press on, mein Herren!
Orders and Execution; Combat Reports
1. Luftflotte I & III (158,78; 156,81), KG 51 (157,80) ordered to R&R.
2. V Panzerkorps (153,81) ordered to R&R.
3. 1 Fallschirmjäger-division (154,81) ordered to Prepare.
4. II Armeekorps (156,82) ordered to R&R.
5. I Armeekorps (154,80; NE Lille) moves to coord. 152,82 SE Amiens; attack deferred.
6. IV Panzerkorps (151,80) crosses the Somme River to coord. 150,81 SW Amiens; French corps spotted in Rouen (149,82); IV Pz advances to coord. 150,82 NE Rouen; French force identified as Reserve Corps; attack deferred. (See Note #9.)
REINFORCEMENTS FOR LUFTFLOTTE I
FIGURE 13 – FRENCH 1ST ARMY IS SURROUNDED IN AMIENS
7. III Panzerkorps attacks 1st Army.
a. 20%; 20%, Readiness, Morale reduced.
8. III Panzerkorps moves to 151,82 S Amiens; French heavy tank unit revealed in Paris; attacks 1st Army.
a. Nil; 20%, Readiness, Morale reduced.
9. X Armeekorps (154,82; N Reims) moves to coord. 153,82 NW Reims; identifies 9th Army (Fra.) coord. 153,83 SW Reims; attack deferred.
10. 6 Armee (Mons Mine; 155,81; S Brussels) shifts to coord. 154,82; N Reims; attack deferred.
11. IV Armeekorps (Ypres; 153,78) speeds to coord. 151,80 N Amiens; attack deferred.
12. 9 Armee (between Ypres & Lille; 153,79) moves to coord. 152,81 NE Amiens; attacked deferred.
13. VIII Armeekorps (156,83; NW Verdun) advances to coord. 155,83; French Gamelin HQ identified coord. 154,84 S Reims; attack deferred.
14. XXVII Armeekorps (157,82; N Verdun) marches through Sedan to coord. 156,84 SW Verdun; attack deferred.
15. 7 Fallschirmjäger-division (158,84 N Nancy) attacks 6 Grp de Bombardement (Nancy; 158,85).
a. Nil; enemy destroyed
16. 7 Fallschirmjäger-division occupies Nancy.
17. SG 1 (Maastricht; 157,79) bombs Gamelin HQ; intercepted by Grp de Chasse 21 out of Châlons; Luftflotte IV (escorts) intervenes.
a. Luftflotte IV nil, SG 1 nil; interceptors 10%, Gamelin HQ 50%. (See Note #10.)
FIGURE 14 – BATTLE FOR CHÂLONS
18. SG 2 (157,78; N Maastricht) bombs Gamelin HQ.
a. Nil; 20%
19. VIII Armeekorps assaults Gamelin HQ.
a. Nil; enemy destroyed.
20. XXVII Armeekorps attacks Grp de Chasse 21.
a. Nil; 10%
21. 6 Armee attacks II Corps (Reims; 154,83).
a. Nil; 30%, Readiness, Morale, Entrenchment reduced.
22. X Armeekorps attacks 9th Army (153,83; SW Reims).
a. Nil; 10%, Readiness, Morale reduced.
23. St.G 2 (156,78; S Rotterdam) bombs 1st Army (Amiens); intercepted by British fighters out of Dover; Luftflotte IV escorts.
a. St.G 2 10%, Luft. IV 10%; interceptors 20%, 1st Army 20%, Readiness, Morale reduced.
24. IV Panzerkorps attacks 1st Army (Amiens).
a. Nil; 30%
b. Nil; enemy destroyed.
25. 4 Armee (Briey Mine; 158,83) moves into coord. 158,84 S Briey Mine; attack declined .
26. 12 Armee (Luxembourg) occupies Briey Mine; attack declined.
27. XIII Armeekorps (160,82; NE Luxembourg) marches into Luxembourg; attack declined.
28. XII Armeekorps (163,82; SE Mainz) occupies Westwall Fort at coord. 160,82 NE Luxembourg; attack declined.
29. KG 1 bombs enemy unit in Paris .
a. 20%; unknown
30. 18 Armee (Antwerp; 155,78) redeploys to coord. 152,80 NW Lille.
31. Von Bock HQ redeploys to Lille.
32. St.G 2 redeploys to coord. 155,79 S Ypres.
33. SG 2 redeploys to coord. 154,79 between Ypres & Antwerp.
34. Luftflotte IV redeploys to coord. 154,80 NW Brussels.
35. Von Rundstedt HQ redeploys to coord. 157,81 S Liège.
36. SG 1 redeploys to Mons Mine (S Brussels).
37. UI-30 & U-37 SS continue to Hunt.
38. Requisition two (2) garrison units.
39. END REPORT
SITUATIONAL MAP – PRIOR TO ENEMY RESPONSE – JULY, 1940
Enemy Response
Location: Oberkommando der Wehrmacht HQ
Source: Consolidated Report from all Western Armeegruppen
Generalfeldmarschall, for your approval: It would appear that the enemy has withdrawn 9th Army from the front; no doubt it awaits us somewhere in the Marais Saint Gond Marshes or else nearby Paris. They have garrisoned Epinal before the advance of 7 FSJ, and also reinforced Groupe de Chasse 21 in Châlons, but surely they must be throwing untrained children at us as pilots by now!
The destruction of Gamelin’s HQ as well as 1st Army in Amiens must now leave Paris all but undefended save by a unit of heavy tanks. Heavy tanks, mein Herr? What can the enemy be thinking to fortify their capital with armour? Regardless, Generalfeldmarschall, we will stay on the offensive. Now that V Panzerkorps has had a chance to recoup its losses, General der Panzertruppen Joachim Lemelsen will lead the assault on Paris, supported by 1 FSJ dropping behind the city while Generalobersts von Bock and von Kuchler bring up several corps and armies to surround the city.
Paris falls before the autumn, Generalfeldmarschall!
2045 hrs 19 July 1940
Incoming Decoded Message
Guten Abend, mein Freund
My staff informs me that some distance still lies between you and the gates of Paris. I need not remind you that certain important matters will soon require moving our attention – and our forces – at least partially back east, all of which would be much better accomplished without winter conditions.
Reichsminister Göring also complains much in my ear about the losses incurred by ‘his’ Luftwaffe, reminding me of the need to preserve them for upcoming operations across the Channel. I need no such reminders, Generalfeldmarschall! Moreover, Großadmiral Raeder pesters me to allow the Kriegsmarine to sally forth, especially seeing that our convoys from Norway continue to be attacked by enemy submarines. But with the French navy still at sea and their ports closed to us, such would be folly!
Now, do your old friend a favour and conclude this campaign, ja?
Mit deutschem Gruß
SITUATIONAL MAP – 21 JULY 1940
0510 hrs 21 July 1940
Situational Report; General Orders
From: Oberkommando der Wehrmacht
To: All Armeegruppe Headquarters; Oberkommando der Marine
Mein Herren, speed is of the essence. Urgent matters will soon require our attention elsewhere, and so we must force French capitulation without delay. I am certain it will now take only the loss of their capital to accomplish this, so you are to ignore all other operations in favour of taking the capital forthwith!
I understand some of our forces, especially our valiant Panzertruppen, are tiring, but morale is still high across the front, and victory is near! Moreover, heavy rains envelope the British Isles, so their aircraft will be grounded!
Time soon enough for rest. And for the dead, rest eternal.
Orders and Execution; Battle Reports
1. III Panzerkorps (151,82; S Amiens) ordered to R&R.
2. V Panzerkorps (Loos Mine; 153,81; S Lille) rumbles to coord. 150,84, NW Paris; French unit identified as combined heavy tank and infantry 1re Division Cuirassée de Réserve; French HQ revealed at coord. 150,86 N Orléans; attack deferred.
3. XXVII Armeekorps (156,84; between Châlons & Verdun) circles Châlons to the S @ coord. 155,85; enemy army revealed in Auxerre; attacks Grp de Chasse 21 in Châlons.
a. Nil; 30%
4. VIII Armeekorps attacks Grp de Chasses 21.
a. Nil; enemy destroyed.
b. Advance into Marais Saint Gond Marsh at coord. 154,84 NW Châlons.
5. IV Panzerkorps races to coord. 149,85; attacks enemy HQ identified as Huntzinger.
a. Nil; 20%
b. Nil; 20%
6. X Armeekorps (153,82; S Loos Mine) moves to coord. 152,84 NE Paris; attack deferred.
7. I Armeekorps (152,82; SE Amiens) advances to coord. 151,83 N Paris; attack deferred. (See Note #11.)
FIGURE 15 – BATTLE OF PARIS - 1
FIGURE 15 – BATTLE OF PARIS - 2
8. Detach 9 & 6 Armee from von Kuchler.
9. Attach St.G 2, KG 51a to von Kuchler.
10. KG 51 bombs 1st DCR.
a. 20%; nil, Readiness, Morale, Entrenchment reduced.
11. SG 2 dive-bombs 1st DCR.
a. 10%; Readiness, Morale reduced.
12. St.G dive-bombs 1st DCR.
a. Nil; 10%, Readiness, Morale reduced.
13. SG 1 dive-bombs 1st DCR.
a. Nil; 10%, Readiness, Morale reduced.
14. KG 1 bombs 1st DCR.
a. Nil; nil, Readiness, Morale, Entrenchment reduced.
15. I Armeekorps attacks 1st DCR.
a. Nil; nil, Entrenchment reduced.
16. 1 Fallschirmjäger-division attacks 1st DCR.
a. 20%; 20%, Readiness, Morale reduced.
17. V Panzerkorps attacks 1st DCR.
a. 30%; 30%, Readiness, Morale reduced.
b. Nil; enemy destroyed.
18. 9 Armee redeploys to coord. 152,83.
19. IV Armeekorps advances to coord. 150,83 SE Rouen; attack declined.
20. 18 Armee occupies Amiens.
21. 6 Armee (154,82 N Reims) attacks II Corps (Reims).
a. Nil; 50%
22. II Armeekorps advances through Sedan to coord. 156,84 SW Verdun; attack declined.
23. XXVII Armeekorps moves to coord. 154,86 N Auxerre; identifies enemy 9th Army in Auxerre.
24. Luftflotte I (158,78 S Arnhem) redeploys to coord. 152,82 SW Loos Mine.
25. SG 2 redeploys to coord. 151,80 S Calais.
26. St.G 2 redeploys to coord. 152,81 NW Loos Mine.
27. Luftflotte IV redeploys to Loos Mine (153,81).
28. Von Kuchler HQ redeploys to coord. 152,80 SE Calais.
29. KG 51 (Liège; 157,80) redeploys to coord. 154,81 SW Brussels.
30. U-30 & U-37 SS continue to Hunt.
31. END REPORT
Enemy Response
Location: Oberkommando der Wehrmacht HQ
Source: Consolidated Report from all Western Armeegruppen
So close, Generalfeldmarschall! 1st DCR has been destroyed, and our troops are set to march down the Champs-Élysées! Surely, there is no stopping us now – no enemy force can possibly reach our lines in time, let alone break through. Even the remnants of 9th Army, having fled to Auxerre instead of attempting to block our advance, sits doomed!
Send our Führer an invitation to dine at—In your opinion, which is the best restaurant in Paris, Herr Generalfeldmarchall?
(See Note #12.)
FIGURE 16 – DENOUEMENT
< Message edited by Daniele -- 11/18/2016 7:44:36 AM >
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