Strength Through Unity


Oostrozebeke, Belgium, May 26th, 1940: At the end of May 1940, the Belgium army was in dire straights and
backed into the western part of the country. However, the German advance was anything but a cakewalk. The
Lyrs river line was stubbornly defended by Belgian troops whose zeal was remeniscent of their fathers' 25
years earlier on the Yser. Near Oostrozebeke, the Germans managed to penetrate the 8th Division's front.
They used civilians as human shields and infiltrated through grain which was already tall enough to provide
cover. Infantrymen of the 21st Line Regiment fell back and fought side by side with gunners of the 5th
Artillery who had to blow up their own guns. Major Leclerq, commanding officer of the 1st Battalion of the
21st, decided to counterattack with a combined force of infantrymen, gunners, and engineers. At 1830, the
bugles signaled the charge.


Game Length: 5.5 Turns

Germans: Squads, MMG, LMG, MTR
Belgian: squads, MMG, MTR

For the Belgians to win they must exit units through fields of grain controled by Germans
For the Germans to win they must defend against the Belgians counterattack

Boards: #16

Aftermath: The officers moved daringly ahead of their own men to lead them forward. Captain-Commandant Renkin,
cane in hand, gave direction to the mixed formation. Despite murderous enemy fire, The Belgians advanced
some 700 meters and pushed back the Germans, forcing them to defend themselves. No fewer than 46 of the
advancing men were killed, including Renkin. By nightfall, the overall situation forced the Belgians to
relenquish the ground they had just recaptured. Major Leclerq ordered that arms be presented to the falle:
once united in action, they were now united in death.

Source: Tactiques magazine, Scenario ASL TAC 51, Strength Through Unity
