DESIGNER NOTES: 

- The general layout of the map is consistent with the historical 
terrain and various topographical details (scale excepted): 
light woods; not as dense bocage landscape as in the westernmost part 
of Normandy; dispersed habitat; very moderate heights giving excellent 
points of view (a particular characteristic of the 'Pays d'Auge'). 

- An extraordinary chance! The 'GTL' really fights in this precise area 
of Normandy and on this exact date! Its mission is carried out tardily 
(at and the end of a summer day) after running all day in a long, 
frantic race. Massu aims to contribute with the 90th 'Tough Ombres' ID (US) 
on its left and back, to the south closure of the Mortain-Falaise trap 
while Canadians and Poles are responsible for the northern jaw to crush 
the 'Panzer Kessel' at Chambois and Mont Ormel, charming and bucolic places 
today known from the Veterans as the infamous 'Death Row', 'Balcony of Death' 
& as 'the Mace' in case of the 1st Armoured Division (POL).
 
- The French troops have a very high morale with a clear tendency from 
the French senior officers ((and Massu on the front line!) to take urgent 
initiatives not always very appreciated by the American High Command. 

-Why this kind of tugging between faithful Allies? 

- First, a military explanation: the exploitation of the Avranches breakthrough 
and the trapping of the 5th German Panzerarmee into the Mortain-Falaise Pocket 
result into an incredible mix of unit sectors, objectives and axes of advance. 
Even Bradley and Patton could lose their own! 

- Second, a more political reason: on August 17th, the liberation of Paris 
is in the head of all Free French, from the 'simple soldat' (Private) to General 
Charles de Gaulle; through the charismatic General Leclerc (2nd DB 'Boss' or 
'Old Man') and J. Massu, one of its most devoted but stubborn (in-)subordinates... 
French: "Une vraie tte de mule !" = 'A real mule head!' 

- Meeting him just after the Liberation of Paris, de Gaulle seeing Jacques Massu 
coming to him said: 'So, Massu, still so stupid?' 
French : "Alors, Massu, toujours aussi con ?"
 
- The German 708. ID really foughts in Normandy but was annihilated in the first half 
of August in the Le Mans-Laval-Alenon area, 90 km SSW from the proposed battle. 
On mid-August, it was possible that its' survivors really foughted on La Dives river. 

- The 116th Panzer Division along with the 2nd SS Panzer Division 'Das Reich', 
was responsible for holding the Pocket open to allow German collapsing units to escape. 
It managed itself too, although with only 600 infantrymen and 12 AFV intact... 
The unit was present into the Trun-Chambois sector as part of the 'Panzergruppe Eberbach'. 

- Especially, on the Allied side is the OoB as respectful as possible to the tactical 
formations which, at our gaming scale, are Task Forces (battalion sized) rather than 
Combat Commands (broader joint formations, brigade sized). 

- Historically respectful too, are manpower and equipment present on the battlefield. 
 Finally, are included some German light Armor and the 'by DoubleDeuce long awaited' 
Sd.Kfz.250/7 (Mortar); an AFV type which endowed the typical 1944 Panzer Division recce 
group ('Aufklrungs Abteilung'). 

SOURCES: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2nd_Armored_Division_(France) 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/708th_Infantry_Division_(Wehrmacht) 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/116th_Panzer_Division_(Wehrmacht) 
http://ww2-germanarmy.conceptbb.com/t252-la-panzer-division-type-44 
http://normandie1944.over-blog.com/article-34876240.html] 
http://2db.forumactif.com/t2274-exmes-orne 
http://www.france-libre.net/colonne-leclerc/ 
http://www.france-libre.net/alencon/ 
Google Maps: https://www.google.fr/maps/place/61310+Exmes/ 
Institut Gographique National (IGN): 1:100000 Maps 
Cartes routires Michelin: 1:200000 Maps 

A PDF file (Historical notes, maps, units' insignas & leaders' portraits) was planned
to be included in the ZIP file but [... one 'event 201'(*) type event came & changed 
my mind! (LN59)] 
To be continued with that PDF and an illustrated AAR on the TotH Forum (Matrix Games). 
Remarks and questions are welcome! 

SCENARIO DESIGNER: LN59 
(Lilian Nison) - lilian.nison@laposte.net - 8/19/2018-4/17/2020 

_____________________________________________________________________________________

(*) 'Event 201' & Covid-19: Please, see Johns Hopkins University, NYC, at:
http://www.centerforhealthsecurity.org/event201/  where You'll be surprised...  *<;o)