Case Yellow PBEM - Axis perspective

[Chocolino]

This will be a brief overview of a scenario PBEM where Olivier Dumas played the combined Allied formations and where I took over the German command. Settings are at default.

The German High Command did go into the scenario full of confidence based on the results of AI war games. I thought this is actually the easiest scenario to win for the Germans - and got a big surprise as we will see later.

The first days from May 10th onward were just spent to move the large German war machinery into position. Panzergruppe Kleist did start in the Ardennes area and we did not meet any serious resistance in the south until May 14th (besides some scattered forward units).

[Chocolino]

May 14th: Forward elements of Panzergruppe Kleist meet a well organized and entrenched defense at Maas and Meuse. (The attack through the Ardennes is not such a big surprise any more I assume)

[Chocolino]

May 15th and 16th: The Dutch flood the polders but are encouraged to surrender early thanks to the "beneficial effects" of Terror bombing.

[Chocolino]

May 17th: Our main offensive weapon, Pzrgrp Kleist still struggles in the western Ardennes. This is a far shot from the fast and deep armored penetrations in WWII.

[Chocolino]

May 20th: The French fall finally back toward Charleroi but in very organized fashion, trading space for time. To keep up the pressure has caused excessive losses in all forward units in this sector.

Meanwhile the BEF has taken on the defense of the Dyle and Brussels.

[Chocolino]

May 24th (1): In the north, Bruegge and Ghent fall and the Belgians finally surrender. But the German losses - especially those caused in the Ardennes battles - have caused German losses (19%) to pass already now the amount assigned for a successful campaign (15%). We are falling behind schedule and have not managed our units well.

[Chocolino]

May 24th (2): The conglomeration of German troops in front of French/Belgian cities (e.g. Charleroi) is not so much part of a plan to take these cities but more the result of all major rail lines on which these attackers arrive passing through these cities. The German HQ did not find a way to supply these units sufficiently while they bypass the major cities cross-country to then cut them off. The latter would have been a much better method of dealing with these strongholds.

[Chocolino]

May 29th: The German south and (overcrowded) center. It is noteworthy that while the French and British are falling back, no decisive breakthrough could be achieved which is essential to get to the important VPs in the French hinterland.

[Chocolino]

May 29th: While things do not really work out elsewhere, we were lucky to reach Calais before more British could defend it. There will also be no miracle of Duenkirchen (since it is taken by the Germans and since it is not necessary, the BEF is doing just fine on the continent).

[Chocolino]

June 4th: Just 4 more turns to go. The German army has reached the Somme where the BEF has established its final defensive line. We have 67VPs so far and need 70 to win. Abbeville and Amiens located along the riverfront are both still in French hands but we are confident to take them in time which will bring us to VP69 - but what else ....?

[Chocolino]

June 4th (continued): The next nearest VP city happens to be Noyon (circle). But the French know that too and our recon shows that it is well defended indeed. Even if we reach it in time we will have little chance to just walk in.

[Chocolino]

June 8th (after the final German move). We could take Abbeville as planned and made a last desperate and unsuccessful dash toward Dieppe. Almost a bit embarassing - after our earlier annoucements - is however the fact that we failed to take even Amiens. The city did hold with a massive garrison.

[Chocolino]

June 8th (continued): The Germans did come reasonably close to a few other VP cities during the last move incl Reims and Noyon but it was too little too late. The Germans end their game with 68VPs.

I would like to congratulate Olivier to the excellent defense of his home country. The Allied commander did always build defenses in depth that blunted all the little breakthroughs that the Germans managed and he always fell back at the right time to a new prepared line taking advantage of all the natural obstacles. A very deserved victory!

[olivier34]

thanks but when we look at your final screenshot, we can see that you were very close to achieve a victory. It has been a death match. Casualties are enormous. I doubt that Churchill will have been happy to learn that all the BEF has been destroyed. The german army suffered a lot too.
Playing the allied was very challenging. I had to plan my actions very carrefuly. My goal was to allways counter attack when I could get an opportunity, keep some reserves, build new line of defense. figure out where to build them so that the infantry get the time to entrench (3-4 days).
I found out that the BEF is really powerful, specially the corps arty.
It seems difficult for the german player to trap the french and british army in Belgium, even if they have to follow the Dyle Plan.

[Chocolino]

Agree, casualties were very high on both sides and the game is reasonably balanced. I think a more competent German player than myself has a chance to win this.

There is no doubt about the outcome of the game, though as you can see below. It is a ignominious German defeat.

[Enigma6584]

Very enjoyable to read.  Thanks for posting this.