Belgium in One Turn...Every Time!

[Scottydawg]

Turn 1, Phase 1 Fall Gelb
Fig.1 After DoW (both Belgium and Netherlands) move army in front of Eben Emael via Maastricht. Only necessary units are seen in screenshot; others omitted for clarity of detail.

Belgian capitulation on the first turn of Case Yellow is a great way to initiate hostilities in the West in 1940. The following figures highlight the details of this operation.
Benefits include:

*Use of armor isn't necessary here

*Opens up at a stroke (Sickle Stroke?) a significant front for the French to defend along Belgian border; this can be somewhat manipulated prior to Low Countries DoW with successive attacks along Maginot Line.

*Allows a good deal of confusion as to where the real attack may come from...Maginot Line solely or Belgium; both?

*Provides an element of air power conservation for Germans...this can not only save $$$ for the hardest hitting/suffering units, but will allow more surgical air strikes to eliminate units weakened during the main ground assaults

[Scottydawg]

Phase 2
Fig.2 Attack and eliminate fortress garrison with army. *It IS possible to only eliminate 4/5 of Belge garrison here. Simply provide another [not shown] attacking corps (or anything but air); there will be no difficulty in reaching this nearly-eliminated target.

[Scottydawg]

Phase 3
Fig.3 Attack Belge fighter unit which was spotted* by attacking army with 1st fighter
*Caution: Belge fighter unit can randomly appear to the 2 adjacent hexes immediately to west

[Scottydawg]

Phase 4
Fig.4 Use 2nd fighter to spot airborne LZ; this will draw out any remaining interceptions.

[Scottydawg]

Phase 5
Fig.5 First fsjr unit lands adjacent and behind Brussels (no attack yet). THIS is one of the potential start locations for Belge fighter unit. Use 3rd fighter to eliminate Belge fighter in alternate start location; this is also one of the airborne LZs and MUST be cleared.

[Scottydawg]

Phase 6
Fig.6 Second fsjr unit lands adjacent and behind Brussels (no attack yet)

[Scottydawg]

Phase 7
Fig.7 Belge army eliminated by bombers; fast corps enters Brussels, then south to Mons. IF Brussels army still remains (...it shouldn't) then an attack may be initiated from Fsjr unit(s); the idea however is to allow Fsjr to remain in place and as strong as possible to defend against counter-attacks. If there are no French units along Belge border then it may be advisable to occupy Lille and mine w/Fsjr unit(s).

[Scottydawg]

Phase 8
Fig.8 Basic invasion plan complete; Belgium capitulation assured. Use rail movement to fill up hexes next to now-controlled Brussels...which will look much different of course after ENTIRE turn is complete.

[The Land]

Impressive! Though you have also DoWed the Netherlands to do it... what troops are dealing with them?

[Taxman66]

I don't understand what's going on.
Given the date in the corner of Sept 1, 1939 of the last picture... Is this a custom set up?
You don't have all those bombers and the ones you do are on Polish border.

If you wait for clear weather in 1940 Belgium and Netherlands are already a cake walk with the forces you should have available.
It's even doable in mud.

[Scottydawg]

Custom setup...YES. I used the editor [Turn 1] in order to ascertain Belgian start positions...actual date of attacks is usually first week of May, 1940 ; clear weather is necessary [for explicit situation] here of course. Most of us have no problem, one way or another, in taking down Belgium in a single turn; this is MY preferred method for reasons of efficiency...like a large full strength armored reserve and a preserved Luftwaffe; it is these last two items that will rout the French army (BEF will wisely follow suit).

Only the minimum required units are placed into setup; unit omission is for clarity of explicit task. And yes...I did forget to include the third Luftwaffe tac bomber. These attacks are real however and this omission highlights the relative ease---without the additional bomber---of a successful operation.