NationStates Jolt Archive

Panzer I's, Panzer II's, and Panzer III's waited silently in the Ardenne Forest. Then the call over the radio came. Their Maybach engines fired up and they raced to the French border and beyond. The same thing was happening all over Belgium and northern France. There were at least 800 panzers in this move. 2,000,000 Wermacht troops followed the tanks. Me-109s, Ju-87s, and Ju-88s attacked forces in the air and ground. The invasion of France had begun.

OOC: Bump

Cambrai, France

Pushing open the steel hatch on his Renault tank, Colonel Marpet Du Mount pulled out his dusty set of binoculars to view the unfolding conflict.

Excellent

Belgian and German troops, along with heavy armor were now approaching the city. Salvos of gunfire could be heard everywhere and the occasional tracer round lighted up the early morning sky.

Du Mount knew the exact same scenario was playing itself out all over Northern France. The huddled French army would cower within the walls of their cities, only to be overwhelmed by Belgian and German Forces.

Everything was going as planned. 150,000 Belgian troops were racing towards the ports of Dunkirk and Calais, encountering only light resistance. However, major Anglo-French presence was detected around the two ports and taking them would be a strenuous task, indeed.

Farther to the south, the combined forces of Germany and Belgium stormed out of the Ardenne Forest and took most defenders by surprise. If everything goes well, our forces should advance about 60 miles today and it would only be 50 miles to Paris.

A sudden knock on the front of his tank alerted the Colonel to a small, gruff Lieutenant standing below.

" Sir, It seems the French are putting up quite a resistance. They have made a small defensive perimeter around Lille and have placed what armor they have at the major entrance points."

Glancing back over to the town the Colonel thought to himself for a moment.

" Alright, have D and F Companies Rush up by that ditch over there and take that Bakery. Once thats taken, move up some Renault Tanks up near it and have them to begin firing on the enemies flank. Have our remaining Renaults fire rounds into that street over there and lead them in to the city with I Company. Finally, tell the German commander to move around and capture the turnpike, as well as the other flank to prevent the escape of French forces."

" Yes, sir!" The lieutenant shouted, as he moved away from the tank.

The Colonel continued to watch as the soldiers began to maneuver the battlefield, while their comrades behind them poured hundreds of rounds into the many structures of the city.

Getting back into his Renault tank, the Colonel told his driver to enter the fighting. Within moments, tank shells were mercilessly pounding the stone structures of the city.

Victory seemed eminent.

OOC: The RPer of France isn't going to be here much until the 26/27. I am putting a hold on this.

OOC: I'm Back. Sort of. But now I have a question. I still haven't found any sorts of Names for a French Tank, Plane or gun, :headbang: Nor numbers.
As well, I haven't RP'd before, so let me know if anything I do isn't valid.

But here's my biggest question. Ok, in the Non-Combat thread I did 3 things, First I had men in Lille, but I also asked if they would be spread around the area of Lille, so... there is that. Secondly, I did have men/women/etc settingup trenches/tank traps, and a start on the extension of the Maginot line, which I started after Belgiums refusal. So that would be along the south part of the Belgium French border no? And I'm still not sure what day it is or nhow long it has been. :S lol, Sorry, I'm a very confused France :D Makes me a natural at it :p


But Lachenburg, said he is in Cambrai? But that's farther south than Lille, If he was going to Dunkirk and Calais... *lost*

The attack consists of multiple thrusts, the main one derected towards caputring Paris, while 2 others move out on the flanks and caputre various strategic points.

Therfore, the forces in Cambrai and Lille are part of the main thrust, while forces moving towards Calias and Dunkrik are just protecting the northern flank.

As for the Maginot line, were still in May 1940, which means that you would be still organizing a work force to build the extention of the line, making it practically non-exsistant.

OOC: Just another thing... I deployed to a place called like Valenciennes or something. I don't think to Lille. I have to re-located Cambrai on a map as well, and find my Stupid tanks and such. However, an IC: Post should be coming soon. Does anyone mind if I use British Weapons/etc, I can find those, but I can't find French ones. I have the name of a tank however for France, so I can use that.

OOC: I'm going to for now RP that you were coming after Valenciennes, as opposed to Lille. We'll figure that out later, and mesh/pretend our posts fit together? Or..? And do we have to use a map of the city? or? Just make it up? Or.. :confused: :p Anyways, I'll post this little thing up for now, and try and get something else up later.

IC:

Sgt. Pierre Aduaré wasn't entirely all together certain what was happening. Yesterday his world had been a very easy set place, and now he was huddling with a his squad in a semi-abandonned bakery and surrounding buildings with only a vague idea of what was happening. The Germans had invaded, and brought the Belgium traitors with them.

Still, he knew his role in this greater plan. That had only been told to him how many times. All he had to do was hold these few buildings, and make those damn kraupts keep thier heads down for a while.

Some yelling above, followed by a few French words, none of which were very complimentary, alerted him to incoming hostiles. On the floor above him, an ex-bedroom for the baker now converted into a observation/'snipe' shot area, he could hear men moving around, and shifting furniture towards windows or doors. Men at the windows of his own floor began to pop up, shoot, and duck back down. Sighing softly, Pierre moved closer to help provide some fire.

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Calais, France


"ALL BATTERIES....AIM....FIRE!"


The afternoon sky erupted into a Maelstrom of death and destruction, as thousands of artillery shells were unleashed upon the port city of Calais. Many of the cities peaceful inhabitants did not even see the shells hurdling towards them and by the time they heard the terrible shrieking of the tremendous salvo, it was already too late.

Buildings crashed to the ground, beautiful gardens were transformed into seas of ash and flames, soon a firestorm gripped the city and the defenses around it. Colonel L'tount was pleased.

L'tount had served in WWI, where he saw the true awe inspiring power of modern artillery. Each gun mercilessly hurdling rounds toward the other side, creating massive craters within the earth. It had impressed him so much, that he signed up as an artillery observer and was sent to the gruesome fighting at Yrpes. The scene was now remarkably similar to the conflict 21 years ago.

Striding towards the communications tent he scribbled down his commands and issued them to the lowly Lieutenant, sitting near the radio. Within moments, hundreds of Panzer Mk. 3s and Belgian Renaults charged toward the burning city. Behind the lumber behemoths, was the first wave of almost 65,000 soldiers.

Firefights soon engulfed the entire area, as both sides struggled for each piece of land. L'tount could not believe that this was modern warfare. Not even the great war of the past could not even rival the ferocity of this battle, with men being slaughtered by the thousands.

Gazing above, the old Colonel was astounded to see dozens of aircraft moving about each other, machine guns tearing though their thin aluminum hides.

Just as L'tount was about to move back to his armored car, a rather short NOC in his late twenties ran up to the Colonel, message in hand.

"Sir, news from Dunkirk. Germans think they are on the verge of a breakthrough."

Snatching the paper from the sergeants hand, L'tount carefully read each line of the creased white paper:


----Transmission May 20, 1940----

Captured left flank.

French and British forces falling back.

Victory expected.

----Transmission Ended----

Folding the paper and delicately placing it into his pocket, L'tount confidently strode off to his armored vehicle to view the rest of the battle.

OOC: The Renault R-35 was a French tank. I don't know anything about it though.

.....

>.< OOC: Again, I'm lost, lol. First, I need a reply to my other OOC stuff. Secondly, There aren't any German posts except that one? So how can they be hitting Dunkirk etc yet? And third currently the Brit's out number your own forces there? I think the number of Brit's was about 200,000 since Britian did upgrade the number in the IC thread thing... Not only that but the BEF was well armed and trained for the time. And Calais is behind Dunkirk... :headbang: In theory you've either said all my men are strictly in the cities, or... :confused:
Anyways. Don't I have to actually RP/something a defense before anything can fall? :confused:

.....

>.< OOC: Again, I'm lost, lol. First, I need a reply to my other OOC stuff. Secondly, There aren't any German posts except that one? So how can they be hitting Dunkirk etc yet? And third currently the Brit's out number your own forces there? I think the number of Brit's was about 200,000 since Britian did upgrade the number in the IC thread thing... Not only that but the BEF was well armed and trained for the time. And Calais is behind Dunkirk... :headbang: In theory you've either said all my men are strictly in the cities, or... :confused:
Anyways. Don't I have to actually RP/something a defense before anything can fall? :confused:

OOC: I am confused too. Please do not post German movements when you are not Germnay, Lachenberg. Sorry I haven't been to this in a long time.

IC:
Several miles East of the Somme

Erwin Rommel (he served in the invasion of France before becoming the Desert Fox)l ooked at the campaign map. He had lead the charge out of the Ardenne Forest and had suffered few casulties in the process.

"All is well so far. Our goal with this column of Panzers and Werhmacht soldiers is Paris. The two columns that attacked from Belgium are going to two different places. The first one is heading towards Lille. The second one is heading towards Calais. Whatever oppostion we will meet, we will crush!" Spoke Rommel to his fellow colonels.

"What will we do with Paris, sir?" One of the colonels said breifly.

"We will smash inot it using the blitzkreig, knock out any opposition, and take the city. Ready the men and the Panzer crews to start the march on Paris."

The men started to move out from their momentary rest. Panzer engines revved up again and started to move towards Paris. All was going well...

(Sorry, I felt the need to help out the French player here with some of his needs, here are some French weapons names you were looking for, if you want, I could gather a far more comprehensive list, this is just the premier weapons you might want. As a historian, this was just to much to pass up, if any more help is needed for anyone else, feel free to ask)

SOMUA-35 - Considered the best medium tank in the world in 1940, outclassing any German contemporarys

Char B1 and B1-bis - Monster that outclassed their German counterpart, the Panzer IV, but it's main turret was mounted in the hull, and it ate up tons of fuel.

Hotchkiss H-35 - Premier French light tank, along with the Renault R-35

MS.406 - When it was produced, one of the best fighters in the world, in 1940 the most numerous in the French Air Force (Armee d'le Aire) but by 1940 the Luftwaffe far outclassed this aging model.

DW.520 - The latest French design, more then a match or any fighter the Germans could put in the air. It was not produced until 1940 howeverso it's numbers were limited in the Battle of France, however of the 86 Dw.520's deployed, they could claim nearly 2 1/2 the number of enemy planes shot down as their own losses. It was still in use as an effective fighter even in 1945.

Berthier - French rifle of late WWI to WWII, initially plagued with problems, but once worked out, proved an able replacement for the Lebel

Lebel - French rifle of WWI and WWII, an able rifle, however it had it's drawbacks, not better r worse then its British or German counterparts the Lee-Enfield and Kar98K.

A list of several prominent French leaders (if needed, I could give you more)

Gamelin (C-in-C)
Huntziger
De Gualle
Corap
Billote
Blanchard
Frere
Weygand
Leclerc
Lattre de Tassigny
Juin
Giruad

OOC: I am confused too. Please do not post German movements when you are not Germnay, Lachenberg. Sorry I haven't been to this in a long time.

I apologize for the confusion. Let me explain:

First off, I'll state very simply that the two main thrust of the Belgian attack are at Lille and Cambrai, along with Dunkirk and Calais. I'd imagine, since armored assaults move quite quickly, that Belgian-German troops would have moved at least 40-60 miles into French soil, during the opening days of the campiagn, putting my troop positions well within the grasp of both Dunkirk and Calias.

Furthermore, I believe this is a combined assault, which means German forces will be aiding the Belgian forces in the north. Therefore, I should have a small amount of control over German forces, only in the north.

I hope that clarified the situation.

OOC:Found some stuff on Renault R-35:

Basically, with the R-35 the French had one of the most advanced tanks of its time. They chose however to equip it with a 37mm cannon constructed during WWI. Unfortunately, it was entirely undermanned with a crew of two. There was only the driver and a second man acting truly as general dogsbody. He had to radio, reload, target, shoot and guide the driver. On top of this, the French tank tactics were seriously flawed, leading to the doom of the R-35s. Instead of approaching the enemy in groups, only individual attacks were commanded.
With a weight of eleven tonnes, the R-35's 85hp engine was capable of achieving a running speed of 20km/h. Its 50mm armour was sufficient during the early war, but hte insufficient crew size and the French battle tactics led to its failure.


Hope this helps.

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