Objective: Cross Meuse River
There will be no blitzkrieg, no World War 2
if the French hold the Germans at Sedan.
Maybe. A hundred miles of armored breakthrough
depends first on men under fire in rubber dinghies.
P a n z e r I I
Without bridges water barriers make for
stop and go blitzkrieg. Defensive works
on the far bank need to be cleared of
resistance. The rapid firing cannon of this
panzer saturates the target with 20mm rounds,
Establish bridgehead.
These fast rowing teams are sitting ducks if their
covering fire is not effective. A couple of platoons
with a foothold on the far side enables combat
engineers to begin building a bridge.
Stuka
These dive bombers replace the cumbersome artillery
that normally accompanies an army into battle.
The Stuka's bombload is light but its aim is precise.
A fortified bunker does not withstand its attack.
Pontoon Bridge
A road for tanks came together in a matter of hours.
The large armored force of Guderian was free to
run rapid across the tank friendly terrain of France.
Breakout
French troops have been routed and German armor
now controls both sides of the Meuse around Sedan.
A number of HQ generals want time to bring up the
infantry and consolidate their forces. Nonsense.
Delay gives the French time to regroup. The road to
the English Channel is wide open, undefended.
Guderian forges on, unrelenting. Flank support
mostly nonexistent. It's a big risk.
Hitler is unnerved.
* * * * *
OVER EASY
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