[Belgium] Battle of Haut-le-Wastia - May 13, 1940 - May 14, 1940

Unternehmen Fall Gelb - French counter-attack.
Western Front By: jdrommel - Last update: 10/05/2021
Axis Player: Allied Player:
x6 x6 x5 x6
first You play first    


Historical Background:
On the 13th of May 1940, the battle was fierce on the Meuse river. Between Dinant and Houx, the 5 and 7.Panzer Division crossed the river in fighting. French troops of 5e DIM and 18e DI inflicted heavy losses to the attackers during the crossing but were gradually overwhelmed by the number and the strength of the German offensive. After the crossing , the German infantry began to infiltrate the woods overhanging the river banks. The farm "Le Hontoir", HQ of the 66e RI, was surrounded by the enemy but continued to resist. A French counter-attack was planned in the night 13th to 14th May to take the village of Haut-le-Wastia, which was a strategic position near the Molignee valley. The counter-attack was made by a squadron de the 14e RDP (Motorized Dragoons) with the support of five old armoured cars of the 1er GRDI. On the morning of the 14th, the village was in French hands with 46 German prisoners of war. But it was a short victory because at 09h30 the French received the order to withdrew : the front line behind them was disrupted by continuous enemy attacks.
The stage is set, the battle lines are drawn, and you are in command. The rest is history.

Briefing:
Axis player [Germany] : 6 command cards, you move first.
Allied player [France] : 5 command cards.

Conditions of Victory:
6 medals.
"Le Hontoir" farm is a temporary medal objective for the Axis player.
The church of Haut-le-Wastia is a temporary medal objective for the Allied player.

Special Rules:
- Use "French Infantry" rules (Nations 7) to all Allied infantry units.
- Use "Specialized Units" rules (Troops 2) to the two French infantry units with badges, these are the Motorized Dragoons.
- Use "Blitz" rules (Actions 15).
- Remove the "Air Power" card before to begin the game.

Scenario Bibliography:
- "Les vérités cachées de la défaite de 1940" - Dominique Lormier.
- Militaria Magazine hors Série n°4 - Guderian perce à Sedan.
- Satellite image of the battlefield.

Remember, see the Memorial to French troops on the south exit of the village.

Warning:
Please note that this scenario was not approved by Richard Borg or Days of Wonder, so you have to check yourself about playability, potential gaming issues, etc.

Set-up Order
1
24
8
2
3
1
2
1
1