Our Fall of France game ended during the recent posting hiatus. Here’s a screen shot of situation when I conceded. Ugly.
Tim did a great job of applying unrelenting pressure on a broad front. He might argue this pressure was too dispersed, but, in the end, his operational approach worked. Yes, I held out longer than my historical counterpart(s), but the end result was still the same; a French defeat.
This broad, sustained pressure precluded any concentration for a decisive counterattack, given the Allies’ slender armor and tactical air resources. Every unit was needed to plug the recurring holes in a shallow defensive line. The combination of tactical air, armor and strong infantry divisions capable of absorbing punishment was just too great.
A strategic withdrawal in the south would have been an option. But, a passive surrender of French territory would be politically unthinkable, even though not a real game consideration in terms of victory points lost.
On second thought, maybe the end result wasn’t “the same”. The British Army is still on the Continent. No Dunkirk, no evacuation to fight another day. With this outcome, the entire course of the war changes. Negotiated settlement? An interesting “what if” that has started a soft and gentle Siren’s Call to start up a session of A World At War or Blitz.
Now is a good time to replace those entryway lights…………