The Battle of the Sambre
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Commanded by Rommel¸ in May 1940 the 7th Panzer Division was one of the major units playing a major role in the success of the German plan to isolate the Franco-Anglo-Belgian army group on the North Sea coast. It forcibly crossed the Meuse in Belgium on 13 May at Dinant¸ breaking through the French 18th Infantry Division after a day of fighting. The French hastily committed their reserves in an attempt to contain the Germans. Two first-rank divisions were therefore sent to block the Panzer route: the reserve 1st Armoured Division and the 4th North African Division¸ which was stationed between Anor and Trélon¸ on the line of French fortifications near the Belgian border. Coming up against the 1st DCR¸ the 7th Panzer was surprised by the powerful and numerous French tanks (B1bis and H39)¸ but after a few severe losses¸ the German tanks¸ which were more mobile and better coordinated¸ avoided a confrontation and left it to the well-directed German artillery to destroy most of the B1bis one by one¸ paralysed by a lack of information on the enemy's action and the rapid exhaustion of their fuel tanks. Faced with the 1st DCR¸ it was more the 5th Panzer Division that was engaged and momentarily halted. The latter therefore followed the advance of the 7th panzer division westwards¸ a little further north and with a slight delay. The 4th North African Division fought and sacrificed itself between Dinant and France; it more or less disappeared on 15 May¸ although some elements managed to return to France. At the end of the day on 15 May¸ the remnants of the three French divisions (18th DI¸ 4th DINA and 1st DCR) arrived at Beaumont and¸ retreating¸ crossed the French border again.
After clearing his route on the morning of 16 May¸ Rommel placed his forces between Beaumont and Sivry. It was then that the soldiers of the 84th Infantry Regiment¸ part of the fortified sector of Maubeuge¸ learned that the Germans were only a few kilometres away. Despite their initial optimism¸ they hardly had the means to stop the Germans¸ as this south-eastern section of the fortified sector consisted only of a line of light blockhouses¸ mostly equipped with automatic weapons. To the east of Maubeuge¸ only the fort at Boussois¸ although not completed¸ was a significant obstacle to the German advance.
After the 84th RIF's thin curtain of blockhouses¸ the Sambre was the last possible barrage before Rommel's panzer division and the 5th panzer division that followed a little further north reached Cambrai and crossed the rear of the Franco-British expeditionary corps engaged in Belgium. The French high command therefore decided to recall several major formations to try and stop the Germans on the Sambre. These included several well-equipped North African divisions and a motorised infantry division¸ but above all the 1st mechanical light division¸ the elite of the French cavalry. While the French arrived in scattered order to plug the gap and avoid being surrounded in Belgium¸ Rommel pushed westwards with his reconnaissance battalion¸ sometimes taking ill-considered risks.
Would the French arrive before Rommel on the Sambre¸ perhaps even managing to capture the fiery Wehrmacht general? Would the French tanks be up to the task of fighting the Panzers?
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Wargame (not very complex level)¸ full game
Playing time: around 3-4 hours
Approximately 100 high-quality coloured counters for each player¸ plus markers
A booklet with a historical description of the battle¸ six pages of rules and a detailed order of battle
Two game aids¸ one for each player
A coloured map with hexagons measuring 63 cm by 90 cm¸ downloadable in several parts that can then be easily assembled. This map is drawn and coloured by hand¸ and the work is meticulous but handmade.