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CMP FH2 Campaign #16: Darkest Hour Battle #6: Thermopyles History "The Olympus line is outflanked and the Allies are on the run, trying to reach their ships in time. But 2 brigades from the British Commonwealth Forces have to cover the retreat, with no hope for victory. The place they have chosen couldn’t match better to their cause. The sacred place of Thermopyles is about to face one more struggle. The Allies, few against many, inspired by the sacrifice of the Spartans nearly 2500 years ago, are determined to hold the Germans for as long as it is needed. They are the last obstacle before the enemy conquers Athens, just like Leonidas and his 300 were standing with no fear against the Persians. In the morning of the 24th of April, the Germans unleash their armored hordes. Glory is about to crown the arms of the defenders of freedom once more… " --- --- --- ---

CMP FH2 Campaign #16: Darkest Hour Battle #5: Zuydcoote History "After Nazi Germany invaded Poland in SEP1939, marking the beginning of the Second World War, the BEF was sent to aid in the defense of France. Nazi Germany invaded Belgium and the Netherlands on 10MAY1940, and three of their Panzer corps attacked France through the Ardennes and sped to the English Channel. By 21MAY1940, the Nazis had trapped the BEF, the remnants of the Belgian forces, and three French armies in an area along the Northern coast of France. General John Vereker, Commander of the BEF, immediately saw that evacuation across the Channel was the best option and began planning a withdrawal to Dunkirk, the closest location with suitable port facilities. On 22MAY1940, a halt order was issued by the German High Command, with the approval of Adolf Hitler. This gave the trapped Allied forces time to deploy defensive works and retreat large numbers of troops toward Dunkirk, to fight the Battle of Dunkirk. From 28–31MAY1940, in the Siege of Lille, the remaining 40,000 troops of the French 1st Army fought a delaying action against seven Nazi divisions, including three armored divisions. On the 1st day of the evacuation, only 7,669 men were evacuated, but by the end of the eighth day, a total of 338,226 soldiers had been rescued by a ragtag fleet of over 800 boats. Many of the troops were able to embark from the harbor’s protective pier onto 39 British destroyers and other large ships, while others had to wade out from the beaches, waiting for hours in the shoulder-deep water.Some of the evacuated soldiers were ferried from the beaches to the larger ships by the famous “Little ships of Dunkirk”, a flotilla of hundreds of merchant marine boats, fishing boats, pleasure craft, and lifeboats called into service for the emergency. The BEF lost 68,000 soldiers during the French campaign and had to abandon nearly all of their tanks, vehicles, and other equipment." --- --- --- --- --- Map edited by: @king_tigernator Thank you to @Hawkfor providing the pictures.

CMP FH2 Campaign #16: Darkest Hour Battle #3: Stonne History "After the breakthrough at Sedan, German troops began to consolidate their bridgehead against a possible French counterattack. On May 15th, early in the morning, the Infanterie Regiment Großdeutschland and the 10th Panzer Division were tasked to take the heights at the small village of Stonne, in order to protect the southern flank of the main German thrust westwards. However, they did not expect to encounter the French 3rd Armored Division and 3rd Mechanized Infantry Division that arrived late the previous evening, too late to counterattack. In the following days, the small village switched sides 17 times, earning the nickname "Verdun of 1940." --- --- --- --- ---

CMP FH2 Campaign #16: Darkest Hour Battle #2: Hannut History "The Battle of Hannut was a Second World War battle fought during the Battle of Belgium which took place between 12 and 14 May 1940 at Hannut in Belgium. It was the largest tank battle in the campaign. It was also the largest clash of tanks in armoured warfare history at the time. The primary purpose of the Germans was to tie down the strongest elements of the French First Army and keep it away from the main German attack by Army Group A through the Ardennes, as laid down in the German operational plan Fall Gelb (Case Yellow), by General Erich von Manstein. The German breakout of the Ardennes was scheduled for 15 May, five days after the German attacks on the Netherlands and Belgium. The delay was to entice the Allies into believing the main thrust would, like the Schlieffen Plan in World War I, come through Belgium and then down into France. When the Allied armies advanced into Belgium according to the Dyle Plan, they would be tied down by German offensive operations in eastern Belgium at Hannut and Gembloux. With the flank of the First Army exposed, the Germans could thrust to the English Channel which would encircle and destroy the Allied forces. For the French, the plan in Belgium was to prepare for a prolonged defence at Gembloux, about 34 km (21 mi) west of Hannut. The French sent two armoured divisions forward, to conduct a delaying action against the German advance and give the rest of the First Army time to dig in at Gembloux." --- --- --- --- --- --- Thank you to @Hawkfor providing the pictures.