I’ve been looking at Mac’s Crossfire Missions and it occurred to me that the system would be good for a Three Round Campaign. I like campaigns that are short and lead to a clear result and a Three Round Campaign offers those benefits. I’ve used the missions and main force orders of battle from Mac’s Missions v3 to drive the campaign.
Fall of France
The Germans invaded the Low Countries and France in May 1940. Operation Fall Gelb (Case Yellow), commencing 10 May, saw German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, cut off and surround the Allied units that had advanced into Belgium, and forced the British to evacuate the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and several French divisions from Dunkirk (27 May – 4 June). Operation Fall Rot (Case Red),commencing 5 June, German armour and aircraft overcome initially stiff French resistance. An undefended Paris fell on 14 June signalling the end of effective resistance. France and Germany signed an armistice on 22 June. The agreement acknowledged German occupation of the north and west. Italy got a small Italian occupation zone in the southeast. The remainder of France went to the Vichy government led by Marshal Pétain. France remained under Axis occupation until the liberation of the country after the Allied landings in 1944.
Crossfire For Novices – A Scenario to Introduce Newbies
If you’re completely new to the Arty Conliffe’s Crossfire then Nikolas Lloyd has a good Description and Review and some Advice on Play, and also check out Rob Wolsky Tactical Advice.
Medley – Five days to live
Robin Medley (1990) was a 2nd Lieutenant in C Company, 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment (2nd Bedfords) in France and Belgium 1939-40 (during World War II). He has written a little booklet describing this period. They don’t seem to have been heavily engaged in combat but it is interesting reading.
Spaniards in French Service During WW2
A lot of Spaniards fought in French Service in WW2. Both as complete units and as individuals. On the outbreak of WWII the French recruited heavily from Republican refugees of the recently ended Spanish Civil War. The choice for these men was remain in French internment camps or join the French army. During the course of the war these Republicans fought in most theatres, for example at Narvik, in the raid on Brest, with the Long Range Desert Group, Leclerc’s 2nd Armoured Division, the British SAS, and the French resistance. Spanish fought with the Free French Troops and in the F.F.I.
River Crossings – Suggestions for Crossfire Scenarios
John (?) asked the Crossfire group for advice on a scenario where the attacker is channelled through a single bridge:
Waterborne Troops in Crossfire
Some musing on waterborne troops in Crossfire. Standard Crossfire doesn’t cover this. See also my musing on crossing rivers.
WW2 Painting Guide: Early-Mid War Spanish and Germans
My WW2 Axis figures are early-mid War Germans but actually represent the Spanish Blue Division. To be honest the only distinguishing feature is the Spanish flag patch on their right shoulder; otherwise wore standard German uniforms. This is one of my WW2 Painting Guides
References for Spanish Involvement in WW2
An annotated bibliography for Spanish Involvement in WW2.
Spanish Involvement in World War II
Most people don’t realise that although officially neutral Spain had an active part in WW2 in the form of the Blue Division, otherwise known as the Spanish Volunteer Division, Division Azul, or by its official German title of the 250th Infantry Division of the Wehrmacht. Individual Spaniards were also involved on both sides during WWII, often in quite large numbers. In a few cases these individuals were collected into units.
Rommel Crosses the Meuse, Belgium – May 1940
In 2000 I was staying with friends at a place called Houx on the River Meuse. Houx has quite a distinctive weir across the river. At one point we ventured into the nearby town of Dinant. All of this was terribly familiar somehow but I couldn’t for the life of me remember why. I took some photos on the off chance and sent them to my friend Chris Harrod who I knew was interested in the Meuse Crossings.