ENH FR - Exit In Vlissingen - 1940

Exit In Vlissingen*
Dutch province of Zeeland - 1940**

French defend vs German attack**

May 17th, 1940 - 2000 hours**

SPWAW 8.403*
ENHANCED FR**

Best played as: France*
Turns: 20**

Designed by: Dutchiexx*


HISTORICAL NOTES*
After the German bombardment on Rotterdam on May 14, Dutch forces in The Netherlands surrendered. In the days preceding this date, the Dutch asked for help by French forces. Their wish was granted. This meant, however, that Dutch forces in parts of the Netherlands, where they worked together with the French expeditionary force were not allowed to surrender. The only place in the Netherlands where this happened was the Dutch province of Zeeland. Here the fighting lasted until May 17, 1940.**

As can be imagined, the Dutch morale was not very high. Lots of Dutch forces surrendered therefore without their officers consent. The French forces in Zeeland felt abandoned by the Dutch.**

On May 17, at around 0300 hours, two German artillery sections opened fire on the west side of the Sloedam. Half an hour later the 9thKompanie of the III Battalion of the SS Standarte Deutschland attacked the French forces. The French resisted heavily and withstood the German onslaught.**

After this mishap, The Germans tried to drown the resistance by the use of heavy artillery fire and the use of heavy Luftwaffe bombardments on Arnemuiden, Vlissingen and Middelburg.**

These bombardments had a demoralizing effect on the French soldiers, who defended the Sloedam, even though General de Brigade Deslaurens visted the frontline more than once to urge his soldiers on. Most of his defences on the Sloedam were shattered and his forces pulled back.**

The SS Standarte Deutschland therefore had the opportunity to seize the Dutch island ofWalcheren without having to cope with too much resistance. They reached the outskirts of Vlissingen at around 2000 hours. General de Brigade Deslaurens and his troops fought a bitter battle to keep the German forces from reaching the harbour too early. Their last link to survival consiting of a small fleet of fisherboats and French marine craft were waiting in Vlissingen harbour to evacuate the men to France. Deslaurens fought literally until the bitter end. In the evening of May 17 he took a deadly hit from a German bullet. At 2300 hours Vlissingen surrendered.**

PLAYER NOTES*
You have to hold the German Onslaught at the least until your two marine vessels - at the left side of the map - are in Vlissingen harbour.**

Mon capitain, make sure these vessels stay in DEEP water; if they are grounded, General Deslaurens will not be able to pull your forces out of les Pays Bas.**

Mon General, you have to hold Vlissingen harbour until your flotilla arrives. it will consist of two vessels. At this time, your forces are all over the place. Coordinate the defense of the town and pull your men back to the harbour!**

DESIGNER NOTES*
You have to bring your two vessels into the harbour using only the deep water hexes. So watch carefully for colour changes in the water. Hovering your mouse over a hex before moving your vessel into it will help too!**

Interview with Jeff Shaara...

With a criminology degree and a thriving rare-coins business, Jeff Shaara didn’t plan to follow in his novelist father’s footsteps—even after Michael Shaara won a Pulitzer in 1975 for The Killer Angels. But when Michael died in 1988, Jeff decided to manage his dad’s estate.

One result: two movies (Gettysburg, For Love of the Game) from Michael’s books. Another: Jeff began to write a string of bestselling novels about American conflicts from the Revolution to World War I.

Still, he hesitated to tackle World War II: “What can I possibly tell people that they don’t already know?” He says his research persuaded him there was a lot beyond “Hollywood history, which is unfortunately how most people learn about it.” His first two World War II novels (The Rising Tide, The Steel Wave) deal with North Africa, Sicily, and Italy. No Less Than Victory, the European finale, appears in November.

I read the first two World War 2 novels by Jeff. They deliver historical facts coupled with immersing fiction. In short: GREAT reading!

Here's the link to an interview with Jeff Shaara on HistoryNet.

NEW Trilogy About WWII

Well known author Jeff Shaara is in the process of delivering a trilogy of novels about the American involvement in World War 2. At this moment I'm reading the first part "Rising Tide", about the war in North Africa and Sicily.

Shaara shows the common frontline soldier as well as the leadership. Mind you, he has written novels and no historical accounts, but he knows his prime players (Rommel, Monty, Churchill) so well, that their depicted thoughts and conversations are utterly believable.

"Rising Tide" gives you an immersing reading experience. I am looking forward to the next two parts. By the way, the second one "The Steel Wave" will be out in paperback on May 19th!

NEW ENH Scenario: Depot SAS Storms The Flak

Get it HERE!

My latest one in dedication to the SP:WaW Depot and it's members! Here's the story:

____Depot SAS Storming The Flak**

__French Assault - German Defend*
_________Near Westerbork*
_______Province of Drenthe*
___________Netherlands*
______0700 hrs 7 April 1945*
_____________Turns 20*
_______Scenario Size: Small*
_____________C&C Off**

_____Henk "Dutchiexx" Neumann*
_______Dutchiexx@spwaw.com*
_______MADE FOR ENH SPWAW**

______________Visit:*
__________www.spwaw.com*
_______________and*
____www.spwawfort.blogspot.com**

________SCENARIO NOTES:**

Take the milk factory and both V-Hexes. Be careful, because the Germans are expecting your visit.**

___HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:**

This scenario is loosely based on "Operatie Amherst", by R. Flamand and J.H.Jansen:**

"Most people know that the Netherlands were liberated by the Canadians, Poles, Americans and British in 1944 and 1945. Much less known is the fact that the French took part too in the liberation of the Netherlands. In the spring of 1945 more than 700 French paratroops fought in the Dutch province of Drenthe. These French forces were part of the famous British SAS (Special Air Service).**

They were dropped in the night from 7 - 8 April 1945 and had to prepare the way for the approaching Canadians by capturing bridges, airfields and roads.**


______DESIGNER NOTES**

Choose your side and fight it out with your Depot buddies!*
Have FUN!

NEW Scenario: Sneaky SAS In Westerbork

Here you can get my latest scenario. It plays in Holland in 1945 and it goes something like this:

Sneaky SAS At Westerbork**

French Assault - German Defend*

Westerbork, Province of Drenthe, the Netherlands*

1200 hrs 8April 1945*

Turns 20*

Scenario Size: Small*

Best played as French SAS*

C&C Off**

SCENARIO NOTES:**

Put the German General who has his command post in the Cafe Slomp out of action and take defensive positions while anticipating a possible German counterattack.**

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:**

From "Operatie Amherst", by R. Flamand and J.H.Jansen:**

"Most people know that the Netherlands were liberated by the Canadians, Poles, Americans and British in 1944 and 1945. Much less known is the fact that the French took part too in the liberation of the Netherlands. In the spring of 1945 more than 700 French paratroops fought in the Dutch province of Drenthe. These French forces were part of the famous British SAS (Special Air Service).**

They were dropped in the night from 7 - 8 April 1945 and had to prepare the way for the approaching Canadians by capturing bridges, airfields and roads.**

In the Dutch village of Westerbork the German General Boettcher, the head of the German Military Police forces in the Netherlands at the time, had his command post. The French paratroopers had information from the Dutch resistance that Boettcher could be apprehended."**

Have FUN!

French SAS in Westerbork

Work on the first scen about French SAS troops in the Dutch province of Drenthe is commencing as planned. The way it looks right now, there will be two or three small scenario's with infantry battles. No kitty's to be found this time!

French SAS Troops In Drenthe (NL)

I've been reading the book 'Operatie Amherst' about the actions by French SAS Paratroopers in the Dutch province of Drenthe. 

Some of the operations depicted make for some great scenario ideas. Though they might differ from what has really happened, I am going to try and deliver at least one (but there might me more... ;-): the Battle for Westerbork. Check back!