Germany - Part X-Forty-third to fifty-third minutes into reaching the target
Well, with the one French tank destroyed and the French in full retreat, it is time for assault :
Jumping on the other side of the line of tree, Leutnant Catacombs men see a French running across the track. The first shoots have him duck into the very limited protection of the tracks. Leutnant Catacombs throw two grenades in his direction killing him. On the right, two of Catacomb's men capture another Frenchman left behind :
Meanwhile, Leutnant Eryfkrad's men have already crossed the tracks...
His men then proceed to clean-up the warehouse, capturing two stragglers from the group that was occupying the warehouse, and that one Frenchman who had managed to cross the tracks under heavy fire :
On the left, the heavy machine-gun fire from Leutnant Egosphere's tank allows CappenVarra and his man to cross safely. As they cross, they see three Frenchmen running West under fire :
Four Frenchmen were captured - the one too coward to try to retreat under fire to fight another day :
CappenVarra's men also found four French bodies, killed either by Sukhavati's prolonged mortar fire, by the Panzer 38(t) weapons or by the small arm fire from his men - or any combination thereof.
On the right, Leutnant Catacombs's men finally crossed the tracks, but found themselves under unexpected small arms fire from the French field HQ - wounding one man. Meanwhile, Leutnant Eryfkrad carried on cleaning up the warehouses :
Ob. Azira move his tank in position to doze the resisting French in a rain of bullets. In doing so, he catches up with three stragglers :
His gunner manages to mow down one man but the two other could find cover.
Eryfkrad's men, supported by Falksi's tank, are now moving toward the French HQ. On the way, they force to surrender the wounded R35 crew that was cowering behind a wall.
More Frenchmen try to flee West. Azira manage to gun down one ...
... but the other manage to flee in one of the warehouse ...
... seconds before said warehouse is occupied by CappenVarra's men. The French soldier would not surrender, and is bayoneted by one of CappenVarra's men :
His duty done, Azira's tank approaches the French HQ more. One French soldier drops his weapon, while more run away :
... but doing so they run in front of Falksi's tank and every soldier in Eryfkrad's squad. One Frenchman is wise enough to raise his hands, the two others are shot down :
It is the moment of the final assault. Only a few of the remaining Frenchman still fire (wounding one man) while those closest to the door surrender already :
As the first of Eryfkrad's men get into the building, seven Frenchmen immediately surrender, raising the little white flag which is, as we all know, part of the French infantry official equipment since the French Cilicia's campaign in 1921. One Frenchman refuses to surrender though - presumably the one that had shot that bullet that wounded one of the German soldiers. He jumps through the window and run to the next warehouse ...
... where he is captured by CappenVarra's men :
The German flag is raised on the former French HQ. The battle is won.
The French had 56 men (4x11 in 4 infantry squads, 2x5 AT gun crew, 2x1 tank crew), out of these 7 survived and avoided capture. Against this, the Germans used 67 men in 4 infantry squads + 1 mortar team, 4 tanks and 1 APC. The Germans lost Pz38(t) and 1 Sd Kfz 251 and it took close to one hour to reduce the French position. All in all, the French could be satisfied of the time they had won for their reserve to counter-attack ...
... wait ...
... what do you mean the French have no reserve ? I am sure they will manage to pull something.
In any case, congratulation to all for this victory.
