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Gonna be very original by taking on the German side:
- 716th Static Infantry Division: It's gonna be interesting to adapt to whole frontline system while you are a defensive unit by nature; should you try to grab as much in the beginning to ensure a good score while spreading your subpar troops thin (and being hard to react to any breakthrough due to a lack of transport) or will you try to fortify some specific points (towns, forests) and win by attrition but risk to be surrounded and forced to surrender.
- 21st Panzer for the mishmash of captured and converted vehicles.
- 2nd Fallschirmjager Division
Allies:
- 2e DB: French oblige
- 6th Airborne Division: If I take the 716th I also have to pick their adversaries of the 6 June. Also Tetrarch!
- 1st Infantry Division
Now, will I manage to master any one of them....
- 716th Static Infantry Division: It's gonna be interesting to adapt to whole frontline system while you are a defensive unit by nature; should you try to grab as much in the beginning to ensure a good score while spreading your subpar troops thin (and being hard to react to any breakthrough due to a lack of transport) or will you try to fortify some specific points (towns, forests) and win by attrition but risk to be surrounded and forced to surrender.
- 21st Panzer for the mishmash of captured and converted vehicles.
- 2nd Fallschirmjager Division
Allies:
- 2e DB: French oblige
- 6th Airborne Division: If I take the 716th I also have to pick their adversaries of the 6 June. Also Tetrarch!
- 1st Infantry Division
Now, will I manage to master any one of them....
American losses per knockout were even lower because their crews wore helmets while the British tankers didn't. More British tank crew casualties were the result of head trauma than anything else.
Despite its bad Ronson Lighter rap, the early Shermans also actually burned at about the same rate as its comparable contemporaries, like the Panzer IV. Later in the war, the Army discovered in research that the real reason the Sherman was going up in flames so often was the ammo storage racks over the tracks. Wet ammo racks introduced in mid-'44 reduced the burn rate (and burn speed when it did happen) and increased crew survival dramatically. Most Western tanks to this day still have a manual loader crew position because of how much safer wet racks are compared to the dry storage used in autoloaders.
I find people downvoting my first post rather funny, as if what I said was some kind of disagreeable or debatable opinion. Everything I stated beyond "The Sherman was best in its class" — its class being that of a medium tank — was an objective, verifiable, historical fact. The Sherman tank is surrounded by a lot of untrue myths.
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Obviously a confirmation that the hinted Scottish formation is going to be 15th rather than 51st.
For allies i probably would start with the French 2nd Armored division. Just wondering how well the French will be.
Not really heard a lot of stuff of French army in WW2, can somebody tell me what they had done?
Not really heard a lot of stuff of French army in WW2, can somebody tell me what they had done?
A respectable amount. Their performance before the Fall of France wasn't as poor as the "hurhurhur surrender monkeys, I'm so clever" memes imply. It certainly wasn't the French military's best performance, but it wasn't comically bad either. The Free French and the Resistance also fought hard after the fall. I'm sure others might be able to provide some sources. I only have one French language source for the French division in Normandy on my reading list, provided by MadMat. I also know of a very good journal article on the Battle of France after Dunkirk, but unfortunately it is an academic journal: a walled garden most people will never get to see inside.
The French army did the best they could with poor supplies and generals whose average age must have been in the mid 90s. I always found it amusing how much flak they get for supposedly being cowards and blowing it, considering they did more in the Battle of France than the Brits did, who had to escape as soon as the going got tough. And on top of that, the French taking the brunt of the punishment to cover that retreat. If there was a land bridge through the English channel, the UK wouldn't have survived the next month either. No one was ready for the Germans.
I know that kind of memes are not imply to the actual situation. Just the way the Germans breakthrough the defensive line is uncommon that time.
From as far as i know, Fall of France is just another way to save the country, at least I do believe that.
The Free French Forces participated in many battles during the war the most notable one i can think of off the top of my head at 1AM is the Battle of Bir Hakeim in north africa where a french brigade faced down superior axis forces for two weeks.
IIRC, at least part of the cadre for 2. DB came from troops that had been with Leclerc since Chad. They had patricipated in low intensity* warfare against Italian outposts in Libya until finally crossing the Sahara in force (well, for Sahara anyway, a regiment) in late '42 and linking up with British in North Africa.
*With a notable exception: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capture_of_Kufra
*With a notable exception: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capture_of_Kufra
Here for the 2e DB's history:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2nd_Armored_Division_(France)
It is the most famous and considered most glorious Free French unit by many here, for its part in the battle of Falaise, the Liberation of Paris & Strasbourg, the combats in Alsace and especially the battle of Colmar, and the invasion of Germany. Yet, it is seldom known even in France that they were merely latecomers to the war and not Free French (but the Spahis & 501e RCC), the division having been formed from personnel from the Armée d'Afrique, which had mostly remained faithful to Pétain until the Allied landing in North Africa (late 1942). Again, but for the Spahis & tankers from 501e RCC whom were true Free French, that is, whom had joined de Gaulle between June 1940 & early 1943 when Free France governement was still in exile. The cultural difference between the two groups, Spahis/501e & the rest (Armée d'Afrique) was such that they usually end up fist-fighting each other in bars everytime they were there together, and the 501e RCC mocked its brother regiment the 12e Chasseurs d'Afrique (tank regiment) "12e Nazis". Just to tell you the good spirit of friendship amongst the men of the 2e DB when it was created!
It is to be credited to Leclerc, one of the first and true Free French, to have succeeded in merging so different men into an efective fighting machine. Threatening the Spahis/501e RCC to be left out from the much-expected liberation of France if they kept harassing the men from the Armée d'Afrique did a lot.
The one true Free French unit was the DFL (1ère Division Française Libre).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Free_French_Division
It was formed in 1943 from two separate brigades which had fought non-stop from 1940 and on most theaters: Norway, Lebanon, Somalia, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, ...
They were a motley crew of men & units coming from all origins to answer de gaulle's call to keep fighting: Légionnaires from the Narvik expedition, sailors in England or French colonies, Spahis & Tcherkesses horsemen from Syria/Lebanon, Somalian & African troops, a bataillon of Polynesian volunteers from our pacific colonies, civilians & ex-military escpaed from France by any means to join the fight in London or in the nearest Free French colony, ...
They were monarchists, anarchists, communists, right-wing military officers, socialists, extrem-right, Jews, adventurers, ... yet they were suddenly all stateless, wanted in their own country which they didn't know if they would ever see it again, nor their loved ones. So they managed to create a unique bond despite their differences. It was the most highly educated corps France ever had, with more university or high school teachers serving as privates than ever. Most privates refused to be promoted, because it would take them away from their platoon, which had become their family, and they were afraid to miss "THE fight" (the liberation of France) if sent to a NCO school.
If your question was more generic France fought in Norway, Belgium, Netherlands & (of course) France in 1940, and got defeated as is well known.
In 1941, small detachements fought:
* with the British for the the two separate Free French Brigades in Eastern Africa (Somaliland & Erythrea, including the unsung battle of Keren which British veterans described as the most ferocious battle they'd fought on par with Monte Cassino) and Syrian/Lebanon (Operation Exporter).
* on their own for Leclerc. Leclerc, whom had joined de Gaulle as early as the Summer 1940, had landed in Cameroon with about 20 men and rallied Chad, Cameroon and Congo to Free france, giving it some measure of territory ... and thus some credibility. He failed, although with the Royal Navy's help, to rally Senegal too, but Vichy troops there fought them back. Leclerc then led a small Flying Column from Chad to Libya, striking at the Italina back, from the desert where they didn't expected much threat..
1942 was the Free French's finest hour, with the battle of Bir Hakeim.
During the battle of Gazala, which saw the British Army routed by Rommel's Afrika Korps, the Free french were away from the fight, having been given the task to hold the Southernmost point of the Allied line, in the desert, near a spot called Bir Hakeim. While the British Army was on the verge of disintegration, Rommel advanced in pursuit but couldn't leave that small outpost in his back, so he sent the Ariete Italian division to deal with it. They were repulsed with heavy losses. As always, the Germans considered it was due to some incompetence from their feeble Italian Allies, so Rommel sent his own troops to dispatch the matter. Same result. Finally, Rommel had to distract more and more troops, but despite engaging almost 10 times (not at the same moment) the number of defenders, he couldn't crack the nut.
The British had ask the Free French to hold for a few days, to give them time to regroup and reorganized: they held for ten days against Rommel's best units. And they managed to break out of the encirclement and join Allied lines. Well, most of them. Casualties were high, especially during the breakout, with many men lost to die or being captured wandering in the desert the next days.
Btw, the leading vehicle in the breakout was that of general Koenig (the BFL commander) himself, driven by ... his a female British pilot (and some/most say, his mistress), Susan Travers. Despite being fired at by machine-guns from all side and knowing there were mines everywhere, she drove through the German gauntlet unmolested, opening the way for the rest of the column. At the end of the war, Légionnaires petitionned de Gaulle's himself for Travers to be made a full fldge légionnaire (although the légion doesn't allow women in its ranks). It was granted retroactively, and Travers is still to this day the only female légionnaire.
Bir Hakeim was a major moral boost for Free France, and brought the world's attention on the fact that some Frenchmen were still fighting. And with some success.
Later that year, the two Free French Brigades merged into the DFL and fought at El Alamein, as the first of many waves to assault and crash against the Himeimat ridge, held by the supposedly weak Italians: they were the Folgore paratroopers & Trieste division. Just like the Free French had done at Bir Hakeim, those repelled anyone sent against them. The DFL managed to take a foothold only to be thrown back by a counter-attack, losing one of the Légion's greatest hero in this battle, Georgian Prince Amilakvari.
After El Alamein, the DFL was bled so much that it would take a year to refit it. It won't take part in the Tunisia nor Sicily campaigns (while Leclerc's small independant band will).
From 1943, with the whole of French Morocco, Algeria & Tunisia ralliying to Free France, the governement-in-exile was no more exiled and settled in Algiers. Free France was officialy over, replaced by La France Combattante (Fighting France), although the early name stuck, and bolstered by a huge pool of recruits (both French from North Africa & "colonials"), allowing it to raise several divisions which will take a significant part in the Italian campaign and the landing in Southern France.
Unknown to most, we also fought the Japanese in two occasions: in 1941 when they invaded part of Indochina, and in 1945 when, after having occupied the country "peacefully", they made a coup and decapited (quite litteraly in many case) French military rule over that colony.
We also had a brief war with Thaïland in 1941.
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ah, well, this surprised me. It looks i need to take a day to read all of this.
I only know about the France is before the Fall of France. Then, afterward I just totally have no idea what they have done
Anyway, thx for your answers.
I only know about the France is before the Fall of France. Then, afterward I just totally have no idea what they have done
Anyway, thx for your answers.
I'll probably try that 2eme Blindee first, but if there's a neat-looking Canadian or British division I'll try that too.
That, or whichever American division brings the most air support.
That, or whichever American division brings the most air support.
The Australian 9th division was fighting Vichy Foreign legion in Lebanon in 1940. Vichy France were also the opposition to Torch in 1942. As far as future DLCs go, Eritrea and Burma would both be major departures from the usual WWII model. Burma was not as self contained geographically and time wise as Normandy and Eritrea, but it did having everything from human mines to Tanzanian Brigades commanded by Polish officers.
Why is everyone 'Screaming Eagles' ?
'All American' is the way to go
(I seriously hope they are in the game)
Along with Free French which formed a quarter of the allies forced in Lebanon, it was basically civil war back then.
'All American' is the way to go
(I seriously hope they are in the game)
Along with Free French which formed a quarter of the allies forced in Lebanon, it was basically civil war back then.
Why is everyone 'Screaming Eagles' ?
'All American' is the way to go
(I seriously hope they are in the game)
There are three US divisions so I doubt there's two airborne ones.
I'm curious. 101st and 82nd are way different today (air assault vs. para), but does anyone know if there was much of a difference in Normandy?