END OF THE NINTH*
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DATE: May 18, 1940*
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BATTLE TYPE: Germany advance vs. France delay*
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Two-Player PBEM Game*
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LE CATELET, FRANCE:  The French command reacted slowly to Rommel's breakthrough at Avesnes, 1st Army Group ordered the 8th Army to move its headquarters to Le Catelet. The newly assigned 8th Army commander, General Giraud, moved to rendezvous with General Picard, whose 1st Light Mechanized Division was detraining at Solesmes in preparation for action. Taking advantage of the sluggish French reaction, the Germans refueled and rearmed their Panzers; and on May 18th they advanced toward Le Catelet. Colonel Veron, given the task of defending the indefensible, prepared the small village garrison and the 8th Army's headquarters staff to meet the expected German thrust. Despite the many disasters of the previous days, General Giraud remained optimistic about his army as he and his personal staff approached Le Catelet along roads patrolled sporadically by roving German Armor.*
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AFTERMATH: In the middle of the day French recon units spotted their German counterparts advancing on Le Catelet from the north. A group of Panhard armored cars fought back against the lead units even as German infantry moved into position for an assault on the headquarters in the town hall. Shells called down on the village set fire to the signal station. Soon afterward, German infantry stormed the HQ. The 9th Army Chief of Staff, General Thierry d'Argenlieu, was killed along with General Augereau and a dozen other officers. Many others were captured. General Giraud, just arriving at the outskirts of Le Catelet, saw that his army's headquarters had been obliterated. Turning away from the scene of the disaster, he climbed into a ditch to burn his papers, and ordered his personal staff to fend for themselves. The General, who had been in command of the rapidly disintegrating 9th Army for only three days, would be captured the next morning by a cook from the 6th Panzer Division.*
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NOTES: This scenario is based off of Avalon Hill's Advanced Squad Leader (ASL) scenario 76 with some minor modifications.*
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Sources:  ASL Scenario 76*
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Design by:  Don Lazov*