Fall Gelb - Part I
On May 19th troops finally were in position for the attack. In the first phase light forces would secure critical objects in the Netherlands.
As expected the Benelux violation made Luxembourg and Belgium join the Allies. Parachutes were used to secure the Dams in the Netherlands.
With the capture of Eben-Emael the way was free for the armoured spearhead. Plan was to cut off the allied troops in the north, to encircle and destroy them.
Crossing the Mosel with its steep slopes was not an easy task and the infantry attacking was very limited in its effectivity.
When the french sent in reinforcements to Luxembourg the attack had to be halted. Meanwhile the allied lines at Liege had collapsed.
Air battle over the Benelux area was intense, losses were extreme on both sides.
On May 23rd situation got critical. The French had sent over twenty divisions to reinforce Luxembourg already. The armoured spearhead was planned to break thru to the north west, but the french divisions threatened to couterattack and cut it off. It was not an easy decision, but in the end the tanks were redirected to the south to push back the french and give the infantry time to secure the positions.
Meanwhile the winter war ended.
The tanks began their attack on Luxembourg on May 25th.
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