Battle of Arras

**Battle of Arras** is a scenario in *Panzer Corps 2*.

## Briefings

Ack! Mein General, this Rommel character is absolutely relentless. While it is true we have only seen minimal combat during the daytime, continuing the advance by night is exhausting! By my calculation, we've travelled over 100 miles in just the past few days.

While our forces finish deploying at Cambrai, Rommel has requested our presence for a meeting. We had better not keep him waiting, or he'll probably just continue without us!

*Hauptmann Wagner finds Rommel near a grove of trees, and waves you over.*

Guten morgen, Herr General. It seems we have a problem.

My vanguard has made contact with a British garrison at Arras, and they also reported that more British reinforcements are enroute from the north. If I had to guess, I would say they have been sent to intercept us.

This is bad news, a pincer attack of French and British forces could leave us trapped. I must recommend we stop and...

On the contrary, I plan to attack.

*Hauptmann Wagner is stunned into silence.*

My scouts have detected no French support of any kind moving to assist the British. This lack of unity can only mean the counterattack we face is poorly organized and can be crushed with decisive action!

**Primary Objective: At least Eight 7th Panzer Units Survive the Battle.**

**Bonus Objective: Capture all Victory Hexes.**

**Bonus Objective: Capture Arras Bridges.**

Most of my Panzer Division is just south of Arras. We'll use that town as a base for our counterattacks. I intend to engage the British head on, but will fall back to the town to regroup if we sustain too many losses.

Looks like 7th Panzer can secure an airfield there; we should definitely make use of it as a base for our aircraft once they do.

Then we will do our best to maintain control of the airfield for you.

While we clash with the British directly, I need your support on our flanks as soon as you can provide it.

Some auxiliary forces have set up defensive pickets, but I don't know how long they will last with their light anti-tank weapons...

The faster and harder we strike, the better our chances to break the British offensive before it can build up momentum. And so, it is time to put the plan into action! I take my leave to prepare my division for combat.

*Hauptmann Wagner returns Rommel's salute and then watches the General depart.*

We had better get our forces ready immediately too, mein Herr. But before we do...

The open countryside is well suited to our vehicles. I recommend we leave our slower infantry behind and deploy extra Panzers to this battle.

As a final warning, Rommel will undoubtably prove to be very difficult to maintain radio contact with. Too busy fighting from the front again most likely. If we want to keep track of 7th Panzer Division forces, we will need our units to maintain visual contact with them. A recon aircraft would definitely help keep an eye on their progress.

To victory, for Germany!

### Debriefing

An impressive performance, Herr General.

I will admit, the British counterattack was much fiercer than I predicted, but we handled the situation decisively. Our 88s certainly proved effective against their heaviest tanks. Always good to have an ace up the sleeve, ja?

With their counterattack defeated, it's time to resume the drive to the English Channel. We should make for Dieppe to the...

One moment, meine Herren, I'm picking up something on the radio.

*Hauptmann Wagner listens to his radio headset for a few more moments, before finally taking it off.*

Report just came in over the wireless, we've found those missing French forces. Turns out they've been entrenching themselves at Lille, just north of our position. Looks like they are trying to make a stand, to block our forces advancing across Belgium.

*Rommel pauses to think on this new information.*

Hmm...

General %playername%, I'm convinced those French forces have no idea we are so close to them. They would never choose to fortify a position compromised by the loss of Arras, they would have joined the British counterattack.

General Rommel, apologies, but you cannot possibly know that for certain...

Communication failure. Either from the chaos of battle or being disoriented by the speed of our advance; it is the only explanation for their behavior.

We must prepare to depart for Lille immediately, every moment we waste gives the enemy an opportunity to realize we are already behind them. We must strike before they can shift their defenses.

*Without another word, Rommel immediately leaves to rejoin his division.*

Mein Gott, here we go again. At this point, I'm amazed his men haven't collapsed from exhaustion, despite their soaring morale. Well he hasn't been wrong yet, I guess...

**Historically, the Battle of Arras would prove to be a decisive defeat for the British Expeditionary Force. While the British Matilda tanks could easily shrug off light anti-tank weaponry, Rommel's unexpected advance and use of the 88mm anti-aircraft gun in an anti-tank role blocked any hope of an Allied breakout.**

## Locations

* Cambrai

* Arras

* Escaut River

* La Scarpe River

* Wailly

* Wancourt

* Croisilles

* Basseux

* Fampoux

* Duisans

* Vimy

* Gavrelle

* Haute-Avesnes

* Cambrai

* Arras

* Escaut River

* La Scarpe River

* Wailly

* Wancourt

* Croisilles

* Basseux

* Fampoux

* Duisans

* Vimy

* Gavrelle

* Haute-Avesnes

## Messages

* Mein General, we have a problem. In fact, it is the same problem Rommel already ran into at Dinant: We have advanced so far, so fast, and taken so many prisoners, our operations are in danger of being slowed down under the sheer weight of prisoner management! This latest group of French Colonial Troop captures is the straw that has broken our back. Something must be done.

If we just let them go, it will certainly take the strain off of our supply situation. But these are no mere civilians, just letting them go runs a serious risk they will return to French lines and re-arm to fight us once again. On the other hand, locking them all down will really eat into our available manpower and supplies. I estimate it will cost us half of our stockpile. But a decision to properly detain and later turn over our captive POWs will also garner some political favor with the OGE, whose administration will eventually catch up to us no matter how fast our advance.

You have %d Commendation Points.

Will you exchange HALF of your total prestige for 7 Commendation Points or risk fighting additional enemies?

Authorize the Exchange

 Decline the exchange

* You choose to lock all captives down, costing half of your existing supplies. You now have %d Commendation Points.

* You choose to free your captives. You still have %d Commendation Points

* Bonus Objective to Capture all Victory Hexes completed.
Earned Commendation Points: 1.
Total Commendation Points: %d.

* Bonus Objective to Capture Arras Bridges completed.
Earned Commendation Points: 1.
Total Commendation Points: %d.

* ***Hauptmann Wagner:*** Those light AT gun pickets got completely overrun. I sure hope we have something heavier than Pak 36 anti-tank guns!

* ***Hauptmann Wagner:*** Mein General, some of our forces have found a hidden British tank repair depot. We've commandeered the contents and you can access them as captured equipment.

* Mein General, we have a problem. In fact, it is the same problem Rommel already ran into at Dinant: We have advanced so far, so fast, and taken so many prisoners, our operations are in danger of being slowed down under the sheer weight of prisoner management! This latest group of French Colonial Troop captures is the straw that has broken our back. Something must be done.

If we just let them go, it will certainly take the strain off of our supply situation. But these are no mere civilians, just letting them go runs a serious risk they will return to French lines and re-arm to fight us once again. On the other hand, locking them all down will really eat into our available manpower and supplies. I estimate it will cost us half of our stockpile. But a decision to properly detain and later turn over our captive POWs will also garner some political favor with the OGE, whose administration will eventually catch up to us no matter how fast our advance.

You have %d Commendation Points.

Will you exchange HALF of your total prestige for 7 Commendation Points or risk fighting additional enemies?

Authorize the Exchange

 Decline the exchange

* You choose to lock all captives down, costing half of your existing supplies. You now have %d Commendation Points.

* You choose to free your captives. You still have %d Commendation Points

* Bonus Objective to Capture all Victory Hexes completed.
Earned Commendation Points: 1.
Total Commendation Points: %d.

* Bonus Objective to Capture Arras Bridges completed.
Earned Commendation Points: 1.
Total Commendation Points: %d.

* ***Hauptmann Wagner:*** Those light AT gun pickets got completely overrun. I sure hope we have something heavier than Pak 36 anti-tank guns!

* ***Hauptmann Wagner:*** Mein General, some of our forces have found a hidden British tank repair depot. We've commandeered the contents and you can access them as captured equipment.

## Notes

* Players will be given the option to exchange half of their prestige for 7 Commendation Points at the start of the scenario; if declined, 5 FF Colonial Mnt units will be present.
* Enemy reinforcements will arrive in the northwest fortified zone on turns 7, 11, 15, and 17.
* Capturing all 8 victory hexes and capturing both Arras bridge hexes will each award 1 Commendation Point.
* Capturing Vimy will give players 15 Strength points worth of Matilda Is and 10 Strength points worth of Matilda IIs.
* Notable allied formations:
	+ 7th Panzer Division
* Notable enemy units:
	+ Lt. Colonel Heyland, a Level 3 Matilda II with 15 Strength points and a hero that has the Aiming Assistance, Provocator, and Fast Retreat traits.
	+ Major Fernie, a Level 2 Matilda II with 15 Strength points and a hero with the Fearsome Reputation and Fast Retreat traits.
	+ Sergeant Armit, a Level 2 Matilda II with 15 Strength points and a hero with the Crippling Blow trait.
	+ Sergeant Reed, a Level 2 Matilda II with 15 Strength points and a hero with the Aggressive Counterattack trait.