Our POD is when the Halt Order is being discussed on May 24, 1940 by Adolf and his flunkies.
Adolf is adamant that the Halt Order on the Panzers stands because he want to show his Generals that he and only he calls the shots. As it stands, the Panzers have several bridgeheads over the Aa Canal.
Here is a map showing the situation:
Fatso Goering has a conversation with him and tries to convince him that the Luftwaffe can handle things from here and wipe out the Dunkirk Beachhead and prevent the BEF and French Army elements from escaping. Adolf asks for a weather report, which does not look good. He asks Herman about the effectiveness of bombing sandy beaches and how much anti-shipping experience his pilots have. Not liking the answers he gets, he ponders his options. The LW can not prevent an evacuation on its own, and he does not want to send in the Panzers. What options are left? He comes to his decision......
He assembles his staff and tells them to send in every Motorized Infantry asset available. This includes, but is not limited to:
2nd Motorized Infantry Division
13th Motorized Infantry Division
20th Motorized Infantry Division
29th Motorized Infantry Division
All SS Motorized Assets (3 Divisions?)
(What am I missing here?)
The goals of this force is as follows:
A. Capture Dunkirk post haste.
B. Destroy or drive all Allied Forces out of the area north and east of the Yser river including Nieuport.
C. Hold this ground against any and all Allied counterattacks.
There is to be no let up on the pocket. The Panzers will basically hold the west end of the pocket and chase the allies as required while doing the required maintenance on their Tanks and other vehicles for Fall Rot. The Motorized Infantry will clear out everything North and West of the Yser and prevent an evacuation. Hitler keeps his Generals under his thumb and shows them that he and only he is the GFHAZ.
Effectively there is no Halt Order on May 24. 1st and 2nd Panzer will continue the push until the Motorized Infantry shows up to carry the ball, and then the Panzers will halt and do Maintainence.
My questions are:
1. Is this force sufficient to accomplish the stated goals?
2. What other "non-panzer" assets would be required, if any?
3. Could such a plan prevent the evacuation of the BEF and the Frenchies that got away in OTL?
Right now, I am just looking for input if this is possible. If someone wants to run with this and create a story, feel free.
Thoughts?
Adolf is adamant that the Halt Order on the Panzers stands because he want to show his Generals that he and only he calls the shots. As it stands, the Panzers have several bridgeheads over the Aa Canal.
Here is a map showing the situation:
Fatso Goering has a conversation with him and tries to convince him that the Luftwaffe can handle things from here and wipe out the Dunkirk Beachhead and prevent the BEF and French Army elements from escaping. Adolf asks for a weather report, which does not look good. He asks Herman about the effectiveness of bombing sandy beaches and how much anti-shipping experience his pilots have. Not liking the answers he gets, he ponders his options. The LW can not prevent an evacuation on its own, and he does not want to send in the Panzers. What options are left? He comes to his decision......
He assembles his staff and tells them to send in every Motorized Infantry asset available. This includes, but is not limited to:
2nd Motorized Infantry Division
13th Motorized Infantry Division
20th Motorized Infantry Division
29th Motorized Infantry Division
All SS Motorized Assets (3 Divisions?)
(What am I missing here?)
The goals of this force is as follows:
A. Capture Dunkirk post haste.
B. Destroy or drive all Allied Forces out of the area north and east of the Yser river including Nieuport.
C. Hold this ground against any and all Allied counterattacks.
There is to be no let up on the pocket. The Panzers will basically hold the west end of the pocket and chase the allies as required while doing the required maintenance on their Tanks and other vehicles for Fall Rot. The Motorized Infantry will clear out everything North and West of the Yser and prevent an evacuation. Hitler keeps his Generals under his thumb and shows them that he and only he is the GFHAZ.
Effectively there is no Halt Order on May 24. 1st and 2nd Panzer will continue the push until the Motorized Infantry shows up to carry the ball, and then the Panzers will halt and do Maintainence.
My questions are:
1. Is this force sufficient to accomplish the stated goals?
2. What other "non-panzer" assets would be required, if any?
3. Could such a plan prevent the evacuation of the BEF and the Frenchies that got away in OTL?
Right now, I am just looking for input if this is possible. If someone wants to run with this and create a story, feel free.
Thoughts?