If you haven't noticed in OTL the Germans have already nearly conquered Belgium by the end of two weeks. In this one, they haven't attacked the Dyle Line yet. Even when they get there they will have to prepare for a few days to get ready for that. This is another entrenched line so they won't be able to just keep on going.
The US is in the process of rearming itself. The tanks they sell aren't their latest, which aren't all that good anyway, because they want them for themselves. However, the Dutch had no tanks and the Belgians were short of them and are taking what they can get. France and GB need their tanks for themselves so they can't give them their tanks.
The battle is considerably bloodier than OTL and less one-sided. They are attacking a well-prepared position with significant reserves. When they are in the process of breaking through the French bring up their reserves to plug the gaps.
The Dutch think the M2A2s are good tanks because the Germans 1) Thought there were no tanks in the Dutch Army so didn't bring any weapons to fight them on that part of the line. 2) Had their schwerpunkt on a different part of the line in the Netherlands. 3) The French-Belgians are doing better than OTL and so troops that could have handled it went to Belgium instead which they see as the more important front. Because of all that the Germans didn't have all that much outside of their infantry to fight the tanks.
The Dutch never fought in tanks before and the training they have is mainly how to drive a tank and how to fire the guns. Their attention is mainly on that and fighting off infantry attacks than paying attention to the fact that the Germans haven't brought anti-tank guns. The Dutch are occasionally losing tanks to mortar and artillery which they are attributing to anti-tank guns.
In short the Dutch are basically in a perfect situation as far as their tanks are concerned but they don't realize it. As far as they can see it is doing its job well in mowing down infantry. So they are valuing the M2A2 tank far more than it deserves. They are drawing the wrong conclusions which is going to happen more than once in TTL.
The US is in the process of rearming itself. The tanks they sell aren't their latest, which aren't all that good anyway, because they want them for themselves. However, the Dutch had no tanks and the Belgians were short of them and are taking what they can get. France and GB need their tanks for themselves so they can't give them their tanks.
The battle is considerably bloodier than OTL and less one-sided. They are attacking a well-prepared position with significant reserves. When they are in the process of breaking through the French bring up their reserves to plug the gaps.
The Dutch think the M2A2s are good tanks because the Germans 1) Thought there were no tanks in the Dutch Army so didn't bring any weapons to fight them on that part of the line. 2) Had their schwerpunkt on a different part of the line in the Netherlands. 3) The French-Belgians are doing better than OTL and so troops that could have handled it went to Belgium instead which they see as the more important front. Because of all that the Germans didn't have all that much outside of their infantry to fight the tanks.
The Dutch never fought in tanks before and the training they have is mainly how to drive a tank and how to fire the guns. Their attention is mainly on that and fighting off infantry attacks than paying attention to the fact that the Germans haven't brought anti-tank guns. The Dutch are occasionally losing tanks to mortar and artillery which they are attributing to anti-tank guns.
In short the Dutch are basically in a perfect situation as far as their tanks are concerned but they don't realize it. As far as they can see it is doing its job well in mowing down infantry. So they are valuing the M2A2 tank far more than it deserves. They are drawing the wrong conclusions which is going to happen more than once in TTL.
Last edited: