Anaxagoras
Banned
During the Battle of France, on the afternoon of May 14, 1940, the French had a golden opportunity to mount a devastating counter attack against the Germans at Sedan.
On that day, two of the three panzer divisions formed up in a line facing westward in preparation for their drive to the west, with only a single infantry regiment protecting their left (southern) flank. At that moment, the French 3rd Armored and 3rd Mechanized Divisions were forming up directly to the south of them in preparation for a counter attack. Had it gone forward, it would have smashed into the exposed German flank and possibly rolled up the German line.
IOTL, as happened all too often during the Battle of France, the attack was called off for reasons that are not entirely clear. What if some commander with more initiative had taken control of the situation and ordered the attack to go forward? Judging by their performance in local battles elsewhere during the campaign, the French might have been able to achieve a tactical victory. At the very least, heavy losses would have been inflicted on the Germans.
Because the German high command was terrified of exactly this sort of French response, it is possible that even a local success might have compelled the Germans to pull their forces back to the east bank of the Meuse. At the very least, the German drive to the Channel would have been delayed, perhaps for several days, giving the Allied time to adjust to their difficult and dangerous situation.
It seems to me that the potential impact of this POD is enormous. Thoughts?
On that day, two of the three panzer divisions formed up in a line facing westward in preparation for their drive to the west, with only a single infantry regiment protecting their left (southern) flank. At that moment, the French 3rd Armored and 3rd Mechanized Divisions were forming up directly to the south of them in preparation for a counter attack. Had it gone forward, it would have smashed into the exposed German flank and possibly rolled up the German line.
IOTL, as happened all too often during the Battle of France, the attack was called off for reasons that are not entirely clear. What if some commander with more initiative had taken control of the situation and ordered the attack to go forward? Judging by their performance in local battles elsewhere during the campaign, the French might have been able to achieve a tactical victory. At the very least, heavy losses would have been inflicted on the Germans.
Because the German high command was terrified of exactly this sort of French response, it is possible that even a local success might have compelled the Germans to pull their forces back to the east bank of the Meuse. At the very least, the German drive to the Channel would have been delayed, perhaps for several days, giving the Allied time to adjust to their difficult and dangerous situation.
It seems to me that the potential impact of this POD is enormous. Thoughts?