stg 44 wrote:ljadw wrote:It were elements of one PzD vs superior British and French forces .
Superior? There was one reserve French division strung out along the Aa Canal line that had come from combat in Belgium and already lost several bridgeheads to those 'elements of a Panzer division', which Guderian was obliged to give up based on the Halt Order. The only British forces were Usher Force, which was a hodgepodge of a few British artillery units. That was on the 24th. On the afternoon of the 25th part of the British 48th division showed up and set up positions south of Dunkirk at Cassel. On the 26th a few more British units showed up and it wasn't until the evening of the 26th that the Halt Order was lifted historically and for that night and most of the 27th German forces spent time reclaiming the bridgeheads they abandoned on the 24th. Had the Rundstedt order of the 23rd been lifted on the 24th the bridgeheads wouldn't have been abandoned and the French 68th division on the Aa Canal would have had their front breached. Usherforce was in no position to defend Dunkirk and would have been swiftly overrun by a recon battalion, let alone the better part of a Panzer division. Then the Germans have most of the day on the 25th before elements of the British 48th division show up at Cassel, south of what would be the Germans Dunkirk perimeter, having just been removed from the line further south. By then the French 68th division would have been shattered, Usher Force overrun, and only elements of the 48th divisions in place to launch an attack off the march. Meanwhile more and more German units are showing up and the SS motorized regiment would be there to assist the Panzers at Dunkirk as more of Guderian's Panzer corps comes in. Of course the weather is changing, meaning German defenses at Dunkirk are aided by swampy ground around their defensive perimeter making a British attack by a limited forces very difficult.
Perhaps it may be worth a revisit to this thread you previously particpated in:
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 0&start=45
see post from Rich on February 13 2014
n fact, on 23 May, as I noted, 6. Panzerdivision was rather far away from the weak bridgeheads established by the 8. Panzerdivision. For the British side, from data also compiled from "KTB", the notion that a "single battalion" opposed the 8. Panzerdivision bridgeheads is also incorrect. From north to south from Saint Pol to Arras, the line developing on 23 May was: 68th French Infantry Division moving from Dunkirk to Mardyck, Usher Force (6th Green Howards, 1st and 3rd Super-Heavy Batteries RA, 52nd Heavy Regiment RA), Pol Force (2nd/5th West Yorkshires and field battery, 65th Field Regiment RA), Mac Force (127th Brigade of 42nd British Infantry Division, two field regiments RA, and an AT battery), Wood Force, 44th British Infantry Division, and 2nd British Infantry Division.
So as can be seen you have the composition of Usherforce wrong for starters
http://www.cgsc.edu/CARL/nafziger/940BEAD.pdf