De Gaulle Strikes! - The Matrix Games version of West Front

Montcornet, 50km N of Reims, France: [Best played as Allied] On May 17th the German panzer divisions were ordered to halt and allow the infantry divisions to catch up while the panzer truppen used the time to resupply and refit. By coincidence this was also the day that Colonel de Gaulle, recently given command of the still forming French 4th Armored Division, chose to strike at Guderian's armored spearhead. For the 1st Panzer Division the timing was very bad. Both panzer regiments were well ahead of the division at Marle and Dercy, leaving only the scattered rifle battalions and support troops to face the French onslaught. At dawn, de Gaulle's force advanced northeast from Laon, overrunning a reconnaissance column at Chivres before continuing toward Montcornet where the headquarters of the German 1st Panzer was located. For a time following the unexpected appearance of French armor the Germans experienced exactly the same treatment their panzers had been inflicting on the enemy. Only the training of the German troops and the timely arrival of the II/2 Panzer Battalion and repaired armor from Guderian's HQ, allowed de Gaulle's attack to be beaten back.