Panzer Grenadier Headquarters - Library: Polish Exiles #3

Panzer Grenadier Battles on October 24th:
Afrika 1944 #22 - PAKfront	Leyte '44 #12 - Flying Wedge
Fronte Russo #9 - Potemkin Village	Leyte '44 #13 - Failure at Buri Airfield
Red & White #28 - Bastion

PG-HQ Library - Panzer Grenadier Hall > Scenarios > PoEx003

Errors? Omissions? Report them!

Panzer Grenadier Headquarters Library - select the previous scenario item

Panzer Grenadier Headquarters - select the next scenario item

Overwhelmed Polish Exiles #3
(Attacker) Germany	vs	France (Defender) Poland (Defender)

Formations Involved
France		240e Division d'Infanterie Légère
France		42e Régiment d'Infanterie Coloniale
Germany		13th Motorized Infantry Division
Poland		10th Armored Cavalry Brigade

	Total
Side 1	0
Draw	0
Side 2	2

Overall Rating, 3 votes
5 4 3 2 1 3.33
Scenario Rank: --- of 1093

Parent Game	Polish Exiles
Historicity	Historical
Date	1940-06-16
Start Time	00:15
Turn Count	16
Visibility	Day
Counters	78
Net Morale	0
Net Initiative	0
Maps	3: 26, 31, 33
Layout Dimensions	129 x 28 cm 51 x 11 in
Play Bounty	178
AAR Bounty	157
Total Plays	2
Total AARs	3

Battle Types
Exit the Battle Area
Inflict Enemy Casualties
Rear Guard

Conditions
Reinforcements
Joint Forces Battle

Scenario Requirements & Playability
Deluge	Counters
Fall of France 2	Maps + Counters
Polish Exiles	Base Game

Introduction
Near Chaource, France Masses of refugees fled along the roads while French soldiers wandered beside them, unarmed, leaderless and aimless. The Poles watched in despair as they themselves joined the sad retreat. The French 4th Army’s withdrawal towards the Loire River opened up a huge gap between the two wings of the army, into which the German units rushed southwards. After crossing the Seine River at Bar-sur-Seine on the evening of 15 June, Maczek's brigade regrouped in the forest of Chaource. In the early hours of the 16th, the Polish brigade received the order to move out as an advance guard to occupy Montbard and open the road to allow the 42nd Infantry Division and 240th Light Infantry Division (DLI) to pass southwards. The 10th Brigade established itself in this new position at dawn, after exchanging fire with patrols of the German 13th Motorized Infantry Division approaching from Tonnerre. Later that morning, behind the Maczek brigade, German armored cars harassed the remnants of the 240th DLI. The whole French maneuver had been aimed at getting the encircled units out of the trap and preventing the Germans from advancing towards Dijon. The Poles now had to rush to block the Germans. The Maczek group would take Montbard and pave the way for the 240th DLI’s escape. However, fuel shortages forced the Poles to abandon some of their tanks, and they only retained 17 R35s when column started marching southward around 1500.

Introduction

Near Chaource, France

Masses of refugees fled along the roads while French soldiers wandered beside them, unarmed, leaderless and aimless. The Poles watched in despair as they themselves joined the sad retreat. The French 4th Army’s withdrawal towards the Loire River opened up a huge gap between the two wings of the army, into which the German units rushed southwards. After crossing the Seine River at Bar-sur-Seine on the evening of 15 June, Maczek's brigade regrouped in the forest of Chaource. In the early hours of the 16th, the Polish brigade received the order to move out as an advance guard to occupy Montbard and open the road to allow the 42nd Infantry Division and 240th Light Infantry Division (DLI) to pass southwards.

The 10th Brigade established itself in this new position at dawn, after exchanging fire with patrols of the German 13th Motorized Infantry Division approaching from Tonnerre. Later that morning, behind the Maczek brigade, German armored cars harassed the remnants of the 240th DLI. The whole French maneuver had been aimed at getting the encircled units out of the trap and preventing the Germans from advancing towards Dijon.

The Poles now had to rush to block the Germans. The Maczek group would take Montbard and pave the way for the 240th DLI’s escape. However, fuel shortages forced the Poles to abandon some of their tanks, and they only retained 17 R35s when column started marching southward around 1500.

Conclusion
From the outset, accurate German machine-gun fire targeted the Polish rearguard. As the convoys formed up, the R35s covering the Chaource road came under fire. One damaged tank had to be abandoned, while the others opened fire and protected the advancing troops. The anti-tank platoon that should have filled this role failed to carry out the order and had to be brought into position by Major Wladyslaw Zgorzelski himself. Once on the road, two motorized platoons missed a fork in the road and rushed straight at the Germans but managed to get away. Meanwhile, other retreating French units tried their luck pushing southward, crossing paths with the Poles. Some of these units made heroic sacrifices to stem the German onslaught: one French company held the village of Balnot-la-Grange until the evening, against repeated attacks. Once they had reached the main road, the Poles faced traffic jams and a panic triggered by an explosion. Late in the afternoon, the rear-guard was surprised by panzer-reinforced enemy infantry. An immediate counter-attack put the attackers to flight, leaving 30 prisoners behind. Despite the victory, the Poles had been cut off.

Conclusion

From the outset, accurate German machine-gun fire targeted the Polish rearguard. As the convoys formed up, the R35s covering the Chaource road came under fire. One damaged tank had to be abandoned, while the others opened fire and protected the advancing troops. The anti-tank platoon that should have filled this role failed to carry out the order and had to be brought into position by Major Wladyslaw Zgorzelski himself.

Once on the road, two motorized platoons missed a fork in the road and rushed straight at the Germans but managed to get away. Meanwhile, other retreating French units tried their luck pushing southward, crossing paths with the Poles. Some of these units made heroic sacrifices to stem the German onslaught: one French company held the village of Balnot-la-Grange until the evening, against repeated attacks. Once they had reached the main road, the Poles faced traffic jams and a panic triggered by an explosion.

Late in the afternoon, the rear-guard was surprised by panzer-reinforced enemy infantry. An immediate counter-attack put the attackers to flight, leaving 30 prisoners behind. Despite the victory, the Poles had been cut off.

Additional Notes
Use French 25mm AT, 25mm AA, 47 APX, and R40 units to represent Polish units. There is a DIY countersheet for a Polish version of the French substitute counters. Counters from White Eagles may be used instead of those from The Deluge.

Additional Notes

Use French 25mm AT, 25mm AA, 47 APX, and R40 units to represent Polish units. There is a DIY countersheet for a Polish version of the French substitute counters.

Counters from White Eagles may be used instead of those from The Deluge.

Display Relevant AFV Rules

AFV Rules Pertaining to this Scenario's Order of Battle
Vulnerable to results on the Assault Combat Chart (7.25, 7.63, ACC), and may be attacked by Anti-Tank fire (11.2, DFT). Anti-Tank fire only affects the individual unit fired upon (7.62, 11.0). AFV's are activated by tank leaders (3.2, 3.3, 5.42, 6.8). They may also be activated as part of an initial activating stack, but if activated in this way would need a tank leader in order to carry out combat movement. AFV's do not block Direct Fire (10.1). Full-strength AFV's with "armor efficiency" may make two anti-tank (AT) fire attacks per turn (either in their action segment or during opportunity fire) if they have AT fire values of 0 or more (11.2). Each unit with an AT fire value of 2 or more may fire at targets at a distance of between 100% and 150% of its printed AT range. It does so at half its AT fire value. (11.3) Efficient and non-efficient AFV's may conduct two opportunity fires per turn if using direct fire (7.44, 7.64). Units with both Direct and AT Fire values may use either type of fire in the same turn as their opportunity fire, but not both (7.22, 13.0). Units which can take opportunity fire twice per turn do not have to target the same unit both times (13.0). Demoralized AFV's are not required to flee from units that do not have AT fire values (14.3). Place a Wreck marker when an AFV is eliminated in a bridge or town hex (16.3). AFV's do not benefit from Entrenchments (16.42). AFV's may Dig In (16.2). Closed-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables. Do not take step losses from Direct or Bombardment Fire. If X or #X result on Fire Table, make M morale check instead (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT). Closed-top AFV's: Provide the +1 modifier on the Assault Table when combined with infantry. (Modifier only applies to Germans in all scenarios; Soviet Guards in scenarios taking place after 1942; Polish, US and Commonwealth in scenarios taking place after 1943.) (ACC) Tank: all are closed-top and provide the +1 Assault bonus, when applicable Armored Cars: These are Combat Units. They are motorized instead of mechanized. All have their own armored car leaders, who can only activate armored cars (6.85). Do not provide the +1 Assault bonus (ACC). Reconnaissance Vehicle: 8.23 Special Spotting Powers Both foot and vehicle mounted recce units (1.2) possess two special spotting abilities. The first ability is that they can spot enemy in limiting terrain at one hex further than the TEC specifies for other units and leaders. For example, an enemy unit in town can normally be spotted at three hexes or less, but a recce unit can spot them at four hexes.Their second ability is that they can place a Spotted marker on any one enemy unit they can spot per turn, just as if the enemy unit had "blown its cover" by firing. Such Spotted markers are removed as described earlier.

AFV Rules Pertaining to this Scenario's Order of Battle

Vulnerable to results on the Assault Combat Chart (7.25, 7.63, ACC), and may be attacked by Anti-Tank fire (11.2, DFT). Anti-Tank fire only affects the individual unit fired upon (7.62, 11.0).
AFV's are activated by tank leaders (3.2, 3.3, 5.42, 6.8). They may also be activated as part of an initial activating stack, but if activated in this way would need a tank leader in order to carry out combat movement.
AFV's do not block Direct Fire (10.1).
Full-strength AFV's with "armor efficiency" may make two anti-tank (AT) fire attacks per turn (either in their action segment or during opportunity fire) if they have AT fire values of 0 or more (11.2).
Each unit with an AT fire value of 2 or more may fire at targets at a distance of between 100% and 150% of its printed AT range. It does so at half its AT fire value. (11.3)
Efficient and non-efficient AFV's may conduct two opportunity fires per turn if using direct fire (7.44, 7.64). Units with both Direct and AT Fire values may use either type of fire in the same turn as their opportunity fire, but not both (7.22, 13.0). Units which can take opportunity fire twice per turn do not have to target the same unit both times (13.0).
Demoralized AFV's are not required to flee from units that do not have AT fire values (14.3).
Place a Wreck marker when an AFV is eliminated in a bridge or town hex (16.3).
AFV's do not benefit from Entrenchments (16.42).
AFV's may Dig In (16.2).
Closed-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables. Do not take step losses from Direct or Bombardment Fire. If X or #X result on Fire Table, make M morale check instead (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT).
Closed-top AFV's: Provide the +1 modifier on the Assault Table when combined with infantry. (Modifier only applies to Germans in all scenarios; Soviet Guards in scenarios taking place after 1942; Polish, US and Commonwealth in scenarios taking place after 1943.) (ACC)
Tank: all are closed-top and provide the +1 Assault bonus, when applicable
Armored Cars: These are Combat Units. They are motorized instead of mechanized. All have their own armored car leaders, who can only activate armored cars (6.85). Do not provide the +1 Assault bonus (ACC).
Reconnaissance Vehicle: 8.23 Special Spotting Powers Both foot and vehicle mounted recce units (1.2) possess two special spotting abilities. The first ability is that they can spot enemy in limiting terrain at one hex further than the TEC specifies for other units and leaders. For example, an enemy unit in town can normally be spotted at three hexes or less, but a recce unit can spot them at four hexes.Their second ability is that they can place a Spotted marker on any one enemy unit they can spot per turn, just as if the enemy unit had "blown its cover" by firing. Such Spotted markers are removed as described earlier.

Display Order of Battle

France Order of Battle

Armée de Terre
Foot Leader

Armée de Terre

Foot

Leader

Germany Order of Battle

Heer
Foot Leader Motorized Towed

Heer

Foot

Leader

Motorized

Towed

Poland Order of Battle

Wojska Lądowe
Foot Leader Mechanized Motorized Towed

Wojska Lądowe

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Motorized

Towed

Display Errata (2)

2 Errata Items
	The reduced direct fire value of the Heer HMG became 5-5 starting with Fall of France. (plloyd1010 on 2015 Jul 31)
	The morale and combat modifiers of German Sergeant #1614 should be "0", not "8". (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)

Display AARs (3)

Polish Armour

Author	Ghost029
Method	Solo
Victor	France, Poland
Play Date	2026-06-07
Language	English
Scenario	PoEx003

The Polish armour just decimated the Germans. Caught the Germans still in their trucks.

0 Comments

You must be a registered member and logged-in to post a comment.

The Poles & French Escape!

Author	treadasaurusrex (Germany)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	France, Poland
Participants	Grognard Gunny (AAR)
Play Date	2025-06-16
Language	English
Scenario	PoEx003

This was an exciting, 3-session play through with the resolute & doughty Grognard Gunny leading defending elements of the Free Polish Groupement Maczek & the feeing French 42nd Colonial Infantry Regiment. I led attacking elements of the German 13th Infantry Division. Both sides drew middling leaders.

We played using the FOW and excess initiative optional rules, as well as these 3 house rules: 1) Road Movement for Mechanized & Foot Units - All FOOT & MECHANIZED units may move on roads at the rate of 1/2 a Movement Point (MP) per road hex, just like MOTORIZED units, 2) Standardized Movement for Mechanized Units — All mechanized units may move through clear hexes at a movement cost of only 1 movement point (MP) per hex, instead of 1 1/2. Add one to this cost if moving up, across, or down slopes hexes.

Our first session (game turns 1-3) featured the Poles rapidly moving west with only a couple of hiccups caused by lucky German combat throws and their quick occupation of the two western towns on Map 26. The French began their rapid migration to the south map edge. Only a single Polish casualty was sustained, so far.

During the second session (game turns 4-9) the entire French contingent exited the south edge of the battle map without losses, thanks to heavy and successful fighting by their Polish allies throughout the southern half of the map. The step loss tally was now 2 for the Germans, and 4 to the advancing Poles, who dropped a level of initiative. Victory points increased to 13 for the Allies, and a mere 4 to the Wehrmacht.

Our third & final session (game turns 10-14) was another high maneuver sprint across the battle map, interspersed with a handful of additional Polish steps lost by capture, or in close assaults. We called the game at the start pf the 14th game turn when it was apparent that that was no way for the Wehrmacht to stop the remaining Polish contingent from exiting the east edge of the map. It was a decisive Polish/French victory with a final score of 32 for the Polish/French side, and a mere 8 for the Germans. There were 9 FOW-shortened turns of the 14 played.

This was a gamey exercise that was fun to play with a challenging opponent! I give it a rating of 3 and suggest that it is better suited to SOLO play.

0 Comments

You must be a registered member and logged-in to post a comment.

Overwhelmed, as advertised.

Author	Grognard Gunny (France, Poland)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	France, Poland
Participants	treadasaurusrex (AAR)
Play Date	2025-06-16
Language	English
Scenario	PoEx003

The French moved off the South edge of the most Westerly board early on in the game, giving a point advantage to the Allies. The Germans fought well in the woods and tied up the Polish guns in trucks and they were captured late in the game, but not before the Poles had enough Armor off the board in the East to make the German position untenable. Game was called with three turns left and the Germans in a position to make it impossible a German win. (Note - This one played well and is recommended for on-line play.)

0 Comments

You must be a registered member and logged-in to post a comment.

PoEx002

PoEx004

PG-HQ Library - Panzer Grenadier Hall > Scenarios > PoEx003

Errors? Omissions? Report them!