Your tanks assume hasty defensive positions in the open area west of Stonne, awaiting further instructions. No German activity in your area.
Before you can regroup your armor to the rear, your right flank is heavily attacked by German tanks. You exact a toll of German vehicles then withdraw 100m. The German continue, but you had reinforced your flank with a few more tanks. Holding your ground, you knock out 4-5 German tanks, losing only one in the exchange. It seems that the German thrust has been thwarted. 2 more German tanks are operating against you, but you have local superiority right now. Your infantry even got lucky and knocked out a tank!
Your infantry in 35.18 is cut-off: German tank to the north of it, and German infantry moving in from the east. THey were engaged by German AT guns in 37.18. Screaming for help, an arty spotter picked up the mission and dumped some artillery on the AT guns. That'll teach 'em!
Your main stack under attack is in 34.19 (it has 3 tanks vs. 2 Germans). You have 5 tanks left, 4 in line in the middle and one in reserve.
Confusion reigns after your successful assault. Your troops are milling around, wondering what to do now. Some are still pressing the assault against the few remaining Germans left, but you will need to take charge to place your troops now. Stonne has been occupied by 16 BCP which is charged (so they say) with its defense. There are German AT guns harrassing your from 37.18, so you dumped some artillery on them. Your units in 36.14-37.12 (far east flank) have been under artillery attack for some time and are taking casualties. A large unit of French tanks is milling around 30.12, apparently unsure what to do now.
For you, the war is over :-) Nothing to report. Boy the flowers look nice this time of year!
Your tanks operating in the woods east of Stonne lose another tank to German fire. The infantry withdrew, and you followed. Now the line is approximately 41.12-44.11. You have 3 tanks there. You haven't heard from the 2 out east, and the tanks that attacked Stonne have not reported either.
As for Flavigny, French forces seem to be in some confusion after their successful attack. Most are now without orders. Time to sort things out! You need to give new Op Sheets to most of your units.
You withdraw is good order as indicated. Germans attacking you from 45.10 were driven back handily, though the morale of your weakened troops was severly tested. There is some German activity to your rear, both in the immediate south (around 43.09) and apparently from your mortar section, which reported it was under attack and is now off the radio net...
Your line is now 41.12-42.11-43.12-44.11-44.10. Your right half has tank support, but the tanks supporting your left have been destroyed by German tanks. A unit of 3/67 is now on your right flank (40.12). You are out of contact with Germans now, both to the north and east.
16 BCP continues to suffer air attacks, but in the lulls you are able to occupy Stonne and establish a defense. You hope to be dug-in soon. That's with your HW units.
Confusion seems to reign in Stonne. There are lots of French units there, but no plans seemed to have been made for a coordinated defense once the objective was taken. Ugh. Your unit is the only one with a clue.
42 BCC has regrouped to the SE of Stonne, awaiting further orders. 16 BCP occupied the town, saying they were charged with it's defense.
3/67 is still pushing up to Stonne, under German arty attack. THe bulk of the battalion is on the eastern spur of the hill (around 39.11) and unsure where to go now. It seems that the area to the west is under French control now. But here are definitely Germans to the east. You know this because they attacked your HQ! Your HQ (you included) retreated west, and were attacked by artillery, so you retreated some more. You are now in 39.04, and unsure of what else has transpired with your infantry in the last 20 minutes.
Boy, this war stuff is confusing! :-)
Morale is at the breaking point. French troops continue their pressure from 40.12 and thereabouts, routing one of your platoons completely (the troops are heading north, out of control). French tanks appeared on the road moving up to Stonne, taking some of your men under fire. At this, another platoon surrendered wholesale! Under your control you now have 2 platoons of the 6th co. and 2 MG sections, which have not been engaged lately. But you are a defeated unit, so you doubt that they would stand much fighting anymore. At least an FO attached to your unit now has laid down a good covering fire on the slope north of Stonne to hold the French at bay for now. And 4-II-8 tanks are still attacking south on your left flank (around 40.13 now.)
As you desperately try to stem the tide of retreating troops, your HQ comes under artillery attacks. This is enough for the remainder of the staff - they load up in a few trucks which had just entered your HQ (retreating from Stonne) and displace hastily to the rear. Do you follow them or remain by yourself to try to exert some control over events?
No report
Your tanks continue pressing on to their objective, and run into French tanks in the process. In a confused fight against both French tanks and infantry, you inflict casualties but lose a number of tanks in the process. Your own command tank is knocked out, and you need to bail out (somehow managing to bring a radio with you) since you cannot afford to lose control of the battle. Turning 4-II-8 over to the 2nd in command, you withdraw 100m east, encountering the vanguard of II/69 which is moving into position to attack Stonne. You sense that this unit is your last chance to retake Stonne before the end of the day.
So now you're just Lange, 4-II-8 is out of your control. As a tank commander, you are not pleased with this fighting, since it has been primarily in woods, and has not allowed you the mobility which you believe is necessary for successful armored operations. Oh well, maybe in '41! :-) You attach yourself to II/69 for the time being, at least to keep you from getting overrun by French tanks.
6-II-8: You continue your slow drive south, destroying a French tank in the process. Your main stack is in 40.13, attacking French inf. (which have been withdrawing) in 40.12. You have 6 tanks left. You do not have any infantry support currently.
90 Aufk.
You quickly send your vehicles back through La Besace and on into
Candrieres. The mortar unit there puts up a stiff fight. Because
of your light armament, you are unable to drive them away until your
motorcycle infantry arrived to assault them (almost from their seats!)
La Candrieres is secured, and your are continuing toward Stonne.
A French tank headed towards your position (it hex 47.07.) Your light guns disabled it at close range before it got a shot off.
One vehicle headed towards Stonne to scout the way. It was destroyed in hex 41.07 by direct fire from tanks up on the slope to the SE of Stonne.
Currently untis are spread from 45.05 to Candrieres along the road. French artillery falls around pt. 232, with no effect.
Your AT guns which were assisting the flanking attack drove off the French tank holding up your progress, so your flanking move (through 47.12 area) continued. However, you simply do not have much infantry left, and a lead platoon (46.10) was suppressed by a French tank (the same one?) in the woods to its west.
You get a real short report from 3rd co, engaged with French HQ, AT guns and tanks in a confused firefight somewhere in the woods (south edge perhaps around 45.10 or so). A few survivors send word that their entire platoon was destroyed by French infantry (with LOTS of MGs) around 45.11. You get the feeling that your push is with too few troops too late in the day.
Your motorcycle troops are in line 36.18-36.20. In front of them, German tanks are engaged with French forces. You cannot enter the hexes with the tanks (since you are not on the same Op Sheet) so you need to hold tight to see how this engagement goes. You are in contact with French troops in 35.18. The AT guns are grouped behind you, and 6th co. is movingp (around 39.20.) No word from 7th co. The mortars are not yet in position.
The AT guns in 37.18 are engaged by French infantry near Stonne, and come under artillery attack. The attached trucks are destroyed. Morale still seems good, though your units feel somewhat bunched up now that arty is falling in the area.