F40 Multi-Strategy Campaign Question

[Ricky B]

The German unit status is copied directly from the original campaign, so no surprises there. The designer notes cover the reason for so many starting fixed, although maybe not totally directly. But basically, Germany and the unit start points are not on the map, but due to ease of working with units on map versus reinforcements, the original design started with these units on map but fixed until they historically arrived in the areas depicted. It took awhile, days for the rearmost divisions, to reach the map areas shown, and these latter divisions are shown as reinforcements rather than on map.

As to the Belgians, I see 4 divisions along the Meuse from Liege to Namur that make up this large portion of the Belgian army that can march south and leave the area undefended. 2 are at Liege, and would probably be quickly destroyed if they abandon the city to a direct German attack and head off south. The next division is, I believe, the 2e Division Chaussers Ardennes, and a portion of it is already placed further south - I would say by its name it should be heading south anyway, if needed. The fourth and final division is around Namur, 70 km to the west of the frontier. These foot troops, as with the first two divisions, will take awhile to head anywhere useful if they give up their defensive positions around the city.

I don't know why it was historically impossible for the Belgians to send more of their troops on foot into the Ardennes, but there isn't a large force able to do so. Do you have some support for saying this limited force could not have marched into the Ardennes?

Thanks for the thoughts, but please support it with some facts if you could, in conjunction with the truly limited portion of the Belgian army that is even available to do this - and remember the Germans may select a strong right wing and roll through the Belgian plain, as they originally planned to do - moving these few Belgian divisions will leave nothing to prevent the Germans from blasting through to the French border before the allies can move up.

Rick