** Arctic Front: Enforcing the Line - The Matrix Games version of East Front II

-- This is an Alternative history scenario based on Doug Bevard Winter War scenario 'Cracking The Line' --

Updated 28 Nov 2014 to also include Poles in the Franco British Expedition Force.

11 February, 1940

[Lahde, Finland, 40km SE of Viborg] [H2H] [WIF] [CSL]

The end of the Winter War, on 13 March 1940, cancelled the Franco-British plan to send troops to Finland through northern Scandinavia.

At the time, Germany and Sweden pressured Finland to accept peace on unfavorable conditions, while Britain and France had the opposite objective.

Different plans and figures were presented for the Finns. France and Britain promised to send 20,000 men, who were to arrive by the end of February. When France and Britain realized that Finland was considering a peace treaty, they gave a new offer of 50,000 troops, if Finland asked for help before 12 March.

One of the major goals in the projected Franco-British operation had been to take control of northern Sweden's iron ore and cut its deliveries to Germany. This was a major factor in Nazi Germany's invasion of Denmark and Norway, only a few months later.

In this Alternative History scenario elements of the Franco-British Expeditionary Force arrive to Karelian Isthmus early on, at the height of the Red Army offensive against Mannerheim Line, as set in D.Bevard scenario 'Cracking The Line' this What-If is added on:

"Regardless of the Finnish victories and Soviet setbacks in the first month of the Winter War, it was still a matter of 130,000 poorly equipped Finn's facing 465,000 Russians. By February attrition was beginning to have its effect on the Finnish troops and their ranks were progressively thinning, while the Red Army rotated fresh units to the front for every significant attack. But still the Mannerheim Line held. After weeks of probing the Soviets were ready to launch another assault. Between Lake Summajarvi and the Munasuo Swamp, east of Summa, were two modern bunker complexes named "Poppius" and "Million," defended by elements of the 9th Infantry Regiment. On February 11th, while other Soviet Divisions continued to apply pressure across the Isthmus, the 254th/123rd Rifle Regiment launched an attack to clear the bunkers and the road to Lahde. The fighting raged throughout the day but in the end the Finn's could not hold and the Mannerheim Line was cracked wide open!"

(Scenario picture: British troops in Narvik Norway, late 1940. (c) WikiCommons)

[** Requires players to install Forgotten Battles Mod version 2.0 or newer **]

[Scandinavian Terrain Mod recommended to be enabled when playing this scenario.]

[ALL] [FORGOTTEN BATTLES 2.0]