[France] Opération Charlemagne campaign

[nikivdd]

Campaign Title: Opération Charlemagne 1939-1940

A bold and aggressive France, determined to reclaim continental dominance, launches a surprise war in Western Europe under the guise of “preemptive containment.
Vive la France!”

Charlemagne1.png (1.75 MiB) Viewed 614 times

Charlemagne2.png (2.13 MiB) Viewed 614 times

Charlemagne3.png (2.96 MiB) Viewed 614 times

Campaign scenario list:

tba in regular posts

[nikivdd]

Scenario 1/20: “Whispers in Wiltz"

Instead of an open invasion, France begins its campaign with covert actions. Claiming to protect “Gallic heritage” in Luxembourg, French agents incite political unrest in the north and sabotage a key military depot near Wiltz.

As unrest erupts, your armored vanguard is ordered across the border in “peacekeeping” guise — only to meet pockets of resistance from loyalist troops and a sudden Belgian border patrol response.

Scenario ready for playtest.

Scenario 2/20 "Drive on Liège"

Belgium has condemned our actions in Luxembourg but failed to mobilize quickly. Now is the time to strike before they can call on Britain or the Germans. The city of Liège stands between us and full control of the Ardennes corridor.

Scenario ready for playtest.

[bondjamesbond]

It is cool at this rate it will even be possible to open the eastern front, moreover, France and England had plans to bomb Baku so that the USSR would stop sending its oil to Germany )
http://www.specnaz.ru/articles/259/8/2936.htm
https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Операция_Pike
https://historyscriber.livejournal.com/10686.html



https://russian7.ru/post/pochemu-pered- ... tvennoy-n/
https://staryiy.livejournal.com/7901438.html

[nikivdd]

Scenario 3/20: Battle of Namur

With Liège secured and the Meuse under our control, the time has come to destroy Belgium’s central defensive linchpin: Namur.
The city is heavily fortified, nestled between the Sambre and Meuse Rivers. The Belgians have turned its World War I-era forts into formidable modern obstacles. Your objective is to penetrate their lines, eliminate artillery positions, and secure both the city and its vital rail network.
There is no time for a siege. Namur must fall in days, not weeks. Crush their spirit — and the center of Belgium will be ours.

Ready for playtest

Scenario 4/20: Advance on Brussels

With Namur broken and the Meuse under firm control, our forces now face the beating heart of Belgium: Brussels. The capital is a political and logistical prize — but it will not be taken easily.
British diplomats are already on the ground. Intelligence reports confirm that British Expeditionary Forces are landing at Ostend. You must reach Brussels and establish dominance before foreign aid can arrive.
Expect barricades, elite infantry, and a desperate final stand. This is the moment France writes its name across the center of Europe — or loses its grip on destiny.

Ready for playtest

[jeffoot77]

Thxs for all your hard work nikivdd ! Looks promising.

[nikivdd]

Scenario 5/20: Fall of Belgium

With Brussels fallen, Belgian forces are in full retreat toward Antwerp and the North Sea. However, the British Expeditionary Force has begun disembarking in the ports of Ostend and Zeebrugge, racing to establish a beachhead and prevent our total control of Belgium.
Your mission is to crush the remnants of the Belgian army and trap any Anglo-Belgian forces attempting to regroup. Advance rapidly, encircle the Antwerp defense line, and cut the Allies off from their northern lifeline.
Belgium is collapsing — this is your chance to end it.

Ready to playtest

Charlemagne4.png (3.18 MiB) Viewed 464 times

Opération Charlemagne – Partial Scenario List
Alternate-History Campaign
Structure: 20-scenario linear campaign (might become a bit longer depending)


ACT I – The Ardennes Spark (September 1939)

1.Whispers in Wiltz (Covert French incursion into Luxembourg)

2.Drive on Liège (Meuse River assault and urban breakthrough)

3.Battle of Namur (Fortress siege and river crossings)

4.Advance on Brussels (Major city assault, political objective)

5.Fall of Belgium (Encirclement of Antwerp, last stand of Belgian Army)

[nikivdd]

Scenario 6/20: The Dutch Question

Following the fall of Belgium, the Dutch government has issued warnings, closed borders, and fortified key river crossings. Intelligence confirms British liaison officers present in Eindhoven, and German sympathizers active across Limburg.
The Dutch must choose neutrality or alignment. A final ultimatum has been issued — and predictably, refused.
Begin with limited pressure on Dutch border positions. The moment they fire — we strike. The goal is swift: neutralize border defenses, seize airfields and bridges, and disable the corridor to the North Sea before Britain or Germany can intervene.

Ready for playtest

Scenario 7/20: Shadows on the Scheldt

The fall of Belgium has left the Scheldt Estuary exposed. Dutch forces hold the northern bank — the last natural barrier before Zeeland and the North Sea approaches.
Command authorizes a reconnaissance-in-force along the Scheldt bend. Your orders are to secure crossings, probe Dutch positions, and eliminate any resistance.
This mission is officially classified as "defensive deterrence." But you know what this really is. The next border is about to shift.

Ready for playtest

Scenario 8/20: Battle of Rotterdam

After the swift occupation of southern Holland, Rotterdam remains the last Dutch stronghold along the Rhine delta. The city’s vast port network is essential to any future Channel operation.
Dutch defenders, bolstered by British naval gunners and static AA batteries, are entrenched behind canals, bridges, and blockaded shipping lanes. You must breach these defenses, neutralize enemy artillery and naval support, and take the city.
Speed and precision will determine success. Leave the port intact, and the world will know that French forces own the North Sea gateway.

Ready for playtest

Scenario 9/20: Saboteurs in the Snow

Rotterdam and the coastal cities are ours, but the roads behind us are no longer safe. British commandos and Dutch agents are operating deep in our occupied zones, targeting rail lines, bridges, and depots. A resistance network is growing.
You are tasked with hunting down and eliminating these infiltrators. Intelligence has narrowed their routes to a corridor stretching from Tilburg to Den Bosch. The terrain is wooded, visibility is low, and the saboteurs are well-trained.
This is not a battle — it is a manhunt.

Ready for playtest

Scenario 10/20: The Line Shifts

The Dutch government has officially capitulated. After the fall of Rotterdam, the failure of their royal convoy to escape, and the loss of The Hague’s defenses, the Netherlands is no longer a belligerent power.
The British, meanwhile, have successfully evacuated their remaining expeditionary forces via Zeeland. We were unable to intercept them, but they left behind scattered equipment, wrecked logistics, and several stay-behind cells.
High Command orders a rapid stabilization of the region. Establish a firm military presence along the Rhine corridor and neutralize any remaining resistance. Germany has sent a token diplomatic observer force — treat them with caution.

Ready for playtest

Opération Charlemagne – Partial Campaign Scenario List


ACT I – The Ardennes Spark

1.Whispers in Wiltz – Covert French incursion into Luxembourg

2.Drive on Liège – Breakthrough on the Meuse against Belgium

3.Battle of Namur – Fortress siege and river crossings

4.Advance on Brussels – Major assault on the Belgian capital

5.Fall of Belgium – Collapse of Belgian forces, British reaction begins

ACT II – The Dutch Front Opens

6.The Dutch Question – Blitz into southern Netherlands, capture Eindhoven

7.Shadows on the Scheldt – Foggy amphibious raid into Zeeland

8.Battle of Rotterdam – Seize key ports under AA/naval fire (expanded British role)

9.Saboteurs in the Snow – Hunt British stay-behind agents across Dutch towns

10. The Line Shifts – Pacify Holland post-capitulation, British have evacuated, Germany observes

[nikivdd]

Charlemagne6.png (1.89 MiB) Viewed 356 times

Scenario 11/20: Stahlgewitter over Strasbourg

The illusion of peace is over.
At dawn this morning, Germany declared war on France, accusing us of aggression in the Low Countries and conspiracy with the British Crown. Without warning, their forces crossed the Rhine under cover of heavy artillery and Stuka squadrons.
Strasbourg — once a proud border jewel — now stands as the first and fiercest line of resistance. The German Wehrmacht, battle-hardened from Poland, is throwing armor and infantry against our Rhine defenses.
You are ordered to hold the line around Strasbourg at all costs. Reinforcements are en route from Nancy and Colmar, but for now, you must delay the German tide and protect the city’s heart.
France is under attack. Do not let Alsace fall.

Charlemagne5.png (3.4 MiB) Viewed 356 times

Scenario 12/20 – Operation Lothringen

We have stopped the German assault on Strasbourg. Now, we strike back.
A bold opportunity has emerged: German defenses in the Saarland are thin and disorganized, focused on supporting their Rhine push. A lightning raid into this industrial heartland could cripple their war production and sow panic.
Your objective: cross the border, seize key infrastructure in Saarbrücken, destroy Neunkirchen’s coal depot, and, if possible, drive to Kaiserslautern and sabotage rail links.
Be warned: our intelligence suggests the presence of Luftwaffe airfields and reserves from the 1st Panzer Division. Speed is critical. Strike hard, hit fast — and return before the noose tightens.
Vive la France!

Scenario 13/20 – Bunkerkrieg: Assault on the Maginot Line

The enemy comes at last for our walls. German high command, stung by our Saarland incursion, is bringing its hammer down upon the Maginot Line.
The attack will focus along the Forbach–Bitche axis. Expect massed artillery, panzers, and elite Waffen-SS formations. Airstrikes will target our bunker complexes.
You will hold at all costs. Forts West and East must not fall. The artillery bunker at Hill 105 must be kept operational.
Reinforcements from Metz are en route but may be delayed. The reputation of France rests upon these concrete walls. Make the Germans pay for every meter.

Charlemagne7.png (1.95 MiB) Viewed 356 times

[Imeror]

Interesting setting. I really like how this campaign is built, with various opponents and mission types, including some covert ones.

I was a bit bored with WWII setting and mainly played MC mod this year, it may be time for me to return my Panzer Corps into its original setting and play scenarios in the 1940' again


I'll try to avoid to read next posts, I don't want to have spoilers about what await us

[nikivdd]

Alternate-Historical Justification:

“The London–Berlin Accord” – A Deal with the Devil
Background (Late 1939–Early 1940):
After months of failed diplomacy and growing French aggression in Belgium and the Netherlands, Britain’s ruling elite begins to lose confidence in France’s aims and methods.

France’s invasion of neutral countries (Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands) was deeply unpopular in British Parliament.

French raids into the Saarland and attempts to topple German industrial capacity made Britain fear a continent-wide collapse.

France’s refusal to coordinate command or allow British peace envoys to Berlin leads to a breakdown of Allied unity.

Secret Diplomacy:

By January 1940, British and German diplomats begin secret talks in Sweden and Denmark. Both nations see an opportunity:

Germany wants to neutralize the western front and encircle France.

Britain wants to preserve its empire, avoid a total war in Europe, and sees France as the true destabilizing force.

The London–Berlin Accord (Signed: 28 February 1940)
A secret pact signed by foreign ministers Ribbentrop and Halifax:

Britain recognizes German claims to Poland and Austria.

Germany agrees to “contain Communism” and not invade western Europe beyond France.

Both nations agree to a joint strike on France to force regime change and end “continental chaos.”

Military Plan – Operation Albion:

Germany contributes the armored divisions and Luftwaffe airpower.

Britain provides Royal Navy transport, marines, and air cover.

Target: Calais to Dunkirk.

Propaganda Spin:

Britain and Germany issue joint communiqués blaming France for:

Violating Belgian and Dutch neutrality

Destabilizing peace in Europe

Launching illegal raids into sovereign Germany

Scenario 14/20 – Operation Albion: The Knife at Calais

Our worst fears have materialized. The British and Germans have landed — together.
In the early hours of 15 March, amphibious landings were detected at Gravelines, Boulogne, and Calais. British marines and armored units, supported by German Fallschirmjäger and panzers, are establishing a beachhead stretching from Dunkirk to Étaples.
Operation Albion — a joint Anglo-German assault — is real. The London–Berlin Accord, signed in secret last month, has come into force. The United Kingdom has denounced our operations in Belgium and the Saar, claiming we violated European stability. They now call us the aggressors.
The Royal Navy has blockaded the Channel. The Luftwaffe flies in tandem with the RAF.
Your mission: eliminate the enemy's beachhead and hoist the flag once again in Calais and Dunkirk. Hold the Republic at any cost. There can be no retreat.

Charlemagne8.png (2.12 MiB) Viewed 312 times

[Vintage]

Very interesting campaign's
I wonder who could be a leader of such "aggressive" France Probably not Pétain

[nikivdd]

Scenario 15/20 – Basque Breakout

While Berlin reels under the weight of Soviet steel, our window of opportunity has opened.
Spain's neutrality is a fiction. Franco has tolerated German agents in Madrid, allowed Axis ships safe harbor, and now defies our lawful claim to the Spanish Basque — a region long oppressed, and rightfully French by culture and blood.
San Sebastián and Bilbao must be seized swiftly. Our objectives are precise: secure the northern road network, control the coast, and prevent Spanish reinforcements from crossing the Ebro.
Be wary. Though Spain’s army is outdated, their mountain troops are tenacious and terrain-familiar. Armored thrusts will be difficult in these ridges and valleys. Rain is forecast.
We strike now. Before the world realizes what’s happening.

Opération Charlemagne 1939-1940 – Partial Campaign Scenario List


ACT I – The Ardennes Spark

1.Whispers in Wiltz – Covert French incursion into Luxembourg

2.Drive on Liège – Breakthrough on the Meuse against Belgium

3.Battle of Namur – Fortress siege and river crossings

4.Advance on Brussels – Major assault on the Belgian capital

5.Fall of Belgium – Collapse of Belgian forces, British reaction begins

ACT II – The Dutch Front Opens

6.The Dutch Question – Blitz into southern Netherlands, capture Eindhoven

7.Shadows on the Scheldt – Foggy amphibious raid into Zeeland

8.Battle of Rotterdam – Seize key ports under AA/naval fire (expanded British role)

9.Saboteurs in the Snow – Hunt British stay-behind agents across Dutch towns

10. The Line Shifts – Pacify Holland post-capitulation, British have evacuated, Germany observes

Act III – Reichskrieg

11.Stahlgewitter over Strasbourg – Germany invades Alsace

12.Operation Lothringen – French counterstrike into Saarland

13.Bunkerkrieg – German siege of the Maginot Line

14.Operation Albion – British-German joint landing at Calais/Dunkirk

15.Basque Breakout – France invades Spanish Basque region