Free France Campaign

[ColonelY]

And Colonel, before you discover this lovely lady, I already have her covered:

You know what? I didn't know her (yet)... A happy discovery, indeed!

[bru888]

Colonel, I have made important changes to the opening post of this thread. It is to this post that the link in the Custom Campaign thread will lead once the campaign is finished.

[ColonelY]

Colonel, I have made important changes to the opening post of this thread. It is to this post that the link in the Custom Campaign thread will lead once the campaign is finished.

Well, my friend, that is very kind of you and a great honor. Thank you very much!

[ColonelY]

17OperationDragoon:

I’ve just finished to test the 2nd version of this scenario…

Well, now (and from now on) I'll have to be more moderate in my judgments, in my bursts of enthusiasm...

So, let’s dive in another feedback, shall we?
*******
-> The scenario may end earlier as well even if the US 3rd Div takes Aix-en-Provence... So I suggest to duplicate the “Early scenario ending” trigger, with a single modification: the case where sec obj “Take Aix-en-Provence before U.S. 3rd Division” is failed.

-> In the SE islands, about the supply outputs… well, as now these three hexes do not change owners (unlike the flags on these islands), a colored border will remain... so, at first, I was about to suggest changing the ownership of these 3 supply output hexes when the flags are changed too. Then, I’ve realized that, in fact, Bautruppe and Coastal Guns don’t use/need supply… so why even bother with supply? Then, easy (visual) fix: remove the supply output of each of these 3 islands in the SE of the map.

-> A last (visual) detail about these flags, about the hex ownership change at “Presqu'île de Giens”: I suggest either increasing the distance without enemy from 2 to 4 (to include the bunker North of it – these coastal guns are likely to be destroyed several turns sooner than this bunker and, then, it may look strange to have a single hex with this colored border) or, rather, increasing the distance of the hex ownership change from 0 to 2 (2 is cleared from enemies, anyway, so…).

-> Now the Canadian supply ship can repair other ships, indeed. Tiny suggestion though: it shall look “smoother” if these +100 (Canadian) RPs appear later, I mean together with the various ships, within the very same turn/trigger…
*******
Please put back the air deploy hexes!

Now you spawn all our planes instead of deploying them, it’s perfect. (Thus, there is no longer all these planes already in our roster, that we could deploy too early compared to what is wanted/designed…)

Fighters have less fuel than bombers. Now, the point is: once our fighters, out of fuel, have been exited from the map, the only possibility to bring them back is to have taken Toulon’s Aérodrome (and waited 3 turns for its new flag to be fully risen )… That’s not very comfortable for the player, especially because the 2nd wave of German planes will be there when the fighters are stuck outside for refuelling.

For bombers, it’s not a problem, the player can wait to have Toulon under control. But the dogfighters, they will have to leave the map once and to come back the very next turn… a single time during this scenario, that is, but still.

So, yes, a few air deploy hexes. (And, don’t worry, this won’t create the previous issue again, as we don’t start with any ready-to-be-deployed plane in our roster.)
*******
About partisans…

Not any unit of French Partisans on this battlefield, well, that’s fine all things considered.

Now we only have one event that appears when we get close to Marseille, well, that's fine, but... But with only that, it's a bit too little, I think, because the player doesn't get any "help" from them!

Perhaps these guys could send us some intel… let's see... hmmm... they are in Marseille, they start uprising… they know many, many things related to the German forces in their city… hmmm… Some radio communication?

When? Just after the very first event, titled “Uprising”.
Picture? Maybe this one: https://www.google.ch/imgres?imgurl=htt ... egUIARDkAQ
Effect? Reveal a part of the city, including the units hidden there, let’s say for ONE turn only… Which hex to be targeted? I suggest the 1 just in the NE of the Marseille’s flag. Which distance? I propose 1 hex away from it…
Text? Well, you're pick...

Like this, it’s a part of the city, so not too much either. It’s just an help, a “boost”, not a full plan of the German defenses. And when this “reveal” effect is turned off, then it won’t change anything related to the already visible Forts nor “Notre-Dame de la Garde” (as it doesn’t affect these hexes anyway )… But it would bring a little extra something!
*******
And then, I would say this scenario is ready for good… Well, for me, at least. But any feedback from another player would be welcome too, of course!

(As far as the number of turns is concerned:
By knowing what to expect and avoiding mistakes, you can get a Major Victory in 36 turns (yep!), but that leaves little margin. So, for a comfort zone, having 45 turns available, I'd say is fine. And there is an option, a trigger to finish the scenario earlier, just in case. In any case, the desired rush effect towards the Americans of the 3rd Infantry Division is definitely there, so it's perfect!)


Et voilà !

[ColonelY]

Liberation of Paris:

The city has borne these two charming nicknames: "The City of Light" ("La Ville Lumière") and "The City of Love" ("La cité de l'amour")

=> French resistance fighters battle German Wehrmacht in Paris (1944):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HZ-W-rpcWs

Some info there and perhaps even some pictures for cool events!

[terminator]

Liberation of Paris:

The city has borne these two charming nicknames: "The City of Light" ("La Ville Lumière") and "The City of Love" ("La cité de l'amour")

Paris.JPG (27.6 KiB) Viewed 2749 times

[ColonelY]

And many others, of course, but I like these two... with the gastronomy one.

[bru888]

Well, now (and from now on) I'll have to be more moderate in my judgments, in my bursts of enthusiasm...

Don't you dare! ( )

Just be you.

[bru888]

Free France 1940-1945 v0.48 has been uploaded.

Free France 1940-1945 (seventeen scenarios)

This version includes these changes to the Operation Dragoon scenario:
• Created a second "Early scenario ending" trigger that covers the situaton where the "Take Aix-en-Provence" objective is failed instead of completed.
• Fine-tuned the "Cape and Island Conversions" to convert entire capes and islands. (I left the supply alone; I believe 0 supply for Bautruppe is an oversight that will be corrected someday.)
• Moved +100 Canadian RPs to the "Deploy the fleet" trigger.
• German income to start only when "Knock out island guns" is complete. Reason: I noticed that the AI kept repairing the Bautruppen after commando assaults. That's not what I intended; this island operation is for flavor only, over and done quickly and not a drawn-out affair. For fairness, since the Germans must wait several turns for their income, I increased the amount from 15 to 20.
• Corrected an obvious oversight on my part: restored air deploy hexes. (Although, that bit about having to take Toulon’s Aérodrome and waiting 3 turns was tempting...)
• Created a second popup message back-to-back with the notification of the Marseille uprising. The city is revealed; a brief glimpse only. The player has only the rest of the turn to examine the defenses and then the city goes dark again in the next turn except for the forts and Notre-Dame de la Garde which are perpetually lit:

Screenshot 1.jpg (663.58 KiB) Viewed 2735 times

Screenshot 2.jpg (616.41 KiB) Viewed 2735 times

[ColonelY]

Nice! And excellent idea to adapt the German income.

Well, now (and from now on) I'll have to be more moderate in my judgments, in my bursts of enthusiasm...

Don't you dare! ( )

Just be you.

Perfect, so much the better!

(I thought I should sound a little more impartial. )

[bru888]

Liberation of Paris:

The city has borne these two charming nicknames: "The City of Light" ("La Ville Lumière") and "The City of Love" ("La cité de l'amour")

Screenshot 1.jpg (684.15 KiB) Viewed 2721 times

[ColonelY]

Liberation of Paris, complementary (I hope!) information:

From https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lib%C3%A9ration_de_Paris I’ve found as well these informations:
(And most of them are NOT in the English “equivalent” webpage… )
- The German garrison was 16,000 men strong, poorly equipped, with disparate units (administrative units, for example) of little combative value, 80 tanks (some of which dated from the war taken in the summer of 1940, such as Renault FT tanks of "another age") and as many artillery pieces, some of which were obsolete. [...] It is true that the Parisian Resistance was even more poorly equipped. [… And later:] The Resistance was poorly equipped (it did not even have a radio link with the outside world) but enthusiastic.
=> No radio communication this time!
=> Again, some old French tanks in Paris: some “German” Hotchkiss (here a picture in Paris: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File ... uselang=fr )and even some “German” Renault FT-17 of “another age” … very weak tank at that time, but to fight partisans (themselves weak units) and, well, it is historical, so… This’ll deserve an event! We’ve seen some French old tanks captured by Germans within the previous scenario, there it’s the same thing (probably for the last time in this campaign, I think)… but seeing some Renault FT-17 (at least one unit), that’s something!

- German engineers: at least the 813. Pionierkompanie supported by the 177. Pionierkompanie (for bridge mining)... these units were from the Luftwaffe!
- A man that has proven to be helpful, this Raoul Nordling…
- You are already talking about the destruction of the bridges and monuments of Paris, according to Hitler's orders. But these orders also included the ruthless repression of any resistance from the population and to fight in Paris to the last man. The goal was to create a new "Stalingrad", this time on the Western Front, by immobilizing several Allied divisions. Worth being mentionned, I guess...
- From its positions in Argentan, the daring French attack was carried out, without allied air support , over a distance of 200 km, bypassing the strong German positions to the west of Paris, in the midst of an indescribable popular enthusiasm that hindered the combatants. For two months, Paris had been waiting for the Americans, despite the propaganda of Radio-Paris announcing the German victory in Normandy (“Radio-Paris ment, Radio-Paris est allemand”, meaning "Radio-Paris is lying, Radio-Paris is German", said the BBC), and suddenly, behind the enemy who was retreating in disorder in the suburbs, the three colors on the turrets of the Sherman M4s were visible. The initial surprise was followed by an unspeakable pride, the crowd invaded the streets, people climbed onto the tanks, flags bloomed everywhere, the rumor spread to Paris: “The French, they are the French of Leclerc!”.
=> No planes for this scenario? Well, maybe a few recon planes to have at least "something" in the airs...

- The French police troops have joined the popular insurrection… thus the use of (British) “Military Police” instead of only regular Partisans everywhere may be an option!
- South of Paris, Allied troops provided cover for the right flank of the 2nd armored division. American General Barton was assigned with his 4th DIUS with, in addition, a US reconnaissance group, the 102nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (MECZ).
*******
(From wiki, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4th_Infan ... ed_States) , the ww2 OoB of the) US 4th Infantry Division:
3 Infantry Regiments: 8th, 12th, 22nd
4 Field Artillery Battalions: 20th (155 mm), then 29th, 42nd and 44th (all 3 with 105 mm)
4th Engineer Combat Battalion

Various units from HQ, like a “Military Police Platoon” => as we’ll probably go to a smaller-scale unit level, perhaps even a (British model) “Military Police”?

(4th Medical Battalion => well, some Medical Jeep on rescuing missions?)
4th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized) => ‘could be various units models… => Especially because we have the 102nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (MECZ) together with this Infantry Division!

‘Time to see some US Jeeps, in the mix!
*******
German use of French buildings: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_sou ... _allemande => There, near the beginning, under the “installation” section, you have many interesting info like “Hotel Ritz: Luftwaffe HQ”, etc. (It’s in French, but the English equivalent webpage don’t contain these info…)
*******
Before, Hitler has been in Paris: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File ... uselang=fr (3 names on this picture, use your mouse…) ( )
After, well, it’s De Gaulle under the Arc de Triomphe, but moreover, German officer POWs: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File ... uselang=fr
*******
An event for LATE August 1944:
J.D. Salinger seeks out Ernest Hemingway, which was already a literary star. Salinger was then a soldier; they met in the famous Ritz Hotel.

From here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4th_Infan ... ed_States)
“During the liberation of Paris, Ernest Hemingway took on a self-appointed role as a civilian scout in the city of Paris for his friends in the 4 ID. He was with the 22nd Infantry Regiment when it advanced from Paris, northeast through Belgium, and into Germany. J. D. Salinger, who met Hemingway during the liberation of Paris, was with the 12th Infantry Regiment.”

But much more info about this from this link:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/salinger ... _n_1756459
*******
Poster of the Parisian committee of the Liberation concerning the paving of the buildings with the colors of the Allies:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... _Paris.jpg

Well, the text is a little long, but, just in case, here is a translation of it:

“To the population of Greater Paris

The population of Greater Paris will greet the entry of the Allied armies into the suburban communities and the districts of our capital with ardent demonstrations of sympathy in all the districts of Paris and in all the suburban localities.

Everywhere the houses will be paved with the allied colors. Everywhere, next to the French flag, the English, American and Soviet flags will be flown.

LONG LIVE THE ALLIES!
LONG LIVE PARIS!
LONG LIVE FRANCE!

The Parisian Committee of the Liberation

We reproduce below the allied flags so that the patriots can make them to hoist them everywhere next to the French flag and thus associate our three great allies in the same feeling of recognition and affectionate sympathy.”
*******
Some maps that may help :
https://www.google.ch/imgres?imgurl=htt ... egUIARC-AQ (the various German HQs locations, etc. - may be useful together with the part German use of French buildings)

https://www.google.ch/imgres?imgurl=htt ... egUIARDFAQ (a glance at the main units in the outskirts, mainly in the West, the well-defended part)
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-28878780 (not that easy to read, but shows the density of barricades – the top left symbol! – within the city…)

[ColonelY]

From here https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dietrich_ ... r_de_Paris :

"When the insurrection broke out, the Germans were still twenty thousand strong in the capital. Apart from a security regiment supported by out-of-date French tanks, the garrison consisted mainly of staffs and services unfit for combat. However, columns of units crushed in Normandy and retreating to the Somme crossed the capital free of Allied air attacks. The retreat of these units is covered by a number of Panther tanks."
=> This confirms the absence of allied air strikes. And that leaves an opportunity to show some weakened German "reinforcements" at some point in the scenario...
=> 16 (from another source) to 20'000 Germans in the capital, then some retreating columns from Normandy...
*******
A strong image: https://histoire-image.org/fr/etudes/liberation-paris

Resistance fighters firing a British lMG Bren.303.
*******
It is said that a good third of the city was in the hands of the partisans before the regular troops entered...
*******
Note again, there are some German SS (soldiers) and Gestapo (police) units in Paris...

[ColonelY]

Book: "The 250th Field Artillery Men Remember World War II: The 250th Adapted to the Artillery Trademark: Shoot-Move-And-Communicate"

Synopsis: "The war memories for each were not easy to tell or write, for some had repressed them long ago. We have been able to live the American Dream through dedicated soldiers as the 250th Field Artillerymen. They spent many nights together away from home with ties that would bind them together that has never loosened over the years. Their stories are inspiring ones of faith, courage, patriotism and some told with humor, which helped to put their experience into perspective - somewhat! During this time, our people here at home were doing their part in everyway they could. Everyone listened to the radio for further news. The good news finally came - from "Day of Infamy" to "VE-VJ Day!" As a light weight 105mm howitzer battalion they would become known for their firing power. They made history and are leaving a legacy to be most proud. They proved they still can answer to the call of duty. I am proud to say, never once did I not enjoy my work with each of these men. Let's just say - we have a deeper friendship than when we began this project together. I became their ears and wrote the word for many of them. I scribbled making notes as they talked and then, when hunched over my keyboard to translate from them working into the early morning hours. I pray I conveyed each story as each of them would have. As I wrote, I got the sense what the American flag meant to each - it symbolized a Tradition of Caring. I wrote with a lump in my throat and a tear in my eyes and, yes, a little snicker."

From here https://journals.openedition.org/rha/2423 :
"My Father was with Leclerc". The US Army’s 250th Field Artillery Battalion trained in Paris, Texas, and landed on Utah Beach in late July 1944. Beginning in early August, it provided artillery support for the French 2nd Armored Division for the battle of Falaise Gap and for the drive from Le Mans to Strasbourg. The battalion received several awards from the French including a brigade citation, and members of the battalion received 20 Croix de guerre medals and were authorized to wear the fourragère de la Croix de la guerre. After the war veterans from the 250th remained in contact with veterans of the 2nd Division and were proud of their association with the famous division[/i]."

Then a very nice, but long, story awaits anyone who wish to copy-paste paragraphs... It's a little too long to be put here, actually, but it's really cool!

For example:
"[...] When the Americans were attached to the 2nd Armored Division, they knew little about it and did not expect to work with it as long as they did. Several veterans of the battalion later gathered what information they had. One of them recalled, "Around August 7, we were attached to the 2nd AD. This unit was made up of Sherman tanks. Most of the division's clothing and rations were provided by the U.S. Army logistics. "Another added: "We learned that we were the only American unit among the French. This division was commanded by General Leclerc, who belonged to the French nobility, who had imagined a novel escape when France fell to the Germans. The 2nd armored division was organized deep in the Sahara Desert and from there was sent to the coast of Africa to be equipped by an American order. "He and the other men of the 250th knew little of the trials and tribulations of the soldiers who had escaped the clutches of the Nazis and continued to fight despite the insurmountable obstacles they faced. [...] A soldier in the 250th later recalled why the Germans surrendered to the Americans: "They were afraid of the French and surrendered to the 250th." [...] In their first battle together, the 2nd AD and the battalion had played a major role in one of the most important battles of the war. [...] However, Leclerc would not allow the French capital to be liberated without his troops. Although the battle of Falaise was a major strain on his forces, he detached ten light tanks, ten armored cars and ten troop transport trucks to Paris. After the insurrection of the Free French Forces against the Germans, Eisenhower relented and on August 21, Leclerc was ordered to head immediately for the capital. [...] As the 2nd armored division rushed towards Paris, the 250th battalion left its bosom and supported the 79th and 30th American divisions. Two weeks later, after the liberation of Paris, the battalion joined the Leclerc Division at Bar-sur-Aube (200 kilometers east of Paris). The men of the 250th knew that Leclerc's division had been greeted by the people of the capital with an enthusiasm virtually unmatched in the annals of military history. Many Americans regretted not having taken part in the wild festivities. [...]"

Well, we may thus have a vanguard group in front of our 2e DB in the Liberation of Paris scenario (10 light tanks, 10 armored cars and 10 troop transport trucks were detached to Paris)...

What can be learned there, for example:

This battalion was very efficient. It was the single American unit put inside the "2ème Division Blindée" of Leclerc. It fought under Leclerc's command at Argentan, NOT at Paris, then again at Strasbourg. It was a motorized unit equipped with 105mm Howitzer...

It may appear on the 16Argentan scenario together with a cool event, or something, and on the 19Strasbourg and probably even on the 20OperationNordwind.

Another 105mm M2A1 Howitzer unit with the same motorization than other artillery units... Under the US flag, but named perhaps "US 250th Artillery / French 2e DB" (it's just not too long to be properly displayed, so that's perfect!)


16Argentan:
-> Adding this unit with an event
-> Very little detail: One "Régiment d'Artillerie / 2e DB" is looking to the E instead of to the N of the map... in the mix of our troops, this may look strange.
-> To compensate, 'may add one (or even two) German artillery pieces somewhere on the battlefield!

[ColonelY]

... by the way, this text ends up like this: "When the Germans finally surrendered, the 250th Field Artillery Battalion was far removed from the 2nd Division, but after the war, veterans of the American battalion kept in touch with those of the French Division. The battalion began holding reunions in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas in June 1964. Veterans of the Leclerc Division sometimes attended these reunions, or, if none could attend, they sent a letter of friendship. A memorandum in the archives of the 2nd AD reports friendly relations with the Americans, "our brothers in arms," with a mention for "the president of the 250th FAB is Mr. Walter Yuratich who speaks French with that delightful Acadian idiom. "The men of the 250th were officially made "alumni" of the 2nd Armored Division, and as the son of a veteran, I appreciated the hospitality and friendship of the division office in Paris. While I was head of the history department at West Point Military Academy, we managed to get some 2nd AD alumni to accompany students from that school on a staff ride in Normandy to the Falaise Gap. Prior to the staff ride, most of the cadets knew very little about the role of the 2nd Division during these battles and I think it is important for them to understand that the French and Americans fought side by side during one of the most important battles in modern military history. On several occasions, I have also had the pleasure of telling the West Point cadets how "my father was with Leclerc"."

So, it's rather unique!

[bru888]

Colonel, thanks for all of this. I am going through it, adopting some things and rejecting others (if only for the sake of not fitting in with my design motifs).

For example, one of the primary objectives is "Paris to be liberated by the French" which is explained as "This is determined by which ally inflicts the first damage on a garrison bunker that is guarding a key site. Les Français, oui! Les Américains, non."

Your input inspired this nifty message (please check the title spelling, though) that rewards the player if a French unit is the first to strike a blow for liberating the city:

Screenshot 1.jpg (173.94 KiB) Viewed 2651 times

Screenshot 2.jpg (193.7 KiB) Viewed 2651 times

(The text is a blend of what you quoted and what author Atkinson wrote about this superb moment.)

As for the rest, you will see some of it and some you will not. So far, these are making the grade:
• Definitely the 4th U.S. Infantry Division is here, and on the right flank. I've got them positioned accurately, and the player will most likely follow their historical path.
• I will throw in a couple of U.S. jeeps (maybe for the French, too?) but not medical jeeps. I don't plan any rescue/healing missions so I have no use for medical jeeps.
• The meeting of Ernest Hemingway and J.D. Salinger during the liberation of Paris will be in this scenario. I will find a good pic. (See, this is why you got credit for "inspiration.")
• The U.S. 250th Field Artillery Battalion in THIS scenario (bending the truth a bit, and in Strasbourg and Operation Nordwind) — I need more Allied units anyway and I like the background story of "From Paris to Paris." Please squint your eyes about the "As the 2nd armored division rushed towards Paris, the 250th battalion left its bosom."
• A couple of German Renault FT-17 tanks in the mix (I love the blending of Panther/Tigers and this rattletrap on the same battlefield, an indication of waning German fortunes):

German_Renault_FT-17.jpg (88.29 KiB) Viewed 2651 times

These are probably not making the grade:
• Insurrectionist French police. You will see why when you examine what I am doing with the French partisan units; it's quite complicated (and hopefully balanced) as it is. Basically, the French resistance have no chance in battling even the military police units (Gestapo and Carlingue) who are chasing them much less the regular troops and bunkers in the city. It's a timing mechanism and challenge for the player to get to Paris and stop the killing before too many French partisan units are lost. Swapping some of them for insurrectionist French police would be complicated and upset the timing and balance. And the inner city is already populated to the point where adding any more units would be overcrowding.
• Yes, no warplanes in this scenario on either side. I did not read that the Allied air forces did very much to facilitate LeClerc's swift drive into Paris and I refuse to believe that the Allies would authorize bombing strikes on the city itself. Their air supremacy is becoming so dominant by this time in the war that the Germans would have little or nothing in the air, I think. There will be some enemy air units in Strasbourg and Operation Nordwind, but I think that's going to be it. Maybe in Amherst Drop as a "last ditch" thing; I'll take a look at it when the time comes.
• Pre-weakened enemy units. This may have been historical, but in terms of gameplay it's not advisable. Else, it's going to be more of a walkover than it is now. The secret is, by the way, when you have 80+ enemy units on the map BUT they are mostly in Static Defense mode, your 60-70 units are going to crush them in detail, one batch at a time. Such is going to be the case here, except that it's going to get tougher as you approach the city. Still, I think the only question here will be how many turns you need to get the job done. Pre-weakened units would make this even easier; perhaps too easy.
• Including the U.S. 250th Field Artillery Battalion in Argentan. If I had know about this back then I probably would have worked it in but I don't want to reopen Argentan for this purpose to either add yet another French artillery unit or replace Régiment d'Artillerie, Artillerie Coloniale, or Artillerie Nord-Africain to accommodate it.* Bringing it to the player's attention in Liberation of Paris, with that "From Paris to Paris" theme, is just too delicious to scruple about absolute historical accuracy. Just a question, and I know you will not be offended: What is your opinion about the accuracy ... mais non, I did find confirmation of the unit's involvement with Leclerc's command in the preview text of the book that you mentioned (page 4). Your link is to what looks like someone's personal blog and I did want confirmation. So now I have it; I hope you don't mind my momentary doubt. "De Paris à Paris," c'est manifique!

*But I did fix this in Argentan. "Yo, eyes front! Yeah, I'm talking to you. The battle is this way, bozo!" ( ) You have some eyes for detail!

Screenshot 3.jpg (179.61 KiB) Viewed 2651 times

[ColonelY]

You're welcome!

Hey, great picture for these German Renault FT-17!

Nice, things are progressing quickly and well! So:

=> « Salut les Libérateurs ! » no spelling issue there.

=> Some French jeeps too? Sure, why not? I would say less than for the American, but… here’s general Leclerc on jeep in Paris: https://www.google.ch/imgres?imgurl=htt ... egUIARCxAQ
(Leclerc is at the extreme left of this photo; Here in front of Notre Dame Cathedral, in Paris of course!)

=> Fine for the U.S. 250th Field Artillery Battalion: 3 scenarios in a row!

=> No, I don’t mind at all. Sometimes better double-checking anyway. As far as accuracy is concerned, I would say that we try to do the best we can... but then we must of course adapt to the gameplay, to the possibilities. And juggle a little bit with what is plausible, sometimes...
*******

[...] I need more Allied units anyway [...]

More? Like, how many units, more or less?

- Have you taken into account that you can somehow double the light armored capability of the 4th US Infantry Division, because its own "4th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop (mechanized)" was at that time reinforced by the "102nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (mechanized too)"?
- Well, we can always add Leclerc himself, but that won't probably change much... purely in terms of numbers, that is!

[ColonelY]

We could involve some "vanguard" French units, for once... perhaps almost all named "Avant-garde / 2e DB" or something... light tanks, armored recon (or jeeps), infantry in trucks... and a few more units for the Allies, a few more !

[bru888]

As far as accuracy is concerned, I would say that we try to do the best we can... but then we must of course adapt to the gameplay, to the possibilities. And juggle a little bit with what is plausible, sometimes...
That's the spirit. I think our judgment has been rather sound and quite historical, except once in a while... For example, I looked up the name of the main division occupying Paris at the time; I put a perfectly useless airfield in the approximate spot where today's Orly Airport would have been; every location and monument is spot on where it should be except where I had to move a couple of towns a few hexes here and there to accommodate the map (for example, so to not have a town at the bottom of the screen be covered by the control panel); every bend in the Seine and the Marne is true, I believe. Yet, I am willing to stretch the truth on the U.S. 250th Field Artillery Battalion because it is too tempting, adding too much to the immersion and fun. It's plausible, as you say, and only a slight distortion of the record.

[...] I need more Allied units anyway [...]

More? Like, how many units, more or less?
Don't know yet. I am just in the final phases of this scenario. It goes like this:
1. Make the map using the best template possible.
2. Write up the briefing and/or the introductory messages. I do this to help me fine-tune and focus the battle.
3. Develop the objectives.
4. Tweak 1, 2, and 3 repeatedly as I go through the next phases.
5. Create the triggers to accomplish or fail objectives.
6. Create other triggers to provide popup messages, campaign variables, other setup, and activations for both sides.
7. Develop the orders of battle for both sides.
8. Tweak 1 through 7 as I get further ideas in selecting and placing units and choreographing their movements.
9. Write up the scenario outcomes (I save this for last because I want them to reflect everything in 1 through 8.)
10. Review everything from top to bottom (and yet you still find the bugs that I overlook).

So right now, with Liberation of Paris, I am at 7 and 8.

- Have you taken into account that you can somehow double the light armored capability of the 4th US Infantry Division, because its own "4th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop (mechanized)" was at that time reinforced by the "102nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (mechanized too)"?
- Well, we can always add Leclerc himself, but that won't probably change much... purely in terms of numbers, that is!
I think what will happen is that I will descend to the company level. I probably will label accordingly, like "2e Cie ..." No problem matching up with the German order of battle in this regard; other than labeling a bunch of units in Paris as merely "325th Security Division" (and using your suggested Pionier names for German engineers, which came in handy), the rest are named things like "Eastern Defense" and "Garnison" (garrison).

We could involve some "vanguard" French units, for once... perhaps almost all named "Avant-garde / 2e DB" or something... light tanks, armored recon (or jeeps), infantry in trucks... and a few more units for the Allies, a few more ! Will do.

[ColonelY]

Lesser known facts about the Liberation of Paris:
(Here is a source: https://www.thelocal.fr/20140819/libera ... s-to-know/ )

1. It starts with a strike… this we know already!
2. Many barricades… idem, but now we’ve more details about it – rather interesting! (May complete nicely some text here and there, depending on what you’ve been concocted for us. )
[…]
5. Hem…
6. Hem…
7. Ok!

=> More interesting, I would say: pts 8 to 10…
I quote:
“8. Snipers disrupted the Liberation Parade
On August 26th, France's victorious General Charles de Gaulle, marched down the Champs-Elysées with his troops.
Parading across Paris, he then reached Notre Dame Cathedral. That’s when shots were fired around him by snipers, causing a wave of panic in the crowd.
The snipers had been hiding on the roofs of the surrounding buildings, hoping to reach De Gaulle. Luckily, no one was killed, but the gunmen were not caught.

9. Fighting continues after liberation parade
During the Liberation Parade on August 26th, Charles de Gaulle made his famous speech, saying Paris had suffered but was now freed from the enemy.
However, the French capital was not quite free from fighting. Clashes continued with stubborn German fighters for two more days. The period of “purification” of Paris that followed was also marked by violence, with arbitrary executions and revenge killings of those perceived as pro-German.

10. Jean Cocteau’s cigarette shot
The well-known author and cinema director Jean Cocteau had been sitting on the balcony of the Hotel Crillon to watch the Liberation Parade, when the cigarette he was smoking was suddenly torn in half by a bullet. The shot had meant to kill him after he was mistaken for a German sniper.
Later that year, Cocteau appeared in front of the Cinema Purification Committee, after being criticised for his actions during the Occupation, but he was quickly cleared of any wrongdoings.“

These points, 8 to 10, may deserve a few historical events in a row!

Jean Cocteau mistaken for a German sniper on this occasion...
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We've already a picture of Hitler in Paris, right?

Well, there’s a legend that when the Germans marched into Paris, one little metal part that was needed to run the elevator of the Eiffel Tower to the very top mysteriously went missing. Hitler could only survey Paris from the lower levels, unless he wanted to climb all that way on foot. He didn’t.

The day the Germans retreated from Paris, that little metal part mysteriously reappeared.

There are many ways to resist...
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Leclerc did not benefit from air support during his advance towards the city, but...

I've heard once that the Germans did engage in a massive Air Raid of the city the night after the liberation.
(The night after the Liberation, does that mean just after the night following the "Liberation Parade"? )

Remember: Hitler wanted to make another new "Stalingrad" there to delay several Allied divisions... but he wanted as well the destruction of the city... the mined structures did not blow up, fortunately, but...

It seems to be confirmed: "The Liberation did not immediately bring peace to Paris; a thousand persons were killed and injured by a German bombing raid on August 26, the city and region suffered from attacks by German V-1 rockets beginning on September 3; food rationing and other restrictions remained in force through the end of the war, but the climate of fear had disappeared." ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_in_World_War_II )

=> A final unexpected action towards the end of the scenario, when enough objs have been achieved? The warning of an imminent German bombing raid, the help provided by a handful of Allied dogfighters, perhaps even some German "captured" AA facing these skies... another sec obj to deal enough damages to them or to destroy enough of these planes (or worse!)

=> V-1 rockets... well, we've the Jap model of Ohka... something there to exploit? Like some of them joining this bombing raid (it happened later historically anyway), or some "secret" basis near the edge of the map (in the northern section) to assault in order to prevent them to fly soon... Like some defended airstrips or something? (But that may be a little too much, though... on the other hand, this might be the only opportunity to make them appear once in this campaign...)
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As German division inside Paris, you've certainly taken into account the German 325th Security Division with its OoB:

1st Security Regiment
5th Security Regiment
6th Security Regiment
190th Security Regiment
325th Fusiliers Company
325th Engineer Company
325th Artillery Regiment
325th Tank Destroyer Company
325th Signal Company
325th Divisional Supply Group

(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/325th_Sec ... Wehrmacht) )