A reinforced German regiment struggled mightily to make any headway against a much weaker but determined French defense. German company-sized groups moved out to secure 4 small towns to protect the flanks of two larger battalion sized forces that would seize the central city. Two mechanized exploitation forces waited to punch into the Frenh rear areas. The small towns refused to capitulate so the larger assault forces launched their attack and were pitilessly ground down by Frenh artillery and more fruitless town assaults. Now hours into the failing operation, the German exploitation forces drove deep into French territory only to be stood up by reservists and Dragoons waiting for them. The Germans were forced to conduct a general retreat in order to preserve any of their force. Major French victory.