North of Sézanne, France

The German Group von Kleist had broken through the French front on the Marne and rushed south in pursuit of the routed French units. The 4th Panzer Dvision spearheaded their drive toward Sézanne, Troyes and the Seine river. At around 1000, Battle Group Boineburg seized Montmirail, pushing aside elements of the 59th Light Infantry Division. The French, aided by a company from the 4th Tank Battalion, then tried desperately to halt the advance of the panzers and allow their dislocated units to withdraw, forming small defensive hedgehogs on the roads to Sézanne. At 1230, division commander Georges-Eugène-Joseph Lascroux moved his headquarters to the eastern exit of Les Essarts, but faced with an impressive tank push on Clos-le-Roi he moved on to Lachy.

The 59th Light Infantry Division had been formed on May 30 by renaming the 17th Infantry Division, itself formed on May 21 from the remnants of the 55th and 71st Infantry Divisions shattered in the fighting along the Meuse. It comprised two infantry regiments, the 83rd and 135th, the 47th GRDI and the 84th Artillery Regiment with two groups of 75/97 horse-drawn guns.

The 84th Artillery Regiment deployed at the edge of the forest and opened fire on the German columns, but the invaders continued to advance southward. A combination of 150mm artillery fire and air attacks destroyed most of the French guns; French infantry, pursued by tanks, fled in panic or were surrounded. The FCM36 tanks of the 4th Tank Battalion finally intervened, but ran into the 35th Panzer Regiment. The Germans opened fire at long range, quickly destroying two French tanks, but a series of four flank attacks by the 4th Battalion's company forced the Germans to retreat each time, enabling the French infantry and artillery to withdraw.

Around 1300, Maczek received new orders from VII Corps to act as rearguard for the 20th and 59th Infantry Divisions retreating to the southeast. Maczek chanced upon the headquarters of the 59th Light infantry Division, on the very spot where Foch's 1914 offensive had begun. At 1600 the Polish brigade intervened to enable the French to withdraw to the southeast. But when Maczek's tanks reached their line of departure, a squadron of Hs123 biplanes appeared and the brigade lost a dozen vehicles, 12 dead and some 15 wounded.

Once the planes had left, the Polish tanks deployed and went on the attack. Two companies made rapid progress and surprised a reconnaissance detachment supported by anti-tank gun. In the ensuing exchange of fire, the Poles put two armored cars out of action, but suffered damage to two R35's. In the end, the Polish brigade had no choice but to withdraw at around 1800. By evening, the 59th Light Infantry Division had all but ceased to exist.

Use French 25mm AT, 25CA, DRG, and R40 units to represent Polish units. There is a DIY countersheet for a Polish version of the French substitute counters.

Counters from White Eagles may be used instead of those from The Deluge.