Post by Diarist on Sept 19, 2016 13:27:06 GMT 1
We had breakfast in a mess hall belonging to the 10th Infantry Division which is stationed in Paris. It is an active division therefore at full-strength. I believe it is part of 6th Army which belongs to the French High Command's Reserve. "Did I miss anything important yesterday, General?"
"No. If I understand correctly no war plans have been decided."
"That is correct. We believe than any determined response by us would stop Hitler dead in his tracks. With the Saar in French hands Hitler's days are numbered. Our goal is for Germany to capitulate without a shot being fired."
"I did have the opportunity to confer with Colonel de Gaulle about the organization of the armoured formations. In my opinion they don't have enough tanks."
"And I believe it needs more infantry, Sir. That's why we'd like the French Army to evaluate the division and give us an independent opinion. Important is how it is used and that's where Charles comes in. He knows our doctrine. Another important point is that tanks have more firepower and are more mobile as are their support units. The biggest problem at the moment is keeping them supplied."
We were leaving when the post commander, a brigadier, arrived. He was just in time to say farewell to us. We then drove to General Gamelin's HQ at Hôtel de Brienne in the 7th arrondissement. I was introduced to the commanders of five cavalry divisions and I had to smile. General Gamelin asked me why I'm smiling.
"Five weeks ago there was a meeting at the Ministry of Defence where I introduced our armoured division organization to our top generals. I was still a major then, not a minister. I made it quite clear to Winston Churchill that none of these generals will ever command an armoured division, (the same applies here), because if they are good they'll be corps commanders in a few years; if they're not they won't be commanding anything important least of all an armoured division. Inside their commands are the talented brigadiers or very talented colonels who will command these divisions, one such commander is standing next to me.
The corps commanders will need to know how to utilize armoured formations. In England we are finalizing a package to be given to our army schools to teach officers and NCO's this new doctrine. I'm sure there will be spaces available for English-speaking French personnel. They can then return to set up your own courses here."
"I'd welcome that. Now can we go through the dossier now because I do have questions."
"Please begin, General."
"I stated earlier that there are not enough tanks and you said there are too many tanks."
"Au contraire, mon Général. I said that there is not enough infantry. There is a difference because I'm not suggesting we reduce the number of tanks." I walked to the drawing board. "A quick look at the organization shows three armoured battalions and six infantry battalions, a 1 : 2 ratio. But a second look would show more armoured formations which require infantry protection. They are the Infantry Support Vehicle Bn., the Tank Destroyer Bn. and the Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Bn. That means only a 1 : 1 ratio - not enough. (There are also four SPA Battalions.) The Independent Armoured Brigade has one tank battalion and three infantry battalions. Include the armoured support battalion and there is a 2 :3 ratio. In my opinion it is better supported."
"This is the defensive posture, correct?"
"Correct. It will be defending a portion of the front most of the time and infantry is required for that."
"So on the offensive it will need more armour."
"That's where the Corps troops come in. Add an independent tank battalion to the battlegroup which is tasked to make the breakthrough, support it with the division's own ISV battalion and give it extra corps artillery support and extra air support to ensure the breakthrough. This is nothing new. Our doctrine involves combined arms not armoured formations alone or armour supporting an infantry offensive. We'll still need infantry to occupy captured territory but it will need armour or anti-armour to hold that territory against enemy armoured counter-attacks. And unlike cavalry the armoured division won't attack an objective then retire back to the frontline, it will keep on going and to hell with the flanks. Its safety is in its mobility. The next echelon will be racing to keep up with the armoured formation and be its mobile flanks. The non-mobile third echelon will widen the gap in the enemy front and be the shoulders of the armoured wedge.
Further along the front there will be a second armoured thrust which will have the same objective as the first and all the enemy troops between them will be encircled."
This went on for a couple of hours and I was encouraging COL de Gaulle to answer the questions. It was rare that I added something. We finally decided it was time for lunch and I enjoyed an excellent entrecôte. After lunch General Gamelin and I went to meet PM Daladier while Charles remained with the cavalry generals.
"No. If I understand correctly no war plans have been decided."
"That is correct. We believe than any determined response by us would stop Hitler dead in his tracks. With the Saar in French hands Hitler's days are numbered. Our goal is for Germany to capitulate without a shot being fired."
"I did have the opportunity to confer with Colonel de Gaulle about the organization of the armoured formations. In my opinion they don't have enough tanks."
"And I believe it needs more infantry, Sir. That's why we'd like the French Army to evaluate the division and give us an independent opinion. Important is how it is used and that's where Charles comes in. He knows our doctrine. Another important point is that tanks have more firepower and are more mobile as are their support units. The biggest problem at the moment is keeping them supplied."
We were leaving when the post commander, a brigadier, arrived. He was just in time to say farewell to us. We then drove to General Gamelin's HQ at Hôtel de Brienne in the 7th arrondissement. I was introduced to the commanders of five cavalry divisions and I had to smile. General Gamelin asked me why I'm smiling.
"Five weeks ago there was a meeting at the Ministry of Defence where I introduced our armoured division organization to our top generals. I was still a major then, not a minister. I made it quite clear to Winston Churchill that none of these generals will ever command an armoured division, (the same applies here), because if they are good they'll be corps commanders in a few years; if they're not they won't be commanding anything important least of all an armoured division. Inside their commands are the talented brigadiers or very talented colonels who will command these divisions, one such commander is standing next to me.
The corps commanders will need to know how to utilize armoured formations. In England we are finalizing a package to be given to our army schools to teach officers and NCO's this new doctrine. I'm sure there will be spaces available for English-speaking French personnel. They can then return to set up your own courses here."
"I'd welcome that. Now can we go through the dossier now because I do have questions."
"Please begin, General."
"I stated earlier that there are not enough tanks and you said there are too many tanks."
"Au contraire, mon Général. I said that there is not enough infantry. There is a difference because I'm not suggesting we reduce the number of tanks." I walked to the drawing board. "A quick look at the organization shows three armoured battalions and six infantry battalions, a 1 : 2 ratio. But a second look would show more armoured formations which require infantry protection. They are the Infantry Support Vehicle Bn., the Tank Destroyer Bn. and the Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Bn. That means only a 1 : 1 ratio - not enough. (There are also four SPA Battalions.) The Independent Armoured Brigade has one tank battalion and three infantry battalions. Include the armoured support battalion and there is a 2 :3 ratio. In my opinion it is better supported."
"This is the defensive posture, correct?"
"Correct. It will be defending a portion of the front most of the time and infantry is required for that."
"So on the offensive it will need more armour."
"That's where the Corps troops come in. Add an independent tank battalion to the battlegroup which is tasked to make the breakthrough, support it with the division's own ISV battalion and give it extra corps artillery support and extra air support to ensure the breakthrough. This is nothing new. Our doctrine involves combined arms not armoured formations alone or armour supporting an infantry offensive. We'll still need infantry to occupy captured territory but it will need armour or anti-armour to hold that territory against enemy armoured counter-attacks. And unlike cavalry the armoured division won't attack an objective then retire back to the frontline, it will keep on going and to hell with the flanks. Its safety is in its mobility. The next echelon will be racing to keep up with the armoured formation and be its mobile flanks. The non-mobile third echelon will widen the gap in the enemy front and be the shoulders of the armoured wedge.
Further along the front there will be a second armoured thrust which will have the same objective as the first and all the enemy troops between them will be encircled."
This went on for a couple of hours and I was encouraging COL de Gaulle to answer the questions. It was rare that I added something. We finally decided it was time for lunch and I enjoyed an excellent entrecôte. After lunch General Gamelin and I went to meet PM Daladier while Charles remained with the cavalry generals.