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Xertigny, France 1940-06-18 (4 others)

Overview:

In early June Panzergruppe Guderian launched an attack from Sedan, heading southeast towards the Swiss border. The intent was to cut off and surround the remaining French forces deployed along the Maginot Line. As part of this operation, the 6th Panzer Division sent two Kampfgruppen eastward with orders to capture the city of Épinal as quickly as possible. En route to Épinal, the leading elements of Kampfgruppe Koll reached Xertigny, a crossroads town, just before noon on 18 June. In response to the German advance, the cavalrymen of the 1st Squadron of the 23rd Groupe de Reconnaissance de Corps d’Armée had arrived in Xertigny two days earlier and begun constructing roadblocks. Reinforced by machine gunners and two 75mm guns, the defenders of Xertigny repulsed the first German units that approached the town.

Defender: French (Elements of 1e Escadron, 23e Groupe de Reconnaissance de Corps d’Armée, 55e Bataillon de Mitrailleurs Motorisés, 5e Batterie de 26e R.A.D. and local Gardes Mobiles)  

Errata (source)