ISBN 978 1 78200 287 1
Raised in 1635 2e Régiment de Cuirassiers was one of France’s oldest cavalry regiments, disbanded after WW1 but re-built in 1940 PzRgt 35 was formed in 1938. They would meet on a foreign field in 1940. Half the book compares the opposing tanks, crew training and tactics. Significant factors were the heavier armour and 47mm gun of the Somua S 35 (Société d’outillage mécanique et d’usinage d’artillerie), but also a poorly designed turret and over-tasked commander; for the opponent PzKfw III, the five-man, combat-experienced crews from the Polish campaign. Equipped with Panhard armoured cars, Somua S 35, Hotchkiss H 39 tanks, 2e Cuirassiers, part of 3e DLM, Division légère mécanique was sent to Belgium with the Corps de cavalerie to delay the panzers of XVI. Armeekorps, awaiting the slower French infantry divisions. With its PzKfw I, II, PzKfw III, PzKfw IV and Befehlspanzer, 4.PzDiv’s PzRgt 35 was part of the distraction force as the main panzer formations infiltrated through the Ardennes. The tanks fought a four day battle at Hannut and surrounding villages and Gembloux Gap, the Germans putting forward their PzKfw III, PzKfw IV and 88mm FlaK to deal with the S 35s. In the intense ‘witches’ cauldron’ battle on May 13, 3.PzDiv joined 4.PzDiv in the attack. By the next day at Gembloux, many French tanks had withdrawn behind the arrived infantry of 1er Armée, the panzers and schützen sustaining heavy losses from the French infantry and antitank guns. Photos of tanks, AFVs, battle damage, maps and artwork. Thanks to Osprey for my digital reprint copy from their back catalogue. John Ham, April 2024.