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Bataille du Bois des Caures [Mission WW1]

On February 21, the Bois des Caures was defended in the first line by the 59e bataillon de chasseurs à pied and the 56e bataillon de chasseurs à pied in the second line, approximately 1,200 men, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Émile Driant. From 7:30 a.m., the woods and the entire front line were subjected to a particularly intense bombardment, until 4 p.m. It is estimated that around 80,000 shells fell on the wood - an area of ​​1,300 meters by 800 meters during that day.

We will never know for sure how many of the defenders survived this hurricane of steel, but when the bombardment ceased, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, a handful of infantry emerged from their shelters and prepared to fight. Their eyes are red, the explosions have made them deaf, many are injured; most of their machine guns are destroyed, some have only grenades and their bayonets. While the guns continued to pound the area behind the wood, the German assault columns, flamethrowers in the lead, began their advance among the lacerated stumps of the Caures wood. They are elements of the 42nd brigade of the 21st division, led by five pioneer detachments and flamethrower teams. The day is falling and it is starting to snow. No more than a quarter of the fighters survived the bombardment, but they clung to the ground and even counter-attacked during the night to retake a lost position. Sergeant Léger and five chasseurs shoot until they run out of ammunition; Léger still manages to use up his stockpile of 40 hand grenades before he is injured and loses consciousness. Not far from there, Sergeant Legrand and six chasseurs have only two guns left to fire, but they fight to the death. There will be only one survivor, Corporal Hutin, wounded, is captured.


Invaders: German Empire
Defenders: Armée Française

Last update: 15/01/2022

Used map: https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2720156861