With the halting of offensive action on other fronts, the German army concentrates on reaching the Seine river and Paris. After reorganizing from their offensive on Reims, the German army pushes into Compiègne. French forces in Compiègne are 4 badly mauled divisions who are overrun after several days. German armies reach the Seine river and the gates of Paris inside a massive salient.
Wary of attacking Paris, the Germans choose instead to flatten the front and drive the French completely behind the Seine. An attack on Amiens is launched, but fails as French reinforcements arrive in the last minute. An attack on Lille following a failed French attack on Mons succeeds but forces there immediately come under a French counterattack. The battle's course is reversed as Antwerp falls and reinforcements can be brought to the front.
Meanwhile, the French forces in the South continue to advance. Having reached as far as the Saar and Stuttgart. The German divisions frantically decide to close the gap as the French strech out their defensive lines.
The French are finally cut off in the south and a counterattack drives the French forces from Alsace. German and Austro-Hungarian continue to try to annihilate the encircled French army deep in German territory.
Another offensive is launched on Amiens, but it too fails to achieve it's objectives. An attack is launched across the Marne river into Troyes but it too grounds to a halt.
In the south, the counterattack continues into Belfort and eventually takes it.
July sees an end to the Second Battle of Amiens and the First Battle of Troyes as the French threaten to take Ghent, an attack which would ultimately fail with the coming of reinforcements.
The rampaging French army is finally cought and annihilated in Leipzig, allowing even more German divisions to be brought to the line.
Finally, the first Assault Trooper divisions make their appearance on the battlefield. Armed with flamethrowers and submachine guns, with proper doctrine advances, these troops might prove a decisive weapon.
Not giving the French troops any respite, the Germans launch another offensive. Another attack is launched on Amiens while forces in Lille advance to Calais in an effort to trap French troops in Dunkerque. In the south, a combined assault from Belfort and across the Marne again manages to rout the French.
The French are encircled in Dunkerque and soon surrender. With the French front in the north close to collapse, the Germans push forward. The Third Battle of Amiens is supported from the north and the French retreat by early September. French forces in Le Havre are attacked and forced to retreat behind the river, conceeding the right bank of the Seine to German forces.
In the south, German forces push forward into undefended Vichy and attack north into Auxerre, stopping within sight of the Eifel Tower.
The stage is set for the Battle of Paris.
Part 3 coming soon...