Vesting Holland, a Paths of Glory Variant by David Meyler Prior to the First World War, the Dutch government had an informal but effective “spy” service in operation in Germany. With the receipt of the coded message “api api” in late July 1914, following the Sarajevo crisis, the Dutch government ordered full mobilization (ironically, the first nation in Western Europe to do so). Meaning fire in Malay, the code meant imminent German mobilization, and with that, an expected invasion. The Dutch knew that German war plans from 1906 included an invasion of the Netherlands, but were unaware this provision had been dropped a few years later. A German invasion never did come, but the Dutch armed forces remained on alert for the duration of the war, in fact doubling its pre-war size by 1918. The Dutch Army in 1914 was based on eight infantry brigades organized into four divisions, each brigade comprising three regiments and some field artillery. In support was a cavalry brigade and horse artillery regiment, and a small air service with about a dozen aircraft. There was also a territorial reserve of 16 regiments. Unlike the Second World War, the Dutch field army (Veld Leger) was about the same size as its Belgian equivalent, and had the same shortages in heavy artillery and machine guns. Taking into account the Dutch navy and overseas forces, the military establishment of the Netherlands was considerably greater than that of Belgium. Two of the Dutch divisions were posted near Maastricht, with a third division in the Arnhem area, and the fourth in reserve. It was meant as a clear indication that any violation of Dutch territory would meet resistance, even a limited German advance through Maastricht to bypass Liege. Berlin, in fact, complained about this obviously anti-German deployment before the war, and the Dutch began an extensive re-fortification of the the port of Vlissingen in the Scheldt estuary as an “anti-British” move. The British, in turn, doubted Dutch intentions or abilities to oppose a German invasion and had made some preliminary studies about a limited occupation of Dutch territory along the Scheldt to secure the shipping route to Antwerp. The Vesting Holland Variant: Changes to the Map: In Holland, add an open space (black, non-VP), Nijmegen, with connections to Essen, Aachen, Antwerp and Amsterdam. Add a new fortress port space (black, non-VP), Amsterdam, with a combat /loss number of 2, and with connections to Nijmegen ad Antwerp, and a restricted connection to London (see below). The Water Line fortress zone: As long as the Amsterdam fortress is not destroyed, any Dutch unit can retreat one space and stop in Amsterdam without penalty, regardless of the length of the required retreat. Units which must retreat from Amsterdam must retreat one or two spaces as usual. London-Amsterdam connection: The connection becomes active when the Invasion Holland event is played (either on its own, or as part of the Marsch auf Holland or Commando Strike options).When activated, the London-Amsterdam connection may only be used by BR corps (either direction), or the HO corps moving from London to Amsterdam (this direction only). Amsterdam is considered an Allied port for all purposes when the connection is activated. North Sea Invasion: Attacking is not allowed over the restricted connection, except by using the Grand Fleet card. The card is not used as an event (i.e. it is not permanently removed in this case) but as an OPS 2 card used to make an attack from London on Amsterdam. The German player can cancel this attack (no losses to either side, but the OPS used by the Allied player are lost) by immediately playing the High Seas Fleet card as an event (causing it to be removed as usual). This represents the extensive naval commitments a cross-North Sea invasion would have required. Even the threat of significant German naval effort would probably have led to the cancellation of such an effort. In game terms, if the Germans take Amsterdam, the space will not be entirely secure without a garrison, even if a British invasion would be unlikely. Mandated Offensives: For mandated offensives, add “Holland” to the list of countries in 7.1.4 and in 7.1.5, and “Dutch” to the list of units, and “Holland” to the list of countries. New Units: Add the Holland Veld Leger army (nationality code “HO”, army ID ‘VL”), full strength 2-3-3/reduced 1-3-3, and one Holland corps (code “HO”), full strength 1-1-3/reduced 0-1-3. Dutch units use Allied supply sources. The VL can be rebuilt in Amsterdam only. The HO corps can be rebuilt normally as long as Amsterdam is Allied controlled. The HO corps can be rebuilt even if Amsterdam is controlled by the Central Powers. In this case, the corps may SR to London (only) from the Allied reserve (representing overseas resources). Mobilization: When the Invasion Holland event is played (either on its own, or as part of the Marsch auf Holland or Commando Strike options), place the VL army in Nijmegen, and the HO corps in the Allied reserve. Invasion Holland Event: Use Central Powers card #3 (Von Francois), but instead of playing the event as printed, the card can be used any time as the Invasion Holland event (IH), with War Status number of (1), representing the placement of more resources on the Western Front at the expense of the East. Mobilize Dutch forces, and the restricted connection between Amsterdam and London becomes active.This event gives the German player 2 Activation Points, with an automatic mandated offensive against at least one Dutch unit or fortress. This attack can be used to fulfil an otherwise required mandated offensive that turn. Once played as the IH event, the card is discarded. Marsch auf Holland! (Moltke/Schlieffen 1912 Plan): The IH event can also be used in the first turn in conjunction with the Guns of August card. This assumes Moltke retained the planned invasion of Holland (even though the optimum number of divisions was not available). This option must be chosen during the initial set up. The Central Powers player at the start of the game takes both the GoA and IH cards, and picks five other cards randomly. Change the initial set up by moving the corps in Insterberg to Essen. Both GoA and IH cards are used in the first Action Round of the first turn. Play the two cards simultaneously as the standard GoA event with the following changes. War Status number is (3). Move the 2nd and 3rd Armies to Liege (Liege forts are destroyed as usual). Move 4th Army to Koblenz. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th Armies are activated for combat. The 1st Army in Aachen and the corps in Essen are activated for combat, and must attack the VL in Nijmegen (with possible flank attack). The Central Powers player has one remaining Activation Point left that may be used freely. Commando Strike! (Schlieffen 1906 Plan): This event is similar to Marsch auf Holland, with the exceptions as noted. The Central Powers player at the start of the game takes both the GoA and IH cards, and picks six other cards randomly (the GoA/IH cards are considered as one since the big siege guns are not present). Change the initial set up by moving the corps in Insterberg to Essen. Both GoA and IH cards are used in the first Action Round of the first turn. Play the two cards simultaneously as the standard GoA event with the following changes. War Status number is (3). German player makes a commando assault on Liege by rolling one die. A 6 means the Liege forts are destroyed and the 2nd and 3rd Armies move to Liege. Any other result and Liege must be reduced as usual (2nd and 3rd Armies receive no special move) Move 4th Army to Koblenz. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th Armies are activated for combat. The 1st Army in Aachen and the corps in Essen are activated for combat, and must attack the VL in Nijmegen (with possible flank attack). The Central Powers player has one remaining Activation Point left that may be used freely.