AL_CALLIOPE_DESCýWhen the Americans entered the war they did not have any rocket launchers, nor did they have plans to build any. After having contact to the German Nebelwerfers they quickly decided to have this weapon, too. In months they constructed rockets, launcher equipment, built industry plants for rocket fuel and by the end of the war they had built more rockets than any other nation. The M8 was the standard rocket and there were several launchers for this rocket. One version of a launcher was mounted on the 2 tons Studebaker truck and fired eight rockets per salvo. A heavier version was able to launch 24 rockets. The heaviest version, named T34 or Calliope, shot 60 rockets. This launcher was put on top of a Sherman tank and after it shot several salvos the launcher was thrown away, since it was only a wooden construction.
AL_GREYHOUNDý
AL_GREYHOUND_DESCýThe M8 Greyhound was a light armored car used mainly for reconnaissance purposes. The Americans learned the importance of such vehicles in the first battles in Northern Africa and gave order for immediate construction in 1943. The M8 was very fast and had strong weapons for defense against infantry and enemy recon patrols. It was lightly armored though and the British, using the M8 as „Greyhound“, put sandsacks in the bottom of the vehicle to defend it against mines. There was a turretless version named M20 („Cangaroo“) for troop and equipment transports. Ford produced 11.667 M8 till the end of the war.
AL_GREYHOUND_SPECýM8 Greyhound technical dataþWeight: 7,9 tonsþMotor: Hercules with 82 KwþSpeed: 89 km/h on the roadþLength: 5 mþWidth: 2,54 mþHeight: 2,25 mþWeapons: 37mm cannon, 7,62mm MG, 12,7mm Browning
AL_P47ý
AL_P47_DESCýPerhaps the most significant fighter aircraft of World War II, the Republic Aviation P-47 Thunderbolt fighter was the largest and most powerful single engine fighter of the war and produced in more numbers than any other Allied aircraft with 15,683 made.þþIn the Ardennes it had an important role for the Allies in stopping the German columns advancing on the narrow roads by air raids.
AL_P47_SPECýP47 Technical data (Version M)þSpan: 12,42 mþLength: 10,88 mþHeight: 4,44 mþWeight: 4,5 t loadedþArmament: eight 12mm machine gunsþEngines: Pratt&Whittney engines with 2100 hp þMaximum speed: 768 Km/hþRange: 801 Km/h
AL_SHERMAN105ý
AL_SHERMAN105_DESCýLike the M7 Priest the Sherman 105 was a selfpropelled howitzer. But instead of using a special chassis or construction this time the 105mm howitzer was put inside of the small turret of a standard Sherman tank. Therefor the Sherman 105 nearly looked like the standard tank and had the same technical data concerning armor and motorization.
AL_SHERMAN105_SPECýSherman 105 technical dataþWeight: 32,3 tonsþMotor: Ford with 335 KwþSpeed: 47 km/h on the roadþLength: 6,5 mþWidth: 2,68 mþHeight: 3,43 mþWeapons: 105mm howitzer
AX_ARADO234ý
AX_ARADO234_DESCýThe Arado Ar 234 Blitz was the world's first operational jet powered bomber, built by the Arado company in the closing stages of World War II. In the field it was used almost entirely in the reconnaissance role, but in its few uses as a bomber it proved to be impossible to intercept. Arado Blitzbombers were used in the attempt to destroy the Remagen bridge.
AX_ARADO234_SPECýArado 234 Technical data (Version D-2)þSpan: 14,41 mþLength: 12,62 mþHeight: 4,42 mþWeight: 9,8 loadedþArmament: one MK 108 gun, one MG 151/20þEngines: two BMW jet engines þMaximum speed: 850 Km/hþRange: 1125 Km/h
AX_FW190ý
AX_FW190_DESCýThe Focke Wulf FW 190 is regarded as Germany's best fighter aircraft of World War II. Its appearance in the skies over France in early 1941 was a rude shock to the Allies, as it was clearly superior to any other plane of that time. For nearly a year, until the debut of the Spitfire IX, the FW 190 was unmatched.þþAs the war progressed, the FW 190 was developed into many variants as a pure fighter, a ground-attack fighter/bomber, and as a close-support aircraft. No fewer than 40 different versions were produced, with different combinations of engines, armament, wings, systems, and roles. First flown on 1 June 1939, the FW 190 served for the duration of the war.þþIn the Ardennes FW 190 flew some of the seldom German ground attacks on Allied troops.
AX_FW190_SPECýFW 190 Technical data (Version A8)þSpan: 10,51 mþLength: 8,85 mþHeight: 3,97 mþWeight: 4,4 t loadedþArmament: two 12,7 mm machine guns plus four 20mm machine gunsþEngines: BMW 801D engine of 2100 hp. þMaximum speed: 656 Km/hþRange: 800 Km/h
AX_HUMMELý
AX_HUMMEL_DESCýThe Hummel was one of the world´s first self propelled howitzers. It was built on a special chassis using the wheels and other parts of the Panzer IV and the engine of the Panzer III. The Hummel was equipped with a 15cm howitzer shooting a 43,5 kilogram grenade up to 13,3 kilometres far. The Hummels were the main weapon for the heavy artillery detachments of Panzer- and Panzergrenadierdivisions since 1942. Thanks to their mobility the artillery could now follow the leading tanks closely and was able to deliver artillery support with fast moving focus. The crew of four wasn´t well protected though. The roof was open, only tarpoline could be used against bad weather, and the side and front armor was only 50mm thick. In the case of sudden enemy attacks the vehicle was helpless and quickly lost.
AX_HUMMEL_SPECýHummel technical dataþWeight: 24 tonsþMotor: Maybach with 197 KwþSpeed: 42 km/h on the roadþLength: 7,17 mþWidth: 2,87 mþHeight: 2,81 mþWeapons: 15 cm howitzer, one 7,92 mm MG 42
AX_JAGDPANTHERýIn February 1944 the production of the Jagdpanther started. Till the end of the war 382 Jagdpanthers were produced by the factories in Braunschweig and Brandenburg. The Jagdpanther was well armored, fast and was able to destroy all existing enemy tanks including the superheavy Russian IS-2. It was constructed using the chassis of the well known Panther battle tank and had a superstructure carrying the big antitank gun Pak 43 and a MG 42. The Jagdpanther had a crew of five. This vehicle was feared by the Allies, since already little detachment of Jagdpanthers were able to halt complete armored divisions. Luckily for the Americans and British no more than 30 Jagdpanthers were ever built per month.
AX_JAGDPANTHER_DESCýIn February 1944 the production of the Jagdpanther started. Till the end of the war 382 Jagdpanthers were produced by the factories in Braunschweig and Brandenburg. The Jagdpanther was well armored, fast and was able to destroy all existing enemy tanks including the superheavy Russian IS-2. It was constructed using the chassis of the well known Panther battle tank and had a superstructure carrying the big antitank gun Pak 43 and a MG 42. The Jagdpanther had a crew of five. This vehicle was feared by the Allies, since already little detachment of Jagdpanthers were able to halt complete armored divisions. Luckily for the Americans and British no more than 30 Jagdpanthers were ever built per month.
AX_JAGDPANTHER_SPECýJagdpanther technical dataþWeight: 46 tonsþMotor: Maybach with 447 KwþSpeed: 55 km/h on the roadþLength: 9,9 m (6,87 m without gun)þWidth: 3,27 mþHeight: 2,72 mþWeapons: 8,8 cm Pak 43, 7,92 mm MG 42
AX_JAGDTIGERý
AX_JAGDTIGER_DESCýThe Jagdtiger tank hunter was even heavier than the Jagdpanther. This monstrous vehicle was built on the chassis of a Kingtiger (Tiger II B), weighed 76 tons and carried a 12,8 cm Pak 44 into the battlefield. The crew of six sat inside the vehicle safe like in a bunker, 250mm front armor couldn´t be penetrated by any enemy weapon. But the Jagdtiger had a very weak motor – in fact the same as the 30 tons lighter Jagdpanther -, so the tank was very slow. No Jagdtiger was ever destroyed by the Allies, all were abandoned by their crews due to mechanical failures. Only 70 Jagdtiger were built in the Nibelungenwerke at Sankt Valentin.
AX_JAGDTIGER_SPECýJagdtiger technical dataþWeight: 76 tonsþMotor: Maybach with 447 KwþSpeed: 34 km/h on the roadþLength: 10,65 mþWidth: 3,63 mþHeight: 2,95 mþWeapons: 12,8 cm Pak 44, two 7,92 mm MG 42
AX_JU52ý
AX_JU52_DESCýThe Ju 52 trimotor was first built in the 1930s yet remained in service for more than a quarter century. This transport plane – named Junkers „Tante Ju“ (auntie) by the Germans - made its maiden flight in April 1931 and three years later a heavy bomber version appeared. The latter aircraft formed the nucleus of the Luftwaffe's infant bomber force in the mid-1930s and it was used during the Spanish Civil War.þþThe Ju 52 was obselete as a bomber by 1939, but because of its durability, simplicity of design, and handling characteristics it continued to serve throughout WW II as a versatile workhorse of the German transport fleet. For a period, Adolph Hitler used a Ju 52 as his private transport. Ju 52s delivered the attacking forces and their supplies during the German invasion of Norway, Denmark, France and the Low Countries in 1940. Almost 500 Ju 52s participated in the historic airborne assualt on the island of Crete in May 1941 and Junkers later supplied Rommel's armored forces in North Africa. JU 52s transported the Brandenburger Regiment in the Ardennes.þþApproximately 30 different countries have flown Ju 52s while and after the war.
AX_JU52_SPECýJU 52 Technical dataþSpan: 29,25 mþLength: 18,90 mþHeight: 6,10 mþWeight: 10,5 t loadedþArmament: Four 7.9mm machine gunsþEngines: Three BMW 132T-2 engines of 830 hp. eachþMaximum speed: 250 Km/hþCruising speed: 190 Km/hþRange: 825 Km/h
AX_ME262ý
AX_ME262_DESCýThe Me 262 Schwalbe (Swallow) was the first jet-powered aircraft ever to see combat. The project began in 1938 when Messerschmitt was called upon to design a new fighter powered by two gas turbine engines being developed by BMW. Although the airframe was ready to fly by 1941, the early BMW. turbojet engines were well behind schedule due to prolonged development delays. It was 1942 when the first Me 262 flew with it´s jet engines. Junkers finally developed engines of sufficient power and reliability by late 1943 to make the new fighter feasible.þþThe Luftwaffe began committing the remarkable Me 262A-1a to combat in mid-1944 when air defense squadrons were pitted against the columns of heavy bombers making daily raids on German cities and military targets. Later models included the Me 262A-2a Sturmvogel (Stormbird) bomber and the Me 262B two-seat night fighter carrying an early form of airborne radar.þþDespite being well-armed with 30-mm cannons and air-to-air rockets, the Me 262 was simply too little too late to turn the tide of war in Germany's favor. A total of about 1,430 examples of the Me 262 were ultimately built, though only about 300 ever saw combat.
AX_ME262_SPECýME 262 Technical data þSpan: 12,48 mþLength: 10,60 mþHeight: 3,84 mþWeight: 6,4 loadedþArmament: four 30mm machine gunsþEngines: two Junkers Jumo jet engines þMaximum speed: 870 Km/hþRange: 1050 Km/h
AX_NEBELWERFERý
AX_NEBELWERFER_DESCýNebelwerfer („fog thrower“) was the German name for all versions of rocket launchers. The Germans introduced these weapons after having bitter experiences with the impact of the Russian „Stalinorgel“ on the Eastern front. There was the 15cm Wurfgranate 41, the 21cm Wurfgranate 42 and the even heavier 30 cm Wurfgranate 42. Most Werfers were towed by trucks, but there was a version mounted on the halftracked truck „Maultier“, too. It was named Panzerwerfer 42. By the end of the war the Germans focussed on using Werfers as artillery, because they thought that the salvos of the Werfers had more impact on the enemy than artillery fire, despite the fact that the Werfers were never as accurate as howitzers. Hundreds of Werfers were used by the Volkswerfer-Detachments in the Ardennes.
AX_PANZER_IV_Hý
AX_PANZER_IV_H_DESCýLike the Panzer IV G, but wearing side skirts (Schürzen). These were adapted to the vehicle to prevent it from being hit and destroyed by Bazookas and British Antitank weapons (PIATs).
AX_SDKFZ251ý
AX_SDKFZ251_DESCýThe SD KFZ 251 was the bigger brother of the SD KFZ 250. It was larger, heavier in weight and armor and could transport more soldiers or bigger weapons. Thousands of this vehicle were built and mainly used for the Panzergrenadiers. There were 22 different types of this vehicle. The most important version was the SD KFZ 251/1 with two Machine guns carrying a troop of Panzergrenadiers. Other versions had six rocket launchers (Stuka zu Fuß), big anti tank guns, short barrelled howitzers (Stummel), anti air-guns or flamethrowers. There were versions for pioneers, ambulance and ammunition transport without any weapon, too. The vehicle was constructed on the basis of the SD KFZ 11 artillery hauler and built at Hanomag in Hannover.
AX_SDKFZ251_SPECýSD KFZ 251 technical dataþWeight: 7,8 tonsþMotor: Maybach with 74,6 KwþSpeed: 52 km/h on the roadþLength: 5,8 mþWidth: 2,1 mþHeight: 1,75 mþWeapons: diverse weaponry from heavy guns to flamethrowers, one or two 7,92 mm MG 42
AX_STUG_III_SCHUERZENý
AX_STUG_III_SCHUERZEN_DESCýLike the Sturmgeschütz III, but wearing side skirts (Schürzen). These were adapted to the vehicle to prevent it from being hit and destroyed by Bazookas and British Antitank weapons (PIATs).
AX_STURMTIGERý
AX_STURMTIGER_DESCýThe Sturmtiger was planned for heavy street fighting after the bitter experiences in the ruins of Stalingrad. On the chassis of a Tiger I the German technicians built a case of steel in which a super heavy mortar was placed. This mortar – originally an antisubmarine weapon of the navy – shot a rocket up to 5,6 kilometres far. The rocket weighed 345 kg and was full of explosives. Whole blocks of buildings crushed immediately when hit. On the Western front the Sturmtiger was never used in street fighting. Some were in reserve for the Ardennes offensive, the last fought in the Ruhr pocket at Menden, where one Sturmtiger killed five Sherman tanks with one shot before being captured by the Americans. Only 18 Sturmtiger were built by reconstruction of battle damaged Tiger tanks.
AX_STURMTIGER_SPECýSturmtiger technical dataþWeight: 65 tonsþMotor: Maybach with 484 KwþSpeed: 40 km/h on the roadþLength: 6,28 mþWidth: 3,57 mþHeight: 2,85 mþWeapons: 38cm rocket launcher
BRIEFINGýMid-August 1944. As from today, you are in command of the 2nd battalion of the US 120th infantry regiment. The battalion command unit has been set up in Mortain, a small town in Normandy. This was actually a rather out-of-the-way position, as the main body of the American forces broke through into the French hinterland west of Mortain near Avranches during the last few days. þþBut the Germans have now started a massive counter-offensive, aiming to cut the supply lines of the American armored units. According to intelligence, the main German attack will go right through Mortain, which we are defending. Difficult times lie ahead for you, Major.þþDefend Mortain as well as you can from attacks from all sides. If the going gets tough, you can withdraw to Hill 314, where the artillery is positioned. Don't expect any reinforcements in the near future. Good luck!.þ
JAGDPANTHERýJagdpanther
JAGDTIGERýJagdtiger
LEVEL1ý
LEVEL10ý
LEVEL10_BRIEFINGýMont Rigi stands directly on the road from Eupen to Malmedy. From here, the Americans send convoys of reinforcements and supplies to the hard-pressed US troops south of Malmedy. So it is extremely important to secure this road.þþAlthough you are quite far away from the front here, you should not underestimate the Germans. They could drop paratroopers on the plateau or even send in German diversionary troops of the "Brandenburg" regiment, disguised as Americans. They have already seen action elsewhere, creating great confusion and inflicting heavy losses on American troops. So stay on your toes.þþAs the local commander, you can of course order the combat troops in the convoys to deal with any threat whenever you want. So you don't have to depend on your weak forces alone.
LEVEL10_DATEý17th December 1944
LEVEL10_DB_FýThe Brandenburg regiment managed to control the Mont Rigi crossroads. You failed in defending it.
LEVEL10_DB_PýA great victory - all Brandenburg soldiers are dead or your Prisoners of War.
LEVEL10_DESCRIPTIONýDefend the crossroads of Mont Rigi against an attack by the Brandenburg Regiment.
LEVEL10_HISTORYý
LEVEL10_HISTORY_TEXT1ýDuring the last days before the Ardennes offensive, Hitler belatedly set about replicating the winning combination of rapid and deep armored penetration, paratroop attacks in the enemy rear, and infiltration by disguised ground troops which had functioned so effectively in the western campaign of 1940 and the Greek campaign of 1941. To flesh out this combination, a special operation named Greif (or Condor) was hurriedly organized as an adjunct to the armored operation assigned to the 1st SS Panzer Division. þþThe plans for the ground phase of Operation Greif consisted of three parts: þthe seizure of at least two intact bridges across the Meuse by disguised raiding partiesþthe prompt reinforcement of any such coup de main by an armored commando formationþan organized attempt to create confusion in the Allied rear areas through sabotage carried out by jeep parties clad in American uniforms. þþLater it would be rumored that a feature of Operation Greif was the planned assassination of Allied leaders, notably General Eisenhower, but there is no evidence of such plotting in the plan. The idea for the ground operation was probably Hitler's and the leader, Lt. Col. Otto Skorzeny, was selected personally by Hitler. Skorzeny had achieved a reputation as a daring commando leader, had rescued Mussolini from the Italians at the Gran Sasso d`Italia, and had seized the Hungarian Regent, Admiral Miklos von Nagybanya Horthy, when the Hungarian regime began to waver in its loyalties. þþFor Operation Greif, Skorzeny formed the special Panzer Brigade 150 or Brandenburger Regiment numbering about two thousand men, of whom one hundred and fifty could speak English. Captured Allied equipment - particularly tanks and jeeps -, uniforms, identification papers, and the like were hastily collected at the front and sent to Skorzeny's headquarters. þþThe disguised jeep parties did go into action with varying degrees of success on 16th December, but the Brandenburger Regiment would be engaged as a unit only in a single and abortive skirmish near Malmedy five days later.
LEVEL10_HISTORY_TEXT2ýThe airborne phase of Operation Greif, whose code name was Hohes Venn, seems to have been completely an afterthought, for the orders setting up the operation were not issued until 8th December. Hitler, like most of the higher German commanders, had lost confidence in airdrop tactics after the many casualties suffered by the German paratroopers in the Crete jump. Then too, in late 1944 the necessarily lengthy training for paratroop units was a luxury denied by the huge drain of battlefield losses. þþIt was General Model who suggested that paratroop tactics be tried once again, but undoubtedly Hitler seized upon the proposal with alacrity although there was no longer a single regular paratroop regiment active in the Wehrmacht. Model wanted the jump to be made in the Krinkelt area, and one may wonder what effect such a vertical attack might have had on the fight put up at the twin villages by the American 2nd and 99th Infantry Divisions. þþHitler, however, had one of his intuitive strokes and ordered the jump to be made north of Malmedy. His choice for commander devolved on Colonel Friedrich A. Freiherr von der Heydte, a distinguished and experienced paratroop officer then commanding the Fallschirmarmee-Waffenschule (school for Paratroopers) where the nominal parachute regiments were being trained as ground troops. Colonel von der Heydte was ordered to organize a thousand-man parachute formation for immediate use. Four days later von der Heydte received his tactical mission from the Sixth SS Panzer Army commander Sepp Dietrich. þþThe paratroopers were to jump at dawn on D-day, first opening the roads in the Hohes Venn leading from the Elsenborn-Malmedy area toward Eupen for the armored spearhead units, then blocking Allied forces if these attempted to intervene. Colonel von der Heydte was told that the German armor would reach him within twenty-four hours.
LEVEL10_HISTORY_TEXT3ýThe preparations for Operation Hohes Venn were rushed to completion. The troops received their equipment and a little jump training, but many had never attended a jump school. 112 war-weary, Junkers JU 52 troop-carrier planes were gathered with an ill-assorted group of pilots, half of whom had never flown combat missions. 300 dummy figures were loaded for drops north of Camp Elsenborn to confuse the Americans - this turned out to be about the most successful feature of the entire operation. þþOn the evening of 15th December Colonel von der Heydte formed his companies to entruck for the move to Paderborn, where the planes were assembled. The trucks never arrived - they had no fuel. Now the jump was ordered for 0300 on the 17th. This time the jump was made on schedule, although not quite as planned and into very bad cross winds. One rifle company was dropped behind the German lines fifty kilometers away from the drop zone, most of the signal platoon fell just in front of the German positions south of Monschau, and the bulk of the command and the weapons packages were scattered almost at random. þþDespite this bad beginning about one hundred paratroopers reached the rendezvous at the fork in the Eupen road north of Mont Rigi. Since this group was obviously too weak for open action, Colonel von der Heydte formed camp in the woods and sent out patrols to pick up information and harass the Americans in the vicinity. þþThese patrols gathered in stragglers until some three hundred paratroopers had assembled, but it was now too late to carry out the planned operation. On the night of the 21st the paratroopers were ordered to find their way back to the German lines believed to be at Monschau. Von der Heydte was taken prisoner two days later. þþThe tactical effect of this hastily conceived and ill-executed operation proved to be almost nil although American commanders did dispatch troops on wild-goose chases which netted little but a few paratroopers, empty parachutes, and dummies.
LEVEL10_HISTORY_TITLE1ýThe Brandenburg regiment
LEVEL10_HISTORY_TITLE2ýPlans for paratroop actions
LEVEL10_HISTORY_TITLE3ýAttack on Mont Rigi
LEVEL10_NAMEýOperation Greif
LEVEL10_PL01ýHold Mont Rigi crossroads.
LEVEL10_PS01ýDefend the crossroads of Mont Rigi.
LEVEL10_SL01ýDefend Mont Rigi against the German paratroopers.
LEVEL10_SS01ýHunt the German paratroopers.
LEVEL11ý
LEVEL11_BRIEFINGýNear Longvilly on the way to Bastogne, 19th December 1944. þYour troops of the second Panzer division and the Panzerlehrdivision have formed the spearhead of the 5th Panzer army. In two columns, the army is now heading towards the major road hub of Bastogne. The fast units are moving via Longvilly, Mageret and Neffe, while the infantry is moving in from the newly-conquered town of Wiltz.þþStep by step, you will have to clear the way to Bastogne. First of all, you will have to cross the important bridge at Longvilly before battling your way to Mageret via one of the two roads leading to it, eventually reaching Neffe in the immediate vicinity of Bastogne.þþAlthough the enemy have taken a heavy beating over the last few days, their will to fight is still unbroken. And the Americans still have reserves: "Team Cherry" of the 9th US armored division has just entered the battle zone. What's more, US troops of the 101st Airborne are being unloaded in Bastogne, and will no doubt soon join the fighting.
LEVEL11_DATEý19th December 1944
LEVEL11_DB_FýYour forces are too exhausted. They won´t make it to the North anymore.
LEVEL11_DB_PýYou arrived in the North. The road to Bastogne is open.
LEVEL11_DESCRIPTIONýThe fight on the road to Bastogne.
LEVEL11_HISTORYý
LEVEL11_HISTORY_TEXT1ýOn the evening of 18th December Team Cherry moved out of Bastogne on the road to Longvilly. Since he had the leading team in the Combat Command B (CCB), 10th Armored, column, Cherry had been assigned this mission because of the immediate and obvious enemy threat to the east. Cherry had Company A and two light tank platoons of his own 3rd Tank Battalion, Company C of the 20th Armored Infantry Battalion, the 2d Platoon of Company D and 90th Cavalry Reconnaissance. His headquarters and headquarters company was established in Neffe, just east of Bastogne. þþThe VIII Corps commander had designated Longvilly as one of the three positions which CCB was to hold at all costs. Cherry knew that CCR, 9th Armored Division, was supposed to be around Longvilly. About 1900 the advance guard reached the western edge of LongvillyAn hour later Cherry arrived at the headquarters of CCR where they learned that the situation was "vague." CCR had no plans except to carry out the "hold at all costs" order. þþCherry gave orders for the advance guard to scout and establish a position just west of Longvilly while the main force closed up along the road with its head about a thousand yards west of the town. The reconnaissance in the meantime had convinced him that the main gap in the defenses around Longvilly was in the south, and there he stationed the cavalry platoon, four Sherman tanks, and seven light tanks. þ
LEVEL11_HISTORY_TEXT2ýDuring the night small German forces had tried, to get into Longvilly or at least to pick off the weapons and vehicles crowded in the streets by the light of flares and search-lights directed on the town. As yet the German artillery and heavy mortars had not come forward in any number and Longvilly was shelled only in desultory fashion. The two right-wing regiments of the 26th Volksgrenadierdivision were reoriented to the northwest in a move to reach the Noville-Bastogne road and place the division in position for a flanking attack aimed at penetrating the Bastogne perimeter from the north. þþShortly after 1000 the 77th Grenadier Regiment was ready to start its advance guard through Longvilly, believing that the town was in German hands. In light of the way in which troops of the 26th Volksgrenadierdivision, Panzerlehr, and 2nd Panzer Division had poured into the area east of Bastogne during the night, crossing and recrossing boundary lines which now existed mostly on paper, it is not surprising that General Kokott and his commanders were a little vague as to whose troops held Longvilly. The 77th was close to the town, advancing in route column when patrols suddenly signaled that the Americans were ahead. þþIt was too late to bypass the town; so the German regimental commander hastily organized an attack behind a screen of machine guns which he rushed forward, at the same time borrowing some tanks from the 2nd Panzer Division for a turning movement northeast of Longvilly. The division commander, however, ordered the attack held up until it could be organized and supported, made arrangements with the Panzerlehrdivision to join by a thrust from the southwest, and hurried guns and Werfers up to aid the infantry. þþAn hour or so after noon the reinforced 77th was ready to jump off from the attack positions south, east, and northeast of Longvilly. By this time the bulk of CCR (9th Armored Division) was jammed in an immobile crowd along the road to Mageret, but a few riflemen were still holed up in the houses at Longvilly and the third platoon of Company C, 811th Tank Destroyer Battalion, was manfully working its guns to cover the rear of the CCR column. The main action, however, devolved on the tanks and armored infantry which shifted during the night to form a close perimeter at Longvilly.
LEVEL11_HISTORY_TEXT3ýThe first indication of the nearing assault was a storm of Werfer and artillery shells. Then came the German tanks borrowed from the 2nd Panzer Division, ramming forward from the north and east. The Shermans and the American light tanks were not only outnumbered but outgunned by the Panthers and the 88's of a flak battalion. The armored infantry were forced to abandon their half-tracks. The same thing happened to the three tank destroyers. At least eight panzers had been destroyed in the melee, but Longvilly was taken. þþWhile the bulk of Team Cherry was engaged at Longvilly and Mageret, the team commander and his headquarters troops were having a fight of their own at Neffe, a mile and a quarter southwest of Mageret. Here Colonel Cherry had waited through the small hours of 19 December with the comforting assurance that troops of the 101st Airborne Division were moving through Bastogne and would debouch to the east sometime that day. At first light a detachment of tanks and infantry from the Panzerlehr hit the Reconnaissance Platoon, 3rd Tank Battalion, outposting the Neffe crossroads. The platoon stopped one tank with a bazooka round, but then broke under heavy fire and headed down the Bastogne road. One of the two American headquarters tanks in support of the roadblock got away, as did a handful of troopers, and fell back to Cherry's command post, a stone chateau three hundred yards to the south. þþThe enemy took his time about following up, but just before noon moved in to clear the chateau. For four hours the Americans held on behind the heavy walls, working the automatic weapons lifted from its vehicles and checking every rush in a blast of bullets. Finally a few hardy Germans made it, close enough at least to pitch incendiary grenades through the window. Fire, leaping through the rooms, closed this episode. þþReinforcements, a platoon of the 501st Parachute Infantry, arrived just in time to take part in the withdrawal. But their appearance and the covering fire of other troops behind them jarred the Germans enough to allow Cherry and his men to break free. þþThe total cost to Team Cherry of the engagements on 19th December had been 175 officers and men, one-quarter of the command. The story here set down has been one of mischance and confusion. But regard the manner in which CCR, 9th Armored Division, and Team Cherry altered the course of the German drive on Bastogne. Through the night of 18-19 December General Luettwitz hourly expected word that the advance guard of the XLVII Panzer Corps had reached Bastogne and the road there from north to Houffalize. This good news failed to arrive.
LEVEL11_HISTORY_TITLE1ýTeam Cherry
LEVEL11_HISTORY_TITLE2ýPreparations
LEVEL11_HISTORY_TITLE3ýThe withdrawal
LEVEL11_NAMEýLongvilly
LEVEL11_PL01ýYou have to reach the Northern part of the map.
LEVEL11_PS01ýFight your way to the North.
LEVEL11_SL01ýDestroy all American troops in Longvilly.
LEVEL11_SL02ýDestroy all American forces in and around Mageret.
LEVEL11_SL03ýConquer the Chateau and destroy all American troops at the village Neffe.
LEVEL11_SS01ýConquer Longvilly
LEVEL11_SS02ýConquer Mageret
LEVEL11_SS03ýConquer the chateau
LEVEL12ý
LEVEL12_BRIEFINGýBastogne, Christmas 1944. þRemaining units of the US 9th and 10th armored divisions, along with the freshly-arrived 101st Airborne, have dug in for all-round defense in and around Bastogne. For the Germans, the advance of the entire 5th Panzer army depends on the capture of this major road hub, and an attack is expected at any moment.þþThis why the Germans are doing everything they can to teach you the meaning of fear: Luftwaffe bombers, the heavy Tiger tanks of the Panzerlehrdivision and the 2nd Panzer division, the battle-hardened soldiers of the 15th Panzergrenadier division with its armored cars and assault guns. And as if this wasn't enough, Sturmtiger tanks of the 1001st Sturmmörser company have been sighted. Wherever they pass, no more grass grows.þþSo hold fast and keep the enemy out. After all, there's still a glimmer of hope, although a small one: from the south, Patton's 4th armored division is fighting its way towards you through the German lines to relieve you and provide supplies. You'll have to hold out until then.
LEVEL12_DATEýChristmas 1944.
LEVEL12_DB_FýThe Germans made it in to the town of Bastogne. Your forces were destroyed.
LEVEL12_DB_PýYour forces made it - the Germans give up.
LEVEL12_DESCRIPTIONýAmerican troops manage to repel all German attacks on the Bastogne perimeter.
LEVEL12_HISTORYý
LEVEL12_HISTORY_TEXT1ýAbout 0300 on Christmas day a few German planes droned over the 502nd US Infantry regiment lines at Bastogne and dropped bombs around Rolle, the regimental command post. A few minutes later the German gunners and mortar crews started to work, their target the American positions at Champs. Here Company A of the 502nd was deployed on the northwest edge of the village, its right flank joining the 2nd Battalion in a large wood lot midway between Champs and Longchamps. þþClad in white snow suits the first German assault party, some fifty grenadiers from the 77th Regiment of 26th Volksgrenadierdivision, crept forward under the waning moon toward Champs. At 0400 this group dashed into the village and the German attack began. More of the enemy moved through the woods against the left flank of the 2nd Battalion, and within the hour a full German battalion had joined the fight. Company B moved up as a backstop, if its sister company should be engulfed or pushed aside, but the confused melee around Champs in the predawn darkness pinned the Germans down. þþMeanwhile the two assault battalions of the 15th Panzergrenadierdivision were moving against the 3rd Battalion of the 327th US Infantry Regiment. The tank group on the right of the German line drew ahead of its marching partner and - an hour and a quarter after the advance began - reported to the German command that the only evidence of American reaction was some tank or tank destroyer fire coming in from the south. Thirty minutes later a brief and optimistic radio message flashed to the rear: the tanks and the infantry battalion had reached the western edge of Bastogne. But elation at the German command post was short lived; word that the German tanks were in the streets of Bastogne never came. Even worse for the Germans, this fighting group was completely destroyed.þþThe 2nd Battalion of the 15th Panzergrenadierdivision seems to have made good use of the rupture created in the 327th positions west of Hemroulle, advancing almost unperceived and unopposed until daybreak when it was brought under fire by Company C, the 3rd Battalion reserve. At first light the American artillery and mortars took on the German infantry starkly outlined against the snow-covered slopes west of Hemroulle. The panzergrenadiers tried digging in but the ground was too hard frozen; so they lay in the snow and took their losses.
LEVEL12_HISTORY_TEXT2ýThe 2nd Battalion of the 15th Panzergrenadierdivision seems to have made good use of the rupture created in the 327th positions west of Hemroulle, advancing almost unperceived and unopposed until daybreak when it was brought under fire by Company C, the 3rd Battalion reserve. At first light the American artillery aThe regimental commander, Colonel Maucke, began in midmorning to re-form his remaining troops, pulling what was left of the 1st Battalion back to a hill southeast of Flamizoulle and sending his reserve battalion into the woods north of the 1st to cover its flank. When night fell Maucke ordered the remnants of the 1st Battalion to sideslip south across the gap left by the disappearance of the tank group. Of the battalion staff all were dead or wounded, so Maucke himself went forward to find his lost tanks but was stopped by machine gun fire. þþAt Champs, where the battle had begun, most of the Germans left the village in the middle of the morning to let their gunners blast the paratroopers out of the houses and surrounding woods. The commander of the 77th, apprehensive of a continued house-to-house battle, asked for and received permission to circle around the village, but the new attack up the slopes toward Hemroulle was shot to pieces. In the early afternoon General Kokott called the German attack to a halt, planning to resume the battle under cover of the night. This last effort took long to organize and did not get under way until the morning hours of the 26th. Using the German salient at the Isle-la-Hesse road fork as his base, Kokott sent a small assault group from his own division and ten mobile tank destroyers northeast in the direction of Hemroulle with the intention of circling through Savy into Bastogne. þþThis force wedged its way between the two right flank companies of the 327th but was caught in the open by the howitzers massed west of Bastogne which blew the infantry assault apart. Four armored tank destroyers continued toward Hemroulle but were finally brought to a halt by a large ditch. Here all were put out of action by artillery and tank destroyer fire at close range. nd mortars took on the German infantry starkly outlined against the snow-covered slopes west of Hemroulle. The panzergrenadiers tried digging in but the ground was too hard frozen; so they lay in the snow and took their losses. þþThe regimental commander, Colonel Maucke, began in midmorning to re-form his remaining troops, pulling what was left of the 1st Battalion back to a hill southeast of Flamizoulle and sending his reserve battalion into the woods north of the 1st to cover its flank. When night fell Maucke ordered the remnants of the 1st Battalion to sideslip south across the gap left by the disappearance of the tank group. Of the battalion staff all were dead or wounded, so Maucke himself went forward to find his lost tanks but was stopped by machine gun fire. þþAt Champs, where the battle had begun, most of the Germans left the village in the middle of the morning to let their gunners blast the paratroopers out of the houses and surrounding woods. The commander of the 77th, apprehensive of a continued house-to-house battle, asked for and received permission to circle around the village, but the new attack up the slopes toward Hemroulle was shot to pieces. In the early afternoon General Kokott called the German attack to a halt, planning to resume the battle under cover of the night. This last effort took long to organize and did not get under way until the morning hours of the 26th. Using the German salient at the Isle-la-Hesse road fork as his base, Kokott sent a small assault group from his own division and ten mobile tank destroyers northeast in the direction of Hemroulle with the intention of circling through Savy into Bastogne. þþThis force wedged its way between the two right flank companies of the 327th but was caught in the open by the howitzers massed west of Bastogne which blew the infantry assault apart. Four armored tank destroyers continued toward Hemroulle but were finally brought to a halt by a large ditch. Here all were put out of action by artillery and tank destroyer fire at close range.
LEVEL12_HISTORY_TEXT3ýIn midafternoon more bad news reached Kokott's command post. He had counted on the 5th Parachute Division to keep Patton's armor at bay in the south. Now word came that the 5th Parachute Division had broken and that the 39th Regiment was under attack. Kokott had little to give the 39th, only five or six tanks which had just been repaired, and he did not dare to put these on the road until darkness sent the American fighter-bombers home. Both, Kokott and the corps commander, von Luettwitz, still expected the main battle to be fought on the Arlon or Neufchateau road, but in the late afternoon the commander of the 39th radioed that American tanks had broken through farther to the west at Assenois. Kokott asked Luettwitz for help, but the latter had empty hands. þþLate that night new orders came from Field Marshall Model: the 26th Volksgrenadierdivision would hold the defenders inside the Bastogne perimeter until the tanks of the Fuehrerbegleitbrigade could arrive to close again the narrow corridor opened to the defenders that afternoon by the American armor. The breach in the German-held ring opened by the 4th Armored Division was narrow and precarious, but it would not be closed despite the most strenuous enemy efforts in coming days. The staunch defense of Bastogne had impeded the Fifth Panzer Army drive to the west.
LEVEL12_HISTORY_TITLE1ýDestruction of a fighting group
LEVEL12_HISTORY_TITLE2ýFurther attacks
LEVEL12_HISTORY_TITLE3ýPatton´s relief force
LEVEL12_NAMEýBastogne
LEVEL12_PL01ýBreak the encirclement of Bastogne.
LEVEL12_PS01ýHold Bastogne until Patton´s tank will relieve you.
LEVEL12_SL01ýDon´t allow the Germans to enter the town.
LEVEL12_SL02ýHead to the South to meet Patton´s troops.
LEVEL12_SS01ýRepel all attacks in the next 20 minutes.
LEVEL12_SS02ýPattons relief forces
LEVEL13ý
LEVEL13_BRIEFINGýBaraque-de-Fraiture, just before Christmas Eve. þThe lousy winter weather is making a soldier's life even more difficult than usual. And now this: the Americans have decided to defend the intersection at Baraque-de-Fraiture at all costs. You know only too well that the route westwards will be more or less free if the Germans make a breakthrough here.þþHow stupid that our tanks had to stand idle for two days while their crews waited for fuel. This has arrived at last from the storage areas on the Rhine, and we can carry on. Of course, the Americans have used this breather to dig in and bring up reinforcements.þþOur task is simple: open up the intersection in every direction for our troops, driving the Americans out of Baraque-de-Fraiture, the high ground and the roads leading to the intersection. With the heavy tanks of the 2nd SS Panzer division and the support of the 560th Volksgrenadier division, this really shouldn't be a problem.
LEVEL13_DATEý23rd December 1944
LEVEL13_DB_FýYour forces were to weak for the task.
LEVEL13_DB_PýYou gained control of the area.
LEVEL13_DESCRIPTIONýGerman troops destroy the American troops at Baraque de Fraiture and conquer the important crossroads there.
LEVEL13_HISTORYý
LEVEL13_HISTORY_TEXT1ýBaraque de Fraiture is just a handful of buildings at a crossroads south of the Belgian hamlet of Fraiture. The roads which intersect here are important though: the north-south road is linking Liege and Bastogne; the east-west road is the most direct route for movement along the northern side of the Ourthe River, connecting St. Vith with La Roche. Since the XVIII US Airborne Corps attempted to draw a cordon along the northwest flank of the German advance holding this crossroads was very important. þþOn the afternoon of 19th December Major Arthur C. Parker led three 105-mm howitzers of the ill-starred 589th Field Artillery Battalion on the crossroads. The rest of the battalion had been cut off on the Schnee Eifel or ambushed during the withdrawal to St. Vith. The next day, four half-tracks mounting multiple .50-caliber machine guns arrived from the 203rd Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion.þþThat night, vehicles were heard moving about to the south along the road to Houffalize. Before dawn an 80-man enemy patrol came up the road from Houffalize, stumbled onto the American half-tracks, and was cut to pieces by streams of bullet fire. The dead and prisoners were grenadiers from the 560th Volksgrenadierdivision, but among them was an officer from the 2nd SS Panzer Division, scouting out the route of advance for his incoming division. þþOn the next day D Troop of the 87th Cavalry Squadron came in to join the crossroads garrison. Fog settling over the tableland in late afternoon gave the enemy a chance to probe the defense erected at the crossroads. Meanwhile eleven tanks and a reconnaissance platoon arrived from Task Force Kane. The Americans spent the night of 21st December ringed around the crossroads, tanks alternating with armored cars in a stockade beyond which lay the rifle line. There was no sign of the enemy despite reports from all sorts of sources that German armor was gathering at Houffalize. þþGeneral Gavin was especially concerned by the threat to the 82nd flank developing at the crossroads. Gavin acted at once to send the 2nd Battalion, 325th Glider Infantry, from his division reserve to defend Fraiture, the latter on a ridge three-quarters of a mile northeast of Parker's crossroads position
LEVEL13_HISTORY_TEXT2ýThe day of 22nd December was spent in waiting. The 2nd SS Panzer Division was having fuel troubles and moving in fits and starts. Mortar fire, laid on by the German reconnaissance screen left in this area as the 560th Volksgrenadierdivision advanced northwest, from time to time interrupted movement in and out of the crossroads position. That was all. During the day the 3rd Armored had received some reinforcements; these were parceled out across the front with a platoon from the 643rd Tank Destroyer Battalion going to the crossroads. þþAttack was near at hand, a fact made clear when an officer patrol from the 2nd SS Panzerdivision was captured at dawn in the woods near the American foxholes. At daylight, shelling increased at the crossroads as German mortar and gun crews went into position; yet the long awaited assault hung fire. The reason was lack of fuel, all through the 22nd the division waited in its final assembly areas. Toward evening enough fuel arrived to set the 4th Panzergrenadierregiment, some tanks, and an artillery battalion to moving. In the course of the night the grenadiers relieved the small reconnaissance detachments of the 560th Volksgrenadierdivision, which had been watching the crossroads, and filed through the woods to set up a cordon west and north of Baraque de Fraiture. þþIn the dark hours before dawn of the 23rd the first move came, as the 2nd Battalion made a surprise attack on Fraiture and was driven back after a bitter fight with the paratroopers. The surprise attack at Fraiture having aborted, the Germans settled down to hem in and soften up the crossroads defense. Radios that had been taken from captured American vehicles were used to jam the wave band on which the American forward observers were calling for fire. Whenever word flashed over the air that shells were on their way, enemy mortar crews dumped shells on American observation posts - easily discernible in the limited perimeter - making sensing virtually impossible. þ
LEVEL13_HISTORY_TEXT3ýLate in the morning more infantry and a platoon of tanks were sent toward the crossroads. By this time the German grenadiers occupied the woods to the north in sufficient strength to halt the foot soldiers. The American tanks, impervious to small arms fire, reached the perimeter at about 1300, whereupon the rifle line pushed out to east and south to give the tankers a chance to maneuver. But at the crossroads time was running out. þþShortly after 1600 the German artillery really got to work, for twenty minutes pummeling the area around the crossroads. Then, preceded by two panzer companies the entire rifle strength of the 4th Panzergrenadierregiment closed upon the Americans. Outlined against new-fallen snow the line of defense was clearly visible to the panzers, and the Shermans had no maneuver room in which to back up the line. The fight was brief, moving to a foregone conclusion. Within the next hour the Germans completed the reduction of the crossroads defense, sweeping up prisoners, armored cars, halftracks, and the three howitzers. Three American tanks managed to escape under the veil of half-light. þþA number of men escaped north through the woods; some got a break when a herd of cattle stampeded near the crossroads, providing a momentary screen. Company F of the 325th Glider Infantry suffered the most but stood its ground until Billingslea gave permission to come out. Drastically outnumbered and unable to compensate for weakness by maneuver, the defenders of the Baraque de Fraiture crossroads had succumbed.
LEVEL13_HISTORY_TITLE1ýThe Situation at Baraque de Fraiture
LEVEL13_HISTORY_TITLE2ýWaiting for the attack
LEVEL13_HISTORY_TITLE3ýThe end
LEVEL13_HL01ýTake care that the officer isn´t killed.
LEVEL13_HS01ýSave the officer
LEVEL13_NAMEýBaraque de Fraiture
LEVEL13_PL01ýDestroy all American troops in the area.
LEVEL13_PS01ýClear the map
LEVEL13_SL01ýCapture the village Baraque de Fraiture at the crossroads.
LEVEL13_SL02ýFight a way to the North.
LEVEL13_SL03ýDestroy the remaining enemy troops in the area.
LEVEL13_SS01ýCapture the village
LEVEL13_SS02ýHead to the North
LEVEL13_SS03ýClear the map
LEVEL14ý
LEVEL14_BRIEFINGýBoxing Day, Humain. Today will be decisive in this part of the front. The main question will be whether you will manage to break through towards Buissonville to the west. If so, the bridges over the Meuse at Dinant will be within reach. To achieve this goal, you not only have the battle-hardened forces of the Panzerlehrdivision, but also the refreshed 9th Panzer division, which has just arrived from Holland.þþBut now, ten days after the beginning of the Ardennes offensive, the Americans are doing everything they can to finally stop the German advance westwards. The US 2nd armored division has taken up positions to attack the enemy on the road to Rochefort.þþBut on the whole, this isn't the main concern of the German High Command, which is far more worried about the weather. From a cloudless blue sky, the sun is shining down on the snow-covered fields and woods around Humain. Ideal weather for the feared American P47 fighter-bomber.
LEVEL14_DATEýBoxing Day 1944.
LEVEL14_DB_FýYour forces are getting too weak. Withdraw.
LEVEL14_DB_PýYou have captured Buissonville - good job.
LEVEL14_DESCRIPTIONýThe fresh 7th Panzerdivision is hit hard by American P47 Fighterbombers.
LEVEL14_HISTORYý
LEVEL14_HISTORY_TEXT1ýThe 2nd US Armored Division's attack, planned for Christmas Day 1944, included a drive by Combat Command A (CCA) straight south from Buissonville on the road to Rochefort. But this operation wasn´t carried out. Instead CCA and the 4th Cavalry Group were caught up in a quite unexpected battle which focal point was Humain, east of Buissonville. þþDuring the night of 24th December Troop A of the 24th Cavalry Squadron occupied Humain as an outpost for the CCA assembly area at Buissonville. But the troopers had short tenure in Humain, for across the lines the Panzerlehrdivision was gathering its few tanks to break through the American lines. Fritz Bayerlein – commander of the Panzerlehrdivision - divided his Panthers into two assault groups: a platoon, supported by a rifle company, to seize Humain; a company, reinforced by an understrength rifle battalion, to drive on the left for Havrenne, then Buissonville. The German blow struck Humain at first light, driving the cavalry out of town. The attack to the west rolled past the burned-out relics of fight of the days before. þþHavrenne being empty, the German column moved on toward Buissonville: Here a ruse was tried and worked. A German officer in American uniform went forward to the two Sherman tanks guarding the bridge over which the Havrenne road entered Buissonville. The German was such an effective actor that the tank crews obeyed without question his order and returned to their bivouac. Four of the German tanks crossed the bridge at daylight, but were driven out by fire from the CCA tanks' guns. On the heels of this skirmish, the leading CCA task force started down the road for Rochefort. Near Havrenne the Panther company attempted to make a stand but was outgunned and lost five tanks. Havrenne fell to the Americans.
LEVEL14_HISTORY_TEXT2ýMeanwhile a considerable threat was looming on the exposed flank at Humain. Colonel John C. MacDonald's 4th Cavalry Group had set about retaking Humain, but his light tanks and tank destroyers were no match for the heavier German Panthers; nor could the American assault guns get a direct shot at them, shielded as they were behind the stone walls of the village. MacDonald tried a dismounted assault, but this failed. Late in the afternoon a company of medium tanks was sent to assist the 24h Cavalry Squadron. One last attack was made in the waning daylight - this, too, made no headway. þþWhen the 26th dawned the defenders had a fresh force in the town. Panzerlehrdivision had been relieved during the night by the 9th Panzerdivision to engage in the sortie toward Celles. The 9th Panzerdivision (Brig. Gen. Elverfeldt) had been brought from Holland on 22nd December. The 9th Panzerdivision may have had as many as 90 tanks and 35 self-propelled assault guns or tank destroyers. Apparently the division artillery regiment did not arrive until three or four days later. þþWhen the first march column reached the line on the afternoon of the 25th it deployed south of Marche, there taking over the Marloie-Hedrée blocking position held by the 2nd Panzerdivision. As more troops arrived the 9th Panzerdivision extended westward. Although Luettwitz intended to employ this new armor to nourish the drive westward, it is questionable whether the XLVII Panzer Corps commander had anything more in mind than the defeat of the American armor east of the Meuse when he gave the 9th Panzer its orders on the night of 25 December: attack from the Humain sector and take Buissonville. þþAbout 0700 the cavalry observation posts north of Humain saw tanks defiling from the town onto the Havrenne-Buissonville road. The engagement at Havrenne began within half an hour, carried by fifteen Panther tanks and a battalion of grenadiers from the 10th Panzergrenadier riding in armored half-tracks. At the edge of the village the German infantry took over the initial assault, only to be beaten off by tank guns, tank destroyers, and artillery. Company I of the 66th Armored Regiment, with its attached platoons of infantry and tank destroyers, met and threw back three separate attacks during the day.
LEVEL14_HISTORY_TEXT3ýAll through the night of 26th December the medium and heavy calibers of the 2nd Armored Division artillery blasted away at the Germans in Humain. The town had to be retaken, for it presented a continuing point of entry into the left flank of the 2nd Armored. But as part of the larger VII Corps' scheme, the 2nd Armord had the task of carrying forward the American front to the east-west line of the L'Homme and Lesse Rivers. For this general advance the Americans brought up and attached it to CCA. þþCCR was ordered to take on the Panthers in Humain and CCA was sent to clear the large forested area and the roads running south to Rochefort and L'Homme. To trap the Humain garrison, Colonel Hinds made his attack on the morning of the 7th with tanks circling south, east, and west of the town, and the armored infantry moving in from the north. þþThe 2nd Battalion of the 67th Armored Regiment had isolated Humain by 1015 but found the Panthers missing, driven out during the night by the artillery bombardment. There remained considerable bite in the Humain defenders and they momentarily halted the American tank column. By noon CCR was in Humain, where it took another ten hours to clear the houses of the 150 grenadiers who had been left behind. þþAn artillery spotter plane flying over Hargimont in the early afternoon saw a column of German vehicles gathering for a march down the Humain road. Fourteen P-38's from the 370th Fighter Group struck Hargimont and destroyed many of the German tanks and halftracks. The ill-fated battle of the XLVII Panzer Corps in front of Dinant was ended.
LEVEL14_HISTORY_TITLE1ýThe American plans
LEVEL14_HISTORY_TITLE2ýFresh troops
LEVEL14_HISTORY_TITLE3ýThe German advance is halted
LEVEL14_HL01ýHold the area around Humain.
LEVEL14_HS01ýHold area
LEVEL14_NAMEýHumain
LEVEL14_PL01ýCapture Buissonville, the town in the North.
LEVEL14_PS01ýCapture Buissonville
LEVEL14_SL01ýDefend Humain, the village in the East.
LEVEL14_SL02ýDefend Rochefort, the town in the South.
LEVEL14_SL03ýMove to the North, in the direction of Buissonville.
LEVEL14_SP001ýPrepare your forces for defense.
LEVEL14_SS01ýDefend Humain
LEVEL14_SS02ýDefend Rochefort
LEVEL14_SS03ýMove North
LEVEL15ý
LEVEL15_BRIEFINGýChristmas Eve in Manhay. The US 7th armored division is withdrawing northwards to take up new positions after the German breakthrough at Baraque-de-Fraiture. The 2nd SS Panzer division is heading straight towards you, aiming to join up with the 1st SS Panzer division, which is moving in from the east.þþDespite the chaotic situation, it is your task to establish a new defensive line along the road running east-to-west through Manhay. Take care to protect the retreating convoys from the German spearhead. In the prevailing chaos, German tanks could also join the American columns.þþIf the Germans become too strong for your forces, escape into the woods around Manhay and wait for reinforcements, which are on their way. With support from our fighter-bombers, it will then be possible to recapture Manhay when daylight comes.
LEVEL15_DATEýChristmas Eve 1944
LEVEL15_DB_FýThe Germans achieved a major breakthrough.
LEVEL15_DB_PýYou have repelled all German attacks successfully.
LEVEL15_DESCRIPTIONýThe 7th US Armored Division holds the line and breaks the spearhead of the 2nd SS Panzerdivision.
LEVEL15_HISTORYý
LEVEL15_HISTORY_TEXT1ýOn the night of 24th December the main body of the 2nd SS Panzer Division was moving towards Manhay. The seizure of Odeigne the night before had opened a narrow sally port facing Grandmenil and Manhay, but there was no road capable of handling a large armored column between Odeigne and the 2d SS Panzer assembly areas south of the Baraque de Fraiture. þþOn the 24th the commander of the 3rd Panzergrenadier Regiment secured General Lammerding's approval to postpone a further advance until the German engineers could build a road through the woods to Odeigne. By nightfall on Christmas Eve this road was ready - and the Allied fighter-bombers had returned to their bases. The 3rd Panzergrenadier Regiment now gathered in attack formation in the woods around Odeigne, while tanks of the 2nd Panzer Regiment formed in column along the new road. To the east the 4th Panzergrenadier Regiment sent a rifle battalion moving quietly from Fraiture through the woods toward Malempre. þþBy 2100, the hour set for the German attack, the column at Odeigne was ready. About the time the German column started forward, the subordinate commanders of CCA, 7th Armored, received new orders for the general withdrawal north. The commander of the 7th Armored position north of Odeigne had just started for Manhay when he saw a tank column coming up the road toward his position. A call to battalion headquarters failed to identify these tanks, but since the leader showed the typical blue exhaust of the Sherman, it was decided that this must be a detachment from the 3rd Armored.
LEVEL15_HISTORY_TEXT2ýSuddenly a German Panzerfaust blasted from the woods where the Americans were deployed; German infantry had crept in close to the American tanks and their covering infantry. Four of the Shermans fell to the enemy bazooka men in short order and two were crippled, but the crippled tanks and one still intact managed to wheel about and head for Manhay. þþA kilometre farther north stood another 7th Armored roadblock, defended by an understrength rifle company and ten medium tanks which had been dug in to give hull defilade. Again the Americans were deceived by the captured Sherman tank leading the German column. When almost upon the immobile American tanks the Germans cut loose with flares. Blinded and unable to move, the ten Shermans were so many sitting ducks; most were hit by tank fire and all were evacuated by their crews. The American infantry in turn fell prey to the grenadiers moving through the woods bordering the road and fell back in small groups toward Manhay. þþIt was now a little after 2230, the hour set for the 7th Armored move to the new position north of Manhay. The covering elements of the 3rd Armored had already withdrawn, but without notifying CCA of the 7th. The light tank detachment from Malempre had left that village, the support echelon of CCB, 9th Armored, already had passed through Manhay, and the headquarters column of CCA, 7th Armored, was just on its way out of Manhay when the American tanks that had escaped from the first roadblock position burst into the village.
LEVEL15_HISTORY_TEXT3ýThus far the headquarters in Manhay knew nothing of the German advance. In a last exchange of shots the Americans accounted for two of the panzers but lost five of their own tanks at the rear of the CCA column. Thus Manhay passed into German hands. The medium tanks and armored infantry that had started to follow the light tank detachment out of Malempre circled around Manhay when they heard the firing. Working their way north, the road-bound tanks ended up at Werbomont while the riflemen moved cross-country to reach friendly lines about two thousand yards north of Manhay. There the 23rd Armored Infantry Battalion had formed a defense on the hills bordering the highway to Werbomont and Liege. þþAlthough the 2nd SS Panzer had preempted a piece of the new American line, General Lammerding – commander of the 2nd SS - was none too pleased by the results of the Christmas Eve attack. His tanks had bitten only a small piece from the tail of the long American column reported fleeing Manhay. The accompanying infantry formations had failed to coordinate their advance with that of the armored assault from Odeigne and to seize, as planned, the wooded heights northwest of Manhay and Grandmenil. þþDespite this the fall of Manhay roused considerable apprehension in the American headquarters. General Ridgway saw that his new corps defense might be split in the center before it could properly solidify. General Hodges sent message after message to the XVIII Airborne Corps insisting that Manhay must be retaken, for it was all too clear that if the Sixth Panzer Army could reinforce the Manhay salient, Liege and the Meuse bridgehead would be in grave danger. In addition, he pressed Field Marshal Montgomery for more divisions to backstop the threatened sector between the Salm and the Ourthe.
LEVEL15_HISTORY_TITLE1ýThe Germans attacking
LEVEL15_HISTORY_TITLE2ýThe trap
LEVEL15_HISTORY_TITLE3ýThe big threat
LEVEL15_NAMEýManhay
LEVEL15_PL01ýDefend Manhay, don´t allow the Germans to break through your lines.
LEVEL15_PS01ýDefend Manhay
LEVEL16ý
LEVEL16_BRIEFINGýCelles, a few kilometers from the bridges over the Meuse at Dinant, on the morning of 25 December. Of the attacking German forces, the 2nd Panzer division has advanced furthest to the west. If their combat troops manage to cross the Meuse, the Americans won't be able to hold them.þþWith two Combat Commands of the US 2nd armored division, you have been told to smash the German 2nd Panzer division. The first of your two Combat Commands (CCA) must advance north of the forest along the road towards Celles, thus sealing off the forest. The second Combat Command (CCB) will drive southwards around the forest in a pincer movement, thus trapping the German troops bivouacked in the forest.þAs soon as your two Combat Commands have trapped the Germans, the forest is to be cleared of enemy troops. But you should take care to protect your flanks, as you can hardly assume that the Germans will stand idle while one of their best Panzer divisions is wiped out. The Panzerlehrdivision, which will be used in any counter-attack, is located south of Celles.
LEVEL16_DATEý26th December 1944
LEVEL16_DB_FýYour forces did not manage to encircle and destroy the enemy troops.
LEVEL16_DB_PýThere are no enemy troops left.
LEVEL16_DESCRIPTIONýThe fate of the 2nd Panzerdivison, which advanced furthest to the West.
LEVEL16_HISTORYý
LEVEL16_HISTORY_TEXT1ýBy the morning of the 25th of December 1944 the advance kampfgruppe of the 2nd Panzerdivision had been split in two. The 2nd Panzer reconnaissance battalion and a part of the German artillery column had bivouacked near Foy Notre Dame, only six kilometres from the bridges over the Meuse at Dinant. Major Cochenhausen, who commanded the main column, including a tank battalion and a regiment of panzer grenadiers, halted at daylight in the woods between Celles and Conneaux - perhaps five kilometers behind the detachment in Foy-Notre Dame. þþThe US 2nd Armored Divison started its counterattack to the 2nd Panzerdivisions spearheads with CCB at 0800 on Christmas Day, the idea a double-pronged sweep to capture Celles and annihilate the German armor believed to be there. For this maneuver General White divided his command into two task forces. Task Force A (Lt. Col. Harry Hillyard) had its line of departure on the Achene road and orders to take the Bois de Geauvelant, a large wood some thousand meters across, which lay midway between Achene and Celles. It was to assemble for the final assault on high ground northwest of Celles. þþTask Force B (Maj. Clifton B. Batchelder), starting its move near Leignon, was to make the main envelopment and cut off Celles on the southeast. The 82nd Armored Reconnaissance Battalion went in on the open right flank of the attack to screen toward the west and as far forward as the Lesse River, south of Celles. CCB would be supported by artillery emplaced west of Ciney and by both American and British fighter-bombers.
LEVEL16_HISTORY_TEXT2ýTask Force A, medium tanks to the front, went through the Bois de Geauvelant with almost no opposition. As it debouched it came under fire from a little farm near Foy-Notre Dame and lost three half-tracks. The 370th Fighter Group of the IX Tactical Air Command, flying in support of CCB, then flushed out four Panther tanks and put them out of action, at least temporarily. The column again drew fire near Boisselles, but two platoons of the 67th Armored Regiment moved in and destroyed three Panthers doing the shooting. By the middle of the afternoon Task Force A reached the high ground overlooking Celles, blocking the roads to the west and southwest. Task Force B had a brief battle at Conjoux, then rushed on - knocking out isolated tanks and guns - until it arrived on the ridge 1,300 metres southeast of Celles. þþMeanwhile the 82nd Reconnaissance Battalion had run into the remnants of the 2nd Panzer reconnaissance battalion at Foy-Notre Dame. These Germans intended to make a fight of it, though at first sight FoyNotre Dame seemed a peaceful farming village. When a platoon from the 82nd moved in, the enemy began a fusillade of antitank and machine gun fire from hidden positions. Worse, four Panthers on high ground just south of the village took a hand. The American cavalry suffered some casualties, but Sergeant Rogers used his assault gun to charge a German antitank gun in the middle of the village and the mop-up began. The four Panthers were destroyed by air attack. This skirmish marked the end of the German reconnaissance battalion: the commander and 147 others were captured, and much of its remaining equipment was taken. þþWhen General White's two task forces finally sent tanks into Celles they met little resistance. At first it seemed empty except for the towns people who had gathered in the church; later some 200 dispirited prisoners were rounded up in and near the town. With the capture of Celles the string was drawn on the bag in the forest between that town and Conjoux. Harmon ordered CCB to turn back the next morning and give the coup de grace to the trapped enemy. þ
LEVEL16_HISTORY_TEXT3ýThat night the kampfgruppe with which the 2nd Panzer had been blocking in the Hargimont sector was relieved by the 9th Panzer, and Lauchert finally was free to attempt Cochenhausen's relief. The force which he led from the Rochefort road through the Bois de Famenne and Ciergnon was not likely to give much confidence of success: a company or two of tanks, a battalion of armored infantry, a light artillery battalion. But the 2nd Panzerdivision never got to launch an attack, for the American guns opened a hellish fire, their targets spotted by five planes. Then to top this came the P-38's and Typhoons. þþLauchert's group was saved by an order radioed from the XLVII Panzer Corps: he was to return to Rochefort at once; the troops in the pocket would have to destroy their vehicles, leave their wounded, and get out on foot. A Panzerlehrdivision attempt to reach the pocket via Custinne on 26th December was futile. þþThe story of the 2nd Panzer pocket is quickly told. CCB spent two days clearing the thick woods and dense under-brush between Celles and Conjoux. The procedure was simple and effective: first, heavy shelling on a given area, then a slow, methodical advance by the infantry line backed with the tanks. In the main forest near Celles a final squeeze produced 200 prisoners, 12 guns, and 80 vehicles of various types. Nonetheless many of the German troops did succeed in escaping on foot. Major von Cochenhausen and nearly 600 of his men ultimately reached Rochefort, but all the equipment of the reconnaissance battalion, the 304th Panzer Grenadier Regiment, the 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Panzer Regiment, three artillery battalions, and two-thirds of the division flak battalion had to be left behind. þþ
LEVEL16_HISTORY_TITLE1ýThe plan for a counterattack
LEVEL16_HISTORY_TITLE2ýEncircling the enemy
LEVEL16_HISTORY_TITLE3ýThe 2nd Panzerdivision is trapped
LEVEL16_NAMEýThe Celles pocket
LEVEL16_PL01ýEncircle and destroy the 2nd Panzerdivision.
LEVEL16_PS01ýDestroy the enemy
LEVEL16_SL01ýEncircle the German troops hiding in the forest.
LEVEL16_SL02ýDestroy all enemy troops in the woods.
LEVEL16_SS01ýEncirclement
LEVEL16_SS02ýComb the wood
LEVEL17ý
LEVEL17_BRIEFINGýLa Gleize, Christmas 1944. For days, the vanguard of the 1st SS Panzer division led by Joachim Peiper has been out of contact with the rest of the division. Peiper's Panzer regiment is surrounded on all sides by units of the US 30th infantry division. The Germans have run out of fuel, and air-drops of emergency reserves won't make much of a difference. In short, the Germans are trapped.þþIt's your job to tighten the noose around La Gleize until the Germans surrender. But you can count on fanatical resistance from the enemy, whose Königstiger tanks are well dug in. They represent a major threat and are more or less immune to air-raids.þþSo capture the mountain village with your troops and wipe out the enemy. But take every precaution to limit your own losses. And above all, try and stop the Germans from escaping into the forest. All of the German soldiers must be captured; they mustn't be allowed to return to the battlefield in new tanks.
LEVEL17_DATEýChristmas Eve 1944.
LEVEL17_DB_FýThe enemy seems to be too strong for your forces.
LEVEL17_DB_PýYou have captured La Gleize and destroyed the remnants of the 1st SS Panzerregiment.
LEVEL17_DESCRIPTIONýThe end of Kampfgruppe Peiper of 1. SS Panzerdivision in La Gleize.
LEVEL17_HISTORYý
LEVEL17_HISTORY_TEXT1ýSince the 19th December Kampfgruppe Peiper of 1st SS Panzerdivision lost contact to the divisional headquarters. The troops were isolated in the small villages of Stoumont and La Gleize. The only thing the Sixth Panzer Army could do on the 19th and 20th was to order supply troops and a small reconnaissance detachment of the 12th SS Panzerdivision to guard the north flank between the 3rd Parachute Division positions and Peiper, tell General Priess - the I SS Panzer Corps commander - to collect the rest of 1st SS Panzer Division for an attack to relieve Peiper, and urgently request the Luftwaffe to drop gasoline and ammunition for the isolated kampfgruppe. One air resupply mission was flown on the night of 21st December, but it was difficult to hit the constricted zone in darkness, and the Kampfgruppe got only enough gasoline to keep its radios going and to move a few of its tanks to more favorable firing positions.þþThe La Gleize story was once again one of frustration and failure for the Germans. Most of Peiper's troops were driven to the cellars of the town by the incessant shellfire, increasing in the afternoon as the American attack brought forward observers closer to the target, and made even more effective by the new POZIT fuze which the 113th Field Artillery was using. But wherever and whenever the attacking tanks and infantry tried to move along the roads and trails winding up the ridge nose to La Gleize, they encountered mine plots swept by direct fire from deeply dug in tanks and antitank guns. Progress then was slow; the leading American tank would be knocked out or burned by a direct hit with armor-piercing ammunition, eventually the infantry would work around and destroy or neutralize the German weapon, the engineers would remove the mine field, and the advance would continue. þþHarrison – commander of the 30th US Infantry division - decided that a flanking move through the woods to the north might work and in the afternoon elements of the American rifle companies reached the edge of La Gleize, only to come under machine gun and 20-mm. fire from streets and houses. General Harrison's main worry was the heavy German tanks gathered in the center of the town. Would they break out in a desperate counterattack against the lighter and more vulnerable Shermans? Would they slip through the net and bludgeon their way to the Ambleve?
LEVEL17_HISTORY_TEXT2ýTo deal with the tanks, Allied planes were promised for a strike at the town square. They came as promised but hit Malmedy instead of La Gleize, their bombs burying a number of civilians in one of the hotel buildings before the strike could be called off. Peiper had yet to be driven out of La Gleize; the 1st SS Panzer Division bridgehead force north of the Ambleve still had to be liquidated. þþMeanwhile the net had been drawn tight around Peiper, as tight as it could be drawn in this complex of woods and hills. Late the previous afternoon Mohnke – commander of the 1st SS Panzerdivision - had radioed Peiper permission to break out. Peiper knew that he could not take his vehicles or his wounded, that the escape would have to be made at night and on foot. Leaving a rear guard to demolish the tanks, trucks, and guns, Peiper and some eight hundred of his command started at 0100 in single file through the woods fringing La Gleize on the south, crossed the river, and as day broke took cover among the densely wooded hills north of Trois Ponts. On the night of the 24th Peiper's force crossed the Salm, briefly engaging troops of the 82d Airborne Division in a brisk exchange of fire, and on Christmas morning rejoined the 1st SS Panzer Division south of Stavelot. þþThe 30th Division commander, under pressure from corps and army to finish the job at La Gleize and release the attached armor, had made no promises that La Gleize would fall on the 24th but had urged his unit commanders to get the attack rolling early and finish off the defenders. For the tired US troops who had expected a desperate last stand it must have been gratifying to find the town open for the taking. They liberated about 170 Americans, most of whom had been captured by the Germans at Stoumont on 19th December.
LEVEL17_HISTORY_TEXT3ýThe prisoners they took, nearly all wounded, numbered 300. Twenty-eight tanks, 70 half-tracks, and 25 artillery pieces were found in the town. This booty, plus the German tanks and guns destroyed earlier in the operation, accounted for nearly the entire heavy equipment of the 1st SS Panzer Regiment. Although those of Peiper's troops who had escaped were back in the line with the reconstituted 1st SS Panzer Division, that elite unit could no longer be considered an armored division. þþIn an epilogue to the taking of La Gleize, foot troops of the 117th and 120th Infantry Regiments began the slow work of beating the woods in the triangle formed by the Salm and the Ambleve where a part of the 1st SS Panzer Division relief force continued to hold out. In the woods north of La Gleize some fifty Germans who apparently had not received the orders to withdraw tried to fight it out. All were killed. By the 26th the last Germans had been captured, killed, or driven off from the north bank of the Ambleve.
LEVEL17_HISTORY_TITLE1ýPeiper is trapped
LEVEL17_HISTORY_TITLE2ýThe fight for La Gleize
LEVEL17_HISTORY_TITLE3ýBringing in prisoners of war
LEVEL17_NAMEýLa Gleize
LEVEL17_PL01ýCapture La Gleize and destroy the spearhead of the 1st SS Panzerdivision.
LEVEL17_PS01ýCapture La Gleize
LEVEL17_SL01ýClear the forest and haunt the fleeing enemy.
LEVEL17_SS01ýClear the forest
LEVEL18ý
LEVEL18_BRIEFINGýNorthern Alsace, January 1945.þThe Ardennes offensive has already failed, so Hitler and his Generals decide to try their luck elsewhere. The goal of Operation "Nordwind" is to surround and annihilate the US 7th Army in north-eastern France. German units from a Rhine bridge-head at Gambsheim are to attack with troops from the southern Pfalz, meeting up behind the American lines near Saverne. This would trap the Americans, thus relieving the German troops fighting in the Ardennes. The Americans would then have to divert reinforcements to Alsace.þþYou are fighting on the German side, and have been given the task of capturing the village of Wingen-sur-Moder with mountain troops. Your soldiers will be supported by Jagdtiger tanks of the 653rd heavy Panzer squad. These mobile bunkers have such thick armor that the Americans are unable to destroy them. And with its 128mm cannon, the Jagdtiger can annihilate any American tanks within a three-kilometer radius.þþSo head towards Wingen – maybe you'll manage to make a decisive breakthrough to Saverne. But whatever you do, don't lose any of the valuable Jagdtiger tanks. The Wehrmacht only has 70 of them left!
LEVEL18_DATEýJanuary 1945
LEVEL18_DB_FýYou lost a Jagdtiger.
LEVEL18_DB_PýWell done. You didn´t loose any of the Jagdtigers.
LEVEL18_DESCRIPTIONýThe last German offensive in the West, called "Nordwind", fails in Northern Alsace.
LEVEL18_HISTORYý
LEVEL18_HISTORY_TEXT1ýWith the failure of the Ardennes offensive to achieve a break through, Hitler began to look to Alsace, which had been weakened by the pull out of the 3rd US Army for the Bulge. On the 22nd of December, Army Group G was authorized by Hitler to begin planning and rebuilding the forces allocated for the attack. Three days later, Hitler, von Rundstedt (OB West) and Blaskowitz (Commander of Army Group G) reviewed the plans and approved the attack, code named Nordwind, for New Year's Eve. Under command of the German First Army they would launch a major thrust. þþThe main attack with four refitted infantry divisions (6. SS Gebirgsjägerdivision, 256. Volksgrenadierdivision, 257. Volksgrenadierdivision, 559. Volksgrenadierdivision) would attack east of Bitche through the mountains with the objective of seizing the road Wingen-Wimmeneau-Ingweiler. þþThis would allow the Germans to utilize their Panzer Divisions (21st and 10th SS Panzerdivision) to debouch from the mountains to link up with an attack from Himmler's "High Command Oberrhein" from a bridgehead at Gambsheim across the Rhine north of Strasbourg coordinated with the 19th Army's attack from the Colmar bridge head. If these two drives linked up as planned the 7th US Army would not only be split, but the VI US Corps to the north would be trapped.þþAnother attack would be launched in the Sarreguemines area aimed at encircling the 100th US Infantry Division. In this thrust the 19th and 36th Volksgrenadier and the 17th SS Panzergrenadierdivision were involved.
LEVEL18_HISTORY_TEXT2ýAnother attack would be launched in the Sarreguemines area aimed at encircling the 100th US Infantry Division. In this thrust the 19th and 36th Volksgrenadier and the 17th SS Panzergrenadierdivision were involved.þþAs part of the operations the 653rd Schwere Panzerjägerabteilung with its heavy Jagdtigers tank hunters was brought to the front. Together with the 17th SS Panzer Grenadier Division, the 653. s.Pz.Jäg.Abt. attacked the Maginot line. By 9th January the first Jagdtiger was destroyed by a bazooka. The use of Jagdtigers was limited, and reports about the high numbers of breakdowns were sent to Hitler. Some Jagdtigers, more or less intact, were captured by the US forces. But when these rolling bunkers didn´t have a technical breakdown, they scared the US tankers, for example those of the 781st US Tank Batallion: þþ„Two days later, while supporting the 411th infantry Regiment’s attack in the vicinity of Sessenheim, the crews of A/81st encountered some of the heaviest armored vehicles to ever see combat — “Hunting Tiger” (Jagdtiger) tank destroyers of the 653rd Heavy Tank Destroyer Battalion, mounting powerful 128mm main guns, protected by almost 10 inches of frontal armor. In this action on 19th January, Able Company lost six Shermans and sustained serious damage to two more in one eight minute engagement. The company lost 11 men killed or missing and fifteen seriously wounded before being able to disengage.“þþDespite some minor successes for the Germans and bitter fighting the Nordwind offensive was a failure. The attacking spearheads never reached their final objectives nor were they able to at least encircle the 100th US Infantry division. The 7th US Army was never really in danger of being destroyed.þþWingen-sur-Moder, a little town buried in the brooding mountains, was the deepest and most dangerous penetration point of Operation Nordwind. On January 2nd, the 12th SS Mountain Regiment took their first objective, a key road west of Reipertswiller, and their first prisoners. The next day, the German forces received the order to take Wingen. They decided to bypass the entrenched 179th US infantry regiment to the east and instead march through the dense forests on the flank through one of the gaps in the American lines. The 180th regiment of the 45th US Division had been entrucked some 40 miles from various positions in Germany to fill the gap, however, it arrived too late. The 12th SS Mountain Regiment had already passed.
LEVEL18_HISTORY_TEXT3ýAt approximately 18:30 hours, the 276th Infantry Regiment was warned to expect an attack from the SS battalions which had finally been discovered after their surprise cross country move. The lst Battalion was alerted: Its Baker and Charlie Companies were on line north of Wingen. Able Company was preparing positions on the high ground south of the village. Bravo Company was ordered to move eastward toward Wimmenau to set up outposts on the high ground northwest of Wingen -- precisely where the SS battalions were heading.þþBy 0900 hours on January 4th, the Germans took Wingen after two hours of heavy house-to-house fighting. A half hour later the Germans had crossed the Moder and dug in on the south boundary of the village. Even though the village was captured, the Germans were unable to report their victory. The mountains were smothering the radio signals. The commander of the 361st Volks Grenadiers learned of the capture of Wingen from an intercepted American message. þþWingen-sur-Moder suddenly became the focal point of German strength. The high command was determined to exploit this penetration, especially since the Bitche sector had been declared futile. But the Americans counterattacked with tanks of the 781st Tank Battalion and troops of the 45th Infantry Division. The German retreat began about 2100 hours of January 6th and by 0600 hours the next day, the Germans were out of contact with American forces. þþAs the German battalions got themselves organized, the beating they had taken became apparent. The 3rd Batallion, 12th SS Regiment had a combat strength of 450 when it arrived in Wingen. After the battle its strength was only 110. All of its officers, except the commander and his adjutant, were casualties. One company only had one noncommissioned officer and seven enlisted men left. On January the 7th Wingen was in American hands again.þ
LEVEL18_HISTORY_TITLE1ýPlans for Operation Nordwind
LEVEL18_HISTORY_TITLE2ýJagdtigers attack
LEVEL18_HISTORY_TITLE3ýThe fight for Wingen sur Moder
LEVEL18_NAMEýOperation Nordwind
LEVEL18_PL01ýGet control over Wingen sur Moder, the village in the North.
LEVEL18_PS01ýGet to the North
LEVEL18_SL01ýAttack in the direction of Wingen sur Moder
LEVEL18_SL02ýDon´t loose any of your Jagdtigers.
LEVEL18_SL03ýGo all the way back to your initial positions before the attack.
LEVEL18_SS01ýGo North
LEVEL18_SS02ýSave your Jagdtigers
LEVEL18_SS03ýRetreat
LEVEL19ý
LEVEL19_BRIEFINGýFebruary 1945. Even while the "Nordwind" offensive is still in progress, the US 6th Army in southern Alsace is preparing its final attempt to wipe out the "Colmar Pocket", the German bridge-head between Colmar and Breisach.þþMeanwhile, the Germans are only holding onto the old fortified town of Neuf Brisach. But they're doing everything they can to defend it. Units of the 708th Volksgrenadier division and tanks of the 106th Panzer brigade are dug in and are determined to cover the withdrawal of the last units over the Rhine into the Reich.þþTo begin with, in preparation for an attack, you'll have to soften up the town with artillery and T34 "Calliope" rocket-launchers. You should then move cautiously towards the outer line of bunkers. In the town center, you will hardly be able to avoid house-to-house combat. The final objective is to capture the town and take the bridges.
LEVEL19_DATEýFebruary 1945
LEVEL19_DB_FýThe German defense is too strong for your weak troops.
LEVEL19_DB_PýNeuf Brisach is in your hands.
LEVEL19_DESCRIPTIONýDestroying the last German troops in the Colmar pocket and pushing them over the Rhine.
LEVEL19_HISTORYý
LEVEL19_HISTORY_TEXT1ýThe so-called "Colmar pocket" was formed by the Rhine, since the German troops concentrated around Colmar-Munster-Mulhouse formed sort of a halfcircle, with the flat side to their rear which was the Rhine. The Rhine could only be crossed at certain points and the Germans had only three quality crossings. In that sense, the Germans were caught in a "pocket", but it was of course also a pocket of resistance.þþThe German defenders of the pocket were divisions belonging to the 19th Army: 338th, 159th, 716th Infantry Division, Tank Brigade 106 "Feldherrnhalle" in LXIII Army Corps and the 198th, 189th Infantry Division plus the 16th and 708th Volksgrenadierdivision in the LXIV Army Corps.þþOn the Allied side the battle of the Colmar pocket (January/February 1945) was fought by the US 7th Army, consisting of the 28th, 75th and 3rd US Infantry divisions and 12th US Armored division, along with seven Free French divisions (1st Free French, 1st French Armoured, 2nd French Armoured, 5th French Armoured, 2nd French (Moroccan), 4th French (Moroccan Mountain), 9th French Colonial - plus a number of smaller units, such as paras etc). In terms of numbers, 125.000 Americans and 295.000 French (mostly Arab) took part. The French lost some 14.000 men, the US some 6.500. Exact German casualties are unknown.
LEVEL19_HISTORY_TEXT2ýEven before Opteration Nordwind in Northern Alsace had ended the 6th US Army Group commander was preparing to eliminate the Colmar Pocket in southern Alsace. To draw the German reserves southward plans called for four divisions from the French I Corps to start the assault. This initial foray would set the stage for the French II Corps to launch the main effort in the north. The defending Nineteenth Army's eight divisions were low on equipment but well provided with artillery ammunition, small arms, and mines, and fleshed out with whatever manpower and materiel that Himmler, the overall commander, could scrounge from the German interior. Bad weather, compartmentalized terrain, and fear of Himmler's SS secret police strengthened the German defense.þþOn 20th January, in the south, Lt. Gen. Emile Bethouart's French I Corps began its attack in a driving snowstorm. Although its gains were limited by armored-infantry counterattacks, the corps drew the Nineteenth Army's armor southward, along with the arriving 2nd Mountain Division. Two days later, in the north, Maj. Gen. Amie de Goislard de Monsabert's French II Corps commenced its attack, led by the US 3rd Division. Reinforced by one of the 63rd Infantry Division's regiments, the 3rd advanced over the first of several watercourses and cleared the Colmar Forest. þþIt met resistance on the Ill River but continued to fight its way forward through enemy counterattacks, subsequently crossing the Colmar Canal and opening an avenue for the French 5th Armored Division. The Allies pushed further eastward in deepening snow and worsening weather, with the 28th and 75th Divisions from the Ardennes following. þþOn the twenty-fifth Maj. Gen. Frank W. Milburn's XXI Corps joined the line. Assuming control of the 3rd, 28th, and 75th Divisions, the 12th Armored Division, which was shifted from reserves, and the French 5th Armored Division, the corps launched the final thrust to the Vauban Canal and Rhone-Rhine Canal bridges at Neuf-Brisach.
LEVEL19_HISTORY_TEXT3ýThe 3rd US Infantry Division was awarded with a presidential unit citation reading as follows: „Fighting incessantly, from 22 January to 6 February 1945, in heavy snow storms, through enemy-infested marshes and woods, and over a flat plain crisscrossed by numerous small canals, irrigation ditches, and unfordable streams, terrain ideally suited to the defense, breached the German wall on the northern perimeter of the Colmar bridgehead and drove forward to isolate Colmar from the Rhine. Crossing the Fecht River from Guemar, Alsace, by stealth during the late hours of darkness of 22 January, the assault elements fought their way forward against mounting resistance. Reaching the Ill River, a bridge was thrown across but collapsed before armor could pass to the support o two battalions of the 30th Infantry on the far side. Isolated and attacked by a full German Panzer brigade, outnumbered and outgunned, these valiant troops were forced back yard by yard. Wave after wave of armor and infantry was hurled against them but despite hopeless odds the regiment was hurled against them but despite hopeless odds the regiment hold tenaciously to its bridgehead. Driving forward in knee-deep snow, which masked acres of densely sown mines, the 3d Infantry Division fought from house to house and street to street in the fortress towns of the Alsatian Plain. Under furious concentrations of supporting fire, assault troops crossed the Colmar Canal in rubber boats during the night of 29 January. Driving relentlessly forward, six towns were captured within 8 hour hours, 500 casualties inflicted on the enemy during the day, and large quantities of booty seized. Slashing through to the Rhone-Rhine Canal, the garrison at Colmar was cut off and the fall of the city assured. Shifting the direction of attack, the division moved south between the Rhone-Rhine Canal and the Rhine toward Neuf Briash and the Brisach Bridge. Synchronizing the attacks, the bridge was seized and Neuf Brisach captured by crossing the protecting moat and scaling the medieval walls by ladder.“ þþAlthough the campaign was officially over on 25 January, the American and French troops did not completely clear the Colmar Pocket until 9th February 1945. In the process of eliminating the pocket the Germans were soundly beaten, but able to score an unexpected success by the evacuation of 50.000 troops from the pocket along with much important material over the Rhine. And before the Germans retreated, the Colmar pocket was characterized by stiff resistance and countless counterattacks, it was the last French area to be liberated.
LEVEL19_HISTORY_TITLE1ýThe Colmar pocket
LEVEL19_HISTORY_TITLE2ýAllied planning
LEVEL19_HISTORY_TITLE3ýPresidential unit citation
LEVEL19_HL01ýClear two of the bunkers with artillery pieces inside.
LEVEL19_HS01ýClear the bunkers
LEVEL19_NAMEýThe Colmar Pocket
LEVEL19_PL01ýCapture the fortress of Neuf Brisach against heavy German resistance.
LEVEL19_PS01ýCapture Neuf Brisach
LEVEL19_SL01ýCapture the eight flags on the map.
LEVEL19_SS01ýStrategic points
LEVEL1_BRIEFINGýYour heavy tank hunter battalion 654 has been equipped with the new Jagdpanthers. Thanks to its 88 mm anti-tank gun mounted on the rugged chassis of Panther, thanks also to its thick armor and low silhouette the Jadpanther is a powerful weapon. þþYour group of three Jagdpanthers must carry out a reconnaissance mission to the North near the village called Les Loges. þþAbout the village are a few Churchills tanks of the 6th Armored Guards Brigade who have taken position to control Hill 226. Do your best to find out where the enemy is positioned without being discovered. If you see the possibility to clean up the area of enemy troops, your promotion is assured. þþOn the other hand, your superiors will not appreciate it if you loose your Jagdpanthers in their first battle. So do your best to destroy the enemy and then bring the Jagdpanthers safely home.
LEVEL1_DATEý30th of July 1944
LEVEL1_DB_FýYou lost more than one Jagdpanther. Such losses are inacceptable.
LEVEL1_DB_PýAll Churchill tanks are destroyed.
LEVEL1_DESCRIPTIONýLead a group of three Jagdpanthers against a column of Churchillls at Caumount.
LEVEL1_HISTORYý
LEVEL1_HISTORY_TEXT1ýParallel to the launch of Operation Cobra, the US breakout from the Normandy landing zone in the west of the Cotentin peninsula at Avranches, the British were demanded by the Americans to draw German reserves and pressure away from the US sector. Therefore General Montgomery instructed General Dempsey to seize high ground, dominated by Mont Pincon, south of Caumont and Villers-Bocage and the surrounding area. The operation got the codename Bluecoat. þþBluecoat was planned as a two corps operation with the VIII Corps consisting of 11th Armoured, 6th Guards Armoured and 15th Scottish Infantry divisions on the right flank. Their objectives were the villages St. Martin-des-Besaces, Foret l’Eveque, Le Beny Bocage and Vire. XXX Corps on the left flank consisted of 7th armoured division, and 43rd Wessex and 50th Northumbrian infantry divisions. Their objectives were Villers-Bocage, Aunay-sur-Odon and ultimately the 365 metres high Mont Pincon.þþThe attack was prepared by a heavy bombardment of the German lines by the Allied air forces, but with little effect on the German defenders, who were often fragmented due to their highly overstretched lines. The bombs just hit apple orchards.þþThe operation finally became successful, when elements of 11th Armoured Division located a gap between the German 3rd Parachute and the 326th Infantry division in the enemy lines, crossed a bridge over the Souleuvre and began threatening Vire, a town most important to the German defensive positions. The Germans had left the Souleuvre bridge undefended due to a mix-up between 3rd Para Division and 326th Infantry Division, who both thought it was the other’s responsibility to defend the bridge. þþThe advance was to continue thanks to the initiative of Lieutenant Dickie Powle of 2nd Household Cavalry. North of Canville, Powle’s armoured car - supported by another scout car - slipped across the St-Lo to Beny–Bocage road and drove two miles through the Foret l’Eveque to an undefended little bridge across the River Souleuvre. Powle camouflaged his vehicles and radioed back to Divisional Headquarters at 10:30 that the bridge was intact and undefended. General Roberts, Commander in Chief of the 11th Armoured, realised the opportunity and launched 4th Kings Shropshire Light Infantry and 2nd Northants Yeomanry towards the bridge, which they reached and secured at 14:00. Momentum had been found due to the German disorganization. From then on VIII Corps pushed on to play an important role in breaking out from the Allied beachheads in Normandy.þ
LEVEL1_HISTORY_TEXT2ýOn July 30th the 15th Scottish Division, supported by the 6th Guards Tank Brigade, broke through south of Caumont l´Evente, where the front was weakly held by elements of the German 326th Infantry Division, and made a ten kilometre drive to secure Point 309 controlling the N175 road from Caen to Avranches. A detachment of Churchills was ordered to cover the left flank from the slope of Point 226. þþThe Churchills deployed on the slopes of Le Homme with S Squadron on the left and the others to the right, centre, and rear respectively. As the officers assembled to receive new orders, S Squadron was the first victim of the German ambush. þþAll remained quiet for a while, but suddenly one tank after another started to explode in flames. Two Jagdpanthers pulled out of the wood onto the crest covered by a third Jagdpanther from where they had destroyed some more Churchills within seconds. First the left hand troop, then the centre troop were quickly destroyed, followed by the battalion's deputy commander, whose Churchill had its turret blown off. þþThe German crews had actually broken their cover without realising that they were facing three tank squadrons and the sight of the two other Churchill squadrons soon prompted them to move back, receiving some hits from the British armour before disappearing beyond the crest. The British shells just bounced off the Jagdpanthers doing no obvious damage.þþThe Jagdpanthers had accounted for eleven Churchills, leaving S Squadron with only four left, but the German victory was in fact a pyrrhic one: The British later found two of the attacking Jagdpanthers abandoned by their crews with track damage. For all the carnage that they had inflicted, the Germans could not retake the hill as they too lacked infantry for doing so. þ
LEVEL1_HISTORY_TEXT3ýOperation Bluecoat was a hard slog and casualties had been heavy. Nevertheless, support had been given to the US breakout Operation Cobra and to the efforts that were continuing liberating Caen. The Germans were once again stretched to breaking point and any thoughts they had of mounting a decisive counter-attack to Cobra or elsewhere were dashed. þþBut Caumont showed the Allies the strength of Germany’s new military equipment – and there was more to come.þþThe schwere Panzerjägerabteilung 654 suffered heavy losses during the Normandy battle. It was newly formed in Grafenwöhr in late 1944 and fought in the 1 st Army during the winter 1944/45. The batallion ended the war within the LIII. Army Corps at Remagen in March 1945.þþThe British 6 th Guards Armoured Tank Brigade fought in the famous Battle of Arnhem. In the aftermath of the failed Arnhem offensive the 6th Guards Tank Brigade was engaged in heavy fighting around the Dutch village Overloon. It was during these fierce battles that tankers of the 4th Armoured Battalion - Coldstream Guards - entered a large barn, where they found a Panther tank of the Panzerabteilung 2, Panzerbrigade 107. This Panther was in running order and quickly put to work in the staff units of the brigade. The use of this Panther was a rare event, since the Allies seldomly used captured vehicles.þþAfter some adjustments were made to the appearance of the tank this Panther was used to help the artillery barrage on the Geijsteren castle on the Meuse River. The tank was named “Cuckoo“. This name fits for such a strange “bird”.þ
LEVEL1_HISTORY_TITLE1ýOperation BlueCoat
LEVEL1_HISTORY_TITLE2ýThe Jagdpanzers at Chaumont
LEVEL1_HISTORY_TITLE3ýThe aftermath
LEVEL1_NAMEýJagdpanthers at Caumont
LEVEL1_PL01ýThere are Churchill tanks resting in Les Loges village. Destroy the enemy.
LEVEL1_PS01ýDestroy all Churchill tanks.
LEVEL1_SL01ýDon´t loose more than one Jagdpanther.
LEVEL1_SP001ýGerman soldier ...
LEVEL1_SP002ýGerman tank commander
LEVEL1_SP003ýChurchills remaining:
LEVEL1_SP004ýNow you can repair your tanks.
LEVEL1_SS01ýTake care of your tanks.
LEVEL2ý
LEVEL20ý
LEVEL20_BRIEFINGýRemagen, 7th March 1945. þThe days of German offensives are over, and the Wehrmacht is on the run everywhere, sometimes retreating chaotically. Your reconnaissance unit from the 9th US armored division has to drive along the Rhine between Bonn and Koblenz to find out where German troops are positioned west of the river, and which bridges are still standing, if any.þþTo your great surprise, you will discover that the railway bridge at Remagen is the only intact bridge over the Rhine. So take the initiative and capture the bridge. Destroy any defensive positions in Remagen and at the bridge, especially the anti-aircraft battery on the Erpeler Ley, which is the hill on the other side of the river.þþOf course, your master stroke will not go unnoticed. So you should prepare for heavy resistance, secure the bridge and bridge-heads and set up anti-aircraft positions. German Arado AR 234 bombers have bombed other bridges in the last few minutes.
LEVEL20_DATEý7th March 1945
LEVEL20_DB_FýYou failed to cross the Rhine.
LEVEL20_DB_PýYou have captured and secured the Ludendorff bridge over the Rhine.
LEVEL20_DESCRIPTIONýCrossing the Rhine via the Remagen bridge.
LEVEL20_HISTORYý
LEVEL20_HISTORY_TEXT1ýIn spring 1945 the American and British armies had flattened out the bulge with which the German attackers had penetrated the American lines in their counter attack through the Ardennes. Starting in December 16, 1944, as the Allied Forces approached the Rhine River, Adolph Hitler ordered all the bridges blown up to prevent a crossing of the river. þþThe 9th Armored Division, which had been ordered to turn south along the west bank of the river in order to join up with General Patton's Third Army coming from the South, found a bridge still standing at the little town of Remagen halfway between Cologne and Koblenz. The defending Germans had left this bridge open in order to retreat some of their tanks and big guns to save them from being captured by the Americans.þþIt was afternoon of March 7, 1945 when a small group of the 27th Armored Infantry Battalion of the 9th Armored Division emerged from the woods, and from the top of a high hill overlooking the Rhine River they observed the bridge still standing, with the Germans retreating across the bridge. þþThe bridge was known as the Ludendorff Bridge after Germany's WWI general. It had been built during WWI. The bridge was originally designed as a railroad bridge, but it was planked over to allow for vehicular traffic. When the French occupied this section of Germany after WWI, they filled the demolition chambers underneath the bridge with cement, making it very difficult to destroy the bridge. The German defenders set up a demolition plan which involved a circuit which could be activated from a tunnel on the east side of the bridge.
LEVEL20_HISTORY_TEXT2ýGeneral William Hoge, commander of Combat Command B, ordered the 27th Armored Infantry Battalion to go down the hill and attack the town of Remagen prior to possibly crossing the bridge before it was blown up. At the same time, the 14th Tank Battalion of the 9th Armored Division was ordered to proceed to the west side of the bridge after helping to clean out the defenders in the town of Remagen. þþLt. Karl Timmermann led the first troops across the bridge. Just before they set foot on the bridge, the Germans blew a 15 metres crater in the approach to prevent tanks from crossing. Just as Lt. Timmermann and his infantry men started to cross the bridge, there was a tremendous explosion as the Germans attempted to destroy the bridge. Both the Americans and Germans later testified that the bridge seemed to lift up from its foundations and then settle back shakily. While it was still shaking, Lt. Timmermann and his men made their precarious way across. Lt. Timmermann of West Point, Nebraska, was the first officer to reach the east coast of the Rhine River and Alex Drabik of Toldeo, Ohio, was the first enlisted man to set foot on the east side of the Rhine.þþThere was not one complete division in the Remagen area in early March 1945 so the Americans assembled units from nearby divisions and put them under the command of the 9th Armord Division. The 78th sent the 1st battalion of the 310 infantry regiment to join this force. It was these men of the 78th who became the first infantry units to cross the Rhine river, at 4:30 am on March 8, 1945.þþAdolph Hitler was infuriated by the capture of the Ludendorff Bridge. He was certain it had fallen into American hands because of German treason. He sent an execution squad to single out five German officers for immediate execution. Four of the five were immediately shot to death and the fifth man, Captain Bratge, escaped execution only because the Americans had captured him.þþHitler ordered an all-out attack on the Americans who had crossed the bridge. He sent in jet planes (Arado 234) for the first time in the war, and they tried to bomb and destroy the bridge. A group of underwater swimmers armed with explosives tried to destroy the bridge, but they were picked up by powerful searchlights before they reached their objective. Eleven V2 rockets – which were shot from Holland - landed near the bridge, shaking it like an earthquake. But it wasn´t destroyed.
LEVEL20_HISTORY_TEXT3ýFor the Germans, it was do or die. If they failed to stem the flow of men and materials across the bridge and wipe out the bridgehead, their entire Rhine River defensive position was lost. For the Allies, this small patch of land across the Rhine was the most critical spot on the entire front. Seizure of the bridge had been unexpected gravy. Now, if forces fighting east of the Rhine could be sustained, reinforced and bolstered, the great Rhine River crossing operation would be speeded up immeasurably and many lives spared.þþThe 78th US Infantry Division struck out to enlarge the bridgehead. First smashing south from Erpel, the division concentrated rifles, grenades, machine guns, mortars and howitzers to pry Germans from the hills. Slowly, the tiny bridgehead expanded. Linz and Dattenberg were cleared.þþMen and materiel continued to pour across the Ludendorf Bridge. New spans were thrown across the river. Relieved in the southern sector, the 78th turned north. Past Erpel, into Honnef, it stormed then beyond Honnef to the northeast still enlarging the bridgehead.þþThe 51st and 291st Engineer Battalions immediately began to build pontoon and treadway bridges on both sides of the weakened railroad bridge. This was very fortunate, because on March 17, 1945, the seriously damaged Ludendorff Bridge collapsed into the Rhine River, killing twenty-eight engineers who had been trying to strengthen the bridge.þþThe capture of the bridge helped shorten the war by enabling the Americans to encircle and trap 300,000 Germans east of the Rhine in the Ruhr Pocket, thereby, causing the war to end earlier on May 8, 1945.
LEVEL20_HISTORY_TITLE1ýThe Ludendorff bridge
LEVEL20_HISTORY_TITLE2ýThe first US soldier on the bridge
LEVEL20_HISTORY_TITLE3ýThe bridgehead
LEVEL20_NAMEýRemagen bridge
LEVEL20_PL01ýCapture the bridge and Remagen on this side of the River.
LEVEL20_PS01ýCross the Rhine
LEVEL20_SL01ýCapture and hold the two flags near the bridge.
LEVEL20_SL02ýTake care. German Blitzbombers will attack the bridge.
LEVEL20_SL03ýConquer the village Erpel on the other side of the river (two flags there).
LEVEL20_SL04ýRepel all counterattacks that will be launched by the Germans.
LEVEL20_SS01ýCapture the bridge
LEVEL20_SS02ýDefend the bridge
LEVEL20_SS03ýEnlarge the bridgehead
LEVEL20_SS04ýRepel counterattacks
LEVEL2_BRIEFINGýMid-August 1944. As from today, you are in command of the 2nd battalion of the US 120th infantry regiment. The battalion command unit has been set up in Mortain, a small town in Normandy. This was actually a rather out-of-the-way position, as the main body of the American forces broke through into the French hinterland west of Mortain near Avranches during the last few days. þþBut the Germans have now started a massive counter-offensive, aiming to cut the supply lines of the American armored units. According to intelligence, the main German attack will go right through Mortain, which we are defending. Difficult times lie ahead for you, Major.þþDefend Mortain as well as you can from attacks from all sides. If the going gets tough, you can withdraw to Hill 314, where the artillery is positioned. Don't expect any reinforcements in the near future. Good luck!.þ
LEVEL2_DATEý7th August 1944
LEVEL2_DB_FýYou failed defending the city. The Germans have occupied Mortain.
LEVEL2_DB_PýYou defended the city successfully. Well done.
LEVEL2_DESCRIPTIONýDefend the village of Mortain against the German counter-attack
LEVEL2_HISTORYý
LEVEL2_HISTORY_TEXT1ýWith the successful breakout of US troops (operation Cobra) at St. Lo it became obvious that the Germans had failed either to drive the Allies back into the sea - as the German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel as Commander in Chief West had planned - or at least to contain the invasion forces in the Cotentin peninsula. þþAs American armored and motorized troops under General Omar Bradley broke into the open terrain of Britanny and swept southwards, then east and finally towards Paris and the Seine-Loire gap on a 53-mile front, one last desperate chance remained for the Germans if they wanted to turn the tide in Western France: This was to cut off the racing US Third Army from its supplies at Avranches.
LEVEL2_HISTORY_TEXT2ýOperation Lüttich had been completely planned by the General Headquarters of the Wehrmacht OKW against the advice of the military leaders at the frontline. Its objective, imposed by Hitler in person, was to smash through American lines around Mortain and reach the bay of Mont St. Michel near Avranches, some thirty kilometres distant, slicing through the American Third Army along the way. Cut off from their supplies, Patton’s troops would be isolated and easily defeated.þþIn order to achieve the goals of Operation Lüttich, four Panzer divisions with round about 150 tanks (116th Panzerdivision, 2nd Panzerdivision, 1st and 2nd SS Panzerdivision) were moved to the front with the utmost secrecy and reinforced by infantry. þþField Marshal Günther von Kluge 's intention was to split the 1st. and 3rd. US Armies, but mistakenly he attacked toward the center of the 1st Army, when he started with Mortain and there attacking the 30th US Army Infantry Division. This division had not been reinforced, despite the Allied intelligence had predicted the German attack.
LEVEL2_HISTORY_TEXT3ýVon Kluge suspected that the Allies could have scented his intentions. His suspicion fell short of actuality, since the Allies had not scented but already documented his intentions in detail: On the night of August 5th to 6th, Ultra, product of the decrypt service at Bletchley Park, had alerted Montgomery and Bradley to the movement of Panzer divisions westward. At midnight on August 6th to7th - as the attack began - Ultra was forwarding to the command in France the exact timings of the attack and its immediate objectives. These were: Brécey and Montigny, between Mortain and Avranches. But this news was less important than the earlier warning of the counter attack. With this information Bradley had the time to reorganize his forces to ensure that the „Mortain counter-attack“, as the Allies would call Operation Lüttich later, would run into into a solid wall of resistance just beyond its starting line. This way Operation Lüttich was compromised from the beginning. þþThe small village of Mortain was held by the 30th Infantry Division and took most of the brunt of the German force. Thanks to the element of surprise as well as the thick morning mist the panzers broke out and advanced as much as ten or twelve kilometres in some sectors. Most of the roadblocks on the approaches to Mortain were quickly overrun. Heavily bombed overnight by the Luftwaffe, Mortain itself was recaptured by German troops briefly. þþThe German attackers drove the 30th Division out of Mortain except for hill 314 where elements of the division were isolated until August 12th. Recognising that they were surrounded, the infantrymen of the foremost battalions withdrew to the high ground of hill 314, overlooking Mortain, dug in for allround defence and called down their own artillery on to the fringe of their positions. The “Krauts” attacked hill 314 with everything they had, from tanks to bicycle troops. They had no choice of bypassing the hill. American artillery observers on the hill were calling up P-47s and British Typhoons in answer to the German attacks.
LEVEL2_HISTORY_TEXT4ýThe artillery´s heavy salvos and later the Allied airforces brought the onward movement of 2nd Panzer division to a halt, and while some German tank crews decided to battle things out with the divisional tank-destroyers, many of the others drove off the roads to drape their vehicles with camouflage nets against the air attacks and wait until the infantry might free the way. þþThe situation for the Americans became so desperate that „artillery resupply“ (packing plasma, dressings, and medicine in artillery shells normally used to fire propaganda leaflets and firing them into the US positions) of medical supplies was attempted, with little success. Airdrops were also attempted: After struggling through amazing amounts of beauracracy at corps level, the divisional G-4 of the 30th Infantry was able get some C-47 Skytrain drops but most of the supplies ended up in German hands, and most importantly, no radio batteries made it through. Therefore radio calls were limited to fire missions, and then only the briefest of information could be transmitted. Even the light artillery spotter planes Piper Cubs attempted to get through, but they were driven off by heavy German aa-gunfire.þþFinally, the 30th Infantry divsion was aided by three US divisions (1st and 4th Infantry plus 3rd Amored) that came to their rescue. 1st Battalion, 320th Infantry Regiment of 35th Infantry Division cut through the German defenses and rescued the "Lost Battalion" while supported by the 737th Tank Battalion.þþSome 300 of the 700 men in the "Lost Battalion" were killed or wounded. 737th Tank Battalion lost 13 of the 38 medium tanks deployed by the time they reached their objective.þþThe German tank divisions suffered heavy losses in the Mortain counter attack due to the Allied airraids only to be victims in the Falaise pocket a little later. All Panzer divisions were refreshed before they once again attacked for the last time in the Battle of the Bulge.þþThe 30th Infantry Division fought in the Ardennes, too, and there met their Mortain enemies again.
LEVEL2_HISTORY_TITLE1ýOutbreak at Avranches
LEVEL2_HISTORY_TITLE2ýMortain counter attack
LEVEL2_HISTORY_TITLE3ýUltra
LEVEL2_HISTORY_TITLE4ýAmerican resistance
LEVEL2_NAMEýOperation Lüttich (Mortain)
LEVEL2_PL01ýDefend Mortain until reinforcements will arrive.
LEVEL2_PS01ýDefend Mortain.
LEVEL2_SL01ýClear the city from all enemies.
LEVEL2_SP001ýGerman bombers are attacking from the South in round about 60 seconds.
LEVEL2_SP002ýIn Mortain:
LEVEL2_SP003ýGermans:
LEVEL2_SP004ýAmericans:
LEVEL2_SP005ýReinforcements arrived.
LEVEL2_SS01ýClear the city.
LEVEL3ý
LEVEL3_BRIEFINGýThe Kall river valley in Huertgen Forest, September 1944. Welcome to hell. Thousands of GIs hava already died in this forest, and now it may be your turn. You have been chosen to support the attack on Vossenack from the South, through the narrow Kall river valley. Although it's barely wide enough for a tank, you're supposed to break through with tanks, guns and infantry.þþCross the bridge at the entrance to the valley, thrust through the line of bunkers on both sides of the river and race to the bridge at the other end. Be prepared to take heavy casualties, as the Germans have positioned heavy artillery next to the bunkers of the Westwall, and the eighty-eights of the Luftwaffe field division may also threaten your tanks. Let's hope the Panther tanks of the German 116th Panzer division don't counter-attack and blast your Shermans to bits.þþBy the way: the units behind you would be grateful if you could wipe out all the bunkers in the valley.
LEVEL3_DB_FýYour attack failed, the Northern part of the valley is still in German hands.
LEVEL3_DB_PýYour forces made it to the Northern part of the valley. Congratulations.
LEVEL3_DESCRIPTIONýLead an attack through the Kall valley in the Huertgen forest.
LEVEL3_HISTORYý
LEVEL3_HISTORY_TEXT1ýThe Hell of Hürtgenwald – a forest around a small Eifel village named Hürtgen - was a fierce battle between the Americans and Germans, which started in late September 1944 and lasted until February 1945. This battle was also called „Death factory“.þþThe American high command wanted to gain this forest south of Aachen to control the Rur river for securing their southern flank. At first they didn´t think of taking the Rur dams in that region, which – if blown – allowed the Germans to flood the low land around Dueren and the valleys of the Hürtgenwald. If that would have happened, the Allies wouldn´t have been able to reach Cologne and the Rhine in the north. þþThe Germans stubbornly defended the forest for four reasons: þ1. The difficulties of its terrain made it ideal for defence by a small but resolute force. þ2. Its position along the Belgian-German border offered an opportunity to block further enemy advance into German territory.þ3. Unlike the Allies, the German High Command was acutely aware of the importance of the Rur dams.þ4. Delaying the enemy west of the Rur was essential for gaining the time needed for the massive build-up behind that river for the great Ardennes counteroffensive which was planned for December. þþSeveral divisions (2nd Armored, 3rd Armored, 9th Infantry, 28th Infantry and 8th Infantry) were sent into the Hurtgenwald, only to be demolished and replaced by other troops often only a few days later. The American strength in airforce, artillery, and armor was of no advantage because of the terrain, and so the Germans were able to delay the stronger force using smaller numbers due to their good defensive positions. 55.000 GIs and only 15.000 Germans were killed in this battle.
LEVEL3_HISTORY_TEXT2ýThe battle began on September 19, 1944 when the 3rd Armored Division and the 9th Infantry Division moved into the forest. The commanding officers quickly learned that control of formations larger than platoons was nearly impossible. Troops that moved only more than a few metres apart couldn't see each other. There were no clearings, only narrow firebreaks and small trails. þþWhen the Germans, secure in their bunkers of the Westwall, saw the GIs coming forward, they called down artillery fire, which used shells with fuses designed to explode on contact with the treetops. When men dove to the ground for cover they exposed themselves to a rain hot metal and fragmented wood. They had to learn that the only way to survive a shelling in the Hürtgenwald was to hug a tree. This way they exposed only their steel helmets to steel and fragments coming straight down from the top of the trees.þþIn the September action, the 9th Infantry and 2nd Armored Divisions lost up to 80 percent of their frontline troops, and gained almost nothing. On November 2, the 28th Infantry Division took up the fight. The 28th was the Pennsylvania National Guard and was called the "Keystone Division" referring to their red keystone shoulder patch. So many soldiers of this division died in the Hürtgenforest that the Germans renamed the division to the "Bloody Bucket Division," since the keystone looked somewhat like a bucket. þþWhen the 28th tried to move forward, it was like walking into hell. From their bunkers, the Germans sent forth a hail of machine-gun fire and mortars. The GIs were caught in thick minefields, their attack stalled. For two weeks, the 28th kept attacking, but they had no success.þþIn an incredible move, General Norman D. Cota designated the completely inadequate path of the Kall River trail as the main supply route for the resupply, movement, and maneuver of the entire division. This decision was taken only based on map studies – no commanding officer ever went into the Kall valley. Inadequate in good weather, it was nearly impassable in bad even for tracked vehicles. And now it became the lifeline for the men of the Keystone division. þ
LEVEL3_HISTORY_TEXT3ýOn November 5, the division headquarters sent orders to move tanks down the Kall trail, a small road that was solid mud and blocked by felled trees and disabled tanks. The attack led only to more heavy loss of life. By November 13, all the officers in the rifle companies had been killed or wounded. Overall in the Hurtgenwald, the 28th suffered 6184 combat casualties, plus 738 cases of trench foot and 620 battle fatigue cases. Those figures meant, that virtually every front-line soldier was a casualty. The 28th Division had essentially been wiped out.þþBut still generals Omar Bradley and John Clifford Hodges remained determined to take the Hürtgenwald. They put in the 4th Infantry Division as a replacement of the 28th. This division had led the way onto Utah Beach on June 6th, and had gone through a score of battles since. Not many D-Day veterans were still with the division. Between November 7 and December 3, the 4th Division lost over 7000 men, or about ten per company per day. þþAfter the 4th Division was expended, the First Army put its 8th Infantry into the attack. On November 27, it closed in on the village of Hürtgen, the original objective of the offensive when it began in mid-September. When the Americans finally took the strategically important Hill 400, the campaign would come to a close but since the Americans did not have the dams upstream, the forest for which they had paid such a high price would be worthless. So the battle continued.
LEVEL3_HISTORY_TITLE1ýThe Hell of Huertgen Forest
LEVEL3_HISTORY_TITLE2ýThe battle begins
LEVEL3_HISTORY_TITLE3ýThe battle continues
LEVEL3_HL01ýYou should clear these to bunkers with the artillery pieces inside.
LEVEL3_HS01ýClear the bunkers of the Westwall.
LEVEL3_NAMEýThe Kall valley
LEVEL3_PL01ýYou should make it to the North of the valley. At least five of your units have to get there.
LEVEL3_PS01ýGo to the North
LEVEL3_SL01ýCapture the second bridge.
LEVEL3_SP003ýEnemy artillery is firing at your positions.
LEVEL3_SS01ýCapture the first bridge.
LEVEL4ý
LEVEL4_BRIEFINGýAll Souls' Day at Vossenack in Huertgen Forest. You've survived the Kall river valley, but that was a walkover compared to your next task: to take Vossenack, the most important town in Huertgen Forest, which dominates the whole area due to its position on the heights. As you can imagine, the Germans will not be keen to lose this strategically-important town, and will do everything they can to defend it.þþBut you have plenty of soldiers of the "Bloody Bucket" Division under your command, and they can also count on support from the 707th armored batallion. With your troops, you must cross the no-man's land between your positions and Vossenack, which the Germans are already bombarding with artillery out of pure habit. Once you've reached the first few rows of houses, we'll send in further troops to take the town; the High Command is expecting bloody house-to-house street fighting.þþAs soon as you've taken the town, you should do everything you can to build up a good defensive positions against attacks from the North and East. The German 116th Panzer division has recaptured the Kall river valley, from whence it will launch a desperate counter-attack.þ
LEVEL4_DB_FýYou didn´t succeed in capturing and holding Vossenack.
LEVEL4_DB_PýYou have captured and defended Vossenack successfully.
LEVEL4_DESCRIPTIONýTake control of the city of Vossenack
LEVEL4_HISTORYý
LEVEL4_HISTORY_TEXT1ýAs part of the drive into the Hurtgenwald, the reinforced 28th US Infantry Division received orders to push forward into the area of the small German villages Vossenack, Schmidt and Lammersdorf, attacking the Germans positioned in Monschau from the rear. From various indications, the Germans expected an attack. However, they didn't know the time and the direction of the hit.þþBefore the attack on Schmidt, the front line extended along the road Huertgen - Germeter - Rollesbroich and from Germeter through Richelskaul in the vicinity of Raffelsbrand. The partial dense wooded ridges of Vossenack, Huertgen, Kommerscheidt and Schmidt and the Brandenberg/Bergstein ridge, dominated the area. To take these ridges, strong air and artillery support were needed. However, the weather and the dense forest did not allow the use of air reconnaissance and tactical air support. US artillery units were stationed in the area of Zweifall and Roetgen.þþZero hours was set at 09:00 on November 2, 1944. Due to the fact that it was November 2, the Germans called this battle the "Allerseelenschlacht" – all souls battle. þ60 minutes before zero hours the Americans began with a heavy artillery barrage. The artillery attack seemed to do little except warn the Germans that an attack was on the way. One hour later, the first companies left their positions in Germeter under the protection of tanks. Bad weather precluded most of the tactical air support.þþThe 112th Infantry, attacking in the center, had the main task. It was to attack east from Germeter, capture Vossenack, then thrust across the deep Kall valley to reach first Kommerscheidt and finally Schmidt, the division objective. The start on November 2nd was promising. With tank support, one battalion by early afternoon had taken Vossenack and reached the end of the ridge on which it lies. But the battalion that was to advance across country to Schmidt immediately came under intense fire.
LEVEL4_HISTORY_TEXT2ýBy the end of the day the 112th Regiment took the hills surrounding Schmidt from the Germans and the Americans soon controlled the town. However, the Americans had nothing to defend against armor and if German tanks attacked, the Americans would be defenseless. They needed some immediate tank support to stop a German counterattack. To help reinforce the troops holding Schmidt, Engineers were sent to clear the Kall trail; the only path that American tanks could use to reach Schmidt.þþEarly in the morning on 4th November the Engineers declared the trail cleared and the Sherman tanks could now move out. Only three tanks would make it through and they remained in the town of Kommerscheidt. On 5th November the Germans counterattacked Schmidt and the 28th US Division, without any tank support, suffered heavy losses. The Germans had a dozen tanks from the 116th Tank Division and one hundred and fifty men. The Americans were forced to retreat out of Schmidt and back through the town of Kommerscheidt. þþThe three Sherman tanks that had made it through the Kall trail were here and this is where the remaining American troops decided to make their stand. Most of the American troops had continued retreating and the town was left with only two hundred American defenders plus the three tanks. The three Sherman tanks managed to knock out five German tanks and stop the Americans from losing any more land that night.þþOn 7th November the Germans troops launched their main assault against Vossenack. Few American troops remained to defend it. The battle was a stalemate; both sides fighting until they were completely exhausted. In the end the enemy had retaken the towns of Schmidt and Kommerscheidt plus the Americans barely managed to hold onto Vossenack.þþOn the right, the 110th Infantry was to attack southwards, break past the Raffelsbrand road junction and open up an alternative route into the Monschau area. But this part of the forest was full of pillboxes, log emplacements, mines and booby traps. Both attacking battalions of the 110th, after hours of painful, costly infiltration attempts, reeled back dazed and stricken, to their line of departure. Attacks on the second day proved even more costly and less rewarding. The exercise in futility continued for nine more terrible days. The lines at the end remained almost the same. On the 13th the attack was called off.
LEVEL4_HISTORY_TEXT3ýOn the division’s left, the 109th infantry was to advance north-westward, astride the Germeter-Hurtgen road, and gain the woods line overlooking Hurtgen. The purpose of this was to prevent a repetition of the counter-attack against the north flank, like that experienced by the 9th division earlier in autumn 1944. On the first day, the battalion west of the route did reach the woods line, but the battalion on the road itself was stopped after only 300 yards by a dense anti-personnel minefield covered by machine guns. Attempts to outflank it next day failed because of two German counter-attacks on the battalion in the woods, which caused general confusion on the American side. þþFor the next few days this situation continued. While the Americans had forged a narrow, mile-deep salient up the wooded plateau between the Weisser Weh and the highway, the Germans held on to either side of it. Even commitment of the reserve battalion on the 4th did not change the balance, for the Germans had been reinforced too by Panzergrenadier-Regiment 60 of 116th Panzer-Division. Meanwhile, casualties, mainly from tree bursts, prompted by catastrophic events in the 112th infantry’s sector to its right and on direct orders from V Corps, the 109th infantry was relieved by the hurriedly alerted 12th Infantry of the 4th Division. Though mutilated, the 109th was required as fire brigade reserve to stave off further disasters at Vossenack.þþOn November 8th, the US military stopped fighting in the area. At night the 300 remaining soldiers of the 112th Infantry-Regiment were withdrawn. The 112th I.R. had lost 1,900 soldiers. The total loss of the 28th Infantry Division amounted to over 6.000 men out of approximately 25.000. Just like the 9th Infantry Division in October, the 28th Infantry Division was in November the second division that lost their fighting strength in the Huertgen Forest area.
LEVEL4_HISTORY_TITLEýThe battle´s end
LEVEL4_HISTORY_TITLE1ýThe attack on Vossenack
LEVEL4_HISTORY_TITLE2ýThe German´s counter attack
LEVEL4_NAMEýVossenack in the Hürtgenwald
LEVEL4_PL01ýCapture Vossenack.
LEVEL4_PS01ýCapture the village of Vossenack
LEVEL4_SL01ýGain a position for your troops in the center of the village.
LEVEL4_SL02ýFortify your positions.
LEVEL4_SL03ýHold Vossenack.
LEVEL4_SS01ýGain a basis for further attacks in the center of the village.
LEVEL4_SS02ýStrengthen your center position.
LEVEL4_SS03ýDefend Vossenack against German counterattacks.
