Here are the introductory descriptions for the scenarios included in the upcoming Westwall module. Lots of good stuff here!
(Posted with Dave's permission)
“Arnaville Bridgehead”
10 Sep 1944 02:00 Hrs
Historical Scenario
General Patton commander of the US Third Army has issued Field Order No. 10 to XX Corps. It defined the initial corps mission as the seizure of crossings on the Sarre River, some thirty miles east of the Moselle. Beyond this the field order provided that, on the receipt of additional orders from army headquarters, the XX Corps would continue its advance to Mainz on the Rhine River.
With the crossing of the Sarre river in early September a bridgehead over the Moselle is the new Corps focus. At Dornot, 2.5 miles upriver from Arnaville, a crossing force is contained by fierce German resistance.
Further south, the US 5th division is ordered to cross the Moselle at night, opposite Arnaville and seize the commanding heights over the river. Building a bridge is critical to the expansion of this bridgehead and the passage of our heavy armor units across the river.
Opposing them are elements of 3 German Panzergrenadier divisions including the tough 17th SS Panzergrenadier division.
--
“Bake comes West”
September 7-8, 1944
Historical scenario
Renowned tanker Dr. Franz Bäke's 106 Panzer Bde has been released to deliver a counterattack on the left flank of the advancing American XX Corps.
With the bridges over the Moselle just 15kms away from the lead units, the American advance must be stopped in order to buy more time to prepare for the defense of the Moselle River Stellung.
Bäke, an East Front veteran and Iron Cross winner, has surrounded himself with a cadre of top tank commanders who have also learned their craft fighting the Russians. Their plan is to launch a swift attack on the flank and deliver a crushing blow to the American units in the vicinity of Briey within the next 48 hours.
--
“Counterstroke in the Swamp”
October 27th 1944, 04:00 hours, Deurne Canal, Holland
Historical scenario.
After the abortion of Operation "Constellation" the US 7th Armored Division was moved further south to hold another portion of the frontline of the so called "Venlo Bridgehead"; the portion west of the Maas river still held by the Germans. Their new frontline ran for more than 20 miles along the Deurne Canal in a swampy region called "the Peel".
On the other side of the Canal the front was held by Kampfgruppe Goltzsch. This was a battlegroup of hodgepodge units build around the staff of the 344th Infantry Division. To bolster this group the Germans had reinforced it with the formidable Fallschirmjäger Regiment Hübner (the later FJR 24, after it had been integrated in the 7th FJD). While the Americans of the 87th Cavalry Recon Squadron patrolled the line by day, patrols of the German paratroopers used to cross the canal by night to gather intelligence.
It was not long before this stretched, thinly held, part of frontline was noticed by higher levels of the German command who were desperately seeking for measures to relieve the pressure on the troops in the southwest of The Netherlands where the battle for the Scheldt entrance to Antwerp in the sector of the Fifteenth German Army had reached a climax.
Field Marshal Model of Army Group B decided to carry out a diversionary attack with limited goals across the Deurne Canal to draw Allied troops away from the the Fifteenth German Army in the west of Holland.
--
“Encircling Aachen”
Aachen, 8 October 1944
Historical scenario
On Oct 2, 1944, US XIX crossed the river Wurm. Six days later, they had mauled the German LXXXI AK and established a firm bridgehead. They were ready to strike south.
On the same day, US VII Corps were ready to launch their long awaited attack. They were to strike north, and establish contact with XIX Corps. This would encircle the city of Aachen.
The situation developing near Aachen was starting to worry the German High Command. So much that they made available some of their scarce reserves. They were ordered to stem the American advance and then to throw back the Americans across the West Wall.
--
“Flanking Metz”
Nov 9. 1944
Historical Scenario
The U.S. XX Corps is approaching the Moselle River north of the fortified city of Metz in an attempt to flank the German forces there.
The crossing of the Moselle north of Thionville is labeled Operation Madison and is led by the U.S. 90th Division, the Tough Ombres. The 90th assemble in the woods opposite the river while engineers from two combat groups quietly construct two ferries at Malling and one at Basse-Ham.
Intelligence reports that the German forces in this sector are second-rate troops. The river is flooding though so the forces that cross will be without armor support and heavy weapons.
--
“Geilenkirchen”
The Allies had reached the Geilenkirchen area in September 1944, but were halted in front of the West Wall. It wasn't until November before they got moving again. On November 16, the US First Army had started operation 'Queen'. Two days later, the British and American forces under command of Brian Horrocks' XXX Corps launched operation 'Clipper'. Their goal was to break through the West Wall and advance to the river Roer, and beyond to the Rhine.
The lines of the defending 183 Volksgrenadier Division had been broken by the American 2 Armored Division further south, but, as usual, they had orders to defend every inch of ground. The Germans also kept mobile reserves back to launch counterattacks in the case of an Allied break-in.
The weather was abysmal: rain and clouds kept the Allied planes grounded, and in many places the ground was too soggy for tanks.
--
“Ordeal at Overloon Part 1”
September 30, 15.30 hours. St. Anthonis, Holland
Historical scenario.
Although Field-Marshall Montgomery's plan to establish a bridgehead at Arnhem had ended in failure, the Allies still hoped it might possible to cross the river Rhine. They envisaged an advance from the area south of Nijmegen, followed by an assault across the river in the Wesel area. In order to do so, they had to clear the left bank of the river Maas of German troops.
To strengthen this northern drive, General Eisenhower had ordered 7 Armored Division to the Second British Army. There, they were given the task of clearing the area Venray-Venlo of German troops.
The Germans at the same time were desperate to slow the Allied advance and to gain time to rebuild their Armies. They send whatever troops they could muster across the river Maas, ordered them to dug in and halt the Allied advance.
In the afternoon of September 30, 1944, the Americans start their drive south. Their first goals include the village of Overloon.
--
“Ordeal at Overloon Part 2”
12th October 1944, 12.00 hours. Overloon, Holland
Historical scenario
After the attack by the 7th Armored Division ground to a halt without achieving much, the Americans were relieved by the British 3rd Division. The attack by this division, scheduled for October 11, was part of a much larger design, codenamed 'Constellation'. In the first phase, 'Pollux', 3rd Division was to clear the Overloon-Venray area. Once this was achieved, the 11 Armoured Division was to attack to the south. The 7th Armored Division would at this stage attack along the road Deurne-Venray ('Pollux'). Once the German reserves were drawn north, the 15th (Scottish) Division would attack in the south, towards Roermond ('Sirius', off map). Finally, both armoured divisions would link up with the Scottish Division near Venlo ('Vega', off map).
To make sure that the 3rd Division would succeed where the 7th Armored Division had failed, the British had concentrated a large number of guns in the sector.
The Germans have withdrawn the SS units in LXXXVI Korps, and have replaced them with more Fallschimjaeger. All their units are well dug in.
It is now October 12. The attack, postponed for 24 because of the appalling weather, is about to go in. It has rained so much that streams have turned into small rivers, and some of the land along them is flooded. Still, the British are confident that they will capture Overloon and Venray in a few days, at the most.
--
“Plan Martin”
Hypothetical scenario
The German Army has unexpectedly launched an offensive in the Ardennes. To support the hard-pressed US First Army, the Ninth Army have pulled several divisions out of the line and sent them south. The sectors of the remaining divisions are expanded. The 102st Division, a fairly inexperienced unit, has had to move almost all of its infantry battalions into the front line.
They are opposed by two German units, the 183. Volksgrenadier Division and the 176. Infanterie Division. They are both rated low-quality units by Allied intelligence.
While a fierce battle is raging in the Ardennes, this sector of the front is quiet. Neither side is expecting an enemy offensive.
--
“The Siegfried Switch”
Nov. 21, 1944
Historical Scenario
With the envelopment of the fortified city of Metz and the reduction of the German defenses there in mid-November, General Patton and the US Third Army have turned their attention towards the Westwall defenses and in particular the densely defended Orscholz-Oberleuken-Nennig Line, or as the GIs would come to call it "the Siegfried Switch."
This line of field works and pillboxes is 15km long and densely defended. Between two rivers, it guards the entrance to the Moselle Triangle and beyond that the heartland of Germany.
Ahead of the American advance, the 3rd Cavalry Group has made contact with the German forces, west of the Sarre River and south of the German fortifications. After contesting their approach, the German 416th Inf Div and some elements of the 21st Panzer Division have retreated in an orderly fashion behind their defenses to await the American attack...
--
“The Stolberg Corridor”
September 17, 1944. East of Aachen
Historical scenario
With the decision to bypass Aachen, the plan of the US VII Corps called for a frontal attack by armor to sweep through the West Wall defenses south of the city then a northward sweep to complete the encirclement. By September 14th CCB/3rd Armored Division had penetrated deeply into the West Wall and was poised to drive north. At Roetgen, CCB split into two task forces with TF King advancing toward Stolberg and on their left flank CCA's Task Force Doan heading for Eilendorf, Verlautenheide and the western fringes of Stolberg. On the right TF Lovelady was to fight its way to Eschweiler. The Germans threw in a scratch force build around the remains of the 9th Panzer Division. The few German tanks and assault guns tenaciously held the line and scored hits on the American Shermans time after time but were pushed back nevertheless and getting exhausted. Help was on the way though. The newly equipped veteran 12th Infantry Division led by Generalleutnant Engel was rushed in by train from West Prussia with orders to attack immediately and throw the Americans back. On September 16 Füsilier Regiment 27 had detrained from Jülich while the next day the other two regiments arrived.
--
“Through the Westwall”
After the lightning advance through France and the Low Countries, the Allies came to a halt mid-September when their supplies ran out. South of Aachen, units of the US First Army had already broken through the Westwall defences, but north of the city the XIX Corps were facing the German bunkers along the river Wurm.
The Germans had used the breathing space in the second half of September to move up their new Volksgrenadier Divisions and Panzer Brigades. The sector north and south of Aachen was defended by the German LXXXI Armeekorps. They expected an Allied attack south of Aachen, but XIX Corps attacked north of the city.
(Posted with Dave's permission)
“Arnaville Bridgehead”
10 Sep 1944 02:00 Hrs
Historical Scenario
General Patton commander of the US Third Army has issued Field Order No. 10 to XX Corps. It defined the initial corps mission as the seizure of crossings on the Sarre River, some thirty miles east of the Moselle. Beyond this the field order provided that, on the receipt of additional orders from army headquarters, the XX Corps would continue its advance to Mainz on the Rhine River.
With the crossing of the Sarre river in early September a bridgehead over the Moselle is the new Corps focus. At Dornot, 2.5 miles upriver from Arnaville, a crossing force is contained by fierce German resistance.
Further south, the US 5th division is ordered to cross the Moselle at night, opposite Arnaville and seize the commanding heights over the river. Building a bridge is critical to the expansion of this bridgehead and the passage of our heavy armor units across the river.
Opposing them are elements of 3 German Panzergrenadier divisions including the tough 17th SS Panzergrenadier division.
--
“Bake comes West”
September 7-8, 1944
Historical scenario
Renowned tanker Dr. Franz Bäke's 106 Panzer Bde has been released to deliver a counterattack on the left flank of the advancing American XX Corps.
With the bridges over the Moselle just 15kms away from the lead units, the American advance must be stopped in order to buy more time to prepare for the defense of the Moselle River Stellung.
Bäke, an East Front veteran and Iron Cross winner, has surrounded himself with a cadre of top tank commanders who have also learned their craft fighting the Russians. Their plan is to launch a swift attack on the flank and deliver a crushing blow to the American units in the vicinity of Briey within the next 48 hours.
--
“Counterstroke in the Swamp”
October 27th 1944, 04:00 hours, Deurne Canal, Holland
Historical scenario.
After the abortion of Operation "Constellation" the US 7th Armored Division was moved further south to hold another portion of the frontline of the so called "Venlo Bridgehead"; the portion west of the Maas river still held by the Germans. Their new frontline ran for more than 20 miles along the Deurne Canal in a swampy region called "the Peel".
On the other side of the Canal the front was held by Kampfgruppe Goltzsch. This was a battlegroup of hodgepodge units build around the staff of the 344th Infantry Division. To bolster this group the Germans had reinforced it with the formidable Fallschirmjäger Regiment Hübner (the later FJR 24, after it had been integrated in the 7th FJD). While the Americans of the 87th Cavalry Recon Squadron patrolled the line by day, patrols of the German paratroopers used to cross the canal by night to gather intelligence.
It was not long before this stretched, thinly held, part of frontline was noticed by higher levels of the German command who were desperately seeking for measures to relieve the pressure on the troops in the southwest of The Netherlands where the battle for the Scheldt entrance to Antwerp in the sector of the Fifteenth German Army had reached a climax.
Field Marshal Model of Army Group B decided to carry out a diversionary attack with limited goals across the Deurne Canal to draw Allied troops away from the the Fifteenth German Army in the west of Holland.
--
“Encircling Aachen”
Aachen, 8 October 1944
Historical scenario
On Oct 2, 1944, US XIX crossed the river Wurm. Six days later, they had mauled the German LXXXI AK and established a firm bridgehead. They were ready to strike south.
On the same day, US VII Corps were ready to launch their long awaited attack. They were to strike north, and establish contact with XIX Corps. This would encircle the city of Aachen.
The situation developing near Aachen was starting to worry the German High Command. So much that they made available some of their scarce reserves. They were ordered to stem the American advance and then to throw back the Americans across the West Wall.
--
“Flanking Metz”
Nov 9. 1944
Historical Scenario
The U.S. XX Corps is approaching the Moselle River north of the fortified city of Metz in an attempt to flank the German forces there.
The crossing of the Moselle north of Thionville is labeled Operation Madison and is led by the U.S. 90th Division, the Tough Ombres. The 90th assemble in the woods opposite the river while engineers from two combat groups quietly construct two ferries at Malling and one at Basse-Ham.
Intelligence reports that the German forces in this sector are second-rate troops. The river is flooding though so the forces that cross will be without armor support and heavy weapons.
--
“Geilenkirchen”
The Allies had reached the Geilenkirchen area in September 1944, but were halted in front of the West Wall. It wasn't until November before they got moving again. On November 16, the US First Army had started operation 'Queen'. Two days later, the British and American forces under command of Brian Horrocks' XXX Corps launched operation 'Clipper'. Their goal was to break through the West Wall and advance to the river Roer, and beyond to the Rhine.
The lines of the defending 183 Volksgrenadier Division had been broken by the American 2 Armored Division further south, but, as usual, they had orders to defend every inch of ground. The Germans also kept mobile reserves back to launch counterattacks in the case of an Allied break-in.
The weather was abysmal: rain and clouds kept the Allied planes grounded, and in many places the ground was too soggy for tanks.
--
“Ordeal at Overloon Part 1”
September 30, 15.30 hours. St. Anthonis, Holland
Historical scenario.
Although Field-Marshall Montgomery's plan to establish a bridgehead at Arnhem had ended in failure, the Allies still hoped it might possible to cross the river Rhine. They envisaged an advance from the area south of Nijmegen, followed by an assault across the river in the Wesel area. In order to do so, they had to clear the left bank of the river Maas of German troops.
To strengthen this northern drive, General Eisenhower had ordered 7 Armored Division to the Second British Army. There, they were given the task of clearing the area Venray-Venlo of German troops.
The Germans at the same time were desperate to slow the Allied advance and to gain time to rebuild their Armies. They send whatever troops they could muster across the river Maas, ordered them to dug in and halt the Allied advance.
In the afternoon of September 30, 1944, the Americans start their drive south. Their first goals include the village of Overloon.
--
“Ordeal at Overloon Part 2”
12th October 1944, 12.00 hours. Overloon, Holland
Historical scenario
After the attack by the 7th Armored Division ground to a halt without achieving much, the Americans were relieved by the British 3rd Division. The attack by this division, scheduled for October 11, was part of a much larger design, codenamed 'Constellation'. In the first phase, 'Pollux', 3rd Division was to clear the Overloon-Venray area. Once this was achieved, the 11 Armoured Division was to attack to the south. The 7th Armored Division would at this stage attack along the road Deurne-Venray ('Pollux'). Once the German reserves were drawn north, the 15th (Scottish) Division would attack in the south, towards Roermond ('Sirius', off map). Finally, both armoured divisions would link up with the Scottish Division near Venlo ('Vega', off map).
To make sure that the 3rd Division would succeed where the 7th Armored Division had failed, the British had concentrated a large number of guns in the sector.
The Germans have withdrawn the SS units in LXXXVI Korps, and have replaced them with more Fallschimjaeger. All their units are well dug in.
It is now October 12. The attack, postponed for 24 because of the appalling weather, is about to go in. It has rained so much that streams have turned into small rivers, and some of the land along them is flooded. Still, the British are confident that they will capture Overloon and Venray in a few days, at the most.
--
“Plan Martin”
Hypothetical scenario
The German Army has unexpectedly launched an offensive in the Ardennes. To support the hard-pressed US First Army, the Ninth Army have pulled several divisions out of the line and sent them south. The sectors of the remaining divisions are expanded. The 102st Division, a fairly inexperienced unit, has had to move almost all of its infantry battalions into the front line.
They are opposed by two German units, the 183. Volksgrenadier Division and the 176. Infanterie Division. They are both rated low-quality units by Allied intelligence.
While a fierce battle is raging in the Ardennes, this sector of the front is quiet. Neither side is expecting an enemy offensive.
--
“The Siegfried Switch”
Nov. 21, 1944
Historical Scenario
With the envelopment of the fortified city of Metz and the reduction of the German defenses there in mid-November, General Patton and the US Third Army have turned their attention towards the Westwall defenses and in particular the densely defended Orscholz-Oberleuken-Nennig Line, or as the GIs would come to call it "the Siegfried Switch."
This line of field works and pillboxes is 15km long and densely defended. Between two rivers, it guards the entrance to the Moselle Triangle and beyond that the heartland of Germany.
Ahead of the American advance, the 3rd Cavalry Group has made contact with the German forces, west of the Sarre River and south of the German fortifications. After contesting their approach, the German 416th Inf Div and some elements of the 21st Panzer Division have retreated in an orderly fashion behind their defenses to await the American attack...
--
“The Stolberg Corridor”
September 17, 1944. East of Aachen
Historical scenario
With the decision to bypass Aachen, the plan of the US VII Corps called for a frontal attack by armor to sweep through the West Wall defenses south of the city then a northward sweep to complete the encirclement. By September 14th CCB/3rd Armored Division had penetrated deeply into the West Wall and was poised to drive north. At Roetgen, CCB split into two task forces with TF King advancing toward Stolberg and on their left flank CCA's Task Force Doan heading for Eilendorf, Verlautenheide and the western fringes of Stolberg. On the right TF Lovelady was to fight its way to Eschweiler. The Germans threw in a scratch force build around the remains of the 9th Panzer Division. The few German tanks and assault guns tenaciously held the line and scored hits on the American Shermans time after time but were pushed back nevertheless and getting exhausted. Help was on the way though. The newly equipped veteran 12th Infantry Division led by Generalleutnant Engel was rushed in by train from West Prussia with orders to attack immediately and throw the Americans back. On September 16 Füsilier Regiment 27 had detrained from Jülich while the next day the other two regiments arrived.
--
“Through the Westwall”
After the lightning advance through France and the Low Countries, the Allies came to a halt mid-September when their supplies ran out. South of Aachen, units of the US First Army had already broken through the Westwall defences, but north of the city the XIX Corps were facing the German bunkers along the river Wurm.
The Germans had used the breathing space in the second half of September to move up their new Volksgrenadier Divisions and Panzer Brigades. The sector north and south of Aachen was defended by the German LXXXI Armeekorps. They expected an Allied attack south of Aachen, but XIX Corps attacked north of the city.
