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Ardennes
Scenario Author:
Francisco Miguel Barrallo
Map Author:
RhinoBones
Author's E-mail Address:
FMBV11@teleline.es
Map´s author E-mail address:
RhinoBones@aol.com
Last Scenario Revision Date:
October 30, 1999
VERSION 1.1
SPECIAL THANKS TO RHINOBONES. DESIGNER OF THE MAP THAT THIS SCENARIO USE.
Background
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The Ardennes ofensive which lasted from December 16, 1944 to January 28, 1945 was the largest land battle of World War II. More than a million men participated in this battle including some 600,000 Germans, 500,000 Americans, and 55,000 British. The German military force consisted of two Armies with ten corps(equal to 29 divisions). While the American military force consisted of a total of three armies with six corps(equal to 31 divisions). At the conclusion of the battle the casualties were as follows: 81,000 U.S. with 19,000 killed, 1400 British with 200 killed, and 100,000 Germans killed, wounded or captured.
At 5:30 A.M. on December 6, 1944 eight German armored divisions and thirteen German infantry divisions lauched an all out attack on five divisions of the United States 1st Army. At least 657, light, medium, and heavy guns and howitzers and 340 multiple-rocket launchers were fired on American positions. Between the 5th and 6th Panzer armies which equalled eleven divisions they broke into the Ardennes through the Loshein Gap against the American divisions protecting the region. The 6th Panzer Army then headed North while the Fifth Panzer Army went south. Sixth Panzer army attacked the two southern divisions of U. S. V Corps at Elsborn Ridge, but accomplished little. At the same time the 5th Panzer Army was attacking the U. S. VIII Corps some 100 miles to the south. This corps was one of the greenest in Europe at the time and their lack of experience was exploited by the Germans. They were quickly surrounded and there were mass surrenders.
On December 17 American 7th Armored divisions engaged Dietrich's Sixth Panzer Army at Saint Vith. Saint Vith was a major road that led to the Meuse River and to Antwerp. The American division was successful in halting the German advance and this caused the Germans to take a path that was out of the way. This slowed the Germans down and altered the timing of the German attack plan. The same day some Americans were taken prisoner at Baugnez and were shot by Colonel Peiper's unit while on a road headed for Malmeddy. Of the 140 men taken prisoner 86 were shot and 43 managed to survive to tell the story of what had happened. Rumors of this event spead quickly through the American divisions causing the Americans to fight much harder and with more resolve.
Bastogne was a strategic position which both the Germans and Americans wanted to occupy. This lead to a race between the American 101st Airborne divisions and the Germans. The Americans managed to get there first and occupy the city. The Germans were not far behind and quickly surrounded and laid siege to the city. This city was an important strategic location for the Allies because this city could be used as a base to lauch a counteroffensive. On December 22 German officers under the flag of truce delivered a message from General der Panzertruppe von Luttwitz Commander of XLVII Panzerhops, demanding the surrender of Bastogne. After receiving the message Brigadier General Mcauliffe exclaimed "Aw, nuts" which was his official reply to the request for surrender. This message was delivered by Joseph Harper to the Germans. He told the Germans it meant they could all go to Hell. With that they parted and the siege continued. Because the Americans were surrounded the only way they could get supplies was by air drops. However because it was the winter and the weather was bad for a long time planes could not fly. The Americans had to survive the best they could until the weather finally cleared up. The Americans at Bastogne were relieved when the VII Corps moved down and enlarged the U. S. line. This allowed Patton's Third Army to counterattack the Germans surrounding Bastogne. The Third Army was then able to push the Germans past the border of Bastogne.
Bastogne was not out of danger however, and on December 29 troops from the 101st Airborne division left Bastogne to fight the Germans. At this time the weather had cleared up which allowed Allied air support for the first time. At the same time General Hodges 2nd Armored divisions repelled the 2nd Panzer division short of the Meuse River at Celles.
The Allies launched a counteroffensive two days before the New Year. This counteroffensive involved the U.S. Third Army striking to the North while the U.S. First Army pushed to the South. They were supposed to meet at the village of Houffalize to trap all German force. The Germans did not go easily however and the Americans had a rough time. Day after day, soldiers wallowed through the snow. Newspapers were put under clothes as added insulation.
On January 8, Hitler ordered his troops to withdraw from the tip of the Bulge. This indicated that he had realized his offensive had failed. By January 16, the Third and First Army had joined at Houffalize. The Allies now controlled the original front. On January 23, Saint Vith was retaken. Finally, on January 28 the Battle of the Bulge was officially over.
Victory Conditions
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German decisive victory (instant victory): Get all VP or all except
Aachen.
German victory (when all turns ends): Get and hold Brussels, Namur,
Givet, Spa, Bastogne and hold his own town at 57,9.
Draw (when all turns ends): Germans get and hold Namur, Spa, Bastogne
and hold his own town at 57,9.
Allied victory: Get that the Germans don´t take their objetives
for victory or draw.
Allied decisive victory (instant victory): Recover all their own VP
at the begin of play.
Last Update
Changes
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Modificaciones. 10/99.
Adición de dos nuevos puntos de victoria, Spa y Givet.
Alemania: Frente norte eliminado.
Cambio de infanteria del 39 por infanteria del 43
Grupo sur: 4 volksturm y 1 Tiger.
Grupo centro: 1 Jadtiger y 5 volksturm
Frente norte: 1 Pz IV J y 1 hummel. Traslado del Jadpz
IV al norte.
USA: Mejora 5
a 10 de un M4 en el sur.
Mejora 7 a 10 de un M36 en el sur.
Adición un M18, M4A3 (76), M4A3E2, M36 y un M16
aa.
Adición de 3 AT 57mm an la zona de ataque alemán.
Paracaidistas de Bastogne Fuerza 15, Experiencia 5.
Inglaterra: Frente norte eliminado.
Traslado de dos grupos acorazados al oeste.
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