Keith Posted November 16, 2002 Share Posted November 16, 2002 If you want to take a break from the Eastern Front, try out my new scenario at the Scenario Depot titled "Bitche Bulge". Below is the scenario briefing: Title: Bitche Bulge Assault: German vs. American Infantry Date: January 20, 1945 Location: Bitche Salient, southern Germany Weather: Snow, falling snow Length: 40 turns Recommended Side to Play: PBEM or Americans vs the AI Author: Keith Schur kschur@erols.com Version 1.0 The following is a tale of tragedy where a proud and veteran U.S. outfit was destroyed in January 1945 in a flare up in the Bitche Salient. By January 14th the German operation Nordwind drove deeply into the lower Vosges Mountains, leaving the point of the German salient resting just north of the Alsacian town of Reipertswiller. The U.S. 157th Infantry Regiment, a veteran unit that had seen combat in Sicily, Italy, France, and now Germany, was selected to push back the nose of the salient. The 3rd battalion of the 157th Regiment managed to penetrate the German Main Defense Line on a series of hills, and in response, the German Corps Commander ordered the uncommitted 1lth Regiment (Reinhard Heydrich), 6th SS Mountain Division (Nord) to retake the critical terrain. The 3rd battalion was subjected to violent German counterattacks, and the crack Gebirgsjäger managed to envelop the flanks of the battalion. By midnight, 16 January, the Germans had succeeded in surrounding the hills, which were well forward of the general US line. From this point on, there would be no reinforcement or withdrawal of the surrounded 3d Battalion. However, desperate to save the surrounded troops, Regiment ordered all battalions to renew their attacks with all available men. Every attempt by the remaining battalions of the Regiment to reach the trapped 3rd Battalion was repulsed in the snow and ice causing heavy casualties. On January 20th the Germans gave an ultimatum: further resistance is futile; surrender by five o'clock or suffer the consequences. When Regiment was notified of the ultimatum, the 3rd Battalion was ordered to break out. An artillery preparation was plotted to blast clear a path along the ridge and then to defend the men as they escaped off the hill. Non-ambulatory wounded were told they would have to remain in their holes and place their fate in the hands of their German captors -- if they survived the American artillery barrage. The American artillery barrage came in -- right on top of the 3rd Battalion. The Germans swarmed in on the confused and shocked GIs. The last words Regiment heard from the group came over the K Company radio: "Stop the artillery. We're surrendering." Late that night the US corps withdrew, leaving the survivors to their fate. Only three soldiers returned to the US lines. Four hundred and six American soldiers were captured -- according to German records, most of them were wounded. In the five-day fight for these hills, losses to the US forces totaled over one thousand men. This scenario is a semi-historical "what if". What if the artillery barrage created a corridor for the trapped GIs? What if there was a successful coordinated assault to reach the GIs? Can you lead your weary men to safety? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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