Student's 1st Fallschirmjaeger Army?

[David Stone]

In mid-Nov '44, 21st Army Group launched an attack towards the Maas River from the Eindhoven & Nijmegen areas.

I'm being lazy so...

Does anyone know what British units and what German units were in the area between Eindhoven & Venlo Netherlands?

Trying to put together a FICTIONAL low countries battle and wasn't certain whether to use Fallschirmjaeger, Volks, or just rifle companies. Also, would be nice to have a Brit unit name or two for the briefing.

Thanks

[Andreas]

Based on a short passage in Essame, 'The Battle for Germany', this operation was undertaken by XII Corps and VIII Corps in 2nd Army. Final clearance of the last German bridgehead opposite Venlo fell to 15th Scottish Division, with 50 casualties on the last day in early December. I would take this as an indication of low-quality defenders, so not Fallschirmjaeger.

Organisation according to British Forces.com was:

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Primary Units:

44th (Lowland) Brigade Brigadier H.D.K Money, J.C. Cockburn (29/7/44), Hon.H.C. Havell-Thurlow-Cumming-Bruce (27/11/44) (8th Battalion Royal Scots, 6th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers and 6th Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers)

46th (Highland) Brigade Brigadiers C.M. Barber, R.M. Villers (2/8/44) (9th Battalion Cameronians, 2nd Battalion Glasgow Highlanders and 7th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders)

227th (Highland) Brigade Brigaders J.R. Mackintosh-Walker (killed 16/7/44), E.C. Colville (16/7/44) (10th Battalion Highland Light Infantry, 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders and 2nd Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) <hr></blockquote>

No info on German defenders, except for intensive use of fortifications of all type. Both Corps were supported by the specialist armour of 79th Armoured (Crocodiles and AVREs).

Essame describes it as '[...] a large number of minor actions with unspectacular but eventually satisfactory results.'

Brigadier (later Major-General) Essame commanded 214 Brigade in 43rd Wessex throughout the campaign. His book is stronger on XXX Corps operations.

I have a dig around tonight what else I can find.

Let's see who picks up on the edit

[ 11-20-2001: Message edited by: Germanboy ]</p>

[David Stone]

Germanboy

Thanks. Since our University Library has Essame's book checked in, I guess I am gonna have to go get it.

Thanks Stone

PS-- this also probably means redesigning my fictional scenario to historical

[Andreas]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by David Stone:

Germanboy

Thanks. Since our University Library has Essame's book checked in, I guess I am gonna have to go get it.

Thanks Stone

PS-- this also probably means redesigning my fictional scenario to historical<hr></blockquote>

It is just a small note on page 121 or thereabouts. Look for Venlo in the index. Well-written book though, and lots of inspirations for scenarios. He really did not think much of Crerar.