Gros Rederching, France, January 2nd 1945 Story : Operation Nordwind was launched to take advantage of the thin front offered by the American Seventh Army. The Seventh was covering the positions that had been occupied by Patton’s Third Army, now deployed in the Ardennes. Initial thrusts by the attacking XIII SS-Korps were poorly led and gained minimal ground even though they outnumbered the defending GIs. Reinforced overnight by the 17th Volksgrenadier Regiment and the 36th Volksgrenadier Division, the XIII SS-Korps continued its attacks the following morning. The spearhead of the XIII SS-Korps was the 17th SS-Panzergrenadier Division, a unit refitted just prior to Nordwind with a high proportion of low quality Volksdeutsche and the usual high quality equipment lavished upon the SS divisions. The men of the 17th SS-Panzergrenadier Division, with their flanks protected by the volksgrenadiers, continued their attack on the 44th Infantry Division’s positions. Despite several spirited counterattacks by American infantrymen, the armored elements of the SS managed to break through and capture Gros Rederching and Achen. Further counterattacks then forced the panzergrenadiers to retreat from their newly won territory. By Nordwind’s second nightfall, the offensive had lost all momentum.
U.S. units : Elements of the 71st and 397th Infantry Regiments, 44th Infantry Division and the 776th Tank Destroyer and 749th Tank Battalions 10 Veterans + 1 Company CO + 4 MG Crew + 3 Bazooka + 1 60mm Mortar 3 M36 Jackson + 2 M4A3E8
German units :
Elements of SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 37, SS Panzerjäger Abteilung 653 and Flammkompanie 353 18 Rifle + 2 Platoon leader + 2 MG Crew 2 Jagdtiger + 1 Jagdpanzer IV + 2 StuH 42 + 4 StuG III + 6 SdKfz 251
Scenario rules : Use the tactical rules. The U.S. player sets up first and the German player starts first. The battlefield consists of VI (Village), CL (Clear), HI (Hills), LW (Light woods), SW (Swamp). HI1 HI6 SW11 HI16
German Headquarters HI2 SW3 CL4 HI7 VI8 LW9 VI12 CL13 LW14 SW17 VI18 VI19
LW5 LW10 LW15 LW20
1.
Turns 9 Turns
2.
Supply Each player receives 20 points at start. Moreover, the U.S. player receives 2 supply dices each turn until the end of the game. The German player receives 3 supply dices each turn until the end of the game Supply points remain hidden during the game.
3.
Special cards Use the tactical rules (Beachhead to Berlin p77 to p86) for choosing the special cards. Special cards : Each player has a 36 special cards deck (2 identical cards max.) of his own choice. Each player draws 1 free card each turn with the possibility of buying only one other card at the cost of 6 supply points). Each player takes randomly 5 special cards in this deck before the game begins.
4.
SS units All SS infantry units have +1 Inf, +1 Arm, +1 Def.
5.
AT mines Before the start of the game, the U.S. may place up to 4 AT mines. As usual, one AT mine is placed between two terrain zones.
6.
Others No refits are allowed.
Set up : Turn 1: German
All German units in the German HQ.
U.S.
All U.S. units in HI6, HI7, VI8, LW9, LW10, SW11, VI12, CL13, LW14, LW15, HI16, SW17, VI18, VI19, LW20.
Victory The German player wins immediately upon exiting 10 units off south of HI16, SW17, VI18, VI19, LW20, provided they currently control VI18 and VI19.
Credits Scenario by Brian Youse adapted for The Last Crusade by Florent Coupeau
