Detachment LOUF progressing behind the
railway
Type : Allied Attack, French Army against German Army
Date : 7th january 1945
Location : Gambsheim, 17 km NE of Strasbourg, Alsace, France
Weather : Overcast, Light snow
Length : 50 turns
Size : Huge
-Description-
Seeing that the operations in the Ardennes Forest
were turning into a stalemate, Hitler decided to launch Operation NORDWIND
which would allow the Germans to reach the Vosges Mountains, taking back
Strasbourg in the process. This Operation would also force General Patton's
Third Army to relieve pressure on Bastogne.
On December, 31st, 1944, Operation Nordwind was
launch in the Vosges northern area in the vicinity of the old Maginot line
in the Rohrbach sector (XIII SS Korps) and in the Bitche sector (LXXXIX
Korps). General Eisenhower ordered the US 7th Army and the French 1st Army
to withdraw towards the Vosges Mountains. This withdrawal would leave Strasbourg
in German hands, a decision that was not politicaly acceptable for General
De Gaulle. He ordered General De Lattre to defend Strasbourg at all
costs. On January 3rd 1945, De Gaulle and Churchill convinced General Eisenhower
to defend Strasbourg. The US 7th Army would only withdraw to the Maginot
line and the French 3rd DIA would relieve the American forces north of
Strasbourg along the Rhine. Early on January 5th, German elements crossed
the Rhine by surprise between Gamsbsheim and Drusemheim. The first attempts
by Task Force Linden to take back the little towns were not successfull.
An attack by the leading elements of 3rd DIA (with elements of the French
5th Armored Division) was ordered for January, 7th.on the south side of
the German bridgehead. At the same time, the Americans would launch another
attack against the northern side of the German bridgehead. The reduction
of the German pocket would relieve pressure on Strasbourg only 10 km away
from Gambsheim.
-Bibliography-
The original idea of this scenario came from the french wargaming magazine
Vae Victis n°5.
Operation NORDWIND - janvier 1945 - Alsace du Nord, Perny P. et al.,
editions HEIMDAL
Bischwiller-Brumath IGN map 3815 E (1/25000)
-Designer's Notes-
The railway provides cover from either side due to its embankment. It
can only be crossed by tanks at certain points.
This scenario is designed to be played with the French first with the
German computer sticked to scenario default !
Warning
! Still in Playtest !
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your comments so that I can improve the scenario