Zardoz -> RE: WW II Campaign with a German paratroop batallion (3/9/2006 3:19:49 PM)
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(Map is the Normandy map in the game pack with the "Elle river" in the South" War Diary Kampfgruppe Wenskat 07.06.1944 Kampfgruppe got in the night the order to attack southward from Carentan. Enemy (identified as US troops) has erected a beachhead and already taken St. Mere Eglise. Strength and quality of the enemy there is still unclear beside the fact that 101. and 82 US Parachute Divisions have been identified. The task of the Kampfgruppe is to push back the enemy perimeter and make contact with I./FJR 6 which is in danger to be encircled. The Jäger companies and the attached parts of Art.Rgt 191 and 2./PzBrigade 100 have reached in the night the north side of the Elle river. The other parts of the battle group have been delayed by heavy sea based artillery fire. Contact to them is lost. According to the last information they will reach the start position for the attack within 1 or 2 hours. However, it is no time to wait and the attack must be started without them. Fortunately, contact was created with the survivors of ArtRgt. 191, 91. Gren Div which is able to support the battle group with 3 batteries of 10,5 cm howitzers. War Diary Kampfgruppe Wenskat 07.06.1944 7:00 Attack started at 7:00 in the morning. 9. Kompanie is situated in the South of the operational area , supported by the MG platoon and the LG platoon of 12. (heavy) Kompanie. Furthermore 1 Platoon of 2./PzBgd 100 has been attached. The company has the task to take the bridges over the Elle and to secure the town situated north at the river. It is assumed that the south bank of the river is already in the hands of the enemy as well as the southwest part of the town. 11. Kompanie will attack in the centre of the operational area, support 9. Kompanie in taking the town and take hill 102 situated northwest of the town. it is assumed that hill 102 allows to control artillery fire and must therefore be taken. The company is reinforced with a platoon of 2./PzBgd 100 and a Kradschützen platoon. 10. Kompanie attacks in the north with the task to secure vital crossroads and, if possible, to take the town in the Northwest edge of our operational area. However, the last task should be tried to fullfilled with a"Stosstrupp" infiltrating the enemy frontline rather than an attack. One platoon of 1o. Kompanie is kept as batallion reserve. The company is supported by the rest of 2./PzBgd 100. Attack started with a surprising success. After a preparing artillery barrage the Kradschützen took both bridges over the Elle intact without any resistance. In the other areas the companies marched forward and contact with the enemy is not yet made. War Diary Kampfgruppe Wenskat 07.06.1944 7:15 9. Kompanie has made contact with the enemy. Strong infantery groups suppported by jeeps attack our bridge head at the South most bridge. At the moment only one squad of a Kradschützen platoon and a LG hold the position. The town is to about 2/3 in our hand. However, in the Southend of the town, a hostile infantery concentration was detected. A strong enemy attack is suspected in the next 15 minutes. In the centre, the Kradschützen were ambushed by the enemy and suffered heavy losses. The firefight alarmed the 11.Kompanie which prepared a definsive perimeter to hold the central cross road 10. Kompanie in the North approaches without any resistance. Artillery fire is directed on the enemy. 7:30 In the centre, a group of the enemy was ambushed and lost several jeeps. Our artillery fire has hit the enemy and his march stopped. 11. Kompanie reorganises to attack him and push him back. Our Jäger appreciate the effective support by the H 35. Losses are light at the moment. In the north, 10 Kompanie has still not made contact In the south, 9. Kompanie was able to support the bridgehead just in time with a Jäger platoon. Fighting is heayy, one LG is lossed, but the enemy losses are much higher, especially because of our well aimed artillery fire. The bridge head is under heavy hostile mortar fire. At the South side of town the first attack of the enemy was stopped. One H 35 was lost by a Bazooka hit. The enemy, identified as US paratroopers try to infiltrate the town. 9. Kompanie fall back to the next row of houses to set up a prepared defense because the company seems to be outnumbered by the enemy. In the centre, we meet only light resistance and assume to overcome it in the next 15 minutes War Diary Kampfgruppe Wenskat 07.06.1944 7:45 10. Kompanie made contact with the enemy in the North. Resistance is only light and it is assumed that the approach is not stopped very long. I./11. Kompanie came under heavy fire of hostile naval guns. 2/3 of the platoon were wounded or killed. The rest must reorganise. Jabos attacked tanks of 2/PzBgd 100. 3 tanks were destroyed with no survivors. One tank was knocked out by a bazooka, 1 tank broke down. 11. Kompanie still holds all crossroads and repulsed an enemy attack with losses for him. Own losses with the exception of I/11. Kp are still light. 9. Kompanie prepares for a suspected enemy attack. The enemy has alread infiltrated the town with some squads. MG platoon has the task to destroy them. At the NorthWest edge of the town at the Elle river the enemy took cover as he was hit with our mortar fire.At the South bridge all enemy attacks were beaten off. However , the defending platoon is under heavy mortar fire. a second platoon was able to cross the bridge. Overall, the situation has now changed much. With the execption of 1o. Kompanie in the North, all companies have taken defensive positions. Tanks cannot operate in the open any longer. All company leaders got order to keep their units moving to avoid losses by naval fire. No contact with our reinforcements yet.
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