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Scenario:
Evening
of 23 September 1944 (D+6)
Events
leading to scenario:
On 17
September1944 The 505PIR jumped into Holland in the area of
Groesbeek. During the first six days of the campaign the
3d battalion maintained road blocks and other blocking
positions outside of the Reichswald to the East of Groesbeek.
American leadership feared a heavy German buildup in that
area, and used the battalion to secure the eastern flank of
the operation. Failure to hold back any attack would
cause all other operating units to be exposed from Groesbeek
all the way to Nijmegen.
The 3d
battalion has been under steady and accurate enemy artillery
fire since taking up positions, forcing patrols to be sent out
to locate enemy FO positions. On 20 Sept 44 a
concentrated attack was made by four German kampfgruppes, with
KG Greschick attacking the 3/505 positions. With single
allied platoons fighting enemy forces ten to twenty times
their size, casualties were heavy. The 3d battalion was
pushed back nearly one half mile, to the outskirts of
Grosebeek. 1/505 was overrun at Mook, and two platoons
from A and G co 508th PIR held, but were cut off from friendly
lines on Hill 75.9 (Devil's Hill). With no
divisional reserves the units were able to counterattack with
supporting artillery fire. All units took up their
original positions after severe fighting that lasted through
the day. With 3/505 suffering heavy casualties, it was
to remain on the lines.
As of
the evening of 23September44, units of the 3/505 and 2/325
began active small unit patrols of the Reichswald.
US
Elements:
I co 3/505 PIR
D co 2/325
GIR
German
Elements:
TBD
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