Toaw Scenario: Vosges'44

France,
October 15, 1944,

USA army of 104 units opposed to German army of 150 units
for a battle of complexity 0.84 at Regiment(III) level
on a 5 Km/Hex map
for 19 turns of Half Week each.

by Cooper submited on 17-12-2002

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Briefing
Vosges '44 Date: 10/15/44 Location: Vosges Mountains in France Map Scale: 5 km/hex Turn Scale: ½ week turns Unit Scale: Battalions & Regiments Length: 19 turns UNIT COLOR KEY: US XV Corps: Light Blue on Green US VI Corps: White on Green FF 2nd Armored: White on Light Blue German LVII Pz Korps: Red on Gray German LXXXIX Korps: Dark Gray on Gray German LXIV Korps: White on Gray German IV Luftwaffe Korps: Gray on Dark Gray German XIII SS Korps: Black on Gray German XC Korps: Black on Gray SIGNIFICANT EVENTS: There are a lot of withdrawals for the Germans. The German high command sent divisions to the Vosges and withdrew them a short time later. There are always replacement divisions, but pay attention or otherwise you'll have a big hole in your line! Two turns after Strasbourg is captured by the Allies, there are several units withdrawn to simulate the withdrawal of German units, and the US units sent to the southeast to form the Colmar pocket. Therefore, the US 3rd and 36th Infantry Division, the Free French 2nd Armored Division, and the German 19th Army, 106th Panzer Brigade, 708th Volksgrenadier Division, 716th Volksgrenadier Divison, and 16th Volksgrenadier Division are all withdrawn. Since TOAW I doesn't have the "unit destroyed" event trigger, it's unsporting to destroy your own units due to be withdrawn. In other words, don't send any Kamikaze units towards the enemy because they are due to be withdrawn. ********************************************************** The U.S. Seventh Army had the "Champagne Campaign" in August and September of 1944. That drive slowed due to supply problems in late September and early October, but the supply chain caught up and the Seventh Army was ready to attack on October 15th. U.S. Lt. Gen. Alexander Patch sent orders to his Corps Commanders to rupture the German defensives, advance through the Vosges, and protect the right flank of Gen. Patton's Third Army. The battered German 1st and 19th Armies of Army Group G fell into a defensive configuration as the U.S. advance stopped due to gasoline-starvation. On September 29th, General de Panzertruppen Hermann Balck took over the Army Group, and arrayed his forces so that elements of both armies faced the U.S. Seventh Army. Instead of outmaneuvering the Russians with Panzers, Balck was called to stop the Americans and buy time for the Ardennes counteroffensive. The Americans hold a 1.3:1 advantage in manpower, but the Germans have the advantage of prepared defensive positions. The historical result was that the Seventh Army became the first army in history to take the Vosges, but did not take Bitche, and did not crack the Siegfried Line. DESIGNER'S NOTES: This scenario is based on Keith Bonn's "When The Odds Were Even", which is an excellent book with OOB's and detailed unit descriptions. Some information was taken off the web, and the TOE's were based on my best guess based on resources on the Gamer's Net, prior scenarios, and the Bonn book. Almost every decision in the scenario design is based on information from the book, though some American and German Corps-level units were invented. If you have any suggestions or comments, please e-mail them to cooper131@juno.com.

Briefing

Vosges '44

Date: 10/15/44
Location: Vosges Mountains in France
Map Scale: 5 km/hex
Turn Scale: ½ week turns
Unit Scale: Battalions & Regiments
Length: 19 turns

UNIT COLOR KEY:
US XV Corps: Light Blue on Green
US VI Corps: White on Green
FF 2nd Armored: White on Light Blue

German LVII Pz Korps: Red on Gray
German LXXXIX Korps: Dark Gray on Gray
German LXIV Korps: White on Gray
German IV Luftwaffe Korps: Gray on Dark Gray
German XIII SS Korps: Black on Gray
German XC Korps: Black on Gray

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS:
There are a lot of withdrawals for the Germans. The German high command sent divisions to the Vosges and withdrew them a short time later. There are always replacement divisions, but pay attention or otherwise you'll have a big hole in your line!

Two turns after Strasbourg is captured by the Allies, there are several units withdrawn to simulate the withdrawal of German units, and the US units sent to the southeast to form the Colmar pocket. Therefore, the US 3rd and 36th Infantry Division, the Free French 2nd Armored Division, and the German 19th Army, 106th Panzer Brigade, 708th Volksgrenadier Division, 716th Volksgrenadier Divison, and 16th Volksgrenadier Division are all withdrawn.

Since TOAW I doesn't have the "unit destroyed" event trigger, it's unsporting to destroy your own units due to be withdrawn. In other words, don't send any Kamikaze units towards the enemy because they are due to be withdrawn.

**********************************************************

The U.S. Seventh Army had the "Champagne Campaign" in August and September of 1944. That drive slowed due to supply problems in late September and early October, but the supply chain caught up and the Seventh Army was ready to attack on October 15th. U.S. Lt. Gen. Alexander Patch sent orders to his Corps Commanders to rupture the German defensives, advance through the Vosges, and protect the right flank of Gen. Patton's Third Army.

The battered German 1st and 19th Armies of Army Group G fell into a defensive configuration as the U.S. advance stopped due to gasoline-starvation. On September 29th, General de Panzertruppen Hermann Balck took over the Army Group, and arrayed his forces so that elements of both armies faced the U.S. Seventh Army. Instead of outmaneuvering the Russians with Panzers, Balck was called to stop the Americans and buy time for the Ardennes counteroffensive.

The Americans hold a 1.3:1 advantage in manpower, but the Germans have the advantage of prepared defensive positions. The historical result was that the Seventh Army became the first army in history to take the Vosges, but did not take Bitche, and did not crack the Siegfried Line.

DESIGNER'S NOTES:
This scenario is based on Keith Bonn's "When The Odds Were Even", which is an excellent book with OOB's and detailed unit descriptions. Some information was taken off the web, and the TOE's were based on my best guess based on resources on the Gamer's Net, prior scenarios, and the Bonn book. Almost every decision in the scenario design is based on information from the book, though some American and German Corps-level units were invented. If you have any suggestions or comments, please e-mail them to cooper131@juno.com.