Unternehmen Wacht am Rhein", the code name for the attack on the allies through the Ardennes is well known, especially the battle for Bastogne. To game something different I have been researching the attack on the twin villages of Rocherath-Krinkelt.
German Forces
"The German 6. Panzerarmee, commanded by SS-Oberstgruppenfuhrer Josef Dietrich had been equipped with the best that the German army could offer. It consisted of four SS-Panzerdivisions, complemented by five Volksgrenadier-Divisions with a total of approximately 685 guns , divided in three corps"
Infantry units from the 277th Volks Grenadier Division and 12th Volks Grenadier Division attacked from the north east near Lausdell with the goal of capturing the twin villages quickly, then moving to capture the road from Bullingen to Nidrum. On December 17th the 277th Volks Grenadiers were supported by 4 Jagdpanzers drove the Americans from their foxholes and forced them to withdraw into Krinkelt by 10am. The German grenadiers decided to attack enmasse across the open field as waves of assault troops emerged from the tree lines. The sheer weight in numbers was to overcome the American positions but the casualty count was extremely high as Germans fell advancing across the fields. Artillery and rifle fire took a tremendous toll on the 277th formations. The loss of NCO and officers was wasteful, the Germans had to divert armor to the advance. Eventually the 1st Company of SS Panzerjager Abteilung 12 moved into Rocherath and Krinkelt with Panther tanks. initially the movement was covered by fog. The tanks were subjected to ambush attacks by bazooka teams, Shermans and M-10 tank destroyers. The streets and houses changed hands multiple times for the next 2 days.
Zeiners unexpected action was the beginning of two days of fierce combat for the twin villages.More panzers with infantry reached Krinkelt that could enter the eastern roads despite the bazooka attacks. The entire night there was house to house fighting while the chaos was augmented by groups of arriving American soldiers.The streets changed sides time and again while groups of captured soldiers were liberated again.But especially the arrival of the 2nd Infantry Division ensured that the village remained in American hands. A reconnaissance company of Kampfgruppe Peiper had reached Wirtzfeld and when it would advance towards Krinkelt Peiper would attack the 2nd and 99th Division in the flank and attack both divisions in the back through Elsenborn.
For a 20mm game I plan on using German Panzergrenadier kits from Caesar and Revell.
Caesar set HB02
Italeri Kit 6068 or Revell Kit 02584
For the vehicles Armourfast are available for Early War Miniatures in the UK or their distributor.
The landscape
Scources - https://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/7-8/7-8_Cont.htm#pix
Plastic Soldier Review
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