The Forgotten Front WTO (id:#56578)

Avalon Hill (AH:The General # 23.6 ID: G03)   [next]   [previous]

Hennebont, France 1945-02-09 (4 others)

Overview:

The 66th Infantry Division was typical of many raised from draftees in preparation for the invasion of Europe. Yet when the “Panthermen” arrived, they found themselves relegated to a relative backwater – containing the isolated German pockets around Lorient and St. Nazaire. Their war was no less bitter, however, as both sides continuously probed and raided opposing lines. The village of Hennebont lay in “no-man’s land” north of Lorient. On this nondescript day, a limited American assault was laid on. As the infantrymen left the shelter of the ruined village, to which they had probed without incident, fire from a bunker raked their ranks. The Americans sheltered behind armored cars coming to their support, but a flanking bunker opened fire also. Sgt. Chun Fat – who saw his entire squad go down – charged straight at the bunker, found the entrance and with phosphorus and explosive grenades, silenced the machinegun nest. Leaving the bunker, he stumbled into a German communications trench and ambushed the enemy within. The American attack, despite heroism like this, was stymied. The bitter “little war” continued. The German forces in Lorient did not surrender until the collapse of the Reich.

Defender: German (895th Grenadier Regiment)  

Errata (source)