"Thet's noo ordnary Rabbit, it's the mos foul, crul, bad timpred Rodent!" R4 Sitreps

[Toten Tanz]

Cross Of Lorraine
German - Toten Tanz
US - Brian

The American juggernaut fell upon the 243 Inf Div., and elements of the 2 SS PzDiv, at La Haye Du Puits,. Like an unstoppable wave, it washed over the front line defenses. The soldat put up stiff resistance. In the end, though, all they could hope for was to delay the American armor and infantry long enough reinforcements to arrive.

Casualties were heavy on both sides. It didn't take long for the preponderance of American firepower to take a toll. German strong points began to fall, and the battle was clearly going in favor of the Americans. Soon, US forces had pushed the German defenders from their trenches and bunkers. The Germans attempted to conduct an orderly withdrawal, but the Americans were in hot pursuit. Quickly, it turned into a headlong dash, as the Germans tried to put some distance between themselves and their pursuers; in order to set up a last desperate defense.

What was left of the German units managed to set up a line running roughly 2.5 KM South of Holley, running East across Hill 84, then to a river crossing South of La Haye Du Puits. They turned to face the attackers. There was a respite, as it appeared that the Americans were regrouping for the final blow.

At this point, reinforcements, in the form of the bulk of 2 SS PzDiv arrived. They rushed headlong into the fight, just as the Americans launched their attack. Fighting was heavy all along the line, with the heaviest fighting taking place at a small cross-roads SE of Holley, and along the South side of Hill 84.

The German defenders were able to halt the US attack, and the Americans pulled back to regroup. German forces continued to arrive on the battlefield. They started to mass at the cross-roads and South of Hill 84. The terrain was masked German movements, and the superior local firepower was able to push back any US units that attempted to get into an advantageous observation position.

Before 2 SS PzDiv could launch it's counter attack, the Americans launched a spoiling attack. A heavy combined arms attack fell on the Germans as they marshaled. Casualties were heavy, and thoughts of victory soon turned into thoughts of simply surviving.

At the cross-roads, the terrain masked both sides from direct fire. A see-saw battle developed, with the cross-roads changing hands no less than 8 times. Burning German and US tanks created a pall of smoke that hid the dead and dying soldiers that littered the area. The ground was ripped apart from the continual bombardment from both sides.

At Hill 84, the Germans continued to pour reinforcements into the battle. A fierce fight developed as the Americans attempted to move across the crest, in order to be able to call accurate artillery onto the Germans units. On the Eastern end of the line, the Americans launched a coordinated attack against the road, across relatively open ground. Their losses were heavy and they were able to get adjacent to the road itself. They were beaten back, but were left in a position to call artillery down on the East end of the German line; taking a heavy toll.

The battle raged back and forth in both locations. The battle was close run until the very end. At Hill 84, the Germans drove the Americans off the crest with direct fire, then sacrificed unit after unit charging it; trying to gain control. In the end, a single Assault Gun took control of the crest; even if it was forced to retreat immediately.

At the cross-roads, every German tube was dialed in to target the cross-roads, and the road immediately in front of the German forces. The bombardment broke the American infantry in both locations, then direct fire drove them off. This left 2 M-10 platoons controlling the cross-roads. The remaining German armor fired, and managed to disrupt both units. The issue was settled as two under-strength infantry platoons close assaulted the broken US armor and drove them away; taking possession of the objective.

The Germans had managed to score a minor victory over the US forces. The German forces were combat in-effective at this point, and could not have held on any longer. Fortunately for them time had run out on the Americans.