The Battle of Normandy

[Fhil]

JUNE 8th, 1944
DAY 3

Situation report
06:00hrs

Previous night was everything but restfull, the Normandy front is one big fire - attacks, counterattacks, isolations, rescues and so on.

St.Mere Eglise



Heavy fighting in the Etienville area during the night, the outcome of which are many disrupted units on both sides. Kampfgruppe from FJ.Regt.6 counterattack towards a heavy bridge near Chef du Pont. Once it is guarded, it will push north towards the two heavy bridges throgh which the American tanks arrived. If this tactical operation is successful, another airborne threat would be eliminated, and forces would be released for other sectors, just like at Carentan or Benouville near Caen.

Carentan



Two engineer companies are already at the first medium bridge (1), after it´s destroyed, they will proceed to the second bridge (2) with the same task. Otherwise, this sector is basically quiet.

Trevieres



The most critical part of the front. The Schnelle.Brig.30 (blue colour) helped stabilizing the situation, but it couldn´t reach positions in front of the whole advancing American force, so it ´bumped´ basically to it´s right flank. The Americans already joined with the English comrades from the east, but what´s most dangerous is the breakthrough of American tanks to the east of Treviers. There is nobody to stop them once they eliminate the last two units shown in the screenshot. I was forced to a desperate solution - placing 352.Div´s artillery in blocking positions to this tanks, to slow them at least slightly, before reinforcements arrive here.

Bayeux



Fighting for Bayeux is in full swing. Shown are the stacks defending local strongpoints, it can be seen how they strenght drops down when receiving fire from many units they face. Not shown, but there are many disrupted units on the opposite side. For now, orders are to keep the English/Canadian forces from reaching the Caen-Bayeux road.

Caen



Same like near Bayeux, strongpoints are being created by combined forces of SS and Wehrmacht panzer grenadiers. First units from Panzer Lehr divisions are assebling to the west of Caen, once the majority of the division is regrouped, it´ll receive orders based on the how the situation develops. There is one thing certain - somebody has to stop the Americans breaking from the Omaha beach sector, and as both the 21.Panzer and 12.SS-Hitlerjugend are heavily engaged, it might be the arriving Panzer Lehr or at least some KG from it.

[Fhil]

Situation report
12:00 hrs

St.Mere Eglise



A fight that resembles two boxers fighting in a corner, standing closelly to each other hitting with the left and right hook and aiming to K.O. their opponent, now the Americans push the Fallshirmjägers back towards Orglandes. Who will win this round is not clear yet.

Carentan



The demolition tasks continue, two more bridges destroyed before noon, including one of the bridges to Carentan itself. I remember I´ve decided so because I was not sure that if I´d have enough engineer units available once the fighting reaches the town (I supposed it´ll come more probably from the Omaha sector) for destroying it´s two bridges. So the rail bridge was destroyed already.

Trevieres



Somehow, the Americans are denied a breakthrough inland, but their tanks are developing constant pressure, with their next objective being probably le Moláy Littry (1B). The remnants of the 352.Division are ordered to withdraw towards the village and defend it. A gap might be created to the left of Bayeux, but the Panzer Lehr Division is on the way already. Unluckily, some units got surrounded at Formigny.

Bayeux



Panzergrenadiers defending the Bayeux area are slowly but surelly retreating to avoid elimination, the English units must get tired soon, plenty of their tanks are burning in the area. I don´t remember exactly all the stuff that happened here back then, but I remember there were some heavy tank battles ongoing when they approached the main road. But nothing like what will follow in the nearby future somewhere nearby...

Caen



The English and Canadian forces are approaching Caen, they are 3-6 kilometers from the city now. A new line was created using the village strongpoints - Buron, Cambres, Epron and Herquviile. Due to the desperate situation at Omaha, Panzer Lehr Division sends it´s panzers to the area (1), while the rest of the division still regroups near Caen. Heavy fatigued units from the 21.Panzer Division are regrouping and resting in the area as well (2).

[Fhil]

Let me ask you gentlemen, do you see the pictures I post in here? Because strangely, I cannot see them when checking it using another computer. I´m logged in, but they are not here simply.

[Nitram Draw]

I can see them. It's a great AAR.

[Fhil]

Situation report
20:00 hrs



While the Americans in the Utah beach sector are isolated from the rest of the landings, their comrades from Omaha sector pushed some 20 kms inland and English/Canadian forces are heavilly attacking in the Caen area.

Axis forces dispositions shown on the map: (1) 243.Inf.Div´s Gren.Regt.920 (2) 243.Inf.Div´s Gren.Regt.922. I didn´t moved them towards the other side of the peninsula, they are kept as a reserve. (3) Gruppe v Schlieben HQ created, local divisions will be attached under it´s command this night. (4) 709.Inf.Division + STURM Btl. defending Montebourg area (5) 91.Luftland Div., 243.Inf.Div´s Gren.Regt.921, Fallschirm.Regt.6 (two btls) defending Etienville area. (6) Fallschirm.Regt.6´s II.Btl covering Carentan (7) 352.Inf.Div. and Schnelle.Brig.30 (8) Reinforcements from 77.Inf.Div. and 3.Fallschirmjäger Div. on the way to the Omaha sector via St.Lô (9) a gap with a collection of minor forces from 12.SS and 21.Pz.Div. with a KG from Panzer Lehr´s panzer regiment (10) Caen grouping - 12.SS Hitlerjugend Pz.Div., 21.Pz.Div., Panzer Lehr Division (parts) 716.Inf.Div. (remnants).

St.Mere Eglise



A small Kampfgrupped managed to capture some American paratroopers and crossed the Merderet towards Chef du Pont (1). But the forces are too few and they are disrupted, so they´re orders will change to withdraw back across the river and to guard the bridge until some engineers come to destroy it. Another group of American paras that tried to bypass Ftesville got surrounded by a counterattack (2).

Carentan



With Carentan bridges destroyed, local engineers received orders to destroy the bridges over the Vire river. There are two heavy and one medium bridge, the bridge at Auville bridge will be destroyed only after the forces from Omaha sector are evacuated through it.

Trevieres



A very dangerous situation develops here, most of the 352.´s units are disrupted, heavily fatigued and getting isolated here and there. Trevieres itself was captured, Longueville falls soon. Orders for the northern part of the defences are to withdraw behind the Vire river (1). Schnelle.Brig.30 is also badly damaged after spending a day in this area.

Bayeux



Allied forces captured Bayeux and advanced some 10kms further south. I´ve sent Pz.Regt.130 from Panzer Lehr to block further advance here. American tanks (A-blue) will be isolated by it´s panzers and destroyed. The whole Pz.Regt. was divided into smaller KGs that were sent to seal the creating gaps in the lines.

Caen



English units cut the Bayeux-Caen road in another place, between Bretteville and Rots. The rest of the Panzer Lehr division joins the fighting already. Every village is turned into strongpoint in an effort to stop or ´break´ the wave of Allied forces. NE parts of Caen itself are already under enemy direct fire. The main road from Caen to Villers-Bocage must stay in our hands at all costs.



Losses are mounting up on both sides, but this day was bloody especially for tanks and other vehicles, on both sides it got doubled today!

[Fhil]

JUNE 9th, 1944
DAY 4

Situation report
06:00 hrs

St.Mere Eglise



A very successful night both in Etienville and Montebourg sector - some POWs collected at Ftesville ,more are on the way soon Etienville and the heavy bridge near Chef du Pont was destroyed. 243.´s units (A,B) were able to cut-off more Americans and reached the 100 pts objective and the vital bridge over Merderet, which is manned by a Regimental HQ only and few tanks that just arrived here.
Both units are unluckily disrupted, but supported by 88s, 91.Luftlande´s companies © will eliminate the encircled tanks. If the heavy bridges over Merderet could be reached, this would be a big success, around 80% of all American forces on the western bank are disrupted, they´d require help from the outside to save themselves from capture.

Isigny sur Mer



Americans are pushing day and night here, most of my units are disrupted, many even broken. 352. Infantry Division is practically combat ineffective now, as well as the Schnelle.Brig.30. Some limited reinforcements were sent here - StuG.Abt.902 at around 50% of it´s full strenght and one engineer company from the 3.Fallshirmjäger Division.

Balleroy



3.Fallschirmjäger´s forces arriving on trucks to the area, taking positions in Vaubadon. Similar to the west of here, many forces are disrupted here, panzers are requesting ammunition. English tanks reached two bunker strongpoints - Lingevers and Tilly sur Seuelles, these are important positions but are only lightly defended at the moment.

Caen



Heavy fighting continued during the night, some of the villages had to be evacuated, forces at Putot are surrounded, but they will be rescued easily, Bretteville is also facing surrounding, but all Hitlerjugend´s Panthers are covering their back door.

Breville



A diversionary task for a small KG from Panzer Lehr Division - one bridge was built during the night, engineers are now working on another bridge. They are not spotted yet, if the visibility will keep at 2 kms, they could be successful and bring some surprise and chaos into the English back.

[Fhil]

Situation report
14:00

St.Mere Eglise



The entire American group on the western side of the river Merderet is surrounded! Forces from 91.Luftlande and 243.Infanterie Division got all bridges over the river under control or blocked (A). Most enemy units are disrupted and there seems to be no one to save them soon as most of the Americans on the eastern side are engaged against the Montebourg line. If everything goes well, a lot of POWs will be collected, and maybe the bridges itself could be destroyed, thus forces redeployed elsewhere and the whole Utah beach effectivelly sealed.

Isigny sur Mer



Remnants of the 352.Inf.Division are being evacuated over the river Vire, it´s artillery already in safe. Two bridges are already down, once the remaining units are in safety, the bridge at Auville will be destroyed and the division (understand few remaining units) send south towards St.Lô.

St.Lô



Tough situation in front of St.Clair sur ľ Elle, most of the units are really badly mauled (B). They will be evacuated over the Vire as well, using the last bridge at Airel and rest at St.Jean de Daye, while the bridge will be destroyed (A). Fallshirmjägers are setting-up blocking positions at St.Clair sur ľ Elle, Cerisy la Foret and Balleroy in hope to slow down the Americans here before more reinforcements arrive.

Villedieu les Poeles



Reinforcements are on the way! - 77.Inf.Division using the main road from Villedieu les Poeles frees the main road for motorized units of 17.SS Pz.Gr. Division.

Hottot - Welcome to the Panzer Country!



Although it doesn´t look so at the moment, the land and fields around Hottot, Lingevers and Tilly sur Seueless will witness some hardest tank fights in the campaign. It all begins with surrounding the Lingevers SS garrison (A) by British tanks (A,B-blue). 12.SS responds by sending it´s panzers to rescue their trapped comrades, both assaults by Pz-IVs and Panthers will be successful. Also the Cristot garrison was surrounded, but rescued by their comrades as well.

Caen



74 Panthers entering the town soon, but they will most probably just pass through it. There was a heavy 88 position set-up (A) with 34 guns firing on English tanks approaching Caen. Norrey, Rots, Buron and la Folie still hold.

Breville



Diversionary operation cancelled, the enemy digs-in to prevent future attempts.

[Juan Manuel]

AAR fantastic. I follow him with enthusiasm!

[Fhil]

Situation report
20:00 hrs

St.Mere Eglise



Things are not that easy, a lot of my units are getting tired and disrupted. One of the heavy bridges was destroyed by 2/Pio.191 company, but the second bridge is just next to it and still stands. The fighting will continue during the whole night, as the Americans will surely try to get out of here somehow...

Carentan



Isigny sur Mer was taken by the Americans, the bridge at Auville successfully destroyed. Both engineer companies in the area receive orders to march south to the St Jean de Daye area to help destroy the bridge at Airel.

St.Lô



The situation is very difficult and dangerous in this sector. 3/Pio.352 company (A-red) tried to destroy the bridge several times, but it still stands firmly. The engineers are now under fire from American tanks (A,B-blue), if they get disrupted, the bridge will fall into enemy hands intact, and this could have very serious consequences as there are practically no reserves covering the St. Jean de Daye direction. First units from 77.Infanterie Division are arriving to St.Lô and they are immediatelly being send northwards towards the enemy.

Caumont



After heavy fighting during afternoon, mixed American and English forces supported by English tanks captured Balleroy. The arriving 17.SS Panzergrenadier was sent to the Caumont area with clear orders - stop the enemy before reaching this vital objective, which is located just 7 kms from the vital Caen-Avranches main road.

Hottot



English tanks are now standing in front of Hottot, defended by disrupted unit of 22 Panthers. But the newly arrived Panthers from Panzer Lehr come to stabilize the situation, some 76 machines! In total, there are 98 Panthers and 20 Pz-IVs in this small area, no surprise this will turn into a tank massacre soon. Panzer Lehr units made two counterattacks from the march and pushed the English tanks two kilometers back.

Caen



The 12.SS Hitlerjugend division desperatelly needs some rest, all of it´s units are extremelly tired. It must be pulled out of the front somehow for at least one full day. Meanwhile, Norrey was taken by the enemy. To the west of Caen on the other side of the Orne river, 346.Infanterie Division´s grenadiers are regrouping and taking defensive positions.

[Fhil]

AAR fantastic. I follow him with enthusiasm!

Thank you very much! I´m glad you´re enjoying it