#0629-01: Operation Epsom, Day Four - Battles of Normandy

The Odon Valley, 10 kilometers southwest of Caen, June 29, 1944. (Scenario size: Army. Head to head or teamplay) The II SS Panzer Korps had finally arrived in Normandy. But the movement to the Odon Valley had been severely hampered by Allied air attacks the whole way. Units were stretched out and resupply of fuel had been sporadic. The German plan called for the 9th SS Panzer Division to attack on the north side of the Odon River and sever the British salient by seizing Cheux. There they would be met by elements of the 1st and 12th SS Panzer Divisions who would be attacking from the east, even though these units had been in constant combat for more than 48 hours. The 10th SS Panzer Division was to attack on the south side of the Odon, seizing the bridges and isolating the British tanks on Hill 112. The attack was to start at dawn, but the units were not yet in place. The attack was postponed once and then again. When it did start at 1300 hours, only a small portion of the attacking force was in place. The remainder would have to join the attack as they arrived. And to make things worse, the weather had continued to improve and the sky was full of Allied planes of all types. But the attack had to go in today. The 12th SS Panzer Division had been battered during the three preceding days of fighting and could not hold indefinitely. And the German High Command wanted to seize the initiative away from the Allies so they could gather their forces and drive towards the beachheads. Due to ULTRA intercepts, the Allies knew that the German attack was coming. The 15th Infantry Division spent the morning trying to tidy up the western side of the Scottish Corridor while elements of the 43rd Division did the same on the eastern side. Then they dug in and awaited the German attack. General O'Connor ordered the withdrawal of the 29th Armoured Brigade from Hill 112, but the order wasn't received until late in the day and the movement didn't start to take place until dusk approached. But what if the British had not withdrawn, but had continued their attack? Could the infantry hold against the SS troopers, recently transferred from the Russian Front? Could the battered 12th SS stop the Shermans and Cromwells one more time?