HSG Too Late - Combat Mission: Afrika Korps

Date: 12 June, 1944, A farmhouse North of Carentan, France The Situation: The German 6th Parachute Regiment was holding the area around Carentan. The American paratroopers had destroyed the 1st battalion of the Regiment on the night of June 6th. Lieutenant Colonel von der Heydte was preparing to withdraw his unit from the area. The fighting had been fierce, and just today, the Commander of the American 101st Airborne Division had asked for the surrender of the German regiment. LTC von der Heydte's answer was, "what would you do?" While doing a recon of the area he met the commander of the 17th SS PG Division who informed him the paratroopers were now under his command. He informed the LTC that they would be attacking in the morning to split the American bridgeheads. The LTC asked that he be reinforced to keep the Americans out of Carentan. The SS General replied that surely the paratroopers could hold out until morning. The Battle: When LTC von der Heydte returned to this command post he was informed that the Americans had captured the farm house that they had been using as an advanced headquarters the past few days. The farm house had been hotly contested. The answer appeared to be that tomorrow would be too late.