Terrier Battle at Raamsdonk - Combat Mission: Afrika Korps

Title: Terrier Battle at Raamsdonk Type: Allied Assault Location: Raamsdonk, The Netherlands Weather: Overcast Terrain: Mud Turns: 24 Author: Huib Versloot Best played: As Allied or H2H Background: By the end of October 1944, the withdrawal of Fifteenth Army in Holland to the northbank of the Maas river was in full swing. One of the three main crossing sites was the bridge at Keizersveer, blown in 1940 but rebuilt during the German occupation. It was crucial for the Germans to keep the bridge open as long as possible should any of the other bridges fall into Allied hands. Therefore a bridgehead on the southbank was to be defended by Oberstleutnant Von der Damerau's 476th Regiment, part of the 256. Volksgrenadier Division. On 31 October 1944 the 51st Highland Division made a push for the bridge. The countryside being soaked from heavy rainfall and in some instances deliberately flooded by the Germans, only few approaches were available. First to try was the 7th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders supported by B squadron of the Northhamptonshire Yeomanry. The tactic was plain and simple: The Shermans and Kangaroos just raced through the town on the way to their objective. Initially everything went right. Sgt Thompson's leading tank managed to knock out two of the defending German StuG III near the protestant church, but when he tried to negotiate his tank past the one of the knocked out StuGs the tank slid off the road into a waterfilled ditch. The same happened to the two Shermans following Thompson's leading tank. After a pause the A&S renewed their attempts but achieved no breakthrough. Now it was the turn of the 1st Bn Black Watch, supported by C squadron of the Northamptons to push the stubborn Grenadiers aside. Meanwhile the Germans, anxious as an Allied breakhrough towards the bridge seemed imminent, ordered 15th Army's last reserve to intervene. The battle came to a dramatic climax as Panzerjaeger of Hauptmann Ott's 505th Schnelle Abteilung clashed on the British armour in Raamsdonk. In the tankbattle all German vehicles were lost but not after 5 British vehicles were destroyed. The battle for the bridgehead was over and Von der Damerau was ordered "Alles Aufgeben" (give it all up). Quickly the German rearguard retreated over the bridge and for the second time in the war the bridge went into the air. Oberstleutnant Von der Damerau was awarded the Knights Cross for his part in this battle. In British history the battle became known as "the terrier battle at Raamsdonk". Sources: B.Zijlmans, Lokale oorlogsfragmenten Deel I en II 1944-1945, 1997. J. Didden en M. Swarts, Brabant Bevrijd.