** Breakout at Benicourt - The Matrix Games version of West Front

Benicourt, France: [H2H][HISB] [GD] At the beginning of September 1944, the American Third Army under Lt. Gen. George Patton, began operations against the German forces defending the territory between the Moselle and the Sarre Rivers. American strategy called for securing bridgeheads across the Moselle River and than a rapid advance east to encircle Nancy, a vital communications and supply hub. The American 80th Division was tasked with securing the towns of Pont-a-Mousson and Dieulouard, on the Moselle River. At midnight on September 11, assault battalions of the American 317 Infantry/80th Division, began attacking across the Moselle River and secured bridgeheads on the west bank. The Germans counter attacked the Dieulouard sector bridgeheads in the early morning hours on September 13 and after a furious battle that lasted until dawn, were driven off by elements of the 702nd Tank Battalion and 167th Engineer Combat Battalion. The CCA, 4th Armored Division than began to cross the bridgehead to cut off the retreating Germans. By 0800 the advance guard had fought its way near Ste. Genevieve and the armor was rolling east. On the morning of August 13, 1944, General Heninrich Knobelsdorff, Commander of 1. Armee, learned that an American armored column had broken through the German forces in the Dieulouard sector and was striking east. He immediately dispatched an infantry battalion, reinforced by assault guns and two batteries of antitank guns, to the Benicourt sector, in hopes of stopping the American tanks on the main paved road leading to Nomeny. A peaceful Sunday morning was about to be shattered as elements of CCA, 4th Armored Division made contact with the German 317th and 318th Infantry battalions. [All: Scenario should be played using EA. No VV]