**Sturm über Tannenbusch - The Matrix Games version of West Front

[Kleve, Rhineland] [HIS]:[H2H]:[BB] On the 8th of February 1945, the Candian First Army launched Operation Veritable. The intense artillery barrages, air attacks, "pepperpots," and armoured offensive surprised the German 84. Infanterie Division. One German officer's battlefield impression: "In past actions, the duration of artillery barrages was counted by hours. Now, it is easier to note when there is none. During the night, the nuisance fire, in a strength unsurpassed, rolls across all roads, towns, and fields along the front and deep into the rear. After a pause in late morning, it starts again toward noon... The gaps in artillery fire are punctuated by countless fighter bombers and low-flying strafing units. Every town and every movement between the front line and the Rhine is under constant threat. Explosions are so violent one sees a reflecting wave of compressed air extending around the point of impact..." Such was the nature of Operation Veritable, The Canadian Army mission to clear the Rhineland. Despite rain and muddy conditions, the Allies pushed the grenadier regiments back 12 kilometers in four days from the Westwall to Kleve. The 15th Scottish Division attacked and captured Kleve by 12th February. The 53rd Welsh Division pushed through the Reichswald against the broken remnants of the 84. Infanterie Division. The situation created considerable confusion, and OKW took a keen interest. The II. Fallschirm Korps committed the 7. Fallschirm Division; OKW released XLVII Panzerkorps; and 6. Fallschirm Division was sent into the battle. Despite this the 51st Highland Division pushed back the 7th Fallschirmjäger Division and captured Gennep on the Allied right flank. The 116. Panzer Division counterattacked south of Kleve, near Hau. A reserve British Division, the 43rd Wessex, passed through the 15th Scottish Division with a mission to penetrate the Kellen-Riegel Defense Line, capture Bedburg, and head south past the Tannenbusch forest to attack Goch. On the Kleve-Goch road, the 43rd Reconnaissance Regiment began its move south. At first unopposed, it later ran head-on into panzergrenadiers of the 156. Regiment, reinforced with Jagdpanzer V tank destroyers. The 43rd recce was thrown back, but there were many more Allied tank and infantry units to continue the drive. Meanwhile, the German reinforcements were arriving. Although there were some local German successes, by the 14th February, the Allies held the Reichswald, Bedburg, and gained good positions from which to attack Goch, Udem, and the Hochwald beyond.