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Old January 1st, 2019, 06:06 PM
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Default Re: Herbstnebel vs the AI

227. Volksgrenadier-Division

The 227th had gone through the grinder at Falaise and been rebuilt as a Volksgrenadier-Division. By the time of Herbstnebel it was at roughly 80% strength. (One Bn not availiable for the initial attack).



The commander of the 227th, Oberst Willhelm Viebig, a combat proven officer with background in the artillery.

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Dice Rolls – 227. VGD

Forgo prep artillery due to American positions unobservable in the woods west of HOLLERATH. Repeated request by I SS Panzer-Krops to Armee – 1, 2, 3, 4. Roll 1 – Approved.

(Armoured elements to support initial attack by 277. VGD and 3. FJD due to insufficient strength – already approved)

Full complement of Jagdpanzer 38(t) for the Panzerjägerkompanie 1277. Dice roll 1,2. Roll 5 – denied.

Missing infantry battalion relived in time for the initial attack. Dice roll 1, 2. Roll 4 – denied.

Sturmgeschutz-Brigade arrives on time. Dice roll 1, 2. Roll 2 – approved.

Sturmgeschutz-Brigade is at full strength. Dive roll 1, 2. Roll 3 – denied.

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Combat task – 227. VGD:

Division breaks through enemy defences and opens up Rollbahn A and B/C.
GR989 captures ROCHERAT.
GR990 captures KRINKELT.
Reichstrasse to be cleared of enemy between Hollerather Knie and Weisser Stein.
GR991 in reserve – to reinforce either GR989 or GR990.

Once 227. VGD has breached the enemy lines 12. SS-Pz Div organised in Kampfgruppen is to spearhead the advance west.

227. VGD ready to continue advance over ELSENBORN and SOURBRODT in the direction of VERVIERS and protect the flank of 12-SS Pz Div.


Viebig's battle plan:



Division Schwerpunkt on the right under Fieger's command. GR989 and the entire schwere-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 560 is concentrated here.

On the left – GR990 under the competent and highly decorated Major Bremm – commanding the other AFVs available to 277. VGD - the six Hetzer's of Jagdpanzer-Kompanie 1277 and the five StuG IIIg's of the heavily understrength Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 667.

In reserve – Jaquet's GR990 - lacking one full battalion, and also has no engineer or AFV resources.

Main departure from history:

In reality the Division Schwerpunkt was in the south with GR990 – which was also later reinforced with GR991, once the initial attack bogged down. Some sources (Hubert Meyer and Micheal Reynolds argue that the objective of GR990 was in fact MÜRRINGEN and not KRINKELT. Wingolf Scherer/Ernst-Detlef Brock claims the Angriffsziel of Bremm's GR990 was KRINKELT.

The sPzJgAbt 560 was in reality assigned to the 12. SS-Panzer-Division as it's second tank battalion.

StuG support was promised to 277. VGD but none arrived in time. Only the division's own Hetzers gave support. Sources differ on how many actually were at hand December 16. I have found no sources on the actual use of VAK 388 or the Volks-Werfer-Brigade 4.
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