Nijmegen Campaign

Here is my next AAR. As mentioned before, I will only give orders to Battalion level units or higher. The exception will be detached units (such as artillery, AT, Task Groups and Engineer assets). This is another great feature of AA. You can issue orders to higher level HQ’s and look on as they respond to your orders and sometimes you will be amazed and other times you will want to replace your officers – just like in the real battles. This AAR is on the campaign in Nijmegen as the allied General.

The 82nd Airborne Division was tasked with securing the biggest of all the crossings along Hell's Highway, the road and rail bridges at Nijmegen.

It was also responsible for securing the highway crossings at Grave and Honinghutie and seven other bridges across the Maas and the Maas-Waal Canal, not to mention securing the 10km of the Groesbeek Heights, through which any direct attack from Germany must come.

Their objectives, particular the highway bridge at Nijmegen were vital to the success of Market Garden. That they failed to do so in time to effect the relief of John Frost's 2nd Paratroop Battalion at Arnhem is a testimony to the priority and effort the Germans afforded Nijmegen and to the poor planning and judgment made by the Allied commanders. Even so the soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division performed brilliantly and earned the praise of General Dempsey - "the finest division in the world".

The scenario starts with the airdrop by the parachute regiments of the 82nd Airborne Division and continues until the end of Day 5. The 82nd Airborne Division arrives in multiple lifts. In keeping with American standard operating procedures, the Parachute elements dropped first, then the glider borne Divisional assets (Day 2 ) and finally the 325th Glider Regiment - scheduled for Day 3 but in fact they did not arrive until late on Day 5. (The 325th is therefore only available under the Favor Allies Reinforcement option).

For the Allies, the 82nd Airborne Division must secure the vital bridges and a route for the 30th Corps to fight their way north to Arnhem. They will have to do so by themselves until the Guards Arm Division starts arriving in the south early on Day 3. The 43rd Wessex Infantry Division, which was earmarked to push onto Arnhem, is only available in the Favor Allies reinforcement option.

The Germans have been ordered by Field Marshall Model to secure the Nijmegen crossings for their own projected counter-attack to Antwerp. Under no circumstances are the Nijmegen bridges to be blown. All other crossings are to be denied, the highway blocked and the Allied soldiers threatening the ReichsWald crushed.

To do this a scratch force of garrison troops and training units has been thrown together. KG Henke in Nijmegen must hold until relieved by the elite 10th SS Panzer Division (or what's left of it - really only around 3,000 troops), elements of which should start arriving late evening of Day 1. By early Day 2 the 406th Infantry Division (which was being formed in the ReichsWald) should enter the fray en masse. It's troops are a mixed bag, some barely trained and most yet to se their first day of combat.

Don't expect too much from these. However, veteran FJ troops from 3rd and 5th FJ Divisions are on the way and should intervene decisively on Day 3.

Figure 1 gives you a good overview of the terrain, the major bridges and the landing zones. The dominating features to plan around include the heights around Groesbeek, the major rivers of the Maas, Waal and connecting canal, and the town of Nijmegen.

The primary force under Major General James Gavin for this battle was the majority of the 82^nd Airborne Division. The exception, as mentioned above, is the 325^th Glider Regiment under Colonel Charles Billingslea, which will not take part in this campaign. The force numbers roughly 8,100 in size with 74 guns (primarily 6 pounder AT guns and 81 mm Mortars).

The makeup of the force and officers is shown on figure 2. The Airborne Division is very basic as it has to carry everything into battle with it. So until the 30 Corps land component shows up later in the battle there are no tanks or other similar assets available. In addition, only smaller artillery is available – the largest being twelve 75 mm pack howitzers from the 376^th. I will introduce the reinforcements when they arrive, as it is a long time before they do.

Intelligence indicates little in the way of serious opposition at most of the bridges except in Nijmegen. They will be garrisoned with minor forces. As I know, but Gavin did not, the forces at the Nijmegen Bridge will increase dramatically over time. In addition, the intelligence reports indicate that the area of the ReichsWald may contain large numbers of determined enemy troops ready to defend the fatherland.

As can be seen in Figure 3 I have decided to start the match using movement similar to those Gavin chose. The plan was well thought out and I see no reason to deviate in any major way. I will likely rely on the 504^th to help more at the Nijmegen Bridge as Gavin himself would later suggest should have happened. He says in his book "on to Berlin" that "When we looked back on the situation years later, we realized that it should have been obvious that Tucker’s 504^th was much better prepared to spare a battalion to go to the Nijmegen bridge that night".

Figure 5 captures the battle three hours into the fight. All goes as planned early on, for the most part. Starting with the 504^th, E Company, 2^nd battalion has successfully rushed in to capture the Grave Bridge (shown at left) intact. I dispatched "A" Company of the 307^th Engineer Battalion to help secure the bridge and the town of Grave.

Figure 5: Early Activity

The balance of 2^nd Battalion was tasked with taking the bridge at Overasselt. After securing the bridge I tasked Major Wellems (2/504^th) with clearing the town of Overasselt. Eventually they will head toward Grave to protect that key bridge and rejoin with the detached company E. Major Cook (3/504^th) can be seen heading toward the Honinghutje Bridge and has yet to encounter any resistance. This is a long hike and I eventually slow them down from a fast march but they are still very fatigued. Major Harrison (1/504^th) constitutes my reserve for now and I have tasked them to hold up in the wooded area southwest of the Hatert Bridge. I am thinking of sending them across the Honinghutje Bridge after it is secured and into Nijmegen as mentioned before.

Turning to Lieutenant Colonel Ekman’s 505^th, Major Vandervoort’s Battalion (2/505^th) and Major Kaiser’s Battalion (3/505^th) have combined to quickly take the Groesbeek – Nicoline high ground. Figure 6 shows Vandervoort (2/505^th) deploying for the attack I ordered on Nicoline. After this they are tasked with defending this high ground from attacks coming from the ReichsWald. Figure 7 shows a view of the defend order highlighting the new outline tool for orders. Kaiser’s Battalion (3/505^th) is tasked first with heading to Bisselt as a reserve, but later moves into the valley between the ReichsWald and the drop zones to protect the drops on day two. The town of Kruishoeve will be the key part of their defensive position.

Major Long’s Battalion (1/505^th) was tasked with taking Mook (which turned out to be undefended) and then moving northwest to help take the southern two bridges (one rail, one highway) along the Maas-Waal Canal. The HQ for Vandervoort’s 505^th is in Popenberg for now and will likely stay that way until the second drop comes in.

The 508^th under Lieutenant Colonel Lindquist is tasked with heading into Nijmegen to secure the key bridge. Major Warren (1/508^th), Major Holmes (2/508^th), and Major Mendez (3/508^th) are all heading northwest by different routes into Nijmegen. I have not given them any attack orders yet and expect them to reorganize on the edge of town in preparation for the attack.

Two concerns on Lindquist’s Regiment (508^th). First, Lindquist has fallen behind his men and the orders delay may impact my ability to coordinate the Nijmegen battle as it develops. Second, Major Mendez (3/508^th) has hit a few roadblocks and some artillery, which forced one of his companies to retreat. He has fallen behind and is re-plotting a new path to get back on schedule. I originally was going to have Major Holmes (2/508^th) held in reserve on the edge of Nijmegen but have sent him into the fray since Mendez (3/508^th) is delayed. I can not afford to let much time pass or the bridge defenses will grow considerably stronger.

Overall I am very pleased so far and will focus the majority of my time in Nijmegen and making sure the bridge at Honinghutje is taken intact.

So far everything is going very good. I should probably be worried. To review the progress we will start with Tucker’s 504^th. The major accomplishment for this Regiment was the capture of the Honinghutje Bridge. As can be seen from Figure 8, the bridge is secured by Midnight. Major Cook (3/504^th) secured the bridge after some moderate fighting with several unidentified German units. The capture of the Honinghutje Bridge began around 2000 hours as Major Cook (3/504^th) approached the bridge. During the approach, as they did in real life, the German’s blew the RR crossing.

Fortunately the main crossing was not damaged and will be able to accommodate the coming armored forces. Figure 9 captures the beginning of the attack on the bridge. Major Cook’s Battalion (3/504^th) marched 8-kilometers and took the bridge with approximately 15 casualties. This was not a bad accomplishment for the evening and they will set up defensive positions around this bridge.

Major Harrison (1/504^th) has secured the next bridge down on the canal, west of Hatert. Originally I had placed this Battalion in reserve near the landing site. Soon afterwards I had given the Battalion orders to move north and keep pace with the 3^rd Battalion. This was to assure they would be available for Nijmegen to support the attacks there. As they headed north I had an intelligence picture that the town of Hatert was undefended, as was the bridge west of town. Given this I sent them towards the town and they have met no resistance yet. I shall have them secure the bridge and head north towards Nijmegen.

Major Wellems (2/504^th) was tasked with the Grave – Overasselt portion of the battlefield and the two bridges in that area. They have been equally successful taking both bridges and are now on their way to Grave to secure the town. Figure 10 shows the positions as of midnight.

The key objectives for this battalion are to secure the landing zone for day 2, and defend the 82^nd Division from attacks coming out of the ReichsWald. A secondary objective is to help secure some of the bridges at the south end of the canal.

Moving next to Ekman’s 505^th Regiment, and referring to Figure 10, I have had equal success. Major Long (1/505^th) has cleared Mook and is in the process of securing the two bridges at the southern end of the canal. Little resistance has been uncovered, routed or destroyed. They will complete the securing of these bridges and then set up defensive positions protecting Mook from the ReichsWald area.

Major Vandervoort (2/505^th) has secured Groesbeek and is set up on the town outskirts around Nicoline. I have ordered the Battalion to set up defensive positions on the two peaks straddling the main road into town facing east.

Major Kaiser (3/505^th) has moved from reserve to a key defensive position centered on the town of Kruishoeve. They will be defending the landing zone for day two from attack out of the ReichsWald.

The only concern I have in this area has to do with Ekman’s (505^th) ability to protect Lindquists (508^th) back from attacks out of Wyler. Neither Linquist or Vandervoort has adequately blocked this approach. Not sure yet what to do about it but I do send an AT Battery to provide an early warning to this approach.

The main attack on Nijemegen is my biggest worry. Despite have one Battalion delayed into town, all of Linquist’s Battalions are in town attacking toward the bridges.

As can be seen in Figure 11, the primary focus is on the main bridge – not the RR Bridge. Major Warren (1/508^th) successfully attacked from the town circle up to the river and dispersed German troops on this route. Near midnight I gave him orders to secure the RR Bridge.

Major Holmes (2/508^th) was on Warren’s (1/508^th) right flank and pushing up to the foot of the main bridge. They were slightly behind the 1^st Battalion and have run into more enemy opposition. Their objective is to clear the way for the 3^rd Battalion to secure the bridge.

Around midnight, Major Mendez’s Battalion (3/508^th) was inching ahead of the lead 2^nd Battalion and "H" Company had been forced to retreat before getting to the bridge.

So far I have not seen any reinforcements coming in but I fear time is not on my side. For now I will try the direct approach to taking the bridge.

Overall I am please with my Battalion Commanders. They have executed all my orders very well and have all of the first night objectives in hand or almost in hand (I had hoped to have Grave secured). I am concerned about Nijmegen Bridge much the same as Gavin was this first night. I feel confident, however, that most of my 508^th is well placed to take the bridges where Gavin’s luck was not so good as the 508^th had more trouble getting into town. Unfortunately they are all exhausted from the night’s march.

I expect day two to bring pressure from the North and East and have positioned accordingly to fend off any attacks.

Next session will cover Day 2…