Veve - First Clash - German Side - Tzar007

[Tzar007]

Hello guys,

Yakstock and I decided to do a twin-sides AAR (in separate threads of course [:)]) on the First Clash at Veve scenario. We are using Painfully Realistic delays, Seasonal Weather, Standard Reinforcement and Normal Supply. We will be writing as we go along. Hopefully it will be two or three times a week, but so far I managed to play only once.

I am writing this AAR from the point of view of the Germans, as General Stumme, who was CO of the whole battle. A quick recap of the scenario:

10 April 1941, 16:00 hours, Kleidi Pass, Greece.

A German force of around one and a half panzer and motorised divisions attacks a scratch defence force of three Greek infantry regiments, one weak Australian infantry brigade, and a weak British armoured brigade. Historical scenario.

Due to the breakdown of coordination between Greek and Commonwealth forces, the Commonwealth line at Edessa and Veria has become unhinged. To prevent the Germans striking through the Monastir Gap and turning the Allied left flank, a scratch force must hold the pass for at least four days, covering the withdrawal of the remaining two most battle-worthy Greek formations. Made up of elements of 19th Au Inf Bde, 1st UK Arm Bde, and various artillery and New Zealand MG units and commanded by 6th Au Inf Div HQ, Mackay Force must establish a defensive line across the Kleidi Pass at Kleidi and Veve and hold it for long enough for the slow-moving Greek units on the flanks to fall back. They must then withdraw themselves, without getting cut off by the advancing enemy. Although the German spearhead may take time to develop, the crushing weight of two Panzer Divisions, an Infantry Division and of course the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler will be backing it up, so the Allies must time their withdrawal correctly to avoid being overwhelmed.

The Germans, spearheaded by the tough and motivated troops of the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler, must crack open the line through the Kleidi Pass and cut off as much of the retreating Allied force as possible. The Germans are also to exploit South in order to cut off other Commonwealth and Greek forces still withdrawing from their exposed positions to the Northeast and Northwest.

Both sides will have to struggle with the terrain as well as the enemy; narrow, rough roads and the forbidding mountains mean that both advance and withdrawal are difficult and often slow undertakings.

[Tzar007]

D1 - 16h00

Standing beside my command car, I throw my cigarette on the ground and take from my adjutant the radio call from Kurt Meyer, commanding officer (CO) of the SS Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler (LAH) Recon Bn.

"Sturmbannfuhrer Meyer ?...Yes, it's General Stumme... You are in position now ? 3km west of Armenokhorion ? OK, fine. So let's recap what we discuss earlier one more time…The British are currently holding the Kleidi pass and the Veve village. Greek infantry are protecting their flanks on both sides. We need to punch through them and prevent their retreat from their current lines. We need to crush the British, isolate the Greeks. They are slow and won't be able to retreat fast down the mountains to Xynon Neron. However, the British certainly expects us at Kleidi pass. Not worth going there first, so you will go straigth through the Greeks by going to Phlampouron. 1st Motorized Battalion SS LAH will join you before 19h00 and will attack towards Kleidi. The objective for you is to use your mobility and go behind the backs of the British…Sehr Gut…Viel Glück, Sturmbannfüher !”

I hang up the radio and take a look again at the map of the plan that I just discussed with Meyer that is spread out on the car hood . Below is the overall map of the operations. We clearly see the enemy line of defense on the mountains. In the middle, you can see the highway that cross through the mountains at Kleidi Pass. British elements, of a strength estimated of at least a Brigade, are guarding the pass. On their flanks, Greek units have been identified to hold the line on the mountains. These units are weak, but benefit from the rough and hard to attack high ground of the mountains. In green, the most valuable objectives of the area stretch all along the highway, with an exit point for the enemy at the bottom. Clearly, the Wehrmacht wants to crush the Allies before they can evacuate through that exit point towards the South of Greece.

[Tzar007]

D1 - 16h00

Now, if we look more closely at the battle plan for my forces, this is what it looks like below. For the first two days of operations, the forces available to me are limited since I will only have the Recon Bn of SS LAH, and the 1st Bn of SS LAH. They are powerful forces, but I feel they are a bit short to pierce through Kleidi pass rapidly. Obviously the British know this is the easiest way to go and will man the pass appropriately. The Recon and 1st Bn might not have enough drive to go through, especially since they will be seen coming from far away. This is why I have decided on an alternative attack that could confuse and disrupt the Allies: the Recon Bn will attack through the mountains by using the road going through Phlampouron. I expect the Greeks defense could crumble fast enough. Once breached, the Recon Bn will continue behind the enemy lines to disrupt the Allied operations as much as possible, and then turn back towards Kleidi Pass to take the British in the back (see red lines and arrows for Recon Bn attacks). Meanwhile, 1st Bn will attack straight to Kleidi Pass (see blue arrows). 1st Bn does not appear on this map yet since it is scheduled as reinforcement only between 17h00 and 19h00 today. But it will start from the upper north of the map.

I fold up the maps and look at my military watch: it's now 16h00. Time to go. Vorwärts !

[Tzar007]

D1 - 17h35

I get a first radio call from Meyer, CO of the Recon Bn since the beginning of the operation. He has made a nice progress so far towards the mountains and the village of Phlampouron, but the column has been spotted by the Greeks and now Allied artillery has started shelling the battalion. Very few losses to report, so I am not worried at the moment. It was obvious we would get shelled at some point, we can't go unnoticed. Just 5 minutes ago, I was told that 1st Bn has repordted for duty, so I instructed it to go immediately to Veve and take Kleidi Pass. Now, I am not too sure we will achieve much before sunset but in any case I plan to keep moving the whole night.

[Tzar007]

D1 - 19h40

Two hours after 1st Bn started moving, it is now getting in position to attack Veve and Kleidi Pass. It is being bombarded however, and that is disrupting their preparations. Again, we're in open ground here, and it's easy for the British to see us coming miles away. Meanwhile, Recon Bn is definitely stopped in its tracks. The enemy artillery barrage has intensified since it was first reported and it makes moving forward very difficult for Meyer. I urge him to hang on and keep moving.