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While battles in the east become more and more intensive 101st US Airborne and armoured forces of 1st US Army have reached the river near Marbourg in the west. In their back US 1st inf. Div. has landed and started to march westwards.

Task Force U approaches Marbourg from the seaside and shells entrenched infantry at the shores.

Since the invasion began heavy air fights have cost 34 fighters and 16 dive bombers while 30 German fighters were shot down. German Luftwaffe is stronger than expected and reduces the effectivity of allied forces air raids. It seems as if the Germans have not only Messerschmitts but as well the modern Focke-Wulff interceptors in the air.

Total losses since the start of the invasion: 200 rifles and 360 paras, 470 rifles and 150 smgs were eliminated. German coastal guns managed to sink an allied destroyer.

june 13th:

North of Charlois, after initial success in stopping allied expansion, Pz Divisions continued to push to the sea, but after 2 days of heavy fighting no progress is made, and some Pz units are thrown back due to a combined artillery/air attack. Realizing they are too powerful to be defeated by direct assault Divisions are ordered to defend the road and wait for allied units to move up where they are more vulnerable, while Infantry Divisions and units from other parts of the coast arrived to the front forming a strong defensive line.



To strengthen the defenses even further engineer units of 4 divisions worked day and night to construct a fortified defensive line, and to counter deadly allied air raids, heavy Flak Battalions are ordered from Germany, together with Division Flak units, making it a deadly air space to the enemy. Soon German infantry felt confident in the extensive line of fortifications complete with Flak gun emplacements and supported by nearly 35 artillery guns. Flak defenses are soon tested when allied fighters suffered massive losses when faced with fighter/flak.

Marbourg Sector:

Coastal units continued to retreat behind the river line. Depending on natural obstacles and fortifications the Sector would be turned into a fortress and with ammunition storages in the nearby town troops would be able to fight long after being cut off from High Command. A forward unit reinforced by HQ is placed at strong fortified position near Coastal guns, to buy much needed time for fortifications in Marbourg to be made.



The unit repelled the first attack but with some losses.

June14th

At the eastern front the French Rgt. de Marche du Tchad and the British 22nd Dragoons are eliminated in an attack of tandestroyer groups of 21st and 22nd Panzerjadggeschwader. French and Canadian units dig in in a small hilly area between the enemy lines and the coast.

In the west 101st Airborne take a strong fortification and destroy the coastal battery. Parts of the 101st cross the river south of ht enemy lines. Using the night the crossing seems not to be noticed by the German forces. Tanks and infantry of 1st US Army take position along the river preparing to attack and take area around the brigde. First pontoons have to be build as the enemy has blown bridge.

US 1st Inf. Div. is on its way to the river.

June15th

Near Catrei 29th US Inf. Div. is fighting heavily against strong forces of German 77th Inf. Div. The enemy did not manage to encircle the right flank of the division. But an attack by large groups of infantry eliminated 115th Infantry. Together with parts of 82nd Airborne the division tries to hold position.

East of the road to Catrei combined forces of 4th US Inf., 6th British Airborne, and 3rd British Inf. try to defeat 17th SS Panzergrenadiere. Their flank is secured by tanks and infantry of 2nd British Armoured Div.

At the eastern front and in the middle area the fighting still is heavy and a final breakthrough not yet achieved (turn 21, June25th). In the west the defenders are nearly defeated. Therefore the following report will focus on west front as it is possible to describe the situation without giving important information relevant to the running game.

June16th

101st Airborne has taken the last fortification east of the river.

The enemy builds fortifications and sends reinforcements to the Marbourg line using the river as natural defence line. East of the river units of 1st US Inf. Div. prepare to attack. Haevy guns have opened fire on the entrenchments of the German units.

Further south parts of the 101st Airborne had crossed the river and are moving north now to outflank the enemy at Marbourg line. They get support from tank groups of 1st US Army that had crossed the river by pontoons. Due to the difficulty of bringing supply to the other side of the river, the units have to be supplied from the air. Transport planes that had brought paras cross the channel are now permanently dropping supply for the paras and tank groups.

Battleship groups Task Force O and U start gunning Marbourg. Strategic bombers do air raids in order to lower production and supply capacity of the Marbourg facilities.

June18th til June20th

The defenders build more fortifications to secure their flank. Meanwhile more and more units of 1st US Inf. Div. cross the river to support paras and tanks in the attack on the southern groups of Marbourg defenders.

On 20th the 1st US Inf. managed to launch a successful attack across the river. The enemy was forced to retrat and the fortification taken.

18th Inf. is send south to secure the road and stop any enemy reinforcements coming from southern bases.

Marbourg facilities are totally damaged and cannt provide supply or reinforcements any longer.

June 24th

The southern fort at Marbourg was taken. The western outskirts of Marbourg had been stormed.

In a combined attack of infantry, tanks, and tank destroyers the city itself could have been cleared of defenders. In the west still a fortification is held by the enmy. Two attacks of 101st Airborne and an attack of infantry of 1st US. Inf. Div. failed. Air support could not habe been send due to massive concentration of anti air guns in the area. But defenders were reduced to a small group and will be unable to stand another attack.

Direct support from HQ of 1st US Army and air supply keep units at full strength and readyness. The capitulation of group Marbourg is only a question of time.

The road leading south is controlled by an infantry group of 1st US Inf. An enemy unit has been spotted trying to block the road. The enemy seems to build a fortification in order to prevent US infantry from further approach to the southern supply depots.