Welcome

to Bloody Bucket, another in the football game; they could never hope to stop
series of Pint-Sized Campaigns for Chain of the enemy, but they could slow them down
Command. Here we return to the Western sufficiently for the defence behind them to be
Front, but this time with Normandy hundreds prepared. And that is precisely what the men
of miles and several months behind us, as we of the 28th Division did.
move with the fighting to the German border.
By the morning of the 18th of December the
Indeed, as this campaign begins the German Germans were sufficiently behind schedule
Army have retired to the West Wall, the great that any hope they had had of reaching the
defensive line which was built to protect the Meuse was now slim, and the chances of
Reich. However, the Germans are not on the forcing a crossing reduced to nil. The Allies had
defensive, but are about to launch their final shifted troops to block all possible routes. In
great offensive in the West in an audacious fact, the battle of the Bulge was lost before the
plan to sever the Allied front line and force a first Germans came close to Bastogne,
negotiated peace on Britain and the United
States. In this campaign we will present the reader
with the historical background to the Ardennes
Arguments can be had as to whether Hitler’s Offensive and then provide a campaign which
last blow in the West could have succeeded in typifies the fighting over these three critical
its plan to divide the Allies, both physically and days by focussing on one critical part of the
politically; it is likely to be a subject for endless battlefield.
debate. However, what is certain is that a large
part of the reason for its failure was the refusal The At the Sharp End campaign handbook
of the American soldier to accept defeat and to provides the key to unlocking this campaign.
keep fighting when there was no hope of Using the rules in At the Sharp End you’ll be
victory or, in many cases, survival. able to run this campaign very easily and
quickly. The fact that the support lists are
History has identified Bastogne as the critical specific to this campaign also means that
point where the German plan unravelled as collecting the forces required is also very
men of the 101st Airborne Division refused to achievable.
run or surrender like so many of their
comrades in the Infantry had done. In fact, this Once you are ready to begin, the campaign will
is a false picture. Between dawn on the 16th of provide between six and, normally, a dozen
December, when the Germans launched their games in total, by which point it should have
attack across the Our River, and midnight on reached a measurable conclusion.
the 19th when the 101st began arriving in
Bastogne, it was another Division, the 28th We hope you enjoy Bloody Bucket and that it
Infantry Division, which delayed the German provides a suitable tribute to the brave men
spearhead, buying time for the airborne troops who, despite thwarting Hitler’s last gamble,
to arrive. found their efforts largely unrecognised.

In many instance, the men of the 28th fought Cheers!
on even when isolated and without hope of
support. Their Division commander, Richard Clarke
Lieutenant General Norma “Dutch” Cota Lard Island, May 2017
described their action as a series of tackles in a

Following the collapse of the German Army in Nevertheless, such failings did not stop Hitler
the West at Falaise, the Allies were able to from planning his sweeping offensive in the
enjoy a period of unprecedented advances; West, under the code name Wacht am Rhein,
sweeping across France and Belgium and when all of his advisors sought to buy time by
liberating both Paris and Brussels in short husbanding resources and delaying the
order. However, as the German force neared advance of the Red Army.
their own border, and as Allied supply lines
lengthened, resistance hardened. The failure In one respect, Hitler was right. Throwing
of Operation Market Garden in September and twenty or so Divisions at the Eastern Front
the grinding battles in the Hurtgen Forest would only briefly dent the Soviet juggernaut
which were to run on into January were before being swallowed up. In the West it
sufficient to exhaust Allied forces. After the might, just might, have a chance of success,
optimism of the summer, there was now especially if the Führer was correct in his
recognition that the war would not be won in insistence that the Western Allies were already
1944. on the verge of a political schism. It was, of
course, a gamble, but by this stage of the war
On the German side, the West Wall, the the only hope that Germany could possibly
massive fortification known to the Allies as the have was based on taking wild chances in the
Siegfried Line, provided a position behind hope of securing a single big victory which
which to halt and rally and, if possible, rebuild changed the political dynamic. Even so, the
her armies. objective for the offensive in the West seems
unlikely in the extreme.
Remarkably, in view of the massive campaign
of aerial attacks on German industry, The plan was for two Panzer Armies to
Armaments Minister Albert Speer had been assemble behind the West Wall opposite the
successful in raising production to an all-time Ardennes, an area known to be used by the US
high. Unfortunately, the heavy tanks and jet forces to rest units exhausted by combat or
aircraft which were rolling off the production fresh ones with no front-line experience. A co-
line in previously unseen numbers were ordinated surprise attack would overwhelm
missing a key component: experienced men to these defences before the panzers would drive
crew them. through the Ardennes and cross the Meuse at
Dinant, Namur and Huy before conducting a
By the end of 1944 the German Reich was blitzkrieg advance all the way to Antwerp. As
scraping the bottom of the barrel to provide a result, the Allies would be split, the British in
men for their fighting units. The Luftwaffe and the North isolated, and political differences
the Kriegsmarine were providing men entirely would crystalise in such a manner that they
untrained for ground warfare and in many would be obliged to sue for peace.
areas policemen as old as 60 were being
transferred to fight as infantrymen. What It was, of course, the wildest of fantasies.
training was provided within their new units Whilst there was some discord within Allied
was rudimentary and results were patchy. ranks, usually caused by the over-developed
egos of a whole raft of commanders
(Montgomery and Patton were by no means
alone in this respect) the determination to Speed was key and at the very heart of the plan
complete the job in hand was unshakeable. was the assumption that the thinly stretched
However, as a purely military venture, even US Divisions in the Ardennes would be
some of the most sceptical German defeated rapidly. In that respect at least, there
commanders agreed that it could just work. was complete agreement among the German
commander. They could not, and would not be
The plan was to break through the wooded delayed by an enemy they considered to be
Ardennes by the end of the second day and be demoralised and depleted.
across the Meuse on Day three. With the Allies
attacking on a broad front between On the Border
Strassbourg in Alsace and the North of Holland, There can be no doubt that the Ardennes was
their forces were spread thinly almost seen as a rest area by the American high
everywhere and with very little in the way of command. Across the Our River the Germans
reserves. If the speed of the attack was seemed happily ensconced in their West Wall
maintained and if the panzers could break bunkers while the US forces manned
through the thin defensive crust, then the Observation Posts along the border during the
advance across central Belgium would be day, but withdrew into the towns and villages
relatively unopposed and Antwerp could be at night. Patrols avoided contact and an
taken. atmosphere of ‘live and let live’ seemed to
permeate the entire sector.
One event summed up the situation. General the Americans had. It was a bitter and largely
‘Dutch’ Cota, commanding the 28th Infantry pointless venture which cost the Division over
Division, was inspecting the front line when he 6000 men and one which damaged the
came across a party of American soldiers lying reputation that Cota had won in Normandy.
on the ground out of their foxholes, enjoying Experienced men were few and far between,
the rays of some winter sunshine. Two with most companies containing large number
hundred yards away a similar party of Germans of replacements with no combat experience.
were doing the same. Cota walked to one of
the men and asked, “Son, do you see that man The 28th was not alone in being unprepared for
over there wearing a gray uniform?” action; to their North, the 106th Infantry
“Yes sir” the soldier responded. Division also covered a frontage of 25 miles
“Why don’t you shoot at him then?” and had no combat experience whatsoever.
“Sir, he might shoot back!” came the horrified However, it is on the 28th Division that this Pint-
response. Sized Campaign will focus and, in particular, on
the 110th Infantry Regiment.
In truth General Cota’s 28th Infantry Division
were in no position to flex their muscles. The On the next page can be found a map showing
Division covered a frontage of 25 miles and the sector held by the 110th and the disposition
was so thinly spread that no continuous front of their main units. The map this is based upon
line was possible. Outposts were scatted along is the 1:50,000 maps produced by the
the Our river which marked the pre-war Geographical Section of the General Staff of
German-Luxembourg frontier but for the most the British Army. As with most actions, they
part the Division was deployed in Company tend to occur where at least two maps meet,
sized outposts two to three miles to the West and this is a composite made up of GSGS 4040
of the border, maintaining contact with Sheet 107, Houffalize, and Sheet 122, Wiltz.
neighbours only through sporadic patrols. Both are in their 1944 edition which are based
on 1938 maps with changes allowed for aerial
What was more, the 28th were not the well- photographic reconnaissance.
trained Division that had landed in Normandy
in July and fought its way across France and The 110th Regiment was commanded by
into Germany itself. For weeks the 28th had Colonel Hurley Fuller who had his
fought a terrible battle in the ‘Green Hell’ of headquarters at Clervaux. Like all US
the Hurtgen Forest, to the South East of Regiments, the 110th was comprised of three
Aachen in the face of determined resistance battalions; however, the 2nd battalion was part
and in an environment which favoured the of the Division’s reserve and not under Fuller’s
defender and negated just about every command.
advantage, in air and armour and artillery, that
Fuller’s front line units were deployed along a
largely elevated road which ran from Diekirch
off to the South to St Vith to the North.
Almost universally, this stretch of road was
known as ‘Skyline Drive’.

The 1st Battalion under Lieutenant Colonel
Donald Paul was to the North, with its HQ in
the village of Urspelt. A Company was in
Heinerscheid, B Company in Marnach, with C
and D in Munshausen and Grindshausen
respectively. Battery A of the 109th Field
Artillery Battalion was deployed at
Hupperdange with Battery B at Reuler where it

was supported by two MG teams from D At every key point the US forces had attempted
Company and elements of A Company 447th to create a strongpoint, but with the distances
Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion. A involved these simply could not be mutually
Reconnaissance Platoon from the 630th Tank supporting and, as frontlines go, it was as leaky
Destroyer Battalion was in Marnach with B as a sieve. German patrols were able to move
Company whilst the Regimental Cannon around on the West bank with relative
Company was in Munshausen with C Company. impunity and, it later transpired, had built up a
remarkably accurate picture of the 110th
The 3rd battalion was commanded by Major deployment and its habits.
Harold Milton who had his HQ in the small
town of Consthum where it was accompanied German Forces
by M Company, C Battery of the 687th Field Having had a chance to watch their neighbours
Artillery Battalion and elements of A Company since November, the Germans on the West
447th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion. To the Wall, the 26th Volksgrenadier Division, were of
South, in Weiler, I Company had two platoons the opinion that the Americans were battle
dug in on the eastern edge of the town and the weary, in small numbers and over-extended.
1st Platoon to the North on the high ground Indeed, the German planners were quite
over-seeing the village of Walhausner Strasse unconcerned about the 28th Division, but
and protecting a Forward Observation post. To rather were focussed on how to get their tanks
the North, Company K had two platoons in rapidly across the Our and through the
Hosingen with the 3rd Platoon to the South intervening country to cross the Clerf and on to
protecting another Forward Observation post the Meuse.
on the Skyline Drive. With them was B
Company of the 103rd Engineer Battalion and a Facing the 28th Division was a formidable force
platoon of the 630th Tank Destroyer Battalion in the shape of the XLVII Paner Korps under
with three 57mm anti-tank guns. General Freiherr von Lüttwitz. The main strike
element of this force was three Divisions, the
At Holzthum, L Company was deployed with 2nd Panzer Division, Panzer Lehr and the 26th
two platoons, whist the 1st Platoon was dug in Volksgrenadier Division.
around the road junction by the Café
Schincker. (Note: US battalions had no J The two Panzer Divisions had featured heavily
Company as the letters I and J were found to in the fighting in Normandy. The 2nd Panzer
be sufficiently similar to potentially cause Division had been withdrawn at the end of
confusion). A platoon of the 630th Tank September by which point it had almost no
destroyer Battalion were present in Holzthum. tanks remaining but retained a high number of
veteran crews. Moved to Bittburg, the Division
Finally, C Battery of the 109th Field Artillery was rebuilt with replacements from Austria, its
Battalion was in Bockholz with elements of A home station being Vienna. Remarkably it was
Company 447th Anti-Aircraft Battalion and two brought up close to its full complement of
Companies of the 707th Tank Battalion were in equipment by December, with 27 Mark IV and
reserve at Wilwerwiltz on the Clerf. 58 Mark V Panther tanks as well as 48 StuG
Assault Guns. The infantry elements was
This gives a general indication of a somewhat provided with lorries, but there was a distinct
chaotic deployment with many one or two shortage of half-tracks, with one battalion of
platoon sized outposts supported by limited Panzer Grenadiers being equipped with
numbers of anti-tank guns and with artillery bicycles.

deployed to the rear protected by small
Panzer Lehr had also been withdrawn from
numbers of anti-aircraft weapons in the form
service after the collapse in the West, but its
of Bofors guns or quad mounted 0.50 calibre
rebuilding process was interrupted at the
machine guns on half-tracks.
beginning of December when it was needed to

counterattack in Alsace against the
American Third Army. By the time of the
attack in the Ardennes, the Division fielded
only 27 Mark IV and 30 Mark V Panthers
and the two Panzer Grenadier Regiments
were both at less than 50% strength. In an
attempt to compensate for these
weaknesses, two battalions of tank
destroyers and a Brigade of Assault Guns
were attached to the Division.

The 26th Volksgrenadier Division was one of
the nineteen such Divisions created in
August 1944. Originally designated the
582nd Volksgrenadier Division, it was then
merged with the remnants of the 26th Infantry represented a politicisation of the German
Division which had been pulled out of the line military. The traditional source for German
in September 1944 after fighting at Kowel in leaders, the aristocracy, was now shunned and
Poland had seen it reduced to the point where political loyalty to the NSDAP regime was the
it could no longer function. criteria most sought after. However, this was
tempered by the requirement that battalion
In fact, the 26th Infanterie Division had an commanders were veteran soldiers who had
impeccable track record. After its mobilisation won the Knights Cross or, at the very least, the
at the end of September 1939, it fought in German Cross in Gold. Indeed, far from being
France in 1940 and on the Eastern Front from viewed as second rate units, the initial concept
June 1941 onwards, taking part in Operation was for the Volksgrenadiers to be elite units
Citadel around Kursk in 1943 and then being capable of both offensive and defensive
continuously engaged through the retreat operations.
through the Ukraine and into Poland the
following year. As such the 582nd adopted the Shortages in manpower were reflect by the
number, badge and, where possible, traditions three Infantry Regiments fielding just two
of its predecessor. battalions rather than the three which had
hereto been the case. However, this was to be
Now the Division commander, Generalmajor compensated for by a drastic increase in
Heinz Kokott, was faced with creating an firepower thanks to the mass use of automatic
efficient fighting forces from a large number firearms, largely in the shape of the
of troops transferred from the Luftwaffe or Sturmgewehr-44 assault rifle. With its thirty-
Kriegsmarine, or youngsters without military round magazine and a choice of single shot or
experience and little training seasoned only fully automatic fire, it had an effective range of
lightly with the remnants of a veteran Division. 400 metres and was concluded to have twenty
Kokott set about this in the knowledge that his times the firepower of the bolt-action Mauser.
force could be thrown into action at any time
and attempted to provide a training Within each Volksgrenadier Battalion were
programme designed to teach them the three rifle Companies. Within each Company,
rudiments of infantry tactics. However, this two platoons were designated as Storm
was limited by strict limits on activity in what Platoons and were comprised of two Storm
the German high command wanted to look like Squads of seven men and an NCO all armed
a quiet sector of the line. with assault rifles. A third squad was equipped
with two MG42 and five more men with assault
Volksgrenadier Structure rifles.
The concept of the Volksgrenadier Divisions
was born after the July 1944 bomb plot and
A further third Platoon was equipped in a much mixed bag indeed. There were real issues
more traditional manner, with three squads, created by transferring men from other
each of seven men and an NCO equipped with branches of the armed forces; the Luftwaffe
one MG42, two MP40 SMGs and five rifles. personnel had absolutely no concept of
infantry tactics, those of the Kriegsmarine
Additionally, a battalion would contain a Heavy were equally green and also were generally
Company of four support Platoons: a Mortar extremely unhappy at being transferred from
Platoon; an Infantry Gun Platoon and two technical roles to become cannon-fodder. The
Machine Gun Platoons. The mortar platoon 26th Volksgrenadier Division is often quoted as
fielded six 8cm mortars whilst the Infantry Gun having a cadre of veteran officers and NCOs
Platoon had four 7.5cm light guns. The and being one of the better formations of its
Machine Gun Platoons both fielded four MG42 type. However, this is to overlook the fact that
in a sustained fire, tripod-mounted, role. when the Division launched its attack on the
16th of December this cadre had been with the
The 26th Volksgrenadier Division was made up Division for less than six weeks. Scant time to
of three Infantry Regiments; Fusilier Regiment build an efficient fighting force from partially
39, Grenadier Regiment 77 and Fusilier trained recruits.
Regiment 78. The titles were entirely honorific
and all three were identical in their The German Plan
organisation. The 26th Artillery Regiment was The orders for the 26th Volksgrenadier Division
present with four battalions of artillery, each of were very clear. They were to cross the River
three batteries. Our and advance on a broad frontage with four
battalions forwards. They would perform two
Other battalions include the 26 Ersatz Battalion tasks, firstly approaching the US positions so
which provided training for new recruits to the that when the initial barrage opened the
Division as well as courses for more offensive at 0530 they would be in position to
experiences men such as junior leadership overcome the US defences on the Skyline
training. Typically, such battalions had been Drive. Secondly, and simultaneously, troops
depot based but now these were available were to infiltrate through the US forces and
near to the front in order to provide seize a crossing on the Clerf River, ideally at
reinforcements and replacements as required. Drauffel. With that achieved the bridgehead
would be consolidated and any resistance
The 26 Nachrichten, or signals, battalion and between the Our and Clerf mopped.
Pioneer battalion fulfilled their usual function
whilst Panzerjager battalion 26 was fortunate While the 26th attacked, Pioneers would be
to have been supplied with a platoon of 14 constructing bridges at Dasburg and Gemund,
Hetzer tank destroyers over and above its where the original bridges had been destroyed
75mm anti-tank guns. when the Germans withdrew in the Autumn.
With these bridges complete, 2 Panzer Division
Finally, each Volksgrenadier Division was to would cross at Dasburg and attack towards
have one Fusilier Company equipped with Clervaux, seizing the river crossing there by the
bicycles to act as a mobile reserve. In the case end of Day One.
of the 26th this unit had expanded to battalion
size. Meanwhile, Panzer Lehr would cross the
bridge at Gemund and attack through the 26th
Of course, the Nazi Party theory of producing Division, crossing the Clerf at Drauffelt by the
new politically loyal, elite Divisions was as high- end of the day and heading for Bastogne on
blown as it was self-delusional. At this stage of Day Two to seize that key road junction before
the war the bottom of the manpower barrel heading onwards to Dinant. At that point the
had already been scraped and the 26th Volksgrenadiers would move on to
Volksgrenadier Divisions proved to be a very Bastogne and occupy that town.
 Nebelwerfer fire lasted just sixteen minutes.
Major General Heinz Kokott decided to use The planned immediate assault did not,
Grenadier Regiment 77 for his main attack, by- however, materialise. Only at 0615 did the
passing Hosingen and isolating it from the first reports of enemy movement reach Fuller’s
West while a motorised force under Major Rolf HQ at Clervaux. L Company’s forward platoon
Kunkel was to advance rapidly to Drauffelt. at the Café Schincker was seeing suspected
This strike force would include the Fusilier enemy movement to their front and flanks but
Battalion, the Hetzer company, a platoon of were holding their fire in case the men were
37mm mechanised anti-aircraft guns Americans. Shortly after the same position
borrowed from 2 Panzer, a battery of 105mm reported hearing, but not seeing, a
howitzers and a platoon of 120mm mortars. reconnaissance jeep ambushed just to their
This entire force was equipped with unofficially East.
acquired motor transport.
The movement L Company was seeing was the
Meanwhile, all of the Division’s artillery would 1st battalion of Fusilier Regiment 39 moving up
fire in support of the 77th while Fusilier and by-passing their position in order to attack
Regiment 39 would cover the flank to the Holzthum and Consthum. In fact, the
South, advancing westwards towards Germans, true to type, were using precisely the
Consthum and the Clerf. Fusilier Regiment 78 infiltration tactics learned during the Great
would be held in reserve at Affler on the East War. These forward troops were attempting
bank of the Our. to push deep into the US positions in order to
isolate defensive positions and reach the
What is clear from this plan is that the artillery lines so as to rob the defenders of their
Germans were focussed entirely on the fire support. As such the 39th was pushing hard
importance of maintaining a very strict for Consthum whilst the 77th was heading for
timetable. The capture of Bastogne on the 17th Bockholz. It would not be long before follow-
of December, Day Two of the offensive, would up elements arrived to commence cleaning up
gain them access to the road network which the outposts.
would allow them to break free of the minor
roads and tracks which they would have to In fact, the US defenders were attacked at
negotiate on Day One. The importance of almost all points within the sector held by the
crossing the Our and the Clerf was everything. 3rd Battalion of the 110th Regiment, with Weiler
The obliteration of the 28th Division was, it in the South coming under attack by a column
seems, a mere technical detail, the results of of around 200 Germans at almost the same
which were assumed as a certainty. It would moment as Company I’s outlying 1st Platoon
turn out to be a big assumption. was attacked from the direction of Walhausen.
The Café Schincker position and Holzhum were
Null-Tag: 16th December attacked only shortly before Consthum came
Before 0300 men of the 26th Volksgrenadier under attack from the forest to the South. In
Division began moving across the Our in rubber Hosingen probing attacks began just after first
boats. A handful of experienced NCOs were light at 0730.
about to face a new enemy after years on the
Eastern Front, but the vast majority of men At all points the defenders reported large
were about to go into action for the first time. bodies of Germans attacking frontally, an
indication of poorly trained troops and a lack
At 0530 the bombardment of US positions of really high quality leadership. Everywhere
began. Hitler had wanted a lengthy along the Regimental front the Germans were
bombardment but was persuaded that this beaten off by much smaller forces of American
would only allow the Americans time to defenders. Indeed, at Consthum Cooks and
prepare their response. In the event the Clerks from the battalion headquarters took
combination of artillery, mortar and part in the fighting which saw the Germans
break into the town before being expelled by a As it was, these were the only two positions to
counter-attack. fall on the 16th, with the key locations of
Holzthum, Consthum, Hozingen and Marnach
At all points, the German attacks continued all still holding out despite having suffered a
day with similar results. The largest battering. Indeed, communications with the
contributory factor being that the bridges latter had broken down entirely; concerning
across the Our which should have been when Marnach was covering Fuller’s
complete by midday were not ready until late Headquarters at Clervaux.
in the afternoon as the daylight was fading. At
Hosingen the first tanks of 2 Panzer Division From a German perspective, not only had they
were encountered by a platoon of Shermans at failed to reach the Clerf, they had failed to
1700, an hour after the American tanks had clear Skyline Drive. Enemy units which, in
fought their way in to support Company K. At theory, should have capitulated were standing
Café Schincker the Company L outpost and fighting to the last round.
reported spotting elements of Panzer Lehr at
1830 but these were successfully dispersed From an American view point, the picture was
with artillery fire. not at all clear. At senior level there was still
discussion as to whether this was simply a
In fact, it the main issue for the American spoiling attack or a full offensive. However, at
defenders was now one of supply. To the Division level Norman Cota was now under
North of Weiler the 1st Platoon of Company I order to stand firm and hold his ground. It was
was requesting urgent resupply at 1500. They clear that his force was being sacrificed in
were informed that tanks were being sent with order to buy time, but Cota was not a man to
more ammunition and ordered to hold firm. At avoid an order. In truth, the decision to hold
1830, despite calling artillery fire on their own rather than to run had already been taken by
position, they were over-run by German the Company and Platoon commanders on and
infantry, just one man escaping to tell the tale. around the Skyline Drive.

In Weiler itself fighting had continued all day at 17th December
the rest of Company I was now desperate. At There was no doubt that Fuller’s reading of the
1330 they had refused an offer to surrender situation was that Clervaux was under threat
and had caused terrible casualties in the ranks from the direction of Marnach which, with
of the 2nd Battalion Fusilier Regiment 39. The communications interrupted, may or may not
Germans had changed their tactics from head- already be in German hands. Demanding
on assault to one of infiltrating around the assistance from Cota, he was grateful to have
town to isolate the defenders and were now his second battalion released from the reserve
probing against the entire perimeter. By 2000, as well as Company D of the 707th Tank
short of ammunition and aware that his force Battalion.
would be annihilated if it remained where it
was, Captain Floyd McCutchan decided to Retaining G Company as a reserve, Fuller was
break out under cover of darkness. An hour determined to launch a counter-attack to
later he successfully moved westwards and either re-take Marnach or reinforce it. E and F
struck out for Consthum. Companies were moved through Clervaux to
attack from the woods above Reuler whilst C
At Café Schincker a second American position Company was to attack from Munshausen with
fell when the 1st Platoon of Company L was a platoon of Shermans in support. Finally, D
ordered to withdraw at 2200. Intent on falling Company of the 707th was to attack down the
back on Holzthum, it was unable to break Skyline Drive from Fischbach to the North. This
through the ring of German troops was a commitment of almost all of 28th
surrounding that village so continued its march Division’s reserves and, as such, constituted a
onwards towards Costhum. significant risk. If this counter-attack failed the
cupboard would be bare.
At 0730, E and F Companies advanced and weapon teams were isolated but, with
eastwards from their jump-off positions to the nowhere to go, they kept on fighting.
North of Reuler. Almost immediately they
made contact with German infantry across Further South at Holzthum, L Company was
their front and, more significantly, lead reduced to around 40 men under the
elements of 2 Panzer could be seen advancing command of Lieutenant Bert Samyon. By mid-
on Clervaux run to the South of Reuler. One morning the eastern parts of the village had
Platoon of Company E attempted to shift South fallen to the Germans and the defenders were
to block the Clervaux road but were stopped in clinging on to the western half when two
their tracks. Artillery support was called for Panthers of Panzer Lehr pushed up to the
but by now two of the three batteries of the village school. There they were driven back by
109th battalion were relocating to the West bazooka fire, but the writing was on the wall.
under pressure from infiltrating infantry, while Civilians were reporting Germans massing for
the third was fighting in their own gun lines to an attack and when two Shermans arrived to
try to extricate itself. assist the defence, the immediate loss of tank
one saw the other leave for Consthum.
At almost the same time, D Company of the Samyon decide it was time to pull back. He had
707th Tank Battalion was running into trouble been ordered to hold for as long as possible
to the North of Marnach. Beginning its and authorised to retire if further resistance
advance from Fischbach at 0720, the light seemed futile, so soon after midday his force
Stuart tanks were ambushed to the North of withdrew to join the defenders of Consthum,
Marnach by a mix of anti-tank guns and now the last line of defence before the Clerf
infantry with Panzerfausts. Eight tanks were river.
dispatched by the AT guns and a further three
by infantry. Seven survivors turned and retired At Consthum the day had begun with an early
northwards to Hennersheid where two more bombardment at 0400 followed by an infantry
were destroyed during the morning before the attack. This was beaten off but was repeated
remaining five were withdrawn to Urspelt to again at 0500 with two German tanks joining
form a reserve. the fray. One of the 0.50 AAA half-tracks was
destroyed to prevent it falling into enemy
In the South, C Company of the 110th sent hands and the crew fought on as infantry.
forward one platoon riding on the decks of the
tanks of the 2nd Platoon of A Company, 707th At 0700 a third attack was launched against the
Tank Battalion. Again, 2 Panzer blocked their south-eastern sector of the town but again this
advance and no progress was made. Fuller was beaten off. Now a lull began which was to
called this small force into Clervaux where it last all day as the 40mm Bofors was able to
was to strengthen the defences against the hold enemy infantry formations back during
attack which was bound to come. At all points daylight. This allowed time for reinforcements
the US forces were deploying their armour in to get through in the shape of a handful of
penny packets against much stronger German Shermans and M8 armoured cars.
forces and were paying a heavy price.

Indeed, Colonel Fuller had recognised the
For the Germans, the path into Clervaux was
importance of Consthum and he detached
now open and 2 Panzer lost no time in pushing
Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Strickler, his
on with tanks in the outskirts during the
Regimental Executive Officer, to take control
morning and meeting US tanks, again in penny
of the defences there.
packets, amid the picturesque streets.


Company L which had abandoned Holzthum in
To the South, at Hosingen, K Company were
the morning was to prove a welcome
still holding out despite heavy attacks launched
reinforcement and was incorporated into the
all day and Germans infiltrating into the town
town’s south-western defences. However, a
with armoured support. Numerous US squads
significant loss was Battery C of the 687th Field continue resistance, they were then given
Artillery which was ordered to withdraw permission to attempt a breakout in small
westwards in the afternoon in order to groups. Captain Feiker rejected that idea as his
resupply and take up new positions. By the force was now too far behind enemy lines. At
end of the day the defenders of Consthum around 0900 a truce was arranged with the
were made up of eighty men of the Battalion Germans and negotiations to surrender began.
HQ, just twenty men remaining from Company At 1000 German troops entered the town to
M, twenty to thirty men from Company L, one disarm the remaining US forces.
Quad 0.50 AAA Halftrack and one 40mm
Bofors. Armour was now just three Shermans Meanwhile, at Consthum tanks had been
and three M8 armoured cars. Almost probing the US positions for most of the night,
immediately one tank was lost to enemy fire. using the burning wreck of a Sherman as a
As night fell all of the defenders knew that navigational aid. However, shortly after dark
tomorrow would be a difficult day. on the 17th welcome reinforcements arrived in
the form of twenty men from I Company, the
At the end of the 17th of December the German unit which had defender Weiler and which had
plan was going badly wrong. Panzer Lehr spent the last 24 hours moving West whilst
should have been in Bastogne by lunchtime but avoiding German forces.
they were still fighting at Consthum. 2 Panzer
were at least in Clervaux but Hosingen was At 0500 on the 18th the German artillery
dominating their planned supply line and preceded another attack. It was again beaten
Marnach, despite being passed through was off but heralded the start of a day of more or
still being cleared out as small groups of men less constant attacks. Gradually the US
refused to give in. defensive positions were reduced one by one.
Talking to Cota in Wiltz, Lieutenant Colonel
In Clervaux, Colonel Fuller abandoned his Strickler was left in no doubt that there were
Headquarters at 1930 when the Germans had no reinforcements available and that now all
fought their way into the hotel which he was artillery was being deployed to defend the
occupying. A small party under his command Divisional HQ at Wiltz itself.
climbed a steep ridge behind his HQ and struck
out for the West but now the defence of the On the German side, the fall of Hosingen
town was reduced to a handful of men from allowed the troops deployed there to shift
the Regimental Headquarters Company who their attention to Consthum and gradually a
stull occupied the old castle. How long they fresh build-up of men and armour could be
could continue to resist was doubtful. identified by the defenders. German artillery
was now focussing all of its efforts on breaking
18th December this log-jam.

In Clervaux the last radio message to 28
At 1300 a thick fog came down along the ridge
Division HQ in Wiltz was sent at 1000. The last
and immediately the Germans took advantage
defenders fought on until 1300 when, with the
of this natural smoke screen to attack with
castle in flames, a white flag was hung out.
infantry and armour. The attackers broke into
Almost immediately the Panzer IV and Panther
the northern and eastern sectors of the village
tanks of the 2nd Panzer Division began moving
and men fought house to house while tanks
West, 48 hours behind schedule.
clashed in the street.
In Hosingen the defenders fought on, house to

house with their ammunition running low.
By 1330 only the western part of the village
Now the battle had pushed so far beyond them
was holding out and Colonel Strickler
that friendly batteries were too far away to
recognised that continued resistance could
lend any support. The defenders made contact
only end in the complete destruction of the 3rd
with their battalion HQ in Consthum to report
Battalion. The remaining tanks and Bofors gun
that they were completely surrounded and
did their best to cover the retreat of the
lacking ammunition of all types. Initially told to
infantry who now fell back towards one hasty and uncoordinated counter attack,
Kautenbach and then on to Wiltz where they but at least he was prepared to do something
would fight on. Resistance to the East of the whilst Cota simply released troops from his
Clerf was at an end. reserve and handed them to whoever was
shouting the loudest.
By the end of the 18th of December, 26th
Volksgrenadier Division and Panzer Lehr were From Colonel Hurley Fuller in Clervaux, down
on the Clerf, ready to cross on the 19th. to the private soldiers in the foxholes, the 28th
General Fritz Bayerlein was, by his own Division was not prepared to roll over and die.
reckoning, the best part of three days behind At immense cost they stuck to their positions
schedule. Indeed, after the war, when the and caused sufficient damage in the German
Allies were still fêting the defenders of ranks to ensure that the last German offensive
Bastogne, Bayerlien stated that the defenders in the West withered on the vine before it had
of Hosingen, Holzthum and Costhum had cost really begun. It is certainly noteworthy that
him three critical days. whatever German advances came
subsequently, they only succeeded where they
Interestingly, Allied analysts never did found gaps in the defences. Tracing the
adequately recognise the contribution of the advance of 2 Panzer Divison towards the
28th Division. Some commentators, unaware Meuse, by far the deepest penetration into
of what had actually occurred, went as far as Allied lines, it is obvious from the point where
S.L.A. Marshall to say that the 28th Division they cross the Clerf on the 19th of December
simply fell apart and offered no resistance, as that the shifting of fresh reserves in the form
had indeed been the case with large parts of of British XXX Corps to blocking positions at
the green 106th Division which was surrounded Givet, Dinant and Namur is always going to halt
in the Schnee Eifel, immediately to the North their advance, as indeed it did when the
of Cota’s Division. spearhead was blunted on the 24th of
December.
In truth, there is plenty of evidence of a failure
of command in the 28th Division. Major Ultimately, the German planners had been
General Cota seems to have been paralysed correct; speed was the only hope of success.
from the outset. The dynamic leadership he When the impetus was lost in these three
had displayed on D-Day was remarkably absent critical days it should have been clear that all
here. However, to be fair to him, he had hope of success had gone. However, as with
warned his superiors that his Division was the Kaiserschlacht offensive in 1918, the
dangerously over-extended, as Fuller had Kaiser’s final offensive in an earlier war,
warned him. Indeed, Fuller who was an old continuing progress westwards was viewed as
comrade of General Troy Middleton, an indicator of success when in fact it simply
commander of VIII Corps, took his concerns to represented an over-extension of forces
the top while dining with his old comrade on which, ultimately, were blocked and
the 12th of December. But it was to no avail. destroyed. A criminal waste of both materiel

and manpower at that stage of the war and a
Whatever the intelligence reports from the savage indictment of the Nazi regime which
front which suggested an impending German ensured that its citizens would not be spared
offensive, the warnings were ignored at the the ravages of the ultimate defeat.
top level. When the attack came the senior
commanders, right from Eisenhower at the top
to Cota at Division, were unable to respond
due to lack of information and a dire lack of
contingency plans.


In the event, one can criticise Colonel Fuller for

hurling all of the 28th Division’s reserves into

Now we have seen the background to the in a campaign covering a stretch of road less
campaign, let’s look at how we’ll put this onto than five miles long.
the wargames table as a gameable
proposition. The following campaign has been designed to
run with At the Sharp End, the campaign
There are a number of campaign options to supplement for Chain of Command. As such,
cover the attack on the 28th Division. The drive not all of the campaign rules are duplicated
through Marnach and into Clervaux is one; the here. Rather all of the rules within At the
attack on Hosingen another. My preference is Sharp End are applied unless otherwise stated
to focus on the action between the Schinckler here.
Café Crossroads and Consthum as this allows
us to incorporate many of the features which Bloody Bucket is a Full Map Campaign which
typify the action. A platoon sized outpost on uses six rungs. The US forces are primarily on
Skyline Drive; German attempts to by-pass and the defensive but could, and did, still launch
isolate US positions; the attempt to parcel out counter-attacks despite their limited numbers.
reinforcements and supports to the key points Below is the master campaign map, taken from
to fend off the German attacks. All are present a 1944 1:50,000 General Staff map. The six
battlefields are shown on it as red rectangles Senior Leaders at each location, as it makes the
and we have used the map combined with air events far more personal when dealing with
reconnaissance photographs and a sprinkling ‘real’ people.
of Google Earth to construct all of the table-top At the start of the campaign the US player may
maps which will follow. allocate 48 points of support in total, divided
between the six battlefields. No one
The objective for the German player will be to battlefield may have more than 12 points of
fight his way through all six battlefields as support on Campaign Turn One.
rapidly as possible to enable the route to be
cleared for Panzer Lehr heading for Bastogne On subsequent campaign turns, the US player
and the road junctions. may move any or all of his initial support
options between tables using the red Routes
For the Americans, this is a battle which they shown on the next page.
cannot win in the traditional sense. The longer
they can hold out, the more time high Support units previously allocated to one
command will have to organise resistance battlefield may be moved to other battlefields
across the Clerf and, thereby, to stop the within their immediate locale, so a tank
German assault. If they hold out for long allocated to Battlefield 6 can be transferred to
enough, reinforcements will be brought to Battlefields 4 or 5 for the next turn, or they
Bastogne in order to hold that town. The may move one Route to another area of the
longer they hold, the more they derail the map. So, the same tank at Battlefield 6 could
Germans’ last hopes in the West. be transferred to Battlefields 2 or 3 at
Holzthum via Route 1. It could not be
transferred to Battlefield 1 at the Skyline Drive
until the next Campaign Turn as it is limited to
using one Route in a Turn.
THE CAMPAIGN LADDER
The master map shows the five “rungs” of the On subsequent Campaign Turns, the following
campaign. These are as follows: support points are available for the US player.

Rung Name Campaign Turn Points
1 Skyline Drive 2 10
2 The Road to Holzthum 3 8
3 Holzthum Village 4 6
4 The Outskirts of Consthum 5 4
5 Consthum Village 6 2
6 The Last Ditch 7 10

As can be seen from the map, these are in All of these points will arrive as reinforcements
three locales, Skyline Drive, Holzthum and in the Consthum area via the road from the
Consthum. West. They may immediately be allocated to,
or divided between, Battlefields 4, 5 and 6. On
SETTING UP THE CAMPAIGN subsequent Campaign Turns they may be
pushed further forwards via the red Routes if
Unlike a typical At the Sharp End Campaign,
desired.
Bloody Bucket does not follow the fortunes of

a single unit. The US player will have six
platoons, one at each location on the
Campaign Ladder. We recommend that you
certainly go to the effort of creating details for
the US senior characters, namely the force
The Germans will have an unlimited number of So, on Campaign Turn One, the available
platoons in the campaign. They begin with one platoon may elect to attack Battlefield 1 or
Sturm Platoon at Assembly Point A on may choose to infiltrate on the dashed line to
Campaign Turn One, adding one fresh Platoon Point B. By infiltrating to Assembly Point B
to their force in each Campaign Turn. they will then have the choice on Campaign
However, if they are to make the progress Turn Two of attacking either Battlefield 2 or 3,
demanded of them in order to achieve victory, continuing to infiltrate to Assembly Point C, or
they will have to press on at every opportunity remaining at Point B from where they can
and, in truth, this will limit their numbers. attempt to interdict traffic, including American
troops, from using the road between
At the start of each Campaign Turn a fresh Battlefield 1 and Holzthum.
German platoon will be at Assembly Point A on
the German Campaign Master Map. On a roll A German platoon may only interdict the road
of 1 or 2, a Volksgrenadier Rifle Platoon arrives. if it spends the entire Campaign Turn
On a roll of 3 to 6, a Volksgrenadier Sturm stationary at an Assembly Point. It may not do
Platoon arrives. The player will then be able to so it is moves to that point during the Turn, nor
use that platoon to attack along a solid blue if it attacks from that Assembly point in the
line shown on the German Campaign Map on Turn. There is no limit on the number of
the next page, or to infiltrate the US positions platoons which may occupy an Assembly Point,
via a dashed line.
but only one platoon may attempt to interdict INITIATIVE
road traffic. The campaign will begin with the German
player holding the initiative and attacking
On each Campaign Turn, the Germans may against Battlefield One, Skyline Drive, or
elect to make up to two attacks on two electing to infiltrate to Point B. As long as the
separate Battlefields. They may not attack the Germans do not lose a battle, they will, retain
same Battlefield twice in the same Campaign the initiative. After that, who holds the
Turn. initiative at the beginning of each Campaign
Turn will depend on the result of the games in
The light blue arrows on the main road from the previous Campaign Turn.
Skyline Drive to Consthum may only be used to
attack along when that route is cleared by If the Germans elect to make two attacks in a
winning battles. So, no attack can be made Campaign Turn, they will retain the initiative
down the main road to Battlefield 2, the Road only if they win both. If any game in a single
to Holzthum, until the position on Skyline Campaign Turn is won by the US player, they
Drive, Battlefield 1 has been captured. will have the initiative in the next Campaign
Turn.
German platoon strengths should be tracked
individually. If any platoon ends a Campaign
Turn with less than 16 men in total, including
Leaders, it is permanently removed from the
campaign.
SCENARIOS of their force as some troops, however few in
This campaign is unusual in that the players numbers, must be retained on Battlefield Two.
may get the choice of which scenario they play.
This will depend on their line of approach. The US player will select from whatever
support units are available in the Battlefield he
Attack Down the Main Road is attacking from; in our example this would be
the Road to Holzthum. If the US player takes
Battlefield Scenario
the option to counter-attack at any point, the
1 Attack & Defend
Germans will select ten points of support for
2 Attack & Defend or Probe the defenders.
3 Attack & Defend or Flank
Attack
4 -
5 Attack & Defend
6 Attack on an Objective BLITZKRIEG
Whilst the Germans have unlimited troops to
Attacks down the main road enter Consthum complete their mission they do not have
via Battlefield 5. After this is captured, the unlimited time. To reflect the importance of
Germans may elect to attack Battlefield 4 or 6. alacrity, if the Germans win a battle, they may
immediately attack the next Battlefield on the
Attack from Point B ladder with the same force and same support
Battlefield Scenario options BEFORE any roll in made for casualties.
2 Attack & Defend or Probe This action will then be fought immediately
3 Attack & Defend or Flank and will be considered to be part of the same
Attack if Battlefield 2 is clear Campaign Turn.

Attack from Point C For example, a German force attacking
Battlefield Scenario Battlefield 2 wins with a loss of six men. This
force may now attack Battlefield 3
4 Attack & Defend or Probe.
immediately but will not roll to see the effect

of any losses until the end of the second action.
Attack from Point D
Battlefield Scenario This option will be absolutely key for the
4 Attack & Defend or Probe Germans if they wish to maximise their chance
6 Attack & Defend or Attack on of winning the campaign.
an Objective

All German attacks are made with 12 points of
Support the first time they are made against
any Battlefield. On Subsequent attacks, add a CONSOLIDATION & STRENGTHENING
further three points of Support each time on
DEFENCES
Day One, or five points of Support on Day Two.
Neither side may consolidate their defences

during the campaign. However, both sides
At any point in the campaign where they hold
may strengthen their defences as covered in At
the initiative, the Americans may launch a
the Sharp End.
counter-attack to regain lost ground. However,

they will need to leave some troops to garrison

the battlefield they are attacking out of. So, for

example, if the Germans capture Skyline Drive,

the US Platoon on the Road to Holzthum may
counter-attack, but could only do so with part
CASUALTIES, REPLACEMENTS &
REINFORCEMENTS
The US player will receive no replacements or
Reinforcements in the campaign, all casualties
are treated according to the rules in At the
Sharp End with losses in each game being split
into those never to return, those who are
lightly wounded and return for the next game
and those who miss the next game.

For the German player, casualties are treated
according to the rules in At the Sharp End, with
losses in each game being split into those never
to return, those who are lightly wounded and
Any US units which attempt to move along a
return for the next game and those who miss
section of road which is interdicted will roll
the next game.
1D6. On a roll of 5 or 6, that unit break through

and completes its move without penalty. On 2
VOLUNTARY WITHDRAWAL to 4, the unit fails to make the move and
A Stand and Hold order has been issued, so the remains on the Battlefield from where it was
US platoons are expected to do just that. moving. If this is the remnants of a platoon
However, the US Player may elect to abandon withdrawing having surrendered a Battlefield,
any Battlefield at any point. If this option is it is captured. On a roll of 1, the unit is
taken, the majority of the men present are destroyed and removed from the campaign.
assumed to have surrendered. However, 2D6
men may be moved to an adjacent Battlefield
BRIDGING THE OUR
in the same locale, such as from Battlefield 2 to
The German player will be very keen to know
3 in Holzthum, or may attempt to retire down
that the Our has been bridges so that he can
a red Route to a different locale. If the number
begin to select heavier support options. He
rolled on 2D6 exceeds the number of men
should be aware that the river should be
remaining on that Battlefield, only the number
crossed by Campaign Turn 4, 1300 on the 16th
present may attempt the move.
of December. However, whether it will be or

not is dependent on fate. Roll a D6 on the

turns shown below. If the target roll is

achieved, the bridge is open and the Germans
may select from Support List Two immediately.


Turn Target Roll
INTERDICTING MOVEMENT
4 5
The German player may attempt to interdict
American movement along the main road by 5 4
stationing Platoons at the Assembly Points on 6 3
the map. As can be seen in the image below, a 7+ 2
platoon at Point B will interdict the road
between Skyline drive and Holzthum. A
Platoon at Point C will interdict the road WILD CARD OPTIONS
between Holzthum and Consthum. A platoon This campaign has no Wild Card options.
at Point C will interdict the road to the rear of
Consthum which is also where any US support
point will come from after Campaign Turn 1.


THE ARMY LISTS & BRIEFINGS RIFLE PLATOON
The following lists are used for the Germans This force is rated as Green. It has a Platoon
and US forces in this campaign. They are based Force Rating of -2.
on standard organisational structures for the
period, but with support options specific to this Command Dice: 5
campaign and based on what equipment was
known to be in the area at the time as well as PLATOON HEADQUARTERS
preferences within that formation. Unterfeldwebel, Senior Leader armed with a
machine-pistol
Three men armed with rifles with rifle
grenade launchers.
Three Panzerfausts

VOLKSGRENADIER PLATOONS RIFLE SQUADS ONE TO THREE
This force is representative of the men of the
Obergefreiter, Junior Leader armed with an
26th Volksgrenadier with a mixture of Green
MP40. Two Panzerfausts to be used by each
replacements and experienced NCOs. There
squad
are two types of Platoon, the Sturm Platoon
LMG TEAM RIFLE TEAM
and the Rifle Platoon; both are present in the
One MG 42 with Three men armed
campaign.
gunner with rifles
STURM PLATOON Two crew One man with MP40
This force is rated as Green. It has a Platoon
Force Rating of Zero. National Characteristics are the same as those
listed in the main rule book for a German force:
Command Dice: 5 Machinengewehr! and Handgranaten!
However, this force also has the additional
PLATOON HEADQUARTERS characteristics of Alte Kampfer and to reflect
Unterfeldwebel, Senior Leader armed with a that whilst the men are Green, their NCOs are
machine-pistol long-service veterans.
Three men armed with rifles with rifle
grenade launchers. The Alte Kampfer characteristic means that
Three Panzerfausts when rolling to see if a Leader has been hit only

a roll of under the number of hits on a target,
rather than equal to or less than, will affect any
ASSAULT SQUADS ONE TO TWO Leader with this force.
Obergefreiter, Junior Leader armed with an
StG44 Assault Rifle. Two Panzerfausts to be All tanks crews are considered Green.
used by the squad However, if the tank commander is replaced
STURM TEAM with a Senior Leader, the tank crew are
Seven Men with StG44 Assault Rifles considered Regular.

LMG SQUAD
Obergefreiter, Junior Leader armed with an
MP40. Two Panzerfausts to be used by the
squad

LMG TEAM LMG TEAM

One MG 42 with One MG 42 with

gunner gunner

Two crew Two crew

One rifleman
SUPPORT OPTIONS LIST THREE
The following support list is used for this Sniper Team
campaign, representing, as it does, the limited
LIST FOUR
assets available for the German forces
LMG Squad with Junior Leader
operating in this area. There are two tables,
List One for the early part of the campaign, Regular MG 42 on tripod mount, 5 crew
where all equipment is being transported Rifle Squad with Junior Leader
across the Our in small boats and no heavy le IG.18 with five crew and Junior Leader
support weapons or vehicles are available. List LIST FIVE
Two is for the second phase of the campaign Assault Squad with Junior Leader
where the bridges across the Our are in use. Captured M8 Armoured Car with Junior
Leader
LIST SEVEN
GERMAN SUPPORT LIST ONE Pak 40 with 5 crew and a Junior Leader
LIST ONE Panzer IV G/H with Junior Leader
Medical Orderly LIST TEN
Adjutant Panther with Junior Leader
Pioneer Mine Clearance Team, 3 men
Pioneer Wire Cutting Team, 3 men The support list options listed are the same as
Pioneer Demolition Team, 3 men those in the main Chain of Command rule
Captured Jeep (no crew) book, with the same specific rules applying.
LIST TWO
The German player should select from List One
Senior Leader
until they are informed that the bridges across
Panzerschreck Team, 2 men
the Our are open. From that point onwards
Pre-Game Barrage
they may select from List Two.
LIST THREE
Sniper Team Captured Vehicles
LIST FOUR The Germans may select captured US vehicles,
Regular MG 42 on tripod mount, 5 crew jeeps or M8 armoured cars if they are
Rifle Squad with Junior Leader available. If selecting such a vehicle, roll a D6.
On a roll of 4 to 6 the vehicle is available. If the
LMG Squad with Junior Leader
vehicle is not available, the German player may
LIST FIVE still use those points to select other supports;
Assault Squad with Junior Leader the points are not lost.

GERMAN SUPPORT LIST TWO When the US players are faced with a captured
vehicle there may be some confusion as to
LIST ONE whether this is a friendly unit. The first phase
Medical Orderly any US units wish to fire on a captured vehicle,
Adjutant roll a D6. On a roll of 1 to 3 they may not fire
Pioneer Mine Clearance Team, 3 men in that Phase as they have failed to identify the
Pioneer Wire Cutting Team, 3 men crew.
Pioneer Demolition Team, 3 men
Captured Jeep (no crew) In subsequent Phases the vehicle may be
LIST TWO targeted as normal.
Senior Leader
Panzerschreck Team, 2 men
Pre-Game Barrage
 LIST TWO
Road Block
INFANTRY PLATOON Bazooka Team, 2 men
This force is a standard infantry platoon and is LIST THREE
used throughout this campaign for all US Sniper Team
platoons deployed. This force is rated as 60mm mortar Team, 5 crew
Regular and has a Platoon Strength Rating of LIST FOUR
+1. 40mm Bofors Gun, 5 crew
0.30 MMG on tripod mount, 5 crew
Command Dice: 5

LIST FIVE
0.50 HMG on tripod mount, 5 crew
PLATOON HEADQUARTERS M8 Armoured Car with Junior Leader
Lieutenant, Senior Leader armed with 57mm Anti-Tank Gun with 5 crew and Junior
Carbine Leader
Platoon Sergeant, Senior Leader, armed LIST SIX
with SMG
M16 Quad 0.50 AAA Half-track
Bazooka Team, 2 men
M4 Sherman with Junior Leader

SQUADS ONE TO THREE The support list options listed are the same as
Corporal, Junior Leader armed with SMG those in the main Chain of Command rule
book, with the same specific rules applying.
BAR TEAM RIFLE TEAM However, one particular option is unique to
One man with BAR Eight riflemen with this scenario.
Two riflemen with M1 Garand
M1 Garand Additional BAR per Squad
By this stage of the war it was clear that what
National Characteristics are the same as those US infantry squads lacked with firepower. As a
listed in the main rule book for a US force: result, troops would take steps to acquire
Marching Fire! and Scout. additional automatic weapons where they
could. Each squad may add an additional BAR
SUPPORT OPTIONS if this is selected. This can be deployed
The following support list is used for this however the player wishes; as part of a
campaign, representing the particular assets separate BAR Team or simply adding firepower
available for the 110th Infantry and any to the rifle Team.
supporting units operating here.
Creating Your Platoon
Options shown in Red may NOT be selected as Unlike the typical At the Sharp End Campaign,
part of the initial Support Options, but may be you will not be following the exploits of one or
selected from Campaign Turn 2 onwards. two platoons from start to conclusion. As such,
it is not entirely necessary to roll for your
US SUPPORT LIST characters for each scenario as each game will
see a fresh platoon committed to battle.
LIST ONE However, I recommend at least rolling up the
Medical Orderly details for the Senior Leaders for each game as
Additional BAR for all squads in platoon this does allow the gamer to inject some
Adjutant humanity to the proceedings.
Minefield
Barbed Wire
Entrenchments (one Team)
Jeep (no crew)
The scenarios contained in this supplement are The buildings in this area are a mixture of brick
not designed to present perfectly balanced and timber so provide hard cover. Residential
forces on both sides; either side may end up buildings are shown with red roofs, whereas
with numerical advantage in some agricultural buildings, largely barns, have grey
circumstances, but overall the American roofs.
defenders will find that the odds tip against
them as time progresses. However, the Brock walls are shown in red and are assumed
campaign is balanced in such a fashion that it to be six to seven feet high. Fences are marked
can be won by either side. as thin light-grey lines and are assumed to be
waist high. They offer no cover at all.
General Terrain Notes
We have provided specific terrain notes for All of the scenarios have been designed with a
each scenario; however, some general remarks minimum of notes. The campaign backdrop
are worthwhile on the terrain in this area of should set the scene for each game. Just one
Luxemburg. Firstly, the country is hilly with sheet is required to be printed for each
most areas of habitation being on the high scenario, showing the map and the support list
ground where they are surrounded by options for each player. Any Umpires Notes for
agricultural land on the plateaus before the the scenarios are provided in a separate
ground falls away into wooded valleys section after the scenarios.
interspersed with small streams.
On each map, the deployment areas for the
The faming country here is open, with a limited Patrol Markers are indicated. In most cases the
number of hedges other than to delineate German’s have two or more deployment areas,
gardens, and almost no requirement for shown by a black-edged white triangle with a
drainage ditches as the ground is self-draining number or letter within. The number indicates
being elevated. As a result the Germans will an entry point when they force has advanced
often have to cover open ground to reach the from a conquered Battlefield; the number
US positions. indicates an entry point when the force has
advanced from an Assembly Point. The
Most of the roads in this campaign are Germans may deploy their Patrol Markers
metalled and can happily take up to two tanks anywhere on the relevant edge.
abreast. These roads are shown in grey. The
lesser roads, shown in tan, can take a single For the US forces, their Patrol Markers start at
tank width or two jeeps side by side. The a single point, shown by one Patrol Marker. In
ground in December means that AFVs will such cases all of that nation’s Patrol Markers
prefer to stick to roads, with any movement begin at that point.
off-road risking bogging down. All fields are
ploughed awaiting spring sewing.

The woods on the map are mixed with a lot of
fir trees making movement by infantry
relatively easy and without penalty. AFVs
move in the woods at a risk of bogging down or
throwing a track on tree stumps.

 Battlefield One
SKYLINE DRIVE

Background
This scenario sees the 26th Volksgrenadier Division’s Fusilier Regiment 77 attack the US outpost on the
Skyline Drive. The Germans are emerging from the valley around Wahlhausener Strasse and crossing open
ground on the edge of the plateau which lead to Holzthum.

This scenario is always played as an Attack & Defend Scenario with the Germans attacking from Point A.
As per the standard scenario rules, the Germans may place their Patrol Markers anywhere on that table
edge. The US defenders will place their Patrol Markers to the left of the yellow dashed line.

Patrol Phase Deployment
Both players will field four Patrol Markers for this scenario with the attacker taking 1D6 Patrol Marker
moves before the Patrol Phase begins.

US Forces
The US player fields one platoon of infantry with whatever support options that have been allocated to
this table for that Campaign Turn.

German Forces
The German player has a total of 12 support points available when this scenario is first played. On
subsequent turns the German player adds a further three points if the game occurs on Day One, five points
on Day Two.
 Battlefield Two
THE ROAD TO HOLZTHUM

Background
This scenario sees the Germans attack into the eastern outskirts of Holzthum, either having defeated the
Americans at Battlefield One, in which case they begin the game on the edge marked 1, or from Assembly
Point B, in which case they begin on the edge thus marked.

The Germans may elect to fight this battle at an Attack & Defend or a Probe Scenario. In all cases, the
Germans begin with all of their Patrol Markers along the edge indicated depending on their approach
route, the Americans place their Patrol Markers on the road, as shown by the Allied Star.

Patrol Phase Deployment
Both players will field four Patrol Markers for this scenario with the US defender taking ½D6 Patrol Marker
moves before the Patrol Phase begins.

US Forces
The US player fields one platoon of infantry with whatever support options that have been allocated to
this table for that Campaign Turn.

German Forces
The German player has a total of 12 support points available when this scenario is first played. On
subsequent turns the German player adds a further three points if the game occurs on Day One, five points
on Day Two.
 Battlefield Three
HOLZTHUM VILLAGE
Background
This scenario sees the Germans attack into the centre of Holzthum, either having defeated the Americans
at Battlefield Two, in which case they begin the game on the edge marked 2, or from Assembly Point B, in
which case they begin on the edge thus marked.

The Germans may elect to fight this battle at an Attack & Defend or a Flank Attack. If electing to fight
Attack & Defend, the Germans begin with all of their Patrol Markers along the edge indicated depending
on their approach route. If choosing a Flank Attack, the Germans may place their Patrol Markers on both
edge 2 and edge B. In all situations the US player will place all of his Patrol Markers on the spot on the
main road, as shown by the Allied Star.

Patrol Phase Deployment

Both players will field four Patrol Markers for this scenario with the US defender taking ½D6 Patrol Marker
moves before the Patrol Phase begins.

US Forces
The US player fields one platoon of infantry with whatever support options that have been allocated to
this table for that Campaign Turn.

German Forces
The German player has a total of 12 support points available when this scenario is first played. On
subsequent turns the German player adds a further three points if the game occurs on Day One, five points
on Day Two.

 Battlefield Four
THE OUTSKIRTS OF CONSTHUM

Background
This scenario sees the Germans attack into the Consthum area, either from Assembly Point C or Assembly
Point D. In both case they begin on the edge appropriately marked.

The Germans may elect to fight this battle at an Attack & Defend or a Probe. In either case, the Germans
begin with all of their Patrol Markers along the edge indicated depending on their approach route. The US
player begins with his Patrol Markers as indicated by the Allied Star.

Patrol Phase Deployment
Both players will field four Patrol Markers for this scenario with the US defender taking ½D6 Patrol Marker
moves before the Patrol Phase begins.

US Forces
The US player fields one platoon of infantry with whatever support options that have been allocated to
this table for that Campaign Turn.

German Forces
The German player has a total of 12 support points available when this scenario is first played. On
subsequent turns the German player adds a further three points if the game occurs on Day One, five points
on Day Two.


 Battlefield Five
CONSTHUM VILLAGE

Background
This scenario sees the Germans attack into Consthum village having defeated the US defenders at
Battlefields 3, 4 or 6. They begin on the edge appropriately marked.

This scenario is always fought as Attack & Defend with the Germans placing four Patrol Markers on the
relevant table edge. The US player will place all of his Patrol Markers on the white Allied Star if the enemy
is at 3 or 4, or the yellow star if the enemy are at edge 6.

Patrol Phase Deployment
Both players will field four Patrol Markers for this scenario with the US defender taking ½D6 Patrol Marker
moves before the Patrol Phase begins.

US Forces
The US player fields one platoon of infantry with whatever support options that have been allocated to
this table for that Campaign Turn.

German Forces
The German player has a total of 12 support points available when this scenario is first played. On
subsequent turns the German player adds a further three points if the game occurs on Day One, five points
on Day Two.

 Battlefield Six
THE LAST DITCH
Background
This scenario sees the Germans attack into the South-western sector of Consthum; the last ditch before
the River Clerf. Here, the Germans have defeated the US defenders at Battlefield 5 or are attacking from
Assembly Point D. They begin on the edge appropriately marked.

This scenario is always fought as Attack on an Objective if attacked from the direction of Battlefield 5 or if
it is the last US held Battlefield when attacked from Assembly Point D. The Germans placing four Patrol
Markers on the relevant table edge. The US player will place all of his Patrol Markers on one red building
of his choice (one is shown here as an example). This is his Headquarters.

Patrol Phase Deployment
Both players will field four Patrol Markers for this scenario with the US defender taking ½D6 Patrol Marker
moves before the Patrol Phase begins.

US Forces
The US player fields one platoon of infantry with whatever support options that have been allocated to
this table for that Campaign Turn.

German Forces
The German player has a total of 12 support points available when this scenario is first played. On
subsequent turns the German player adds a further three points if the game occurs on Day One, five points
on Day Two.
The following briefings which may be cut out
and handed to the relevant players.



This means that initially you bare without
GERMAN CAMPAIGN BRIEFING heavy weapon support and no tanks will be
With the enemy standing on our western with you until after lunch, but you must press
borders, the Fuhrer has declared that the time on to achieve the timetable set by the Staff
to strike back is upon us. Once again our forces which would see you in control of Consthum by
will advance westwards to deal a knock-out the end of the first Day, that is after six
blow against the Allies in Belgium. Soon, Campaign Turns.
rumour has it, we will be in Paris once more
and we can then turn to stop the Soviets in the For this campaign you will track the opinion of
East. the men which begins at 3, seeing them
confident and in good spirits. Also, track the
Your objective is to break through the enemy’s outlook of the Division commander, Major
defences on the Skyline Drive and to smash General Heinz Kokott, using the Platoon
enemy positions at Holzthum and Consthum, Leader’s Outlook table. This will reflect the
thus opening the route for Panzer Lehr to morale of the Division as a whole. At the start
advance westwards to seize the key road of the Campaign, Kokott’s outlook is Confident.
junction at Bastogne. Between the two factors, this will give the
Germans a +2 on their Force Morale roll; a
Your forces, all from the 26th Volksgrenadier good start to the campaign.
Division, have been ferried across the Our
River overnight and are ready to attack at There is not enough time to track the opinion
daybreak after a drum bombardment on the of the commanding officer as communication
enemy positions. Meanwhile, Pioneers will be is so difficult that they will not be able to affect
bridging the Our so that Panzer Lehr can cross the two days of action until the campaign is
to support your attacks. complete. This is, consequently, ignored.






US CAMPAIGN BRIEFING You have six Platoons of Infantry spread across
Just before dawn the German artillery has six areas, or Battlefields. You must now
begun bombarding your position. You have allocate 48 points of support across those
reports of figures ahead and to either side of areas with a maximum of 12 points at any one
your forward position on the Skyline Drive. area. After that, all you can do is wait to see
You have no idea what is happening, but word what the enemy does next.
from Division is that you must ‘Stand Firm’.
Whatever the Germans are up to, you intend
to disrupt their plans.
WINNING THE CAMPAIGN

Victory for the German player is all about
capturing Consthum as rapidly as possible. The CAMPAIGN SPECIFIC RULES
campaign is ten turns long and how far the Unbeknown to the US player, if the Germans
Germans have advanced by that point will capture Battlefield 5 before Battlefield 4 has
indicate their degree of success. fallen, the troops on Battlefield 4 will
automatically attempt to evacuate that area as
The following clock applies to the campaign. they are clearly isolated. They will do this
using the voluntary withdrawal rule.
Time Day One Day Two
0600 Turn 1 Turn 7
0800 Turn 2 Turn 8

1100 Turn 3 Turn 9
1300 Turn 4 Turn 10
1500 Turn 5
1700 Turn 6


If the Germans capture all six Battlefields by
LEGAL STUFF
the end of Turn 6 then they win a major victory, All contents of this book are Copyright 2017 to
Panzer Lehr capture Bastogne on the following TooFatLardies and Richard Clarke and may not
day and the route to the Meuse is open, be reproduced in any format without
Antwerp is a certainty. permission.

If the Germans capture all six Battlefields on Permission is granted to print out this book in
Turn 7 then they win a significant victory, its entirety for personal use and the scenario
capturing Bastogne that afternoon although notes and briefings for limited distribution
what Allied reinforcements are headed for the within your immediate circle of gaming friends,
Meuse is uncertain. or for use for display purposes at shows and
conventions.
If the Germans capture all six Battlefields on
Turn 8, they win a victory, Bastogne will Please don’t make this product available on file
probably fall before night fall but Allied forces sharing web sites. It is cheap at the price of a
will be blocking the route to the Meuse beyond pint, especially when measured against the fun
that. The result will hang in the balance. you should have from playing the campaign. It
isn’t “sharing”, it is theft and it hurts the hobby.
If the Germans capture all six Battlefields on Thanks.
Turn 9, they win a narrow victory. Bastogne
will probably fall tomorrow morning but www.toofatlardies.co.uk
success or failure will depend on others.

If all six Battlefields are captured on Turn 10,
the result is a draw. If one Battlefield remains
in US hands at the end of Turn 6, the US player
has won a narrow victory. If two Battlefields
remain in US hands, it is a significant victory. If
three Battlefields remain in US hands the
victory is decisive.