Microsoft Close Combat manual

Game Reference Close Combat *69052* m T ake command of men who act like real soldiers Close Combat Keyboard Quick Reference Y ou can choose commands and expand or scroll the Close Combat V iew Area using the following key combinations and sequences: Function In W indows95 On the Macintosh Scroll the V iew Area Arrow keys Arrow keys Expand the V iew[...]

Chapter 1 About Close Combat 1 Chapter 1 About Close Combat June 6, 1944. The lar gest invasion fleet in history lies off the coast of Normandy , France. Four years ago, France surrendered to Germany , and the remnants of the British Expeditionary Force fled from the beaches of Dunkirk. Now the Allies are ready to strike back. Their goal is to libe[...]

2 Close Combat Close Combat Game Theory Historical accuracy and realistic psychology make Close Combat different from other strategy games. The forces, the locations, the weapons, all reflect the reality of the Normandy Campaign. And the Close Combat artificial intelligence (AI) tracks not only every round fired, but also the physical and psycholog[...]

Chapter 1 About Close Combat 3 Y ou can choose to exercise “super” control over your troops by setting soldiers in the “always obey orders” mode before starting a game, but you can’t switch them out of this mode during play , and gains made this way usually lead to increased casualties and decreased team performance. For more information,[...]

4 Close Combat Who’ s in Control? Y ou Choose As noted earlier , your teams may or may not obey an order you give them. However , you can avoid order overrides by selecting the “Soldiers always obey” game option. Even so, when a team receives orders to fire, it may decide that a different tar get represents a greater threat, and may fire at t[...]

Chapter 2 Setup and Game Play 5 Chapter 2 Setup and Game Play This chapter describes how to install and set up Close Combat, how to learn game-play basics using Boot Camp scenarios, and what type of games you can play (Maneuvers, Campaigns, and Replays). Finally , this chapter provides how-to-play procedures for Close Combat. Installation and Setup[...]

6 Close Combat T o set up Close Combat on the Macintosh 1 Insert the Close Combat CD into the CD-ROM drive. The Close Combat CD icon appears. 2 Double-click the Close Combat CD icon. This opens the Close Combat window . 3 Double-click the Close Combat Setup icon. T o launch Close Combat on the Macintosh 1 Double-click the Microsoft Close Combat fol[...]

Chapter 2 Setup and Game Play 7 Close Combat Game T ypes Y ou can play four types of games with Close Combat: Boot Camp, Maneuvers, Campaigns, and Replays. Boot Camp Close Combat’ s Boot Camp includes scenarios you can use to learn and practice the skills you need to play , and win at, Close Combat. Maneuvers Maneuvers are single battles, such as[...]

8 Close Combat On the Command screen, click to select the game options you want: 1 Click Boot Camp (basic training), Maneuvers (to fight single battles), Campaign (to fight all battles sequentially), or Replays (to play previously completed battles). Choosing any of these options displays a scrollable list from which you can choose the training sce[...]

Chapter 2 Setup and Game Play 9 T o star t Boot Camp 1 Click the Boot Camp button. 2 Click a Boot Camp exercise in the list. 3 Click Begin. During Boot Camp training, you follow the directions in the training messages appearing on the screen. Y ou continue through the exercise by performing the action it prescribes. Y ou can quit at any point durin[...]

10 Close Combat Maneuver Play When you start a Maneuver , the Game screen appears with Close Combat in Deployment mode. Y ou use this mode to move your teams where you want them (on your side of the battle line) before you begin the battle. Once you have deployed your teams, you begin the battle, and issue commands until you win, lose, click End Ba[...]

Chapter 2 Setup and Game Play 11 • Y ou play the next battle if you suffer a minor defeat. • Y ou skip ahead one battle if you suffer a major defeat. • Y ou skip ahead two battles if you suffer a decisive defeat. Y ou cannot skip over the first battle on a new map, nor can you back up to a previous map. Advances and regressions are possible o[...]

12 Close Combat Reconnoitering Close Combat Close Combat uses four screens: the Command, Game, Debriefing, and Debriefing Details screens. Command Screen The Command screen is the first screen that appears when you start Close Combat. Y ou use the Command screen to select the type of game, side, number of players, and level of difficulty . The Comm[...]

Chapter 2 Setup and Game Play 13 Campaign button When you click the Campaign button, the available Campaigns appear in the scrollable list. When you first start Close Combat, there are no Campaigns in the scrollable list; nothing appears in the scrollable list until you start a Campaign and complete the first battle. After you complete the first ba[...]

14 Close Combat Scrollable List The scrollable list is the portion of the Command screen used to display Boot Camp exercises, battles (Maneuvers), Campaigns, and Replays. Status Bar The status bar displays the current selections made in the Command screen. Begin Button When you click the Begin button, Close Combat starts a game based on the selecti[...]

Chapter 2 Setup and Game Play 15 pointer to the edge of the Game screen. For example, if you move the mouse pointer to the right side of the Game screen, the battle map scrolls from right to left. Y ou deploy your teams and issue commands in the V iew Area. When the Game screen appears, the V iew Area is set to normal view; you’ll want to use thi[...]

16 Close Combat Game Screen Monitors Five monitors appear in the Game screen: • T eam monitor • Soldier monitor • Message monitor • Overview monitor • Zoom monitor The monitors you see while playing Close Combat depend on your screen settings. If you play in 640x480, you see only the T eam, Soldier, and Message monitors. If you play in 80[...]

Chapter 2 Setup and Game Play 17 conscript (least experienced). Base morale is the team’ s morale at the start of a battle and represents the soldiers’ willingness to fight. If a team starts a Campaign with minimal quality but enjoys success in a given battle, the team can increase in quality , reflected by more gold bars in subsequent battles.[...]

18 Close Combat Leader Rank An insignia indicates the team leader ’ s rank. The leader of any given team can be either the leader of only that team, or the leader of several teams. Y ou are the highest-ranking leader as company commander , but there are also platoon, squad, team, and assistant team leaders. Platoon leaders command four or more te[...]

Chapter 2 Setup and Game Play 19 following the orders you issued. Red text indicates the team is intentionally acting against the command you issued due to local battlefield conditions. White text indicates you have issued no commands to the team, or the command you previ- ously issued has been completed. In this case, the team will go into Defend [...]

20 Close Combat Soldier Monitor The Soldier monitor lists the soldiers that compose each team in your fighting force. Selecting a team in the T eam monitor displays the team members in the Soldier monitor . The Soldier monitor lists soldiers’ health, fatigue level, and emotional state, along with their weapons and ammunition. For more information[...]

Chapter 2 Setup and Game Play 21 Fatigue Fatigue accumulates as a soldier runs or carries heavy equipment; resting reduces fatigue. Observation If a soldier is observed by the enemy , he is more likely to be shot at. There are dif ferent levels of observation, ranging from hidden (not seen on the game map) to concealed (shadows on the game map) to [...]

22 Close Combat Smoke Indicator A vehicle can fire smoke shells only if it has the Smoke symbol. V ehic le Condition There are seven vehicle conditions; the condition text is color-coded to match the actual condition. The following table lists the condition text and associated color . Condition text T ext Color Operational In battle-ready condition[...]

Chapter 2 Setup and Game Play 23 Current Order Same as Current Order in the T eam monitor . The last order you issued, or the last order the team has decided to carry out, is displayed. Again, the same color -coding is used; green indicates the team is following the order you issued, and red indicates the team is acting against your order , based o[...]

24 Close Combat Current Action Displays what the soldier is doing. The current action text is color-coded; green indicates the soldier is following an order you issued, red indicates the soldier is taking action that countermands your order , and white indicates that no order has been issued and the soldier is acting on local battlefield conditions[...]

Chapter 2 Setup and Game Play 25 Crawling Soldier is crawling toward cover or destination. Ambushing Soldier is ambushing the enemy . Hiding Soldier is hiding from the enemy . Bad Shot Soldier has a shot that is a waste of ammunition. In Building Soldier (mortar team) is inside building and cannot fire. No W eapon Soldier has no weapon. Repairing S[...]

26 Close Combat Health Shows a soldier ’ s physical state. These states are described in the following table. Health Description Healthy (green background) Soldier is physically able to obey all commands. Hurt (yellow background) Soldier is slightly wounded; physically able to obey orders at a reduced level of performance. Incap. (orange backgrou[...]

Chapter 2 Setup and Game Play 27 Ammunition type Description AP Armor piercing. HE High explosive; used against infantry , light vehicles, and structures. HEA T High explosive, antitank; used against tanks, tank destroy- ers, and motorized artillery . Not effective against infantry in the open, but can be effective against infantry in structures. S[...]

28 Close Combat Debriefing Screen The Debriefing screen appears at the end of each battle (unless you selected Abort Battle, in which case the Command screen appears). Y ou use the Debriefing screen to see the results of the just-completed battle. Y ou also use this screen to go to the Debriefing Details screen, back to the Command screen, to the n[...]

Chapter 2 Setup and Game Play 29 Historical Timeline The Historical T imeline shows you how long it took the Americans to advance from Omaha Beach to Saint-Lô. This is the timeline you compete against during campaign play . If you play as the Americans, your goal is to secure Saint-Lô in 43 days or less. If you play as the Germans, your goal is t[...]

30 Close Combat Return Button When you click the Return button, the Debriefing screen appears. For more information, see “Debriefing Screen.” Color Scale The color scales shows the range between good (green), bad (red), and dead or destroyed (black). These colors, along with text, are used throughout the Close Combat monitors to indicate a sold[...]

Chapter 2 Setup and Game Play 31 Leadership Leadership indicates the ability a soldier has to lead his team, rally his team, and rally other teams. Color is used to show a soldier ’ s leadership ability . Green indicates the highest leadership ability , while black indicates the lowest. An arrow symbol is used to indicate whether leadership abili[...]

32 Close Combat Soldiers Killed T wo numbers may be displayed in this field; the top number indicates the number of enemy soldiers a soldier killed in the just-completed battle, while the lower number is the cumulative total of enemy soldiers killed during a Campaign. Acts of Bravery T wo numbers may be displayed in this field; the top number indic[...]

Chapter 2 Setup and Game Play 33 Assault Badge (German) A warded for bravery . The number displayed is the cumulative total of medals awarded during a Campaign. W ounded Badge (German) A warded to wounded soldiers. The number displayed is the cumulative total of medals awarded during a Campaign. Note that unlike the Purple Heart, the W ounded Badge[...]

34 Close Combat Refining the Level of Difficulty Y ou can refine the level of difficulty of any game. When you select the Custom button on the Command screen, the Custom Difficulty dialog box appears. The items in the Custom Difficulty dialog box are described in the following sections. American Strength Y ou use this list box to select the strengt[...]

Chapter 2 Setup and Game Play 35 5 Click the text box or press Enter . The selected strength appears in the text box. American Units Always Obey Or ders Y ou use this check box to make American units always obey your commands, regardless of battlefield conditions. T o make American units always obey or ders • Click the check box. When a check mar[...]

36 Close Combat Enem y Units Are Always Visible Y ou use this check box to make sure you can always see enemy units in the V iew Area. T o make enemy units alwa ys visible • Click the check box. When a check mark appears in the check box, this option is enabled. Enem y Intelligence Always A vailable Y ou use this check box to make intelligence co[...]

Chapter 2 Setup and Game Play 37 6 Click OK. The New Campaign Game popup disappears and your new Campaign is added to the scrollable list. 7 Click Begin. The Deployment video plays, then the Game Play screen appears. Remember , when the Game Play screen first appears, the game is in Deployment mode. 8 Move your teams to the locations you want, then[...]

38 Close Combat Winning Close Combat Games W inning any battle is based on the following criteria, which are listed from most important to least: • Pushing enemy force morale into red, causing the enemy to abandon the battlefield, while your force morale remains green or yellow . • Securing more V ictory Locations and inflicting more casualties[...]

Chapter 2 Setup and Game Play 39 If you capture a V ictory Location and are not routed off the field, you receive all of the points for that location. For example, if the Americans capture a V ictory Location worth 20 points and hold it until the game ends, the Americans receive 20 points. If you start a battle holding a V ictory Location and hold [...]

40 Close Combat Issuing Commands No matter what kind of game you choose—Maneuver , Campaign, or Replay—you can issue six commands to your teams: Move, Move Fast, Fire, Smoke, Defend, and Hide. T o issue a command to a team, you need to perform these three steps: 1 Point at a unit, then click and hold down the mouse button. Clicking a unit or a [...]

Chapter 2 Setup and Game Play 41 4 Drag the destination line from the team’ s current location to the destination you want. 5 Click the mouse button again to place a destination marker . When a team completes a successful move, the Message Monitor displays the message “Redeploying Successful” and the destination marker disappears. T o issue a[...]

42 Close Combat T o issue a Fire command 1 Point at the team you want to fire or click the team to select it. When you select a team, the V iew Area displays blue boxes around each member of the team; a circle is always displayed around squad leaders (or higher), even when the team is not selected. The T eam monitor displays a blue box around the s[...]

Chapter 2 Setup and Game Play 43 The tar get line is red if nothing blocks the team’ s line of sight or line of fire to the target. If the tar get line changes to dark red, the team has line of fire but their line of sight is blocked. If the target line changes from red, or dark red, to black, the team’ s line of sight is blocked at the point a[...]

44 Close Combat T o issue a Defend command 1 Point at the team you want to order to defend its present position or click the team to select it. When you select a team, the V iew Area displays blue boxes around each member of the team; a circle is always displayed around squad leaders (or higher), even when the team is not selected. Once the team ha[...]

Chapter 2 Setup and Game Play 45 Using the T oolbar The Close Combat toolbar on the right of the V iew Area contains buttons you can click to change your view of the game screen and to issue orders to all friendly units. The buttons available on the toolbar depend on whether you are currently in Deployment mode or Game Play mode. When you click a t[...]

46 Close Combat Game Play Mode In Game Play mode, the toolbar looks like the figure at left. T oolbar in Game Play mode The Game Play mode toolbar buttons perform the following functions: Zoom In (+) magnifies an area on a game map to get a closer look at the terrain. There are three zoom levels: the closest view (almost directly overhead), the nor[...]

Chapter 2 Setup and Game Play 47 Monitoring the Game Using Close Combat’ s monitors, you “see” what’ s happening to teams not in view . The maps used in Close Combat are too lar ge to fit in the Game screen when you play in normal view . Because the normal view is best for playing Close Combat, you can’ t see all your teams without zoomin[...]

48 Close Combat Using the T eam Monitor Y ou monitor the status of your teams using the T eam monitor . T o view all the teams in the monitor , use the scroll bar . T o select a team, click its panel in the T eam monitor . If you click an enemy unit during game play , the list is replaced by the text “Enemy unit selected,” and the enemy soldier[...]

Chapter 2 Setup and Game Play 49 red (the most important) messages do not appear in the monitor; you click the red button again to make these messages reappear . Y ou can click more than one filter; If you click the red and orange message filters, both red and orange messages disappear from the monitor . Using the Overview Monitor The Overview moni[...]

50 Close Combat Ending Games Y ou can end a Close Combat game in three ways: • Y ou can end any game by clicking the End Battle button on the T oolbar . If you choose to end a battle, you suffer a minor , or worse, defeat. The Debriefing screen appears, summarizing the ended battle’ s results. • Y ou can stop any game using the Abort Battle c[...]

Chapter 2 Setup and Game Play 51 T o stop a game 1 From the Game menu (W indows 95) or File menu (Macintosh), choose Abort Battle. A popup appears asking if you’re sure you want to stop the battle. 2 In the popup, click OK. The popup and the Game screen disappear , and the Command screen appears. Exiting Close Combat Y ou can exit Close Combat at[...]

52 Close Combat Campaigns are automatically saved at the end of each battle as a saved Campaign. Y ou can also save a Campaign battle as a Replay; however , you can replay only the last completed battle of the Campaign. For example, if you complete the Hedgerows! 3 battle during a Campaign (named Campaign1) and save it as a Replay named Replay1, th[...]

Chapter 2 Setup and Game Play 53 T urning Sound On/Off Y ou can turn game sounds (gunfire, soldiers’ voices, and other sounds) on or of f. T o turn game sound on/off 1 Using the mouse, choose Sound from the Options menu. 2 T o turn sound back on, repeat the process. -or- 1 Using the keyboard, press AL T , O, S (W indows 95). 2 T o turn sound back[...]

54 Close Combat T o expand the View Area to use the entire screen • Choose Expand V iew Area on the Options menu. T o view all game monitors and return the play area to the previous view , repeat the process. –or– • In W indows 95, press AL T , O, G or CTRL+G . • On the Macintosh, press COMMAND+G . Remo ving/Displaying T rees fr om the Ma[...]

Chapter 2 Setup and Game Play 55 Playing Head-to-Head For information on head-to-head play , see the README file on the Close Combat CD-ROM, or look in the online Help Head-to-Head topic. T roubleshooting For more troubleshooting information, see the README file on the Close Combat CD-ROM, or look in the online Help T roubleshooting topic. Getting [...]

56 Close Combat[...]

Chapter 3 Tactics 57 Chapter 3 T actics This chapter describes tactics and provides game tips you can use while playing Close Combat. Basic T actics Y ou can use three basic tactics in Close Combat: • Flanking • Shoot it out • Frontal assault Flanking The first basic tactic you can use is to try and flank the enemy  attack them from the si[...]

58 Close Combat When you fire smoke rounds, the smoke lasts approximately one minute; the smoke is thickest when the rounds first go off. Smoke plumes are as wide as they are tall. Because the game assumes that a light wind is blowing from west to east, you should try to keep the smoke between your troops and the enemy . T ime your smoke rounds and[...]

Chapter 3 Tactics 59 • Don’t order units too far in advance of V ictory Locations until these locations have been neutralized. Doing so is asking for an ambush. • Make sure you order adequate fire against V ictory Locations. Remember , you don’ t necessarily need to hit enemy soldiers to drive them from a position; a high volume of fire can[...]

60 Close Combat V ehicle Tips Y ou can use the tips in this section when issuing commands to your vehicle teams. For information on the factors affecting vehicle ef fectiveness and perfor- mance, the following table may prove useful. Attribute Description Armor The strength and thickness of the armor is rated in eight horizontal angles and three ve[...]

Chapter 3 Tactics 61 Schurzen Identifies whether or not the vehicle is equipped with Schurzen plating (thin metal plates set a few inches out from the hull to detonate rounds before they hit the hull) to protect against HEA T ammo rounds. Integrity How well the vehicle can withstand being hit (brewups, spalling). Specific tips for vehicles are as f[...]

62 Close Combat W eapons Tips Y ou can use the tips in this section when issuing commands to your vehicle teams. For information on the factors affecting vehicle ef fectiveness and perfor- mance, the following table may prove useful. Attribute Description Rounds/clip The number of ammo rounds in a clip. Firing time T ime for the shot effect to occu[...]

Chapter 3 Tactics 63 Specific tips for weapons are as follows: • Don’t order your mortars to fire at infantry hiding in bunkers or buildings because bunkers have very thick roofs; you can expend all of your mortar ammunition trying to blast your way through without killing or wounding the enemy . While you might be able to blast through the roo[...]

64 Close Combat General Tips • When a team is shot at or spots an enemy for the first time, the team cancels its goal. For example, if you issue a Move command and the team is fired on for the first time, the Move command is canceled. • If the team leader is wounded or killed, the team’ s goal is canceled. • The more intense the suppression[...]

Chapter 4 The Normandy Campaign in Close Combat 65 Chapter 4 The Normandy Campaign in Close Combat The Normandy campaign is a six-week series of battles that takes place in northwestern France. There, soldiers of General Omar Bradley’ s First Army attempt to fight their way from Omaha Beach to Saint-Lô, a strategic road and rail hub. Saint-Lô i[...]

66 Close Combat The Evolution of Operation Overlord The Normandy Campaign is the end result of more than two-and-a-half years of planning, training, and preparation. The initial invasion plan that will eventually be called Operation Overlord is formulated before the United States even enters the war . It is the brainchild of Major Albert W edemeyer[...]

Chapter 4 The Normandy Campaign in Close Combat 67 Soon after the Allies commit to the invasion of France, it becomes clear that an adequate troop and supply buildup for the landings will take longer than anticipated. In the interim, the Americans agree to join the British in invading North Africa, Sicily , and Italy . At the T rident conference, h[...]

68 Close Combat The German Forces in Normandy As the German High Command realizes that an invasion in the W est is imminent, the number of combat divisions in France is increased from 46 in November of 1943 to 58 by June 1944. However , many of these divisions are below full strength. Some of them have had troops siphoned off to the war against the[...]

Chapter 4 The Normandy Campaign in Close Combat 69 an Allied invasion is with a rapid counterattack on the beaches from behind a fortified coastal strip. However , Rommel’ s superior, Field Marshal Gert von Runstedt opposes his defensive philosophy . Believing that nothing can stop the Allied invasion, von Runstedt thinks that the majority of Ger[...]

70 Close Combat U.S. soldiers landing on Omaha Beach The next morning, following a fierce air and naval bombardment, the first assault waves from five Allied divisions storm the five Normandy invasion beaches, code-named Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword. On the left flank of the invasion force, the British Second Army storms Gold and Sword beache[...]

Chapter 4 The Normandy Campaign in Close Combat 71 “Bloody Omaha” and Beyond Of the vast number of Allied troops that wade or parachute into Normandy on June 6, the Americans who land on Omaha Beach have the toughest time of all. The beach itself has natural defenses in the form of high bluffs at either end, and only five exits, which the Germa[...]

72 Close Combat Off The Beach Between midday on June 6 and the evening of June 7, elements of the 115th and 116th Inf antry Regiments fight their way inland to the high ground be yond Omaha Beach. The y clear the towns of Vier ville, Saint Laurent, and Colle ville on the coast road, then probe towards the Bayeux- Isigny highw a y and beyond—to th[...]

Chapter 4 The Normandy Campaign in Close Combat 73 1,429 tons of supplies are moved, increasing to 7,000 tons a day by D-Day plus five. The paratroopers inland are resupplied by air drops from U.S. cargo planes. T o prevent the Germans from moving reinforcements up, Allied fighter-bombers attack several river bridges and marshaling yards, although [...]

74 Close Combat flooded by the Germans. But if the troops of Bradley’ s First Army think they will now have a few days’ triumphant progress inland to Saint-Lô, they are mistaken. The British T ake The Heat Off On D-Day , and in the days following the invasion, the British Second Army makes a determined assault on Caen. This convinces the Germa[...]

Chapter 4 The Normandy Campaign in Close Combat 75 German Defenses in the Bocage Standing between Bradley’ s First Army and its goal of Saint-Lô are six German divisions of the Seventh Army , several of which are made up of units that have been shattered on D-Day . One of these, the 91st, has been reinforced by the Sixth Parachute Regiment, an ?[...]

76 Close Combat opposite hedgerow corners at the back of the field to immo- bilize attacking infantry . Light machine guns and machine pistols in the hedgerows along the sides of the field can fire on soldiers seeking cover . An interconnected series of such strongholds forms a forward defensive line, behind which the Germans prepare a belt of batt[...]

Chapter 4 The Normandy Campaign in Close Combat 77 Germans have mastered the advance by infiltration, sending small parties to turn the flank of the enemy advance. This means that U.S. soldiers suddenly find themselves under fire from three sides. Once U.S. forces are pinned down in the open, the Germans open up on them with pre-planned mortar and [...]

78 Close Combat they quickly master the art of unloading directly onto Omaha and Utah beaches, and after a few days are actually moving more supplies than the British. For Montgomery , the storm has the additional consequence of delaying his plan to launch a new offensive against the Germans at Caen. Allied Improvisation in the Bocage As the fighti[...]

Chapter 4 The Normandy Campaign in Close Combat 79 But all these technical advances aren’t enough to keep the hedgerow battle from dragging on too slowly . The Americans need a new combi- nation of technology , tactics, and techniques to speed their progress. Breaking the Impasse When the 29th finds itself stymied in the bocage , General Charles [...]

80 Close Combat the center field and attack the flanks of the German positions there. This allows the U.S. soldiers to take more territory while facing less direct enemy fire. Overall, the Americans are developing bocage tactics that enhance their mobility and improve tank-infantry communication and cooperation. Out goes the rulebook tactic of infa[...]

Chapter 4 The Normandy Campaign in Close Combat 81 Seventh Army troops in the vicinity dig into defensive positions, including foxholes and even tunnels. The town itself is set in a depression next to the river V ire, surrounded by rolling hills and ridges, which are heavily fortified by the Germans. Any gaps between the hills are well-covered by G[...]

82 Close Combat approaches to the hill were targeted with artillery , mortars, antitank weapons, and machine guns, and the German defenders, mainly from the Third Parachute Division, were well dug in. Nearly a month later , on July 1 1, the Americans resume their attack on Hill 192, using their new hedgerow tactics to coordinate the efforts of infa[...]

Chapter 4 The Normandy Campaign in Close Combat 83 roadway by nightfall. W ith the Seventh Army occupied on so many fronts, no reserves are left to reinforce the surviving Germans on Hill 192. The following day , July 12, the fighting on Hill 192 is almost anticlimac- tic. After shelling the U.S. positions during the night, the Germans launch a cou[...]

84 Close Combat mortar and artillery fire. In the north, the 35th Division is fought to a virtual standstill by a sophisticated series of German defenses, and makes a breakthrough only after several days of fighting, by using tank destroyers to blast the fortified hedgerow positions. W est of Saint-Lô, the 30th Division has its hands full with bru[...]

Chapter 4 The Normandy Campaign in Close Combat 85 For the Americans, the cost of capturing Saint-Lô and the surrounding countryside is steep: Nearly 1 1,000 U.S. troops are killed, wounded, or missing between July 7 and July 22. However , Bradley’ s forces now have the terrain they need to launch the breakout into the long-sought war of maneuve[...]

86 Close Combat Goodwood, pushing the Germans east of Caen. Although the British suffer severe tank losses, the attack draws even more German troops into the vicinity of Caen  and away from the Americans. Bradley characterizes the hedgerow battle as “. . . a slugger ’ s match, too slow a process.” T o end the stalemate once and for all , h[...]

Chapter 4 The Normandy Campaign in Close Combat 87 While Bradley’ s First Army threatens only the Germans in Normandy , Patton’ s Third Army threatens all German forces west of the Seine. Hitler himself decides to launch a major counterattack against the Third Army near Mortain, to push Patton’ s troops back to A vranches. He orders von Kluge[...]

88 Close Combat Casualty rates for the Allied and Axis sides, along with French civilians, average 10,000 a day , making the Battle of Normandy one of the bloodiest battles ever fought. W ith these momentous events, the first phase of the invasion is over  and the race to the Rhine is on. Cherbourg Falaise Lisieux Argentan Seine River Dives Rive[...]

Chapter 5 Weapons 89 Chapter 5 W eapons Operation Semiautomatic Caliber .45 (11.4 mm) Muzzle velocity 253 mps (830 fps) Capacity 7-round detachable box magazine W eight 1.1 kg (2.43 lbs) Overall length 21.9 cm (8.62 in.) Effective range 30 m (32 yds) The most famous American handgun of W orld W ar II was the Model 191 1 .45-caliber semiautomatic pi[...]

90 Close Combat Mauser Kar 98 Springfield ’03 Rifle Operation Manual, bolt-action Caliber 7.92 mm (.31 in.) Muzzle velocity 745 mps (2,445 fps) Capacity 5-round magazine W eight 3.9 kg (8.5 lbs) Overall length 1 1 1 cm (43.75 in.) Effective range 550 m (600 yds) The Mauser Gewehr 98 (rifle, model 1898) was the archetype of most bolt-action rifles[...]

Chapter 5 Weapons 91 Garand Rifle Operation Semiautomatic Caliber .30 (7.62 mm) Muzzle velocity 853 mps (2,800 fps) Capacity 8-shot clip W eight 4.3 kg (9.5 lbs) Overall length 1 10.7 cm (43.6 in.) Effective range 550 m (600 yds) The U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, M1—or Garand—was the standard issue rifle for American infantry . Named after its inven[...]

92 Close Combat M1 Carbine Br owning A utomatic Rifle (B AR) Operation M1 & M1A1: semiautomatic; M2: selective fire (fully and semiautomatic) Caliber .30 (7.62 mm) Muzzle velocity 600 mps (1,970 fps) Capacity 15- and 30-round detachable box magazines W eight 2.3 kg (5 lbs) Overall length 90.4 cm (35.6 in.) Effective range 75 m (83 yds) The M1 c[...]

Chapter 5 Weapons 93 Thompson Submachine Gun Operation Selective fire (fully and semiautomatic) Caliber .45 (11.4 mm) Muzzle velocity 280 mps (920 fps) Capacity 50-round drum 20- and 30-round detachable box magazine W eight 4.9 kg (1 1 lbs) Overall length 85.6 cm (33.7 in.) Rate of fire 600 to 725 rounds per minute Effective range 50 m (55 yds) Joh[...]

94 Close Combat .30-caliber Air-Cooled Mac hine Gun (M1919A4) Operation Fully automatic, air-cooled Caliber .30 (7.62 mm) Muzzle velocity 853.4 mps (2,800 fps) Capacity 250-round belt W eight 18.5 kg (41 lbs) with tripod Overall length 104.1 cm (41 in.) Rate of fire 400 to 550 rounds per minute Effective range 1,000 m (1,100 yds) Before the end of [...]

Chapter 5 Weapons 95 .50-caliber Air-Cooled Mac hine Gun (M2-HB) Operation Selective fire (fully or semiautomatic), air-cooled Caliber .50 (12.7 mm) Muzzle velocity 893 mps (2,930 fps) Capacity 1 10-round belt W eight 57.6 kg (128 lbs) with tripod Overall length 165.4 cm (65.1 in.) Rate of fire 450 to 550 rounds per minute Range 1,800 m (1,970 yds)[...]

96 Close Combat Operation Grenade launcher , percussion fired Caliber 44 mm (1.73 in.) W eight 5 to 7 kg (1 1 to 15.4 lbs) Overall length approx. 104 cm (40.95 in.) Range up to 80 m (88 yds) Armor penetration 240 mm (9.4 in.) Like the American Bazooka, the German Panzerfaust (“T ank Fist”) was a simple device that delivered a potent punch. In t[...]

Chapter 5 Weapons 97 Bazooka P anz erschrec k Antitank Rocket Launcher Operation Rocket launcher , electrically fired Caliber 88 mm (3.46 in.) W eight 9.3 kg (20.5 lbs) Overall length 163.8 cm (64.5 in.) Range 120 meters (130 yds) Armor penetration 230 mm (9 in.) The German Panzerschr eck (“T ank T error”) was a larger , more powerful antitank [...]

98 Close Combat German Hand Grenades Stick Grenade Grenade weight 0.61 kg (1.36 lb) Charge weight .17 kg (6 oz) Overall length 355.6 mm (14 in.) Egg Grenade Specifications Grenade weight 0.23 kg (0.5 lb) Charge weight 0.1 15 kg (0.25 lb) Overall length 134.6 mm (5.3 in.) As they did with almost every other weapons type, the Germans developed a numb[...]

Chapter 5 Weapons 99 60-mm Mortar (Mortar 60-mm, M2 and Mount M2) Caliber 60-mm (2.36 in.) Muzzle velocity 163 mps (535 fps) W eight 18.9 kg (42 lbs) Overall length 72.6 cm (28.6 in.) Rate of fire 18 rounds per minute (normal), 35 rounds per minute (maximum) Range 1,806 m (1,975 yds) Mortars were the lightest and most mobile form of artillery used [...]

100 Close Combat Standard and Short 8-cm Mortars Caliber 81.4 mm (3.2 in.) W eight 56.4 kg (124 lbs)/28.2 kg (62 lbs) Overall length 123 cm (48 in.)/96 cm (37.8 in.) Rate of fire 18 to 35 rounds per minute Range 2,400 m (2,625 yds)/1,100 m (1,200 yds) When the war began, the German army’ s primary mortar was the 8-cm Schwer er Granatenwerfer 34 ([...]

Chapter 5 Weapons 101 M1 57-mm Antitank Gun Caliber 57 mm (2.24 in.) Muzzle velocity 823 mps (2,700 fps) W eight 1,215 kg (2,700 lbs) Armor penetration 120 mm (4.7 in.) at 100 m (110 yds) Based on the British six-pounder , the M1 57-mm antitank gun was the successor to the M3A1 37-mm antitank gun. It fired an armor-piercing round that could penetra[...]

102 Close Combat 3-inch Gun M5 Caliber 76.2 mm (3 in.) W eight 2,215 kg (4,875 lbs) Muzzle velocity 792 mps (2,600 fps) Armor penetration 122 mm (4.8 in.) at 100 m (1 10 yds) The 3-inch Gun M5, which was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1939, used the same carriage as the new M2 105-mm Howitzer; both new guns were first used in combat in North Africa in[...]

Chapter 5 Weapons 103 88-mm Antitank Gun (P ak 43) I.G. 18 7.5-cm Light Infantry Gun Caliber 75 mm (2.95 in.) Muzzle velocity 221 mps (725 fps) W eight 400 kg (880 lbs) Barrel length 883 mm (34.75 in.) Range 3,566 m (3,900 yds) Armor penetration 96 mm (3.8 in.) at 100 m (1 10 yds) The 7.5 cm leicht Infanterie Geschutz 18 (7.5-cm light infantry gun,[...]

104 Close Combat P anz er III L Medium T ank M5A1 Light T ank W eight 15,380 kg (33,912 lb) Maximum speed 60 km/h (37.2 mph) Main gun 37 mm (1.46 in.) Armor 12 to 67 mm (0.47 to 2.64 in.) The M5 light tank, introduced in 1942, was fitted with a larger turret and additional radio equipment early in 1943 to become the M5A1. Both were powered by twin [...]

Chapter 5 Weapons 105 M4A1 (75-mm) “Sherman” T ank P anz er IV H T ank W eight 25,000 kg (55,000 lbs) Maximum speed 38 km/h (23 mph) Main gun 75-mm (2.95-in.) L/48 Armor 8 to 80 mm (0.31 to 3.15 in.) The German Panzer IV medium tank, introduced in 1937, was manufactured in larger numbers, over a longer period, and in a greater number of variant[...]

106 Close Combat M4A3 (76.2-mm) “Sherman” T ank P anzer V “P anther” Medium T ank W eight 45,500 kg (100,100 lbs) Maximum speed 46 km/h (28 mph) Main gun 75-mm (2.95-in.) L/70 Armor 30 to 1 10 mm (1.18 to 4.33 in.) The German Panther medium tank, introduced in 1943, was probably the best tank built during WWII. Designed in response to the S[...]

Chapter 5 Weapons 107 StuG IIIG/StuH 42 Infantr y Suppor t T anks W eight 23,900 kg (52,580 lbs) Maximum speed 40 km/h (24.4 mph) Main gun StuG IIIG: 75 mm (2.95 in.) L/48; StuH 42: 10.5 cm (4.13 in.) L/28 Armor 1 1 to 50 mm (0.43 to 1.97 in.) Introduced in 1940 to provide supporting fire for infantry , the StuG (short for Sturmgeschutz — “assa[...]

108 Close Combat Mar der III Self-Pr opelled Antitank Gun M10 T ank Destro yer W eight 29,938 kg (66,013 lb) Maximum speed 48 km/h (29.8 mph) Main gun 76.2 mm (3 in.) Armor 12 mm to 37 mm (0.47 to 1.46 in.) The Gun Motor Carriage M10 was a tank destroyer based on the M4A2 (and later the M4A3) Sherman tank. The top of the hull was flattened to lower[...]

Chapter 5 Weapons 109 M36 T ank Destroy er Jagdpanther (“Hunting Panther”) T ank Destro yer W eight 46,000 kg (101,200 lbs) Maximum speed 46 km/h (28 mph) Main gun 88 mm (3.46 in.) Armor 25 to 100 mm (0.98 to 3.94 in.) The Jagdpanther tank destroyer , introduced just in time for deployment against the Allied invasion in Normandy in mid-1944, co[...]

110 Close Combat SdKfz 250 Light Armored T roop Carrier W eight 5,909 kg (13,000 lbs) Maximum speed 74 km/h (45 mph) Armament MG 34 machine gun Armor 6 to 10 mm (.24 to .4 in.) The SdKfz 250 was a light halftrack troop carrier with light sloping armor based on the SdKfz 10 one-ton prime mover chassis. It provided a lower profile than its predecesso[...]

Chapter 5 Weapons 111 SdKfz 231 Armored Car W eight 7,590 kg (16,700 lbs) Maximum speed 32 km/h (51 mph) Armament one 2 cm-gun (Kw .K30 or 38) and one 7.92-mm MG 34 machine gun Armor 8 to 18 mm (0.3 to 0.7 in.) The SdKfz 231 heavy eight-wheeled armored car was manufactured from 1937 to 1942. It mounted one heavy machine gun and one light machine gu[...]

112 Close Combat Jeep Kfz 1 Kübelwagen W eight 986 kg (2,170 lbs) Maximum speed 80 km/h (50 mph) Engine 1,131 cc (69 cu. in.) 25 hp 4-cyl (rear-mounted, horizontally opposed, air-cooled) Built by V olkswagen, the simple and reliable Kübelwagen (“bucket car”) was the German equivalent of the U.S. Jeep. This nimble four -seater , based on Ferdi[...]

Chapter 6 Terrain 113 Chapter 6 T errain Y ou fight battles on game maps that consist of interlocking tiles 40 pixels by 40 pixels large (or 8 meters by 8 meters in game scale). Each tile is composed of terrain elements reflecting the actual terrain found in the Norman countryside in 1944. Basic T errain The basic terrain elements are those that oc[...]

114 Close Combat Marsh Height: Flat Concealment: Poor V isual hindrance: Poor Protection from aimed fire: V ery poor Protection from HE shells: Fair Deep W ater Height: Flat Concealment: V ery poor V isual hindrance: None Protection from aimed fire: None Protection from HE shells: V ery good Stream Height: Flat Concealment: Fair V isual hindrance: [...]

Chapter 6 Terrain 115 Orchard Height: V ery tall Concealment: Good V isual hindrance: Blocks view Protection from aimed fire: V ery good Protection from HE shells: V ery poor Bocage Height: T all Concealment: V ery good V isual hindrance: Blocks view Protection from aimed fire: Excellent Protection from HE shells: Poor Hedge Fence Height: Short Con[...]

116 Close Combat Break in Height: Short Bocage Concealment: Good V isual hindrance: Blocks view Protection from aimed fire: Poor Protection from HE shells: Poor Military T errain Military terrain elements are those created by the war being fought in the Norman countryside, such as barbed wire, shellholes, obstacles, and rubble. Barbed Wire Height: [...]

Chapter 6 Terrain 117 Shellhole Height: Flat Concealment: Fair V isual hindrance: V ery poor Protection from aimed fire: V ery good Protection from HE shells: Good W ooden Height: Short Barrier Concealment: Good V isual hindrance: Blocks view Protection from aimed fire: Fair Protection from HE shells: Poor W ood Rubble Height: Medium Concealment: V[...]

118 Close Combat Structures Structures are buildings constructed by the Norman farmers and villagers, by the German Army , or by the United States Army . W ood Buildings W ood buildings consist of civilian structures such as houses, barns, and outbuildings. These buildings also include those built by the military , such as barracks. Interior (Floor[...]

Chapter 6 Terrain 119 Stone Buildings Stone buildings include civilian structures such as houses, churches, and shops. Interior (Floor) Height: Flat Concealment: Poor V isual hindrance: Fair Protection from aimed fire: V ery poor Protection from HE shells: Poor W all Height: T all Concealment: V ery good V isual hindrance: Blocks view Protection fr[...]

120 Close Combat Bunkers Bunkers are structures built by the military specifically for defensive purposes. Interior (Floor) Height: Flat Concealment: Fair V isual hindrance: Fair Protection from aimed fire: Poor Protection from HE shells: Poor W all Height: T all Concealment: Excellent V isual hindrance: Blocks view Protection from aimed fire: Exce[...]

Chapter 7 The Big Picture: A Short History of World War II 121 Chapter 7 The Big Picture: A Shor t Histor y of W orld W ar II The seeds of W orld W ar II were sown at the end of W orld W ar I  the “war to end all wars.” The armistice signed by Germany (the V ersailles T reaty) contains provisions that restrict its territory , limit German mi[...]

122 Close Combat Let Loose the Dogs of W ar: W orld W ar II Begins On August 23, 1939 Germany and the Soviet Union sign a nonaggression pact that secretly divides Poland, Lithuania, Finland, Estonia, and Latvia between them. Neither side announces the pact’ s existence for almost a month. W orld W ar II begins at 0445 hours on September 1, 1939 w[...]

Chapter 7 The Big Picture: A Short History of World War II 123 Russia Invades Finland Finland, one of the countries apportioned to the Soviet Union as part of the pact with Germany , becomes the next battleground. When the Soviets invade Finland on November 30, 1939, the attacking Red Army forces dwarf the Finnish army; there is every reason to exp[...]

124 Close Combat Field Marshal Rundstedt’ s Army Group A roars across the French border on May 10 against light resistance. General Heinz Guderian, a leading proponent of German tank tactics, leads one of the Panzer corps driving into France. Bock’ s Army Group B races across Holland and Denmark. On May 12, the French Seventh Army clashes with [...]

Chapter 7 The Big Picture: A Short History of World War II 125 Allied troops massed on the beach at Dunkirk on the morning of June 4, they still capture some 40,000 men. While the success of the evacuation has exceeded Churchill’ s expectations, the troops arriving in England have lost virtually all their heavy equipment and weapons. On June 5, t[...]

126 Close Combat “T o mak e union with England was fusion with a corpse.” Marshal Henri Pétain, who capitulated to Germany rather than participate in what he saw as a doomed alliance with Britain French signing armistice in 1940 with Germany—in the same railway car where the Germans signed their surrender in 1918 On June 22, the French sign [...]

Chapter 7 The Big Picture: A Short History of World War II 127 eventual invasion of Great Britain  an operation dubbed Sealion. The Luftwaffe’ s orders are to destroy the RAF . In preparing for the expected German air attacks, the British develop an effective network of radar stations, observation posts, and radio listening stations tied into [...]

128 Close Combat effective strategy is to send small fighter forma- tions to disrupt and harry the German bombers. It is a decision that proves correct; the British conserve valuable fighters while ravaging the German bomber formations. On Eagle Day the Luftwaffe loses 45 planes while the British lose only 13. More importantly , of the 13 planes sh[...]

Chapter 7 The Big Picture: A Short History of World War II 129 sides losing about 25 planes, but the RAF stings the Luftwaffe by swatting 35 bombers out of the sky and damaging scores more. The raids on September 15 mark the last major effort by the Luftwaffe to destroy the RAF . On September 17, Hitler postpones Operation Sealion indefinitely . Th[...]

130 Close Combat From late June until early November , the British regroup and resupply . By late November , they are ready to launch a counterattack. Operation Crusader , aimed at retaking T obruk, begins on November 28. The British outnumber the Germans in men, armor , and planes, and the Eighth Army pushes Rommel’ s forces back. By the end of [...]

Chapter 7 The Big Picture: A Short History of World War II 131 Scale of Forces The scale of the fighting between the Soviet Union and Germany dwarfs the Normandy Campaign. The Allied f orces amassed for the Normandy Campaign number approximately 1,500,000 men; by June 12, 1944 over 325,000 men are ashore. In contrast, over 3,000,000 men are assembl[...]

132 Close Combat Still, the Germans continue to taste nothing but success while the Soviets swallow the bitterness of defeat. The Germans capture Kiev at a cost of 100,000 casualties; the Soviets suffer 500,000 casualties. By early October , Army Group South has bottled up and destroyed Soviet units composed of 700,000 men. Operation T yphoon  t[...]

Chapter 7 The Big Picture: A Short History of World War II 133 Finally , on December 5 Hitler agrees with his commanders  he must suspend the offensive against Moscow . The next day , Stalin orders a counteroffensive. The Soviets attack all along the 500-mile front. Their objective is to quickly drive two wedges deep into Army Group Center , iso[...]

134 Close Combat 188 American aircraft are destroyed. But not all goes as the Japanese planned. By coincidence, the U.S. Navy’ s three aircraft carriers are not in port and escape destruction. And contrary to orders, the massive fuel oil storage tanks at Pearl Harbor are not destroyed. Admiral Isoroku Y amamoto, who planned the Pearl Harbor attac[...]

Chapter 7 The Big Picture: A Short History of World War II 135 The Allies Agree to “Beat Germany Fir st” In the months following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor , the U.S. is in no position to actively pursue the war in Europe. Its army is far below the strength required for the task, there are no U.S. forces in Europe, and the shipping nee[...]

136 Close Combat The Long Road to Normandy W ith the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and America’ s entrance into the war, the conflict is now truly global. Over the next 30 months it will be fought on frozen plains, on steamy jungle-covered mountains, high in the sky , and under the sea. The Axis powers try to conquer territory for their empires[...]

Chapter 7 The Big Picture: A Short History of World War II 137 perform holding actions while the Germans develop a new generation of submarines. The victory in the Battle of the Atlantic is critical to the success of Operation Overlord. The buildup of men, machines, and materiel necessary to launch the Second Front can now be marshaled in Great Bri[...]

138 Close Combat April, 51 divisions from Italy , Rumania, Hungary , Slovakia, and Spain arrive on the Eastern Front. In preparation for the summer offensive, the Germans reorganize their forces in the south. Army Group South is divided into Army Groups A and B. Army Group A is to capture Rostov-on-Don, and drive southeast to Baku on the Caspian Se[...]

Chapter 7 The Big Picture: A Short History of World War II 139 Russian soldiers in winter camouflage on the attack By being thrifty with reinforcements and resources, the Soviets have amassed 500,000 infantrymen and huge artillery batteries. More than 1,000 attack planes are poised to strike. And there are 900 new T34 tanks to spearhead the Soviet [...]

140 Close Combat On December 12, Manstein launches Army Group Don’ s 13 divisions toward Stalingrad. Manstein’ s fear fast becomes a reality; Soviet antitank weapons decimate German armor . On December 19, Manstein orders Paulus to attempt a breakout immediately; Paulus refuses. Army Group Don’ s progress is grinding to a halt. On December 21[...]

Chapter 7 The Big Picture: A Short History of World War II 141 infantry that make the difference. A bloody toll is extracted from the German forces. Those not killed or wounded in the barrage are badly shaken; the attack itself is beset with problems. Many new Panther tanks break down with teething problems. Those Panthers still running, along with[...]

142 Close Combat The Afrika Korps advances cautiously at first, but press their advantage when they discover the poor disposition of the British troops. By the end of January , Field Marshal Rommel’ s troops capture all the territory the British fought so hard to take in late 1941. There is a lull in the fighting while both sides accumulate suppl[...]

Chapter 7 The Big Picture: A Short History of World War II 143 Rommel’ s forces are again desperately short of supplies, but after receiving promises that supplies will arrive soon, he decides to attack. As usual, Rommel’ s tanks lead the attack east. After traversing British minefields, Rommel’ s tanks turn north toward the Alam Halfa ridge.[...]

144 Close Combat behind schedule. On October 25, Monty personally intervenes in the battle to make sure that the advance is vigorous. The British have more men, tanks, and ammunition, as well as dominance of the airspace over the battlefield. By the end of the day the British have lost 250 tanks, but the Germans have only 40 tanks left. When the Br[...]

Chapter 7 The Big Picture: A Short History of World War II 145 On November 5, 1942, General Eisenhower arrives in Gibraltar to command Operation T orch. On November 8 three task forces begin landing troops in North Africa. The W estern T ask Force, commanded by General George Patton, lands on a 200-mile front between Safi and Port L yautey . W ithi[...]

146 Close Combat On March 9 Rommel leaves North Africa for good. On his way back to Germany he meets with Mussolini in Rome and Hitler in East Prussia; despite his best efforts, neither leader agrees to withdraw from North Africa. Throughout March and early April, the Allies attack the Germans in North Africa on every front. By April 7, the fight h[...]

Chapter 7 The Big Picture: A Short History of World War II 147 The Long Formation  The Air W ar In Europe The air war raging over W estern Europe turns in the Allies’ favor in 1944. Three factors contribute to this turnabout. First, both the RAF and USAAF finally have enough long-range bombers to increase the monthly tonnage dropped to over 40[...]

148 Close Combat By June 6, Allied air superiority makes it impos- sible for the Germans to move reinforcements to the front intact. It takes some units four days to travel distances that should take only one; other units, especially motorized units, are badly mauled before they even reach the front. Allied air superiority also pays dividends to th[...]

Chapter 7 The Big Picture: A Short History of World War II 149 On July 10, General Patton’ s forces land, smash through light resistance, and quickly take Gela, Licata, and V ittoria; Montgomery’ s troops land unopposed and capture Syracuse by the end of the day . The landing forces use, for the first time, two craft that will play important ro[...]

150 Close Combat W ith the collapse of Sicily , Eisenhower wants to land on the Italian mainland. When he receives permission to proceed, he plans a diversionary attack across the Strait of Messina, carried out by Montgomery’ s Eighth Army on September 3. While there is good progress initially , Montgomery is cautious  a trait the Germans capi[...]

Chapter 7 The Big Picture: A Short History of World War II 151 Problems of Supply Both the Allies and Germans labor under supply problems during the Nor mandy Campaign. Howe v er , the German problems are much more acute. One problem the Germans face is dividing men, machines, and materiel between three fronts  Russia, Italy , and Nor mandy . An[...]

152 Close Combat Over the first two weeks of January , both the Eighth and Fifth Armies close on the Gustav Line. On January 15, the II Corps captures Monte T rocchio, the last major obstacle between the River Rapido valley and Monte Cassino. The Fifth Army has now achieved contact with the Gustav Line along its entire front. During the next week, [...]

Chapter 7 The Big Picture: A Short History of World War II 153 When the Allies renew the offensive on May 1 1, four corps are thrown forward  the U.S. II, the Polish II, the British XIII, and the French Expeditionary Force. The twelve attacking divisions face only six German divisions. While there is general progress all along the Gustav Line, i[...]

154 Close Combat Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969). Eisenhower’ s distinguished military career began with his graduation from W est P oint in 1915. Although he was forced to remain in the U.S. through- out W orld W ar I, he f ormed America’ s first tank cor ps in 1918. By the end of the war he commanded 10,000 men. He perf or med brilliantly at[...]

Chapter 7 The Big Picture: A Short History of World War II 155 On the Eve of Operation Overlord By May 1944, Germany has seen its fortunes fade; they are losing on every front. The promise of 1940 and 1941 is crushed under the reality of 1942, 1943, and the first six months of 1944. The Battle of Britain costs the Luftwaffe air superiority over W e[...]

156 Close Combat FRANCE LUX BELGIUM Paris Scheldt River NETHERLANDS Rhine River Moselle River GERMANY M euse River S a™ n e R iv er Y on n e R iver Seine River Loire River IT A Antwerp Luxemborg SaarbrŸcken Strasburg Colmar Auxerre T royes SWITZE Bern The Collapse of Festung Eur opa StÐL™ Cherbourg Close Combat Game Area Allied Forces While t[...]

Chapter 7 The Big Picture: A Short History of World War II 157 The Soviet campaigns of 1943 − 1944 have proved decisive. Russia regains most of the territory lost in 1941 and 1942; more importantly , the Soviets have destroyed entire German armies. Hitler contributes significantly to these losses, refusing to allow withdrawals that could have sav[...]

158 Close Combat American tank rolls past wrecked tanks from both armies reacts quickly , sending the Seventh Armored and 101st Airborne Divisions to hold the road junctions at Saint V ith and Bastogne. The Germans capture Saint V ith, but not before determined American resistance further slows the German attack. The Germans surround Bastogne, and [...]

Chapter 7 The Big Picture: A Short History of World War II 159 American and Russian soldiers The Road to Berlin After the Battle of the Bulge, the Germans have only 26 divisions on the Second Front; most are either far below strength or consist of old men and young boys. Facing them are 57 infantry , 23 armored, and five airborne divisions, all at [...]

160 Close Combat flag from a second story window of the Reichstag . An hour later, Hitler commits suicide. At 2250 hours, Soviet flags fly from the Reichstag’ s roof. Negotiations between the Soviets and the Germans begin. They break of f in the middle of the day on May 1; Marshal Chuikov (one of the heroes of Stalingrad) is exasperated and order[...]

Chapter 7 The Big Picture: A Short History of World War II 161 advance of the Fourth Guards T ank Army . This force reaches Prague to find the Germans have gone. The Russians finally bring Army Group Center to bay on May 10. Over the next two days, the Soviets pound German positions with every available weapon; those Germans not killed begin to sur[...]

162 Close Combat[...]