After
having been relocated to Stockholm, the German high command orders
"Operation Nordic Wind" to commence on Christmas Eve, 1944. By
virtue of the bridgehead withstanding the US bombardment in relatively
good order, and Dietrich's vigorous 'standfast' exhortations, the Meuse
crossing at Dinant is held.
As Allied recon had indicated, the clear terrain on
the west side of the Meuse across from Givet is the primary target.
German engineers swarm across the river before dawn and then support
strong attacks across the Meuse on both sides of Givet. Both German air
units are committed to the Givet offensive. An attack several miles
further north is used to divert US artillery. Additionally, a crossing
near Yvoir will also 'divert' a US artillery unit there. Yvoir is also
subjected to a concerted attack.
The Dinant bridgehead sees more troops funneled into
it. It is clear that the US will eventually grind this lodgement down
but OKW believes that the US can not do this without sacrificing the
ability to seal off the 3-4 other bridgeheads that will be established
this turn.
On the northern shoulder, the Germans continue to dig
in. Artillery is mostly in place now to bolster the defensive line here
and any US thrusts here risk being caught out in the open. On the
southern flank, German units will use maneuver to dislodge the Americans
out of the Paliseul to Bouillion line. Reinforcing PzG regiments from
the 9th Panzer go into the siege lines adjacent to Bastogne; the risk of
US air supply allowing the encircled defenders to break out needs to be
mitigated. A token unit is thrown in the path of entrance hex B should
the US decide to try to push through in that area. (At this point
however, the US may need these forces to plug the gap that is opening
near Givet.)
US airpower now has some awesome flexibility and
capability; the Nazis are now forced to be very selective about their
attacks lest they get bogged down in a series of low-odds attacks. There
are now 3 days left in the campaign game, 6 turns, and it seems feasible
for the Germans to exit units off the board somewhere between Mettet(5414)
and Vireux (5223). 44 US units are dead with at least one more going
down this turn. Allied artillery will now become a tremendous factor in
the battle for the Meuse crossings; at least 5 will be available this
turn and another 2-4 potentially can 'get there' sometime the next day.
The Wermacht will not have a serene Christmas..
