BE IN YOUR STARTING POSITIONS 15 MIN BEFORE BATTLE BEGINS
Morning 10:00 battle
Estimated time : 20 minutes
Vehicle Movement: Any moving tactical vehicles must drive centered over the double lines in the middle of Main street. Nothing must be placed in this “lane” to block the road. No one is allowed to die here either. If a vehicle is killed it must move out of this “lane” first. Vehicles may not backup without a spotter. These are safety issues to keep the crowd and reenactors away from vehicles.
Location: A small French village in the Normandy Region recently captured by Allied troops. There is a large French flag is hanging outside the courthouse. Below a US field aid station is working to save lives of wounded soldiers.
Starting points: US paratroopers start from the front of Courthouse to the Esso station. Two US MP’s are stationed at a roadblock just West of the Esso station. French Partisans and French civilians start around café and courthouse. Wehrmacht and FJ start on the sidewalks in front of the encampment.
US Infantry, SS troops, and all armor will be held in reserve. US reserves stage behind courthouse and Chamber of commerce out of sight. SS stage at encampment. Units held in reserve may not enter battle until told to do so. British Bren gun carrier will be part of US armor column.
Battle area: Main street from post office going East to Perry County chamber of commerce building, including courthouse building and surrounding area. No one is allowed inside the courthouse or other buildings/rooftops unless they have been assigned to be there.
Points of Interest: Esso Station (checkpoint 1), Cafe (checkpoint 2), and field aid station/courthouse (checkpoint 3).
Battle begins with MP unit moving east from Esso Station in Jeep to the field aid station, announcing incoming enemy forces. Free French, civilians and Field aid station personnel start evacuating wounded troops. US Airborne troops move to checkpoint 1 and 2 to set up defensive positions.
Wehrmacht and FJ troops move East down Main street towards the Courthouse and engage US Airborne at Checkpoint 1. Brief firefight ensues, then all US Airborne and Partisans fall back to checkpoint two for secondary defense. Background smoke is lit behind 3 checkpoints.
Wehrmacht and FJ continue to move into town, taking casualties. Airborne and partisans are forced back to checkpoint three, take up defensive positions around courthouse. Wehrmacht and FJ troops are now between Checkpoint 1 and checkpoint 2.
US infantry and Armor reserves engage when signaled from staging areas near courthouse. Stuart tank leads armored column followed by US leg troops to reoccupy Café and then move to Esso station. Germans retreat and die.
When signaled SS moves East along Main Street. Stuart tank is taken out in front of Esso station, US troops are either forced back or killed. US Armor support is destroyed. SS swarms East, taking all checkpoints, killing or capturing all US forces who don’t retreat. French flag is dropped from courthouse.
BE IN YOUR STARTING POSITIONS 15 MIN BEFORE BATTLE BEGINS
Afternoon Battle: 16:00
Estimated time : 30 minutes
Location: French village occupied by Germans. Nazi flag hangs from courthouse.
Battle area: Main street from post office going East to Perry County chamber of commerce building, including courthouse building and surrounding area. No one is allowed inside the courthouse or other buildings/rooftops unless they have been assigned to be there.
Vehicle Movement: Any moving tactical vehicles must drive centered over the double lines in the middle of Main street. Nothing must be placed in this “lane” to block the road. No one is allowed to die here either. If a vehicle is killed it must move out of this “lane” first. Vehicles may not backup without a spotter. These are safety issues to keep the crowd and reenactors away from vehicles.
Starting positions: SS troops and most of the French Resistance start behind Esso station. A few SS soldiers guard the front of the courthouse. US Airborne stage behind Chamber of Commerce with two French resistance. Allied vehicle column and US Infantry stage along Main Street near encampment. Heer and FJ troops stage at the encampment as well. French civilians walk or loiter from Esso to courthouse. British Bren gun carrier will be part of US armor column.
Scenario starts when SS troops march in formation from starting location to courthouse. SS form ranks in front of courthouse facing courthouse. SS officers pull 3 designated French civilians walking by, dragging them to the courthouse lawn. All other French civilians are gathered to watch. Three civilians are lined up and made to kneel while German officer addresses the town “The train tracks were sabotaged last night. let this be an example!” etc. type dialogue for at about a minute. French resistance fighters move quietly to the front of the Esso station and wait out of sight of the Germans.
The Two French resistance fighters fire 2 shots (before the French civilians are executed) from near the chamber of commerce and immediately retreat. SS break formation and some soldiers run after the two snipers. French civilians leave and wait hidden behind the courthouse. A German is shot and gets medical attention.
30 seconds after the first shot the French resistance start sniping at the Germans closest to them from the Esso station. The SS attack down the street and the French retreat or die quickly.
When signaled the Allied main armor/infantry element move East down Main Street and attack. Stuart tank leads. Shortly after when signaled the US Airborne attacks from Chamber of commerce in a pincer movement. Background smoke is lit at 3 checkpoints. SS temporarily hold off the attack, ultimately are killed or retreat back over to rear of chamber of commerce. Armor column stops in front of Café. Stuart moves out of the center “lane” and stops.
There is a short lull in the fighting (3 mins tops) as US troops prepare defensive positions, round up prisoners and help wounded.
Counterattack begins with Heer and FJ troops assaulting from encampment when signaled, engaging infantry at Esso station. SS attack from Chamber of Commerce when signaled. Pak gun is moved from Chamber of Commerce and takes out Stuart.
SS Force the Allies back to the Café area but no farther. Armor column moves forward and pushes SS back. At the same time Heer and FJ make it to Esso station but no farther. US leg infantry kill or capture the remaining troops.
Battle ends as US troops successfully repel German counterattack, hold the town. German flag falls quickly from Courthouse and American flag is put out. When signaled French behind courthouse come out and cheer and shake soldiers hands.
