First Battle of the Vosges *
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Date: Ocober 6, 1944*
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Battle Type: French assault vs German defend*
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Design: Vincent Roiron*
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If played against the AI, this scenario is best played with the human player being the French side.*
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Battle Description: As the Allies advance towards Alsace, the 2nd Corps of General Monsabert tries to surprise the Germans by an attack through the Hautes Vosges. This battles begins with a misunderstanding between the U.S. general Patch and the French general de Lattre de Tassigny. The U.S. 7th I.R. that held the crestlines of the Longegoutte Forest had left its positons during the night, while the French troops where supposed to relieve them during the day. As the first elements of the 3° R.T.A. (regiment de tirailleurs algeriens) begin to climb uphill, they are greeted by heavy German machine gun and mortar fire. Element of the 338. I.D., lead by a German General with a French name, L'Homme de Courbieres, have used the day to dig in and are well prepared to hold the crests. It will take three days to take what should have been the starting lines of the 3° D.I.A. (Division d'infanterie Algerienne, lead by general Guillaume), despite the help of infantry elements from the 1° D.B. (division blindee).*
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Note: The scenario lasts 50 turns, and as it is an infantry scenario. The fight in the forest is likely to be very confused, so there is no need to hurry into a well laid trap. The only "armour" being a company of the 7° R.S.A.R. (Regiment de Spahis Marocains de Reconnaissance), scout jeeps and M8 scout cars. They will not play a major role, however, as most of the fight takes place in forested areas where mud and snow considerably reduces their use. Reinforcement pour in as the battle develops, singulary two G.T.M. (groupe de Tabor Marocains) which are by far the best troops engaged, as they are battle hardened veterans from North Africa and Italy. A support element of M8 howitzer and ammo carriers are also very important assets. Elements of the 1° D.B., about a bataillon from the 1° R.C.P. have the status of auxilliary troops (so that they are easy to distinguish from the others), they should remain on the eastern part of the map on the Morbieux-Gehan axis.*  
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Sources: Militaria magazine, hors serie n°15, La France liberee II, de la provence aux Vosges, Jean de Lattre de Tassigny, Histoire de la Premiere armee Francaise. Thanks to Guillaume Maurice for the hand-sketched contour map from the IGN 1/25 000° map! *
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