Luftlandeunternehmen "NiWi"*
Airlanding Operation "NiWi"*
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Date: May 10, 1940*
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Battle Type: German Advance vs Belgian Delay*
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Design: C. H. Bonnesen*
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To facilitate the advance of 1. and 2. Panzerdivision through the Ardennes, the German Army decided to land two small forces deep beind enemy lines with the objective of cutting the Belgian Armys lines of communication along road N85 between Neufchateau and Bastogne as well as the roads leading from the N85 to the border where the two divisions were to cross.*
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As all German airborne troops had already been assigned, the task fell to 10. and 11. Kompanie of Infanterie-Regiment Grossdeutschland, reinforced by Sturmpioniere. Unfortunately, all German air transport was also assigned for other duties, so the two kompanies were to be transported across the Ardennes in 98 Feisler Storch liason planes, each carrying two soldiers and the pilot. To bring the two re-inforced companies to their objective, each plane had to make the trip three times!*
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The Operation was called "NiWi" for the two villages where the troops were to land, Nives (Nordgruppe - Northern Group) and Witry (Suedgruppe - Souther Group).*
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In the early hours of May 10th 1940, the Fiesler Storchs flew from the airodrome at Bitburg in Germany and across Luxembourg. Flying at 15 to 30 meters, the planes soon lost direction and as the result the first wave was landed far from their objectives.
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In this scenario, we focus on the exploits of the second wave of the Nordgruppe. When they landed on target at 8:05 on the morning of May 10th 1940, there was no-one to greet them. Not to be put up by this misfortune, Leutnant Obermeier assembled the two platoons that had landed at Nives, took the city and moved towards the N85 at Rosiere les Petite.*
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The area was patrolled by troops of the 1. Regiment Chasseur Ardennais and the during the afternoon they mounted several attacks against the German intruders, soon to be followed by the vanguard of the French 5. Division Legere de Cavalarie (DLC).*
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Historically, the battle ended with Leutnant Obermeier and his men being driven out of their positions along the N85, but they had occupied the allied forces long enough for 2. Panzerdivision to breach the Ardennes and the next morning, May 11th, the forward elements of 2. Panzerdivision caught up with Obermeiers force.*
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The Suedgruppe was also succesfull in cutting the communications between the forward elements of 1. Regiment Chasseur Ardennais on the border at Bodange and their HQ, but this was to have serious repercussions for 1. Panzerdivision. The Belgian troops at the border were never intended to put up a major defense, but were to delay the Germans and conduct a fighting withdrawl. However, the messenger carrying the order to the troops at Bodange was intercepted by the "NiWi" forces and the defenders at Bodange thought that their route of retreat was cut, so they decided to make a stand. They did so with great success, delaying 1. Panzerdivision from noon to 19:00 hours!*
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GAME NOTES: In this scenario, the Feisler Storchs are replaced by gliders, arriving at the and of turn 1. Skip the first turn to start the game. *
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