January 7, 1945*
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Come in, commander, have a seat. You've had a couple of days to rest and regroup your unit, while we've scouted the German positions and observed their movements. They've also been probing our lines along the Bastogne highway and in Mande St. Etienne. Apparently we are now facing units of the Fuhrer Begleit Brigade, an elite unit, and the 3rd PanzerGrenadier Division. *
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Enemy activity in the area seems to be centered on the town of Flamierge, just a couple of miles West of Flamisoul. It seems they are preparing for an attack. Dozens of tanks, halftracks, and armored cars have been spotted, including some King Tigers. Yesterday four shermans from the 11th armored were knocked out while trying to interdict the German tanks. Those Germans can shoot. It looks like the job is up to us. *
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Your battalion will relieve the unit south of Flamierge during the night, and attack in the morning and capture Flamierge to disrupt the enemy's planned attack. This is a division-wide operation. The 194th Rgmt will be attacking toward Hubermont on our left, and the 193rd, taking over your positions on the right at Mande St. Etienne, will try again to capture Flamisoul. *
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If either of these attacks fails, you'll be isolated in the middle of the German defenses. I suggest you get up and over the open ground on that hill, and into the town, as quickly as possible. By the way, some of our boys have been stuck on the reverse slope of that hill for days now, and we've had dozens of cases of frostbite and worse. They're already calling it "Pneumonia Hill". Deploy between hexrow 10 and 50.*
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Game Note: A draw or better result advances you to the next battle. While historically the battalion advanced without armor, it might be worth your while to request some tanks.*
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Historical Note: the 3rd Bn of the 513th advanced against murderous machinegun and artillery fire, including the dreaded Nebelwerfer rockets, without any armor support. The battalion commander was wounded and evacuated. In a final, wild charge down the hillside, they captured the town. The attacks on both flanks failed, leaving the battalion exposed in the town. In this and other attacks by the division that day, 167 Paratroopers died. The slight rise of ground over which the 513th attacked was no longer called Pneumonia Hill. That little piece of hell became known as Dead Man's Ridge.*
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