WINGEN-SUR-MODER,
FRANCE, 4 January 1945: Shortly before the crack of dawn on 4 January sleeping
American soldiers were suddenly awakened by what some on the scene
described as “the most intensive machine-gun and automatic
weapon fire that any had ever heard.” Disoriented GIs awoke
to the sudden outburst of fire but there was no panic. German
forces pushed out of the Low Vosges forests to capture Wingen-sur-Moder,
situated along the road net needed for Operation Nordwind. The
attacking enemy forces struck Wingen at the first light of day
and rapidly moved through the village. In the confusion that followed,
Company A lost communications with Companies B and C, and for
a time the Company was without radio contact with the Battalion
CP in the Kirchberg. Within the company perimeter confusion made
it difficult for the platoon leaders and platoon sergeants to
get their men organized. Nearly every squad was on its own. Their
reaction to the sudden attack was left to the judgment of the
individual squad leaders. By 0900 hours the Germans had captured
and occupied the town, the high ground to the northeast of town,
and established a bridgehead on the south bank of the Moder River.
They immediately went about establishing a perimeter defense around
the village then prepared to continue their attack southward toward
Saverne.
During the first
days of January 1945 German forces pushed out of the Low Vosges
forests to capture the towns that lay along the snow-covered route
of attack. One of these towns was Wingen, along the Moder River.
American units there were initially caught by surprise as battle-hardened
troopers from the 6th SS Mountain Division stormed in and captured
the town. American reinforcements were soon pouring in from the
west and the south and despite bitter fighting, by January 5th
the German offensive had been brought to a standstill. Lacking
exits from the Vosges, planned armored reserves stood idle and
Operation Nordwind ended in failure.
Wingen sits in
a small valley along the Moder River between Bitche to the north
and Saverne to the south. Described in the following bucolic terms,
“...the village and the surrounding area looked very much
like a winter scene one might expect to find on a Christmas card
back home. Smoke rising from a few chimneys made the houses appear
warm and inviting...” Wingen would erupt on 3 January 1945
and become the focal-point of Operation Nordwind.
This module consists of eight scenarios, all playable on the Wingen-sur-Moder
historical map. The map seeks to recreate this wooded region,
and specifically allow for the investigation of combat problems
inherent to a built-up area with river, bridges, and buildings
laid out realistically in a manner unlike that which can be depicted
on geomorphic boards.
Welcome to the
NORDIC TWILIGHT*, a map-based VARIANT module that depicts
the fierce fighting in the Low Vosges by the 6th SS Mountain Division
during Operation Nordwind. NORDIC TWILGIHT contains ten
scenarios, all playable on the map included. You also two copies
of two BONUS die-cut counter sheets and a SR document.
Bring your own ASLRB, Americans and markers and have at it!
WHAT YOU RECEIVE
WITH EACH COPY:
- > A set of
cenarios set on the Wingen-sur-Moder map
- > Special
rules in 3-hole format
- > Two BONUS
counter sheets with Waffen SS, Control markers and more!
- > Color cover
- > 22" × 34"
mapsheet in folding paper format with enlarged hexes