Saverne Gap, Vosges

The Saverne Gap, cutting through the Vosges mountains, was the key to Strasbourg, capital city of Alsace. On November 21st, the US Seventh Army XV Corps, under the command of General Wade Hampton Halslip, arrived to the front lines at …

1944-11-19

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The Saverne Gap, cutting through the Vosges mountains, was the key to Strasbourg, capital city of Alsace. On November 21st, the US Seventh Army XV Corps, under the command of General Wade Hampton Halslip, arrived to the front lines at Phalsbourg. With the infantry progressing forward into the Saverne Gap, General Leclerc divided his 2nd French Armor division into two task forces. The first would move well north of the Gap by La Petite-Pierre, the other on secondary roads in the south through heavily forested mountains by Dabo. If the plan worked, they would take Saverne simultaneously from both the north and south, avoiding the strong defenses expected in the Gap itself. The plan worked to perfection. One of the south French armor group was even able to rush through Saverne's western end and climb to the Gap, taking the German defenses from behind. German forces, few in numbers, fought valiantly; but, without support or reserves, they were unable to stop the three-pronged Allied attack; they crumbled, leaving the door to Strasbourg wide open.

Saverne, France

The liberation of Strasbourg took place on 23 November 1944 during the Alsace campaign in the last months of the Second World War. After the liberation of Mulhouse on 21 November 1944 by theist Armored Division, General Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque and the 2nd Armored Division entered Strasbourg after having liberated Sarrebourg and La Petite-Pierre, which cleared the way to the city of Strasbourg.

Wikipedia: Liberation of Strasbourg

German

American

Game Type: Standard

Board Type: Countryside

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