Schwammenauel Dam

Before Operation 'Veritable' and 'Grenade' could begin, there was a matter of the Roer dams to consider. These dams were located in an area of steep gorges, small mountains and narrow roads. Earlier attempts to capture the dams had failed …

1945-02-04

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Before Operation 'Veritable' and 'Grenade' could begin, there was a matter of the Roer dams to consider. These dams were located in an area of steep gorges, small mountains and narrow roads. Earlier attempts to capture the dams had failed and orders to take the Schwammenauel and Urft dams seemed an impossible task for the 78th Infantry Division who had only limited battle experience. The 272nd Volksgrenadier Division was deployed in this section of the Westwall. The 9th Infantry managed to capture the Erft Dam intact, but progress to take Schwammenauel was hindered by the rugged terrain and lack of armor support. Finally the village of Schmidt fell and soon after, Infantry from the 309th captured the dam. The German troops however had blown the discharge valves, which sent a heavy cascade of water down the River Roer for weeks.

Schwammenauel Dam, Germany

Kesternich is a small village just inside the German border from Belgium. It was the site of two major battles during World War II. These battles are tied to the Siegfried Line Campaign, the Battle of the Huertgen Forest, the Battle of the Bulge, and the assault on the Roer River dams at the outset of Operation Lumberjack.

Wikipedia: Battle of Kesternich

German

American

Game Type: Standard

Board Type: Countryside

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