Operation Amherst

The Third Reich is in its final throes. But Netherlands is still under the iron grip of the German forces, following the disaster of Operation Market-Garden. Heading North toward the heart of the Reich, the Canadian tanks and Polish artillery …

1945-04-08

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The Third Reich is in its final throes. But Netherlands is still under the iron grip of the German forces, following the disaster of Operation Market-Garden. Heading North toward the heart of the Reich, the Canadian tanks and Polish artillery of 2nd Corps are making slow progress in the face of increasingly desperate German troops. Massive carpet-bombing could pave the way, but might break the dykes and flood the low-lying countryside. Queen Wilhelmina has successfully begged it off, in an effort to spare the civilian population. So on the night of April 7, despite terrible weather, two sticks of French SAS - some 676 men from the 2nd and 3rd French Regiments de Chasseurs Parachutists - jump behind the enemy lines, in the Drenthe province. Their objective: to capture bridges over the Canal, north of Groningen, and gain control of the airfield at Steenwijk, in a bid to trap the local SS troops. By April 9th lead elements of 2nd Corps' make contact with the French but it is only with the help and courage of the local population that total control is finally achieved two weeks later.

Groningen, Holland

Operation Amherst was a Free French and British SAS attack designed to capture intact Dutch canals, bridges and airfields during World War II. It was led by Brigadier Mike Calvert of Chindit fame.

Wikipedia: Operation Amherst

German

French

Game Type: Breakthrough

Board Type: Countryside

Website Access: Classified