Old Friends

For the American 30th Infantry Division, Operation PLUNDER commenced on 24 March with a relatively quiet crossing of the Rhine. The division’s first main objective, the village of Spellen, was quickly taken by two of its regiments which attacked the German defenders from opposite directions. In the early …

1945-03-26

J178

For the American 30th Infantry Division, Operation PLUNDER commenced on 24 March with a relatively quiet crossing of the Rhine. The division’s first main objective, the village of Spellen, was quickly taken by two of its regiments which attacked the German defenders from opposite directions. In the early morning of 25 March, 30th Division moved eastward, now in mutual support with light tanks and tank destroyers. They met only modest resistance from scattered German rear guards, and the lead units made good progress. The division’s three regiments now separated to assault different targets. Gahlen, a village centered on the axis of advance, was tasked to the 119th Regiment. However, the good mood of its soldiers changed drastically when the capture of troops from Panzer-Division 116 was reported. It seemed that “Old Hickory” had met some old friends from its Normandy days. 119th Regiment started its approach towards Gahlen only to be beaten to the punch by panzergrenadiers from Panzer-Division 116, which entered the village first. With some frustration, the lead elements of the 118th had to stand by and watch as more armored vehicles, among them two Panthers, followed…

Gahlen, Germany

Operation Plunder was a military operation to cross the Rhine on the night of 23 March 1945, launched by the 21st Army Group under Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery. The crossing of the river was at Rees, Wesel, and south of the river Lippe by the British Second Army under Lieutenant General Sir Miles Dempsey, and the United States Ninth Army under Lieutenant General William H. Simpson.

American

German

Scenario Type = Standard