Jodie Con: Market Garden

Convention Report

By Pete Panzeri

Our recent JodieCon, a 55th Anniversary WWII Commemoration and Weekend Wargame Campaign of OPERATION MARKET GARDEN [Fort Monmouth, NJ] was surely the best JodieCon Campaign weekend yet! Aside from 50 participants in the Wargame, and over 100 spectators and veterans, the event also featured an exceptional 30" WWII Model display by the International Plastic Modelers Society; an "Airborne Warfare Seminar" by LTC Mark Johnson; and three complete demonstrations from reenactors of the Irish Guards, followed by British 1st PARA, American 101st and German Falschirmjagers. Thanks to all of these people, to the GM's and especially to Rick Stakes from the WARZONE in Ohio, for his traveling so far, and his essential contribution to the event.

RECOGNITION

Willi Zahn, who did a great Falschirmjeager presentation, was *ALSO* voted "Eindhoven MVP" for command of a German Parachute Division, while BRIT PARA reenactor SGT Stephen Kellar won MVP for his role (Vandervort) at Nijmegan with the 82nd Airborne DIV. Most Valuable Participant at Arnhem Was Luke Holbrook (9th SS Hohenstauffen) while overall German MVP was Fred Hubig (Student) and Allied MVP was Mike Sarno (Urquhart). The "Crash and Burn Award" went to Jim Graham (Monty) for his "sheep killing artillery," and "counter-demonstration of the Combined Arms concepts."

OPERATIONAL ACCOUNT

As are most REALLY EXCITING CONTESTS, the outcome was not clear right up until the 11th hour, BUT the winners finished with a clear cut and decisive victory. On Day 1, the entire 1st Brit Para dropped and consolidated near (and some unfortunately dropped "into") Arnhem and rapidly gained control of ALL of the city and both sides of the Bridge. The US 82d Airborne DIV also saw initial success, despite heavy casualties, and managed to firmly secure ALL of the key Nijmegen area bridges by the end of day two. However, the 101st Airborne DIV's success was limited due to early trouble with German Flak batteries, and some surprise SS units retreating from XXX Corps. The Eindhoven Bridge was finally captured when XXX Corps arrived. However, the Brits, and later Poles, at Arnhem were eventually doomed by Day 4, when XXX Corps slowed to a crawl past Eindhoven, and came to a complete halt at Veghel.

While the battle was a close run thing until the end, the Germans initial blunt of XXX Corps at Eindhoven (over 1,200 Brit. Infantry Casualties on day one and two) was critical (and made the Arnhem success all the more frustrating for them.) Having infantry and Artillery support stripped off at Eindhoven, the unsupported Brit Armor never made it through the town of Veghel. This was the decisive point, by 9 am on day 4, 150 tanks were KO'd there. Most of the anti tank damage was done by close assault from German Pioneer Companies in the town and beside the two bridges there (They only intended to destroy the bridges, not kill 150 tanks!). So much for getting all the way to Arnhem. Despite a hasty pontoon bridge time had run out. When the smoke cleared on day 4, the XXX Corps spearhead was blunted and all of Arnhem was again in German hands. All of the Allied and German Commanders did a superb job right up until the end, and special Kudos to the GM's JT, Mike Pierce, and Charlie Elsden for truly tireless contribution. It was a unique experience, we hope to someday capture again Photo's will be on the web site soon. http://users.nac.net/jthomas/Jodie/JodieCon.html

NEXT EVENTS

BUKRIN' Bridgehead - WWII '43 EAST FRONT - 11-13 Feb'00
GETTYSBURG - 1863 Campaign /28-29 Apr'00 [*changed from'99]
AUSTERLITZ - 1805 Napoleonic - 9-11 June'00
ALEXANDER'S SUCCESSORS/Ancients Campaign - 3-5 August '00

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