Introduction:

The following is a report on a wargame involving WWII German Fallschirmjaeger (parachute) troops. This game was played in order to work the kinks out of a set of airlanding rules I wrote as an addendum to my homebrew WWII rules.

The History:

In the autumn of 1943, Commander of the SS, Reichsfuehrer Heinrich Himmler, pressed Hitler for the power to create a very prestigious, additional arm to the SS. This new arm was to be SS Fallschirmjaeger Battalion 500. With Hitler's blessing, Himmler set to the task. More than half the Battalions manpower was to be drawn from volunteers. The rest of the troops were men that were serving sentences in military penal establishments. Through service in this battalion these men would have the opportunity to redeem themselves and their military honor.

After training at Kralyevo Parachute School, the units first action came with anti-partisan duty in Greece, Yugoslavia, and Albania. Over this period of time the unit proved itself as an elite, cohesive group. Though reportedly somewhat ruthless. The unit was soon to be given a very special assignment.

In 1941 German forces attacked and occupied Yugoslavia. From that time on the rapid growth of partisan forces named the Jugoslav Army of National Liberation, required masses of men and material to try to keep the situation in hand. In spite of this and Five major German offensives over a span of just 2 years, JANL forces continued to harass the occupation forces. With JANL reaching manpower numbers requiring formal organization into Corps and Divisions, German leaders realized decisive action must be taken. They would attempt a decapitating blow. This operation would be known as "Unternehmen Roesselsprung" or Knights Move with the objective of JANL founder/leader Tito.

SS para battalion 500 was to be landed in an area known to contain over 10,000 JANL troops. Due to transport shortage, the unit would be forced to land in two drops. This does not speak well of the preparedness of the Luftwaffe as the battalions strength was only 600 rank and file. The first drop to be made at 0700, the JU-52's returning to pick up the second drop, which would be made at about 1200 hours. To add to the problem of the JU-52 shortage, there was also a severe shortage of the DFS-230 glider. There being only enough to make one landing.

These would be used for the assault on Tito's H.Q.TO add to these problems, it was S.O.P. for German Paratroopers to land sans heavy weapons and with very limited amounts of ammo. German Paratroopers were also dropped without their personal weapons, which were dropped in separate containers. The men would then have to retrieve these containers and secure there personal weapons.

Consequently when the paratroopers landed they would start their offensive at a great disadvantage. They would be dropping into an area of a numerically superior, and better equipped foe. Fortunately the SS paras would have too very important factors in their favor. The element of surprise, and the Luftwaffe. At the time the Luftwaffe roamed the skies with virtual impunity and was able to fly missions at will. Over the last two years the Luftwaffe had been very active and their Stukas attacked any suspected JANL target without mercy.

It was for this reason that Tito had chosen a cave in the hills surrounding the Bosnian town of Drvar for his HQ. Titos cave was not chosen only for its difficulty to detect and hit from the air, but it also had an exit he could use should German forces try to storm the cave and capture him. Ironically this situation had been planned for without the thought of an assault from the air.

The German plan in a nutshell would be for XV Mountain Corps to encircle the area of Drvar and seal it from partisan reinofrcement. The mountain corps troops were of high caliber and included Croatian units(religious and political enemies of JANL),detachments of a Brandenberg battalion(intelligence and counter-intelligence specialists)and the SS mountain division Prinz Eugen. The glider troops would land as close to the mouth of the cave as possible, seize and enter the cave and obtain Tito and his staff.

The paratroopers would land in three groups,one to secure the town of Drvar and the other two to secure and hold the area around the cave, supporting the glider troops in their assault. The battalion would then hold the area until relieved by a kampfgruppe from the 373 division. This kampfgruppe was ordered to carry this out on the first day without fail.

THE GAME:

I find myself sitting silently in our transport, looking at my comrads knowing that some of us will not see our homeland again. We had worked and fought hard for our well deserved reputation of toughness and tenacity. We had developed a closeness that is found only in elite units. The green light flashes and we jump. I find myself dangling in midair. Watching the plane that carried me here fly off into the distance. I see the ground coming closer and watch as my comrades touch the earth one by one. These men, heros of the Fatherland I know will fight well. I touch down and roll, then detach the small piece of material that held me so safely in the sky-But now all safety ends and all my senses are focused on the task at hand.

My troops, Red group, swiftly gathers our weapons canisters and we arm ourselves and prepare to move. Glancing toward the hills I can see the first glider troops moving in on their objective. Before we move to support them runners from Blue group approach and report that the town of Drvar has been secured and that it is deserted. Blue group will set up communications HQ. in the town and form the reserve. We move out with Green group on our right flank, toward the hills. We can hear firing and small explosions as we approach.

Finally we exit the grassy fields and take cover among the boulders near the caves. As our force of 150 men moves through the boulders the air seems to explode in a symphony of small arms fire. We sprint toward the cave mouth in order to bring our support to the glider troops already assaulting the cave. All hell is breaking loose as I can barely see for the smoke. Men, both friend and foe are everywhere, firing wildly. With the appearance of our force the partisans retreat to the area around the cave mouth. The Glider troops and my force consolidate our area as we prepare a concerted effort on the cave. We are about 50 yards from the cave opening.

Three 10 man teams move with satchel charges to the assault. While they move into position I glass toward the area where the second glider landing should be taking place. I can see the gliders silently making there approach, but just as they touch down one turns into a giant ball of flames and another tears into hundreds of pieces, bits of glider and men flying everywhere.

It's a disaster, as I try to figure out what is happening, I can see partisans on the top of elevation 68 and it appears as if they are taking the gliders under fire as they approach. I summon my radio operator and contact Green group on my right to see if they have noticed the threat on the hilltop.

Green reports affirmative and they are on route to take the partisans under fire. I glance back to the landing zone and see that the remaining gliders have landed but are under fire as they disembark from their transport. I can hear that Green has attacked the hilltop and the fighting sounds heavy. Then two loud, successive explosions rock the ground, the concussions taking my breath away. Five more assault teams move to the cave and the rest of my group moves up to support. A messenger reports that the teams set off two demo-packs and as they prepared to enter the cave the opening was immediately filled with the enemy firing fanatically into our troops with such heavy fire as to make the assault troops fall back taking heavy casualties. So now back at square one?

Rally

I rally my troops and we prepare to move in again. I can still hear heavy fighting going on top of the hill and order my radioman to find out what is the status of Green. We have been joined by the newly landed glider troops, but there strength has been so depleted that they will have little effect on the battle. We move once more toward the cave opening in three lines and upon nearing the mouth begin taking fire, with little effect.

We now are within 10 metres ot the caves huge, gaping mouth when all of the sudden the enemy rushes from the cave in staggering numbers. Being caught off guard the first line is swallowed up by the attackers. All hell breaks loose and fierce hand to hand fighting breaks out all over. Small groups here and there knifing, bayonetting, hacking with entrenching tools, doing anything that will be required to survive this onslaught. The slaughter is like nothing I have experienced in my five years of inhumane war. I give the order to fall back to the edge of the fields and take cover in the boulders there.

As we reach the new position we see at least 200 partisans in the fields going through the gliders and pillaging the dead. Immediately we take these Bastards under fire and wipe them from the face of the earth. As if this slaughter is not enough my radioman reports that a message from Green states that as they were mopping up the enemy on the hilltop a force of about 1200 of the enemy emerged from the wooded area to the east of elevation 68, taking them in the flank and inflicting heavy losses. Reports from the section leaders indicate that Grenn has lost 45% of its fighting strength. My group is not any better off, in fact preliminary reports indicate at least 55% losses. We decide that the objective is beyond reach and call in air support to cover a withdrawal back on Drvar.

Back in Town

Back in the town we care for our wounded and prepare for the inevitable counter attack by the partisan forces. The area most suitable for defense ends up being the town graveyard. We sat and waited for our reinforcements to arrive, brave men dying as we wait. Of the 600 men that landed that day we had only 280 left. Of those over l30 were wounded so badly they could not use a firearm.

After the war I happened on information about our operation. I learned through this information that Tito, upon being informed of German Paratroopers landing near the town, had escaped out of a second opening in the cave in a wooded area to the east of elevation 68. This was the same area that Green group had been attacked from. I also learned that the cave was massive, and had hidden over 2000 troops with a further 1800 in the woods.

HISTORICAL AFTERMATH:

SS Fallschirmjaeger Battalion 500 was almost 70% destroyed in this ill conceived operation. But proving itself an elite unit and through Goebels masterful use of propaganda, the ranks of the battalion were soon filled with volunteers once again. No longer were military criminals posted to this heroic unit.

The battalion was redesignated as SS Fallschirmjaeger Abtielungen 600.They, upon rebuilding, were assigned to the East Front and, as with the majority of elite units, were used as a fire brigade, plugging gaps here and there. They were in the rear guard of the Oder River defense, and fell back toward Berlin. They were moved to the north and fought against American troops, and were one of the last German formations to surrender.

TO THE READERSHIP:

I hope you found this article/game report enjoyable and entertaining-It was a lot of fun to play and proved a good vehicle to test my new air landing rules, they worked great.

WWII Airlanding Rules

By Bill Widrick

Troops parachuting into the game are divided into plane capacity loads of up to 50 men and two support weapons. Note that all German support weapons are dropped in canisters with their own parachutes, even small arrns are dropped this way. One support weapons canister can be added for every 10 men deducted. German paratroopers are not considered armed until they move to a weapons canister.

For each plane load, an area of 2" by 7" on the game table is chosen for the landing zone. l used construction paper templates for this. All drop zones MUST run in the same direction and can not intersect. With the templates laid, the planes are placed on the beginning of the drop template and the opposition is given the chance for AA fire. With the conclusion of AA fire the surviving planes are moved to the end of the drop template with a parachute template (5/8" round white circles)placed every 1 1/2", along the drop template. Remove the planes after the drop has been completed.

Now for each template roll 1D6.0n a roll of 1, 2, 3, the parachutists have landed in the selected drop zone. Remove drop and parachute templates. For Germans leave the parachute templates indicating weapons canisters so the troops can move to them and arm themselves.

On a roll of 5 or 6 the drop zone has been missed. The templates are moved left or right, to the owning players discretion. Move the templates 4 or 5 inches depending on the number rolled. This is where the paratroopers land.

On a roll of 6 the drop zone has been missed. The templates are moved UP TO 6 inches in a direction of the opposing players choice. Again the paratroopers have landed and all templates are removed.

In the mechanics of my rules once landed the paratroopers may either fire at 1/2 firepower or move 1/2 movement potential.

WWII GLIDER LANDING RULES:

Glider landings are handled in the same basic manner as parachute drops. The drop template doubles as the gliders landing and slide path. Choose the touchdown point and slide path keeping in mind you must stay clear of obstacles. Place the glider on the beginning of the path. the opposing player may then use available AA fire. After the results have been determined, roll 1D6, the results of this roll are as follows;

1, 2, 3, the glider lands as intended and slides to the end of the template. The troops disembark and again may move or fire at half the allotted rate.

4-the glider touches down and slides to a stop that is two inches longer than the template, suffering any obstacle penalties (i.e., running into trees, cliffs, etc.).When this happens I roll 1D6, 1, 2, 3, all passengers survive, 4, 5, 6, they have all perished in a horrible glider accident. Notify next of kin!

5- The glider has landed 2 inches short and must, as above, suffer any consequences.

6-Due to unforseen circumstancses (swampy/rocky ground, glider pilot inexperience, enemy fire, lightning, etc ... ) your chosen landing path may not be used.Your pilot continues along a path of flight that extends the same course as intended for a distance of 5 inches. At this time the glider MUST land or crash as it no longer has the momentum to maintain flight.

Hope you find these rules useful. I have not included things such as wind effects, paratroopers landing in swampy terrain (shades of the 101st on D-Day) fire from friendly AA due to mistaken identity, or night drops. Please feel free to expand, contract, throw away or whatever. Just remember to game fairly with your comrades, treat them with respect and game by example I would love to have a warm body to game against. It has been over 5 years since I had a live opponent. Mine are cards and table controlled opponents. So don't take each other for granted!

Bosnia 1944: WWII Airlanding Scenario Large Map (Slow Download--168K)

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