Caen - FOW Late War Campaign, day 1

"And now the real story from the Berlin 'Signal' Army Newspaper:

With a diversionary attack underway on the Normandy coast (everyone knows the real invasion will come at the Pas de Calais) the 716 Infantrie Division was tasked with holding the outskirts of Caen while awaiting the arrival of the SS 102nd Heavy Panzer Battalion to re-enforce their position. Heavily outnumbered their pioneers dug trench lines and watched from the hills as the British 7th Armoured and infantry formed up for the attack.

The British, fearing our 88mm guns and gallant infantry in the centre choose to send their armour in a sweeping manouver to our right aimed to encircling our troops. However, the advance guard of the 102nd had arrived (two Tiger 1E's and five Panzer IV's), and despite the enemies use of Sherman Fireflies (five counted in one sector) stalled the enemy armour as it tried to clear the cornfields. This action was not without loss, and six of our own tanks were lost to the enemies fire. The British infantry, fearful of our troops, dug in to the cornfields scarcely meters from their startlines and left it to their tanks to trade shots with ours.

On our left flank a recon tank force, reported to be Stuart light tanks, were easily turned aside by more re-enforcements from the 102nd, and the remains smashed by the 88mm guns of the 716th. The enemy tried a flanking manouver upon one of our Grenadier platoons manning the trenchlines, and I am sad to report were successful with our platoon fleeing - the officer responsible has been sent to the Eastern Front for help with his motivation skills.

The British, buoyed by this unexpected success finally advanced and were within meters of their objective when one of Germanys national heroes stepped to the fore - Obersturmfuhrer Michael Wittmann lead his entire company of Tiger 1E's into the attack, and the enemy crumbled and fled! The 716th Division's pioneers added to the rout, beating off a contemptable assault by the Tommie infantry and destroying several enemy tanks to add to the numerous ones claimed by Wittmann and his aces. As darkness fell even the vaunted British artillery could not shift the Tigers and the British withdrew.

The Luftwaffe added to the woes of the Englanders during the day, shooting down several enemy fighters, and carrying out two successful sorties upon the enemy armour and artillery. Both the 102nd and the 716 have covered themselves in glory and proved the Fuhrer's order: 'No Retreat' is the best tactic for dealing with our enemies at this critical time."