Fighting at Kesternich / Dezember 1944 (Fort Indiantown Gap, PA)

For this event we are portraying the members of Nr. 5 Kompanie, Gren. Regt. 980 / 272nd Volksgrenadier Division in defense of the farming village of Kesternich. 

The 272nd Volksgrenadier Division was formed around Döberitz - Berlin during September 1944.  The survivors of the 272 Infanterie Division along with men of the 575 Volksgrenadier Division were combined to form the 272 Volksgrenadier Division.  The ranks were filled with Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe men as well as soldiers from other Army units.  Officially, the 272 Volksgrenadier Division was formed at Berlin Falkensee.  The Grenadier Regiments under its command included GR 980, 981, and 982.  At the end of October the advance party of the division was transported from Berlin Falkensee to the Eifel - Ardennes area & the main body departed during the first week of November.  In November 1944, the Division took position along the West Wall, Monschau area.  On December 6, 1944, Gren.Rgt. 980 counter attacked elements of the 8th US Infantry Division & CCR of the 5th Armored Division at the Battle of Bergstein. 

The surrounding area was that of rolling farmland studded with villages such as the town of Kesternich, as well as a thick band of West Wall (Siegfried Line) bunkers and anti-tank obstacles.  Kesternich was an important town because of its location. It was perched on a high ridge above the Roer Valley and its two largest flood-control dams, the Schwammenauel and the Urft.  These dams were still in German hands.  The issue was simple: Control the dams and you control the level of the Roer.  The Americans would be foolish to put a single soldier across the river unless they had the dams.  Allied air attacks in early December had failed to breach the dams, so the task fell to the US infantry.  It is the combat that followed that we were portraying. 

For the event we acted as if we are in the village of Kesternich.  The barracks were to be considered an abandoned army barracks or hospital (to give reason for bunks).  THIS WAS NOT A BARRACKS IMPRESSION EVENT!