Scenario

For this event we are portraying the members of Nr. 5 Kompanie, Gren. Regt. 477 / 257th Volksgrenadier Division during the fight through the Low Vosges. 

The 257th Volksgrenadier Division was formed on October 13, 1944 by the redesignation of the 587th Volksgrenadier Division, which was also known as the Gross-Görschen Shadow Division.

Operation Nordwind (North Wind) was the last major German offensive of the World War II. It began on January 1, 1945 in the area known as Alsace/Lorraine which is north east France.  The objective was simple. Break through the lines of the U.S. Seventh Army in the Upper Vosges mountains and the Alsatian Plain, & destroy it. This would leave the way open for Operation Zahnarzt, a major thrust into the rear of the U.S. Third Army.

On January 1st, moving south through the dark forests, leading elements of the 559th, 257th, 361st, and 256th Volksgrenadier Divisions easily penetrated the positions of the a small American mechanized force, bypassing strongpoints and scattering the roadbound armored units as they withdrew and tried to regroup.  During the next four days the attacking infantry divisions pushed south through the Vosges for about ten miles; but the real contest for control of the vital mountain exits began almost immediately, as reinforcing American units tried to keep the German Volksgrenadiers bottled up in the Low Vosges forests.

This is the scenario we will be portraying while in the field.  We will also be using the down time at the barracks area for various training & drill sessions.