Assault on Schevenhütte - Combat Mission: Afrika Korps

Title: Assault on Schevenhütte Type: German attack Date: 22 September 1944 Location: Schevenhütte near Aachen Weather: Overcast Terrain: Damp Turns: 30 Author: Huib Versloot Best played: H2H, Axis Background: Early september 1944 the American spearheads broke through the lightly defended Siegfried Line south of Aachen. A Kampfgruppe of the German 9th Panzer was thrown into the breach but would be unable to seal off the American gains. On September 16 the situation deteriorated even more for the Germans when the US 9th ID took the undefended village of Schevenhütte situated in the narrow valley of the Wehebach. With the capture of Schevenhütte the Americans threatened to break through to Hamich and onwards to the plain of Düren into the heart of Germany. The Germans responded immediately and ordered a counterattack to be carried out by II/GR48 of the 12th ID. This division was reconstituted in West Prussia after having fought throughout the entire Russian campaign and was badly mauled during the collapse of Army Group Centre in the summer of 1944. However the division still consisted of a highly experienced cadre of officers, NCOs and men. The 12th ID was loaded up on 14 September and on 16 September reached the railway station of Düren. This scenario depicts the attack of II/GR48 on Schevenhütte. Sources: Weiden, G. von der, Zerschossene Heimat. Die Kämpfe des Grenadier-Regiments 48 östlich von Stolberg im Bereich Gressenich - Schevenhütte - Hamich sowie bei Alsdorf und Jüngersdorf im Herbst 1944.