Operation Varsity - The Matrix Games version of West Front

Wesel, [H2H, Historical] Varsity was a joint American-British airborne operation with more than 16,000 paratroopers and several thousand aircraft. It was the largest single airborne operation in history to be conducted on a single day and in one location. Part of Operation Plunder, the effort by the British 21st Army Group under Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery to cross the Rhine River and from there enter Northern Germany, Varsity was to assist the 21st Army Group to secure a foothold across the Rhine River in western Germany by landing two airborne divisions on the eastern bank of the Rhine near the towns of Hamminkeln and Wesel. Drawn from US XVIII Airborne Corps, the mission was to capture key territory and disrupt German defenses. The British 6th Airborne Division, commanded by Major General Eric Bols was ordered to capture the towns of Schnappenberg and Hamminkeln, clear part of the Diersfordter Wald, and secure three bridges over the River Issel. The U.S. 17th Airborne Division, led by Major General William Miley, attacked the town of Diersfordt and cleared the rest of the Diersfordter Wald. The two divisions would then hold captured territory until relieved by the 21st Army Group. The area was defended by elements of 1. Fallschirmjager Armee, which included the 84. Infanterie Division led by General Major Heinz Fiebig and the left flank of the 7. Fallschirmjager Division, led by General Leutnant Wolfgang Erdmann. Several Volkssturm units supplemented them, as losses were high due to prior intense fighting in the Rhineland. In addition, numerous Luftwaffe FlaK units were massed in expected landing areas.