MARVIE

Date : Dec 23, 1944
Location : Marvie, south east of Bastogne (Belgian Ardennes)
Weather : night, snowing, visibility less then 100 m
Ground condition : light snow
Turns : 50
Map size : 1.280 x 1.920 m
Playability : Against AI, to be played as US defender against attacking Germans under control of AI - default set-up
PBEM or TCP/IP : not tested
An exit zone is provided for Axis, but none of the German units are eligible for exit points

Situation : 23 dec 1944, Bastogne is completely encercled. To the south-east lays the village of Marvie, only 2 km away from the outskirts of Bastogne.

During the hours of light the 901st made no move to carry out its scheduled attack between Marvie and the Arlon road. Quite possibly the activity of the American fighter-bombers, once more in the skies, made it necessary to wait for nightfall. Through the afternoon the enemy shelled the 2d Battalion, 327th, and its command post in Marvie. As night came on the barrage increased in intensity, sweeping along the battalion front and onto its northern flank-beyond Marvie-where Team O'Hara stood with its tanks.

The Germans seem to have the village of Marvie as their main objective this time. About 1735 the 2d Battalion, 327th, was attacked by tanks and infantry coming from a larger wood lying a little farther away from Marvie. The attack developed very slowly. The German infantry was clad in snow suits and a light snow was falling. They seemed to be waiting until the gloom deepened so they could make the most of their camouflage.




Map design : "McAuliffe"
sources : "The First Eight Days" by COLONEL S. L. A. MARSHALL

Click on map to enlarge and to locate the higlighted battlezone (1/100.000 modern map of the Bastogne-area )