Orders phase

The first critical point seems to be the south-eastern corner of the town. Here, a full company of enemy infantry threatens to storm into town. I shift my defenses in the big corner building to face south. At the same time, I am ordering the rest of my beaten up platoon into the building. Although at a mere 10-20% of original strength, these extra units might prove useful when used together with the - relatively unscratched - rife platoon in the building. I check some other LOS - the platoons further inside the town can trace LOS to several critical spots which the Germans might use for their assault. My plan is to hurt them bad when they move into open, and then fall back swiftly for another line of defense further in the town.

The platoon in the corner building is ordered to reposition and face the southern approaches, while the beaten up stragglers from the two platoons on the hill are ordered to move in. In the background - the German attackers.

Sgt. Jareds squad on the hill (rallied after the barrage) is facing the enemy at close range now, 100 meters and less. I order them to move west and use the hill to shield them from enemy fire.

Using the Withdraw command (necessary since the squad is out of command and I don't want to have them wait for 30 seconds before they start moving), I order Sgt Jared and his squad to run west and use the hill as cover.

Around the bridge, the withdrawal is underway, but the German Panzer is following closely. Sgt. Stanley and another bold private are facing the Panzer only 15 meters away. They have nothing else but a rifle and a BAR, and a bunch of grenades...

Man against machine...

The remaining units are withdrawing from the position as fast as they can, and trying to get north and out of the field of fire of the German infantry across the river. But the tank seems to be determined to follow and annihilate my entire force.

The few survivors left are trying to disengage from the enemy and run north...

Since it is becoming clearer now, that the main attack is coming from the south and that the northern force is hardly any threat, I decide to move the rifle platoon out of the church and order it to move south, using the buildings for cover. I will let the Sherman and the two MGs in the south deal with this flank.

The rifle platoon (in pretty good shape with only a few casualties) is ordered out of reserve in the church and towards the southern end of town.

The tension is rising. The final battle is at hand...

Action phase

You are Sgt. Stanley, squad leader in Able company. All but one man from your squad are dead. You barely managed to escape a near-miss from a Panzer rolling towards your position, and now are here - 15 meters away from the steel monster and fear is freezing your body in place. The monster rolls forward, then suddenly comes to a halt.

With a high squeaking sound, the turret starts slowly pivoting towards you...

...and there you are, looking right down the muzzle of a 75mm tank gun. Several awkward seconds pass, while the tank crew probably estimates the threat level from those two beaten figures in the snow. Then - a short burst from the co-ax MG rips through the Private next to you.

The tank crew obviously decides that anything more is a waste of ammo and leaves the rest for the mopping up infantry, already storming down the other bank towards the river.

So the tank slowly moves on down the river. But if you thought that was all - you were wrong.

Just as the Panzer drives out of view, German infantry moves forward and crosses the river, supported by a couple of haltracks with mounted machineguns. Several bursts hit the ground next to you, and instinctively you fall prone. Tracers are whizzing past your head and you hear german voices nearby. The way back is several hundred meters across open ground, and the MG fire all around you is getting more and more intense. Exhausted, beaten up and dog tired, you raise your hands and drop your rifle.

But actually, you don't care anymore if they shoot you or not. You've just had it enough...

Only three men from a rifle squad make the escape from the position around the bridge. The MGs and other units are pinned down as they try to run ito the open, and decide to return and seek cover behind the trees. Although the infantry storming across the river only seem to be vehicle crews, the MG fire from the halftracks in the back is devastating.

Made it... well - almost...

Sgt. Jared and his few men are meanwhile running through the woods, trying to escape the German infantry. But there seem to be Germans everywhere now, and as the harassing fire intensifies, the squad decides to hug the ground for a while. Seconds pass and German voices are becoming louder and louder, and rifle fire on the position intensifies. Before the turn is over, Sgt. Jared decides to surrender as well...

Jerries everywhere!

The first German units are now coming within view of the corner building. My rifle squads open fire and move into position. Meanwhile, the decimated survivors from the other platoon are arriving in the building.

The rifle squads opens up with rifles and BARs at the attackers in the woods

Meanwhile, third platoon is moving out of the church and runs down the road to the south to help bolster the defenses there. The German infantry in the north were pinned down for the whole turn in the building and are under observation by the two MGs, which frees up the reserves to move them against the main attack.

The roughly 30 men from third rifle platoon are running down past the immobilized Sherman...