Had a great time this past June 6th hosting/umpiring a game of the German counterattack at Cauquigny on the afternoon of June 6th, 1944 against the 82nd Airborne. The force composition was based upon the TFL Scenario book, All-American, but I used the more detailed map in the Skirmish Campaigns book, Normandy '44 First Hours.

Overall, the game results replicated history as the Germans overwhelmed the 82nd Airborne which had few anti-tank or support weapons. The 82nd was commanded by Steve Smith, Jim Dirmaier and my brother Christ Albrecht while Harry Voelkel and

Brett McLay commanded the Germans.

Figures are mostly Airfix and SHQ. Tanks are 1/87 scale custom resin by a guy on eBay. Houses are Sarissa while the church wall is custom 1/87 3D print by Diabolical Terrain (find him on FB). Bocage and fields are home made, grass of teddy bear fur and the all purpose sisal doorway mat.

Dan Albrecht

View of Cauquigny from the southeast

View of Cauquigny from the German lines to the west.

View of Cauquigny from the south. Germans attacking from left to right

The left flank of the Germans captured two buildings but decided wisely not to assault the airborne in the church courtyard.

German infantry suffers shock from a US MG firing from a 2nd story window

A Panzer training battalion was located nearby and lead the assault. This force had 3 captured Renault R35 and one Somua S35 tank.

The crew of one R35 abandoned their tank after suffering too many bazooka hits.

A German 81 mm mortar blast kills a crewman of the Airborne's 60mm mortar team

A Panzerfaust blows a hole in the courtyard wall.

The 82nd held their ground when charged by an R-35 but were unable to knock it out.

My brother and I finished off the game on Sunday night.

He successfully withdrew about 25 paratroopers down the causeway but not before the German mortars had direct hits on them as they tried to escape.

Paratroopers retreat across the causeway.... On the real D-Day, Later that afternoon they would get their revenge as the Germans came down the causeway but were stopped cold at LaFiere.

The motley gaming crew umpired by yours truly.