272nd Tactical Event

D-Day 

June 6-8, 2008

Oregon

German MG Widerstandnest 

For this event we will be portraying the average German Soldier positioned on the Atlantic Wall in Normandy on the eve of D-Day. Historically the 272nd was located hundreds of kilometers to the south enjoying the warm Mediterranean French coast. The German 352nd Infantry Division was not so lucky. Formed in France in November 1943 it began its duties by constructing and improving beach defenses. Occupying slit trenches, concrete bunkers, pillboxes, mortar pits, machine gun nests and Nebelwerfer rocket launcher sites, the unit staunchly defended Omaha beach from attack by the US 1st and 29th Divisions. The division fought heavily throughout the Bocage country side of France and defending St. Lo from an airborne assault by the US 82nd Airborne. By the time the 272nd was called to Normandy the 352nd was declared abgekämpft, no longer fit for combat. Like the 272nd it was later reconstituted as the 352nd Volksgrenadier Division and was engaged heavily in Wacht am Rein, the Battle of the Bulge.

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Event Guidelines

Food
Little restrictions: bread, fresh meat, preserves, live chicken, and any number of French items. Please avoid American items. As always, ALL food items must be wrapped in period appropriate packaging.

 

Appearance
Period style hair cuts only (Short on sides and sort of long-ish on top) Clean shaven

 

Uniform and Field Gear
All normal uniform and field gear, in particular: M40/42 Helmet preferred with no decals Camo Splinter helmet covers ok, but other camo items are not permitted M40 or M43 Feldmutze M40 or later Tunic and Trousers preferred Low boots and Gemaschen preferred (Marschstiefel ok) Always your Soldbuch and Erkennungsmarken

Gewehr
K98 Two MP40/MP41 per Gruppe allowed One MG34/42 per Gruppe allowed One G41/43 per Gruppe allowed One Gewehrgranatgerat per Gruppe allowed Only the Platoon Commander, Medic, and Maschinengewerschuetze and Maschinengewerschuetehelfer may carry a pistol Optional: Panzerfaust und Panzerschrek, 8cm Mortar and HMG if enough men available to crew one

  

Other Items of Note

This is a barracks event, be sure to bring: Bettbezug: blue and white checkered Wehrmacht blanket cover and pillow case. Two flat white single bed sheets. Wool Blanket Schemel: backless chair (see der Erste Zug for instructions on making your own or one can be purchased online) Schrank: Locker if you have one Any other accessories you may have such as period towels and shaving equipment. Additional items you may have that can be used to help create the barracks theme Soldaten will be notified ahead of time if this will become a field event, i.e. bring additional warm clothing, Mantel, Zehltbahn, and wool blankets.

   

Site Fee & Directions
Site fee is $35 Please notify the unit commander if you require ammunition. Site directions will be provided via our email list. If you are new and would like to attend please contact us.

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Debris and clouds of smoke enveloped us. The earth shook. Eyes and nose were filled with dust. Sand ground between teeth. There was no hope for help. No German aircraft appeared. This sector had no anti-aircraft guns, and unimpeded the bombers could drop their deadly load upon us.

 

 

An endless fleet lay before our sector. Heavy warships cruised along as if passing for review. A spectacular but terrifying experience for those of us who survived the naval gunfire.

 

 

The heavy Naval guns fired salvo after salvo into our positions. In the beginning the ships lay at 20 kilometers distance, but the range slowly decreased. With unbelieving eyes we could recognize individual landing craft. The hail of shells falling upon our position grew heavier, fountains of sand and debris rose in the air with the impacts. The mined obstacles in the water were partially destroyed. The morning dawn over the approaching landing fleet exhibited for us approaching doom.

from the D-Day memoirs of a German soldier, Franz Gockel

 

 

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