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St. Oedenrode Scenario

St. Oedenrode Scenario A Hell's Highway Scenario (as first appeared in Wargames Illustrated 264). Once the 101st Airborne Division parachuted into Holland on 17 September 1944, they began the task of capturing the bridges assigned to them. One of the bridges assigned to the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment was the bridge over the Dommel River at St. Oedenrode. Seized initially on the evening of the 17 September, St. Oedenrode became one of the points of counterattack by German forces arriving from the west in their efforts to cut Hell’s Highway. Two German regiments of Fallschrimjäger (paratrooper) from the 1. Fallschirmarmee (1st Parachute Army) were initially assigned to hold and then retake the bridge at St. Oedenrode. Additional support from the 59. Infantriedivision (59th Infantry Division) and Kampfgruppe Huber were also released to try and sever the road. Throughout the first seven days of Market Garden the battle for the bridge over the Dommel typified the continuous fighting up and down Hell’s Highway.

The lead platoons of the 502nd Parachute regiment hurried forward to seize the bridge over the Dommel River at St. Oedenrode on the first day of Operation Market Garden. Once taken, the 502nd was ordered to hold the bridge and keep the road open to Arnhem. Initially surprised and forced off the bridge, two regiments of the 1st Fallschirmjäger Army were ordered to counterattack and retake the bridge. As each side fought to accomplish their objectives additional forces were sent into the fray in hopes of swaying the battle in their favour.

Company B, 1st Battalion, 502nd Parachute Regiment was assigned to take and hold the bridge at St. Oedenrode. For eleven days they fought to keep the single road open to Nijmegen and ultimately Arnhem. Though a sideshow to the main events unfolding around them, their tenacious attack and subsequent defence provided the Allied lifeline to the northern battlefields.

Kampfgruppe Ewald, consisting of parachute training units around s’Hertgenbosch were hastily formed as march battalions and sent to defend St. Oedenrode. As more German units appeared from the west, they were immediately inserted into the fighting. Three companies of infantry from the 59. Infanteriesdivision (German infantry division) supported by Sicherungs (police battalion) were sent to assist the two Fallschirmjäger battalions in cutting the road at St. Oedenrode.

The St. Oedenrode scenario uses the Delayed Reserve, Reserves and Prepared Positions special rules. Your Orders German As the Kampfgruppe Ewald commander, your Fallschirmjäger must hold the bridge and road at St. Oedenrode at all costs. Reinforcements can be expected from the 59. Infanteriedivision and possibly some Jagdpanther support from Kampfgruppe Huber. Allied Quickly lead your Parachute Infantry Company to the bridge and take it before the Germans can reinforce their position. With that accomplished you must hold it for the duration of the mission. The rest of your regiment is behind you and they will help as best they can. You might even see some British armour if they can make it up the road to St. Oedenrode. Preparing for Battle 1. Set up terrain using the scenario map as your guide. 2. Place the two objectives (A & B) as identified on the map. All objectives are at least 8”/20cm from any table edge. 3. Deploy the platoons and independent teams of the Fallschirmjäger Kampfgruppe Eward within 8”/20cm of objective B.

Note: Delayed Reserves are added to Reserves on Turn Three. All Reserves must be deployed before any Delayed Reserves may be Deployed.

4. Deploy the starting platoons and independent teams of B Company, 1st Battalion, 502nd Parachute Regiment in the Attacker’s Deployment Area not closer than 8”/20cm from any enemy team. Beginning the Battle 1. The German Player begins the game in Prepared Positions. 2. The Allied Player has the first turn. 3. German Reserves may enter the Map on the roads at Points 1, 2, 3 or 4. 4. German Delayed Reserves may enter the Map on the road at the designated point (see force list on the next page). 5. Allied Reserves and Delayed Reserves enter the Map on the road or within 8”/20cm of Point Z.

Ending the Game
The battle ends at the end of Turn 6, or
If one of the forces fails a Company Motivation Check.



Deciding Who Won
At the beginning of each Player’s turn, that player receives one
Victory Point for each uncontested objective that they hold. The side
with the most Victory Points at the end of Turn Six is the winner
unless their force has failed a Company Motivation Check and forced
leave the field of battle.
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