Operation DIRLEWANGER
By [TWC] TooTall
Force Outline:
Era: Late WW2
Forcetype: Motorised Infantry
Attachment: Mortar & AT
 
Situation Outline:
Operation Start: 06:40
Current Weather: Overcast light fog.
Future Weather: No change
Map: BaranowWinter
 
Conflict Overview:
The Dirlewanger Brigade, also known as the SS-Sturmbrigade Dirlewanger or the 36th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, or Black Hunters, was a unit of the Waffen-SS and consisted of convicted criminals who were not expected to survive their service with the unit.
Oskar Paul Dirlewanger was the German military officer which the brigade was named after.
Initially the unit was assigned to "anti-bandit" operations in Belarus. Where his preferred method of suppression was to herd the local population inside a barn, set the barn on fire, and then shoot with machine guns anyone who tried to escape. He would routinely round-up civilians and use them as human shields and march them over minefields. By 1944 it was estimated that the brigade, by then regiment-sized, had killed at least 100,000 civilians. An expert in extermination and a devotee of sadism and necrophilia Dirlewanger had a reputation of the most evil man in the SS and his name is closely linked to some of the most notorious crimes of the war.
 
Recent Events:
When intelligence reports the possible location of the Dirlewanger Brigade located near the town of Goch, Winston Churchill orders the redeployment of troops to find and capture Oskar Dirlewanger and destroy any remnants of the Brigade. Our American Allies considered the diverting of troops to this endeavour a distraction from the main goal however they provided the use of a M5A1 Halftrack in support of the operation.
 
The Plan:
Alpha Coy (TWC) will work on a co-ordinated attack with Bravo Coy starting at 0700 on the 2 pontoon bridges. Bravo Coy will seize the bridge to the West whilst Alpha Coy will seize the bridge to the East. Once across Bravo Coy will take and hold the airfield at Dymitrow and Alpha Coy will move on the 3 possible enemy locations to either capture or flush Dirlewanger towards the airfield where he can be picked up by Bravo Coy.
 
Important Note:
Much of the North bank is heavily mined so extreme caution should be made when approaching the bank. In the past few days, the weather has got decidedly colder freezing the river. However, the ice is thin and not recommended for standing on and definitely not suitable for vehicles. In addition, due to the fog air support, that was allocated for this operation, has been delayed.
 
Objectives:

• Attack the pontoon bridge north of Prewoz at 0700
• Investigate the 3 locations marked on the map for Oskar Dirlewanger
• Destroy any enemy that get in your way

 
Situation OPFOR:
Standard Wehrmacht winter camo sections
Standard Waffen SS
Vehicles: Sd.Kfz, Opel Blitz, Kublewagon, PzKpfw V Panther
 
Situation Civilians:
Population: None