Devil’s Hill – October 2010

Devils Hill

Event date – 2nd & 3rd October 2010

The commander of the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division was sceptical of the Market Garden plan. In his diary he wrote, “It looks very rough. If I get through this one I will be very lucky.”

3rd October 1944

Operation Market Garden had not gone particularly well for 508th of the 82nd Airborne Division, despite landing within 1000 metres of their drop zones on the initial landings and preventing the destruction of a key bridge. Tasked with clearing, patrolling and defending the area of Dalkamp hill , they find themselves with the enemy on three sides and have fended off numerous determined German attacks, with more expected. If the Germans breakthrough, they could threaten the advance of British reinforcements by placing artillery observers on the high ground and bringing up their armour. To reinforce the beleaguered paratroops, 325th GIR are sent in to assist and force the Germans out. Landing amidst the enemy, they quickly find themselves embroiled in part of the battle which became known as “Devils Hill”, which would drag on for several days.

Facing the “All Americans” was the legendary Field Marshall Model. Among those under his command are troops in transit or on leave in the Wesel area. These would be known as “Corps ‘Feldt”, a battle group of Heer and Elite Fallschirmjager, along with assorted Waffen SS troops. Many of these troops are battle hardened veterans, sent to Holland to recuperate, “old men and boys” they most certainly are not. These troops under the command of General Kurt Feldt, from which the Kampfgruppe drew its name, are to recapture Dalkamp from the US 82nd Airborne at all costs. Success could turn the tide of the war by giving the allies a bloody nose they may not recover from.

The biggest mistake historians make is to glorify and narrow-mindedly concern themselves with Arnhem and Oosterbeek. The Allies were stopped in the south just north of Nijmegen – that is why Arnhem turned out as it did.
SS-Colonel Heinz Harmel, 10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg

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Devil's Hill
Devil's HillOur event takes us to one day – the 2nd October 1944 – where the 508th, occupying “Devils Hill”, find themselves under fierce attack by 3rd Fallschirmjäger Division paratroopers, SS artillery and Ersatz Regiments. 325th GIR are now in the area of Den Heuvel Woods in an attempt to assist but the might of the German army is determined to clear the area of Allied control.

This weekender event was held at Cerberus Airsoft, Keighley, West Yorkshire on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd October 2010.

Full event details on the forum: Devil’s Hill