Death from Below

Death From Below German Fallschirmjäger defend against US Paratroopers in Normandy In the early hours of June 6th 1944 the men of the 501st Parachute infantry regiment (101st Airborne Division) descended from the sky onto the Cotentin peninsula in Normandy. They and their fellow American Paratroopers led the spearhead of the allied invasion of France, D-Day had begun. Under them was positioned the 91st Luftlande-Division (Airlanding Division), which contained among its units Von der Heydte’s Fallschirmjäger Regiment No.6 who were on exercise on the very night of the airdrop.

Using the Seize and Hold mission from D-Day: British the following is a Fallschirmjäger scenario with a difference, this time the Diving Eagles are the defenders. The landings of the 101st Airborne Division were scattered much further than anticipated and men of the 501st soon found themselves in the company of other Paratroopers, and they weren’t all on the same side!  The FJR 6 was on exercise on the night of June 5th and Von der Heydte was personally supervising. The platoon of Oberfeldwebel Peltz were soon confronted with US Paratroopers, but he and his men were alert and were soon able to capture 3 officers and 73 other ranks. Oberfeldwebel Alexander Uhlig and his platoon also did outstanding work capturing 230 men over the entire day, most from his mens heroic encounter with the US 90th Division. Uhlig was awarded the Knight’s Cross for his efforts. During the next few days Von der Heydte and his men fought many actions, always keeping on the move and delaying  both the advancing Airborne troops and the 90th Division advancing from the Utah beachhead.

The main concentrations of the 501st Parachute Infantry regiment to the north of Carentan.

Von der Heydte used hit and run tactics against far superior numbers while avoiding capture. He and his men were mentioned in Wehrmacht dispatches on July 1st, "FJR 6 under the command of Major von der Heydte distinguished itself in the heavy fighting round the enemy beachhead." Crashing About in the Dark For this encounter use the Seize and Hold rules from D-Day: British. Instead of rolling for dawn from Defenders third turn, begin rolling on the Defenders fouth turn.

Elements of the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment (D-Day: American)    Parachute Rifle Company   Parachute Rifle Company HQ 2x Thompson SMG team     3 points Parachute Rifle Platoon 7x M1919 and M1 Garand rifle team 1x 60mm mortar 2x M1 Bazooka team   2x M1919 LMG       15 points 2 points Parachute Rifle Platoon 7x M1919 and M1 Garand rifle team 1x 60mm mortar 2x M1 Bazooka team  2x M1919 LMG       14 points 2 points Parachute Rifle Platoon 7x M1919 and M1 Garand rifle team 1x 60mm mortar 2x M1 Bazooka team   2x M1919 LMG       15 points 1 points Parachute 81mm Mortar Platoon 4x 81mm mortar     8 points Total: 62 points

Oberfeldwebel Alexander Uhlig a veteran of Crete and an honorary member of the New Zealand Crete Veterans Association.

Von der Heydte and elements of Fallschirmjäger Regiment 6 (D-Day: German)   Company HQ   Fallschirmjäger Company HQ 2x MP40 SMG team Von der Heydte D-Day: German Command Card 3 points 2 points Oberfeldwebel Peltz’s Fallschirmjäger Platoon 10x MG42 & K98 rifle team with Panzerfaust anti-tank 15 points Oberfeldwebel Uhlig’s Fallschirmjäger Platoon 10x MG42 & K98 rifle team with Panzerfaust anti-tank 15 points Fallschirmjäger Platoon 10x MG42 & K98 rifle team with Panzerfaust anti-tank 15 points Fallschirmjäger sMG42 Machine-gun Platoon 4x sMG42 HMG 6 points Fallschirmjäger 8cm Mortar Platoon 3x 8cm Stummel mortar 6 points Total: 62 points

The Battlefield The fields of the Cotentin peninsula, like much of Normandy, are surrounded by thick stone and hedge embankments known as bocage. Use the Bocage terrain rules from D-Day: British. Place objectives and deploy as per the Seize and Hold mission from D-Day: British.