Through the Westwall
Previous Series AARs
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Decisive Victory
The American's smashed the German lines and forced a German defeat a day early on the 5th day 6 October. The Allies won 100 VPs to nothing. Initial progress was slow. However, the discovery and successful disruption - and nearly full destruction - of a German supply area in Alsdorf paved the way for victory. This AAR will provide a review of the daily progress at the macro scale and focus in on that pivotal attack on German logistics.
Rolled the Germans.
Final Situation
Germany suffered massive losses: a little over 5-1 for personnel. The Allies forced 6 surrenders and the disbandment of 64 units compared to their own loss of only 3, 2 in the north near Ubach-Falenber and 1 in the far south near Wurselen. 
The final Allied and German disposition of forces, D5 22:08
Assessing the Original Plan
Day 1 - 2 Oct 1944
Middle Sector's attacks had a weird start. A self-inflicted game-ism caused the Allies to move south bypass Kerkrade completely and attack up the bank of the Wurm River which led to the force actually slipping past German defenses into Herzogenrath with minimal resistance. This awkward movement took all day to complete and left me with the odd situation of having to attack back towards where I came from. In hindsight, I should have set a form up point (FUP) just west of Kerkrade and ordered a broad front to clear the Germans from the town first. Then I should have followed up the clearing of Kerkrade with an attack on the Herzogenrath.
Day 2 - 3 Oct 1944
My original objectives for D2 were ambitious: link up all sectors and secure the objectives of Ubach, Palenberg, Adolf, Herzogenrath and Niederbardenberg utilizing reinforcements. Middle and Bottom Sectors were able to link up and push on to Noppenberg along the minor river Rothbroicher Bach and to the Niederbardenberg area to the south. Allied units on the march towards Noppenberg had to turn around multiple times to clear their rear area. The initial bypassing of Kerkrade left isolated Germans that were attacking supply lines.
Top Sector had the most dramatic fighting the the entire XIX Corps' Westwall operation. With 2/117 and 3/117 battalions of the 117th Infantry Regiment securing Palenberg and moving into Ubach, the 119th Regiment and 1/117 assaulted the objective of Merkstein. As the Allies pressured the flanks the of town it became obvious that the industrial area near the Adolf mine contained the headquarters of the German LXXXI Corps and its supporting logistical elements. At noon on D2, the intel report for this area was as follow:
The Korps HQ was routed along with at least 3 supply bases. Supply base attacks are devastating. A base forced to retreat automatically loses at least 50% of its supply stocks. The phrasing "at least" is particularly important because any remaining supplies exceeding what the base can transport are also lost.
I could have pulled off the capture of Merkstein more quickly if it hadn't been for another self imposed game-ism. Upon identifying the center of gravity (COG) area I ordered 1/117 to attack it directly. I created a new attack and not a modification to the existing attack (dragging the attack area). This caused the 1/117 to establish a FUP first causing a loss of momentum. Fortunately, by the next morning I was able to pursue and destroy the bases and the headquarters unit.
Day 3 - 4 Oct 1944
The overrun of Merkstein facilitated a rapid advance across all fronts on D3, uniting them by the end of the day. Ubach was secured with the assistance of reinforcements that had arrived the night before. This group of reinforcements was originally planned to support the attack towards Alsdorf but the collapse of the Merkstein defense allowed for this change in plans to enable a broader level of success in the northern area of operations. The Allies held approximately half of Alsdorf by the evening and the push south towards Wurselen was underway.
Day 4 - 5 Oct 1944
The allies worked on D4 to consolidate gains and continue attacks towards Wurselen. Throughout the day the Germans counterattacked towards Ubach-Palenberg and Asdorf, contesting the later but ultimately the Allies held. I decided not to push my forces out of Merkstein towards the highway running north-south from Ubach to Wurselen. My reasoning was that my larger-than-needed group in Merkstein world provided a reserve force if needed for the other objective areas.
Day 5 - 6 Oct 1944
Key Takeaways and Lessons Learned
The XIX Corps' assault through the Westwall was an overwhelming success, but the operation did not unfold exactly as I originally planned. Initial progress was slow, especially around Palenberg and Kerkrade. However, by the end of D3 the three sectors had linked up, the Germans had been driven out of Merkstein, and the Allies were already advancing into Alsdorf. By D4, Wurselen was secured and Allied forces had penetrated as far as Brochweiden. The original plan had called for a phased advance over five days, but opportunities created by the German collapse allowed me to accelerate several operations.
The most significant event was the discovery and attack on the German concentration of headquarters and supply bases near the Adolf mine at Merkstein. My original plan had identified Merkstein as an objective, but I had not anticipated finding the LXXXI Korps headquarters and several supporting supply bases concentrated there. Attacking these units offered an opportunity to disrupt German operations well beyond the immediate objective area. By the following morning, the headquarters and several bases had been destroyed after initially being routed.
This attack had a significant impact on the remainder of the operation. The Germans lost substantial supplies and the ability to distribute them effectively was disrupted. The German defense around Merkstein collapsed, opening the way for the Allied advance towards Alsdorf and Wurselen. While I cannot attribute the entire German defeat to the destruction of these support units, their loss was undoubtedly one of the most consequential events of the campaign.
Another important lesson was the value of a phased operational plan that allows for flexibility during execution. My original plan called for the establishment of three bridgeheads across the Wurm River. Top Sector would conduct the main attack, Middle Sector would secure Herzogenrath, and Bottom Sector would fix German forces in the south. Subsequent reinforcements would expand these bridgeheads and support the drive towards Alsdorf, Wurselen, and Brochweiden.
This approach worked, although several changes were necessary. On D3, I redirected reinforcements originally intended for the advance towards Alsdorf to help secure Ubach. The collapse of the Merkstein defense made this possible without jeopardizing the broader advance. In the south, the initial fixing force maintained its bridgehead until additional Allied reinforcements could cross and conduct follow-on attacks. By D5, these forces had secured Wurselen and pushed beyond the Alsdorf-Wurselen highway.
The final two days also demonstrated the importance of transitioning from offensive to defensive operations. As the Allies secured their objectives, the Germans launched counterattacks towards Ubach-Palenberg and Alsdorf. On D5, I committed ninety 105mm guns from six artillery battalions to bombard the German forces attacking in the north. The sustained bombardment disrupted the counterattack and prevented the Germans from effectively engaging my infantry and armored formations.
Lastly, the operation reinforced the importance of maintaining momentum and providing clear orders. My initial attack in Middle Sector bypassed Kerkrade because I failed to specify the intended approach and FUP. Later, at Merkstein, I unnecessarily interrupted an ongoing attack by issuing a new order rather than adjusting the existing one. Both mistakes cost time and complicated the operation.
The original plan provided a sound framework for the attack. The decisive advantage came from recognizing opportunities as they developed and adjusting the employment of forces without losing sight of the overall objectives.
Lessons in Game Mechanics
Here are a few quick thoughts:
Form Up Points (FUPs) and Attack Routes
Leaving the route and FUP unspecified gives subordinate AI commanders considerable freedom in planning an attack.
In Middle Sector, this resulted in the force bypassing Kerkrade and approaching Herzogenrath from an unintended direction.
Specifying a FUP and route is particularly important when the direction of attack matters or when bypassing enemy positions would leave threats behind the advancing force.
New Orders, Replanning, and Momentum
Issuing a new attack order can interrupt an ongoing attack and require the force to conduct another forming-up sequence.
Modifying an existing attack may also cause replanning, particularly if the objective or FUP changes, but can preserve important order settings.
Before changing an ongoing attack, consider whether the benefit of redirecting the force outweighs the resulting loss of momentum.
Attacking Headquarters and Supply Bases
Headquarters and supply bases are valuable targets even though their primary functions are not frontline combat.
A supply base forced to retreat automatically loses at least half its supplies, with additional losses possible when its remaining stocks exceed transport capacity.
Supply bases cannot dispatch supplies while moving, making displacement itself a useful means of disrupting enemy logistics.
The engagement at Merkstein demonstrated how attacking a concentration of support units can have effects extending beyond the immediate tactical engagement.
Bypassing Enemy Forces
Bypassing enemy positions may allow a force to reach its objective more quickly but can leave threats to its rear.
The German units bypassed around Kerkrade continued to interfere with Allied supply routes and required subsequent clearing operations.
The shortest or safest route to an objective is not necessarily the best route for the overall operation.
Massed Artillery and Defensive Operations
Artillery is not limited to preparing attacks or supporting advancing units.
On D5, I concentrated ninety 105mm guns against the German counterattack towards Ubach-Palenberg.
Sustained bombardments disrupted the German advance and reduced the threat to Allied frontline units.
Concentrating available artillery against a significant threat can be more effective than distributing fire across several less important targets.
Reinforcements and Established Bridgeheads
An initial crossing does not have to be the main effort to become operationally significant.
Bottom Sector's original fixing force maintained a crossing that later enabled reinforcements to join the offensive towards Wurselen and Brochweiden.
Maintaining control of crossing points and planning for their subsequent use can provide valuable flexibility as additional forces arrive.
Reserves and the Commitment of Combat Power
Retaining forces in reserve provides flexibility to respond to counterattacks or unexpected developments.
On D4, I chose to maintain a substantial reserve at Merkstein rather than exploit towards the Alsdorf-Wurselen highway.
In hindsight, this may have been more combat power than necessary, but it provided an option to reinforce threatened objective areas without disrupting other operations.
In Closing
Through the Westwall ended with XIX Corps securing a decisive victory and the German LXXXI Korps offering to surrender at on D5. The Allies earned all 100 available victory points while inflicting personnel losses exceeding their own by more than five to one. The Germans also suffered extensive unit losses, including six surrenders and sixty-four disbandments.
The operation demonstrated the value of a sound initial plan while reinforcing the need for flexibility during execution. My original concept of establishing bridgeheads across the Wurm and using follow-on reinforcements to expand the offensive proved successful. However, the timing and direction of several attacks changed as the situation developed.
The attack at Merkstein was the turning point. What began as an assault against a territorial objective became an opportunity to disrupt the German command and logistical system. The destruction of these units helped facilitate the rapid Allied advance that followed.
Equally important was the ability to adapt as the operation progressed. Reinforcements were redirected to secure Ubach, the southern bridgehead enabled later attacks towards Wurselen and Brochweiden, and massed artillery fires defeated the German attempt to regain ground in the north.
One of the things I enjoy most about Command Ops 2 is that a successful operation requires more than issuing attack orders and watching units advance. The player must develop a plan, communicate intent to subordinate commanders, assess the evolving situation, and decide when intervention is necessary. Sometimes the AI will execute an order differently than expected, and sometimes an unexpected opportunity will justify changing the original plan.
I learned a great deal from playing, analyzing, and writing about Through the Westwall. The attack on the German headquarters and supply bases at Merkstein was particularly interesting and will be a useful example for future Tactics Talks on headquarters, logistics, and centers of gravity.
Thank you for reading, and I look forward to engaging with you about how this playthrough unfolded.
Allied FLOTs (forward line of own troops) from 2-6 Oct with historic FLOTs from 6 and 7 Oct.
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