Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Grumble Jones December Scenario - GJ 142 Victory at a High Price


In a couple of weeks, the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge will be upon us. America's greatest battle in World War II and I suspect still to this day. The picture above has always been my personal favorite shot from the battle. As a child, this picture chilled me as I feared the German soldiers who emerged from the dark Ardennes Woods to destroy the American Army. I first saw this picture in John Toland's Battle of the Bulge.

I first read this book in 1973 at the age of 8. It was also the first book I ever read from cover to cover. I have never forgotten reading it in bed and my mother allowed me to stay up longer to finish the last chapter. 

The Landmark series of history books filled both my public and school library as a child in Bristol, TN-VA. They are widely circulated these days by homeschoolers. The books cover a huge swath of American history from the discoverers up to the Atomic Age. They shaped a lot of my own worldview and ideas of America's place in that world. Personally, I believe that they have withstood the test of time as solid history for children and pre-teens. 

At any rate, Toland's book stuck with me throughout my life and would create in me a huge interest in the Battle of the Bulge, which persists to this very day.






This month's scenario is set at the back end of the battle as the Americans began to move the Germans back to the Siegfried Line and back into Germany. It has been taken from Frank van Lunteren's outstanding Blocking Kampfgruppe Peiper. I highly recommend checking this book out. It's really full of great small unit actions that could easily fill an entire scenario pack.

Here now is the December and final scenario for 2024!!!




As always, these monthly "Basement Quality" Scenarios are offered for fun only and as a thank you to the readers of this blog.


Remember to open pictures in a new window in order to maximize the size. 


All Grumble Jones scenarios are available from the ASL Archive website. 

               (Just search on Grumble Jones) 

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