The Battle of Stavelot: Peiper's Charge Meets Its End

The annual Battle of the Bulge event for Darkest Hour: Europe '44-'45 is here! This incredible mod for the classic Red Orchestra 1: Ostfront 41-45, It throws us into the chaos of Peiper's Charge on the first day of the German offensive.

Historical Context: Peiper's Charge at Stavelot was a key, yet failed, part of the German Ardennes Offensive (Battle of the Bulge) in December 1944. SS Colonel Joachim Peiper's elite armored column, after the infamous Malmedy Massacre, got bogged down by fuel and ammo shortages and fierce American resistance (including the 82nd Airborne) near Stavelot. This eventually forced them to abandon their tanks and retreat, marking a significant setback for the German push.

The Goal: Kampfgruppe Peiper aimed to punch through Allied lines to the Meuse River to seize vital supply depots.

Malmedy Massacre (Dec 17): The charge was infamously marked by the massacre of U.S. POWs at Baugnez, which only fueled American resolve.

Stavelot Resistance: U.S. troops effectively halted Peiper's advance at Stavelot, trapping his spearhead.

La Gleize (The End): Running out of fuel and ammo, Peiper retreated to nearby La Gleize, where his column was destroyed, and he walked back to German lines by December 23rd.

In the Game: Watch as Kampfgruppe Peiper launches a powerful assault on the town of Stavelot. For the first half of the match, the German attack is relentless and it looks like a disastrous breakthrough is imminent. But then, the Allied forces manage to regroup, mount a desperate defense, and slowly turn the tide. A comeback unfolds as we hold the line until the Axis run out of reinforcements.

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