11-13 JAN - The Long Winter - Vaughn, WA

WHAT: The Long Winter
WHERE: Vaughn, WA
WHEN: 11-13 JAN 2008
COST: 3 DAY(Fri-Sun): $90.00 2 DAY(Sat-Sun): $70.00

ABOUT THE EVENT:

This year's Long Winter will simulate the link up between US 1st Army and British XXX Corps that happened on Jan 14, 1945. A small squad was sent out on Jan 12 from 3rd Battalion, 347th Infantry from a small village near St. Hubert to link up with British troops.

Participants will be housed and feed for the weekend. There will be 3 major playable sides: German, American and British. We may also have room for civilian resitance fighters depending on total number of players. We will have suggested units that participants should be a part of, but given the nature of the Battle - mixed units were normal.

We will have strict uniform requirements and weapon rules for the event. The event will include WWII vehicles, artillery and other "goodies"! This is the WWII Airsoft event of the year and we look forward to seeing old familiar faces as well as new ones!

Here is a link to the video produced by the News Tribune on last year's event:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blsH8bhYgbY

Battle of the Bulge BACKGROUND:

Toward the end of 1944, Hitler knew the war swinging in favor of the Allied Armies and demanded his generals devise a plan to slow the Allied advance. On the morning of December 16, their offensive was launched. Three German Armies, totaling 25 divisions (11 armored) struck six unsuspecting American divisions at Ardennes and overran their lines. Heroic resistance by survivors, the retention of two critical road junctions, and swift reinforcement by both American and British troops halted the German advance.

American Counteroffensive

Two days before the New Year, a counteroffensive was launched against the Germans. Patton's Third Army struck the north while the First Army pushed to the south. The two armies were to meet at the village of Houffalize to trap the Germans. Progress was painfully slow and costly because the retreating Germans laid in wait with strategically located resistance as the Americans wallowed through open fields in deep snow and frozen ground that provided no shelter.

Hitler's "Great Blow"

Hitler then launched a plan called the "Great Blow" on January 1st. His goal was to eliminate Allied air power. German fighter planes swarmed over Belgium, Holland, and northern France bombarding airfields. Many Allied aircraft and bases were laid to ruin from the attack but the price paid by the Germans was devastating. The German Luftwaffe lost 300 planes and 253 trained pilots.

On January 8th, Hitler realized his offensive had failed and ordered his troops to withdraw. By January 16th, the Third and First American Armies joined at their objective village of Houffalize. This meant that the Allies now controlled the original front. On January 23rd, Saint Vith was retaken and by January 28th the Battle of the Bulge was officially over.