Historical Background:
During the night before the D-Day, a dozen of Horsa gliders carrying US paratroopers of the 3rd Battalion, 507th PIR, 82nd Airborne Division, landed in the marshes of Graignes, about twenty kilometers far from the planned landing zone. Isolated in the middle of enemy lines, the US paratroopers were welcomed and hidden by the French population of Graignes. They were reinforced during D-Day by several lost paratroopers and in particular by a platoon of the 501st PIR, 101st Airborne Division. Major Johnson took command of the paratroopers and decided to stay in the village with the help of the French civilians. 182 US paratroopers, equipped with mortars and machine-guns entrenched in Graignes, waiting for a quick liberation by an US offensive. German troops arrived first. The first attack was on sunday 11th of June in the morning but was easily repulsed. Then German soldiers put up an antitank 88mm battery and opened fire with it and some mortars before to launch an infantry assault. US fire was devastating on German assault troops. During the following night, US paratroopers, low in ammunitions, withdrew in the marshes and in the morning of Monday 12th of June, German soldiers of the 17.SS PanzerGrenadier Division "Götz Von Berlichingen" overran the village. About fifteen wounded paratroopers were found in the first-aid post (in the church) and brutally killed as well as some French civilians in Graignes, then the village was burned in retaliation. Ruins of the village were finally liberated on the 12th of July by units of 113th US Cavalry Group. Graignes remains in History as the example of the true cooperation and friendship between the French population and US soldiers.
The stage is set, the battle lines are drawn, and you are in command. The rest is history.

Briefing:
Axis player [Germany] : 6 command cards, you move first.
Allied player [United States] : 6 command cards.

Conditions of Victory:
6 medals.
The church in Graignes is a temporary medal objective for the Axis player.

Special Rules:
- Use "Specialized Units" rules (Troops 2) to all Axis and Allied units. Badges are not required.
- Use "Heavy Anti-Tank Guns" rules (Troops 23) to the Axis artillery battery.
- Special Weapon Asset rules (SWAs 4 - Special Weapon Assets>1942) are in effect for units equipped with Mortars (SWAs 6) and Machine-guns (SWAs 7).

Scenario Bibliography:
- Carte IGN 1/50 000 n°1312 - Carentan.
- "Américains et Normands dans la bataille" - Roger Jean Lebarbenchon.
- Guide des plages du débarquement et des champs de bataille de Normandie - Eddy Florentin.

Remember, see the belfry as a memorial for US soldiers and French people killed in the battle of Graignes.

Warning:
Please note that this scenario was not approved by Richard Borg or Days of Wonder, so you have to check yourself about playability, potential gaming issues, etc.