Hell's Highway: Operation Market Garden
27-30 October 2016
Van, Texas
NOTE THE NEW DATES!!!
September, 1944. The German Army, after weeks of constant retreat, has finally gained breathing time in Belgium and Holland to rest and refit. Or have they?
The members of the 6th Airborne Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment (6th AARR)(reenacted) invite all 1944 impression Northwest European WW2 British, American Airborne, and German, and resistance reenactors to an event to be held on 27-30 October at Van, Texas. Reenactors portraying Belgian and Dutch civilians and resistance units are highly encouraged to participate.
Those who have attended Orne Bridgehead and Operation Varsity can expect all the advanced features of those events and more. Features of the event will include:
- Extension of the event starting on Thursday, with battle scenarios on Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning.
- More vendors in the vending area.
- More living history competitions.
- More opportunities for period civilians with real functions in the scenarios.
- An expanded, larger authentic functioning Drop Zone including discarded paratrooper parachutes with packs and rigging, marker panel designations for DZ and landing direction markers, "Rommel's Asparagus" anti-glider obstacles, and real and reproduction supply panniers, CLE containers, and palletized loads containing real supplies critical to the operation, with the correct color-coded parachutes to supply the operation.
- Cash stipends to armored vehicle owners to offset transportation costs.
- More battlefield effects including British and US paratrooper casualties hanging in trees, German military and civilian casualties laying on the battlefield, and destroyed military and civilian vehicles littering the battlefield.
- Dug-in field fortifications reinforced with barbed wire obstacles and pillboxes.
- Authentic meals provided by authentic German and British field kitchen facilities. Supper on Saturday is included with your registration fee.
- Professional grade pyrotechnics program simulating artillery barrages including HE and smoke shells.
- Expanded cafe program including entertainment, an awards program for participants, Allied and German sing-a- longs, and of course another legendary production of "Sock Puppet Theatre". The café will be open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
- Enhanced training program on Friday for participants, including map reading and navigation classes, conducting indirect fire, and mission planning.
- Friday night living history production of "XXX Corps Mission Briefing
Registration will be by PRE-REGISTRATION ONLY. Arrival and set up for participants will begin on Thursday, and first formation will be Friday morning. There will be two scenarios on Friday and three scenarios on Saturday.
Scenario 1 – XXX Corps advance. British armoured formation attacks and breaks through the German front line.
Scenario 2 – The American Airborne drop and linkup with XXX Corps
Scenario 3 – German ambushes on Hell’s Highway
Scenario 4 - German counterattack on Hell's Highway
Scenario 5 – German attack on the Oosterbeek pocket and British withdrawal.
Participants of "Hell's Highway: Operation Market Garden" are encouraged to join the event Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/503010716537580/ Information will be added as details develop. To contact the C.O. of 6th AARR, email [email protected]
The members of the 6th Airborne Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment (6th AARR)(reenacted) invite all 1944 impression Northwest European WW2 British, American Airborne, and German, and resistance reenactors to an event to be held on 27-30 October at Van, Texas. Reenactors portraying Belgian and Dutch civilians and resistance units are highly encouraged to participate.
Those who have attended Orne Bridgehead and Operation Varsity can expect all the advanced features of those events and more. Features of the event will include:
- Extension of the event starting on Thursday, with battle scenarios on Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning.
- More vendors in the vending area.
- More living history competitions.
- More opportunities for period civilians with real functions in the scenarios.
- An expanded, larger authentic functioning Drop Zone including discarded paratrooper parachutes with packs and rigging, marker panel designations for DZ and landing direction markers, "Rommel's Asparagus" anti-glider obstacles, and real and reproduction supply panniers, CLE containers, and palletized loads containing real supplies critical to the operation, with the correct color-coded parachutes to supply the operation.
- Cash stipends to armored vehicle owners to offset transportation costs.
- More battlefield effects including British and US paratrooper casualties hanging in trees, German military and civilian casualties laying on the battlefield, and destroyed military and civilian vehicles littering the battlefield.
- Dug-in field fortifications reinforced with barbed wire obstacles and pillboxes.
- Authentic meals provided by authentic German and British field kitchen facilities. Supper on Saturday is included with your registration fee.
- Professional grade pyrotechnics program simulating artillery barrages including HE and smoke shells.
- Expanded cafe program including entertainment, an awards program for participants, Allied and German sing-a- longs, and of course another legendary production of "Sock Puppet Theatre". The café will be open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
- Enhanced training program on Friday for participants, including map reading and navigation classes, conducting indirect fire, and mission planning.
- Friday night living history production of "XXX Corps Mission Briefing
Registration will be by PRE-REGISTRATION ONLY. Arrival and set up for participants will begin on Thursday, and first formation will be Friday morning. There will be two scenarios on Friday and three scenarios on Saturday.
Scenario 1 – XXX Corps advance. British armoured formation attacks and breaks through the German front line.
Scenario 2 – The American Airborne drop and linkup with XXX Corps
Scenario 3 – German ambushes on Hell’s Highway
Scenario 4 - German counterattack on Hell's Highway
Scenario 5 – German attack on the Oosterbeek pocket and British withdrawal.
Participants of "Hell's Highway: Operation Market Garden" are encouraged to join the event Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/503010716537580/ Information will be added as details develop. To contact the C.O. of 6th AARR, email [email protected]
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*** NOTE TO BRITISH REENACTORS!!!! We understand that the vast majority of Brit reenactors in the US do Airborne. So do we! For this event, for the first four scenarios, all British airborne reenactors are encouraged to 'switch' to regular infantry by simply leaving their smock off and putting on a Brodie or Mk IV helmet. Most of us have one anyway. We don't care if you have airborne insignia on your BD blouse for these scenarios, just that your general appearance is regular infantry. For the last scenario, put your smock and airborne helmet back on. If you don't have a brodie or Mk IV helmet already, here's a cheap one on ebay.
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GETTING THERE
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When you're driving to the event, after you've followed the "WW2" arrow signs pictured to the right, you'll come to the Park and Register sign in this photo. Then you'll know for sure you're in the right place. Park your car first, and then get your gear on and report to registration. Thanks!
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Driving Directions to the Event:
From Interstate Highway 20 - Exit Interstate 20 at exit number 540 at Van. You'll see a Love's Travel Stop on the north side of the highway. Go south on FR 314 for 3.7 miles. Take a right onto FR 858. Go 0.8 mile. Take a left on VZ 4614. Go 1.5 miles. Take a left on VZ 4605. Go 0.4 mile. You are at the event. You will see the Registration and Parking sign for the event. Parking is in the field on the right of the road.
From Ben Wheeler Texas - Take Highway 64 east toward Tyler. Go 4.6 miles. Take a left on VZ 4608. Go 1.2 miles. Take a right onto VZ 4605. Go 0.4 mile. You are at the event. You will see the Registration and Parking sign for the event. Parking is in the field on the right of the road.
From Tyler Texas. Take Highway 64 west. Go approximately 21 miles. Take a right onto VZ 4608. Go 1.2 miles. Take a right onto VZ 4605. Go 0.4 mile. You are at the event. You will see the Registration and Parking sign for the event. Parking is in the field on the right of the road.
When you reach the road intersections and junctions near the event, you will see 4' x 4' signs painted white with black letters saying "WW2", with black arrows pointing the direction to the event.
From Ben Wheeler Texas - Take Highway 64 east toward Tyler. Go 4.6 miles. Take a left on VZ 4608. Go 1.2 miles. Take a right onto VZ 4605. Go 0.4 mile. You are at the event. You will see the Registration and Parking sign for the event. Parking is in the field on the right of the road.
From Tyler Texas. Take Highway 64 west. Go approximately 21 miles. Take a right onto VZ 4608. Go 1.2 miles. Take a right onto VZ 4605. Go 0.4 mile. You are at the event. You will see the Registration and Parking sign for the event. Parking is in the field on the right of the road.
When you reach the road intersections and junctions near the event, you will see 4' x 4' signs painted white with black letters saying "WW2", with black arrows pointing the direction to the event.
"Hell's Highway" Location: Here is the physical address and the latitude/longitude coordinates. Use the physical address for BATF paperwork, BUT DO NOT USE IT to try to locate the property with GPS or Mapquest or Google maps, etc. IT WILL NOT SHOW YOU THE CORRECT LOCATION. Use the Latitude/Longitude, and type it into GPS or cut and paste it into a google search, and it will show you the correct location. Thanks!
Physical Address
399 VZ CR 4605, BEN WHEELER, TX 75754
Latitude and Longitude
32.436227, -95.630407
Physical Address
399 VZ CR 4605, BEN WHEELER, TX 75754
Latitude and Longitude
32.436227, -95.630407
When you get to "Hell's Highway", you will see the farmhouse in the first photo, and there will be a sign out front pointing you to parking and registration. The gate in the second photo is across from the road, and that's where you will park your car, in the field inside the gate. When you've gotten your gear ready for registration, you will go back across the road and to the left of the farmhouse, you'll see a barn through another gate. That is where you will go to register. Go through the door into the barn in the fourth photo, and you will fill out your waiver form, get information and handouts, and be directed where to go from there after you pass your safety and authenticity checks.
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There will be leaders briefings and classes on how to read maps, use protractors to determine grids, call for and adjust mortar fire, use communications equipment, etc., in the barn all evening on Friday, and a 1:500 scale terrain model will be there for the training and for unit leaders to use for planning with their units. Leaders will be supplied with maps for the event.
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This event is a private tactical battle. It is not open to the public. All reenactors interested in participating need to be approved by the 6th Airborne Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment. Attendance is by unit and individual invite only. If you or your unit are interested in attending, PLEASE FILL OUT THE CONTACT FORM AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE AND SUBMIT IT. This is an immersion event depicting the events in Belgium and Holland in September 1944. This event is open to British and American Airborne and all British Army impressions and German reenactors only. All British and American impressions that fought in Operation Market Garden are welcome to attend. German impressions should also reflect those impressions that fought in Belgium and Holland in the Fall of 1944. Civilian impressions are welcome! Although it is preferred that impressions such as British and US Airborne reenactors portray the actual units involved, i.e. Brits portray 1st Airborne and US portray 101st or 82nd Airborne, it is not necessary to re-patch your uniforms, but it is appreciated.
For armoured vehicle owners, a cash stipend is being offered to help defray your costs for transporting your vehicles to the event. A $200.00 stipend will be paid to owners of fully-tracked armoured vehicles who bring their vehicles to the event for the weekend, and a $100.00 stipend will be paid to owners of half-tracked armoured vehicles who bring their vehicles to the event for the weekend.
Supper on Saturday evening will be provided to all participants. Other meals need to be provided by the participants themselves. Please ensure that the rations and snacks you bring are period correct, and leave all modern labels and packaging at home. A recommended source for rations is http://reprorations.com/
Helmets are required for this event. There will be a large amount of pyrotechnics used at the event, including simulated mortar and artillery bombardments, as well as signalling pyrotechnics, smoke, and parachute flares. If you are planning on bringing any pyrotechnics, see the "Rules of Engagement" document below.
Upon arrival, you will kit up and get your gear ready. There is a registration farm house at the front of the property, and you will report to the front door of the house to register. Safety and authenticity will be checked at the farm. Your heavy equipment, weaponry, and any other gear or vehicles will be checked prior to entering the gate. Once you have been registered and cleared, you will be directed to your positions for the night. If you have heavy gear and no period vehicle, WW2 transport vehicles will be on hand to move you and your stuff to your assigned positions. From the time you leave registration to the time you head to your vehicle after the event, you are expected to remain 'period' for the duration of the event. You are free to go back to the vehicle parking area during the event, but leave the modern stuff there.
On Friday afternoon, there will be a brief formation consisting of a briefing on what to expect, what will be expected of you, and some demonstrations of pyrotechnics and hand-to-hand 'combat' to ensure safety during the event. Safety personnel will be pointed out and firefighting equipment pointed out, should it be needed during the event. After the formation, combatants will go back to their positions, and the scenarios will begin.
There will be 'down time' in between the scenarios for you to go back to camp, rest and replenish water and ammo, spend time at the vendors, time with your friends, etc.
Understand that this is a historic reenactment. There is no hit calling, and it is not a wargame. There is no "winning", only portraying events that occurred. There is no "you go over there on that hill and we'll try to kick you off". Hit calling is the most dis-respectful practice that "reenactors" engage in. It reduces the act of soldiers killing soldiers to a game, and dishonors the sacrifices of those we portray. Some of us are real combat veterans, and if your club does this, leave it at home.
Chain of command will be established for both sides by the organizers of the event. There is no 'reenactor rank' or 'reenactor time in grade'. All participants will follow the orders of their chain of command. Failure to comply will result in a warning, and repeated failure to comply may result from expulsion from the event. There will be pre-placed pyrotechnics for some of the scenarios, and individuals and groups who fail to follow orders could get themselves or others injured, and ruin the scenario for everyone.
If you want to take the hobby seriously, by all means, fill out the contact form and join us and see what "feeling like being there" can feel like. The organizers of this event are bringing over 30 years of reenacting and event running experience in both North America and Europe spanning from the Napoleonic Wars to Vietnam to the table.
Keep referring back to this web page, as well as signing up on the "Hell's Highway" Facebook page, for updates and current information on the event. Thanks!
For armoured vehicle owners, a cash stipend is being offered to help defray your costs for transporting your vehicles to the event. A $200.00 stipend will be paid to owners of fully-tracked armoured vehicles who bring their vehicles to the event for the weekend, and a $100.00 stipend will be paid to owners of half-tracked armoured vehicles who bring their vehicles to the event for the weekend.
Supper on Saturday evening will be provided to all participants. Other meals need to be provided by the participants themselves. Please ensure that the rations and snacks you bring are period correct, and leave all modern labels and packaging at home. A recommended source for rations is http://reprorations.com/
Helmets are required for this event. There will be a large amount of pyrotechnics used at the event, including simulated mortar and artillery bombardments, as well as signalling pyrotechnics, smoke, and parachute flares. If you are planning on bringing any pyrotechnics, see the "Rules of Engagement" document below.
Upon arrival, you will kit up and get your gear ready. There is a registration farm house at the front of the property, and you will report to the front door of the house to register. Safety and authenticity will be checked at the farm. Your heavy equipment, weaponry, and any other gear or vehicles will be checked prior to entering the gate. Once you have been registered and cleared, you will be directed to your positions for the night. If you have heavy gear and no period vehicle, WW2 transport vehicles will be on hand to move you and your stuff to your assigned positions. From the time you leave registration to the time you head to your vehicle after the event, you are expected to remain 'period' for the duration of the event. You are free to go back to the vehicle parking area during the event, but leave the modern stuff there.
On Friday afternoon, there will be a brief formation consisting of a briefing on what to expect, what will be expected of you, and some demonstrations of pyrotechnics and hand-to-hand 'combat' to ensure safety during the event. Safety personnel will be pointed out and firefighting equipment pointed out, should it be needed during the event. After the formation, combatants will go back to their positions, and the scenarios will begin.
There will be 'down time' in between the scenarios for you to go back to camp, rest and replenish water and ammo, spend time at the vendors, time with your friends, etc.
Understand that this is a historic reenactment. There is no hit calling, and it is not a wargame. There is no "winning", only portraying events that occurred. There is no "you go over there on that hill and we'll try to kick you off". Hit calling is the most dis-respectful practice that "reenactors" engage in. It reduces the act of soldiers killing soldiers to a game, and dishonors the sacrifices of those we portray. Some of us are real combat veterans, and if your club does this, leave it at home.
Chain of command will be established for both sides by the organizers of the event. There is no 'reenactor rank' or 'reenactor time in grade'. All participants will follow the orders of their chain of command. Failure to comply will result in a warning, and repeated failure to comply may result from expulsion from the event. There will be pre-placed pyrotechnics for some of the scenarios, and individuals and groups who fail to follow orders could get themselves or others injured, and ruin the scenario for everyone.
If you want to take the hobby seriously, by all means, fill out the contact form and join us and see what "feeling like being there" can feel like. The organizers of this event are bringing over 30 years of reenacting and event running experience in both North America and Europe spanning from the Napoleonic Wars to Vietnam to the table.
Keep referring back to this web page, as well as signing up on the "Hell's Highway" Facebook page, for updates and current information on the event. Thanks!
REGISTRATION FOR "HELL'S HIGHWAY IS NOW CLOSED.
THERE IS NO REGISTRATION AT THE GATE. IF YOU ARE NOT PRE-REGISTERED, YOU ARE NOT COMING TO THIS EVENT.
Pre-registration gives us a solid number to plan for financially for supplies and other expenses. The responses I keep getting from people telling me they have 5 and 8 and 10 people or whatever coming, is fine, but if we put all the money into all the rations and supplies and everything it takes to run the event, and all the "maybe" comings don't show up, it's not going to be the people running the event who are fronting the money for everyone else to have a good time that are going to bite the bullet for those who said they are coming and then didn't show up. If you know someone who is planning on coming, warn them there is no registration at the gate and tell them NEXT TIME to pre-register!!!
THERE IS NO REGISTRATION AT THE GATE. IF YOU ARE NOT PRE-REGISTERED, YOU ARE NOT COMING TO THIS EVENT.
Pre-registration gives us a solid number to plan for financially for supplies and other expenses. The responses I keep getting from people telling me they have 5 and 8 and 10 people or whatever coming, is fine, but if we put all the money into all the rations and supplies and everything it takes to run the event, and all the "maybe" comings don't show up, it's not going to be the people running the event who are fronting the money for everyone else to have a good time that are going to bite the bullet for those who said they are coming and then didn't show up. If you know someone who is planning on coming, warn them there is no registration at the gate and tell them NEXT TIME to pre-register!!!
UNIT AWARDS!
There will be three awards given out, one to each of the three major combatants, British/Commonwealth, American and German. The awards will be given for the most authentic camp or battle position for each major combatant. Criteria will consist of best tentage, camp gear, crate-age, fox holes or slit trenches, non-visibility of modern crap, camouflage, range stakes, period labeling of packages, etc. etc. etc. The better and more elaborate your unit's setup is, the better your chance of winning the prize. The prizes awarded will be ammunition or ration crates so that the units who win them can add to their already excellent impression, and encourage other units to up their game in the future. The prizes will be:
For the British/Commonwealth: A WW2 reproduction British Compo Ration crate produced by K. Doughtie.
For the Americans: A WW2 reproduction US .45 caliber ammunition crate produced by Frontline Crates.
For the Germans: A WW2 reproduction 7.92mm ammunition crate produced by Frontline Crates.
There will be three awards given out, one to each of the three major combatants, British/Commonwealth, American and German. The awards will be given for the most authentic camp or battle position for each major combatant. Criteria will consist of best tentage, camp gear, crate-age, fox holes or slit trenches, non-visibility of modern crap, camouflage, range stakes, period labeling of packages, etc. etc. etc. The better and more elaborate your unit's setup is, the better your chance of winning the prize. The prizes awarded will be ammunition or ration crates so that the units who win them can add to their already excellent impression, and encourage other units to up their game in the future. The prizes will be:
For the British/Commonwealth: A WW2 reproduction British Compo Ration crate produced by K. Doughtie.
For the Americans: A WW2 reproduction US .45 caliber ammunition crate produced by Frontline Crates.
For the Germans: A WW2 reproduction 7.92mm ammunition crate produced by Frontline Crates.
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Below are some examples of camps and
setups to give you an idea of the kinds of things we're looking for (and
*not* as well). Look close, because the judges will be!
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Top left is from "Atlas Repro Paperwork" website.
Top center is 6th AARR harbor area. Top right is a bivi tent row from
6th AARR. Above left is a Heer unit from California setup at MOR VI.
Above center and right are from GI camps at MOR VI. Left is from 6th
AARR field kitchen at Bois de Bavent. Right is a GI camp from MOR VI.
These are good examples of efforts different clubs have put into making
their unit's impression better as a group. The fewer the flaws in your
club's setup, the better your chance of winning the prize. The idea is
that if you took the photo in black and white, can it be distinguished
from an original photo, why or why not?
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For the sing-alongs at Cafe Ter Horst, instead of handing out printed flyers with the lyrics to popular WW2 allied and axis songs, we'll be projecting them onto a screen, so it'll be more like a 'group karaoke'. Also, we'll be doing the game "FUBAR", running it sort of like family feud. There will be UK, Yank and German teams of five competing against each other in their own slang terms. As in five UK guys/girls competing against five other UK people, and the teams whose knowledge of their own nation's slang is better will win prizes. So if you don't have the book "FUBAR", and you want to compete, you might want to pick up a copy. Copies sell for one cent, yes, one single penny, plus shipping on Amazon. Here's the link:
The
below map is the map of the reenactment site in Van, Texas. It has
been edited in scale so that you can use a standard 1:25,000 protractor
to determine 6 and 8 digit grid locations using the grid squares. The
grid squares themselves are 500' x 500' on the actual ground. The
terrain is rolling gentle hills with open fields, meadows, woods,
tree-lines and streams. It is very vehicle friendly, and there are
farm-trails linking the meadows and fields. There are some field
fortifications already dug on-site, including trenches and weapons
pits. The maneuver area is bounded on the west side by the
hard-surfaced road in red, on the south by the hard-surfaced road in
red, and on the east and north sides by thick hedge-rows that can be
seen on this map as broken black lines shaded in green. Feel free to
copy and print this map for use at the event, as only a limited number
of maps will be issued to unit leaders.
General authenticity rules for ALL PARTICIPANTS:
NO cigarettes with filters
NO cell phones. If you can't live without the thing, put it on vibrate, and if you must use it, go out in the woods like you are going out to wipe your ass with a rabbit, meaning MAKE SURE YOU CAN'T BE SEEN BY ANYONE.
NO modern music.
NO modern containers, wrist watches, jewelry, ear buds, blue tooths, or eyewear. Either wear period correct glasses, or wear contacts.
NO modern camp gear visible. All modern coolers, stoves, lanterns, or any other modern stuff must be concealed in tents WITH FLAPS CLOSED AT ALL TIMES. A modern igloo cooler painted camouflage with an eagle and swastika on it DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AUTHENTIC CAMP GEAR.
NO MODERN VEHICLES in the camp areas. IF you are allowed to unload your modern vehicle because you have an exceptionally impressive amount of period camp gear for your display, then you will unload the gear and IMMEDIATELY move your modern vehicle out of the camp area. Come back to set it up AFTER you have removed your vehicle.
Facial hair MUST BE JUSTIFIED BY THE PARTICIPANT WITH DOCUMENTATION AND PHOTOS. If you don't provide it, either shave, or leave.
NO cigarettes with filters
NO cell phones. If you can't live without the thing, put it on vibrate, and if you must use it, go out in the woods like you are going out to wipe your ass with a rabbit, meaning MAKE SURE YOU CAN'T BE SEEN BY ANYONE.
NO modern music.
NO modern containers, wrist watches, jewelry, ear buds, blue tooths, or eyewear. Either wear period correct glasses, or wear contacts.
NO modern camp gear visible. All modern coolers, stoves, lanterns, or any other modern stuff must be concealed in tents WITH FLAPS CLOSED AT ALL TIMES. A modern igloo cooler painted camouflage with an eagle and swastika on it DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AUTHENTIC CAMP GEAR.
NO MODERN VEHICLES in the camp areas. IF you are allowed to unload your modern vehicle because you have an exceptionally impressive amount of period camp gear for your display, then you will unload the gear and IMMEDIATELY move your modern vehicle out of the camp area. Come back to set it up AFTER you have removed your vehicle.
Facial hair MUST BE JUSTIFIED BY THE PARTICIPANT WITH DOCUMENTATION AND PHOTOS. If you don't provide it, either shave, or leave.
