The box sounds a bit like Operation Stösser. A paratrooper drop behind the American lines on December 17th, 1944.

The aim was to land around 1300 paratroopers near Malmedy (Belgium), secure intersections and roads, and 24 hours later to get support from the 12th SS Panzer Division.

Due to bad weather (the launch was during a snowstorm) and very inexperienced pilots, many of whom had never flown a Ju52 or ever been on a real mission, only a fraction of the paratroopers arrived near the drop zone. Most were dropped in Bonn (80km away) or were still sitting in the planes when they flew back.

The paratroopers were also inexperienced and some died during the jump/landing because the training was too poor. The bodies were not found until the following spring.

Friedrich August Freiherr von der Heydte gathered around 300 of his men. He wanted to wait for the 12th SS Panzer Division, as they only had ammunition for one battle and not enough men to occupy the crossings, which could not break through. On December 19th he gathered his men and retreated towards the German lines, surrendered and was taken prisoner.

On the American side, however, this caused such confusion that paratroopers were reported throughout the Ardennes region. An entire regiment (U.S. 18th Infantry) was then tasked with searching and securing the region, with almost 3,000 men and 200 tanks. This tied them up for several days and meant they were missing from the front.

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As always, the contents are a great box, but it's not "my" theater and I'm not really interested in collecting another German or US army just because they're now wearing winter coats

Great hobby gossip on a great box. Fun to watch.

Oft neglected, but the winter GIs are excellent for Korean theatre as well. Frozen Chosin makes a great addition!

Great unboxing and review guys

Really appreciated the wee captain scarlett nod! Haha so good!
Loving your content btw! Just getting into it now, and have started with the battle of the bulge  set as it seemed reasonably well rounded... looking forward to expanding on it!

Great review. Looking forward to more v3

My set arrived today and the two new sprues are outstanding

Hope your recovering Kaiser, I have to learn Bolt Action as I won this set and  two Sherman 76's in the raffle :)

this is better than the book type too small to read with a magnifying glass a waste

STG 43 was used like an assault rifle/machine gun (personal) to allow troops to be able to deal with various scenarios (Med-short distances with improved rate of fire). You are correct that it did NOT replace the MG34/42.

Battle of Lanzerath Ridge: A small intelligence platoon (18 soldiers) from the 99th Infantry Division held up a massive German assault, including elements of the 3rd Fallschirmjäger Division, for nearly a day in an intensely uneven battle, causing significant delays to the German advance.
This could be an option for this starter set.

The thing I can never understand is why figures that are meant for gaming need to have so many parts to build each figure. But, you might say, it's so you can customize your poses. Yes but when you have them on the table and your playing is there anyone saying, "Oh I really like the way that figures arm is at a 5 degree angle difference than that other figure". It should be about getting to play as fast as possible. Have a variety of poses like 1/72 figures do and make each figure a quick build (other manufacturers do this). It's just something that's always bugged me especially since I'm an old dude now and just want things more simple and straightforward.

There was a German Para drop in the Ardennes Offensive but it failed and the troops featured here in this set are units that went in on foot and on AFV's. The German Paratroop drop in the Ardennes during World War II was part of Operation Stösser, also known as Operation Hawk but it was a failure due to poor weather, poorly trained inexperienced troops were used and a lack of supplies. Some of the survivors did however create confusion and panic in already edgy American forces

I believe a standard Rifle Company would have a Weapons Platoon with a single mortar squad consisting of 3 60mm M2 mortars. This is in contrast to Airborne Division Rifle Companies having 1 60mm M2 mortar per Rifle Platoon. I do not recall the reasoning behind the difference, but my initial assumption is that the Airborne Division may have had their composite units arranged to maximize their ability to operate independently.

What… not taking your skillet into battle?!? What will they use for close combat 😂

I have got this starter set for my 11 year old lad for Christmas.

We plan on expanding the forces with the new starter sets when they are released in January.

Have you, or could you even, cover off the starter play through missions in the Battle of the Bulgr starter set to aid new players like us?  I don't believe this has been done thus far.

Hope you do.  Followed your content for quite some time, really good watch