Kurland Brückenkopf (Newville, PA)

For this event we are portraying the members of Nr. 5 Kompanie, Gren. Regt. 2 / 11th Infantrie Division during the sixth battle of Kurland.  By order of Heeresgruppe Nord, it was forbidden to use the phrase "Kurland pocket."  Since the defeat at Stalingrad, the word "pocket" carried connotations of impending disaster.  The term "bridgehead" was thought to be better suited since it was viewed as jumping off point for offensives.  So "Kurland bridgehead" became the official name.  There were a total of six battles of Kurland.  It was during these battles the 11th Division would become known as a staple "fire-brigade" of the Kurland front.  For the event, we were portraying the Fifth Battle of Kurland.