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ENDNOTES
Epigraph
1 “Möge die Welt nie mehr solche Weihnachtsnacht erleben!”… “At the sight of ruins, of blood and death, universal fraternity will rise” (Heintz 1984, 75).
Introduction
1 “The following is based on a report from A.P./W.I.U. (2nd T.A.F.) dated 25 January 1945 and on subsequent interrogation of P/W in England…” (Felkin, A.D.I. (K) Report No. 142/1945 1945, 1,3) The JU 88 Struhs flew in was a modified variant, the S-3, which had two Jumo 213A engines that could provide 2,200 horsepower to each of the bomber’s engines. This gave the Z6 FH more speed and, therefore, more survivability against the ever-present Allied fighters.
2 “I/K.G.66. 2. It is confirmed that I/K.G.66 based at Dedelstorf has reverted to its old duties as a specialized pathfinder unit. It is organized in the same way when it operated against England in the spring of 1944, that is to say with the 1st Staffel using the ‘Y’ procedure… this was a weather reconnaissance over an area of the North Sea of the Thames estuary…” (Felkin, A.D.I. (K) Report No. 175/1945 Further Report on the Crew of the Ju.88 S-3, Z6 + FH, of 1/K.G.66, shot down by A.A. 5 miles N.W. of Alost on 23rd January 1945, 1); “Once again I/K.G.66 had been organized as a specialist pathfinder unit as it was in the spring of 1944 when operating against England from Montdidier. Each Staffel now has a strength of 6/8 Ju.88 S-3’s and crews” (Felkin, A.D.I. (K) Report No. 142/1945 1945). “Present composition of the I. Gruppe is as follows: Unit 1st Staffel Planes 8 Ju 88 S3 [AND] 1 Ju 88 A4 Crews about 10…” (Warburg 1944, 3).
3 “At the beginning of VON RUNDSTEDT’s offensive a number of aircraft of K.G.66 were detailed to mark an area near Eupen where paratroops were to be dropped. The operation was kept a close secret and members of the unit were forbidden to write home until the flight had been completed” (Felkin, A.D.I. (K) Report No. 175/1945 Further Report on the Crew of the Ju.88 S-3, Z6 + FH, of 1/K.G.66, shot down by A.A. 5 miles N.W. of Alost on 23rd January 1945 1945, 2).
4 “At about Chr
istmastime some 12 aircraft of I/K.G.66, six of them acting as pathfinders and illuminators and the remainder as normal bombers, flew another sorties to the Bastogne area… 1st Staffel. Staffelkapitän… Oberleutnant PIOTA. Ia (Operations Officer)… Oberleutnant HEBERSTREIT” (Felkin, A.D.I. (K) Report No. 175/1945 Further Report on the Crew of the Ju.88 S-3, Z6 + FH, of 1/K.G.66, shot down by A.A. 5 miles N.W. of Alost on 23rd January 1945 1945, 2,8); “Major SCHMIDT… is still the Kommandeur of the I. Gruppe of K.G. 66” (Warburg 1944, 4).
Chapter One
1 Hooper, n.d.
2 “Division command post in Waxweiler” (H. Kokott, Ardennes Offensive—Battle of Bastogne 1950, 3).
3 Mitcham Jr., Panzers in Winter: Hitler’s Army and the Battle of the Bulge, 2006, 190.
4 “The period of reorganization lasted five weeks…. Commitment in Westwall. Early in November 1944, the division—without the Anti-tank Battalion’s anti-aircraft company and assault gun company which followed later—was moved to the West” (H. Kokott, Ardennes Offensive—Battle of Bastogne 1950, 1–2); “The 26th Volks Gren Div was fully filled and had disposal of seasoned commanders, but in its present condition had no experience in offensive warfare…” (H. V. Luettwitz, XXXXVII Panzer Corps in the Battle of the Ardennes Manuscript A-940 1946, 2); “26. Volks-Gren.Div. 14 from the Army on 2 Zeugamt Nov. 1944 - Pz.Jg.Kp.1026” (Andreas Altenburger 2011).
5 “The enemy picture was as follows…. Although this was declined, the division took it upon itself to keep those sentries, led by seasoned NCO’s and officers, beyond the front, after they had turned in all documents, papers and their paybooks” (H. Kokott, Ardennes Offensive—Battle of Bastogne 1950, 2–4); “At the end of November new divisions were announced… to the conjecture that some major operation was being planned” (H. Kokott, Ardennes Offensive—Battle of Bastogne 1950, 4).
6 “Hitler was now ready to gamble the lives of thousands…. A giant offensive might turn the trick.” (J. S. Eisenhower, 1969, 111); “During the first days of December 1944… The Ia (operations officer) of the division was at the beginning not to be familiarized with the plans” (H. Kokott, Ardennes Offensive—Battle of Bastogne 1950, 5).
