by Leo Barron
39 “A burst of fire from the 2nd Platoon’s roadblock, the rattle of small arms fire and the bark of cannon startled me awake on the 23rd… had his thumb shot off but managed to get back” (Bowen, Fighting with the Screaming Eagles: With the 101st Airborne Division from Normandy to Bastogne, 2005, 172); “23 December cont’d 1325—Blue being attacked by 5 tanks and an unknown number of inf. at 480602” (S2 Section, 327th Glider Infantry Regiment, 1944, 7); “At 1200 on the 23 Dec… They did not try to engage it” (Allen, 1945, 1).
40 “I was heating K rations when Labbe got me a message to report to Captain Towns immediately…. It was the last time I would ever see him” (Bowen, Fighting with the Screaming Eagles: With the 101st Airborne Division from Normandy to Bastogne, 2005, 172–73).
41 “One day before Christmas, I don’t remember the day… That night, Charlie Thompson, our armor[er], crawled up to one of our knocked out tank destroyers and removed the breech block so it couldn’t be fired” (Vining, 1999).
42 “1330—2nd Plat. Co. A ordered to move forward to positions around Monty. Encountered 15 enemy tanks. Mark IVs and Vs. Engaged enemy. Withdrew and occupied positions east of Monty” (Harris, S-3 Report from 222400, December 1944, to 232400, December 1944, No. 114, 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion, 1944); “In order to supplement the Division reserve, Task Force ‘X’ was organized… sided by the dismounted personnel that had accompanied the platoon” (A. W. Johnson, 1945, 1–2); “The 1st platoon of Recon Co. with the 2nd platoon of Co ‘B’ were attached to the 2nd Bn of the 501st Infantry at 2330, 19 December…. They dug in with Miller’s men” (R. B. Miller, 1945, 1–2).
43 “I collected the men and their gear…. One of the dead lying near them was Staff Sergeant Robert Rehler, Circleville, Ohio, a young dedicated fellow who had only recently received his sergeant’s stripes” (Bowen, Fighting with the Screaming Eagles: With the 101st Airborne Division from Normandy to Bastogne, 2005, 173–76); “The 3rd Platoon of Co. ‘B’ was attached to the 502 at 0700 20 December…. The grid that the report mentioned was actually in 327’s area of operations” (Stronach, 1945, 1).
44 “At 1200 on the 23 Dec… and continued to fire into C for the remainder of the afternoon” (Allen, 1945, 1–2); “23 December 1944… 1500 Blue Running short of mortar ammo. Send 300 rounds 81, 300 rds 50 by N route. Also small arms ammo” (S-1 Section, 1944, 3); “23 December cont’d 1325—Blue being attacked by 5 tanks and an unknown number of inf. at 480602, 1448… They report twelve tanks painted white are in the area somewhere S of C CO” (S2 Section, 327th Glider Infantry Regiment, 1944, 7); “At 1350 Company C (3rd Bn) received an attack by five tanks and infantry at 48062… the tanks withdrew after artillery fire had been placed on them” (S3—Operations Section, 327th GIR, 1944, 3).
45 “Time… 1500… Source… FO 5 B… Location… 475-598 482-592… Remarks… Ey tanks V personnel, effect excellent” (T. Moran, No. 208 S-2 Report for the 463rd Parachute Field Artillery Battalion from: 2400, 22 December 1944, to: 2400, 23 December 1944); “Ten Ey Tanks are taken under fire vic (4879-5930) with excellent effect… Type of Fire—Harassing—5 Registration—0 Call Fire—29…” (V. E. Garrett, S-3 Report from: 222400, Dec 1944, to: 232400, Dec 1944, Unit: 463 Parachute Field Artillery Battalion, No. 208, 1944); “1500… Description… 10 Ey tank + Pers… Information Received From… 5 Baker… Target Assigned To… B+D… Time Mission Assigned… 1500… Time Completed… 1610… Observed By… LT Smithers… No. Rounds… 58… Effect… Excell” (S-3 Report, 1944).
46 “Date V Time Received… 1518… Description Coordinates… 10 Tanks (4820 5930)… Rec’d from… Keynot… Time Completed… 1530… Obs By… Knote… No Rds… 38…” (Brubaker, S-3 Report from: 1200, December 23, 1944, to: 1200, December 24, 1944, Unit: 377th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion, 1944).
47 “I told Wagner that perhaps the gun on the disabled tank might help out and that I had some experience in artillery…. Then saying, ‘For you the war is over’” (Bowen, Fighting with the Screaming Eagles: With the 101st Airborne Division from Normandy to Bastogne, 2005, 193–97).
48 “As darkness approached ALLEN was notified that the road block at FLAMIERGE had been overrun by enemy infantry in white suits…. Just watching them was a hardship on the men” (Allen, 1945, 2–3); “23 December cont’d… 1810—Enemy tanks reported to have overrun Blue Charlie… 1840—Blue withdrawing from FLAMIZOULLE. (491613)” (S2 Section, 327th Glider Infantry Regiment, 1944, 7); “At 1350 Company ‘C’ got an attack by five tanks and one company of infantry at 480602… which they held until their lines were taken over by the 17th Airborne Division on 10 Jan 45” (Harper, 327th Regiment at Bastogne, 1945, 11); “23 December 1944… 2200 Blue CP at 529608… White and Blue received attacks throughout the day” (S-1 Section, 1944, 3); “Then, on December 23, Company C was attacked by 14 German tanks… closer to Bastogne to keep them from being surrounded” (D. R. Martin, 2005, 54); “By dusk of the 23rd the withdrawal plan that had been issued to all commanders was put into effect…. This forced us to abandon some of the equipment and scuttle the rest” (R. J. MacDonald, Another Von Rundstedt Blunder—Bastogne, 1948, 18–19); “The platoon was attached to 327-3, and Andrews moved to the vicinity of FLAMIZOULLE…. By 2230, the retrograde movement was completed and the TDs returned to the line NE of MANDE ST. ETIENNE” (Andrews, 1945, 2).
49 “The situation became less tense after some time when Reconnaissance Battalion 26 reported… been discovered already earlier—paratroopers, but ammunition and ration containers!” (H. Kokott, Ardennes Offensive—Battle of Bastogne, MS #B-040, 1950, 112–14); “CHAUMONT was entered twice by units of Combat Command B. The disposition for troops for the attack on the 23 December was as follows… a total of eleven tanks knocked out of the fight at this point” (Ezell, 1945); “Shortly after noon on the 23rd, CCB attacked CHAUMONT… his tanks withdrew, leaving infantry to hold the town” (Clark, 1944, 3); It was 10 o’clock, and the moonlit night was growing steadily colder… recalling his words at Mande St. Etienne: ‘We have got to make Christians out of a lot of people around here’” (MacKenzie, 1968, 192–94); “General Summary… Tac R has the general impression that traffic is more to the northeast away from our position than towards it” (P. A. Danahy, G-2 Periodic Reports No. 5, from: 230005 to 232400, December 1944); “CCB, 4th Armored Division heavily engaged at CHAUMONT… CCB, 10th Armored Division: Half of reserve force committed in 3rd Bn, 327 Glider Infantry sector at 231850… 705th TD Bn: Reserve platoon committed in 3rd Bn, 327th Glider Infantry sector at 231500 A… 3rd Bn, 327th Glider Infantry: ‘C’ Co positions overrun by enemy tanks at 231755. Bn withdrew at 231800 A to shorten lines and strengthen position. Attack repulsed” (H. W. Kinnard, G-3 Report No. 5, from: 222400A to: 232400, December 1944); “DECEMBER 23RD… completely surrounded them and overran this position” (S3—Operations Section, 327th GIR, 1944); “Illusions of that sort did not divert the professional soldiers: the record shows General Higgins suggested to General McAuliffe that on Christmas Day they might expect an all-out German effort to smash into Bastogne. The Germans are a sentimental people and are probably thinking about giving a present to Hitler”” (MacKenzie, 1968, 182–83).
50 “On 22 Dec 44, I installed my headquarters in Chateau Roumount. Christmas time was coming on and although under the circumstances we had to take over this installation, I saw to it that the people were not moved out” (H. V. Luettwitz, ETHINT 41, An Interview with General Panzertruppen Heinrich von Luettwitz: XLVII Panzer Corps (16 December to 24 December 1944), 1945, 5–6.
51 “23 Dec. 2nd Panzer Division… the situation of the endangered right flank would no longer be critical” (H. V. Luettwitz, The Assignment of the XLVII Panzer Corps in the Ardennes, MS A-939, 1950, 11–12); “My original plan was to move Pz Lehr Div through Bastogne, if Bayerlein [Commander of the Panzer Lehr Division]… coming along behind who could take the town” (Manteuffel, An Interview with General Panzer Hasso von Manteuffel: Fifth Panzer Army, Nov. 44–Jan. 45, ETHINT 46, 1945, 7); “The first
reserves of the OKW (3rd, 15th Panzer Grenadier Divisions and 9th Panzer Division) were committed since 24 December 1944…. This would depend from the time of their arrival but the Army suggested to commit them on the Maas River” (C. Wagener, Fifth Panzer Army, Ardennes Offensive, General Comments, MS #A-962, 1945, 1). Interesting to speculate what would have happened if von Lüttwitz had decided to direct the reinforcements to the Meuse instead of Bastogne.
Chapter Six
1 Waldo, 1899, December 14.
2 “Starting from 12/18/44, since no other officer was available, as an NCO I was put in charge of 6th company IR 77…. This was confirmed at a gathering of veterans at Isle near Bastogne” (Lindemann, My Experience during the Ardennes Offensive, 2010).
3 “Yes. The winter in Russia was stronger. Very, very cold. Minus forty degrees… Every day we had new orders” (Lindemann, Second Interview with Ludwig Lindemann, 2010).
4 “The preliminary march was to pass over Stadtkyll, Pruem, and onto Ulfingen…. The I Battalion, 115th Pz.Gren.Rgt. (I./115): Boeur; II./115: Buret; III./115: Trotten [various locations southeast of Houffalize]” (Maucke, Report Over the 15th Panzer-Grenadier-Division during the Ardennes Offensive from 16 December 1944 to 2 February 1945: MS P-032c, 1949); “2300 Hours Regimental staff and staff company begin march… 1730 Hours Colonel Maucke was ordered to the division” (Operations Section, 1944).
5 “Shortly after 2200 hours, the Panzer Grenadier regiment reported… there arrived at the division command post the reconnaissance and advance detachments of the approaching 15th Panzer Grenadier Division” (H. Kokott, Ardennes Offensive—Battle of Bastogne, MS #B-040, 1950, 116–25); “The broad front lines extended approximately 40 kilometers… and more advantageous positions were gained by German troops in preparations for the attack against the town” (H. Kokott, Employment of the 26th Volksgrenadier Division from 16 to 31 Dec 1944, 1945); Kokott’s assessment was spot on. “Manteuffel… That town could then be used as a base for further operations to drive into the deep flank of our own forces” (Manteuffel, The Fifth Panzer Army: Hasso von Manteuffel, 2006, 113).
6 “I knew that on 24 Dec, the advance detachment of the 2 Pz Div was attacked by the 2 U.S. Armored Div. Elements of this division had already taken Buissonville and Humain…. The first part of the 15 Pz Gren Div arrived on 24 Dec 44 and were subordinated to the 26Volks Gren Div to participate in the attack on Bastogne, which was to be launched on 25 Dec 44” (H. V. Luettwitz, XXXXVII Panzer Corps in the Battle of the Ardennes, Manuscript A-940, 1946, 9–10, 12–13); “24 Dec, 2nd Panzer Division: On this day started the attacks of the American 2nd Armored Division… which was given orders to make an attack against the town on 25 Dec, in order to take it definitely.” (H. V. Luettwitz, The Assignment of the XLVII Panzer Corps in the Ardennes, MSA-939, 1950, 12–14); “Meanwhile, pressure on the forces advancing to Dinant had so increased… Attempts to establish contact with it from the Conneux pocket proved unsuccessful” (Weiz, unknown, 4–7); “3. The fact that Bastogne could not be captured… to protect past of the left flank of the army” (H. V. Luettwitz, Item No. 5: Answers to Questions by Gen d Pz Tr v. Luettwitz, MS A-938, 1945, 4).
7 “24 December 1944 160 planes were used between the hours of 0855 and 1500. The supplies recovered are listed below. Ammunition 75mm How. 3542 105mm How. M3 598 60mm 757 81mm mortar 484 Rockets, AT 182…Rations, Type ‘K’ 9918” (Robbins, 11 January 1945, 2–3); Eleven gliders had been able to land near Savy, at the vicinity of the “B” Battery positon of the 327th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion, carrying medical personnel including four surgeons (Arend, 1987, 197).
8 “At 0900 fighter air support arrived and remained active in the vicinity throughout the remainder of the day. During this period the enemy’s activities were confined generally to passive resistance of the aircraft” (P. A. Danahy, G-2 Periodic Reports No. 6 from: 240006 to 242400, December 1944); “1345—P-47s are strafing and bombing MARVIE (5755)” (S2 Section, 327th Glider Infantry Regiment, 1944, 8).
9 “The commanders and staffs took official notice of the occasion… showing only in the words ‘Merry Christmas’ across the position held by the defenders.” (S. Marshall, 1946, 156); See enemy situational template overlays.
10 “The finest Christmas present the 101st could get would be a relief tomorrow” (MacKenzie, 1968, 203).
11 J. S. Eisenhower, 1969, 328.
12 Ibid.
13 A. C. McAuliffe, Merry Christmas, 1944.
14 “First, we were with the 501st, later we were with the 502nd… but I wasn’t injured” (A. D’Angelo, Interview with Tony D’Angelo, 2009); Author’s note: During a visit in July of 2010, with the help of Bernard Maus and locals, Don was able to find the location and the religious shrine on a hill just above Longchamps. The shrine has been remodeled, but it is indeed the same location where Swanson and D’Angelo witnessed the massing of the German armor. As for the panzers, by this time, 15th Panzergrenadier Division was arriving in sector. Whether these panzers belonged to them or elements of another panzer division is more than possible, since the northern route was the main avenue of approach around Bastogne for the Germans. Still, it must’ve been quite a daunting sight for the two U.S. soldiers.
15 “Someone told me later… That’s what we did Christmas Eve Day” (A. D’Angelo, Interview with Tony D’Angelo, 2009).
16 “The 24th. Sleep? Ha! Didn’t sleep that night because of the bombardment and bombing…. We were busy just trying to stay warm and alive” (A. D’Angelo, Interview with Tony D’Angelo, 2009).
17 “What helped was when it snowed—then it got warmer…. We didn’t have anything to camouflage our positions or TDs with, just snow. We didn’t have radios per se in the TDs, just intercoms, which didn’t work well” (Breder, 2009).
18 “Rations got old. But you ate what you had to…. We were very grateful” (A. D’Angelo, Phone Interview with Anthony D’Angelo, 2009); “That night [Dec 24] I didn’t get any sleep at all” (A. D’Angelo, Interview with Tony D’Angelo, 2009).
19 “We were sleeping in this potato shed there, along the road going out of Champs… so it seemed like the smart thing to do” (Fowler, Interview with Corporal Willis Fowler, 2009); “The rest of the platoon was over there on my left…. We had men in those houses, OPs” (Fowler, 2nd Interview with Corporal Willis Fowler, 2010).
20 “We were at Champs and our company had the job of protecting the town…. I was a bit of mother hen” (Asay, 2009); “A few buzz bombs [V-1s] were clearly heard going over low each night…. We had been sleeping in hay in the barns….” (Goldmann, Letter to Mrs. Ballard, 1945).
21 “At 1800 hours I arrived at the combat command post of the 26th VGD…. At 2200 hours I was directed to report to the command post of the 26th VGD, where I would receive my orders personally from the divisional commander” (Maucke, Report Over the 15th Panzer-Grenadier-Division during the Ardennes Offensive from 16 December 1944 to 2 February 1945: MS P-032c, 1949); “1730 Hours Colonel Maucke was ordered to the division” (Operations Section, 1944); “While the division commander, on 24 December… All necessary preparations for the additional artillery were made by the senior artillery officer together with the commander of Artillery Regiment 26” (H. Kokott, Ardennes Offensive—Battle of Bastogne, MS #B-040, 1950, 125).
22 “They hadn’t come at our area during the first days there…. It sounds terrible but he had no more use for it” (Astor, 1994, 330).
23 “24 Dec… 1735—Division notified our Regiment to be alert for a possible enemy attack from the West tonight” (S2 Section, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1944); “After a section of weary, tired wiremen reported in… Chain antitank mines were also made available for placing across the road at both of these points” (Phillips, 1948, 18–19).
24 “Since it had become bitter cold for the first time in the Bulge, Sergeant DeWitt moved the 2nd Platoon into an old barn with a hayloft…. They just might have been the best cookies I ever ate” (Black, The Last First Sergeant, 1998, 241–4
2).
25 “Well, Gresh, he got sick…. That’s about all I remember about our Christmas Eve” (Lott, 2009).
26 “We had seen the Germans building up west of our lines for two days…. Then they got back in their foxholes and waited” (D. R. Martin, 2006, 54–55).
27 “We talked about being surrounded, but it never changed our morale…. On Christmas Day from our foxholes we could see the Germans building for an attack, tanks and troops in white uniforms headed for us” (C. Gisi, Questionnaire for Carmen Gisi, 2009).
28 See overlay (T. Moran, Location of 463 Parachute Field Artillery Battalion to Accompany S-2 Report 207, 22 December 1944).
29 “One could hardly forget the night before, Christmas Eve…. I was thinking of everyone at home” (Koskimaki, 2006, 256).
30 “Well, on the twenty-fourth, I don’t recall how, but we were alerted…. It was one of the more quiet evenings in between” (Hesler, Second Interview with Ken Hesler, 2010).
31 For a list of officers, see the following source: [email protected] 2011.
32 “I [Captain Pangerl] can just remember the Christmas Party for the kids in the Chateau Rolle through one of my letters…. The family house was also present, of course. I thought about you at home…” (Koskimaki, 2006, 255–56); “I [Captain Hatch] recall an event which went from a moment of joy to sadness… so they could decorate the tree and open their presents…” (Koskimaki, 2006, 255).
33 “General Higgins jolted Harper with the news…. Higgins responded, ‘Do what you can with it, Bud. There isn’t any other solution’” (MacKenzie, 1968, 203); “At 1800 Harper was told that he had the sector all the way from Marvie to 511610. He said to Gen Higggins, ‘Look at it; this is half of the Div perimeter.’ Higgins replied, ‘It’s all yours; do what you can with it. There isn’t any other solution’” (Harper, 327th Regiment at Bastogne, 1945, 20).
