element of surprise in, 96, 99
espionage and security concerns in, 79–80, 84
Geldern battle in, 58
German defenses in, 55–67, 89–91, 90
German fighting positions and terrain in, 92–94
German military preparedness for, 56
German prisoners of war taken during, 67
German reconnaissance and intelligence used against, 94–96
German strategy for containing, 86–88
Hitler’s hold at all costs strategy in, 56–57
logistical challenges of transporting two divisions in, 53
looting by German soldiers and, 94
Miley’s plan for, 55
Montgomery’s attack stages in, 27–29
Montgomery’s crossing plan in, 23, 53, 66, 92
movement of weapons and equipment before, 102
Operation MARKET GARDEN in Holland and, 25–26
Operations VERITABLE and GRENADE in, 29, 55
Patton’s crossing in, 171
pincer movement used in, 29, 55, 57–58
planning for, 34–37
rail network destruction in, 92
Remagen bridge capture during, 63–64, 81, 86, 88, 101
Ridgway’s command of Operation VARSITY in, 33–34, 37
Schlemm’s demolition of Wesel bridges during, 65–66
Schlemm’s relocation of howitzers and withdrawal plan in, 64–65, 67
Schlemm’s strategy in, 58–67, 89–91, 96
Simpson and US Ninth Army’s assault proposal in, 66
soldiers’ return to units before, 100–01
transport aircraft planning in, 77–79
Wesel bombing in, 63–64
Wesel Pocket arc in, 57, 58–62, 89
Ridgway, General Matthew, 126
Dempsey’s Operation VARSITY plan and, 36, 50–52, 53, 73–75
divisions assigned to Operation VARSITY and, 75–77
XVIII Airborne command by, 23, 31, 33
landing of, 269–70
marshaling camp visit with troops by, 130
Miley’s reorganization of 17th Airborne and, 43–44
military background of, 22–23
Montgomery’s command and, 23, 34, 74
Montgomery’s preference for, 33–34, 37
objections to Operation VARSITY assignment by, 34, 37
on Operation MARKET GARDEN in Holland, 26
Operation VARSITY command of, 33, 34
Operation VARSITY contingency planning by, 128–30
Operation VARSITY plan options of, 73–74
personality of, 22
preparations before departing for Operation VARSITY by, 171
Raff’s criticism of, 271
Raff’s Ruffians and, 270, 271
Rhine crossing planning and, 22, 23, 34–37
Roberson, Private Ben, 307
Robinson, Lieutenant John, 289, 299, 306
Roosevelt, Franklin D., 147, 148
Royal Air Force (RAF; United Kingdom), 33
aerial interdiction campaign of, 191–92
airfields used by, 129
anti-aircraft gun threats and, 163
critical role of, 339
drop planning and, 77, 79
German reconnaissance flights targeted by, 143–44
Operation PLUNDER bombing by, 174–75
Operation VARSITY contingency planning by, 128–29
raids into Germany by, 155
Wesel bombing by, 63–64
Ruhr
Allied advance encircling, 333
Allied strategy of isolation of, 96
German strategy for defending, 87–89
Montgomery’s plan to seize, 27, 29
Rundstedt, Generalfeldmarschall Gerd von
Allies’ Rhine campaign and defense of, 55–56
Geldern battle and, 58
Hitler’s dismissal of, 86
military background of, 55
Remagen bridge attack by, 64, 86
Rushing, Technician Fourth Grade Charles, 208–09
Saffeels, Sergeant Forrest, 249
sand tables, 115–16, 117–18, 122, 203
Scherer, Ben, 169–70, 316
Schlemm, General Alfred, 58–67
Allied air attacks and, 92
Allied air raid against, 156
Allied intelligence on plans of, 99
Allied Rhine crossing defense of, 58–67, 89–91, 96, 97–99
Allied smoke screen areas targeted by, 146
Allied tank attacks and, 62–63
anti-aircraft batteries used by, 152–53
defense strategies of, 151–52
fighting positions and terrain and, 92–93
military background of, 58
reconnaissance and intelligence used by, 94–96, 98
relocation of howitzers and withdrawal plan of, 64–65, 67
Rhine bridge defense and later demolition by, 59, 61–64, 65–66
troop replacements used by, 91, 92
understanding of Allied plans by, 98–99
Volkssturm militia and, 150–51
Wesel bombing and, 63
Wesel Pocket arc and, 58–62
Schultz, Flight Officer Howard, 261, 311–12
2nd Armored Division (United States), 42, 333
17th Airborne Division (United States), 1–21
Battle of the Bulge and, 1–8, 45
Châlons-sur-Marne, France, arrival of, 9
crucial role of, 339
XVIII Airborne Corps and deployment of, 23
507th Parachute Infantry’s transfer into, 44, 69
glider pilot training by, 136
logistical challenges of transporting, 53
mail restrictions and, 12–13
manpower allocation for, 44
marshaling camp briefings on, 121
marshaling camps used by, 104–07, 105
M18 recoilless rifle introduction in, 71–72
Miley’s reorganization of 17th Airborne Division and, 44, 69
Miley’s role in formation of, 43
military discipline in, 14–15
motto and insignia symbolism of, 43
Operation VARSITY with, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 76–77, 82–83
organization of, xiv
parachute jump training for, 70–71, 73
pay disbursement for, 18
physical training for replacements in, 15–16
Quartermaster Corps’ delousing and clothing of, 10–11
regimental exercises and dress rehearsal of upcoming operation in, 73
replacement troops for, 13–14, 39, 68
shortage of qualified airborne troops for, 39
soldiers’ activities and restrictions during passes into town in, 17–21
supplies for, 13
survival rate of replacements in, 16
tent camp life of, 9–13
training emphasis in, 69–73
train journey to France by, 8–9
Shafer, First Lieutenant Tom, 260–62
Sheehy, Lieutenant Robert, 301–02
Shropshire, Joseph, 254
Sigerfoos, Colonel Edward, 329
Simington, William, 337
Simpson, General Bill, 29, 66
6th Airborne Division (United Kingdom)
airfields used by, 129
command post of, 291–92
crucial role of, 339
Issel River defense and, 280
logistical challenges of transporting, 53
Operation VARSITY with, 32, 35, 36–37, 76–77, 83, 105, 192
Wesel defense and, 321, 331
605th Tank Destroyer Battalion (United States), 317
680th Glider Field Artillery Battalion (United States), 121, 250
681st Glider Field Artillery Battalion (United States), 121, 250, 251, 295
Smith, General Bedell, 52–53
Smith, Chris, 223
Smith, Howard K., 174
Smith, Priva
te Levert, Jr., 304
Smith, Major Paul, 110, 205, 206
smoke screens
Allied pilots’ difficulties with, 198, 201
Allied use of, to protect airfields, 145, 146–47, 239, 260
German, to mask bridges and other targets, 146
Snow, Phil, 258
soldiers, Allied. See also aircraft pilots; glider pilots; paratroopers; and specific military units
activities during downtime between training events and, 80–81
activities the night before jump departure of, 165–66, 168, 169–70
anticipation of fighting by, 115, 116, 120
Army’s tracking of, 100
AWOL status of, 101, 312
Capa’s photographic record of, 118–19, 169, 220, 223, 235–36
debate over taking German prisoners among, 117
dog tags of, 180
fear and stress before battle and, 101, 169, 175, 182, 189, 220
first-aid packs used by, 140–41
German propaganda broadcasts and, 21, 156–57
Goebbels’s propaganda broadcast aimed at, 173–74
helmet stripes identifying rank of, 190
knife sharpening by, 159–60
laundry arrangements in local town by, 102–03
mail restrictions and, 12–13, 103
marshaling camp life of, 106–07, 110
passes into town and, 17–19, 100
passwords on battlefields used by, 141–42, 278
pay for, 18, 46
rumors about battles and, 81–82, 82–83, 100, 116–17
self-inflicted wound and removal of, 166, 188
support for comrades as motivating factor of, 100–01
tent camp life of, 9–13
venereal disease treatment, 19–20, 70
yellow signal panels worn by, 141
soldiers, German. See German Army
Sons, Friedrich, 94
Soviet Union, German threat from, 87, 88
Spears, Captain John, 113
Spiegel, John, 169
Spitzer, Private Jerzy, 115
Stanford, Donald, 278
Stars and Stripes (newspaper), 106–07, 170, 189
Staub, Second Lieutenant Robert, 124–28
arrival at airfield before jump, 170
German identity assumed by, 125, 126
landing of, 245
mission briefing of, 126–27
mission preparation by, 127–28
mission team with, 125–26
Steltermann’s partnership with, 124–25
Steltermann, Helmut, 123–28
arrival at airfield before jump, 170–71
British soldier identity of, 124
German identity assumed by, 123, 125, 126
intelligence career background of, 123–24
mission briefing of, 126–27
mission preparation by, 127–28
mission team with, 125–26
Staub’s partnership with, 124–25
wounding during landing by, 245–46, 286, 335
Sterner, Lieutenant John, 213
“stick,” use of term, 167
Stolberg-Wernigerode, Bolko, Graf von, 269, 336
Streukens, Captain George, 101, 327
Stryker, Private First Class Stuart, 170, 284
Suggested Post-Surrender Program for Germany (Morgenthau), 147–48
superstitions, among soldiers, 112–13, 179
Swem, Lieutenant Dean, 281, 314, 315, 324–25
Swink, Flight Officer Paul, 194
Taylor, Staff Sergeant Jimmie, 238
Tempest aircraft, 143–44
tent camps, 9–13
terrain models (sand tables), 115–16, 117–18, 122, 203
Thirteeners. See 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment
13th Airborne Division (United States)
Operation CHOKER II planning and, 76
Operation VARSITY with, 32, 35, 36, 75–76
Tinnefeld, Herr, 269
Tommasino, First Lieutenant Ed, 113–14, 232
Totten, Sergeant Paul, 255–56
training
C-46 and C-47 aircraft introduction and, 78
507th Parachute Infantry’s emphasis on, 69–73
M18 recoilless rifle usage in, 71–72
parachute jumps in, 70–71, 73, 78
regimental exercises and dress rehearsal of upcoming operation in, 73
Trigg, William, 221
Troop Carrier Command, 78–79, 133–34, 135, 138, 163
Tuttle, Private Seymour, 194
Twitty, Sergeant Jesse, 254
US War Department, 44, 133
Van Cleef, Lieutenant Langland, 186
Vannatter, Sergeant Robert, 203
VARSITY. See Operation VARSITY
Velikoff, Sergeant Ted, 179
venereal disease programs, 19–20, 70
vengeance weapons, 142
Vinciguerra, Captain Stephen, 125–26, 127, 171, 245, 286–87
Volkssturm militia (German), 149–51, 290, 296, 325
V-2 rockets, 142
War Department, 44, 133
Watson, Private Robert, 274
Wavre, Belgium (MARFAK), 161
Allied airborne armada over, 192–93
as Command Assembly Point, 161
Weber, Private Robert, 257
Wehrmacht. See German Army
Wesel, Germany, 24, 28, 57, 90, 99, 108, 161, 178, 242, 308, 333
as aircraft navigational checkpoint, 162
bombing of, 63–64, 65
Brereton on destruction in, 330
British Commando invasion of, 197
German defenses in, 91, 95, 146, 149–50, 152, 197
Landing Zone S around, 256
Operation VARSITY contingency planning for drop in, 130
Pocket arc around, 57, 58–62, 89
Schlemm’s demolition of bridges at, 65–66
Westcott, Sergeant Earl, 208
Westerfeld, Wilhelm, 224–25
Westphal, General Siegfried, 87
Whiting, Captain Quinn, 329
Whitman, Hamilton, 159
Wienczak, Sergeant Edmund, 328
Williams, General Paul, 79, 80
Winters, Lieutenant Zane, 135, 182–83, 246, 310–11
Wittig, Lieutenant Thomas, 288–89, 299, 306–07
Wolf, Sergeant William, 303
Wood, Pilot Gordon, 218
World War I, 8, 33, 58
Worms, Germany, Rhine crossing at, 76, 128. See also Operation CHOKER II
Yarborough, Captain William, 41
Young, Captain Arthur, 281
Young, Jack, 263–64
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Library of Congress
Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Fenelon, James (James M.), author. Title: Four hours of fury : the untold story of World War II’s largest airborne invasion and the final push into Nazi Germany / James M. Fenelon. Description: First edition. | New York : Scribner, [2019] Identifiers: LCCN 2019002135 (print) | LCCN 2019010864 (ebook) | ISBN 9781501179396 (eBook) | ISBN 9781501179372 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781501179389 (pbk.) | ISBN 9781501179396 (ebk.) | ISBN 9781508285533 (eaudio) Subjects: LCSH: Operation Varsity, 1945. | World War, 1939–1945—Campaigns—Germany. Classification: LCC D757 (ebook) | LCC D757 .F46 2019 (print) | DDC 940.54/213553—dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019002135
ISBN 978-1-5011-7937-2
ISBN 978-1-5011-7939-6 (ebook)
Four Hours of Fury Page 56
