From the Jewish Virtual Library: Germany & the Nazis Maps: German Counterattack in the Ardennes - The Battle of the Bulge
German 1944 Propaganda Film From Battle of the Bulge "The German troops refer to this area as the battle for Ardennes. It's interesting to see the news on the battle from the German perspective. The Battle of the Bulge was very hard on both the Germans and Americans is commonly referred to as the turning point of the war."\
The Nazi film shows US troops of the 106th Division surrendering after the initial attack on the Schnee Eifel. More videos here
Pictured below: "A silent reminder of the war in the Ardennes. A shallow foxhole dug by members of the 422nd Infantry Regiment. "
The German attack opens on the 106th Division "The frontline to be covered by the 106th extended for 21 miles and bulked some 8 miles into Germany. This was a lot of ground to cover, about three times the normal distance. Fact was that the division was spread to thinly.
"Prior to the 16th, movement could be heard by men on the frontlines. Sounds of tanks, trucks and heavy equipment assembling on the German side. GI's of the 422nd regiment reported the movement promptly to their commanding officers, who did the same thing to divisional HQ. Little response followed, the men were told that the Germans were playing phonograph records to scare the young, green Lions. The warning was dismissed. The testimony of a Russian deserting Volksgrenadier also ended up discarded in the bin of the higher echelons. But there was action on the "Ghost front."....
The Schnee Eifel photo gallery
The 106th: The Story of the 106th Infantry Division " 'The 106th: The Story of the 106th Infantry Division" is a small booklet covering the history of the 106th Infantry Division. This booklet is one of the series of G.I. Stories published by the Stars & Stripes in Paris in 1944-1945. "
Ken Beaton: 70th anniversary of first day of Battle of Bulge ... "The Battle of the Bulge was the largest [Western front] battle during the war from Dec. 16, 1944, to Jan. 31, 1945, and 610,000 American GIs fought. We had 89,000 causalities which included 19,000 telegrams sent to parents/spouses, “The Secretary of the War regrets the loss of your son/husband.” Thousands of families and tens of thousands of friends grieved. Nineteen thousand new gold stars replaced the blue stars that were proudly displayed in a front window in the US. A gold star was the symbol for the loss of a son, daughter or spouse in the war.
Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014, is the 70th anniversary of the first day of the Battle of the Bulge. Visit with a World War II veteran, firmly shake their hand and tell them in a firm voice while maintaining eye contact, “I want to thank you for your service. I speak English today because of you and 16 million GIs who served. Thank you, sir /madame.”...
US veterans of Battle of Bulge join 70th anniversary commemoration ... "Restored vintage American war machines rolled up and down the streets under strings of Christmas lights. The mellow sounds of the Glenn Miller Orchestra belted out of a sound system in the town’s McAuliffe Square.
"The square was named for Brig. Gen. Anthony McAuliffe, who refused the Germans’ request to surrender here after they’d surrounded the town, famously responding “Nuts,” which an officer explained to the Germans meant they could go to hell."
"In the besieged town, along with the villagers, were the bulk of the forces of the 101st Airborne Division and the 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion.
"The siege of Bastogne is among the most remembered battles of the war and for many in Belgium a symbol of the American sacrifice for the country’s freedom.
"A disabled U.S. Sherman tank, a shell hole bitten cleanly into its left flank, sits on a corner of McAullife Square to remind people what the Americans sacrificed to ensure Belgium’s freedom." ...
Great song in a mediocre movie: the Wermacht Panzer song. Said to be Erwin Rommel's favorite song
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