Friday, December 19, 2014

Battle of the Bulge; Stavelot, Krinkelt and Rocherath on Dec 19, 1944

Local Battle of the Bulge survivor recalls that day  Video:   "Barely an hour out of Denver, there is a hidden treasure of information from World War Two.
The invaluable history lesson is not in a museum. Instead, the lesson comes from a man who lives at an assisted living center in Strasburg.

"Ted Montgomery, 89, has a lot to teach about America's involvement in WWII. He loves to talk and he loves his country.

"Montgomery was 19 years old when he was inducted into the Army at Fort Logan in Denver." ...

Murdered civilians carried from building to common grave in Stavelot, Belgium.



Dec 19th, 1944  "1944At a meeting of senior Allied commanders, Eisenhower decides to appoint Field Marshal Montgomery, commanding British 21st Army Group, to lead all Allied forces to the north of ” the Bulge” in the line created by the German attack. General Bradley, commanding US 12th Army Group, is responsible for all Allied forces to the south. The arrangement is not made public at this time.
1944 – It is decided that the Japanese 35th Army on Leyte is no longer to be reinforced or supplied. Nonetheless, fighting continues to the north of Ormoc and throughout the northwest of the island.
1944 – Forces of the German 6th SS Panzer Army reach Stavelot in the north while elements of 5th Panzer Army approach Houffalize. Some US forces between these advance continue to defend positions around Gouvy and St. Vith.
1944 - During the Battle of the Bulge, American troops began pulling back from the twin Belgian cities of Krinkelt and Rocherath in front of the advancing German Army."


Krinkelt-Rocherath, December 17, 18 and 19, 1944    ..."As we moved through the snow everyone was quite as we all knew that in a short time we would be engaged with the enemy.  The column stopped and we wanted to move on.  Lieutenant Lahner, our Platoon Leader, was called to meet with the Company Commander and the other Platoons leaders.  We had hopes that, maybe something better was being planned for us.  We began to talk among ourselves guessing what our next move may be.  After 20 minutes Lieutenant Lahner returned.  He talked briefly to Sergeant Ward, our Platoon Sergeant.  I wasn’t close enough to hear the conversation.  Immediately our Company turned and started moving in almost the opposite direction.  We took the road that ran from Wahlerscheid to Rocherath and Krinkelt."
Source:  The official online home of Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge


The Battle of the Twin Villages   "The battle in and around the "Twin Villages" Krinkelt and Rocherath in December 1944.  This clip is dedicaded to the men of the 2nd US Infantry Division Indianhead. They fought a heavy battle during the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes in Belgium."



Stavelot Bridge Then and Now 

The Church of Stavelot - Then and Now

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