I can't remember the title, maybe someone can help, but a GREAT book on the BOTB, is about the 99th I & R, and their fight. A very different look at the Bulge battle!

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Scott

This book?
Amazon.com: The Longest Winter: The Battle of the Bulge and the Epic Story of WWII's Most Decorated Platoon: The Kindle Store: Alex Kershaw

About the Lyle Bouch's platoon and their fight at Lanzerath?

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Best Regards,
JW

That's it!! Thanks Slip! Great book!

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Scott

I would have like to have met those men.

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Best Regards,
JW

Me too Slip, me too.

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Scott

I was wondering as Skorzeny's SS commandos were the ones that were dressed in US uniforms and were not air dropped that caused the big panic and rumors. Not Baron Von Der Hydte's Fallschirmjagers.

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For the first time I have seen "History" at close quarters,and I know that its actual process is very different from what is presented to Posterity. - WWI General Max Hoffman.

I have that book in my collection. Brave bunch of men. I think it would make a great movie. But we all know that the "Band of Brothers" won the Bulge .

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For the first time I have seen "History" at close quarters,and I know that its actual process is very different from what is presented to Posterity. - WWI General Max Hoffman.

In the book, "A TIME FOR TRUMPETS," McDonald brings up the question on why didnt Eisenhower bring in Montys researves to also push out the germans. He actually used limited amounts of soldiers to stave off the attack, when he had plenty of soldiers to use. I finished reading this book about a month ago, a great book.

Though the Americans were convinced that the time had come to shift to a counteroffensive,earlier in the battle Eisenhower gave Montgomery full control of allied forces at the north half of the salient and it was aginst his philsophy to impose tactical decisions on his subordinates. Montgomery however was wary of going piecemeal and absolutely refused to go to the offensive until he was good and ready. In his defense, Monty deserved credit for forseeing the bloody struggle ahead in the Ardenes instead of a blitz even if the delays were lamentable.

Also, a crisis of command came into being by the Ardennes campaign, because of the blosoming of personal jealousies and hatreds between the British and American generals in the SHAEF HQ, to the point that at one time Eisenhower threaten Marshal that someone must be fired and was either Monty or Ike!

I recall it was Montgomery´s first task to protect the bridges of Meuse and let no German forces get over the river. Monty by himself had early in the German offensive phase sent small units to check the bridges and possibly prepare them for blowing up. Not to start counterattacking himself.

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To make up for his planning of Market Garden eh?

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hatred of generals...hhmm,i understood horrocks,c.o brit xxx corps,sent to shore up the northern bulge was liked by the american brass.
i read horrocks was horrified because the g.i,s never had hot food at this time.i will find the book soon.cheers.

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"I never knew Canadians were as clever as that?".thankyou all,4th wilts.

Yes definitely find that! I would like to read that story!
Thanks!!

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Scott

I recall it was Montgomery´s first task to protect the bridges of Meuse and let no German forces get over the river. Monty by himself had early in the German offensive phase sent small units to check the bridges and possibly prepare them for blowing up. Not to start counterattacking himself.

In deed. Apparently his decision to pull back the 82d ABN Div. and supporting arms to more defenable position was a staple of tactical good sense.

o.k bigfun,the book is called....44...dont know the authors name though,good sources etc.have a read of that,you may learn a bit.cheers.

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"I never knew Canadians were as clever as that?".thankyou all,4th wilts.

Also the region itself is actually quite big

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Best Regards, Hufflepuff

I also read somewhere that it was the time Monty thought it would take to get them going which prevented him from going into action before Patton. Also, didn't the Germans attack the American lines only? The British were farther North anways.

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Thanks!!
I'll add that to the list!!

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Scott

The Waffen-SS and Heer Panzer and Panzergrenadier units that were deployed in the Ardennes were of abysmal quality compared to their former selves. They had suffered catastrophic losses in Normandy and the Falaise pocket (and the Eastern front) with their veteran Officer/NCO ranks decimated. Most assault infantrymen only had some rushed basic training, little more than a month or two.

They were also poorly equipped, with a lot of their mechanized/motorized transport missing. They also suffered around 1/3rds shortfall in tank strength with unsuitable assault guns sometimes replacing Panzers.

All the Units involved in the Ardennes offensive were only rated Kampfwert III/IV (only suitable for defensive actions) except for elements of the 2nd Panzer division which held a (II).

The actual combat power is relatively deceptive as well, since in many formations (the SS ones as well), a very large portion of barely trained troops (1/3rd of total battalion strength in many places, like the 1st-SSLAH) were held in reserve and not committed unless for emergency action.

I honestly don't understand how they held out like they did. They should've been swept away much sooner.

Yes and no. Yes, all the older units lost a lot of their experienced soldiers but manpower was scrapped from all over to bring them up manpower wise as well as weapons. The quality may not have been as good as before but they were not inept. The units which were disappointing were the volkstrum divisions.

As for "all of the units" rating panzer mk III/IVs, well that is incorrect. The King Tiger made it's appearance in the west during this offensive.


Panthers were also used. But don't write off the Mk IV. It was still a considerable foe in the West.

The men were well armed. The difficiencies were in fuel and in ammo. In this case, Hitler fell for his own propaganda if he expected to go all the way to Antwerp because there was no way he could have succeeded with the logistics available to his forces.

More info here: http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/7-8/7-8_CONT.htm

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No, their performance was generally much inferior to their counterparts in Normandy and a far cry from 1943. A world away from 1941.

I have detailed interviews with all the major players in the Ardennes Offensive- Dietrich (6th Panzer Army), his chief of staff, the commander of the 5th Panzer Army, the commander 7th Panzer Army, etc. They have confirmed what I stated in the previous post. The Panzer divisions were all understrength in material and missing a lot of elements. Normandy/Bagration killed or wounded, in many units, up to half of the original Officer/NCO nucleus in these divisions.

The Kampfwert rating is not referring to Panzer Mark III/IV, but towards the overall quality of the division. It was a classification that the German staff officers used to evaluate the rehabilitation of their units. For instance, during Barbarrossa, the Panzer divisions were rated K- I. I/II rating were classifications indicating that the division was ready for offensive operations.

Even the SS Panzer divisions were rated III/IV in the offensive. Whatever achievements the Germans achieve... it was mainly thanks to surprise and the initial American disorganization.

why has no one berated hodges or bradley for this defence of the ardennes anyway?.the germans could never attack there could they?.cheers..

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"I never knew Canadians were as clever as that?".thankyou all,4th wilts.

Too true 4th Wilts....Theres no way they can come thru there sir...General Gamelin to General Georges....hang on....whoops a daisy.

My father was stationed at a medium bomber airfield some fifty miles south of Luxembourg city. On the 18th or 19th he spent a cold wet day leading his ordinance section around the countryside in search of a stray plane load of German teenagers. The untrained Luftwaffe pilots scattered the paras all over the Ardennes & south to the French border. For some 48 hours the rear area units were preoccupied with with converting 80,000 Fallschmirjager into 800 prisoners. The panic was so great my fathers airmen did not get a hot lunch that day & ate cold rations in the woods

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