Americans and Belgians mark 70th anniversary of Battle of the Bulge

theguardian.com ^ | Saturday 13 December 2014 11.43 EST

[DeaconBenjamin]

Belgium’s King Philippe, right, and Queen Mathilde throw nuts to the public, during the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, in Bastogne, Belgium, on Saturday. The tradition dates from when the Germans asked for the US surrender in Bastogne, to which General Anthony McAuliffe answered: ‘Nuts!’ Photograph: Yves Logghe/AP

Braving snowy weather, Americans and Belgians gathered in the Ardennes on Saturday to mark the 70th anniversary of one of the biggest and bloodiest US battles of the second world war, the Battle of the Bulge.

Jean-Claude Klepper, 62, of Virton, Belgium, said “we must never forget what happened in 1944. Many American soldiers came here to defend Europe. We must honour them for what they did.”

The British prime minister, Winston Churchill, hailed the ultimate result as “an ever-famous American victory”. But it came at a high cost: 80,987 US casualties, including 10,276 dead, 47,493 wounded and 23,218 missing, according to the US army’s official history.

Total German casualties are estimated at 81,834, including 12,652 dead and 30,582 missing.

In the town of Bastogne, where soldiers of the 101st Airborne held out despite being cut off and surrounded, shops and windows were decorated Saturday with American and Belgian flags. One local restaurant posted a drawing of an American flag and the message “thank you”.

[exit82]

Thanks for the additional, Sam.

It’s one thing to shoot at somebody, but quite another to be in hand to hand combat with another human being.

At that point, it’s truly either him or you, because only one can survive.

And to do that in the middle of freezing cold and low rations...unimaginable.

Truly the Greatest Generation. God bless him.

[Retain Mike]

I have watched Band of Brothers several times without realizing the significance of the German armor attacking their position outside Bastogne. Obviously the rifle company alone is not going to stop them, but not until I read Charles B. Macdonald’s book A Time for Trumpets did I realize a lot of other folks were ordered to or retreated into the town.

Overall General McAuliffe directed eleven artillery battalions and tanks from two armored divisions as well as his paratroopers. Remnants of the 9th Armored CCR including the 73rd Armored Field Artillery retreated into the town. The CCB of the 10th Armored was detached and ordered to race and occupy Bastogne ahead of the Nazi’s. It took heavy casualties along the way, but arrived with 30 tanks and the 420th Armored Field Artillery Battalion. The 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion was ordered forward and arrived with 36 powerful 76mm long cannon. The 28th Division contributed 109th and 687th Field Artillery Battalions when they were driven back by the Germans. He says there 155mm cannon detached from Corps artillery and there was also a Team SNAFU that accumulated the many stragglers that ended up in this road junction.

[riverdawg]

I just finished reading “Hitler's Last Gamble: The Battle of the Bulge, December 1944-January 1945” by Trevor Dupuy. It contains a *very* detailed summary and analysis of the deployments of units on both sides before and during the Ardennes campaign. My friend from church who was in the 109th Field Artillery confirmed that they “backed into” the Bastogne area ...